3.8 COVID-19 Control Measures

3.8.1 Patient placement

3.8.2 Hand hygiene

3.8.3 Personal Protective Equipment

3.8.4 Safe Management of care Equipment

3.8.5 Safe Management of Care Environment

3.8.6 Waste and Linen

3.8.7 Staff

3.8.8 Management of staff exposed to a case

3.8.9 Closure of the ward/unit

3.8.10  Other control measures which may be considered by the IMT

3.8.11 Conversion of outbreak ward to COVID-19 ward

 

Control measures should be implemented immediately to prevent onward transmission of COVID-19.  These must include:

3.8.1 Patient placement

3.8.2 Hand hygiene

3.8.3 Personal Protective Equipment

3.8.4 Safe Management of Care Equipment

3.8.5 Safe Management of Care Environment

3.8.6 Waste and linen

3.8.7 Staff

3.8.8 Management of staff exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19

3.8.9 Closure of the ward/unit

3.8.10  Other control measures which may be considered by the IMT

3.8.11 Conversion of outbreak ward to COVID-19 ward

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic when COVID-19 admissions are high and where bed capacity in the board is extremely limited, the board may consider converting the outbreak ward into a COVID-19 ward to allow confirmed COVID-19 cases to be transferred/admitted to the area and utilise bed capacity within the ward.  This is an operational decision which must be carefully considered, documented and undertaken as a last resort. 

In choosing to convert the outbreak ward to a COVID-19 ward, IMTs alongside hospital management must weigh up the risk associated with transferring contacts to other wards and the demand for patient beds to accommodate emergency admissions.