VACCINATIONS - ALL STAFF CAN NOW BOOK THEIR VACCINATION SLOT

This week, it was announced that that booking for COVID-19 vaccinations is now open to all staff at GMMH.
 
You will have received an email on Tuesday 19, with instructions on how to book your slot, with the option to do so at The Curve or with MFT at North Manchester General Hospital. You can find these instructions, plus further information and resources including our FAQs on our vaccinations section of the intranet and website.
 
We still have a number of slots available for this weekend at The Curve. If you haven't already booked your vaccination, we ask that if possible you do so for Saturday 23 or Sunday 24 January.

Alongside the option to receive the vaccine at The Curve or with MFT, if you are in one of the government's current priority groups, you may be contacted directly by the NHS to arrange a vaccination elsewhere too, such as at your GP surgery or the Etihad Stadium. It is up to you where you decide to receive your vaccination.
 
If you have received your vaccination at a location other than those organised with GMMH (The Curve, Manchester Foundation Trust, Salford Royal Foundation Trust or Carlisle Infirmary) - or if you have decided not to receive a vaccination - please check your emails for this link, which will help us understand uptake and plan the number of remaining vaccines to be delivered.

COVID vaccinations are a two-stage process. Meaning that for optimum immunity, a second vaccine needs to be administered at a later date. Wherever you choose to receive your vaccine, please remember that you must receive your first and second vaccine at the same place.
 
You will be provided with information on how to book your second slot around 12 weeks after your first. Please do not attempt to book your second slot until you receive further guidance. If you do, your booking will be cancelled.
 
This is a fantastic opportunity for every member of staff to protect themselves and their loved ones, and we encourage you to book as soon as you can.

DELIVERING SAFE AND EFFECTIVE CARE DURING LOCKDOWN

With national lockdown now in effect, we want to confirm the Trust's position on how we will continue to deliver safe and effective care and support to service users and staff.

Please see guidance regarding the following situations:

• Visiting

All visiting across our inpatient areas throughout the Trust remains suspended. This is to protect our inpatients, their families, and our staff from the sustained rise in infections across the communities we serve. We will closely examine each situation and in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to facilitate visiting, but only if this is safe to do so. Please facilitate alternatives to face-to-face communication between service users and visitors wherever possible, such as telephone and video calls.

• Face-to-face appointments

We must continue to be there for service users who need us. Therefore, face-to-face appointments should continue as safely as possible and under the guidance we have previously issued - this can be found on the intranet and website.

• Service user groups

It is recognised and supported by national guidance that some face-to-face groups, such as walking groups and alcohol support groups, should continue, as they provide vital therapeutic support during these difficult circumstances.
These groups should be reviewed to ensure that they continue to offer a therapeutic benefit to those taking part, and risk assessed as COVID-safe.
For any queries, please contact infectioncontrol@gmmh.nhs.uk.

• Face-to-face training

It is important that some aspects of training, such as BLS, ILS and PMVA, continues to ensure that staff have the latest guidance, skills and information to deliver life-saving and safe care. We will ensure that vital training is maintained throughout this time, as safely as possible. All face-to-face training has been fully risk assessed to ensure it is safe to continue.

• Recruitment

Please continue to conduct all interviews virtually via Microsoft Teams. If you need any support with this, please contact recruitment@gmmh.nhs.uk.

• Supervision

The Trust recognises the importance of good quality supervision as a key way of supporting staff wellbeing, and strongly encourage regular supervision sessions to be taking place. When undertaking staff supervision face-to-face, please ensure relevant PPE is worn by all parties and that you are in a room that has been risk assessed as COVID-safe for the relevant number of people. Supervision can continue through MS Teams where this is not possible, or where staff are working from home.

Thank you to everyone for your continued hard work and support. We understand that the tightening of restrictions will be difficult for all of you both personally and professionally, but with vaccinations well and truly underway, we are now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It is so important now more than ever that we follow all guidance in order to reap the benefits now and in the future.

LATERAL FLOW TESTING - TELL US HOW YOU FEEL

Your feedback is really important, and will help us to evaluate the uptake of lateral flow testing and identify anything we could do better to support you. Please check your emails to find a link to let us know your thoughts about the lateral flow testing offer.
 
If you would like to request a lateral flow testing kit, please contact your line manager.
 
If you have a lateral flow kit, but are unsure of how to use it you can find clear guidance and instructions for using the Lateral Flow device here.
 
If you originally collected a kit but have changed your mind, that's absolutely fine. Please do return your kit to where you collected it as soon as you can, so that we can redistribute it.