Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for hospices

Introduction

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Whatcontinuing hasto changed

Thismake guidancesymptomatic hasand beenrapid updatedresponse incoronavirus line(COVID-19) withtesting changesavailable to testingall fromhospice 1staff Aprilin 2023.

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Webinars

For agreedmore protocolsinformation beforeyou theycan returnwatch toour workrecorded in direct care activities.webinars.

Rapid

1. responseSummary: testing for suspectedhospices

1.1 outbreaksWhat ishas nochanged

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Admissionswho frommay hospitalhave willpreviously beaccessed testedtesting bybecause LFDthey withinwere 48providing hourspersonal beforecare discharge.to Admissionsa frompatient. thePlease communitysee nosection longer1.4 needfor tomore testinformation.

1.2 priorStaff tosymptomatic admission.

testing

Introduction

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Hospiceto staffwork whoif providethey directare careno tolonger hospiceunwell patients

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The

1.3 majorityPatient oftesting

1.3.1 COVID-19On transmissionadmission

Patients occurswith withina 5scheduled daysdate of symptomadmission onset.to Aa locallyhospice decidedas protocol,an followinginpatient riskfrom assessmentthe andcommunity directionor froma managers,care maysetting will be usedeligible for staffa whoPCR aretest returning72 tohours workbefore 5admission or(if moreappropriate) daysand afteran aLFD positive test resulton wherethe theyday areof providing direct care to patients. This may include:admission.

• redeployment

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• askingif staffthey tohave weartested apositive surgicalin face mask up to day 10 after symptom onset or the firstlast positive90 testdays) result
• negativethen resultsan on LFD test prioron toadmission returningis to work

sufficient.

ThePatients staffadmitted memberto musta continuehospice tosetting complyfrom rigorouslyan withNHS allhospital relevantwill infectionbe controlgiven precautions, includinga PPEPCR use.

Hospicetest staffby whothe doNHS nothospital provideon directdischarge.

1.3.2 clinical care

Symptomatic

StaffPatients whoshowing worksymptoms withinof a hospicerespiratory settinginfection butand whoa arehigh nottemperature, patient-facing,or shouldwho followhave local occupational health advice, together with guidance for people with symptoms of a respiratory infection.

If theyand havedo symptomsnot offeel awell respiratoryenough infectionto andtake havepart ain highusual temperatureactivities orshould dobe nottested feelwith wellone enoughLFD totest goon tothe work,day theythe aresymptoms advisedshow to(day stay0).

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IfHospice thesesettings staffwill membersbe receiveable ato positiveorder LFDsymptomatic test resultkits for COVID-19,patients regardlesswhen ofordering whethersymptomatic theytests have symptoms, they should follow guidance for thestaff. generalThis publicprocess whois haveexplained ain positivesection test result1.2.

Line managersHospice shouldsettings undertakewill abe riskprovided assessmentwith before2 patient-facingtest healthcarekits staffper returnsymptomatic topatient.

1.4 workVisitor intesting

All linevisitors with(including normalthose returnwho tomay workbe processes.

Onproviding returningpersonal care to work,a allhospice staffpatient) membersare mustno continuelonger required to complytest. rigorouslyHowever, withit allis relevantadvised infectionthat controlindividuals precautionswho includingare appropriatesymptomatic PPEand/or use.

Patientfeeling testing

Onunwell admission

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Visits testat resultthe shouldvery beend communicatedof bylife, hospitalsthat tois, the hospicelast infew writingdays withinor thehours usualof communicationslife, providedshould atcontinue theto timebe ofsupported dischargingwhere apossible patientin toall acircumstances. hospice.

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1.5 resultRapid shouldresponse betesting isolatedfor onhospices arrival.

Symptomaticin patientsEngland

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Iffrom the individual’sday testthe resultspositive arecase allis negative,identified. theyStaff cannot returnworking toduring theirthis normalperiod activitiesdo ifnot theyneed doto nottest.

Any havestaff amember temperaturewho andtests theypositive feelshould wellstay enoughat tohome doand so.

