Coronavirus staff guidance University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Redeployment of non-clinical staff

The Trust has prioritised the redeployment of clinical staff over recent weeks to ensure that we are ready to care for patients with COVID-19.

We now have a number of new and existing non-clinical roles which we need to redeploy staff into to ensure we support our clinical colleagues.

All staff, both clinical and non-clinical, have a role to play and are required to support other functions as and when necessary in this difficult and challenging time.

We are asking divisions and departments to identify staff who can be redeployed into these roles, and we ask that line managers populate this spreadsheet (please see the "Downloads section") with information on who can be released from their substantive role to provide support. This will also be issued by email through senior leaders across the Trust.

Once the spreadsheet is filled in, please email it, and any questions you may have, to us by the end of the day on Wednesday 8 April:

Email: COVID19StaffRepurposing@uhb.nhs.uk 

We also ask line managers to let us know of any staff in your team who have already moved to a different role (even if within the same function) and those that have taken on additional tasks.

Staff members with questions about redeployment or who wish to work in a particular role should also contact:

Email: COVID19StaffRepurposing@uhb.nhs.uk

Some of the roles we need to fill can only be done on-site. We will ensure social distancing is supported wherever possible, and seek to limit the use of public transport, as well as basing staff at their local site, role permitting.

We ask that teams only retain the staff needed to fulfil the business-critical aspects of your function, and if you have any questions about this please speak to your line manager in the first instance. We would be grateful if line managers advise staff who are being made available for redeployment that they may be contacted regarding a different role.

More information on UHB’s policy on the redeployment of non-clinical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and the process we will follow will be available in coming days on the Coronavirus microsite.

It is also suggested staff access the UHB Moodle to refresh their knowledge of systems, processes or ways of working they are less familiar with.

This can be used without needing to access Trust systems.

• UHB Moodle

If staff do not have access, details these can be requested by contacting:

Email: Moodle.Administration@uhb.nhs.uk  

Surgical masks

Following an update from Public Health England, we are now recommending that staff wear a surgical mask at all times while in a clinical area.

This does not include main corridors, the atrium, restaurants, offices or staff rooms. Social distancing should be observed in these areas.

We have now reached a threshold where many patients within the Trust are suspected or positive for COVID-19, and it is difficult to differentiate between "hot and cold" areas, so all clinical areas should follow this guidance.

This guidance also recognises that it is very difficult for staff to maintain a social distance of two metres within a clinical area and so serves to protect staff further.

A surgical mask can be worn for a session i.e. you do not need to change it between patients, but your mask should be changed if it becomes uncomfortable, moist, obviously contaminated, or removed from the face.

The mask should not be allowed to dangle around the neck, as the inside may become contaminated. You should avoid touching the mask, and perform hand hygiene if you need to adjust it.

Gloves and apron should be changed between patients. Hand hygiene should also be performed between patients, and before and after using PPE.

Critical care and ED should continue to follow their local policies.

Should they wish to, administration staff working on wards can also wear a mask and apron if they are likely to come into contact with patients.

Extended Pharmacy hours at QEHB

From Monday 6 April, in order to provide greater support to the Trust, the Pharmacy Department at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham will open daily (including Saturdays and Sundays), 08:30–19:00.

The current ward support provided during the week by pharmacy will additionally now extend to the weekend days.

See below for pharmacy opening times:

Heritage Building Pharmacy

Discharge Pharmacy

Outpatients Pharmacy

TTOs

• Monday to Friday: TTOs (excluding recovery@home, blister packs and Heritage building wards) will still be collected from discharge pharmacy
• Saturday: TTOs sent between 16:00–19:00 will be sent to the ward on the next appropriate delivery
• Sunday: TTOs sent between 14:30–19:00 will be sent to the ward on the next appropriate delivery

April Clinical Skills Refresher Sessions

Please see details listed below of refresher sessions available for you to book to practice any of the following skills:

• IV therapy (bolus and infusion)
• CVAD care (including blood sampling and drug administration)
• Venepuncture including blood cultures
• Cannulation
• 12 Lead ECG recording

Please access online resources via iskills on Moodle prior to attending these sessions.

Demonstrations of the skills listed above are provided through iskills and will not be provided in the below face to face sessions:

• UHB Moodle

To book a session at Heartlands, Good Hope or Solihull please email:

Email: Clinical.Skills@uhb.nhs.uk 

To book a session at QEHB please email:

Email: ClinicalSkillsTeam@uhb.nhs.uk 

In your email, please specify which skill(s) you would like to practise, your chosen site and date from the list below and whether you would prefer a morning or afternoon session.

You will receive confirmation of your booking via email including the times that you need to attend.

Please do not just turn up for sessions. A booking process is in place to facilitate social distancing.