With winter approaching, the UK is entering the traditional seasons for colds and flu, with the additional complication this year that symptoms of those two illnesses can be broadly similar to those experienced by people who have caught the coronavirus and may be at risk of spreading it.
The NHS has produced online Covid-19 advice and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has also produced a guide to differentiate between the three types of illnesses, to help make it clear on what symptoms to look out for.
NEW Hands. Face. Space.
Please display the following posters as a priority in receptions, wards, loos, kitchens etc:
Existing campaign material for public areas
For staff areas
Hands. Face. Space. Email signature
PPE posters for staff areas:
Handy PPE reminder cards:
Trust return to work safely posters:
Easy Read materials
Existing campaign material for public areas – awaiting PHE updates w/c 14 September
Large print
British Sign Language (BSL)
Resources can be shared with staff, service users and carers via a BSL playlist on our YouTube channel or we can provide in MP4 format via Dropbox. Please get in touch if you need these versions.
Handy list of accessible resources and translations
Accessible information about COVID-19
The gov.uk website also has resources about coronavirus in different languages.
Health Education England’s national Library and Knowledge Services team has made available the https://library.nhs.uk/website which hosts information resources which front line staff can use to help them communicate effectively with patients, clients, and their families around Coronavirus. The website includes easy read, sign language and Makaton formats as well as other communication guidance. All materials on the website meet the accessible information standard.
NHS Leeds has produced a YouTube playlist of Covid advice in community languages.
Other formats and requests for additional resources
Other formats including braille, audio and a child-friendly poster are available on request. Please email communications.lypft@nhs.net with your request.
It’s really important that as NHS employees we support efforts to provide trusted and credible information to the public. Please contact the communications team (X55989) if you see any information you feel we need to address.
If you use social media, please only share reliable and trustworthy messages from the NHS, Public Health England and the Department of Health and Social Care as information from these sources is verified and based on the latest clinical evidence.
Useful social media accounts to follow:
There is a growing problem with people sharing fake news, misinformation and hearsay. Please do not contribute to this. If in doubt, do not share it!
Government WhatsApp Service – help stop the spread of misinformation
A new GOV.UK WhatsApp Coronavirus Information Service has now been launched. The purpose is to combat the spread of misinformation spread through WhatsApp on an official Government channel.
To use the service, simply add 07860 064422 to your contacts and send a WhatsApp message saying “Hi”.
Media enquiries
If you receive any media enquiries, please continue to contact the Communications Team 0113 85 55989 (X55989).
We’ve developed a team briefing process which aims to improve the flow of information up and down the organisation whilst the Trust is in Coronavirus emergency response.
Download the team briefing document here.
We know one size does not fit all, so please treat this as a guide and feel free to adapt it to suit your local circumstances. If you have any suggestions or feedback about how we can improve it, please contact us at: corona.virus@nhs.net
Everyone is being asked to stay alert to save lives, protect the NHS and do what they can to stop coronavirus spreading. Please refer to the latest measures listed on the NHS website and www.gov.uk/coronavirus
These uncertain times may create extra anxiety for many of our service users and the public. As a specialist provider of mental health and learning disability services, we can offer the public expert resources to support them through the pandemic. A team of Trust psychologists have been working together to provide a range of resources that you can share with your service users, or friends and loved ones who might need more in depth mental health support:
Psychological tools
This Psychology tools document is a detailed resource that can be used with service users if it is within a therapeutic relationship. It validates the worry and anxiety generated during this time and provides some exercises to manage these feelings. Please use this with your service users if you feel comfortable with the material and think it will be helpful.
Psychology and the pandemic: ideas that can help you in your work
Our psychotherapy and psychology colleagues hosted the following series of webinar sessions for staff based on ideas from psychological theory.
- Understanding threat response
- Skills to help with more acute threat responses
- A compassionate approach to threat response
- Skills for working with self-harm
Each webinar will introduce you to bite sized pieces of theory that can be applied to your work with service users during the pandemic. They will offer ideas and skills that may be helpful for you and your services users to make sense of the reactions they (and you) are having to this extraordinary time.
Whilst aimed at those in a clinical setting, the sessions will also explore these ideas from a self-care and support angle making them beneficial for any staff member.
Find out more about each webinar in the Psychology and the pandemic webinar series document.
Being more self–critical
We are often very compassionate with others but are much harder and critical of ourselves, especially at times of worry and difficulty. Learning to be more compassionate to ourselves can lead to a calmer mind and reduce anxiety. The Building a compassionate image exercise below will help your service user to create and build an imaginary idea of compassion. It is best to use an object or idea that is NOT a real person. This is important as nobody is perfect.
Service user anxiety
The Service User Anxiety document offers tips in having helpful conversations about Coronavirus and suggest anxiety management strategies for those who are showing signs of worry.
A guide for people living with severe mental illness
This short Covid19 Guide from Equally Well UK for people with severe mental illnesses, looks at practical ways to protect and support physical health during this uncertain and unsettling time. This is ideal for people who are currently receiving support from our services.
Domestic abuse during COVID-19: a reminder of advice for NHS staff
A letter for NHS staff with resources for the public, NHS staff and NHS Managers. Download the Domestic Abuse Letter
Supporting our most vulnerable patients
Services available to help vulnerable people in our community. Download the Helpsheet for vulnerable patients
