Monthly archives: July 2018
NHS 70 Thanksgiving service
The chaplaincy team will be hosting a NHS 70 Thanksgiving service on Friday 27 July at the Sandwell Hospital chapel on the 2nd floor of the acute building from 12.30pm.
All colleagues, patients and their visitors are welcome.
For more information please contact annstevenson@nhs.net.
Caring Mary offers nearly 50 years of service
Featured in the Sandwell Chronicle
Thursday, 26 July
For nearly half a century nurse Mary Cox has been caring for patients – and there is no sign of the 68-year-old stopping soon.
The dedicated paediatric surgery staff nurse qualified in 1971 and has been working at City Hospital, Birmingham ever since.
She recalled: “I left my home town in Ireland when I was 18 to do my nurse training in England where I really wanted to make a difference. Now, 50 years have passed and I still think that was the best decision that I have ever made.”
In Mary’s daily role, she ensures that everything is ready for patients when they come to hospital for their operation. She said: “I love my job so much. I get to meet so many people from all walks of life and be there for them in their time of need – I love looking after children, and some of them can be in pain, or sometimes distressed.
“My team and I always try our best to distract them with games and stories.
“We also comfort and support parents, making sure they are fully informed throughout the whole experience.”
Mary, who lives with her husband Bob in Derbyshire, said she feels privileged for having the opportunity to work for the NHS, one of the most beloved institutions in the country, for so many years.
She smiled: “The NHS has truly transformed the way it cares for people. The quality of treatment is getting better every day.
“Years ago babies diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition affecting the lungs, had a very low chance of survival past their first birthday.
“But now, patients with the disorder, are living much longer.”
Mary continued: “It also used to be quite restrictive for parents who were accompanying their child into hospital for surgery. However, that has completely changed now and mums and dads can be with their child for as long as they want to.”
The keen gardener has plenty of memories of the NHS over the years, particularly from the 1970s.
“Many of our disabled patients were in hospital for long periods of time because they weren’t able to be treated at home, so we had a school for them based within the hospital.
“They were able to take their exams and complete their schooling. We spent so much time with them and in a way, we became their second family.”
Mary credits Bob as her inspiration – as well as one of her colleagues.
She said: “My hero is my husband. Not only is he a clever man but also he has a positive outlook in life. He can always find a solution for any challenge and that really inspires me.
“I also have great respect for my paediatric ward manager Joy Haywood. She is a great manager and very fair. She treats everyone the same and makes us feel motivated.”
Outside work, Mary enjoys looking after her garden and cooking for friends and family.
Irish Mary’s eyes smiling to help young patients
For nearly half a century nurse Mary Cox has been caring for patients – and there is no sign of the 68-year-old stopping soon.
The dedicated paediatric surgery staff nurse qualified in 1971 and has been working at City Hospital, Birmingham ever since.
She recalled: “I left my home town in Ireland when I was 18 to do my nurse training in England where I really wanted to make a difference. Now, 50 years have passed and I still think that was the best decision that I have ever made.”
In Mary’s daily role, she ensures that everything is ready for patients when they come to hospital for their operation. She said: “I love my job so much. I get to meet so many people from all walks of life and be there for them in their time of need – I love looking after children, and some of them can be in pain, or sometimes distressed.
“My team and I always try our best to distract them with games and stories.
“We also comfort and support parents, making sure they are fully informed throughout the whole experience.”
Mary, who lives with her husband Bob in Derbyshire, said she feels privileged for having the opportunity to work for the NHS, one of the most beloved institutions in the country, for so many years.
She smiled: “The NHS has truly transformed the way it cares for people. The quality of treatment is getting better every day.
“Years ago babies diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition affecting the lungs, had a very low chance of survival past their first birthday.
“But now, patients with the disorder, are living much longer.”
Mary continued: “It also used to be quite restrictive for parents who were accompanying their child into hospital for surgery. However, that has completely changed now and mums and dads can be with their child for as long as they want to.”
The keen gardener has plenty of memories of the NHS over the years, particularly from the 1970s.
“Many of our disabled patients were in hospital for long periods of time because they weren’t able to be treated at home, so we had a school for them based within the hospital.
“They were able to take their exams and complete their schooling. We spent so much time with them and in a way, we became their second family.”
