Monthly archives: January 2019

Scottish menu: 25 January

Hallam restaurant, Arches and Boaters will be offering a Scottish theme menu on 25 January so be sure to drop by for a bite to eat.

Cold or Flu symptoms?

https://youtu.be/JgGUgdBXoG4

Do you know the difference between cold and flu symptoms?  There are lot of different viruses around at the moment with the common misconception that they are all flu viruses.

The flu vaccine will not protect against cold viruses, but does protect against flu A and B. It’s well recognised that flu vaccine is not 100 per cent effective however the vaccine reduces the risk of contracting the flu by approximately 50 to 60 per cent and if you get flu, the symptoms are much milder and attenuated. It’s the only available protection against flu.

The flu vaccine is still available through occupational health by calling ext. 3306. The vaccine takes 10-14 days to work, so it is important you have it as soon as you can.

If you have flu like symptoms it is important that if you are working that you go home. The Trust does not routinely swab staff if they have symptoms and you must not swab yourself.

If you need further advice you can contact occupational health on ext. 3306.

Unity end user training to be completed by 31 January

New dates have been released for the Unity end user training, and managers are asked to ensure their teams are trained by Thursday 31 January.

To book onto a course see the training schedule on Connect. Unity end user training will be delivered by role – please see Course Content Brochure. Courses are also available for those who require view only access to Unity.

There is a how to book Unity training guide available for your reference.

If you would like a member of the Unity team to come to your area to assist with the booking of your staff, please contact swbh.informaticsbookings@nhs.net giving availability and a contact number, and arrangements will be made at a suitable time for you. The team will also help with any queries regarding the training and the booking system.

Heroic nurse saves woman on British Airways flight

Featured in The Sunday Mercury and Birmingham Live

A HERO nurse has told how she fought to save a fellow passenger’s life at 30,000 feet as a woman fell desperately ill on a flight to London.
Paediatric nurse Michelle Smith was flying home from a holiday in Hawaii when cabin crew appealed for help from anyone medically trained.
Michelle, who works at Sandwell Hospital, rushed to the front of the plane where she found a woman being violently sick.
The passenger had missed doses of insulin and was suffering from dangerous diabetic ketoacidosis, which can lead to brain swelling, coma and death if not urgently treated.
But Michelle and a fellow American doctor on the flight were able to save the woman’s life with just meagre medical supplies.
“It was quite the eventful flight home,” says Michelle, from Bartley Green, Birmingham. “I dread to think what would have happened if we hadn’t have been on the flight.”
Michelle was travelling back from a week’s holiday in Hawaii with 24-year-old daughter Ebony and her daughter’s boyfriend, Harvey, and had transferred at Los Angeles.
It was two hours into the British Airways flight from LA to London Heathrow that an air stewardess made an announcement that a passenger had fallen ill.
She asked anyone medically qualified to approach the front of the cabin.
Qualified nurse Michelle, who works at the paediatric assessment unit at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, alerted the crew that she could help.
“My daughter turned to me and said ‘Mum, I think you’re going to have to go up’,” explains Michelle, 46.

