Message sent on behalf of Dr Shaz Wahid, Medical Director - Update to patient and staff COVID-19 testing  

We have reviewed our current guidance around patient and staff testing for COVID-19. This will come into effect from Monday 24^th April. 

The updated guidance can be found on the intranet here. 

The key changes are outlined below. 

Patient testing 

• Patients will not need to take an LFT test 3 days before elective procedures. This will now only be done if they have symptoms of respiratory illness when they attend for their appointment. 
• Please note that while we are changing this guidance for all new appointments, there will be some patients booked in for procedures in the next few weeks that will have already been asked to test before coming in. They should continue to do so.
• Patients who need emergency operations will be screened for symptoms and tested where necessary by the referring department. 
• The pathway for testing in ED and SDEC will be the same for adults and paediatrics.   
• Lumira point of care testing for COVID-19 will be undertaken for patients in ED / SDEC who are: 

  - Symptomatic for possible COVID-19 

  - Due for transfer to B28  

  - Immunocomprimised with a recent positive test in the community (>6 days) 

• Inpatients who have symptoms or who are being transferred to B28 or discharged to a care home will now be tested with LFTs. The exception to this would be symptomatic patients being discharged to a care home. In this instance a PCR test would still be required.

    

Staff testing 

• Colleagues who have symptoms of viral respiratory illness will not need to take an LFT test unless they deliver direct patient care to patients on B28, OHDU or the Phoenix Unit. 
• Any member of staff who has tested positive, has symptoms of viral respiratory illness or has been in close contact with a confirmed case can return to work if: 

  - They have no temperature or their temperature has returned to  normal for 48 hours. 

  - They feel well enough to do so. 

  - They wear a surgical face mask or FFP3 until day 11 if they work on B28, OHDU, Phoenix Unit or they have ongoing respiratory symptoms upon returning to work .

Colleagues should continue to follow all IPC measures at all times. Please take some time to familiarise yourself with the changes and talk to your line manager or the IPC team if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your ongoing support. 

Shaz