Hospital staff infected in multiple outbreaks
MULTIPLE outbreaks of Covid-19 have seen dozens of community hospital staff and patients infected.
Five outbreaks in four weeks have resulted in 39 staff and 15 patients testing positive. The infections have been traced back to offices shared by nurses, community hospital wards in Ilkeston and Ripley and a learning disability centre in Chesterfield.
The first outbreak was declared on October 19 in the rapid response nursing team and Erewash enhanced team, who work in the community, not in a hospital. Four members of staff tested positive with no patients affected.
The outbreak was traced to the team’s shared office which was deep cleaned and all staff on the team and their contacts were tested with no further people testing positive.
A second outbreak started on October 20 in the south area community response team with two staff testing positive. This, too, was linked to a shared office which was deep cleaned. All staff and contacts were tested with no further people tested positive.
The third outbreak took place on the Butterley Ward at Ripley Hospital from November 9 which caused the ward to be closed for two weeks. It was reopened following sign-off from NHS England and NHS Improvement. The outbreak saw 15 staff and 14 patients test positive for Covid-19.
The fourth outbreak occurred on the Covid-only Heanor Ward at Ilkeston Community Hospital from November 9. Due to it being a Covidonly ward it was not closed as a result of the outbreak. In total, 16 staff tested positive for the virus.
The fifth outbreak started on November 16 on the Hillside Unit at Ash Green Learning Disability Centre near Chesterfield. It saw one patient and two staff test positive. The unit was closed and was still closed at the time the board papers were written, ahead of the meeting today.
At the peak of the pandemic in April the organisation had 499 staff out of work due to Covid-related reasons, including testing positive, self-isolating and shielding.
The organisation, which has 4,300 staff, says the outbreaks have led to new lessons learned, including monitoring school-age children for symptoms, maintaining social distancing at break times and staggering breaks to avoid a build-up of staff. It will also be giving all patient-facing staff twice-weekly tests that produce a result within 30 minutes – the same that are to be rolled out across Tier 3 Derbyshire.
These tests will be backed up and confirmed by follow-up tests called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests – the standard type being administered in the community.
DCHS says staff will be monitored to ensure they maintain social distancing and wear the correct personal protective equipment.
Staff have been reminded to adhere to maximum break room and changing room capacities.
Michelle Bateman, director of nursing, said: “Infection protection and control remains at the forefront of the agenda in the management of Covid-19 and will do so for the foreseeable future therefore robust infection prevention and control systems are essential to protect staff and patients.”
The outbreaks have been dotted around – not concentrated in any one area/service – Erewash, south Derbyshire, Ripley, Ilkeston and Chesterfield – which the trust says has helped in managing services. DCHS says it will continue to test, monitor and manage any infections to protect staff and patients.