Welcome to this week's newsletter, published for adult social care providers.
Amongst the many items in this week’s busy newsletter, there are advertisements for walk-in vaccination sessions in Exeter, Torquay and Ilfracombe. Please encourage eligible staff to take advantage of them.
Remember that we keep the content and structure of our PEN website up-to-date and your suggestions on how to improve the website are always welcome.
Government announces care sector funding
On 30 September the government issued this press release on the overall level of investment for the care sector this winter. Detailed guidance will follow.
COVID-19 vaccination exemption guidance updated
How to apply for official proof that, for medical reasons, you are unable to be vaccinated and / or tested for COVID-19, is now covered in the updated guidance, which includes the longer-term medical exemption process. Ultimately this supersedes the temporary process. Please remember that the temporary self-certification ceases to be valid 12 weeks after the implementation date of the newly announced longer-term process and the new process will take immediate effect from Friday 24 December.
Please note that the new exemption process:
- is a general one for everyone and does not just relate to mandatory vaccination for people deployed in care homes
- requires demonstration of status using NHS COVID Pass (via NHS App, website or letter)
- states that medical exemption can be applied for by the person or their carer
- permits reasons that are similar to the temporary process (end of life, autistic people, people with learning disabilities etc. who can’t receive vaccination even with reasonable adjustments, someone with allergies to ALL available vaccines, those with adverse reaction to first dose, pregnant women up to 16 weeks after birth, unspecified short or long-term medical conditions)
- requires exemption to be confirmed by a clinician: a GP, specialist or midwife
- states that those who have taken part in a vaccination trial are eligible for the NHS COVID Pass (but it may not be accepted abroad).
If any care homes are concerned about how vaccination exemptions will impact on them then they can contact the Market Management Team.
Always calculate booster vaccinations period in days
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation guidance states that a booster vaccine dose should be offered no earlier than six months after completion of the primary vaccine course, as per the guidance issued on 14 September.
As the period of six months can be calculated in different ways, for consistency, it is recommend that the interval is always calculated in days. Therefore, the booster vaccine should be given at least 182 days after the last dose and no later than 238 days after the last dose.
Required ID for staff booster jabs
Frontline health and social care workers can now book their booster vaccinations through the National Booking Service (NBS). These staff can only be vaccinated when official proof of this status is presented, including those who are vaccinated through local booking services and walk-in clinics, as well as appointments made through the NBS.
Forms of identification that are accepted are either a workplace photo ID, a letter from their employer from the past three months or a payslip from the past three months which shows their employer.
New PPE Emergency phone line
Since March 2020, the National Supply Disruption Response (NSDR) has been servicing emergency PPE requests for UK healthcare and social care providers via a dedicated telephone line: 0800 915 9964.
From Monday 4 October 2021 the service will transfer to the PPE customer services team set up by Unipart Logistics. The Department of Health and Social Care PPE team and Clipper Group will continue to supply PPE.
The new telephone number for any emergency PPE requests is 0800 876 6802, where requests will be serviced by Unipart customer services.
The Unipart team will support requests in the same way the NSDR has to date. Their opening hours are: Monday to Sunday from 7.00am to 7.00pm.
The NSDR telephone line (0800 915 9964) remains in use for healthcare and social care providers and suppliers to report national supply disruptions relating to any medical products.
PCR test kits delivered by the DHSC
In Devon we have experienced a small number of providers reporting the short shelf life of PCR test kits received. We have been advised by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) that all PCR tests sent in the future will have at least three months of shelf life on the day of dispatch.
To ensure you are using valid tests and most importantly, minimise the chance of void results, it is important to:
- Always take note of the expiry date when managing your inventory and use the tests in the order they were received. Please check the expiry date on the box and sample the expiry dates stamped on the tests kits within the box to ensure they match.
- Dispose of any tests that have expired, or are within seven days of expiry.
If you have been delivered test kits with a shelf life of less than three months please email us with the following information: date of delivery and expiry date as noted on the box or test kit. The testing team will then follow this up with the DHSC.
Changes to test kits for care homes
From Monday 11 October care homes will receive two types of Lateral Flow Test kits, a kit that will provide results in 15 minutes and a kit that provides results in 30 minutes. Care home staff should check the instructions on how to use each of these types of self-test kits which are found in the test kit packaging.
NHS ambulance staff exempt from care home vaccination entry requirements
As members of the health service deployed for emergency response, ambulance clinicians and first responders are exempt from the double vaccination requirement needed for entry to care homes. Please view the exemption guidance.
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is aware that some ambulance crews have been initially declined entry to care homes. If a situation occurs when an impasse is reached between the responding ambulance clinician and the care home staff, the situation should be escalated to the local Operations Commander for resolution.
