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Guidance on Covid-19 testing, test and trace and use of PPE
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Dear Member,
Please see the guidance on Covid-19 testing, test and trace and use of PPE below:
1. Accessing priority COVID-19 testing
- Pharmacists and their staff are classed as essential workers who are prioritised for testing.
- Employers can refer essential workers for testing if they are self-isolating because either they or members of their household have coronavirus symptoms.
Register for the portal:
- Email portalservicedesk@dhsc.gov.uk with the following information:
- Organisation name
- Nature of the organsiation's business
- Region
- Names (where possible) and email address of the 2 users who will load essential worker contact details
- Once employer details have been verified, two login credentials will be provided for the employer referral portal.
How to refer:
- Login to the portal
- Upload the names and contact details of self-isolating essential workers to the secure employer referral portal
- Referred essential workers will then receive a text message with a unique invitation code to book a test for themselves (if symptomatic) or their symptomatic household members at a testing site.
2. Click here to read the PSNC FAQs on Test and Trace – We recommend you read
this full document – below are some key questions we have extracted:
What if a member of your staff tests positive?
- If a staff member tests positive for coronavirus, that member of staff should self-isolate.
- If a staff member is asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, that staff member should self-isolate.
- Click here
for more information, including on more circumstances and information on when to self-isolate.
What if a staff member is contacted by Test and Trace?
- If a staff member is contacted by Test and Trace (or goes on to Test and Trace online) and is asked to say or write a list of names of contacts or recent close contacts relating to work in a pharmacy, the staff member should give the name, address and contact details of the pharmacy.
- The staff member should NOT give the names of pharmacy staff with whom they work.
- This is to avoid automatic texts informing pharmacy staff that they are (recent close) contacts and must self-isolate for 14 days, which are difficult for the Local Health Protection Team to over-turn subsequently, if this is appropriate.
Who should the case be handled by?
- PHE has confirmed that the Local Health Protection Team (Tier 1) should assess whether there have been any recent close contacts in the pharmacy - those who should be asked to self-isolate if a member of staff has tested positive and is already isolating.
- If the case is not being considered by the Local Health Protection Team, contractors should ask for it to be referred there and, if necessary, telephone the Local Health Protection Team direct.
- You can find their contact details at: https://www.gov.uk/health-protection-team
- If a contractor’s case is assessed by a contact tracer (Tier 2 or 3) and the contractor disagrees with an assessment or an identification of a recent close contact, they should ask for the case to be referred to the Local Health Protection Team or contact the team direct.
How do I minimise the effect of NHS Test and Trace on the pharmacy – Direct Patient Care?
- The proper use of PPE for direct patient care should provide adequate protection against transmission of coronavirus, and PHE guidance indicates this will not be considered a recent close contact.
- This is partly because contact with the patient is of relatively short duration and, where the risks are higher, the PPE recommended in the NHSE&I SOP is greater – gloves, apron and type IIR fluid resistant face mask, and, it is understood from PHE, currently also eye protection or a visor.
- It is understood this is ‘full PPE’ that will mean there is no recent close contact when in the proximity of a person who is tested positive for coronavirus.
- See the NHSE&I community pharmacy SOP and https://psnc.org.uk/the-healthcarelandscape/covid19/personal-protective-equipment-ppe/
How do I minimise the effect of NHS Test and Trace on the pharmacy – Staff working together?
- If a member of staff tests positive the following will be taken into consideration for the test of the team e.g. proper use of PPE, including face masks, social distancing, handwashing routines undertaken frequently, and other measures to make the premises COVID-secure, including the use of physical barriers, such as full Perspex or clear screens, as well as other factors, such as the
size of the dispensary, the length of time staff have been in close proximity, ventilation in the pharmacy, and staff break arrangements.
- The proper use of PPE involves using the correct procedures for donning and doffing PPE and staff should have appropriate training in the use of PPE.
- The PHE Local Health Protection Team will consider whether there has been any close contacts in the pharmacy if one member of staff tests positive for coronavirus.
- This is partly because if the whole staff team is asked to self isolate this is likely to have implications for the continued provision of community pharmacy services.
- The closer staff are to each other working in the pharmacy, the smaller the dispensary or pharmacy, the longer the time staff are together and the greater any other risk factors for transmission, the more likely that the Local Health Protection Team will determine that there was a recent close contact and staff should self-isolate for the required period of
time.
- Contractors may wish to consider the use of split staff teams to avoid the risk of all staff in a pharmacy being asked to self-isolate or consider other appropriate measures.
What about close contacts outside the pharmacy?
- Staff who have recent close contacts with those outside the pharmacy may be asked to self-isolate for 14 days, but this should not affect other pharmacy staff unless they subsequently test positive for coronavirus.
3. Pharmacy Staff & Use of PPE
- It is recommended ALL pharmacy staff now wear facemasks, unless the pharmacy is COVID-19 secure, including all staff being able to maintain a social distance from one another.
- Ensure the following measures are in place where practicable, premises is COVID-secure, use social distancing, optimal hand hygiene, frequent surface decontamination, ventilation and any other appropriate measures.
- Ensure your risk assessments are complete and up to date, Including individual staff risk assessments.
- It is recommended a Type I or Type II or Type IIR face mask is worn.
- Click here for full government
guidance.
Face coverings are compulsory for retail staff
- Pharmacy staff MUST wear a face covering in areas that are open to the public and where they come, or are likely to come, within close contact of a member of the public.
- Click here to see guidance from PSNC on use of face coverings.
Ordering PPE:
- Community Pharmacies are able to order PPE through the PPE portal.
- The link for ordering would have been sent to your shared NHS mail account – Register on the website using your shared mail account email address.
- You are able to order a certain amount of PPE per week.
- Click here for full details on how much PPE you are able to order.
Regards,
PharmaPlus
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