Keeping Greater Manchester’s health and care sector working
New initiative launched by the Growth Company to tackle labour market challenges as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19) Businesses in the health and care sector struggling to fill vacancies to meet the challenges of COVID-19 can receive help from a new initiative from The Growth Company in partnership with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and delivery Partners. Employ GM is a service, across the city-region, for all businesses*, the self-employed and individuals to help match job opportunities, especially temporary, as new and replacement needs arise as COVID-19 impacts on business delivery. It connects employers who have urgent temporary (and permanent) vacancies with individuals across Greater Manchester who are available to start work straight away. It will provide practical support with the recruitment process including the promotion of jobs to a large network of available candidates, quick and efficient recruitment, and running a weekly payroll for businesses not used to utilising a temporary workforce. COVID-19 has presented huge challenges for the care sector with the health and safety needs of staff and vulnerable people at the forefront. Maintaining high levels of care with staffing numbers reduced due to sickness or self-isolation or due to different working patterns, so recruiting the right staff to plug gaps is proving to be essential. Employ GM will also support individuals who have been made redundant due to Covid-19, as well as self-employed people who have seen a significant drop in work, by helping them look for new job opportunities as well as providing them with careers advice and training. Employ GM will also support furloughed employees and those unsure about their next steps with careers information and advice to help them make decisions on work, learning, and training. Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “We’re in no doubt about the challenges that many businesses throughout our city-region are facing, which is why we’ve been working hard from the outset with The Growth Company and other partners to put in place all the support we can. “All of the actions that we take now are going to determine how we move forward after this, which is why we’re helping businesses, sole traders and self-employed business owners to plan ahead and even second workers to where they’re needed most. Greater Manchester always comes together in challenging times, and this has been no exception.” Mark Hughes, Chief Executive of The Growth Company, said: “Along with our Partners, The Growth Company is here for business and individuals who need support during these uncertain times. I am confident that the launch of Employ GM will help us to quickly bridge skills gaps across the city-region, as well as take some of the pressure off organisations by helping them to adapt and be resilient to change.” For more information and to get help from Employ GM visit www.employgm.org/ For business support, call: 0161 237 4127. To list a job vacancy , call: 0161 237 4120 or visit https://employgm.org/list-your-job/ If you’re looking for work, call: 0161 237 4121 or visit https://aspirerecruitment.org.uk/job-details/ Businesses looking for support can also visit the Coronavirus microsite at www.businessgrowthhub.com/Coronavirus or get in touch for more advice and support by emailing BGH@growthco.uk or call us on 0161 237 4127. Opening hours have been extended to Monday to Friday 8am – 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am – 1pm to support businesses.
Maternity services are open for business – help us keep them that way, says RCM
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has called on every pregnant woman to support them in keeping services open and available. With maternity services across the country working to maintain as broad a range of services – including antenatal appointments and scans – as they can, the RCM has urged pregnant women and their families to do their bit to keep themselves healthy and protect midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) too. The RCM is calling on pregnant women to let their midwife know if they or anyone in their home starts to have symptoms of Covid-19 and they must also continue to attend routine appointments for antenatal care and scans to support the maternity services. Commenting, Gill Walton, Chief Executive of the RCM, said: “It’s really important to remember that maternity services are open. Every day, up and down the country, babies are being born and new families are created. Coronavirus isn’t putting a stop to that. Yes, some things may be slightly different – you may see your midwife via a video screen for some appointments, for example – but you will still receive the care and support you need throughout your pregnancy. “We want you to have a happy and healthy pregnancy and birth, and our members will support you every step of the way. What we’re asking in return is that you support them too, by reducing their exposure to coronavirus. If you or your partner has coronavirus symptoms, it’s vital that you let your midwife know before you attend an appointment. You’ll still get the care you need, but your midwife will be able to take