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Hospice settings will be able to order symptomatic‘outbreak testkits’ kitsas foran patientsoption whenon the test kit ordering symptomaticportal.

1.6 testsGuidance for staff.staff Thiswho processtest ispositive

For explainedstaff inwho thehave orderingtested testpositive, kitshospices section.

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The first LFD test ifshould theybe aretaken symptomatic.

Outbreak5 testing

Andays outbreakafter consistsday of0 2(the orday moresymptoms positivestarted orand clinicallyor/when suspectedthey linkedtested casespositive), of COVID-19, within the samesecond settingtest withinshould abe 14-daytaken period.24 Thishours meansafter where the casesfirst. areIf linkedboth toLFD eachtest otherresults andare transmissionnegative, withinthey themay hospicereturn setting is likely to havework occurred.immediately Linkedafter asymptomaticthe casessecond arenegative noLFD longertest countedresult as(if partsymptoms ofhave the definition of an outbreak.resolved).

AsIf thea majoritystaff ofmember’s symptomaticLFD COVID-19test testingresult hasremains beenpositive removed,after an10 outbreakdays, maythey beshould suspectedcontinue whento theretake isdaily anLFD increasetests. inThey thecan numberreturn ofto staffwork and/orafter servicea userssingle displayingnegative symptomsLFD oftest COVID-19 at the same time and linked by personal contact.result.

IfThe therelikelihood isof a suspectedpositive outbreak,LFD thetest firstafter 514 patientsdays withis symptomsconsiderably oflower. aIf respiratorythe infectionstaff shouldmember’s be tested using COVID-19 LFD tests.test Afteris this,still newpositive caseson doday not14, requirethey testingcan unlessstop theydaily aretesting eligibleand forreturn COVID-19to treatments,work ason setday out15. aboveA inrisk theassessment symptomaticshould patientbe section.

Therecarried isout noand longerconsideration agiven need to testredeployment.

For everyonestaff inwho ordertest topositive workbetween outdays who10 has and has14 notand acquiredwho COVID-19.do Instead,not testinghave isa nowhigh focusedtemperature onor determiningfeel theunwell, causemanagers ofcan anundertake outbreak,a andrisk onassessment preventingwith severethe outcomesview forto individualsthem atreturning highto risk.work.

2. Ordering test kits

2.1 Unique organisation number (UON)

• UKHSA assigns assigns all participating hospicesorganisations a single unique organisation number (UON).)
• managers A will receive their UON is anvia 8-digitthe numberregistered thatemail isaddress exclusive– toplease anmake individualsure hospicethat setting,the andperson canwho bereceives usedthese toemails logunderstands inthe toimportance allof onlinethis elementsmessage ofand theknows testingwho process.

  Managersto willcontact

• a receive their UON via theis registeredan email8-digit addressnumber –that pleaseis makeexclusive sureto thatan theindividual personorganisation who– receivesthis thesecan emailsbe understandsused theto importancelogin ofto thisall messageonline andelements knowsof whothe totesting contact.
  process

Managers will need to use their their UON for: for:

• ordering test kits
• contacting the national coronavirus contact centre for support (dial 119)

YouStaff will beneed able to order:use their UON for:

• LFD testsregistering forcompleted anytest symptomatickits patientsto eligiblemake forsure COVID-they 19will therapeuticsreceive ortheir symptomatic patient-facing staffresults
• LFD tests in case of an outbreak

YouIf willyou need:

• your UON
• thehave totalany numberissues ofwith patient-facingthis staffprocess, andplease patientscall eligible for testing

119.

EnterHospice themanagers numbercan oforder patient-facingtest staffkits and eligible patients who require testing.online.

