Published on: 18 July 2022

Given the current high temperatures, we are making some temporary changes to Trust guidance as follows:  

 

Uniforms

  • With effect from 7pm this evening, staff working in clinical areas can wear a plain short sleeved top or T-shirt (this must be one colour and have no logos).  The top must have sleeves (i.e. no vest tops).    
  • We will keep this in place for 48 hours until 7pm on Wednesday evening (or when your shift finishes).  
  • Please make sure your name badge / ID is visible for other staff and patients  

  

Water

  • Our facilities teams are out and about making sure there is plenty of water available for staff.   We are making deliveries as quickly as possible. 
  • Colleagues working in South Tyneside District Hospital and Sunderland Royal Hospital can pick up more water (free of charge) from the restaurants as needed.  Please note timings below for Sunderland Royal Hospital: 
    • Between 8am and 1.30pm collect from catering department on A level 
    • Between 2 and 4pm and 10pm until 1.30am collect from restaurant  

 

Electric fans

  • With immediate effect, the use of Trust owned portable fans is now permitted in clinical areas without the need for a risk assessment.    
  • We will keep this in place for 48 hours until 7pm on Wednesday evening.  
  • Please note that portable fans still must not be used in the following areas in line with Trust guidance (click here): 
    • in high-risk areas including operating/ treatment rooms, critical care units, transplant units, dialysis units  
    • in areas where immunocompromised patients receive care, for example, oncology units  
    • in rooms where a patient requires respiratory precautions/ aerosol generating procedures  
    • in rooms where a patient is known or suspected to have an alert organism, for e.g. Clostridium difficile, MRSA, norovirus  
    • in rooms with directed airflow e.g. positive or negative pressure rooms  
    • in areas where sterile supplies are stored or where medical device reprocessing occurs, for example, hospital sterile services department, endoscopy units  
    • in cohort bays during outbreaks  

 

If the use of fans is to be considered in the above areas, a risk assessment must be completed in conjunction with IPC as per Trust guidance (click here). 

  

Allocate on Arrival NHSP shifts

  • With immediate effect we are opening up Allocate on Arrival shifts via NHSP for Band 6 nurses.   
  • This will be in place for the next two weeks until Sunday 31 July  
  • This means Band 6 nurses will be paid at a Band 6 rate for this two-week period only and will also be subject to receive the £50 incentive payments.   
  • The £50 incentive payment scheme for Allocate on Arrival shifts remains in place for Band 5 nurses and Healthcare Assistants. 
  • Please click here for T&Cs.  

 

Thank you all for your hard work.   

 

Please remember to stay hydrated and look after yourselves as well as our patients. 

 

Stay cool #TeamSTSFT J  

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