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This issue contains a link to the national consultation on visiting in care homes, hospitals and hospices which closes on 20 February. Make sure you have your say.
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.
Pressure Ulcer Prevention Webinars
The next Pressure Ulcer Prevention Webinar hosted by the Independent Living Centre is on Wednesday 21 February from 2-3.30pm.
The Webinar will give you the opportunity to find out more about:
- Pressure Ulcers: causes and treatment
- Prevention of pressure ulcers
- Interventions to improve posture in bed and chair to reduce risk
- Facilitating movement and activity to reduce the risk
To book a place please email: ilc-exeter@devon.gov.uk
Future dates:
- 1 May, 2-3.30pm
- 3 July, 2-3.30pm
- 11 September, 2-3.30pm
- 23 October, 2-3.30pm
- 11 December, 2-3.30pm
Updated National Guidance and Tools for the management of Acute Respiratory Infections
The National Guidance for the management of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) in Adult Social Care Settings has changed. The previous Covid-19 supplement has been expanded to include all common Acute Respiratory viruses e.g. COVID, flu, RSV, parainfluenza, rhinovirus etc and is now referred to as the ARI Supplement.
Guidance changes
Infection prevention and control in adult social care: acute respiratory infection - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Summary of key changes are:
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Definition of an outbreak – Two or more cases of ARI (including COVID-19, Flu, RSV, rhinovirus etc) within 5 days. This is updated from the previous COVID-19 definition of 14 days and brings it in line with all other viral respiratory infections.
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Testing for COVID-19 – For care homes only, test up to 5 residents who developed symptoms most recently, rather than the first 5. This is to be able to identify the cause of infection in the individuals likely to be most infectious. You will no longer need to upload your test results onto the online testing portal. However, you should keep a record of any test results even if negative or void.
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Isolation/exclusion periods– have remained almost the same for COVID-19 i.e. those who test positive should self-isolate/exclude themselves from work for a minimum of 5 days from date of symptom onset (as opposed to the test date) and until they no longer have a fever and are feeling well enough to carry out their usual daily activities and for a maximum of 10 days. For those who are symptomatic but have not tested or test negative, they should stay away from others until they no longer have a fever and are feeling well.
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For any other respiratory viruses, the HPT will advise on recommended Isolation/exclusion (by email and/or verbally, once you have reported an outbreak)
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PPE - face masks to be worn when within 1 metre of someone with confirmed or suspected ARI. This is updated from the previous recommendations of 2 metres. Gloves and aprons should only be used subject to risk assessment and only if there is a risk of exposure to blood/body fluids.
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Health & Wellbeing - new section on ensuring service user wellbeing while supporting symptomatic individuals to stay away from others. (e.g. ensuring visiting, supporting them to leave their room for fresh air etc.)
- An emphasis that visiting should be maintained (with appropriate safeguards, reductions and risk assessments). Further, more detailed national guidance expected soon.
- Other changes include updates on: symptoms and symptom monitoring; vaccines; and treatments
Care OBRA changes
The Care OBRA has been updated to align with the new guidance. Please continue to use the web-based Care OBRA Tool to report all new suspected or confirmed outbreaks of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) e.g. Flu, COVID-19, RSV or unidentified ARI).
You do NOT have to ring or email the Health Prevention before reporting your ARI outbreak (ARI ONLY!) use the link below:
https://forms.ukhsa.gov.uk/ReportAnOutbreak
After reporting your outbreak via Care OBRA, you will receive an automated Acknowledgement Email and an Advice Email. If these emails classify your outbreak as High Priority AND it is a weekend or public holiday, you must also call the HPT.
- You may also use the Care OBRA to report SINGLE CONFIRMED cases of FLU. If you have a single case of flu (usually only confirmed in hospitalised patients) please check to make sure that you do not have any other suspected cases in your setting. If so, then report as an outbreak
- You do not need to report further cases in an existing outbreak or cluster unless you have cause for concern as stated above or have been asked to do so
- You do not need to report single cases of COVID-19
- You do not need to report cases that you are certain are UNLINKED to transmission in the setting
- Do NOT report other types of outbreak e.g. norovirus using the Care OBRA Tool
Please explore our SW Infection Prevention and Control and Winter Readiness Toolkit for lots of useful resources, including links to relevant national guidance and as well as SW Checklists, posters, information sheets etc https://swcouncils.gov.uk/ukhsa-care-home-and-residential-care-guidance/
Outbreak poster
Please find attached the ARI Outbreak Poster – When and How to Contact the HPT, which includes the live link and QR code to the Care OBRA Tool webpage.
