NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency have created a toolkit of resources to raise awareness of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) prevention, symptom recognition and treatment which includes advice on how and when to seek help.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), in partnership with NHS Supply Chain, have implemented a new PPE portal platform to ensure continued access to free PPE and related items for eligible users until 31 March 2024. All eligible users will have received or be receiving an invite to ensure migration across to the new platform.
Eligible health and social care providers can order free Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) through the National PPE portal to meet the increased need that has arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. You should not use the portal to order PPE for non-COVID-19 requirements. You should get this through your normal channels.
Providers can order a limited amount of free PPE. The current order limits for different types and sizes of eligible health and social care providers are detailed in the PPE portal guidance. For further information see the PPE Portal Guidance.
Call the customer service team on 0800 876 6802 if you have any questions about using the PPE portal. The team is available from 7am to 7pm, 7 days a week, to help resolve your queries.
For more information, visit the County Council’s website.
You should regularly check the government’s online information to ensure that you are following the most up to date advice and guidance on PPE.
UK Health Security Agency guidance
You must ensure that you use the recommended PPE for working in different settings when working with confirmed or suspected cases and contexts and PHE’s guidance on working safely, as follows:
Putting on, wearing and taking off PPE
You must ensure that guidance on the correct procedure for putting on (donning) and taking off (doffing) PPE is followed at all times. For more information see:
Fit testing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGPs.)
Under UK Health Security Agency's guidance, staff are required to wear disposable FFP3 or other suitable respirators for certain Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGPs.) The list of what constitutes an AGP can be found in National infection prevention and control manual (NIPCM) for England.
Guidance published by Gov.uk is also available on the use of PPE for AGPs.
It is an employer’s responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to ensure that staff have access to appropriate equipment and that they know how to wear it properly. In relation to PPE required for AGPs, this means that staff should be fit tested to ensure that masks fit correctly and are effective. Staff must also understand how to create and check the seal every time it is worn. Staff will need to be fit tested for each brand or model of mask that they will use because not all masks fit in the same way.
For a list of approved fit-test trainers and for more information about fit testing see the fit2fit website.
An alternative to using a fit-tested mask is a positive pressure hood. These are reusable and suitable for all staff including those with facial hair. Positive pressure hoods do not need to be fit tested and may offer an alternative to using FFP3. If purchasing a positive pressure hood from a supplier, ensure that this meets the required standards.
Disposal of PPE
Guidance for care workers working in care homes includes information about the disposal of PPE: UK Health Security Agency's Guidance: Personal protective equipment (PPE): resource for care workers working in care homes during sustained COVID-19 transmission in England.
This guidance also covers the disposal of PPE when supporting people in their own homes.
Impact of PPE when engaging with customers
During the COVID-19 pandemic staff need to wear PPE. This can be quite disorientating and potentially scary for people receiving support, as well as making communication more difficult.
This resource from NHS Lothian, (Edinburgh Behaviour Support Service), gives some suggestions of how to support people living with dementia when wearing PPE.
For further information about supporting customers, including those with specific communication or mental health needs or learning disabilities see the Customer Wellbeing section.
It is vitally important that staff wear PPE in line with UK Health Security Agency guidance (including face masks) to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. If you feel that you are unable to fully follow or implement any guidance due to the specific needs of customers, then contact us at aopcontracts@westsussex.gov.uk for advice.
Employers’ responsibilities under the Health and Safety Executive
We appreciate and recognise the hard work that providers have taken to facilitate and promote infection control within services. However, the risk of transmission and further outbreaks of COVID-19 in West Sussex remains and so it is vitally important that services continue to follow and adhere to current PPE guidance for the safety of all staff, residents, and visitors.
Under the Health and Safety Executive, it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure they provide and train staff to wear the appropriate PPE at work. Please see the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992.
