Coronavirus staff guidance University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Updated PPE guidance

The latest guidelines aroundPPE requirements(updated Friday 17 April 2020) are available on the Public Health England (PHE) website.

• PHE guidance on PPE

This guidance has been updated to reflect pandemic evolution and the changing level of risk of healthcare exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in the UK. 

The main changes are:

• enhanced PPE recommendations for a wide range of health and social care contexts
• inclusion of individual and organisational risk assessment at local level to inform PPE use
• recommendation of single sessional (extended) use of some PPE items
• re-usable PPE can be used. Advice on suitable decontamination arrangements should be obtained from the manufacturer, supplier or local infection control
• guidance for when case status is unknown and SARS-CoV-2 is circulating at high levels
• recommendation on patient use of face masks
• recommendation on the use of disposable fluid repellent coveralls as an alternative to long-sleeved fluid-repellent gowns for aerosol generating procedures or when working in higher-risk acute areas. Staff need to be trained in the safe removal of coveralls

Appropriate use of scrubs

Scrubs in COVID-19 areas are optional (but not compulsory) and staff should be mindful that there is only a limited supply available. There is no requirement for clinicians to wear scrubs in all clinical areas with patient contact.

A number of doctors are still coming in to work wearing scrubs. They should not use scrubs outside the workplace and should travel to work in their own clothes. If they are working in a COVID-19 cohort ward, and choose to wear scrubs, they should change into these when in the clinical area, wear them for the duration of the shift only, and then place them in the used laundry bag for washing. Please don't take them home, write names on them or deface them in any way. 

• PPE FAQs

Reusable surgical gowns and scrubs

Staff are reminded that linen surgical gowns are reusable and are not disposable. Once they have been used, they need to be sent back intact and undamaged.

The correct procedure is:

• gowns go into a red alginate bag and then into a green linen bag
• scrubs go into a red alginate bag (if contaminated) and into a white linen bag
• both bags are then disposed of into a cage for porter collection, and not in a yellow waste bin

Gowns have been going into waste bins, incorrect linen bags and ending up in the wrong place. Failure to follow the correct procedure could result in supply problems. The Theatre Textile Bagging Policy is available to download for full details.

Increased turnaround time for some samples

Due to COVID-19, the Department of Clinical Biochemistry will continue to offer all specialist blood and urine services. However, there may be an increase in turnaround times due to the reduced workload for specialist tests and relocation of our staff to maintain core services as required. 

Unfortunately, the department is no longer able to process any saliva or stool samples for the foreseeable future as these samples may present a high risk of COVID-19 infection. Further clarification/guidance is due from Public Health England. The assays primarily affected are:

• faecal calprotectin
• faecal elastase
• salivary cortisol

Thank you for your understanding.