the precautions they need to keep themselves as safe as possible. The same applies when you go into labour. Let the maternity unit know so they can be ready for you and help you welcome your new baby into the world.” The RCM has applauded the maternity units that are embracing innovation to replace some face to face consultations with phone or by video calls. They have stressed the need for pregnant women to continue to attend all appointments for scans, blood pressure, urine checks and blood tests as planned. It is also vital to contact their midwife if they have any concerns, particularly around the movement of their baby, without delay. Gill added: “I am so proud of the work Heads and Directors of Midwifery are doing to keep services open and to make sure pregnant women still receive the care they need. Please support them as we head into the Easter weekend, by not taking a break from the important measures that are in place to keep you safe. Stay at home as much as you can, and if you can’t continue to observe social distancing; wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face; and if you cough or sneeze, do it into the crook of your elbow or into a tissue.” For similar articles visit our features section
Dieticians help Covid-19 patients on the road to recovery
Dieticians from Edge Hill University are playing a critical role in supporting patients during the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr Julie Abayomi, Associate Head of Applied Health and Social Care, has recently been appointed Chair of the British Dietetic Association (BDA) England Board and is at the forefront of leading a team of health professionals that are giving out advice to combat nutritional problems at a public-health level. “It is not only our amazing doctors and nurses who support patients with Covid-19 symptoms. Dietitians are vital members of the intensive care multidisciplinary team,” explained Dr Abayomi. “Particularly when patients are undergoing sedation and ventilation, they need intensive nutrition support to aid their recovery. “The work of our healthcare professionals in this field is more important than ever to help us fight the Covid-19 outbreak. Our work to design, prescribe and monitor feeding regimens to meet the needs of each individual patient is so important to help them get back on their feet.” Across the UK, hundreds of dietitians are preparing to support the NHS in a variety of ways, and many who usually work outside the sector have volunteered to return to support their colleagues in clinical roles. Edge Hill University has agreed to release health colleagues back to the NHS to support their efforts and Dr Abayomi is herself is about to return to the NHS after seven years out of a clinical setting. She said: “I have always kept in contact with my colleagues working for the NHS and I know how busy they are at the best of times. This is a time of crisis and our NHS colleagues need all the help they can get, so if I am able to help then I will, and I’m so proud to see colleagues at Edge Hill University doing the same. My offer to help will enable to NHS to free up their experienced staff to deal with more urgent patients.” The Critical Care Specialist Interest Group of the BDA has recently published guidelines on the healthy management of nutrition and dietetic services during the Covid-19 pandemic www.bda.uk.com/resource/bda-critical-care-group-covid-19-guidance-published.html and is urging people to follow their advice. Edge Hill University offers a range of healthcare programmes designed to support the NHS workforce, for more information visit www.edgehill.ac.uk.
Experts urge delayed surgery patients to increase fitness training during COVID-19
Physiology experts are urging people on surgical waiting lists to consider using high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to boost the fitness of their heart and lungs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team of scientists at the University of Nottingham say their new research proves the benefit of HIIT in patients having surgery for urological cancer – results that are also relevant to everyone trying to avoid or recover from COVID-19. In a paper published in a Nature journal, the researchers show how a group of older pre-surgical patients significantly benefitted from a cycling-based HIIT exercise programme in the month running up to their operations. The results suggest that this HIIT regime has the potential to reduce the chances of complications or death during and after surgery. Dr James Blackwell from the Royal Derby Hospital and the University’s School of Medicine said: “We set out to find out what effect a simple programme of HIIT had on patients waiting for surgery for prostate, kidney and bladder cancer and were pleased to see clear positive changes with this very specific type of supervised exercise. HIIT significantly improved cardio-respiratory function in our intervention group of patients, but larger trials are needed to see what difference it makes on post-operative complications, socio-economic impact and long-term survival. The COVID-19 pandemic may result in patients waiting longer for scheduled operations, it is essential that fitness levels do not drop during this time. There may be opportunity for