ABSTRACT
Background: In emergency situations, it is vital to ensure a safe and adequate supply of blood for all essential transfusions. The COVID-19 pandemic has affirmed the need for contingency and emergency planning. The organization of the blood systems in Europe varies widely: centralized or decentralized;managed via the public sector, supranational, private and/or military operators;under numerous different blood policies, legislation and regulation. Consequently, a wide variety of contingency and emergency measures currently exist across Europe. A growing need for contingency arrangements and blood supply backup increases the requirement for co-ordination between key stakeholders and interregional/intercountry collaboration. Therefore, it is important to find common approaches despite the diversity in organization. A standardized toolkit for contingency and emergency preparedness could be beneficial in facilitating such co-ordination and collaboration. To meet this need, and to support European countries to ensure continuity of blood and blood components, the Blood Supply Contingency and Emergency Plan (B-SCEP) project was established. Aims: The aim of the project was to develop practical tools to assist in establishing or strengthening contingency and emergency plans in European countries. Methods: A working group was nominated by the European Committee on Blood Transfusion (CD-P-TS) and EU national competent authorities for blood. Co-ordinated by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and HealthCare (EDQM), the group assessed existing plans and frameworks in 27 European countries via a survey. The survey outcomes were used to identify needs and establish guidance tools on contingency and emergency preparedness, fit for all different organizational aspects of a country's blood system. Results: The project produced three deliverables: A survey report, a set of recommendations and a model preparedness plan. The Survey Report summarizes the state of play in European countries. It shows that although most countries have emergency measures in place, there is large variation in plan structure, content, level of detail, and view on key stakeholders and risk scenarios. The Recommendations include general recommendations on establishment, implementation and maintenance of a B-SCEP and specific recommendations on actions to be undertaken by key stakeholders. The model preparedness plan provides a B-SCEP template. It aids in structuring key elements of the blood system in relation to emergencies, and provides a risk assessment tool to define relevant risk scenarios, identify stakeholders and decide how and when the stakeholders should operate and interact. Summary/Conclusions: Our B-SCEP Recommendations and Model Preparedness Plan provide foundations to support European countries in preparedness for emergency situations that may impact the blood supply. This toolkit can be applied to any blood system, irrespective of organizational setting, and the standardized format facilitates contingency collaborations. By establishing a B-SCEP, in which key stakeholders and their expected actions are defined for different key risk scenarios, effective mitigation strategies and a rapid response can be implemented. This facilitates continuity of the blood supply in emergency situations.
ABSTRACT
NHS staff have been under increasing pressure since Covid-19. Workload remains a pressing concern (NHS England, 2020). This article describes the implementation and evaluation of a wellbeing care plan designed for staff as a means of supporting their wellbeing. © 2022, British Psychological Society. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Aims: To describe diabetes nurses' perspectives of the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on people living with diabetes and diabetes services across Europe. Methods: A cross-sectional electronic survey was disseminated to diabetes nurse across Europe via professional networks. The survey was developed by a multi-national consortium of diabetes nurses using a rapid Delphi method and translated into 17 languages. The questionnaire asked respondents to identify the single biggest impact of the pandemic on people with diabetes and diabetes care, together with the main strategies that helped people with diabetes. Responses were analysed using quantitative content analysis to generate themes and sub-themes. Results: Participants (n = 1829) from 27 countries were included in this analysis. The single biggest negative impacts reported were: reduced access to care (n = 639, 35%);and the emotional impacts of the pandemic (n = 494, 27%). Helpful impacts were: digital/virtual health care support (n = 590, 32%);maintaining access to diabetes care (n = 561, 31%);people with diabetes had more time for their self-management activation (n = 319, 17%);and targeted covid-19 resources (n = 109, 5.9%). The biggest challenges perceived by nurses to providing diabetes care, were: virtual care delivery (n = 788, 43%);access to clinical resources and information (n = 452, 24%);and supporting vulnerable groups (n = 156, 9%). Almost two thirds of respondents reported that innovative methods for service delivery were required to respond to the pandemic (n = 1125, 62%). Conclusions: Diabetes nurses across Europe reported significant disruption to clinical diabetes services during the pandemic. Care delivery systems needed to be adapted to minimise the physical and psychological impact of the pandemic on people living with diabetes.
ABSTRACT
Aims: Covid-19 restrictions have impacted social interaction, work, education and care provision for young people with diabetes. Furthermore, people with diabetes have increased morbidity and mortality from covid-19. We aimed to explore the impact of the pandemic on young people's diabetes care and management;their psychosocial well-being;and identify preferences for future diabetes care. Methods: A survey was emailed to all patients aged 16-23 with diabetes attending two London (UK) hospital-based diabetes clinics. Descriptive and content analyses were conducted. Results: Response rate was 33% (n = 74/222). Respondents reflected clinic population in age, ethnicity and area-level deprivation, although males were underrepresented (34%, n = 25). Since the pandemic 55% (n = 41) felt well supported by their diabetes team;35% (n = 26) felt more confident and 40% (n = 29) more motivated to manage their diabetes. Conversely 22% (n = 16) felt less confident or motivated, which they attributed to decreased physical activity, disrupted diabetes routines and a lack of support. Mental well-being was reportedly negatively impacted in 57% (n = 42) of patients, with no differences by area-level deprivation or ethnicity. 31% (n = 23) and 41% (n = 30) of respondents felt more negatively about their diabetes and future health, respectively. Face-to- face care in the future remained the most popular option (69%, n = 51), despite increased virtual appointments during the pandemic. Conclusion: Negative impacts on mental well-being, feelings about diabetes and future health need to be considered when providing care for young people with diabetes. Variable experiences and views on care provision indicate the need for a flexible approach to future care delivery models.