Psychological support for healthcare staff
The British Psychological Society has released guidance for healthcare managers and staff on managing the psychological needs of staff in the current crisis. These recommendations cover steps for the response that is needed now, in the ‘active phase’, and in the future, in the ‘recovery phase’. The normalisation of psychological responses to the crisis is also encouraged, with the key message being ‘it is okay to not be okay’. The guidance states that formal psychological care should be delivered in a ‘stepped response’, where basic needs and physical resources are managed first, progressing to support and psychological aid, and eventually psychological intervention if necessary. The full briefing on these guidelines can be found on the Society's website. https://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/psychological-needs-healthcare-staff-resultcoronavirus-pandemic
Nutrition for COVID-19 recovery
A collaboration of three nutrition-focused associations has produced a set of leaflets with advice on good nutrition to aid proper immune system function when recovering from COVID-19. There are three leaflets, red, yellow and green, that correspond to a range of severity of the illness, from those with mild illness coping at home to those who have been hospitalised. Each gives targeted advice on coping with symptoms, encouraging activity and good nutrition. https://www.malnutritionpathway.co.uk/covid19
Wellbeing support helpline
Education for Health has launched a wellbeing support helpline, which has wellbeing counsellors available by both phone and email to listen to issues and provide advice on concerns such as managing stress or time management. This support helpline is open to anyone who needs it, and the team behind it are also looking for anyone trained in counselling or psychology to join them in providing this service. https://www.educationforhealth.org/actions-oncovid-19/hcp-wellbeing-helpline/
NICE GUIDANCE
COVID-19 rapid guidelines
What does it say?
NICE has published a number of rapid guidelines on COVID-19 and various associated issues. They have been developed in collaboration with NHS England and NHS Improvement.
What does it cover?
The latest guidance includes:
To develop and publish these guidelines quickly, NICE has changed the usual approach for guidance publication. This altered approach is under review. NICE is also working to produce rapid evidence summaries, to report on whether certain medications may increase the severity or length of the illness.
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/published?type=apg,csg,cg,cov,mpg,ph,sg,sc
Listening service for nurses in the community
The Queen's Nursing Institute has set up a listening service, TalkToUs, for registered nurses working in the community or in social care. The service treats all calls as confidential and while they do not provide counselling, they will signpost appropriate sources of support, where necessary. The service asks that for the first call, nurses email the address below to arrange a preferred date and time for their call. They aim to respond to emails within 48 hours (72 hours at the weekend).
TalkToUs@qni.org.uk
Advice for people with dementia and their carers during lockdown
Information gathered by networks such as the Alzheimer's Society has revealed that people with dementia and their carers have concerns about issues including exacerbation of the decline in cognitive and functional ability, increases in symptoms (eg agitation) and problems explaining and abiding by lockdown and its rules. To help combat this, a leaflet of advice for people with dementia and their carers on handling isolation and lockdown has been released based on the latest research and experts from the University of Bradford. The leaflet is focused around five key points: staying safe and well, staying connected, keeping a sense of purpose, staying active and staying positive. http://www.idealproject.org.uk/covid/
Free COVID-19 awareness course
Skills for Health, one of the leading UK providers of online learning for healthcare, has updated its COVID-19 awareness course. This course is available for free online and includes the current training on infection prevention, personal protective equipment and hand and respiratory hygiene. It takes approximately two hours to complete and has already been accessed by over 18 000 health and care professionals. https://www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/covid-19-course?mc_cid=262d33e731&mc_eid=b95f567013
CPD
MA Healthcare, the publisher of Practice Nursing, offers a revalidation resource for both nurses and midwives. CPD Launchpad offers a free e-portfolio to help you record your CPD and practice hours, as well as a wide range of content to promote reflection. You can register and use CPD Launchpad straight away, and if you're a subscriber to Practice Nursing, you can access extra content to help build up your personal CPD hours. Register at CPD-Launchpad.co.uk