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Monthly archives: March 2018

Celebrate #NHS70 with your stories

 

This year the NHS turns 70 on July 5 and to celebrate this important milestone, we would love for you to share your special memories of the Trust with us. It could be about a colleague who has inspired you to be who you are today, or an act of kindness that really touched you.

Staff are encouraged to record a video of themselves recalling the memory and then sending in the short clip to the Communications team. The videos will then be shared on our internal communication channels during the NHS 70 celebrations, which will run between May and July this year.

We are looking to receive videos that fit into the following two categories:

  • Children interviewing their grandparents on film about their service within the NHS
  • Staff talking about:
    • Their memories of the Trust from the time it was established until the year 1990
    • Stories of parents/family members who worked at the Trust
    • Stories of colleagues who are sadly no longer with us but made a difference to you personally

How to submit your vlog:

What you should know before you film yourself:

  • Make sure the camera is in the landscape position
  • The length of the clip should not be longer than 2 minutes
  • Try to film in a quiet environment with bright light
  • Try to speak clearly
  • Enjoy yourself!

How to send your movie to us:

  1. Visit the website www.wetransfer.com
  2. Choose the option ‘Take me to free’
  3. Click on the ‘+’ icon
  4. Choose the file that you want to send to us
  5. In the section ‘Email to’, please type: v.tran@nhs.net
  6. In the section ‘Your email’, please type your email address
  7. Message: Please provide your name with the title of your movie, for example: Mr John Smith – My memory of the NHS in 19xx
  8. Click the button ‘ Transfer’

Thank you for sharing your memories, and supporting NHS 70.

If you have any questions, please email to Vy Tran, Senior Communications Officer, via v.tran@nhs.net

Lyndon 4 and Priory 5 wards currently under observation due to Norovirus

 

Lyndon 4 and Priory 5 at Sandwell are currently under observation due to Norovirus.

There are confirmed cases and bays are being monitored for Norovirus.

These wards are now open to visitors with some restrictions to the side rooms

All visitors should be asked if they have any symptoms associated with the outbreak such as diarrhoea and or vomiting in the last 72 hours.

Staff restrictions are still required on Lyndon 4 and only essential health care staff should visit wards during periods of increase incidence/outbreaks.

Priory 5 have side room restrictions and these patients should be reviewed after other patients as much as possible.

Student nurses should remain on the affected wards and not leave them to attend teaching sessions elsewhere. No medical students are allowed on affected areas. Each team/specialist/discipline should devise a plan to allow safe working whilst wards or bays are closed to reduce the risk of transmission.

Infection, prevention and control precautions must be adhered to. Strict infection control procedures for enteric precautions and hand washing.

Basic life support training

 

On Tuesday 20 March, the Trust will be hosting its big ‘Resusathon’ to ensure everyone who is still not compliant with their BLS (basic life support) training receive training on this date.

There will be teams based in the main reception areas at both City and Sandwell Hospital together with mobile teams to visit wards and department areas to get everybody up to date with their practical BLS training.

If you are yet to complete your BLS training please see a member of the team in one of the main reception areas of the Hospitals or speak to one of the Trainers that visits your department.

Note: If you are a Professional Development Nurse – please be available to be mobile and assess in and outside your area on that day where possible.

For more information please contact Nicola Antcliff on 0121 507 6158.

Sickness absence management training – places available

 

There are still places available on the sickness absence management training course.

These training sessions are for managers who manage sickness absence and will cover all aspects of the sickness absence policy including:

  • Sickness reviews and triggers
  • Creating and sending online Management Referrals

The training session is scheduled to take place at Sandwell Hospital’s Education Centre, Room 9 on Tuesday 20 March from 9.30am – 12.30pm.

To book your place please contact Sue Day on ext. 6680 or email sueday1@nhs.net

Places are limited so please book as soon as possible.

GDPR changes to occupational health & wellbeing service referrals

 

On 25 May the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into force and despite Brexit negotiations it will apply to the UK.

The GDPR will have a significant impact, so it is important to begin preparing now. This act will replace the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. Failure to comply with the provisions of the GDPR may lead to greatly increased monetary sanctions for the Trust.

In preparation for GDPR, managers will need to obtain verbal or written consent from employees, before referring to the Occupational Health & Wellbeing Service (OHWBS).

The online management referral form will be updated on 2 April to reflect these changes. As part of the form, the referring manager will need to provide assurance that the employee has given consent for their personal information to be shared with OHWBS. In the absence of this consent, the OHWBS will not be able to accept the referral and an appointment will not be offered to the employee.

We ask that all managers introduce the process of obtaining consent with immediate effect in preparation for the changes in April 2018.

Have your say on plans to tackle anti-social behaviour in West Bromwich

 

We’re urging all within the Trust to have their say on new proposals to prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour in West Bromwich town centre.

The local council are looking to introduce a PSPO (public spaces protection order).

Among activities that could be covered by the proposed PSPO for West Bromwich town centre are alcohol-related violence and anti-social behaviour, threatening and intimidating behaviour and violence in a public place.

The PSPO would give the police and council extra powers to prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour in the town centre.

PSPOs can be used to ban behaviour or activities that are causing concern in an area.

The PSPO would be used in addition to existing council and police powers. It would also complement existing PSPO orders in place in Sandwell.

For more information and to have your say, visit Sandwell Council’s consultation page.

The consultation will close on 18 April 2018.

Measles, mumps and rubella – myths and facts

 

With March being measles, mumps and rubella awareness month, the Trust has decided to put together a fact verses fiction piece so you can determine what is a myth and was is indeed fact in regards to measles, mumps and rubella.

