Monthly archives: August 2018

Induction checklist introduced for doctors in training on locum shifts

In recent months the Trust has reviewed the induction that is provided to trainee doctors on locum shifts to ensure our medical colleagues feel confident to undertake safe and effective clinical working.

15-30 minutes have been added to the normal induction which will enable all trainee doctors who are working temporarily on our wards to go through and complete a new, robust induction checklist and speak to the consultant on call for an introduction.

The checklist contains information including patient electronic systems and medical devices. The checklist will provide an enhanced orientation to the area the locums are working in, allowing them to receive extended knowledge about the team along with local policies and procedures and give the opportunity for the locums to explain areas of concern or procedures they are not comfortable in carrying out. Locums will contact the consultant in the clinical area or the person on call, to introduce themselves and find out if there is anything they should be aware of in relation to the shift they will be covering.

Constructive feedback will be given at the end of each shift assessing areas such as clinical judgment and decision making.

The video by Medical Director, David Carruthers explains why all departments and consultants should use the checklist and feedback form to ensure safety for our patients and for welcoming locums in to our Trust.

National Audit of Dementia questionnaire – we would like to hear from you

Are you a colleague working with adult inpatients with memory problems or dementia? If so, we would like to hear from you.

The National Audit of Dementia would like your feedback on the training, resources and other support you have received to provide good quality care.

Please complete the survey online at www.nadstaff.uk

You will be asked to enter our unique hospital code at the start of the questionnaire.  It is important you enter this correctly otherwise your responses will have to be deleted.  The codes for our hospitals are:

• WB82 (use this code if you are mainly based at City Hospital site)
• SB81 (use this code if you are mainly based at Sandwell Hospital site)

The deadline for submitting questionnaires is 21 September.

July edition of Heartbeat now online

The July edition of Heartbeat is now available to view online. It includes a photo gallery of some of our NHS 70 celebrations and a number of the articles have videos for you to view.

You can view the latest TeamTalk video on Toby’s last word (page 27).

If you would like to submit an article for Heartbeat, please email emily.smith46@nhs.net

Heartbeat: Colleagues celebrate NHS 70 in style

Earlier this month, the NHS celebrated its 70^th birthday and hundreds of colleagues, patients and visitors came together to help mark the milestone.

A huge event was held at City Hospital, which was funded by Unison and Unite, whilst at Sandwell, there was a smaller tea party within the Courtyard Garden. Both had entertainment, food and stalls from specialties across the groups.

GMB Trade Union arranged for a vintage ambulance to visit Rowley Regis Hospital and they also took along 200 donuts as a treat for the team and visitors.

Sandwell party-goer Claire Roach popped in during her break and told Heartbeat: “There’s a wonderful atmosphere and everyone is really enjoying themselves. Our team really wanted to be part of the celebrations and we’re so glad we could make it along.”

As part of the Sandwell event there was an exhibition of old photographs and artefacts organised by Jenny Porter, who is a research nurse and also runs a hospital histories group. Jenny said: “There was a tremendous amount of interest in the old pictures which dated back to the 1920s. It led to many people wanting to share their memories of working here and also being a patient. The hospital histories group is currently collating memories for a book that we are producing and would welcome people to come forward with any other old photos or memorabilia they may have.”

Chris Rickards, Trust Convenor had organised the City Hospital party. She said: “There were more than 1,000 visitors coming along throughout the day. The atmosphere was electric and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

“We had a wide variety of food from various cultures which went down really well. Whilst the bucking broncho was a complete hit with not just our community, but even with some of our senior leaders who came along after their Trust Board meeting.

“A magician provided some great entertainment, whilst local MP Shabana Mahmood came along to soak up the atmosphere.”

After the party Chris took along the specially made 70th birthday cake to Leasowes Intermediate Care Centre, to donate it to colleagues and patients.

Theatre Practitioner, Colleen Stirling visited the City Hospital party along with her colleague Kamla Devi.

Colleen said: “We’ve really enjoyed the party, the food is lovely and it’s nice to be recognised. The event is a great occasion to bring our colleagues and the community together.”

