Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Patients, Students and Staff
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for patients
The safety and welfare of our patients, students and staff is of utmost importance to the College of Medicine & Dentistry. We would like to support you all during this difficult time and offer support and assistance to anyone who needs it. We will of course keep all of you updated as the situation progresses and with any new information we receive.
As I am sure you are aware we are currently dealing with a pandemic COVID-19. The situation with this is changing daily and new information is always being released by the Government. We are progressing work on the premises to make it safe for our patients, students and staff. Dental practices have been advised to prioritise urgent treatment where possible. Once we have a confirmed date for reopening patients will be telephone triaged and appointments made according to treatment priority. However, if you require URGENT treatment we have the following care in place.
If you need access to emergency care:
· Have you had or anyone in your house been self-isolating?
· Do you have any symptoms?
· High temperature or continuous cough?
YES, to ANY of the above CALL 111. They will direct you to an emergency facility with appropriate protective equipment which will allow staff to treat you in a safe environment.
If NO, you can contact our emergency dental clinic Scott Arms 0121 357 5000.
If you have any enquiries you can contact one of our clinic team on 0121 345 9833.
The safety of our patients is our priority and we thank you for your co-operation at this difficult time.
Stay safe
Best wishes from everyone at CoMD
COVID-19 Information for Students
The College has been working to ensure that students whose studies may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are not disadvantaged at the point of assessment, while preserving the academic integrity of their award. The welfare of our students is a key priority for the College. We recognise this may be an anxious time for our College community and will continue to support our students with their studies and also their wellbeing. All of our teaching will now be taking place exclusively online through digital channels. We have been able to make the transition from face-to-face to online successfully and seamlessly and will continue to provide support for students to access the relevant channels, so they are able to join sessions and make the most of their online teaching experience.
Please be advised from September 2020 we endeavor to bring students back in campus for practical and clinical sessions with limited face-to face interactions whilst following government guidelines for social distancing. All lectures will continue online.
Students can be reassured that arrangements will be put in place to protect student progression, completion and award and every effort will be made to enable students to complete their courses as expected.
Course teams are working hard to make the necessary adjustments to both delivery and assessment and will keep you informed of progress. Assessments may be modified due to the current situation however specific details will be communicated to the students directly.
You should regularly check your course site on Blackboard/BPP VLE and your emails for updates.
If students require assistance in joining their online teaching, please contact Tanveer Hussain
If students require any further guidance on their teaching or pastoral support, please contact Jagdeep Khela
COVID-19 Information for Staff
As you were recently made aware due to Government advice about COVID-19 the College of Medicine & Dentistry Campus in Birmingham is closed until further notice. We are progressing work on the premises to make it safe for our patients, students and staff.
All planned education is continuing in online format and the management, academic and administrative staff are working from home.
If staff require assistance in joining their online teaching, please contact Tanveer Hussain
At this difficult time we will of course keep all staff updated with the latest information and assist you wherever possible.
Staying Alert and Safe
As we continue to go about our professional and personal lives, it is critical that we continue to follow all advice and guidance issued by the Government. For example and as you will all be aware, there are staying alert and safe (social distancing) measures that are now in place that apply to everybody, with specific caution for those considered to be at heightened risk. All staff members are advised to follow these measures as detailed in the Government guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing
For more information on COVID-19 and the latest updates from the Government please go to:
Home Working
The majority of staff have worked at home at some point, however in these exceptional circumstances the reality could be different to what you are accustomed to.
This could be because you are now continuously working from home and sharing the space with family members full time rather than ad hoc.
We encourage you to blend what has worked well for you in the past and what might be required in your own circumstances.
Workspace
Set aside space in your home.
If possible, set aside a space in your home for you to work in, this may be a home office or simply use your dining room table.
Do not be tempted to use your sofa or an easy chair in the living room.
Workstation Setup
Set up your workstation, you may not be able to carry out a complete assessment but do remember the main points as shown in the below diagram.
You may need to use books to set up your screen to the correct height, cushions to adjust your seat height etc.
Ground Rules
Set some ground rules with the other people in your home who share your space when you need to be working, they need to be clear about what they can and cannot do during your work time.
Maintain Regular Hours
· Set a schedule
Set a schedule and stick to it, get up in the morning and complete your normal morning routine. Set yourself a start time and finish time. Having clear guidelines for when to work and when to call it a day helps many home workers maintain work-life balance.
· Take breaks
Take regular breaks, 2 shorter breaks and a longer midday break for lunch, away from your home work station, make a drink, go for a short walk etc.
Set a schedule
Set a schedule and stick to it, get up in the morning and complete your normal morning routine. Set yourself a start time and finish time. Having clear guidelines for when to work and when to call it a day helps many home workers maintain work-life balance.
Take breaks
Take regular breaks, 2 shorter breaks and a longer midday break for lunch, away from your home work station, make a drink, go for a short walk etc.
Communication
Take part in all the meetings that you are invited to, these times are an excellent way to maintain team relationships.
Wellbeing
As many staff are starting to work from home, the Wellbeing team has pulled together a guide to help support you in maintaining your wellbeing while working from home.
We will continue to add additional advice and guidance over the coming days, but for now, a few tips to make working from home as seamless as possible.
Set aside a specific place to work
Set aside a specific place to work where you will be undisturbed. Whilst it may feel nice to prop your laptop on your knees and work from the sofa or even bed this is not a good idea.
Get dressed for work
We tend to associate certain styles as being work and others as being home so, dressing for work helps to switch our heads from home to work and puts us in the right space to work effectively especially when not in our normal workplace.
Take your lunch
Take your lunch at the same time as you normally do and take it away from your work area. This helps to ensure our mindset is in the right place to work effectively.