Mary credits Bob as her inspiration – as well as one of her colleagues.
She said: “My hero is my husband. Not only is he a clever man but also he has a positive outlook in life. He can always find a solution for any challenge and that really inspires me.
“I also have great respect for my paediatric ward manager Joy Haywood. She is a great manager and very fair. She treats everyone the same and makes us feel motivated.”
Outside work, Mary enjoys looking after her garden and cooking for friends and family.
Heartbeat: Fiona says goodbye after 20 years as part of the SWBH family
Fiona Shorney retired from full time work at the end of last month, after serving in the combined role as group director, group director of operations and director of therapies over the last few years.
Fiona, who is a physiotherapist by trade, graduated 40 years ago in 1978 and her first role was in Poole, Dorset, before she moved to the midlands in 1980. She worked for University Hospitals Birmingham and Dudley Group NHS Trusts before she arrived at Dudley Road Hospital in 1998.
Fiona told Heartbeat: “I initially joined the Trust as a short term locum, but I have just never left!
“I started as a physio in acute medicine on the City site and I worked my way up the ladder to become associate director of therapies, which then sat within corporate nursing. Shortly after Toby Lewis arrived as chief executive, Sandwell community services formally transferred in to the Trust and that’s when the community and therapies clinical group was first established in October 2013.”
Fiona took on a hybrid role as clinical group director incorporating the therapy lead, group director of operations and group director.
She said: “Since then, the group has grown considerably with the introduction of palliative care services and in April 2017 the group’s name changed to primary care, community and therapies to reflect a number of community facing medical specialties joining us. These services included dermatology, rheumatology, diabetes and endocrinology and the medical infusion unit.
“We now have just under 1,000 members of the PCCT, which is double the size of what we had when we started!”
After so many years at our organisation, Fiona has many memories and proud moments, but what are the ones that really stick in her mind?
“What a hard question!” she said.
“It has been fantastic to be involved in such an amazing journey with the successful integration of so many diverse community services with acute and the creation of a high performing clinical group which has continued to grow and develop colleagues. There is still much to do but I think we’ve made a great start and I have been fortunate to have an amazing senior team and worked with some incredibly talented and committed people across the whole of PCCT and the wider organisation.
“Like most jobs, it’s not what you know but who you know and I have been fortunate to have built a valuable network of friends and contacts across lots of teams and services, it’s these people that I will miss the most!
“I think my stand-out highlights are being involved with the outstanding rating the CQC being awarded for End of Life Care in 2017 – although it is the team itself that deserves the real credit, and being awarded the Chairman’s award at the Star Awards last year, it was a real honour!
So what are Fiona’s plans for her retirement?
She said: “Well, initially I am carrying on for two days a week in the group director capacity until the group director of operations post is recruited to. I will be less operational but offer some support to the wider leadership team and locally to Lydia Jones (Director of Therapies) and Nicola Taylor (Interim Group Director of Nursing) who are both new to their roles.
“I won’t be staying long term, but I’d like to handover to my successor properly and support the team until it’s the right time to step away.”
Fiona does however have a few things on the horizon for the time she isn’t at work.
She told Heartbeat: “My husband and I need to find a new home so I’m sure house hunting will take up a lot of my time initially. I’m also investigating becoming a puppy-walker for hearing dogs so I’m looking forward to that becoming a reality.
“It will also be really great to spend more time with my family. I couldn’t have done my job without their support – these jobs are big and busy and you work some long hours, but they have been incredibly tolerant with me for a long time so I’m looking forward to spending some quality time with them.
“After that who knows?
“I plan to just take a step back for a while and see what comes my way.”
Trust given silver seal of approval for diversity in the workplace
Featured in the Express & Star
Monday, 16 July
The Trust has been awarded a silver benchmark rating by a leading organisation which promotes equality and inclusion in the workplace.
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust (SWBH) was given the second highest tier by the ENEI – Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion – in the inaugural TIDE Awards.
The Trust, which runs Sandwell, City and Rowley Regis Hospitals, was assessed by the ENEI on its approach and progress on diversity and inclusion in the workforce, recruitment, training and development. Only 35 awards were given out throughout the UK.
SWBH was highlighted for how it embraced diversity as an organisation, including staff members marching in Birmingham PRIDE, celebrations around the Muslim religious events Iftar and Eid, changing the recruitment process, and launching a new transgender policy to support patients and staff.