patients to improve baseline fitness levels prior to surgery”. Dr Bethan Phillips also from the University’s School of Medicine said: “We think the results of our trial have implications for the wider community in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We would advise everyone to try and increase their fitness by using simple programmes of HIIT which are freely available online, many of which can be done in the home or garden without special equipment. It’s so important that people stay fit as it improves their chances of fighting off COVID-19 or limiting the effects of the infection. This includes eating a healthy diet and cutting back on alcohol and smoking.” In the HIIT randomised controlled trial for pre-operative patients, 40 people were recruited with an average age of 72. All patients were awaiting major urological surgery for cancer – operations which have relatively high rates of peri- and post-operative complications. The patients were randomised into either the control group for standard care, or a 4-week fully supervised HIIT intervention in the run-up to their operations. Measurements of cardio-respiratory fitness and muscle mass were taken before the first HIIT session and again a few days before surgery. The HIIT exercise consisted of a warm up on a static exercise bike then 5 x 1-minute bursts of cycling at the patient’s highest level of effort, followed by 90 second recovery periods of unloaded cycling and a two minute warm down. There was a statistically significant reduction in the HIIT group’s resting blood pressure and also an increase in both the submaximal (anaerobic threshold) and maximum rate of oxygen they used (aerobic capacity) after the month-long period of the exercise trial. The researchers say these effects can have real benefits in helping patients who undergo surgery with fitter patients suffering fewer post-operative complications and recovering more quickly afterwards. The study also shows that it is possible to make a meaningful difference in the fitness of patients in a relatively short space of time before their operations. Most urological surgery is carried out within 31 days of a decision to operate. Previously urology surgical patients have been given pelvic floor exercises to help avoid incontinence after operations but the HIIT intervention has the capacity to improve a wider range of aspects of fitness.
Lambeth Firefighters volunteer to assemble face shields for the NHS
ShieldNHS, a temporary not-for-profit organisation, has formed to donate and assemble face shields to the NHS. With the help of firefighters at Lambeth station, London, ShieldNHS is on track to deliver 40,000 face shields to hospitals around the country within the next week. London firefighters have turned their hands to shield production over the last few days, creating an amazing 7000 face shields to support their colleagues in the medical emergency services and care sector. Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge has created a standard operating procedure to minimise the risks with the disposable face shields. They have gone through rigorous testing by the infectious control and clinical engineering innovation teams and have been approved for use during the Covid-19 pandemic. Addenbrooke’s has also agreed to share the procedures and technical file to speed up the process for other trusts to use the PPE. Founded by Lucy Jung, ShieldNHS started at the end of March to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS workers. The organisation comprises of medics, engineers and volunteers who worked to bring an American shield design to the UK that meets Essential Safety and Performance Requirements by law. “I couldn’t believe it when a team firefighters got in touch and offered to help, they have been fantastic and have really made a difference to our mission,” says Lucy Jung, the creative mind behind ShieldNHS. “It’s allowed us to speed up our whole production process and get shields to frontline NHS staff even quicker than we had ever dreamed”. Station Commander Paul McClenaghan from CBRN Team at Lambeth Fire Station comments: “We have so far built 9000 shields and delivered all of them to NHS hospitals. We are looking forward to building the next batch of 3000. The London fire Brigade is dedicated to protecting the people of London and our NHS.” The face shields being produced follow the Badger Shield open source design, originally created by US company Delve. The component parts have been made using private funding so far and a public crowdfunding campaign to raise £40,000 is due to increase output and make another 40 thousand shields for distribution, with £10,995 already raised towards the next batch. The assembly of the units is being taken on by dedicated volunteers including the Lambeth firefighters. There’s ongoing website fundraising on both Facebook and Twitter. For similar articles visit our features section
New online platform created to source and exchange PPE