“I waited about a minute to see if a doctor appeared, but then waved my hand at the air stewardess.
“I told her I was a paediatric trained nurse, usually working with children, but I would do what I could to help.
“I was taken to the first class section at the front of the plane, where there was a lady who was clearly very sick.
“I approached her and there was an awful smell, which is a symptom of DKA, diabetic ketoacidosis.
“She was lying down in first class, moaning and groaning and vomiting. She was obviously in pain, and was extremely poorly.”
The Swedish passenger, who was aged in her 30s, was a diabetic and told Michelle she had not taken insulin for three days after her supply was stolen.
“DKA is very dangerous and I knew that the first thing was to hydrate her and try to stop her vomiting,” says mum-of-two Michelle.
“If not, she would go into a coma, and it can be fatal.
“Ideally, you would give a patient insulin, but there wasn’t any available. The cabin crew had insulin needles, but no insulin.
“So without it, you need to try to flush out the poisons, the ketones, by drinking as much water as possible.”
Minutes later, another fellow passenger who works as an A&E doctor in the USA, joined Michelle to help give urgent treatment to the woman.
“We began working together to try to stop her vomiting and try to get her to keep some water down,” says Michelle.
“Her blood sugar level was extremely high at 22. Normally it should be between 4 and 7.
“We still had eight hours left of the flight, and there was no way that she was going to make it.
“The American doctor said she had anti-sickness medication with her, but cabin crew wouldn’t let us use it.
“We managed to cannulate her with a small fluid bag they had, but it turned out to be leaking, so we had to tape it up.
“It was just one thing after another. We managed to fix it and I stood and held the bag because there was no drip stand.
“The lady just kept saying ‘Thank you’ over and over again.”
As Michelle worked to keep the passenger stable and stop her falling unconscious, the pilot made an emergency landing in Toronto.
The patient was immediately taken off the plane by paramedics and taken to hospital for further treatment.
If not for Michelle and the doctor’s quick-thinking actions, the flight could have ended in tragedy.
“You go into auto-pilot,” explains Michelle. “You don’t think about it.
“My nephew once swallowed a whole tree of broccoli and began choking, and I did the same then.
“The lady needed the two of us, so we just did what we needed to do. It was very much a team effort.”
After less than an hour grounded in Toronto, the flight resumed its journey to Heathrow.
“As a thank you, the cabin crew moved me to first class for the rest of the flight, which was kind,” says Michelle.
“They’ve also offered me a free return flight to somewhere in Europe, so I’m hoping to go to Greece this summer.”
Read the full story here.

West Bromwich Leisure Centre, Harborne Pool and Fitness Centre and Sparkhill Pool and Fitness Centre – 14% discount

The West Bromwich Leisure Centre, Harborne Pool and Fitness Centre and Sparkhill Pool and Fitness Centre will be offering a 14 per cent discount across premium memberships all year round including joint and family memberships.

To redeem the discount you will need to provide a valid NHS ID badge or payslip on signing up either over the phone or in the centre.

For further information and join see contact details for centres below:

The West Bromwich Leisure Centre:

Tel: 0121 580 6430

Email: enquiries@westbromwichlc.co.uk

Harborne Pool and Fitness Centre:

Tel: 0121 428 6820

Email: enquiries@harbornepoolandfitnesscentre.co.uk

Sparkhill Pool and Fitness Centre:

Tel: 0121 702 0950

Email: enquiries@sparkhillpoolandfitnesscentre.org

Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 18 January

As the country continues to grapple with Brexit issues, I want to reiterate that we are working hard to prepare our supply chains for any disruption we see. Meanwhile, we have had some take up for our offer to pay settlement fees for anyone who is on our payroll and is required to apply for leave to remain as we leave the EU. Of course, immigration issues are not confined to our continent, and we are always in dialogue with the Home Office as we bring in staff from around the world. The huge success of our recruitment campaign in A&E means that we are working to secure even more permits for entry than normal. Meanwhile, as we move rapidly towards April, we will then be launching our guaranteed radiology turnaround time standard (from referral to report), which relies not just on the skills of our teams, but on overseas contracts for reporting, so that we offer both GPs and our clinical teams a much faster imaging service to improve care. Recruitment features in our photo montage this week as we look to recruit in therapies and in theatres. For 2019-20 the budgets for our Trust will be established with a vacancy rate of no more than 2 per cent, signalling the determination of the Board to reduce vacancy rates and temporary staffing, and move closer to a fully staffed organisation. In February we will launch our Flexible Working Pledge, under the weconnect programme, responding to your feedback that our arrangements were insufficiently clear across the organisation.

This coming Tuesday (22 January) in the Education Centre at Sandwell, I would encourage anyone who can do so to participate in either the morning or the afternoon engagement session around our Unity electronic patient record (entitled the Pain and the Gain). The event will include speakers from other centres who have deployed the product, as well as demos and a chance to ask awkward questions of the clinical team leading our deployment. Get in touch with Rosie Fuller if you wish to attend or see the link in daily comms https://connect2.swbh.nhs.uk/news/unity-the-pain-and-the-gain-2/

March’s Quality Improvement Half Day will also launch a month of intense activity to prepare for the way teams will work differently when Unity goes live. By then we will have the lessons learned from February’s dress rehearsal. And of course by then you will be trained! If you are among the few hundred yet to have basic training, please book in now https://connect2.swbh.nhs.uk/trustindigital/unity/unity-training/unity-end-user-training/ The deadline for completion is just ten days away.

