15th April 2020

Lincolnshire NHS COVID-19 update (no.3)

Wednesday 15 April 2020

OVERVIEW

This is our third COVID-19 update report for partners.

The past week has continued to be one of exceptional challenge for the NHS in Lincolnshire.  We want to pay tribute to the dedication, professionalism and compassion from NHS workers across the county in these difficult times. We continue to do all that we can to keep staff safe, support them and work together as one NHS team to provide the best care possible for patients.

The extraordinary support of the public and our partners means so much to us all in the NHS, thank you.

In the past week we have:

·         Continued to ensure that service capacity is in place to cope with the projected increase in demand for the care of patients with Covid-19. At the time of writing we have good capacity in Lincolnshire.

·         We have continued to focus on the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the NHS in the county and currently are not experiencing any significant problems in relation to it. This is a matter of constant focus.

·         We have developed and enhanced capacity to undertake staff testing and now have arrangements in place across the NHS, including general practice, community and mental health services, and with our wider partners in the social care and care home sector.

Please find below a number of updates on specific issues which we hope are of interest to you. 

Thank you again for all your support for the NHS at this time, it is really appreciated.

KEY UPDATES:

 ·         In view of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Butterfly Hospice, Boston, has temporarily closed with effect from Monday 6 April, following consultation with its clinical partners LCHS.  This means its inpatient unit and office accommodation is closed, but all clinical staff have been redeployed into local community services.

·         LCHS is temporarily changing the way patients access care from two of its minor injury units.  As of 7 April there is no longer a walk in service at the minor injury unit at Johnson Community Hospital in Spalding – access will be provided through NHS 111.  The same change was also applied as of 8 April to the minor injuries unit at John Coupland Hospital in Gainsborough.  LCHS has made this change to ensure patients are looked after in a way that best protects members of the public, and is focusing its resources on its home visiting and virtual consultation function.

·         Testing of NHS staff and individuals (living in the same household as NHS staff) continues for those who have been symptomatic for five days or less. In the county, we now have sites in Boston and Lincoln.

·         Stocks of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) continue to help keep Lincolnshire frontline health and social care staff safe as the county responds to the coronavirus pandemic.  A new ordering service for PPE went live on Monday 6 April, which will simplify ordering and delivery for the NHS, providing a single point of contact for all health trusts in Lincolnshire to order stocks and get direct deliveries.

·         LPFT has reassured people that, despite the unprecedented pressure on the NHS, Lincolnshire’s mental health and learning disability services  continue to support people who may be struggling with their emotional and mental wellbeing.  The Trust is keeping its services going as much as possible and has made a number of alterations, including extending a number of services to seven days per week, as well as enabling some service users to have telephone or video contact with their community mental health nurse.

·         As of Wednesday 8 April, the Hyper Acute Stoke Service will move temporarily to and operate from Lincoln County Hospital only

·         A reminder that ULHT has made the decision to cancel all non-urgent outpatient appointments, and is asking patients not attend their outpatient appointment unless they have been contacted directly.  Some outpatient appointments will be conducted by telephone or video calling, and ULHT has contacted these patients individually.  Appointments will be rearranged for a future date at a time when it is safe to do so.

·         People unable to work for more than seven days due to coronavirus can download the Department of Health and Social Care’s new digital isolation notes to provide proof of coronavirus absence from work here;

·         For a web version of this update please click here;

·       Stay home.  Protect the NHS.  Save lives

You can stay in touch via our NHS system website and social media channels:

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Yours sincerely


John Turner

Chief Executive
NHS Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group


Maz Fosh

Chief Executive
Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust


Brendan Hayes

Chief Executive
Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Andrew Morgan

Chief Executive
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust

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