Testing nightmare to continue in hospitals...

[yellowblanketban]

Just seen this on the news

news.sky.com/story/covid-who-can-still-get-free-lateral-flow-tests-from-this-friday-12577687 COVID: Who can still get free lateral flow tests from this Friday?

I say it's a nightmare because it is crippling the NHS testing everyone that moves between the 4 walls of trust buildings and trying to contain the covid when everyone outside is spreading about with no idea. Literally crippling us. Our cases have quadrupled in less than a month and out hospital is at standstill trying to segregate them with no staff. I get why it's important but it can't go on like this. But clearly it is.

Our trust announced asymptomatic testing would stop this week however they back peddled on d day. We are in the same position, absolutely crippled with cases in people who are in for other things. I'm not sure stopping testing is the right answer but then I don't know what is 🤷‍♂️

Our hospital still hasn’t made any decisions…typical, I’m afraid. Have managed to order LFTs today, but our staff are being affected massively. Whole departments are missing due to positive tests, or being in contact with a positive person, and having to wait for a negative test before resuming work. It’s a nightmare.

Same - we've got closed outbreak wards being run by 1 nurse and a junior doctor - it's so unsafe. And no elective work at all.

The problem for us is the public won't be testing and aren't mask wearing or distancing...so passing it onto our staff when they come in. Numbers of patients testing positive on admission are so high here.

It will just a continuous cycle when cases are freely circulating in the community with no testing. Sounds like a nightmare and not sure what the answer is. What are other countries doing?

Dh is going bonkers, his ward has lots of Covid patients but he also has vulnerable Liver patients on there too. The Covid patients are wandering around coughing everywhere. There’s hardly any staff. It’s supposed to be a Gastro ward but the Covid patients are not Gastro ones, but his team still have to look after them. It’s not just his ward either, happening on lots of other wards. It’s absolute chaos.
And the public think Covid is not a problem now, and are cross that the NHS is not functioning. 🤦‍♀️

I think if the public want ‘living with Covid’ to mean going back to normal and pretending it doesn’t exist they may have to get used to having a healthcare system that isn’t functioning.

@RafaIstheKingofClay

I think if the public want ‘living with Covid’ to mean going back to normal and pretending it doesn’t exist they may have to get used to having a healthcare system that isn’t functioning.

True but they want to have their cake and eat it. And the problem being they blame healthcare staff. Loads of NHS bashing on this forum.

Wait, doesn't that article say they won't be testing most patients any more?

"The plans announced have also revealed that free testing will continue for some people with COVID symptoms - these include:

• Certain patients in hospital where a PCR test is required for their care and to provide access to treatments and to support ongoing clinical surveillance for new variants."

@thedot

Wait, doesn't that article say they won't be testing most patients any more?

"The plans announced have also revealed that free testing will continue for some people with COVID symptoms - these include:

• Certain patients in hospital where a PCR test is required for their care and to provide access to treatments and to support ongoing clinical surveillance for new variants."

The bit about testing in hospital isn't clear actually - maybe that will stop? Not clear how you protect certain cohorts who are vulnerable though.

Although of you still have to test to discharge to any setting bar home - we'll get bed blocking then instead (we have a VERY elderly population here)

@SilverGlitterBaubles

It will just a continuous cycle when cases are freely circulating in the community with no testing. Sounds like a nightmare and not sure what the answer is. What are other countries doing?

Yes. What do other countries do? I’d be interested to know!

The biggest issue seems to be covid spreading through hospitals and there’s recognition by the government that covid shouldn’t be circulating as much as it is (hence the guidance to isolate).

I don’t understand why they aren’t investing in proper ventilation.

Was at the hosital last week and the man next to me at check in had tested positive for covid and didnt want to leave. I tried to edge away from him covertly

There's very much a 'people aren't sick in hospital with covid' like that's all that matters. Really, it doesn't matter how sick they are, but we do need to cohort them appropriately so it doesn't get to the really vulnerable - just like we do with every infectious disease - but there's no room......

Exactly. And aside from that, having covid increases the risks of adverse outcomes or complications for whatever you were admitted for, leading to longer stays and less patient flow.

It’s all very well treating it like flu, but it’s so much more contagious that it’s not really possible.

Well all change again today. Official end to asymptomatic testing for staff and patients with exceptions for high risk from8am today. End to seperate wards for positive cases where there are no high risk patients (seperate bay/side room only). No isolation for confirmed contacts. Testing of high risk Patients before discharge to care homes etc will continue.

It feels a bit scary to be honest but it is absolutely true that something has to change.

Oh, meant to say testing prior to procedures continuing for now whilst they fight out the balance between improved clinical outcomes and the effect of last minute cancellations on capacity.

@JustALittleHelpPlease

Well all change again today. Official end to asymptomatic testing for staff and patients with exceptions for high risk from8am today. End to seperate wards for positive cases where there are no high risk patients (seperate bay/side room only). No isolation for confirmed contacts. Testing of high risk Patients before discharge to care homes etc will continue.

It feels a bit scary to be honest but it is absolutely true that something has to change.

Why did something have to change without any improvement? Why haven’t the government worked to increase clean air in hospitals with relatively cheap air filters?

@JustALittleHelpPlease

Well all change again today. Official end to asymptomatic testing for staff and patients with exceptions for high risk from8am today. End to seperate wards for positive cases where there are no high risk patients (seperate bay/side room only). No isolation for confirmed contacts. Testing of high risk Patients before discharge to care homes etc will continue.

It feels a bit scary to be honest but it is absolutely true that something has to change.

Well as I said before Dh has Covid patients freely wandering around his Gastro ward that has vulnerable Liver and IBD patients on it. So Covid patients weren’t being segregated anyway 🤷‍♀️ I would not want to be one of those vulnerable patients. Oh and when he and his colleagues complained to the medical director that their patients were not safe, they were told to “stop using inflammatory language”

No idea about the lack of government planning, you should probably ask them.

In terms of why did something have to change, see previous posts. Services crippled is not working to improve patient care or protect people. Of course almost total u turn is a bold move and may prove to be an error.

Sadly that is not helpful, some trusts have gone all out, others have been... less vehement shall we say? Ours has been pretty solid until now tbf so I suppose they have shown a reasonable track record.