1.1 | Increment in the number of cardiopulmonary trained physiotherapists. |
1.2 | Recruitment of more physiotherapists into the work force by the Ministry of Health, Nigeria. |
1.3 | Recall those on leave back to work. |
1.4 | Involvement of University academics into clinical settings. |
1.5 | Recall retired staff with previous experiences in cardiorespiratory and critical care. |
1.6 | Extend retirement age of clinical staff. |
1.7 | Physiotherapists should have specialised knowledge, skills and decision-making to work within the ICU. Physiotherapists with previous ICU experience should be requested to work. |
1.8 | Physiotherapists who do not have recent cardiorespiratory physiotherapy experience should be urgently trained to offer services to cope with the management of patients with COVID-19. |
1.9 | Staff with advanced ICU physiotherapy skills should be supported to screen patients with COVID-19 assigned to physiotherapy caseloads and provide junior ICU staff with appropriate supervision and support, particularly with decision-making for complex patients with COVID-19. |
2.0 | Identify existing learning resources for staff who could be deployed to ICU. For example: · e-learning packages (e.g., Clinical Skills Development Service for Physiotherapy and Critical Care Management) · Local Physiotherapy Staff ICU Orientation · PPE training |
2.1 | Keep staff informed of plans. Communication is crucial to the successful delivery of safe and effective clinical services. |
2.2 | Staff who are judged to be at high risk should be exempted from COVID-19 isolation areas. When planning staffing and rosters, the following people may be at higher risk of developing more serious illness from COVIDD-19 and should avoid exposure to patients with COVID-19. This includes staff who: are pregnant, have significant chronic respiratory illnesses, are immune-suppressed, older (e.g., >60 years), have severe chronic health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, immune deficiencies, such as neutropenia, disseminated malignancy and conditions or treatments. Workforce planning should include consideration for pandemic-specific requirements such as additional workload from donning and doffing PPE, and the need to allocate staff to key non-clinical duties such as enforcing infection control procedures. Reorganising the workforce into teams that will manage COVID-19 versus non-infectious patients. Minimise or prevent movement of staff between teams. Liaise with local infection control services for recommendations. |