Monthly archives: September 2018

Message from the acting Chief Executive – CQC inspection

Dear colleagues,

Today our annual CQC inspection begins.

You will have seen details of open forums for employees to go along and talk about the care we provide.  A chance of course to reflect on the issues we know about, like our IT problems, but also to get across the big changes made since last year, especially in medicine and in BMEC.

The inspection team are doing unannounced visits today and this week in medicine and emergency care at both City and Sandwell Hospitals.  Next week it could be somewhere else.  That means that they will be with us, night and day.  Please make sure that we help them, whilst maintaining patient confidentiality and making sure practices like bare-below-elbow standards are observed, by all of us, and by them.

We all know the NHS is working under sustained pressure.  Having invested in extra staffing, created our NIV unit, spent over £1m on training last year, got decent modern imaging kit with our MES, and achieved national accreditation in pathology and endoscopy, we have every reason to compare well to others.  Let’s stand up for our successes and show our best, whilst being open about what’s left to do.

The attached staff guide to inspections provides some helpful information, please share with colleagues.

Good luck.

Kam Dhami

Director of Governance

Apprenticeship opportunities now available

We are currently recruiting colleagues to join our September/October apprenticeship training programmes for:

• Team Leading Level 3
• Business Administration Level 3
• Senior Healthcare Support Worker Level 3

The full occupational profile will give you more information regarding the desired skills.

For more information please contact swbh.apprenticeship@nhs.net or drop in to an apprenticeship information and assessment sessions on the one of the following dates:

South and City College Birmingham Flexible Learner Programme

South and City College have an opportunity for NHS staff to complete English and maths qualifications as part of a fully funded programme called the Flexible Learner Fund.

This is an excellent opportunity for colleagues to update their English and maths qualifications in order to continue with professional development, either within your current or future role.

Unlike other training programmess, which are traditionally all classroom based, Flexible Learner Fund offers you the opportunity to gain qualifications at work, online and in your own time.

If you would like to improve your English and maths qualifications as part of your development, this is an opportunity for you!

When does it start?

We have 50 spaces available and require learners to enrol by no later than Friday 29 September. We therefore suggest two dates to attend college in order to complete the enrolment session and agree next steps. The dates for enrolment are;

• Bournville Campus – Wednesday 19 September, 9am – 1:30pm
• Digbeth Campus – Friday 21 September, 9am – 1:30pm

How to apply

Apply by phone on 0121 694 5066 to confirm your place.
Apply by e-mail: apprenticeshipteam@sccb.ac.uk with the subject line – Flexible Learner

Learning Disabilities Mortality Review programme

The Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) Programme is a world-first. It is the first national programme of its kind aimed at making improvements to the lives of people with learning disabilities. Reviews are being carried out with a view to improve the standard and quality of care for people with learning disabilities.

People with learning disabilities, their families and carers’ have been central to developing and delivering the programme.

Our organisation is part of the LeDeR Programme and submit deaths of patients with learning disabilities, to be reviewed. The first LeDeR Annual Report, published in May this year has identified aspiration pneumonia as one of the leading causes of death in patients with learning disabilities. The briefing on Aspiration Pneumonia provides information for carers in identifying aspiration pneumonia and reducing the risks.

If you require any further information about the LeDeR programme, please contact carol.cobb@nhs.net.

Heartbeat: CT Fractional Flow Reserve

A life-saving test has recently been introduced to our organisation. The state-of-the-art computer technology can track blood flow through the arteries – detecting whether there are important narrowings of the blood vessels that put the patient is at risk of a heart attack. Amazingly this is done in a single breath whilst the patient is still dressed and without performing an invasive procedure making it much safer than the current tests.

As well as potentially saving lives, the new technology called the CT Fractional Flow Reserve (CTFFR) Analysis, could also cut waiting times, and save the NHS millions of pounds according to NICE.

The test has been developed by HeartFlow and carries out an analysis of a standard CT scan of the heart already undertaken by the Trust. It offers an in depth look inside the narrowing of an artery and whether it is impacting blood flow.

Previously, an invasive procedure called an invasive angiogram had to be carried out to find out the extent of blockage within an artery.

