COVID-19: what part do we play?

COVID-19: slow the spread

You will all be aware of the spread of COVID-19. Our team at Bath ASU are working together as a community to get through the challenge. That challenge for us is both personal in our community but also about how we play our part in the wider healthcare sector and society’s response to the virus.

The virus will become more widespread, that is certain. The government’s efforts to contain it are currently focussed around reducing the peak of infections to enable the NHS to better cope with those who fall seriously ill. Slowing the spread may also move the peak into the late Spring or maybe early Summer when its ability to spread in drier warmer times will be reduced. There will also be more time to prepare. The graph usefully shows how this works.

So what is our job in this? While we support each other in shifting our own peak infection rate, we also need to maintain our capacity as best we can. Every dose Bath ASU cannot make is a patient’s treatment falling back on NHS resources that are needed elsewhere. Every Pharmaxo patient not treated may send them back to an NHS hospital. The more that we can do, the better the NHS is equipped to focus on treating the worst affected of ourselves and our neighbours.

What are we doing?

Take-home packs

Our teams have worked together to create take-home packs for all our staff members. This pack will include the latest posters and materials to help explain to families the sort of things we can do to slow the spread. Hand cleaning and surface cleansing more often are key. The good news is that we are well trained, the advice is basically an extension of good cleanroom / clinical practice.

Follow advice

The NHS is running a webpage that is updated as more knowledge and understanding is developed.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

There are links there to travel advice.

Planning

We have been monitoring supply chains for some time now. Our management teams are currently considering scenarios where we have significantly reduced numbers of people in teams. This will certainly include people working temporarily in alternative roles and maybe across group companies.

Increased controls

We are currently looking at controls around who can and cannot access our premises. As an example, measures are likely to include some level of hand sanitisation prior to entering buildings.

Working together, we can remain a place Where patients come first and at the same time deliver on our commitment to our employees.