Published on: 22 October 2021

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This week at the Trust we find our focus squarely back on Covid.

That’s not to say it ever really went away, just that we had seen a reduction in infection rates and the number of people who needed to be admitted to hospital over the summer. Now we are seeing those rates rising again and indeed the number of people being admitted to hospital or into our community support pathways has increased too.

It’s important that we understand this horrific virus has not gone away. I cannot stress that enough. I know this is a stark message and not what anyone wants to hear almost two years into the pandemic, but it is the truth of the situation and it’s important we all grasp it so that we are able to react in the most appropriate way.

We continue to see high volumes of people coming into hospital through our urgent and emergency pathways. Some are infected with Covid and, if they need to be admitted for care, will follow the safest route into one of our specialist wards set aside for people who test positive for the virus.

In addition, we are also seeing people coming into hospital now suffering with seasonal ‘flu. Of course, we see this every year and have plans in place to manage further infection prevention control, but managing this alongside Covid adds another dimension to what is traditionally one of the mostly deadly illnesses we encounter over the winter months.

Be mindful that whilst colleagues across the entire Trust are vaccinated against both Covid and ‘flu, they remain susceptible to illness as much as anyone else.

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I know we have characterised NHS and other key workers as heroes throughout the pandemic, but the truth is they are ordinary people, going about their daily lives too. They have acted heroically there is no doubt, but this doesn’t give them any special immunity. They catch colds, ‘flu, Covid and are afflicted by random sickness bugs too. That’s before their children or wider family are affected, bringing the usual challenge of balancing work and life that we all face from time to time.

The result is the Trust becomes short staffed at a time when they need colleagues the most. It’s nobody’s fault, that’s for sure, but let me clear we can all do something to help too.

You’ve heard me say many times:

  • Wear your face mask – on our premises it is mandatory for everyone, but I’d encourage a return to wearing face masks when out and about, on public transport or in shops especially. It protects others if you have Covid with no symptoms
  • Get your Covid vaccine or if and when you’re eligible get the booster – you might still be infected but research is clear it will prevent most people from being so ill they need to come into hospital
  • Keep washing or sanitising your hands – all the time, especially as you enter and leave places
  • Social distance where you can – it will help to prevent the spread of the virus
  • Ventilate your rooms – keeping your windows open also helps to prevent the spread of Covid

If we all do everything we can to curb this latest rise in infections and hospital admissions, it will help enormously as we try and manage Covid and winter pressures for the second year.

And this week I received a timely reminder of why this is important.

The Trust is working with celebrity choir master Gareth Malone who is planning a community performance including some of our staff to be filmed in advance but broadcast on BBC One on Christmas Eve.

It is very exciting and there is a real buzz around the Trust about this project. We need this type of thing to boost morale and give people a lift and something to look forward to.

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You might recognise Gareth’s name from his work with the Military Wives choir, where he did a similar thing.

Here in East Lancashire he is working with colleagues – selected from a huge number who wanted to be involved – and people in the community to form a Christmas community choir.

Gareth and his team have selected Blackburn as a focus in particular because of the terrible time the town and the area as a whole has had at the hands of Covid.

It is no secret we have been amongst the hardest hit and have suffered greatly, with many,  many people losing loved ones to the virus. It has been brutal on colleagues and local people.

Over the coming weeks he will hear the stories of the real, human impact of the pandemic and I’ve no doubt it will be both hard to hear and heart breaking in so many ways.

But we have to hear this and be reminded about how deadly Covid can be and how easily it devastates families in our community.

It is exactly the right time. Covid has not gone away and more to the point it is rising again.

We can do more than we are currently doing to prevent it and in doing so we can help protect ourselves and those around us.

Please, let’s remain vigilant and remember what we have been through. Really, wearing a face mask and opting to do the right thing is very little to ask.

Take care, Martin