7th April 2020

Lincolnshire NHS Covid-19 update (no.2)

Tuesday 7 April 2020

OVERVIEW

This is our second COVID-19 update report for partners. 

The past week has continued to be one of exceptional challenge for the NHS in Lincolnshire.  We want to pay tribute to the dedication, professionalism and compassion from NHS workers across the county in these difficult times. We continue to do all that we can to keep staff safe, support them and work together as one NHS team to provide the best care possible for patients.

The extraordinary support of the public and our partners means so much to us all in the NHS, thank you.

In the past week we have, like other parts of the NHS in the country, experienced:

·         Continued problems with the availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff, and concerns about national guidance for use of PPE.   On Thursday (2 April) new national guidance was issued, which has been well received, and although issues with PPE supply remain, this is generally improving.  We have worked hard to resolve these problems daily.

·         NHS workers needing to self-isolate to keep patients and colleagues safe, with this having stabilised at over 1000 staff per day.

Following national announcements, we will be increasing staff testing, initially focussed on staff from Critical Care, A&E and Ambulance Services.  We will extend this to other priority staff groups as quickly as possible. 

Lincolnshire’s Director of Public Health, Professor Derek Ward, and CCG Chief Nurse, Liz Ball, have answered a wide range of the public’s questions on the BBC Lincolnshire’s Melvyn show on the past three Friday mornings. Andrew Morgan is also doing a weekly update on the Monday show.  These are helpful updates for the public which are also accessible on BBC Sounds playback.

Please find below a number of updates on specific issues which we hope are of interest to you. 

Thank you again for all your support for the NHS at this time, it is really appreciated.

KEY UPDATES:

·         In order to maintain a safe service, two older adult inpatient mental health wards have been remodelled to deliver 24/7 home treatment, enabling the transfer of these wards (Manthorpe Unit at Grantham and Rochford Ward at Boston) to ULHT

·         ULHT has made the decision to cancel all non-urgent outpatient appointments, and is asking patients not attend their outpatient appointment unless they have been contacted directly.  Some outpatient appointments will be conducted by telephone or video calling, and ULHT has contacted these patients individually.  Appointments will be rearranged for a future date at a time when it is safe to do so.

·         LCHS is appealing to the public to return their specialist equipment if it is not being used.  Items that are most needed include beds and mattresses, stools and equipment to assist toileting and mobility.  Arrangements can be made for any unused equipment to be collected by calling NRS Healthcare 0345 121 2031 between Monday to Friday 8.30am – 5pm;

·         A reminder that ULHT, LPFT and LCHS have all suspended patient visiting as part of the effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and to protect staff and patients.  This is in line with national guidance, and the only exceptions are where end of life care is in place, birthing partners accompanying a woman in labour, and parent or appropriate adult visiting a child in hospital;

·         In addition, from Tuesday 24 March 2020 ULHT has cancelled all routine elective surgery, which is part of its response to covid 19, and will enable hospitals to free up staff to care for patients in other areas, and that LCHS has confirmed revised opening hours for walk ins at Skegness and Louth Urgent Treatment Centres with effect from Saturday 22 March 2020

·         The Department of Health and Social Care has launched digital isolation notes to provide proof of coronavirus absence from work for people unable to work for more than seven days because of coronavirus.  The isolation note is available here;

·         After it suspended visiting at Boston, Lincoln and Grantham hospitals, ULHT has launched a new Family Liaison Team to link patients and their families, which will help with the taking and passing on of non-urgent messages for patients, supporting patients to enjoy a Skype or FaceTime video call if they do not have the technology to do so, and receiving and delivering personal items patients may need;

·         ULHT has also announced that, with effect from 27 March 2020, inpatients at any of its sites will be able to access free Freeview TV, and free calls to UK landlines and mobiles;

·         ULHT’s Audiology Department has asked that patients request hearing aid batteries, tubing and/or open domes by telephone, email or post.  For repair of hearing aids patients are asked to send the faulty equipment to their nearest Audiology Department;

·       A new national Covid-19 health and wellbeing service to support NHS staff has been launched. This offers mental health support, practical help with issues such as childcare and transport, as well as advice for issues around bereavement and decompression guidance. This is supported by robust local offers to all Lincolnshire NHS staff, including primary care.

·       Since it was piloted late last year, Lincolnshire’s new confidential mental health and emotional wellbeing helpline, available via 0800 001 4331, has taken more than 1,500 telephone calls.  Providing a 24/7 source of emotional support, advice and guidance for people feeling low, anxious or stressed, the helpline is a joint initiative across health and social care – including Lincolnshire County Council – and the third sector;

·         With effect from 1 April 2020, NHS Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has been established, replacing the previous four CCGs – South, South West, East, and West, which had been in existence since 2013.  The new CCG will have a budget of over £1.2bn which will be used to commission – or buy – health services on behalf of the county’s population;

·         Public and staff should continue to follow government guidelines around staying at home, washing your hands and social distancing, to best protect the NHS;

For a web version of this update please click here;

Stay home.  Protect the NHS.  Save lives

You can stay in touch via our NHS system website and social media channels:

Facebook
Twitter
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Yours sincerely

John Turner

Chief Executive

NHS Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group

Maz Fosh

Chief Executive

Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust

Brendan Hayes

Chief Executive

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Andrew Morgan

Chief Executive

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust

 

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