Frequently asked questions for Trust staff

The use of appropriate PPE will reduce the risk of cross infection. However, this should only be used when a 2 metre social distance cannot be maintained.

No, please maintain social distancing and only wear PPE if likely to be within 2 metres of service users for anything other than a brief encounter.

No, there is no need to wear PPE unless you are unable to maintain a 2 metre distance.

Staff should not remain within 2 metres of another person for any longer than necessary without PPE. Staff should withdraw and wash their hands ASAP, and the 2 metre distance should be reinstated immediately.

If the 2 metre distance is being continually breached or personal cares are required, then staff should wear PPE of apron, gloves and mask.

If you are within 2 metres of a person with confirmed or possible Covid-19 and you do not have any PPE, it is unlikely you will become infected during a brief face-to-face encounter even if the person makes physical contact with you.

Please maintain social distancing and only wear PPE if likely to be within 2 metres of service users for any time period other than a brief encounter.

A person having had a casual face-to-face brief encounter with a Covid-19 case for less than 15 minutes and at a distance of less than 2 metres is viewed as a low risk from cross infection but longer duration of contact increases the risk of transmission. This applies to all wards irrespective of whether any service users have Covid-19.

Please note, this does not mean staff should remain within 2 metres unprotected for up to 15 minutes. Staff should not remain within 2 metres of another person for any longer than necessary without PPE. Staff should withdraw and wash their hands ASAP, and the 2 metre distance should be reinstated immediately.

If the 2 metre distance is likely to be continually breached or personal cares are required within 2 metres, then staff should wear PPE of apron, gloves and mask.

Yes.

No, if social distancing is maintained, although wash your hands regularly.

No.

The infection prevention and control team are visiting wards and services to explain the national and Trust PPE guidance and how it should apply in different areas. The ability to maintain social distancing will vary between areas but will also fluctuate depending on the activity and acuity at the time and the role of the staff. Therefore, we would recommend that wards and services assess individual and environmental risks to social distancing at the start of a shift and periodically as circumstances dictate and take account of what roles staff are expected to fulfil.

The fact that our inpatient service users are mainly static, not going in and out or mixing with others outside the ward area means that staff are likely to be more of a risk to them than they are to staff. Some patients will have underlying health problems that make them more vulnerable to infection.

Please follow the infection control guidance for physical restraint of service users suspected / confirmed of having Covid-19 on the Trust’s coronavirus intranet pages. Contingency planning should be based on assessment of the individual and environmental risks at the start of a shift and as circumstances dictate.