Monthly archives: October 2018
Medical gas equipment inspection at City from 1 November
From Thursday 1 November for a period of three weeks, all wall suction and air and oxygen flowmeters will be audited, inspected and tested.
Any equipment found to be faulty will be repaired or replaced and all systems left in working order.
The inspections will be carried out by O2SM (Oxygen Suction Management) and the contractors will be easily identifiable.
It would be appreciated if you could assist in this process to minimise disruption.
For more information please call ext. 4070, option 3.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Calling all food lovers, cooks and alchemists for tasty celebration of our Trust to commemorate #NHS70
We live in one of the most culturally diverse regions in the UK with a rich heritage of delicious food history and recipes handed down to generations of food lovers. You are part of this, whether you enjoy a bowl of Birmingham soup (created by industrialist Matthew Boulton in the 18th century to ward off starvation in his workers, or love nothing more than a balti, jerk chicken, Irish potato cakes or one of the most recognised dishes from the Black Country – faggots and peas – we’d love to hear from you.
As part of the #NHS70 celebrations this year, we’re producing a cookbook containing recipes from our colleagues with roots from across the globe. If you have a delicious family recipe that you would like included in this book, whether it is a starter, main, side dish, dessert or bake please send it to v.tran@nhs.net.
Please include the following:
- Ingredients by quantity
- Step by step instructions
- The number of portions the recipe will make
- How long it will take to make the dish
- A short message (50-100 words) to explain why this recipe is important to you with a photo of yourself, or the family member that shared the recipe with you
- You can also share a photo of the meal cooked and plated up.
Please submit your recipe by 10 November.
Heartbeat: The four is with our Muslim colleagues
Our flu campaign this year is based around ‘may the 4 be with you,’ as we encourage colleagues to gain their four shields of protection against the dark side. At the time of Heartbeat going to print, over half of our patient facing colleagues have already joined the force.
This includes a number of our Muslim colleagues who have had their flu vaccine for the first time this year – Heartbeat spoke to Finance Manager, Masood Hussain to find out more.
He said: “One of the main reasons that Muslim staff, including myself, have been reluctant to have the flu vaccine in the past was due to the misconception that it contained animal or pork derivatives.
“The campaign this year is so eye catching that it made me think that I should try and seek clarification on this, so I contact occupational health who confirmed that the vaccine they use does not contain any pork or other meat products or derivatives.
“Thanks to this reassurance, I have now had my vaccine for the first time and have spoken to a lot of Muslim and BME colleagues and have convinced them to have their vaccine too.”
Occupational Health and Wellbeing Nurse Manager, Tracy Lees is delighted that Masood and other Muslim colleagues have been reassured about the vaccine.
She told Heartbeat: “It’s great to hear that Masood has been reassured and has now had his flu vaccine for the first time and I am delighted that he is now encouraging his colleagues to get protected too.
“There is a few common misconceptions about the vaccine containing animal products or being unsuitable for those with an allergy to egg.
“The vaccine has a very low albumin content, so it can still be given to staff who have mild allergies to eggs and can even been given in A&E to those who have had an anaphylactic reaction to eggs.
“We have also been informed that some people think you can’t have the vaccine if you haven’t had it before. This is absolutely not true – it is never too late to start having an annual flu vaccine.
“If anyone else has concerns about the vaccine and thinks they are unable to have it, please do contact occupational health for advice as the vaccine is perfectly safe for the majority of colleagues.”
Black History Month 2018 – What a Celebration
BME Staff Network – supporting Black History Month 2018
October has been fun but very busy!
We had a great launch at Sandwell Education Centre for our “Here to Stay” exhibition on the 1st October. During the same week (4th October) we travelled down to London for the Nursing Times Workforce Summit & Awards. We were delighted that SWBH won the award for Best Diversity & Inclusion Practice, in recognition of the great work being done by our staff networks.
On the 10th October we met with CQC inspectors and discussed the role of the Staff Networks and the work we are doing to embed Equality, Diversity & Inclusion across all areas within our organisation.