A UK software company has launched a free platform to supply, sell and exchange personal protection equipment (PPE) throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Shoothill has launched www.ppeexchange.co.uk, a free to use service to connect independent, voluntary and public sector buyers including care homes and other organisations with suppliers of PPE during the COVID-19 outbreak. Within 24 hours of the launch there were already 700,000 requests registered on the site. Shoothill Managing Director Rod Plummer said the portal, which the firm designed and implemented in just six days, aimed to provide urgent protection for keyworkers who are being put at risk through a lack of available PPE. He said: “Across the country, supplies of PPE are in short supply and, at times, non-existent. We have heard of care homes, where our many vulnerable friends and family are housed, and home care agencies working in the community having to resort to improvised masks and aprons fashioned from bin bags. “Mobilising PPE to get to the frontlines is essential to ensure the safest possible working conditions and, critically, to slow the wave of infection and save lives. Time is of the essence now and for the foreseeable future, with shortages and bottlenecks putting more and more people at risk, every effort is needed to tackle shortages.” Shoothill’s previous customers include PETO, for which it developed an intelligent procurement system for NHS products. It designed and developed PPEExchange.co.uk in less than six days over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend from an initial idea from PETO, marrying its portfolio of software and web development skills with PETO’s expertise, knowledge of social care and connections The PPE Exchange is entirely free for all users to encourage as many people as possible to get involved. Simon Jeavons, Chief Operating Officer at Shoothill, commented: “The greater the user base, the more positive an impact this system can have, given the connections created between users coupled with the power of the data gathered. “The site has been running for just 24 hours and we have seen enormous interest and as of 11am on April 16, there were buyer requests for nearly 700,000 items.” PPE Exchange also collects data through user analytics to assess which products are in the highest demand and where the greatest shortages are. This information can then be used for a national coordinated response to prioritise the country’s most urgent needs. Shoothill has more than 15 years experience developing software on tight deadlines, having previously worked on high profile and time sensitive mission-critical systems and marketing campaigns. The firm’s past applications on flooding and government spending boomed online shortly after launch, delivering key information to a large public audience during challenging times.
PAMMS shortlisted in National Technology Awards
An innovative technology solution for the health and social care sector, developed by HAS Technology, has been shortlisted for ‘Digital Transformation of the Year’ in the National Technology Awards. The annual awards are the most comprehensive celebration of technological advancements within the UK and the ‘Digital Transformation of the Year’ category is set to champion the tech making the most exceptional developments within their respective sectors. With local authorities facing care quality and service sustainability issues – a situation exasperated by the COVID-19 pandemic – using digital resources can save time and deliver vital intelligence. PAMMS (Provider Assessment and Market Management Solution) was developed by HAS Technology in partnership with 11 councils in the Association of Directors for Adult Social Services (ADASS) East region to provide a consistent, future-proof solution that brings together market insight intelligence, providing market shaping tools and services. The solution exceeded all objectives, seeing a capital saving of £550K, a 10% improvement in measurable provider quality and a new level of performance transparency that allowed risks within care environments to be identified much sooner. Ben Chance, Head of PAMMS, commented; “We’re thrilled that we have been recognised as a technology provider that it is helping the health and social care sector. We’ve worked very closely with senior industry stakeholders to develop digital solutions that meet their challenges.” The awards ceremony is planned to be held in November at the London Marriott Hotel. Since the award shortlisting was announced, the PAMMS Market Insight module has been deployed across the capital to allow London ADASS to collect essential data about the rapidly changing COVID-19 solution, reinforcing the adaptability and responsiveness of this digital tool. For more information about PAMMS, visit https://welcome.pamms.co.uk/
Charity Releases ‘Self-isolation Survival Guide’ To Support Vulnerable Older Adults
