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Double your defence, get vaccinated!

Double your defence, get vaccinated!

January 17, 2025


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Every year, rates of respiratory conditions such as flu increase across the winter season, putting people across our communities at risk. To protect yourself, your loved ones and our patients, we offer vaccinations over a number of months, offering all colleagues the opportunity to stay safe and protected this winter. Vaccinations are drop-in only, you do not need to book. You will be able to have either or both of the vaccines, administered in two separate injections, on the same day. Please see the vaccination timetable below:
Date  Site Location and time Vaccine 
Saturday 18 January MMUH Call 07977 687586 to find out where the team are Flu and COVID
Sunday 19 January MMUH Call 07977 687586 to find out where the team are Flu and COVID
Monday 20 January MMUH Welcome Centre, Level 5, 12.30pm - 1.30pm and roaming, call vaccination team - 07977687586 Flu and COVID
Tuesday 21 January Sandwell/MMUH Sandwell 7.30am - 3.30pm MMUH 6pm - 12pm Flu and COVID
Wednesday 22 January MMUH Welcome Centre, Level 5, 12.30pm - 1.30pm and roaming, call vaccination team - 07977687586 Flu and COVID
Thursday 23 January City Call the vaccination team - 07977687586 Flu and COVID
Friday 24 January MMUH Welcome Centre, Level 5, 6pm - 12pm  and roaming, call vaccination team - 07977687586 Flu and COVID
Saturday 25 January MMUH Welcome Centre, Level 5, 8.30pm - 3.30pm and roaming, call vaccination team - 07977687586 Flu and COVID
Sunday 26 January MMUH Welcome Centre, Level 5, 8.30pm - 3.30pm and roaming, call vaccination team - 07977687586 Flu and COVID
Note: Please note the vaccination team will be doing two twilight shifts on Tuesday and Friday to accommodate night staff. Please call 07977 687586 to arrange for your vaccination during those hours. For more information, please call Occupational Health between Monday to Friday 8.30am - 1pm on 0121 507 3306 to speak directly to a member of the vaccination team. We know that many of our colleagues have had their vaccinations outside of the Trust, at their GP surgeries, in the community or perhaps at another Trust. In order to ensure we have accurate and up to date vaccination figures, we need to know which of our colleagues have been vaccinated, wherever they have had these! If you’ve been vaccinated elsewhere, please click here to fill out a quick survey and help ensure our data accurately represents our Trust.

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Get to know your new Chief Exec, Diane Wake

January 17, 2025


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We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Diane Wake, our new Chief Executive, to learn more about her on a personal level. In this candid conversation, Diane shares what she likes to do in her downtime and what drives her passion for making a difference. Watch the video below to find out more: [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Scn1LtZLCOM[/embedyt]

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Patient Experience Ambassadors Forum: 28 January

January 17, 2025


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Our patient experience ambassadors are hosting a forum, on Tuesday 28 January from 9am to 1pm in the Lecture Theatre, Education Centre, Level 5 MMUH. All patient experience ambassadors are encouraged to attend this event, refreshments will be provided. For more information, please contact Grace Hughes via email grace.hughes3@nhs.net or Julie Thompson,julie.thompson40@nhs.net and Jamie Emery jamie.emery2@nhs.net

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BCPS Microbiology Processing Issues

January 17, 2025


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Update We are pleased to inform you all that the IT issues in the BCPS Microbiology department have now been resolved. Work will now progress to addressing any backlog and we hope turnaround times to return to normal by next week.   A problem has arisen in the computer interfacing software that provides links between our laboratory computer system and our automated analysers. This affects most of our non-blood processes in microbiology for the Black Country. We are working with our supplier and IT departments to fix the interface as soon as possible but it is estimated that it may take 48 to 72 hours to remedy. As a result, our usual process of alerting the electronic records in real time of positive blood cultures will no longer be possible, paediatric blood cultures will not be reported at 36 hours and all results for culture and sensitivity of all specimens will need to be reported manually. This increase in manual reporting necessitates re-allocation of staff from other less urgent samples to prioritise the most clinically urgent reports. Please be aware that this means there will be longer turnaround times for all microbiology tests. We are aware that this will add additional pressure to clinical teams at this time of increased activity. Our interface provider partner is aware of the serious nature of the issue and is working closely with us to fix the problem. We will work to reduce any backlog over the coming week. For urgent clinical enquiries please continue to contact your duty microbiology doctors as usual and avoid ringing the microbiology laboratory. Results cannot be released by the laboratory over the telephone.  

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Have you had your say in January’s Pulse Survey?

January 17, 2025


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Have you had your say in January's Pulse Survey!
We are currently at 16 per cent, with the aim to achieve our target of over 40 per cent by the end of the month, to do so, we need your help!
 
Corporate are currently leading the way with an impressive 24 per cent, but PCCT (20 per cent) and Imaging (17 per cent) are hot on their heels.
 
This month, each clinical group has been given a response rate target to work towards, to ensure that as an organisation we gather enough data to continue on our journey of listening, understanding, and delivering on the changes that need to be made, to make the Trust the best it can be.
 
The survey has been sent to you via email, though if you prefer, you can simply visit the link below to complete your survey!https://picker.fra1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b8cMes96Xg3Nk1g?&Trust%20Code=RXK
 
If you need additional support to complete your survey, please speak to your line manager.
 
Note: You will be asked to add your email address at the start of the survey however this is just to verify you are a member of staff. All surveys are completely anonymous.