It wasn’t just colleagues who were celebrating – patients joined in too, with wards and departments hosting their own small parties, whilst each inpatient received a birthday card which contained a special message from Chief Executive, Toby Lewis and Chief Nurse, Paula Gardner – who both also hand delivered cards to patients on Lyndon 4 and D26.

As they received their cards, patients were full of praise for the NHS and for the treatment they were experiencing at our Trust.

Patient, Glynn Davies told Heartbeat: “I had a total hip replacement two days ago and I should be going home tomorrow. I cannot fault the service at all – I already feel so much better.”

Meanwhile, Mary Rowland, a patient at Leasowes said: “The team here is wonderful and look after me brilliantly. I can remember the NHS starting when I was 13 and it was amazing to start receiving free healthcare.”

Many people won’t remember what they were doing when the NHS turned 70, but Nicola Dunn and Andrew Palmer will have a clear memory of 5 July 2018, as at 12.06am, their daughter Anastasia Palmer was born was City Hospital – becoming of one of the first NHS 70 babies.

Heartbeat visited the new parents and Nicola said: “The midwives were fantastic and we were certainly surprised to learn that our daughter shares the same birthday with the NHS. It’s a special day and we just want to say thank you to the NHS for looking after us when we need it.

“We also received a birthday card from the Trust and we think it’s a very nice gesture. We are sure Anastasia will be so happy to read the card when she is a bit older.”

New ordering code for A4 white photocopy paper

The ordering code for A4 white copy paper has now changed.

If you have any queries concerning the above please do not hesitate to contact Lisa Southall on ext. 4938.

Updates to the uniform and dress code policy

Please can all colleagues be aware that the uniform and dress code policy has been updated.

Please take the time to read the policy to ensure you are compliant.

For more information please contact helencope@nhs.net.

Can you give blood this summer?

Currently, there are 15,000 people living with Sickle Cell in the UK, and over 300 new babies born each year with the condition. The urgent need for O negative and B negative is driven by changes in how sickle cell is treated which has significantly driven up demand and we are struggling to match this.

There is currently an urgent appeal for more people from the black community to give blood, as NHS Blood and Transplant needs at least 40,000 new black donors to help these patients. Over 7,000 have come forward since our appeal last June, but more are needed to help ease the pressure on blood stocks and make sure people in need receive the best possible blood match.

For more information and to register as a donor, please visit www.blood.co.uk.

Online payslips: Important message for managers

As you will be aware, from autumn 2018, we will cease to print payslips and instead they will be accessed via ESR.

In order to have access, all colleagues will need to have an individual NHS Mail account.

Please ensure you check that everyone in your team has an account. If they don’t, you must complete the ‘request a new IT user account’ form which you will find on Connect.

For further information on online payslips please e-mail swb-tr.SWBH-GM-Payroll-OffMgr@nhs.net

For more information on access to NHS Mail, please call the IT helpdesk on extension 4050.

Unity targeted coaching programme: week four – documenting admission safety assessment

On Monday 6 August, week four of the new Unity targeted coaching programme gets underway with the theme being documenting admission safety assessment.

The clinical informatics team will be out and about meeting colleagues across our sites and delivering short five minute one-to-one micro-coaching sessions to ensure that our clinical colleagues are prepared for when Unity goes live later this year.

These sessions are receiving a lot of positive feedback with many colleagues saying the coaching is providing reassurance that using Unity is easier than first thought. Since starting the coaching programme on 16 July, the clinical informatics team have  delivered coaching to over 370 colleagues.

The coaching programme will run for 15 weeks in total. It is critical to stress that this is not a training programme and is not a replacement for the formal end user training which is a requirement for all colleagues (including those that have already undertaken digital champion and/or early adopter training).

The clinical informatics team will endeavour to avoid causing any disruption to ward routines and have written to ward managers to allow team members the time to participate in these sessions and start to get familiar with Unity.

For further information email swbh.informaticsnurses@nhs.net

Update: Midland Metropolitan Hospital

Board members have agreed a preferred option to finance the completion of the Midland Metropolitan Hospital through a publicly funded model.

Toby Lewis, Chief Executive, explains more about the latest development in this video: