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Although the flurry of guidance updates has slowed down, changes are still being made to reflect the shift to living with COVID-19 alongside other viruses.
We do our best to keep the content and structure of our PEN website up-to-date in these fast-changing times and your suggestions on how to improve the website are always welcome.
Testing guidance update
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for adult social care services guidance was updated on 19 April.
The update clarifies the guidance regarding ‘symptomatic’ staff, to make it clear that if staff have one or more of the new longer list of symptoms AND feel too unwell to work or have a high temp they should isolate for 48 hours and test.
It specifically states “Staff with respiratory symptoms who feel well enough to work and do not have a temperature, do not need to take a symptomatic test and can continue working. “
The guidance update also clarifies ordering tests and returning tests in case of an outbreak etc. It is also noted that as from this weekend, 23 April, there will no longer be any weekend or bank holiday collections for priority post box returns, meaning any outbreak testing will need to be done on normal working weekdays only.
Nine new COVID-19 symptoms added
The list of COVID-19 symptoms has been expanded to include nine new signs, now taking the total to 12. The original symptoms include a fever, new continuous cough and loss of sense of smell or taste. The new 9 symptoms include a headache, sore throat, blocked or runny nose, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, aching body, feeling tired or exhausted, diarrhoea and feeling or being sick.
Webinar re-watch: COVID-19 changes for care homes
Recent weeks have seen the updating of guidance for care homes and other care settings as part of the broader Living with COVID-19 plans announced recently by the Government.
In this webinar, hosted by Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social, she and other colleagues from the Department of Health and Social Care discuss changes to testing, infection prevention and control (IPC) and answer care colleagues' questions and concerns.
The Spring Booster Vaccination has commenced for residents of Older People’s Care homes, Immuno-suppressed and those over the age of. 75
The vaccination teams will be in contact, in due course with Older People’s Care Homes, to arrange a mutually convenient date and time for them to visit and administer these vaccinations to the residents, within these groups.
Reminder! Transforming Social Care: all your questions answered in one place
A reminder to visit Transforming Social Care, the one stop shop for anyone keen to learn more about the future of social care in England.
The Government has a long-term vision putting people and families at the heart of services. It is a vision promoting independence and community living, as well as providing more support for the adult social care workforce.
Have your say on CQC's future regulatory model
If you haven’t joined a recent webinar or had time to get up to speed with the development of CQC's new regulatory model you can watch Dave James (Head of Policy for Adult Social Care at CQC) take you through our current thinking. Please share your thoughts with CQC by answering four brief questions on Citizen Lab, it is free and easy to sign up.
CQC Survey on Local Authority assurance
The Care Quality Commission CQC are expecting new responsibilities related to Local Authority assurance through the Health and Care Bill from April 2023. The CQC want your feedback on what you think they should consider when they gather evidence and data on local authorities, how they can connect with local people to inform their evidence and what are the key pieces of evidence they should be collecting.
DHSC call for evidence to support mental health plan
The DHSC has announced a call for evidence ‘to inform a new 10-year mental health plan’, with a closing date of 5 July 2022.
Skills for Care monthly workforce data
Skills for Care has published its latest monthly data for the social care workforce and its #CelebratingSocialCare campaign continues throughout April.
Highest risk COVID-19 patients receive new antivirals at home
Thousands of patients with Covid-19 who are most likely to be admitted to hospital are receiving a cutting-edge NHS antiviral treatment at home that improves symptoms “within hours”.
Covid treatments, which cut the risk of serious illness from the virus have been provided to more than 32,000 patients since being introduced for patients outside of hospital in December.
One of the latest covid treatments, known as Paxlovid, was found in trials to slash hospitalisation and deaths by 88%, and has been given to more than 6,000 patients already – with over 1,400 patients benefitting in the last seven days alone.
Further information about who can access treatments and how is available here.
Versus Arthritis Together Fund
Versus Arthritis are distributing grants of up to £5,000 to support people with long term health conditions to get active. Applications are particularly welcome from groups who also support people from culturally diverse communities, disabled people, and people from lower socio-economic groups.
They are particularly interested in supporting people with musculoskeletal conditions as described at About arthritis | Conditions, symptoms, treatments, support (versusarthritis.org)
For more information about the Together fund, including how organisations can apply, please visit: Inspiring active communities (versusarthritis.org). If you have any questions or wish to discuss the funding available further, please email physicalactivityva@versusarthritis.org.
Devon Nightingale’s legacy continues as the hospital tackles the region’s waiting lists
The NHS Nightingale in Exeter was decommissioned as a COVID-19 hospital in March 2021. The site has since been transformed into a state-of-the-art facility housing two operating theatres for day case and short stay elective orthopaedic procedures; CT, MRI, X-ray, ultrasound, echocardiograms and fluoroscopy services; a rheumatology department which provides outpatient care and day case infusions and diagnostic screening services for ophthalmology patients with a high-volume cataract treatment hub.
You can read more on the NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) website.
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