HospiceYou settings will be able to order order:

• LFD test kitstests, for any symptomatic testingpatients basedor onstaff
• outbreak theLFD numbertests, if Directors of symptomatic,Public patient-facingHealth staffhave andrecommended eligiblethat patientsyou theyparticipate havein hadrapid overresponse thetesting
• PCR pasttesting 42for days.admissions, Hospicefor settingsthe willpurpose beof abletesting toa makenew onepatient symptomaticadmitted testingfrom the community. You can order everya 42maximum days.
  of 10 PCR tests at a time

IfYou will need:

• your UON
• the total number of symptomatic‘staff’ staffand increases‘patients’ withinfor thetesting 42-day(‘staff’ periodonly infor acommunity setting,hospices)

Enter athe manualnumber orderof of LFD teststaff kitswho canrequire betesting, requestedand throughthe number of inpatient beds for the 119number service.of non-staff.

2.2 Preparation

You will receive an email from organisation.coronavirus.testing@notifications.service.gov.uk who will confirm the estimated delivery date.

Test kits will be delivered to the hospice address registered toaddress. the UON. It is thetheir responsibility of the hospice manager to accept delivery of kits and arrange for dispatch or collection. Re-ordering should be done on a monthly basis.

Recording2.3 Capturing important information before distributing rapid LFDlateral flow test kits

ItIt’s is important that you recordcapture the following details before distributing distributing LFD test test kits to staff.staff or visitors:

• name, phone number and email address of each staff member receiving the box or boxes
• details of the lot or batch number of each each LFD home home test kit given to each staff member. The lot number is found on the side of each box and is 8 characters long: one letter followed by 7 numbers
• date of issue to user and number of test kits provided

Reporting3. PCR test kits

3.1 Conducting PCR tests

PCR tests should be reserved for new patients admitted from the community. Patients should conduct a combined throat and nose self-swab for the test.

Follow the instructional video on how to do a throat and nasal swab.

3.2 Registering PCR tests

You will need:

• your UON
• the barcode number of the test kit you’re registering
• the email address and mobile phone number to which the test results should be sent
• the patient’s personal details

3.3 Returning PCR test kits by post

Each PCR test should be returned to the laboratory via a Royal Mail priority box.

Only use a Royal Mail priority post box. It will be labelled with the priority box sign and one of the regional NHS logos.

Find your nearest priority post box and its collection times.

3.4 Receiving PCR test results

The patient tested will receive:

• an email
• a text message (if a mobile phone number was provided at registration)

The results will also include guidance on next steps for the patient tested.

4. LFD test resultstest kits

4.1 Reporting your result

Every Every LFD test test result shouldcan be reported online once completed.

When using the online form, there is the option to create a user account. When you create a user account, you link your email address to your personal details. After you report your first first LFD test test result using your user account, your personal details will be saved, and you will not have to re-enter them when you register in future.

Creating an account should take about 2 minutes and will save about 5 minutes each time you report a test result in the future.

Report your result as soon as the test result is determined. You need the ID number on the test strip to report the result.

Individuals or visitors can report an LFD test result here: Report a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test result, with the option to sign ininto to an NHS account.

To report a test result:

1. Enter who you are reporting for.
2. Select whether you would like to sign in or create an account or continue without an account.
3. Follow the step-by-step instructions for creating an account (if required).
4. Enter why you took the test (select testing for ‘a social care service’).
5. Enter your role.
6. Select ‘I work in an adult social care service’.
7. Enter your your UON.
8. Select the appropriate country for where you live.
9. Select the date of the test.
10. Enter the test kit ID number (which can be found via the QR code).
11. Add in the result of the test.

4.2 Digital reader

You canare able to use the digital reader for reading reading LFD test test results via the self-report journey. For detailed informationinformation, consultplease visit the digitalDigital reader guide (PDF, 2.25 MB, 6 pages).

Support and resources

For

Coronavirus the coronavirus testing contact centre,centre

Call call 119. Lines are open:

• Monday to Friday (including bank holidays)), 8am to 6pm
• Saturday and SundaySunday, 9am to 1pm

After selecting your country, language requirements and data preferences, press ‘1’ for calling from an organisation who receives test kits directly from the national testing programme.

Consent form templates that can be used for staff and patients have been shared with local authorities.

Easy reads on coronavirus and testing:

• COVID-19 PCR home test kit instructions