It’s the first time ENEI, which works with the Government, has introduced the benchmark status. Raffaela Goodby, Director of People and Organisation Development at the Trust, said: “We are privileged to receive this national benchmarking award, and it is testament to the progress we have made to becoming a more inclusive organisation.
“I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work, commitment and dedication.”
The Trust will now be able to demonstrate its achievement by displaying a “silver rating logo” on its website. There may also be an opportunity for the organisation to share best practices and achievements at future ENEI events.
Nurse Joy is West Midlands finalist in top national award
Featured in the Sandwell Chronicle
Thursday, 19 July
An “inspirational” Birmingham nurse has been shortlisted for a prestigious healthcare award.
Senior Ward Sister Joy Walker, from City Hospital, is the only finalist from the West Midlands to be competing for the Nurse Leader of the Year title, in the coveted Nursing Times Awards.
[caption id="attachment_96604" align="alignright" width="299"]
Senior Ward Sister Joy Walker, who is nominated for a top award.[/caption]
She was selected from hundreds of nominations and is one of 10 finalists. Joy, who manages the D26 ward at the hospital, said: “I just couldn’t believe my ears when I was told about the news.
“To be shortlisted for this prestigious award is like a dream to me. This is definitely one of the best highlights in my career, which I will treasure for the rest of my life.
“This is also an important recognition for my team. I truly believe that I wouldn’t be able to be here without the support of my team and the Trust. I do often say to my colleagues that I’m only the engine, but my colleagues are the wheels that make the whole system work.”
Organisers of the awards have named this year as one of the most competitive after receiving an influx of nominations. Judges were impressed with how Joy led her team to become a high achieving ward, ensuring patients consistently receive the highest standard of care.
The mum-of-one added: “Since the news was announced, I have been showered with praise from colleagues, friends, and family. Everyone has been wishing me good luck and I just feel speechless.”
She has been recently praised by the Trust for her excellent work in implementing the consistency of care plan which has led to the ward winning three awards for their outstanding performance. Joy has also ensured that the Safety Plan has been properly implemented, which ensures all patients receive the correct checks within a certain time from when they are admitted to the ward. The initiative has helped the Trust to be shortlisted for the Patient Safety Awards 2018.
Winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony in London on 31 October.
Behcets study day at City: 10 October
We’re hosting our annual behcets study day on Wednesday 10 October at the Postgraduate Centre at City Hospital, 9am-5pm.
The study day aims to raise awareness about behcets disease and will allow attendees to find out more about the disease but more importantly, the treatment, which is managed by Behcet’s National Centre of Excellence at the Trust.
The event is free to attend for both clinical and non-clincal colleagues, with lunch being provided on the day.
For more information or to reserve your place, please contact Debbie Mitton on ext. 4243 or 07816 771250.
Alternatively, you can email Debbie at dmitton@nhs.net.
NHS Hero Rob reveals most memorable project
Featured in the Sandwell Chronicle
Thursday 19 July
From delving into air raid shelters, to sifting through the archaic belongings of nurses – Rob Kemp’s job is certainly not a role you’d expect to find within the NHS.
The dad-of-two, from Kingstanding, works as a decommissioning project assistant at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust to empty buildings which are no longer used at the organisation.
It involves salvaging items which can be reused within the Trust, whilst recycling and donating other materials.
Rob Kemp, Decommissioning Project Assistant.[/caption]
Rob, who works with another colleague, explained: “I think the most memorable project to date had to be when we went into the air raid shelters at City Hospital.
“There are two which were built we believe, in the early 1900s. After the Second World War they were used mainly for storage and some of the things we found there were astonishing.
“There were old birthing registers dating back to the first half of the 1900s.
“We want to preserve these sorts of important documents and so have given them to Sandwell and Birmingham Libraries for safe keeping.
“We also found a document which showed a list of alcohol that was given to patients at Christmas,” added Rob.
“There was wine and whisky on there. I was amazed at how hospitals used to order in alcohol for patients – obviously that wouldn’t be the case today.
“It’s like having a mirror that looks straight into the past. Quite a high percentage of our job is about going into the old buildings that we have and there are some truly interesting finds. We want to make sure that nothing is left behind. Another recent project has been looking through the Sisters’ Home, at City Hospital.
