1. Temporary Change of Covid Vaccination sites for health and social care staff – addition of Aston Villa Football Ground (information for care providers in Birmingham)
2. COVID-19 vaccination communication from Department of Health & Social Care (information for all care providers)
3. Vaccinations Webinars 12 and 19 February (information for all care providers in the Midlands)
4. Accepting residents without a Covid-19 vaccination (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
5. Reminder: Changes in reporting of vaccination data for the non care home market – questions now included in the National Capacity Tracker (information for all non-care home providers operating in Birmingham)
6. Rapid Testing Fund (information for Birmingham care homes)
7. Pulse Oximetry@home service (information for all Birmingham and Solihull care providers)

1.Temporary Change of Covid Vaccination sites for health and social care staff – addition of Aston Villa Football Ground

Now that the majority of health and social care staff across Birmingham and Solihull have had their first dose of the COVID vaccination, and to allow for more capacity at the large COVID vaccination centres, the following Hospital Hubs will all be temporarily stood down from Saturday 6 February:

• Birmingham Children’s Hospital
• Good Hope Hospital
• Heartlands Hospital
• Solihull Hospital

Those staff who have not yet had their first COVID vaccination dose, are still eligible and welcome to book.

Appointments for frontline workers are available via the National booking site

National vaccination booking link

or at the following locations:

Queen Elizabeth Hospital, ITM Building (* suitable for pregnant customers.)

Aston Villa Football Ground (*NOT suitable for pregnant customers.)

If you find these links do not work, please email stakeholderengagement@birmingham.gov.uk for advice.

Please ensure you open these links in GOOGLE CHROME.

We will communicate shortly about plans to re-open the Hospital Hubs, for second dose appointments.

Further information and queries

For general information about the vaccine and FAQs, please visit the Birmingham and Solihull COVID Vaccination website

Vaccination website

Any general queries regarding COVID vaccination for health and social care staff should be directed to: CovidVaccine@uhb.nhs.uk

2.COVID-19 vaccination communication from Department of Health & Social Care (all care providers)

A letter and communications toolkit from the Department of Health & Social Care has been circulated to all care providers. If you don't have copies, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk

3.Vaccinations Webinars 12 and 19 February (information for all care providers in the Midlands)

Please see below details of two 1 hr drop-in sessions that have been organised by EM-ADASS, PHE and NHS England specifically to address some of the issues around vaccination take-up and concerns that front line social care staff may have about the vaccine.

The meetings are open to staff from care provider organisations across the Midlands and are on for the next two Fridays between 2-3 pm (12 and 19 February). Staff do not have to register and can attend by following the link at the foot of this email.

Please note that meetings will start and finish promptly.

Covid vaccination webinar for frontline social care staff

Are you worried or concerned about having your covid vaccination?

Are there questions you’d like answered ?

Have you heard or read things on social media that you just don’t know if it is true or not ?

Come and ask the experts

ADASS, Public Health England and NHS England are working with the Care Sector in the Midlands to run sessions for front line social care staff to ask any questions or queries.

The session will be hosted by staff – Public Health Consultants , Doctors and Nurses all of whom are involved in the vaccination programme .

They will answer your questions as best they can , there is no such thing as a wrong question .

You do not need to book on to the session .

You do not have to tell your manager you are joining .

We will not keep a record of who has attended

We will however use the things you ask us and tell us to produce more information for other staff as if you have a thought or a question it is likely other people may have the same question or query

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer or mobile app

Join the COVID-19 vaccination webinar

4.Accepting residents without a Covid-19 vaccination (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)

Birmingham and Solihull CCG has been made aware of instances of care homes refusing to take new residents if they have not been vaccinated. There are currently no arrangements to vaccinate people prior to them being discharged from hospitals, although this is now being scoped. Care homes should not refuse admission to the home if people are not vaccinated, but should contact their lead GP to arrange vaccination as soon as possible.

5.Reminder: Changes in reporting of vaccination data for the non care home market – questions now included in the National Capacity Tracker (information for all non-care home providers operating in Birmingham)

Questions have been added to the Home Care / Dom Care COVID-19 Update (Daily) Survey within the National Capacity Tracker to collect data around the vaccination of the social care workforce at the request of the Department of Health and Social Care. These questions have now been removed from the weekly Non-care home services - COVID 19 capacity & business continuity questionnaire circulated by the Market Intelligence Team.

Please review the “What’s new” section under the “Help” menu within the Capacity Tracker for further information and guidance on completing these questions.

6.Rapid Testing Fund (information for Birmingham care homes)

The Council has now made the allocations of the Rapid Testing Fund grant to care homes located within the Birmingham City Council boundary. We expect to process payments by the end of this week and that funds should reach bank accounts by 19 February 2021.

A Grant Conditions letter which forms the Grant Agreement and sets out further details of the administration of the Grant, its purpose, conditions and reporting arrangements, and an Assurance statement form (Appendix 1 - RFT Provider Assurance Statement) have been circulated to care providers. Please read the letter carefully, ensure that you comply with the conditions, reporting requirements and instructions contained within.

You should complete the ‘Appendix 1 – RTF Provider Assurance Statement’ and return this not later than 26 February 2021 by email to marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk Failure to return the Assurance Statement will immediately disqualify the provider from receiving the Grant and any funds distributed must be returned to the Council.

Further reporting requirements will be issued in future bulletin updates.

7.Pulse Oximetry@home service (information for all Birmingham and Solihull care providers)

There is significant evidence that patients with COVID-19 presenting with lower oxygen levels have higher mortality rates. Known as ‘silent hypoxia’, patients may not exhibit symptoms until their oxygen levels are dangerously low. Therefore, active monitoring will provide extra support to ensure timely medical assessment is provided if deterioration is noted.

This primary care led service is delivered by SDSMyHealthcare, and accepts referrals from multiple community and pre-admission services when the patient is deemed not to need admission at the time of referral. The service will:

• Provide a pulse oximeter to the patient or their carer
• Teach how and when to use it
• Provide guidance as to when and where to seek further medical attention
• Follow-up with the patient by telephone at regular intervals throughout the 14 days of monitoring
• Provide medical oversight and governance

More details of the service, including a range of resources and a webinar recording are available below

COVID Oximetry at home