Thread for NHS staff - what's different in your hospital/area?

[leafygarden]

I work in a dialysis unit - we are in a 'covid-free' zone in our unit, so all patients have temp done before coming in unit, and sit with same patients in their 'bubble; as we have done for months.

What's different is that now the hospital is having testing for asymptomatic staff who have been in contact with a positive case. They are also bringing back scrubs to wear every day instead of normal uniform.

Also, have redeployed our specialist nurses to other areas (this didn't happen in the first wave)

I feel like things are stepping up considerably this time -

This is the north west where figures are high.

I work on a day case ward.

All patients are covid tested 72 hours before their operation and asked to isolate until their surgery.

For emergency surgery, patients are fast track covid tested which takes about 2 hours.

Surgeons are refusing to operate unless the patient has had their covid results back.

This is a children's ward though.
I've no idea how our adult counterparts are doing it.

This week I have been redeployed from an elective surgery ward to a covid ward.
Things seems to be moving extremely quickly in my trust.

Previously the elective patients had to have a covid test 2 weeks before surgery and isolate for 2 weeks also. Strictly no visitors on the ward.

Seems like there are many more covid wards now than in the first wave.

@CovidStoleTheRainbow

I work on a day case ward.

All patients are covid tested 72 hours before their operation and asked to isolate until their surgery.

For emergency surgery, patients are fast track covid tested which takes about 2 hours.

Surgeons are refusing to operate unless the patient has had their covid results back.

I'm in this exact situation but I'm completely baffled by it. I know you're doing your best but what happens if you get something between the test and during that 72 hours before the surgery? It could still be covid no? I'm dreading this will happen and if I was unwell (I'm a teacher in two schools where there is covid ) then I'd get turned away despite having a negative test (hopefully).

Although this said I'm currently in bed feeling absolutely horrible so I'm wondering if I do actually have covid and if I'll have a negative test after all...

But that's why they are told to isolate for after the test is done. Literally not leave the house.

Nonetheless because they are children, inevitably they have brothers and sisters who are not isolating, and parents that aren't.

But it's the best we/they can do.
Before this, all non-emergency surgery was stopped.

In mental health (in my trust at least) patients are admitted to one ward, where they are tested and then moved to another ward where they are treated for their mental health.

There have been very few patients who have been positive with covid. More staff have had it from living in the community.

Any positive or suspected cases are moved to another ward in a different hospital where staff use enhanced PPE and patients are kept in isolation.

The patients treatment has been interrupted, community visits have been either stopped completely or are at a bare minimum. As a result of this, we are seeing more very ill people who might have been treated in the community rather than in hospital. Discharges have been delayed as not able to move people into care homes as easily. And, as you might expect, a lot of people have been experiencing mental illness directly linked to covid-19, for the first time (including staff).