Dr Derek Connolly, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, said: “Cardiovascular disease is still the biggest killer in Sandwell and West Birmingham. We are already undertaking 2,000 state-of-the-art CT scans of the heart a year to diagnose disease in patients presenting with chest pain. This makes the test even better.

“Our service will continue to grow thanks to the new HeartFlow analysis service that we have launched.

“We are using cutting edge technology so that we can ensure that our patients are treated efficiently, effectively and safely.

“The CT scan allows us to take a detailed look inside the patient’s artery but the Heartflow CT FFR tells us about the blood flow too. As well reducing side effect sometimes experienced through invasive procedures, the programme will also be saving the NHS money.”

He explained how the analysis worked: “Once a CT scan is carried out, the programme analyses the data, which is sent to Heartflow to be analysed on their supercomputer, based in California.

“It takes just a few hours for the results to return. In most cases the patient knows by the next day.

“The analysis will show how each blockage impacts blood flow to the heart and is more detailed than in an invasive angiogram.”

From the CT images, HeartFlow creates a complete geometric and physiological model of the patient’s unique coronary artery blood flow. It also analyses the fluid flow closely.

The end result is a colour-coded map of the coronary arteries showing the extent of any “narrowings” which are disrupting blood flow. The doctor can use this to plan further treatment of the patient.

Anthony D’Sa, Consultant Radiologist, added: “This is a very exciting time for heart imaging. This new technique will identify those patients who would benefit most from proceeding to an operation, at the same time it will identify those patients who can be treated with medication, and thus avoid an unnecessary procedure. It also means we will be providing state-of-the-art heart imaging at our hospital.”

Joy Haywood retirement – 7 September

There will be a special retirement celebration for Joy Haywood on Friday 7 September from 1pm in room 10 in the Education Centre at Sandwell Hospital. Joy will sadly be retiring after 38 years of service. All colleagues are welcome.

For more information please contact hasina.berryman@nhs.net

Have you signed up for Unity end user training yet?

The Unity team will be holding pop up stalls across Sandwell Hospital, City Hospital and Rowley today to help colleagues who have not yet signed up for end user training to do so.

If you would like book on to Unity training, pop along to the stalls at the following locations between 10am and 2pm.

• BMEC, City Hospital
• Main reception, (near Bryan Knight Suite) Sandwell Hospital
• Costa, Birmingham Treatment Centre, City Hospital

Heartbeat: Learning works team creating opportunities for young students

Delighted, Work Experience Navigator, Rob Dolan collected the ‘Employer of the Year’ gong awarded by a West Bromwich school – which recognised the way our organisation has inspired students.

Rob, working alongside his colleagues within the learning works team, has collaborated with more than 70 schools and colleges to help around 300 students to secure work experience within our organisation.

His dedication and commitment in helping youngsters has been widely recognised during his 15 year career with our organisation.

Now Sandwell Academy has awarded Rob and the learning works team, the title ‘Employer of the Year’.

Speaking about this achievement, Rob said: “I feel very privileged to collect this award on behalf of our team.

“We are the only NHS organisation in the West Midlands that offers work experience to students from the age of 14. In this year alone, we have received nearly 1,000 applications and it’s great to see the Trust’s growing reputation among schools and colleges.”

Rob and the team have been working tirelessly with many departments across our organisation to set up work experience for students. He added: “Colleagues are becoming more welcoming to students who are coming to us to carry out work experience.

“A number of consultants have told me that students reminded them of themselves when they first started working in the NHS. So, they felt they needed to give something back by helping those students to realise their dreams and passion.”

Lawrence Kelly, Learning Works Centre Co-ordinator, added that work experience was essential in the development of younger students. He explained: “They (the students) will experience the world of work in a unique, professional environment.

“Our organisation plays a vital role in helping individuals reach their objectives, which will ultimately prepare them for the journey in becoming a future apprentice or employee with us.”

If you would like to welcome work experience students to your department, please contact the Learning Works Centre 0121 507 5886.

Death Matters newsletter – issue 4

Death Matters newsletter – issue 4 is now available. This issue looks at learning from mortality reviews as well as examining the key learning from the mortality reviews that have been conducted.

If you have any comments/questions, please contact carol.cobb@nhs.net or mumtaz.goolam1@nhs.net.