September 2020

Hi everyone, welcome to my latest blog. I hope you are all keeping well during these busy and challenging times. I’m so proud of how you are all coping during this pandemic.

Cases of covid continue to rise both nationally and in Sheffield. Sheffield cases are 43 per 100k, the England average is 16. Nationally, there are nearly 6,000 new cases a day, hospital admissions are rising and new restrictions are being imposed across the country every few days.

This is having a real impact on primary care. I have heard first hand from nurses and other staff in practices how increasingly busy primary care is. I know that those of you working in primary care will be feeling the pressure of this and I just want to let you know that we can see how hard you are working and we really appreciate this effort. Sadly the same can’t be said for some patients as I have heard about how some primary care staff, particularly reception and nursing staff, are facing abuse and harassment from some patients.

This is absolutely unacceptable and I will support any nurse, and other staff members, about this issue. The CCG has plans in place raise the issues publically but please do keep reporting the issues. If you are struggling with your health and wellbeing because of this, please speak out. Speak to your colleagues or line manager and remember to take some time away from work to unwind and destress. You’re all doing a great job!

As the flu season fast approaches I know that general practice will become even busier as flu clinics starts. Guidance on PPE for staff running flu clinics is being worked up and is due out soon, we will share via the practice bulletin when it is available. It’s really important that you also have your flu vaccination as front line health care workers; it will help to protect you, your family and patients from the flu.

For staff based at the CCG, information about how to get your vaccination has been circulated in the Weekly Round Up – please speak to your line manager if you’re unsure how to get yours.

Earlier this month was World Patient Safety Day. Led by the World Health Organisation, the campaign aims to raise global awareness about the importance of healthcare workers safety as an essential in being able to provide safe patient care. This is such an important message, if our frontline workers aren’t safe and well then they are unable to provide safe care to patients – this is why your health and wellbeing needs to be a priority. You have all done, and continue to do, a fantastic job in providing safe care during the pandemic. I know it isn’t easy to wear PPE constantly but you have all taken on the challenge with a positive attitude.

On the subject of patient safety, the national patient safety strategy states that every organisation needs to appoint a dedicated patient safety expert. We of course already have staff that work on patient safety and it is everybody’s responsibility, but I’m pleased to say that from November the CCG will have a dedicated patient safety specialist who will provide dynamic, senior leadership, visibility and support. In addition, they will support the development of a patient safety culture, safety systems and improvement activity. They will also work in networks with patient safety specialists from other organisations to share good practice and learn from each other.

I just want to take this opportunity to say well done to the CHC team at the CCG, this month they have restarted CHC assessments following a hiatus due to covid-19 where some of the team were redeployed to other areas. This has been a mammoth task for the team as there was a big backlog of assessments that needed doing but they have got on with this and are working through the caseload. Thanks team, you’re doing great!

That’s all for this month, please do look after yourselves and look out for colleagues.

Thanks again for your on-going hard work

Alun

Alun Windle

Chief Nurse