I personally was humbled to win the award for Equality & Diversity Champion on the 12th October at the Star Awards. I am grateful for the support I have received from colleagues across the Trust who like me are passionate about the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion agenda.
Staff from the network had a great day attending the RCN Black History Month Conference on 17th October held at West Bromwich Albion Ground. It was a celebration of BAME contribution to health and social care over the last 70 years.
On Thursday 18th October ‘In Conversation with Yvonne Coghill CBE’ hosted by the Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Trust Black, Asian, Minority & Ethnic (BAME) Staff Network. Yvonne is the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) Implementation Director. Yvonne gave an honest and passionate presentation. There was recognition of the good work being undertaken by NHS Trusts’, but work still to be done to achieve equity for all colleagues working within the NHS regardless of their ethnicity.
We then held our BME Staff Network meeting in the Anne Gibson Board Room at City Hospital. It was a pleasure to have Jenica Leah http://myfriendjen.co.uk/ and Garry Stewart http://www.recognizeonline.com/ http://www.blackpoppyrose.org/wp/ as guest speakers during Black History Month. Special thanks to Flo for baking for us.
On Friday 19th October the BME Staff Network had a stand at the African Caribbean Health Information Conference. The BME Network also arranged for our colleague Amanda from the Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre at City Hospital to appear on the agenda. Amanda gave a fantastic presentation that was well received by the health care professionals in the room.
During Black History Month at Central Library in Birmingham there is a for the Voices of the First World War exhibition which included Stories of Omission – Conflict and the experience of Black Soldiers http://www.voicesofwarandpeace.org/voices-activity/voices-of-the-first-world-war/
On the 25th October we gave a guided tour of the “Here to Stay” exhibition to photography students and tutor from Sandwell College. The students were impressed with the portraits and appreciated the opportunity to view them. They were also lucky enough to meet Janice Nelson one of the participants and ask her some questions about being involved in the project.
So Black History Month is over for another year. We hope you have enjoyed it and managed to attend events that have been happening across the region. You will be glad to know that we have already starting drafting plans for 2019. . . . watch this space
blog submitted by Donna Mighty, Co-Chair BME Staff Network
Team leading for band 5 nurses
Team Leader Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard designed for Level 3 managers (Band 5 Staff Nurses, supervisors, Team Leaders, Project Officers) with operational/project responsibilities or responsibility for managing a team to deliver a clearly defined outcome. They provide direction, instructions and guidance to ensure the achievement of set goals.
The Trust is encouraging colleagues from underrepresented groups to apply and take part in this great development opportunity.
Full details can be found by clicking here.
Please see relevant documents regarding Team Leading Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship Expression of Interest Form
We will also be hosting two drop in sessions where colleagues can come along and find out more.
| Tuesday 6 November | 9.30am-11.30am | Room 15, The Education Centre, Sandwell Hospital |
| Friday 9 November | 9.30am-11.30am | Anne Gibson Committee Room, City Hospital |
If you are unable to attend either of the drop in sessions, but would like more information, please contact swbh.apprenticeship@nhs.net.
Laser hair removal and tattoo removal discounted for colleagues
Birmingham Regional Skin Laser Centre, based in the Birmingham Skin Centre, Sheldon Block, City Hospital offer private laser hair removal treatment to colleagues, family members and friends. NHS colleagues can also get a free consultation for laser hair removal or tattoo removal and 10 percent off their treatment with the nurse upon production of their staff photo ID.
Laser hair removal is not suitable for white, grey or blonde hair and we are unable to treat if you have a sun tan. An initial course of six treatments is recommended. Hair growth becomes progressively slower, finer and lighter in colour, with a possible reduction in hair growth of up to 70 per cent.
Laser hair and tattoo removal is delivered by one of our laser specialist nurses.
The clinic is open for appointments Monday–Friday, 9am–12pm and 1pm–3.30pm.
For further information, please contact ann.weaver1@nhs.net on ext. 6639 from 9am–3.30pm.