  1. I cannot have my MMR vaccination whilst breastfeeding?

MYTH: MMR can be given whilst breastfeeding with no risk to the baby.

  1. The MMR vaccination causes autism?

MYTH: This has never been a fact and research and the Dr who started this myth has since been struck off the GMC register. A recent study involving 95,727 children found NO link between autism and the MMR vaccination, even among children already at higher risk for autism spectrum disorders. (JAMA 2015)

  1. I cannot have my MMR vaccination if I have a serious allergy to eggs?

MYTH: Recent data suggest that anaphylactic reactions to MMR vaccine are not associated with hypersensitivity to egg antigens but to other components of the vaccine. Further advice should be sought for anyone who has a serious egg allergy before receiving the vaccination.

  1. I cannot have my MMR vaccination for religious/personal reasons as it contains gelatine a pork product?

MYTH: in the UK we have two types of MMR vaccine – MMR VaxPro  and Priorix. Priorix does not contain gelatin and is as safe and effective as MMR VaxPro so you can still have your MMR vaccine, just ask for Priorix. (see attached information sheet for more guidance).

  1. There are very few people who cannot have the MMR vaccination?

FACT: The MMR is very safe. Only the following people should not have their MMR

– those who are immunosuppressed

– those who have had a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose of a measles-,  mumps- or rubella-containing vaccine

– those who have had a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to neomycin or gelatin (NB: there is no gelatin in the Priorix vaccination)

–  pregnant women.

  1. It takes 2 MMR vaccinations to receive full protection against measles, mumps, and rubella?

FACT: One vaccination does not provide sufficient protection against these viruses.

  1. I cannot have my MMR vaccination if I have recently had blood products?

FACT: The MMR vaccinations should be deferred for 3 months to ensure the response to the measles component is not reduced.

  1. I can still have the MMR vaccination if I am immune to measles, mumps and rubella but cannot find the evidence of vaccination?

FACT: Having the MMR vaccination if you have unproven immunity already, will not cause you any ill effects.

  1. Measles is one of the most infectious diseases in the world?

FACT: Measles infectiousness is one of the highest, with a basic reproduction number (R0) estimated around 15 – 20 (i.e. on average, there will be 15 – 20 individuals infected from a single case in a totally susceptible population).The secondary attack rate is highest among close unimmunised contacts, particularly household contacts.

  1. There has been a 400% increase in measles in Europe?

FACT: The disease affected 21,315 people and caused 35 deaths in 2017. Actions to stop the outbreaks are taking place on various fronts. They include raising public awareness, immunising health-care professionals and other adults at particular risk, addressing challenges in access, and improving supply planning and logistics.

Occupational health have produced a video which aims to dispel the myths surrounding the MMR vaccine and why it is so important to get protected.

Please click here to view the video.

BBC Good Food Show and BBC Gardeners’ World Live (14-17 June 2018, NEC Birmingham) – save 20%* on tickets and buy tickets for one show and get the other free!

 

Two Shows, one amazing day out!

Celebrate summer as the BBC Good Food Show and BBC Gardeners’ World Live heads back to Birmingham’s NEC 14 – 17 June.

Pick up top tips and seasonal inspiration from a line-up of the UK’s top chefs and gardening experts, explore the impressive Show Gardens, plus sample and shop your way around hundreds of the finest food, drink and garden producers.

BBC Good Food Show http://bit.ly/2Dyc1bY

BBC Gardeners’ World Live http://bit.ly/RLN3Kk

Save 20%* on tickets – quote NEC20 when booking! Buy tickets to just one show and entry into the other show is FREE!

*T&C’s – valid on advance tickets only. Not valid on VIP packages, Gold Big Kitchen seats or with any other offer. Gold Big Kitchen seats cost £3 and are subject to availability.  Ends 31/01/18. £2.45 fulfilment fee per advance order.  Not all experts appear on all days.  The offer may be withdrawn without notice at the promoter’s discretion and are subject to availability. Offer does not apply to tickets already purchased and anyone who has previously purchased cannot swap tickets under any circumstances. This is a private offer and should not be listed, shared, promoted publicly or posted on any social media at all, if the offer is shared publicly it will be withdrawn.

Workforce cost improvement programme review 2018-19 – consultation programme

 

The Trust commenced formal consultation on 14 March 2018.

This consultation relates to the organisations required pay cost improvement programme target for 2018-19.

At the point of commencing consultation the total value of the pay schemes submitted is £11m.

It is therefore anticipated that further consultation may be required later in the year as further saving schemes are identified towards achieving the overall pay reduction target.

The cost improvement schemes have been categorised as follows:

  • Organisational changes with as risk of redundancy.
  • All other organisational change with no risk of redundancy.
  • Other pay saving schemes not requiring consultation

Schemes submitted for consultation will be subject to Strategic Quality Improvement Assessments approved by either the Medical Director or the Chief Nurse.

Schemes are being considered by PPAC (Staffside and Management representatives) during the consultation.

All scheme sheets are available on Connect or can be accessed here.

Concerns regarding letter of threats to Muslims

 

If you have any concerns in relation to the letters containing threats to Muslims that were reported in the media over the weekend please contact West Midlands Police on 101.

If you have any concerns relating to this matter and are based outside the West Midland area you can also call 101 and ask for your local police prevent team.

For further information you can contact Clare Cotterill at clarecotterill@nhs.net

Alternatively, please see contact details for your NHS England prevent team below should you have any further queries.

Andy Smith, Regional Prevent Coordinator: 07730 376175/ andysmith6@nhs.net

Ian Grundy, Regional Prevent Coordinator – 07730 375482/ ian.grundy@nhs.net

Helen Law, Business Support – 07730 381657/ helen.law4@nhs.net

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