You should report your outbreak as soon as it is recognised (and for care homes only: please test up to five of your most recently symptomatic cases by COVID-19 LFD, if possible, before completely the Care OBRA). This is particularly important for suspected or confirmed flu outbreaks, as the HPT is likely to recommend flu antivirals to treat cases and prevent flu in those exposed. Antivirals are most effective when started early.
SW_24.01.09_ARI_OB_Poster.pdf
24.01.30_ARI in ASC list of updates.docx
Right Care Right Person (RCRP) campaign
The RCRP was ‘soft’ launched’ earlier this year.
It’s about how vulnerable people in crisis are dealt with by the emergency services and subsequently other services, including local authorities like ourselves.
It aims to ensure they are supported by the most appropriate agency for their circumstances.
The first phase of RCRP is about concerns for welfare. This is when a member of the public or a partner agency calls 999 about someone who they think may be vulnerable or in distress. When the public call 999 they often don’t know which emergency service to ask for and the call is passed to the police by default.
The police will always respond when there’s a crime, violence or risk to public safety, but they may not always be the best people to deal with someone in distress who needs more professional and specialised help.
RCRP aims to change that. From 9 January, 999 Devon and Cornwall Police call handlers have been using a new decision-making toolkit to guide them through the call and decide if it meets the threshold for police attendance and advise the caller what do to if it doesn’t.
You should not notice any difference. The most important message is that you should continue to call 999 or 101 if you have a concern for someone’s welfare.
RCRP is being implemented locally in four phases over the next 12 months by a partnership made up of Devon and Cornwall Police, health care providers, the South Western Ambulance Service Trust and local authorities, including us.
Find out more about Right Care Right Person
Update and National Consultation: Visiting in Care Homes, Hospitals and Hospices
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) held a consultation in June 2023 on visiting in care homes, hospitals and hospices and published the government response on 5 December.
DHSC is aware that the vast majority of providers recognise that visiting is a crucial part of a person’s care and are facilitating visits in line with existing government guidance. However, feedback from some respondents was that current guidance was unclear and that some people were still encountering barriers when trying to visit loved ones.
That is why, in December 2023, the government laid before Parliament the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2023, which sets a standard for visiting in care homes, hospitals and hospices. The regulations will commence on 6 April.
The Care Quality Commission is now consulting on its proposed guidance for this legislation to help the health and social care sector understand what is required of them. The CQC has published draft guidance and invites councils, members of the public and providers, their representatives, and other stakeholders to give their feedback through the online form or easy read.
The consultation closes at midday on 20 February. If you have any questions, please contact: visiting@dhsc.gov.uk
Reminder Consultation on Care Homes Fees Uplift 2024/25
Reminder that the consultation period will run until Wednesday 28 February 2024 at midnight.
If you have any further questions about the contents, please contact socialcarebusinessrelations-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
Good News Story - Doneraile Care Home Mad Hatter’s Tea Party!
On Thursday 25 January Doneraile Care Home in Newton Abbot held a Mad Hatter’s Tea party..
Residents and staff prepared for the event by making decorations and hats, there was a lot of tweedle deeing and tweedled dumming going on!
Cakes galore, a checkerboard sandwich tray and drinks were on the menu, with residents deciding to EAT them or DRINK them. A March Hare assisted to serve the tea party, in the form of the Home Manager, Kath Dawe.
Doneraile Care home was joined by residents from the neighbouring sister home, St Benets Court to join in with the laughter, fun and games.
A magician amused and delighted the residents with clever card tricks in an environment adorned with streamers an hearts. Everyone present was left grinning like Cheshire Cats.
Find out more about Doneraile care home at:
https://donerailecarehome.co.uk/
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