The last few days have seen extraordinary determination by teams across the Trust to manage better the emergency care patients who rely on our services. Waiting times have improved, and each day has not begun with patients awaiting beds in ED. Emergency care is a whole institutional effort and we need every team to respond to the call to action. In thanking those who have, I am almost bound to forget someone, but I wanted to thank porters at Sandwell who are working to move  patients from our AMU, duty and site managers who have altered how they work and the questions they ask in order to ensure tomorrow’s discharges, our night nursing teams – both RNs and HCAs – who are getting patients ready to sit out for breakfast if they are going home today. There are many other examples in patient transport and phlebotomy, and our weekend medical teams who are focusing first on dischargeable patients to release beds to admit those arriving. As you would expect me to write this is benefitting our patients hugely, but the most exciting vibe is the way in which it is making working life better for many frontline colleagues in our Trust. I hope that individuals and teams feel supported and listened to as we look to change ourselves and how we work. Hearing direct from our site nurse practitioner teams this week, it was clear the passion to do what’s right for patients, and the work we still have to do to make sure the way we deal with each other when under pressure is professional, dignified and respectful. For many leaders working this weekend there will be moments of difficult decision and prioritisation, and I know that those people will have your support in making choices that are not always popular or easy – like moving colleagues between departments where safety could be at risk.

Lots of work has gone on over recent months to try and make sure that joining the Trust as a new employee works well. It’s called on-boarding in the jargon. I know from formal feedback that the induction process has improved, and more people join with IT passwords and other essentials from day one. It was equally clear when I presented at induction on Monday that we have work to do to sort out uniforms. I met colleagues with no uniform, people waiting, and others not yet getting the five uniforms we promised. We will be fixing that, and changing our process to make sure that having a uniform on day one happens consistently, changing our uniform itself if necessary to make it fuss-free and off the shelf. Pride and image does have a place in what we do, and the way we work to give patients and relatives confidence in what we do and who we are. If you do have views on the uniforms we have, now and in the future, do get in touch with me or with our Chief Nurse, Paula Gardner.

While I am writing about problems and issues, I am pleased that the feedback from the local planning officers about our new car park plans is going well. Later this month we aim to confirm dates for construction, as well as explaining the support we will be providing to those parking and the extra alternatives we will be putting in place for people who want to use alternate forms of transport. One frustration I know many people have is paying for parking when you are not at work, or on days you take other modes of transport, and we will be re-launching our Pay As You Go staff car park arrangements this spring. Arrangements are being finalised to change the generator testing problems that especially bedevil our City site, and I am hopeful that within two months we should see an end to weekly testing interruption. I know Martin Sintler, among others who have repeatedly raised this issue, will keep the management’s feet to the fire to sort this out, and rightly so.

Finally, I wanted to ask everyone to consider where you work whether there is a role for a volunteer? We now have 500 volunteers on our books, of all ages and backgrounds. Around 150 remain to be placed into role, and via Ruth Wilkin I would ask you to put forward your service ideas for these volunteers. Ideally we want to place teams of volunteers so that you have coverage across the day or week. These are local people who really can contribute a little extra time to listen to patients or relatives, or help within your team. Huge value and insight can come from involving local people through our volunteering service, and I want to make sure that every part of the Trust considers actively their part in your work. Do get in touch with Ruth and her team if that is something you think might work for you.

I attach this week’s IT stats.

Informatics Data 18 January 2019

#hellomynameis…Toby

Heartbeat: It’s looking brighter for the windmill theatres

New operating theatre lights have been recently installed in the windmill theatres at City Hospital, making sure all operations are carried out in the brightest environment.