Black History Month 2018
Today marks the last day of our Black History Month Celebration for 2018, and what a month we have had.
We started with our opening of the exhibition from the Windrush Generations. They’ re still on display in the Education Centre at Sandwell Hospital and will be a permanent exhibition.
As the BME Staff Network we took part in events across the Trust and local community including the RCN Black History Month Conference and the African-Caribbean Health Information Conference it has been great to see so many members of colleagues engage with these events.
During October the next set of Stepping Up Leadership Programme for BMEA Staff launched and successfully delivered – look at yesterday’s Comms update for how to apply for the December cohorts.
The network had a really engaging presentation at our meeting on the patient experience of having sickle cell and thalassemia and being treated here at the Trust.
We hope you have enjoyed our celebrations and if you would like to be active in the BME Staff Network why not join us for our December meeting?
We are already planning Black History Month 2019 and would love your ideas and input.
For more information please contact swbh.bme@nhs.net.
Heartbeat: Restart a Heart Day sees hundreds trained in life-saving techniques
Colleagues were urged to update their basic life support training on Restart a Heart Day earlier this month. The awareness event also gave visitors to our sites a chance to try out CPR, with many praising the drive.
The campaign, which has been organised by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and is in its fifth year, aimed to train a record-breaking 200,000 people with the skills and confidence to help save a life.
Events were hosted, not only at our organisation, but also at schools, community centres, and emergency service stations across the country.
Dr Derek Connolly, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, said: “This is an important campaign as we know that if CPR is started early it can double the person’s chances of survival. The more people educated in crucial life-saving techniques, the more people will survive ou tof- hospital cardiac arrests in the future.”
Bethan Downing, Deputy Director of Organisation Development and Learning organised the events with the deteriorating patient and resuscitation team.
She said: “The day was a huge success, with over 400 people taking part. Not only were we able to teach visitors CPR, but colleagues were able to update their basic life support training. There was a lot of energy and enthusiasm at both sites.”
In the UK there are over 30,000 cardiac arrests a year outside of hospital where the emergency medical services attempt to resuscitate the victim. Less than 10 per cent of these people will survive.
Federico Moscogiuri, Chief Executive Officer at the Resuscitation Council (UK), added: “This year’s Restart a Heart campaign was bigger than ever. We were aiming to train over 200,000 people, both face-to-face and online through our free lifesaver app, which can be downloaded at Lifesaver.org.uk.
“CPR is an important skill which anyone can learn, and which everyone will carry with them throughout their lives. The Restart a Heart campaign builds the skills and confidence of the lifesavers of today, and tomorrow.”
It may be Halloween but the flu vaccine won’t make you scream
Are you putting off having your vaccine because you think it might hurt?
The effects of contracting flu will cause you much more discomfort than having the vaccine. Most people tell us that they don’t even feel anything.
Today we hear from our Chief Pharmacist, Pun Sharma who tells us more about the make-up of the flu vaccine and about the most common side effect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXEQkDdhpDQ&feature=youtu.be
Did you know that you will also be rewarded for having you vaccine? As well as a lollypop or chocolate, you will also be given a voucher which will entitles you to £1 off in any of our catering outlets. Alternatively you can tick the box on your voucher to donate your £1 to Your Trust Charity.
Please note that the FluMobile will be visiting Rowley Regis Hospital 1 November at 9am and will be onsite for approximately 60 minutes.
Note: The flu vaccine does not contain any pork or meat product or derivatives.
National Children’s WW1 Remembrance concert: 3 November
The organisers of the National Children’s WW1 Remembrance concert have kindly offered Trust colleagues a limited number of discounted tickets for their concert on Saturday 3 November at Genting Arena, Birmingham at 6pm.
Note: Selected tickets are complimentary with a £2 charity donation per ticket plus a £2.55 fulfilment fee per order.
Book your tickets here, then simply select how many tickets you would like and look for the gold star.
For more information please contact amir.ali1@nhs.net.
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