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- Page navigation anchor for Lessons from the first wave COVID 19; staff absence in primary care at SWL PracticeLessons from the first wave COVID 19; staff absence in primary care at SWL PracticeI enjoyed this article In response to the impact COVID-19 had on primary care, we also evaluated the staff incidence of infection, symptoms and levels of absence at Groves Health (GH), a GP Practice in South West London. Our suburban practice has 15000 registered patients.Of the 50 staff at GH, 54% had developed and recovered from COVID-19 infection in the three month period from mid-February to the beginning of May 2020. No staff were hospitalised although the most unwell had more than three weeks sick leave.The majority (89%) were symptomatic. Three participants (11%) had an asymptomatic infection found on antibody testing. Of those with symptoms the most common symptom experienced was fatigue (75%), followed by cough (63%) and anosmia (65%). The majority of occurrences of anosmia were prior to its addition to the official list of symptoms, meaning staff remained at work despite this symptom.COVID-19 symptoms significantly affected staff absence, with 405 days of absence recorded. At the peak, 16 staff members were absent at one time, significantly higher when compared to previous years. The majority of staff who were absent from work had symptoms prior to swab antigen testing being available, therefore were absent from work as dictated by government guidance. The spread of infection and peak of absences at GH mirrored those of UK cases. However, the number of staff absent a...Show MoreCompeting Interests: None declared.
- Page navigation anchor for Community use of PPE is for public discussion too - views on face shieldsCommunity use of PPE is for public discussion too - views on face shieldsI enjoyed reading this article and its discussion of PPE for workers in community care. As people shielding unlock, and government enforces face coverings in shops and public transport, it is important to consider best PPE for the public.We evaluated by questionnaire the use of face-shields (FS) when shopping amongst older people as two friends groups and one patient group during lock-down in England in May. We explored comfort, vision, perceived safety and free text opinion.We asked adults to fill in an evaluation if they agreed to try FS for shopping at least once. Group 1: pilot group of 12 acquaintances in Bolton average age 69 years (IOCD-2019 4/10), also asked to improve the evaluation, group 2: 30 acquaintances in Sussex, average age 64 years (IOCD 3/10), group 3: 30 randomly selected 60-70 year old patients in Salford, average age 64 years (IOCD 7/10). Total 72 people with 64 (75%) responses.Most felt FS offered protection, very comfortable, and either touched their faces not at all or less than twice and not put off by having to wash it between uses.Regardless of glasses use, vision rated mainly as good or very good. Amongst those who felt their vision was poor, a majority wore glasses. It can cause blurring for some, which was a drawback.A significant minority were not intending to use face covering...Show MoreCompeting Interests: None declared.