The Simeon LED surgical lights, which were made in Germany, are three times brighter than the previous lights.

Martin Beard, Matron Theatres, explained more to Heartbeat: “Following an infection control and equipment quality audit, we decided to change the lighting in windmill theatres.

“The previous surgical lights have been installed for over 20 years and they were no longer supported by the manufacturer, which means it was becoming increasingly difficult to access new parts of lighting when required.

“In addition, the quality of the lights no longer met the standard and cleaning had become increasingly difficult due to wear and tear.”

Martin and the team have noticed a real improvement since the new lights were installed.

“The new lights have made such a tremendous difference,” said Martin.

“They are sealed units coated in an antibacterial coating, which makes them extremely easy to clean and reduces the risk of cross contamination.”

The new lighting system also has other cost-saving features. Martin added: “The windmill theatres are very busy, so we required the new lights to be installed without disrupting the daily service. Since those lights could be retrofitted into the existing infrastructure in less than two days, we did not need to cancel any operations.

“Utilising existing infrastructure also meant we could reduce the overall cost for the organisation. When the windmill theatres are moved to the Midland Metropolitan Hospital, the new surgical lights can be utilised elsewhere within the retained estate, thanks to their flexible features.”

Pressure ulcer and falls exhibition: 1 February

We will be hosting an exhibition about best practice in pressure ulcer and falls which will also cover patient independence on Friday 1 February, conference room, Sandwell Education Centre, 1pm-4pm.

The exhibition will also cover the new pressure ulcer guidelines with information stands available on the day.

For more information and to book your place, please contact Shila Patel on either shila.patel@nhs.net or ext. 5188.

Heartbeat: SMART is the way forward for ED

A new process which means A&E patients are seen within the first 15 minutes of their arrival has been hailed a success.

The SMART (senior management, assessment and rapid treatment) process makes sure patients are seen and treated quickly by senior clinicians.

Dr Asif Naveed, Emergency Consultant, explained more to Heartbeat: “We implemented SMART two months ago and it has already helped our emergency departments run more safely, quickly and smoothly.

“Previously, patients needed to register their details with receptionists and would then wait to be seen by a triage nurse followed by a wait for a cubicle. Now, we have a senior nurse at the reception desk to stream patients upon arrival. Based on the streaming criteria, the nurse will direct patients to the most appropriate area within the emergency department, for example they may go to majors, minors, or they go through the SMART process.

“If they meet the criteria to go through the SMART process, they will then be directed to a SMART room where they will see a triage nurse and a senior clinician, who will assess them. The clinicians can order blood tests or an ECG (a test to check the heart’s rhythm and electrical activity), which will be carried out by an emergency care technician (ECT), who sits in the next cubicle. Afterwards, when the tests and assessments are finished, patients will be given a care plan or directed to a more appropriate speciality, such as the ambulatory medical assessment area or their GP.

They may also be discharged directly from SMART.

“This pathway means that patients do not have to wait for cubicles in the main department for an assessment if they don’t need to.”

Taj Virk-Dhugga, Deputy Directorate General Manager for Emergency Care, added: “After two months of implementation, SMART has proved to be an effective system because 84 per cent of patients who would normally have waited for a cubicle in the main department have received rapid assessment through SMART. Since they do not need to go through cubicles, we are saving a minimum of 126 cubicles hours per day.

“This process greatly benefits patients as they are seen by senior clinicians from the beginning of their journey.”

Patient feedback has also been very positive as 100 per cent of patients who completed the survey about their experience with the new system indicated that they preferred SMART. They would also recommend their friends and family to go through the system when visiting A&E departments at our hospitals.

Pressure ulcer study day: 26 February

We will be hosting a pressure ulcer study day on Tuesday 26 February, clinical skills 1, Sandwell Education Centre, 9am-4pm.

The study day will cover topics such as:

• How pressure ulcers develop
• Your role in pressure ulcer prevention
• Management and prevention
• Update your pressure ulcer grading skills
• Route cause analysis
• Pressure relieving equipment

For more information and to book your place, please contact tissueviability2@nhs.net.