UKHSA message for distribution
We are now in the autumn and winter seasonal infections are beginning to circulate, including gastro-intestinal infections such as norovirus and acute respiratory infections e.g. rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza (flu) and COVID-19.
Please may we take this opportunity to remind you of our online Winter Preparedness and Infection Prevention & Control Pack for all adult social care settings UKHSA Care Home and Residential Care Guidance - South West Councils (swcouncils.gov.uk). It is of most relevance to residential settings but many of the principles also apply to non-residential settings.
Here, you will find links to national resources as well as copies of our own SW local resources. There are specific sections for:
Acute Respiratory Infections
Viral Gastroenteritis
Group A Streptococcal infection
Scabies
How to carry out risk assessments for new admissions during an outbreak
When and how to contact the UKHSA SW Health Protection Team
These provide information on prevention of infections as well as how to identify infections, what (and how) to report to UKHSA Health Protection Team (HPT) and how to manage infections and outbreaks.
Acute Respiratory Infections
You should report acute respiratory infections (ARI) in your adult social care setting using the web-based Care Outbreak Risk Assessment (Care OBRA)/Report an Outbreak Tool. Report an outbreak of acute respiratory infection in an adult social care setting (ukhsa.gov.uk). You do NOT need to ring the HPT to report. At the moment, this is only for ARIs in ASC settings.
Residential adult social care settings, particularly care homes, should always hold a small stock of COVID-19 LFD test kits. These should be used to test any service user who is eligible for COVID-19 treatments and who becomes symptomatic with an acute respiratory infection. The test kits are available (free-of-charge and in advance) from most community pharmacies. Find a pharmacy that offers free COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests for people who are eligible for COVID-19 treatments.
Please do not wait until you need the kits before you order them. If you have difficulty getting rapid lateral flow tests or COVID-19 treatments, contact your local Integrated Care Board.
You should tell the GP about any positive COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test results for your eligible service users. COVID-19 treatments are available from the GP, NHS 111 or the specialist hospital doctor.
If you suspect an outbreak of ANY acute respiratory infection, please test any eligible service users with symptoms BEFORE you report the outbreak via the Care OBRA/Report an Outbreak Tool and have the results ready to add to the Care OBRA questionnaire. See attached poster on how to access the Care OBRA Tool. It may be a good idea to post this in your staff room near with a note of your CQC Location ID number on the poster.