Charity Vegetarian for Life, which supports older vegans and vegetarians, has put together some tips on preparing as best you can, and how you might still keep in touch with others, during this challenging period. Another meal is possible. When you have seemingly bare cupboards, or have bought whatever you were able to nab, the Supercook recipe search engine might save the day. Simply type in the ingredients that you have in your cupboards, fridge and freezer, and it will come up with a raft of recipes you can make without leaving the house to buy more. If shopping really isn’t an option, Vegetarian for Life has a great guide called Veggie Meals to Your Door. It details all of the companies that can deliver vegetarian and vegan meals – either hot, chilled or frozen – straight to your home. The guide can be found here or we can post a copy to you, free of charge. Please contact us on 0161 257 0887 for more information. It’s important to keep in contact with your friends and family, so why not make use of programs such as Facebook, Skype, and Whatsapp for sharing photos and a (virtual) face-to-face chat? Vegetarian for Life runs the Mature Vegans and Veggies UK group on Facebook, which already has over 1,400 members, and also a veggie pen- and phone-pal scheme, exclusively for older vegetarians and vegans. Full details are available on our website. Making nutrition a priority is important for a healthy immune system. And thankfully there are some key things you can do to keep it simple and eat well, even when housebound. Pick ambient foods, such as canned goods, pastas, rice and beans. Make the most of your freezer if you have one, where you can store breads, vegetables, fruits and more. Stock a good variety of foods where possible, so that you don’t rely too heavily on items that might easily run out at the supermarket. Vegetarian for Life has compiled a handy guide to what to buy for your store cupboard and freezer, here. Make the most of some time at home. If you are having to self-isolate at home, you may well start to feel lonely. Keep your spirits lifted by exercising, watching TV, reading a good book, or listening to the radio, with the window open, for a light breeze of fresh air. Why not start that new hobby you’ve always wanted to have a go at? Or take advantage of the time of year and begin sowing seeds in the garden for a few veggies of your own creation. For inspiration, check out the incredible 81-year-old vegan whose mission is to complete one million press-ups, here. We hope that you and yours stay well during this challenging time. If you’re experiencing any difficulties, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us on 0161 257 0887. You can also find out what shopping and home delivery services your local Age UK offers, here.
Negative stereotypes about elderly could be putting their health at risk
Stereotyping people in later life and treating all over-65s as a single group could be damaging their physical and mental health, according to a report from national older people’s charity, Independent Age. Through this new research, Independent Age shines a light on those who are least seen and challenges the false assumptions about people aged 65 and over, such as them all being financially secure and living care free lives. The individuals featured in the new report – some living in poverty, others caring for family members and many living with long term physical and mental health conditions – are also likely to face significant challenges during the current coronavirus pandemic. The report – titled In Focus: Experiences of older age in England – uses a combination of quantitative analysis in partnership with City University of London, and qualitative research of older people’s experiences, to highlight the voices that are seldom heard among those who are 65 and over. One contributor Joan, 75, told the charity, “I thought I’d be wealthier as I got older, but it’s going the other way. I never thought I’d go downhill as I have health-wise. I walk bent over now, because of my back. I would have thought it’d happen later than it has.” The report found that: It is now more important than ever that these stories are told, and that policy makers and industry leaders consider the needs, wishes and capabilities of the wide range of people in later life when planning policies and programmes. For many people over 65, the Covid-19 outbreak has magnified existing problems and surfaced new ones. A separate survey of over to 2,600 people over 65, carried out recently by Independent Age, found that almost one in eight had heard, or had been on the receiving end of, ageist language during the crisis. These misguided views have the potential to cause lasting damage to individuals, as well as sending societal attitudes towards older people backwards. Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Independent Age, said, “Growing older can be a really positive experience, but as this reports highlights, there are still too many people who face daily challenges. We’re currently all living through extremely difficult times, but there are groups of people in later life who are even more likely to be vulnerable, and they’re the ones we really need to look out for and listen to. “At a time when many people 65 and over are more isolated than ever, I’ve been shocked and disappointed to see an increasing amount of negative and discriminatory language targeted towards older people during the coronavirus pandemic. We need to start seeing people in later life as individuals who are valuable to society, and change how we talk about our older population.” The report sets out six tests to apply when planning policies and programmes for older people, which the charity hopes other policy makers and industry leaders will adopt and follow. These are: Further information about In Focus: Experiences of older age in England can be found at independentage.org/in-focus