“It ceased to be in use in 2001, and there were a lot of items in there that we were able to save. There were some really interesting artefacts and newspaper cuttings.”
Working in the old buildings means Rob comes across all sorts of creepy crawlies, so it’s ironic that it is spiders that he fears the most. “I have a real phobia of them, but there are plenty of spiders, and quite big ones, lurking about in the buildings. Luckily my colleague is on hand to move them away from me, so I don’t have to touch them.”
Before Rob joined SWBH, he worked as a bus driver – and would pass City Hospital every day, whilst he was behind the wheel of the number 82 and 87 buses.
So what does he enjoy most about his job? “I meet a diverse amount of people – from domestic staff, to care takers and consultants. It’s very interesting, and you never know what you are going to discover that day.”
In his spare time dad-of-two Rob is a fully qualified FA coach for the team Premier United and he likes to escape from it all by holidaying with his family on the Lincolnshire coast where he has a caravan.
So who is Rob’s hero? “It has to be Superman,” he laughed. “He’s a true superhero and I’m a huge fan of the comic book character.”
Heartbeat: Unity – how ready are you?
Later this year, a number of our clinical systems will change to Unity – our new electronic patient record that will unify clinical records enabling consistency of care.
It has been calculated that 5,500 of us and counting will use Unity on a daily basis. If you are identified as a user of Unity, it will not be possible for you to conduct your role without it. Colleagues are being urged to take it upon themselves to learn how to use Unity and attend the training available.
All teams have access to the Unity Readiness Checklist – a guide for you and your department to get yourselves ready for the new electronic patient record. This is an exciting time for us all, and we want to make sure we’re ready.
The checklist contains different sections, which contain a number of checks. The aim of the checklist is for you to work through each section, collect the checks, and show that you are ready for Unity.
Be sure to check out the Unity readiness video (above) featuring Paula Gardner, Chief Nurse, David Carruthers, Medical Director and Sharon Reynolds, Informatics Matron.
Sharon Reynolds, Informatics Matron leads the clinical informatics team which will play a huge role in supporting our teams in readiness for Unity.
She said: “We are now in the readiness stage of Unity and colleagues who took part in the first dress rehearsal will know that it’s a great opportunity to get us all set for go-live. It’s important that teams use the readiness checklist and to also seek support from the clinical informatics team, work stream leads and Unity implementers who will regularly visit departments to provide the support necessary to help teams get ready.
“I’ve been visiting ward teams and it is encouraging to see that many are seeing the value of Unity and are eager to start using it. Colleagues are looking forward to using real time information to make clinical decisions about the people in our care. Unity will certainly help to facilitate multidisciplinary working and improve patient experience and flow.”
Getting ready for Unity should be a team effort – the checklist is an excellent way of engaging colleagues, stimulating discussion about Unity and starting to address people’s questions and concerns. It may not be possible to complete each check straight away – many are tied to particular phases of the project so may not be available immediately.
The readiness checklist is available on Connect and teams also have a hard copy to keep. The checklist belongs to your department, store it somewhere safe.
You may ask different team members to focus on a particular area or set up a small group to work through the checklist. Accountability for progress with readiness preparation and associated reporting sits with the ward/department manager.
Support is also available from the Unity implementation team, a group of colleagues assigned to each clinical area with the purpose of supporting the readiness effort. Working closely with the work stream leads and the clinical informatics team, their role is to inform and update, as well as act as a conduit for colleagues to raise issues of concern.
Keep an eye out for activities and events to help you get ready
Coming soon to you area – Unity corners. Digital champions with support from ward sisters and matrons will be developing Unity corners – a new space to learn all about Unity and have an opportunity to use the Unity Play System (a dummy copy of the electronic patient record that you can safely practice on).
Look out for Unity pop up demonstrations to learn more.
Visit the Unity favourite fairs in September for a chance to log on and set up your favourite areas on the system.
Further information about Unity or if you’d like to find out more about training visit Connect or email swbh.trustindigital@nhs.net. Information is also available from your group Unity implementer, clinical sponsor or digital champions in your area. The communications bulletin has news and updates on a regular basis.
Mandatory training e-learning guide
Are you having problems identifying what mandatory training you need to complete and where to find it?
Please click the link below to access our easy to use online help guide.
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