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The current cold snap continues and this issue contains the latest weather alert from the Met Office and the latest winter infection control resources from the UK Health Services Authority.
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.
Level 3 Cold Weather Alert
There is a 99% probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions/heavy snow until Sunday 18 Dec in parts of England. This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services.
This is an update to the current Cold Weather Alert and extends the existing Level 3 Alert until next Sunday morning. Widely cold or very cold at first with severe overnight frosts in places (especially over snow cover). A rapid transition to milder conditions is expected through Sunday. It should be noted that this may be a relatively short milder interlude with cold weather expected to return from the north next week.
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/cold-weather-alert/#?tab=coldWeatherAlert
National Infection Prevention and Control and Winter Readiness Advice and Resources
The UK Health Services Authority (UKHSA) has produced the three posters below:
Please also note that flu (influenza) has begun to circulate across the UK.and COVID-19 swabs do not detect flu.
- The symptoms of flu and covid-19 (and for several other respiratory viruses) are very similar.
- For symptomatic residents/clients or staff, please always test using COVID-19 LFD. If negative, then consider other viruses. The HPT can assist with testing for other viruses, including Flu
- It is also possible that a person may be infected with both COVID-19 and Flu at the same time. Be suspicious if your residents are particularly poorly and/or the infection appears to be spreading very rapidly.
Use our Checklists – one for acute respiratory infections and one for viral diarrhoea and vomiting ( D&V_ICP).
If you have an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting, always call the HPT if:
- You suspect a food source as a cause – an indication of this might be that cases all arise within a very short time period
- Cases have blood in their stools
- Cases are severely affected and require hospital care
Rigorous Infection Prevention and Control measures are crucial to preventing transmission of all sorts of infections.
See UKHSA Infection Prevention and Control and Winter Readiness - South West Councils (swcouncils.gov.uk) for lots of useful information and advice.
COVID-19 Vaccination campaign update - last chances to get your Autumn Booster
We are expecting the NHS to withdraw the Autumn Booster offer in mid-February (available to anybody who turns 50 before 31 December 2022).
As we get further into winter please do take up this offer to boost your immunity and protect yourself and the vulnerable people you work with.
Vaccinations can be booked via the National Booking Service or please access one of the many drop-in centres Search - Find a walk-in coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination site (www.nhs.uk)
N.B. The offer of a first and second vaccination to those who have not yet taken these up will continue beyond February
Nursing strikes reminder
As you are probably aware there will be nurse strikes today.
Nurses that have been balloted to strike are only nurses that are directly employed by the NHS and are subject to Agenda for Change terms and conditions
The Community Nursing service is deemed an essential service so the community nursing teams will still be working on the days of the strikes. They will be running with their usual weekend level of staffing to see the diabetic patients, end of life or any crisis visits, e.g. pain management, wound infections, category 4 pressure ulcers or blocked catheters. It is envisaged that there will be a slightly reduced service on those dates and there will be increased activity on the day prior to the strike dates and the following day of the strikes.
Please follow your usual process with regards to seeking required nursing interventions but be aware that if the intervention is not deemed essential for that day it may be actioned the following day.
Nurse interventions that are deemed to be essential or crucial to be carried out in a timely manner will still go ahead. Examples of these are described above.
What you need to know about Scarlet Fever and Group A Strep
We've sent the public information about Scarlet Fever and Group A Strep, along with other health advice for December. You can read the special edition of Connect Me online. Please share the link as needed.
Occupational Therapy Show 2022
The Independent Living Centre attended this year’s Occupational Therapy Show November, 2022. See what new equipment and gadget innovations we found interesting in their OT Show newsletter
https://www.independentlivingcentre.org.uk/occupational-therapy-show-2022/
Office of Gas Electricity Markets (Ofgem) Power Cuts webinar today
Ofgem, the Office of Gas & Electricity Markets is hosting a Power Cuts webinar today (Thursday 15 December) from 10am-11am.The webinar is open to attendees supporting people who are vulnerable or medically dependent on electricity, as the support available to customers during an energy shortage emergency is different to the level of support that some customers will be familiar with if they have experienced power outages due to maintenance or weather events. Participants can sign up here.
Digitising Social Care Survey reminder
Complete the Digitising Social Care (DiSC) National Programme Survey
Could the people you care for and your teams benefit from introducing digital technologies into your organisation? Providers have said this has created more time to care, reduced admin, improved trust and communication, inside and outside of the organisation.
Please complete this CQC registered care provider survey here. Your response will be used to shape the support and funding provider offering. If you are unable to complete the survey online, we can also arrange to take your response by phone. You can request this by emailing collaborativecare@deltservices.co.uk
Adult Social Care Vision and Strategy engagement
Devon County Council is currently refreshing its Vision for Adult Social Care and developing three new strategies to accompany that Vision. ‘Living Well in Devon’ is for people from 18 to 64, ‘Ageing Well in Devon’ is for people aged 65 and over and ‘Caring Well in Devon’ is aimed at unpaid carers. A presentation on the Vision and Strategies was given to the Provider Engagement Network Reference Group on 28 November and feedback is by 21 December to enable your views to be taken into account. You will also get the opportunity to comment on the draft documents in the New Year. Please send feedback to asc-strategies-feedback@devon.gov.uk.
Become a Devon Wellbeing Support Champion!
Join a free 10-week program and learn how to support the health and wellbeing of your colleagues. Over 100 people across the Devon system have signed up already, cohorts starting in January!
One Devon are working with Gro Health to make staff health and wellbeing a priority. Get access to a FREE 10-week clinical psychologist-led wellbeing program, designed to train you in understanding trauma and its impact, building resilience, mindfulness, and identifying burnout and stress in colleagues. Learn how to apply motivational interviewing skills and psychological first aid at work, and how to have sensitive conversations with colleagues.
What’s included?
• 10 weeks of bespoke education and training
• Learn live and catch up on-demand
• Sessions delivered in cohorts of 20 colleagues
• FREE access to Gro Health for 12 months
Share with your team and register your interest to get started.
Introducing the Higher Development Award with South Devon College!
Fully funded level one personal development pilot, providing experienced employees from all Health and Social Care settings with the opportunity to develop core knowledge, skills, behaviours and values. Covering topics such as working in a team, developing customer service skills, problem solving at work and more! You will have the opportunity to work alongside others within the sector, enhancing your understanding of how your role links to the multidisciplinary team, and meets the needs of your organisation and the wider sector. You will develop your Maths, English and Digital skills and participate in a Workplace Improvement Project. Starting from February 2023.
‘Pinpoint’ – the Devon Community Directory entires
PinPoint is Devon's community directory, used by the public, GP’s, health sector, DCC staff in order to find suitable services and support in their local area. Please can providers ensure you have your company/ service details registered on here and ensure the information is always up to date. It is populated by providers through setting up an account. If you need help or see any errors please email pinpoint@devon.gov.uk
NHS Devon vaccination stakeholder briefings
Read the latest weekly briefing and view previous ones.
Remember to share your good news stories in this newsletter
Has your support helped transform someone’s life? Have you got innovative practice to share? Send us your celebratory photos and words and we will help share good practice.
Revisit previous good news stories
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