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Coronavirus update

Following Sir Simon Stevens’ announcement on Tuesday that all systems were working out how best to optimise resources, and that some hospitals could be used to exclusively treat coronavirus patients in the coming months, HSJ revealed on Wednesday that London was beginning a major coronavirus-prompted reconfiguration. 

HSJ understands St Bartholomew’s Hospital, which is run by Barts Health Trust, will act as a “clean” site and be the emergency electives centre for the capital.

Meanwhile, covid-19 continues to place significant pressure on supply networks, particularly for personal protective equipment and hand sanitisers. NHS Supply Chain, which procures common consumables for providers, is “managing demand” of some goods to maintain supplies where possible, with certain products sourced from China unavailable altogether.

But global supply chain problems are not the only issues impacting distribution. Some trusts are hanging on to roll cages longer than they should, with some getting lost in laundry networks. NHS Supply Chain has recently warned holding on to the cages not only frustrates its operations but — when roll cages are co-opted for linen — it creates an unnecessary cross-contamination risk.