Delays to patient care must be minimised by effective partnership working on-scene. These staff are one of only three groups with such an exemption and they will be compliant with infection prevention and control measures.
Shingles vaccines cannot be co-administered with COVID-19 vaccination
Please note that the shingles vaccine cannot be co-administered with COVID-19 and there needs to be a gap of at least seven days.
CQC role in care home vaccinations
The role of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is to regulate against the regulations as they are set by government. As such, the CQC is encouraging providers to read the operational guidance and to take the necessary actions to be prepared for this duty to come into place.
The requirement forms part of the fundamental standards that will be monitored and enforced in appropriate cases by the CQC. They will not begin monitoring this until it becomes a duty on 11 November 2021. They will continue to use their existing assessment and enforcement policies and take a proportionate approach, to ensure the welfare and safety of people who use services. They will always treat each matter individually and consider the individual circumstances when undertaking an assessment and deciding on any possible next steps.
Coronavirus verses regular cold symptoms
There is recognition now of a crossover of current symptoms between coronavirus and having a cold. We have all known about the main three symptoms: the high temperature, the continuous cough and the loss of your usual sense of taste or smell. But studies have shown there to be more symptoms of coronavirus, including headache, runny nose, sneezing and sore throat. So with those symptoms similar to having a regular cold, it is difficult to know what is making us unwell.
The producers of the ZOE COVID Study app, have now published their tips for how to tell the difference between the viruses and when you should get tested.
- How do I know if I have a cold or COVID-19?
- What are the most common COVID-19 symptoms if you’re vaccinated?
- What are the most common COVID-19 symptoms if you’re unvaccinated?
- When should I get a COVID-19 test?
- What should I do if I think I have COVID-19?
Please visit the DCC website for guidance about how to get a test to check if you have coronavirus – whether you have symptoms or not.
Booster jabs begin for most vulnerable
COVID-19 booster vaccinations have begun in Devon for those who are most vulnerable to coronavirus. Eligible people will be offered a booster dose at least 26 weeks (six months) after they had their second COVID-19 vaccine dose.
The majority of people who are currently eligible will receive their invite within the next three weeks. Please wait to be contacted via letter, text or email before trying to book and don't contact the NHS until you are invited for your booster. Once you have received an invitation, you can book your appointment using the National Booking Service via the NHS website or by calling 119.
Could you support a clinical student in your nursing home?
The Devon Clinical Placement Expansion Programme (CPEP) team is working with a number of Devon’s nursing / care homes who recognise the value of hosting nursing and allied health profession students in their settings. Showcasing the care you provide can impact positively on the whole team and help with both recruitment and retention of staff. Students can also act as a resource, for example home managers have acknowledged that:
- an occupational therapy student could undertake seating assessments and support individuals to pursue their hobbies
- a dietetic student could work with an individual to increase their nutritional intake and support the review of menu plans
- a nursing student could support the registered nurses with all nursing duties, such as wound care, medication administration, catheter care
- a physiotherapy student could assist with falls risk assessment and support individuals with movement programmes.
Here’s what Dr Len Lofts, CEO, The Northam Care Trust has to say about the benefits:
"Clinical placements in social care are a brilliant way of sharing knowledge, experience and innovative learning and practice across social care and health provision. They are a pure workforce investment in all that is good in Social Care and the NHS and they make such a difference to the lives of the people we support".
If you are interested to know more please email Terrie Chaplin (Clinical Placement Expansion Programme Lead) or ring her on 07494 873454.
New support package for care providers to adopt digital social care records
A new partnership between NHSX and Digital Social Care has been formed to support the universal adoption of digital social care records.
The new national support offer includes masterclasses, buyer guidance, model contracts and template specifications. NHSX will also be supporting nine Integrated Care Systems from across the country to deliver small-scale pilots to help inform their plans for supporting the care sector in future years.
Visit the Digital Social Care or NHSX websites for more information.
Public Health Devon advice to parents of school-age pupils
If your child has symptoms of coronavirus, they should not go to school. They should take a PCR test - not a lateral flow device (LFD) test - and they should self-isolate pending the result of that test. LFD tests are only for people who show no symptoms of having the virus.
If your child is identified as a close contact, including if someone in your household tests positive, they should take a PCR test. However, unless they have symptoms of coronavirus, they are not required to stay off school while they wait for the test results.
If your child tests positive with a routine LFD test, they should stay at home and arrange a PCR test. They should isolate while they wait for the result. If the PCR test is positive, they should continue self-isolating. If the PCR test is negative, they can return to school, but they should continue to routinely take the LFD tests twice a week.
All secondary school age pupils and their teachers, should be taking LFD tests twice a week.
Remember to share your good news stories in this newsletter
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