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Development and implementation of Local Patient Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures

January 16, 2025


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Updated standards for National Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures (NatSSIPs 2) were introduced in 2023. These standards provided a structured approach to safety of procedures performed inside or outside of operating theatres. These improvements were done to standardise, harmonise and educate teams to reduce errors and further enhance teamworking. The implementation ‘key stop/s’ culture was put into place to act like a gatekeeper before continuing onto the next step of the pathway, this input made sure a further supporting mechanism was in place for the checklist. The NatSSIPs 2 standards should be used to develop your own Local Patient Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures (LocSSIPs). LocSSIPs are basically Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) used as a checklist to that ensure safe care is delivered to patients undergoing invasive procedures inside and outside of operating theatres. The eight sequential steps to follow for safer invasive procedures in your checklist are: Do you want to update/develop a LocSSIP checklist? The clinical effectiveness can provide interested teams with help and support to update/develop their LocSSIPs. For more information please email swbh.auditteam-clineffec@nhs.net Note: LocSSIP must follow Trust policy – you can access the policy by clicking here.

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DoLS and MCA training session

January 16, 2025


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We will be hosting a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and Mental Capacity Act (MCA) training sessions across the Trust. The training is aimed at staff in patient facing roles. Year 3 student nurses are also welcome to join the session. The training will include topics such as the criteria of a DoLS, who needs a DoLS, how to complete a DoLS form and where a DoLS form is sent. The training will also cover the Mental Health Act 2005 and lastly flow charts on how to access and complete MCA and DoLS via Unity. Date - Thursday 13 March and Wednesday 9 April Time - 10am - 12pm Venue - MMUH, Lifts A or E, Level 5. Education Centre, Lecture Theatre To book please email r.begum19@nhs.net

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Cold Weather Alert: Amber,17 January - 21 January

Cold Weather Alert: Amber,17 January – 21 January

January 16, 2025


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The Met Office has released a widespread Amber Cold  Weather Alert across the West Midlands which will take place from Friday 17 January from 6pm to Tuesday 21 January 9am.

What to expect:

  • Forecast weather is likely to have minor impacts on health and social care services including:
  • increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people
  • greater risk to life of vulnerable people.

This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services. Please refer to the Trust's Severe weather plan.

All areas should have business continuity plans agreed with their staff. These should include:

  • Working with colleagues regarding their ability to report for work if transport systems are affected
  • Agreeing working arrangements for severe weather in advance, including potentially the need for staff to stay overnight

Colleagues are expected to make every reasonable effort to attend work (including using public transport when they wouldn’t normally) providing it is safe to do so.

  • If not able to reach their normal base, to attend an alternative base if that is easier to reach.
  • To work from home (if applicable and agreed with their manager)
  • Colleagues unable to attend work or work from home, to notify their managers ASAP and are required to either take the day as annual leave or time in lieu (to be agreed locally).
  • Colleagues who are able to walk in but are not rostered to work may be asked to support their work area.  This is not mandatory and will be based on mutual agreement and rescheduling of work duties

Please ensure that all staff contact details are up to date and that you have a plan in place so that you are aware of any issues at the departmental level.

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Unity printing maintenance: 16 January, 10pm – 11pm

January 16, 2025


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Please be aware essential Unity maintenance will be taking place on Thursday 16 January to ensure the supporting infrastructure remains secure and security compliant. The work is scheduled to begin at 10pm for approximately one hour and should be completed by 11pm. During this time Unity will remain fully available; however from 10pm until 11pm on Thursday 16 January Unity printing will be unavailable for up to one hour at the following site locations:
  • Sandwell – all areas
  • City – all areas
  • BMEC – all areas
  • BTC – all areas
o This will affect specimen label, requisition, and pharmacy printing. o Any print jobs submitted during this time will be held and printed once the print servers come back online. If clinical staff are due to collect a sample between time above, we would advise them to wait until specimen labelling functionality returns. If staff have a very urgent specimen to collect that cannot wait to collect and send to pathology, then a manual pathology request form will need to be completed and sent with the sample. It is envisaged that this requirement will be rare and unlikely at those times. The activity will be closely monitored by our IT support teams. As always, should you have any further queries then please do contact the IT Service Desk on ext. 4050 or 0121 507 4050 or via chat with the IT service desk.

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Black Country Healthcare: ‘Shine a Light’ Dementia Choir

January 16, 2025

The Shine a Light dementia singing group is for people with dementia and their carers. This is a fun, free opportunity to connect with others and share the joy of singing. There will be 10 sessions followed by a final group performance. No experience is necessary and sessions are supported by healthcare professionals experienced in dementia. The sessions will occur every Monday starting from Monday 14 January through to Monday 24 March, 11am - 1pm and will be held at: YMCA Western Gateway, 38 Carters Green, West Bromwich, B70 9LG.

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Free Yoga classes at Sandwell

January 15, 2025

Free Yoga classes at SandwellJoin us for free Yoga sessions every Monday from 4.45pm – 5.45pm at Sandwell, Berridge Suite. Classes are for all levels and beginners are welcome. Mats will also be provided. What to bring:
  • Comfortable clothing
  • Water bottle
  • Open mind and positive energy
For more information and to register your interest in Yoga, please call 0121 507 4022 or email Phoebe.leadbeater@nhs.net.

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Car parking at Midland Met

January 15, 2025

100 days strong and counting

January 15, 2025

Student Nurse Associate Study Days

January 15, 2025

Do you need help reducing your alcohol intake this January?

January 15, 2025

Star Awards 2025: More than a Hospital Award

January 15, 2025

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