As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 continues to grow across the UK (when this story was posted at 2pm on March 4 the number had reached 85), the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock has acknowledged that it is looking more likely that there will be widespread transmission of the virus in this country.
England's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has also warned that an epidemic on UK soil is now 'highly likely'.
Matt Hancock has outlined the government's planned response to the COVID-19 outbreak in four stages: Contain, Delay, Research and Mitigate. At present, although cases are escalating, we remain in the containment stage.
So far patients have been treated in specialist units, but as the number of cases grows there is an acceptance that this will change and that acute and community hospitals - and staff - will be involved. It is therefore vital that NHS Trusts take steps to ensure staff are familiar with the process for dealing with infected patients and are prepared to treat them with minimal risk to themselves. Trusts should also be putting measures in place to ensure the resilience of their services in the face of a possible pandemic.
NHS employers and unions have issued a guidance,* intended as a checklist for NHS organisations, which offers a series of recommendations, including:
• Ensure all staff - including those employed by contractors - know how to lower their own infection risk, for example, through regular hand washing
• Ensure ambulance and emergency department staff know what to do if someone suspected of having COVID-19 requires treatment
• Assess which of their employees would be most at risk should there be confirmed cases
• Identify measures to limit the spread of infection, for example, the safe procedure for putting on and taking off protective equipment
• Ensure staff are easily able to raise any concerns with senior managers
• Ensure workers treating COVID-19 patients are able to take adequate breaks on and between shifts
• Ensure any staff treating suspected cases know what to do if they begin to feel unwell.
As and when the disease moves into the different phases as outlined by the Health Secretary and the virus becomes more established, health and social care systems will need to implement their own business continuity plans. The government's coronavirus action plan says these should cover:
• Continuing to minimise the risk of infection to patients and those receiving care
• Further identification of vulnerable people to be supported
• Arrangements for the continuation of essential services, to maintain normal business for as many people as possible for as long as possible
• Plans to reduce the impact of staff absentees during the pandemic
• Systems to lessen the impact of disruption to society and the supply chain.
Drive through testing
The Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust has opened a new, drive through coronavirus testing service in Parsons Green. The service is available only to patients referred via NHS 111 and means people worried about the virus can safely and quickly access a test close to home.
Once referred, people are invited to an appointment in their car during which two community nurses carry out a swab in the nose and the mouth, which are checked and assessed within 72 hours.
People are still asked to self-isolate while checks are completed.
Hand hygiene
The government has also issued a new public awareness campaign about the importance of proper, regular hand washing with soap and hot water, using tissues to 'catch' a cough or a sneeze and then disposing of the tissue.
* Download the guidance here.
NHS England and NHS Improvement and partners have also published a series of quick guides to assist multi-agency working and support local health and care systems manage increasing demand on their services. The guides can be found here.
