Workforce
…the extra cash, time and staffing that was made available did free up an astonishing amount of flexibility to achieve change
Renal Clinical Director, UK
On 17th March, NHS England wrote to the Chief Executive of every NHS Trust detailing important actions needed in order to:
- Free-up the maximum possible inpatient and critical care capacity
- Prepare for, and respond to, the anticipated large numbers of COVID-19 patients who will need respiratory support
- Support staff, and maximise their availability
- Play our part in the wider population measures newly announced by Government
- Stress-test operational readiness
- Remove routine burdens
This resulted in a huge challenge for the kidney care workforce, who were required to continue delivering life-saving treatment to those who needed it, whilst also supporting other specialties such as intensive care and emergency.
The resilience and flexibility of the kidney care work-force and the ability to quickly transform services and respond to this challenge is something to celebrate and learn from.
How do teams work flexibly to overcome the challenge of high staff sickness and self-isolation?
How do the work-force support each other to prevent stress or burn-out?
What have we learnt from having to perform different roles during COVID-19?
How do the work-force incorporate staff from other specialties in order to maintain their services?
Do you have experience of how kidney units managed the work-force during covid-19?
Add you voice to this learning community!
Get in touch by completing this short and easy form, or email your story in your own words to kquip@renalregistry.nhs.uk.
Shared learning
- UK survey of renal unit practices and experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic
Association of Nephrology Nurses UK, Journal of Kidney Care - Learning from one renal unit’s transformation in response to COVID-19: Inpatient care, medical staffing and rota configuration
University Hospitals Birmingham - Supporting AKI in the critically ill patient
Review of London kidney teams’ response to COVID-19
Example protocols and documents
Example job roles and rapid training and competency documents for haemodialysis support staff
- Example of a renal team volunteer role
- Rapid training and competency document for renal nurses
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust - Rapid training and competency document for support staff in haemodialysis
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust - Haemodialysis staff training document
Birmingham Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
