COVID-19 Isolation units

[Chris Bates]

We are looking at the possibilities for separate areas for dialysis of CV19 patients and those suspected of having it.

If there are no appropriate areas in the hospital available, we are looking at portacabins/shipping containers etc.

NxStage/Physidia only need drain and power whereas normal machines would need water plant too.

Need separated areas for donning/doffing of PPE and handwashing, storage, plant if required.

Confirmed cases could use a communal area but suspected cases would need individual isolation areas.

What are you all doing out there ?

[Ian Wilde]

Hi Chris,

So far we managed to find an inpatient ward with siderooms that had space.  We were allowed a single sideroom that has its own annex attached with sink.  The room itself also had a sink and its own bathroom.  I was tasked with getting an RO and machine in there if needed.  As there were multiple sinks in the area I was allowed by infection control to rig up an RO to the tap and allow both machine and RO to drain into the sink.

We have a satellite unit across the road that has a dedicated self-care area.  We are planning if required to use that and move the self-care patients elsewhere temporarily.  There has been no talk of portacabins or anything like that - yet.

[Chris Pearson]

Hi Ian,
Has the virus isolation dialysis unit that used to be at North Manchester closed ?

[Ian Wilde]

Hi Chris,

the two facilities we had at North have now been taken back - not sure what happened to one of them but the other became a prayer room - both been fully stripped out though.

[Garry]

For a few weeks now, our managers have been transferring as many patients as possible out to satellite units.  Once our isolation rooms are full the main unit will become the main treatment area with each bay being sectioned off as a negative pressure room as and when required.

Clearly a moving target at the moment with impact on staffing levels an unknown.  With expectant mothers off for 12 weeks from the weekend, and self isolation for up to 14 days for households it may be all hands to the deck.  The whole Trust is reviewing roles and seeing where other staff groups can be 'upskilled' to assist where necessary.

As well as spare capacity from, various spare points of use, the largest capacity boost will come from opening up further shifts.  We have a few units that currently only run two shifts per day so ,dependant on staffing, that is being considered.

With a group of techs mainly working out of one small workshop I'm considering banishing a few to various satellite units, work load permitting, as I feel there is a potential risk of all of us going off at the same time if anybody picks up the virus.

[Roger Moore]

Hi Garry

We have also taken the decision to separate staff as much as possible and along the same lines as you by basing individuals across our various units.

[Chris Bates]

We now have 6 linked units in position and dialysing Covid patients 3 days a week at 8 isolated stations.
Using Fresenius 5008 and 5008S. Water ring extended from existing old plant which also feeds the workshop and home training areas.

Estates, Renal management , Infection control and various others pulled together really well to get this in place so quickly.

[Gerry Boyle]

Hi Chris,

Our main dialysis unit is separate from the Acutes hospital by about 3 miles.   Chronic patients continue to attend this unit and in-patients will be dialysed at the acutes hospital.  

Out-patients who are coronavirus positive but still in the community will be dialysed in a cohort within the chronic dialysis unit with deep cleaning to follow before next shift.   Big problem there is patient transport and that seems to change on a daily basis.

We are in the fortunate position of having a small population of patients though and this would be unlikely to work in a larger unit.

Gerry

[Ian Wilde]

Great going from you and your trust Chris!