Public Board of Directors papers 27.01.22

Standard Operating Procedure for Managing SACT Administration in Patients with known positive COVID-19 and Standard Operating Procedures for Theatre Scheduling during the COVID-19 pandemic. See also Standard Operation Procedure: COVID-19 - Managing Patients with Confirmed COVID-19 infection. Face masks are worn by all staff and patients in the health care setting, excluding exemptions for medical reasons or where clinical care would be compromised. Patients with respiratory infections are ideally cared for in single occupancy rooms. Where this is not possible, patients are cohorted in bay facilities with reduced bed occupancy to maintain physical distancing.

Face masks/coverings are worn by staff and patients in all health and care facilities.

Where infectious respiratory patients are cared for physical distancing remains at 2 metres distance.

In the event bay occupancy is increased due to bed pressures to enable patient flow, this is done on a risk assessment basis.

Patients, visitors, and staff can maintain 1 metre or greater social & physical distancing in all patient care areas; ideally segregation should be with separate spaces, but there is potential to use screens, e.g., to protect reception staff. Patients that test negative but display or go on to develop symptoms of COVID-19 are segregated and promptly re-tested and contacts traced promptly.

Patients, visitor and staff can maintain physical distancing in all care areas. Where segregation of spaces is not possible floor/wall signage is used to mark of the appropriate distancing or screens used in some areas. Additional mitigations are in place which include face masks.

Patients that test negative yet are clinical suspected of COVID- 19 due to presenting symptoms are cared for in single occupancy rooms. In patient testing is in line with national guidance; being tested on Day 1, 3, 7 and then every 7 days thereafter. In patients are tested outside of these guidelines if they develop respiratory symptoms suspected of COVID-19.

C1501: Infection prevention and control board assurance framework (24 December 2021 Version 1.8) – January 2022

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