Monthly archives: February 2019
TeamTalk briefing – February 2019
TeamTalk, our refocussed team briefing sessions took place last week where attendees were given an update from the Clinical Leadership Executive and were also briefed on national and regional updates.
The discussion topic this month is the upcoming introduce of the Flexible Working pledge as part of the weconnect campaign. Please feedback by 21 February.
If you were not able to make one of the sessions you can download a copy of the briefing presentation and the latest TeamTalk video from our Chief Executive, Toby Lewis.
Unity full dress rehearsal (FDR) is next week! Do you know what is involved?
Twenty-six clinical areas are going to be taking part in the Full Dress Rehearsal (FDR) of Unity next week from Monday 11 February 2019.
Full dress rehearsal is a complete run through of all activities that will take place when we go live with Unity. It is used to identify issues and drive out risk before the go-live of the new electronic patient record.
The full dress rehearsal will involve colleagues across many professions including healthcare assistants, ward clerks, nurses, doctors, porters, pharmacists and healthcare scientists. All coming together over a period of 5 days to test Unity and ensure it is fit for purpose.
During the dress rehearsal support will be provided by staff from Cerner, the company that has developed Unity. Our senior leaders will also be on hand along with the informatics team and 61 colleagues from the Unity project team.
The Unity project team has already been in contact with the teams selected to be part of the dress rehearsal regarding details of the resources required.
If you know you are part of the Full Dress Rehearsal but you are not quite clear on what you need to do, get in touch with the Unity team on email (Unity.cutover@nhs.net ) for more information.
For everyone else please ensure you are up to date with the Unity end user training. If you have attended training, keep your knowledge fresh by using the Unity Play System. If you haven’t had training, then please book on as soon as possible.
Printing OP DNA – Discharge to Patient Letters
From today OP DNA Discharge to patient letters on the patient administration system will no longer be available for selection.
Patients who fail to attend their first appointment with a clinic will automatically be sent a letter discharging them from our off-site print supplier.
This means that there will no longer be a requirement to print OP DNA Discharge to patients letters from the PAS locally.
If you have any queries regarding the changes to the printing of letters from the PAS please contact the IT servicedesk on ext. 4050.
Drug safety notice – Midazolam 10mg in 2ml injection
There is currently a manufacturer’s delay with midazolam 10mg in 2ml injection, with further supplies expected by the end of February.
Ward colleagues should be aware of the change in strength of the current supply of midazolam. 10mg in 5ml injection will be supplied as an alternative.
For details please see Midazolam supply issue memo
For more information please contact the pharmacy department on ext. 5259.
Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 1 February
If you look on page 6 of Heartbeat, or now on myConnect (download the free myConnect app, simply search for SWBH myConnect on the Apple App Store or on the Google Play Store) or Connect, you will find our snow plan. As we end Dry January, and whispers of cold weather, please make sure you know what to do to help yourself and others. And if the coming week does see heavy snow, let’s look too to neighbours and others who may be isolated or alone and need a little more help to get by.
The Seal naming contest is well timed. Paroseals, as you may already know, but I am learning, are evidenced in Japan and we are bringing them to our workplace now. Three seals will be out and about on our wards helping patients with mild confusion or dementia, or more generally just intruding an element of distraction and wonder into our wards. This week has seen a naming contest hit the daily comms bulletin, and the winning three entries were not mine. Instead the names of our seals are:
- Snap
- Crackle
- Pop
Obviously you are wondering how my entry, Ron Seal, did not win. Ask the Chief Nurse. If you see a fourth seal, you know why, and who.
TeamTalk is now out. You will remember in February we have a push to make sure everyone in our Trust, part timer, night worker, bank employee, longstanding team member, has access to a face to face conversation about our organisation. The focus of TeamTalk in January was getting ready for our Unity full dress rehearsal (FDR). That kicks off Monday, for our IT teams, and goes live across our sites on 11 February. Get in touch with Katie Gray or Liam Kennedy if you want to know more, and if you are one of our missing 700, the untrained in Unity, please get yourself signed up for training https://connect2.swbh.nhs.uk/trustindigital/unity/unity-training/unity-end-user-training/ We want you to be part of the Gain, not the Pain.
For the month ahead TeamTalk focuses on flexible working. As a clinical leadership executive, we have our ideas, but we need yours. Flexible working needs to be fair, but it should also let the balance of work and life be fun too. So talk about it across your team, think about what happens in other industries or Trusts, and don’t assume we can’t, because we can.
Massive congratulations to Ruth Naylor, Amanda Nadeem, Latoya Woolery, Lynsey Parkes, Victoria Cooper, Naveed Saeed and doubtless many others, who together have led the Improving Quality in Physiological Services (IQIPS) accreditation of our cardiology diagnostics services. The news came through this week, and I know it is the finish line in a long race. We have work to do Trust-wide to support diagnostic certainty, which is why we are investing over £1m next year in imaging, and why new scanners are en route to the BTC. But there are many crucial smaller diagnostic experts across our Trust, and we want to work to offer short waits, great quality, and access to results electronically.
While I am writing about investments, we have now signed off plans for the refurbished neonatal unit at City, which is one of the projects we have funded because of the Midland Met delay. Recruitment in the service is going well right now, and I am optimistic that after a really tough 2018, the staffing and equipping position of the service will have a terrific 2019 and 2020. Of course IT changes, or estate investments, are only an enabler to team work, training, reflective practice and new skills. The Board meets on Thursday and the heart of our discussions will be just that: What is our route to 2 per cent vacancies or less? Don’t assume we can’t, because we can. And how do we build on QIHDs, Grand Rounds, simulation and welearn posters to create a thriving curiosity across our Trust to spread the best of what we know, across not just 6,500 of us, but our colleagues and partners in primary care too? The front-page of Heartbeat makes it very clear – 2019 sees us ending the distinction between primary and secondary care. One care service – in general practice, care homes and schools.
We are only a month in to the New Year but I want to issue my second message call for you to come forward with volunteer opportunities. Over 300 volunteers are working now across our sites. Young people giving a few hours a week, and others devoting lots of time to our SWB family. We have 200 more volunteers ready to start this spring, and I met with our team this week to think through how to use those skills best. We need your help, not just with way finding roles, but mobilisation and befriending too. Volunteers will never replace what we do. But they can add a voice into a team from our communities and patients, and add a listening ear into a service that is always pushed for time. So get in touch with Ruth Wilkin if you have options for us to consider. The Trust will succeed if we connect into all of the communities we serve and the volunteering service is a really important part of that public health mission.
I attach this week’s IT stats: IT Performance Stats 1 February 2019
#hellomynameisToby
Heartbeat: Coaching and mentoring – supporting colleagues to develop
In today’s fast paced working environment every organisation needs a robust coaching and mentoring programme to help aspirational colleagues to develop and mature and we are no different.
In September, we embarked on a brand new programme, supporting managers to develop the skills and knowledge to have ‘coaching conversations’ with their team.
To find out more about how the coaching and mentoring programme is progressing, Heartbeat caught up with Learning and Development Manager, Nora Parsons, Trainer, Richard Burnell and coaching student Matron, Justine Irish.
Nora said: “The first stage of our coaching and mentoring programme launched in September and over the past few months we’ve already seen 17 managers join the programme which will continue until March.
“Following this, we launch stage two, which will give colleagues the opportunity to gain accredited coaching and mentoring skills which we hope will enable the knowledge we share to become available to a much larger audience.”
Richard Burnell is delivering the coaching and mentoring sessions. He added:
“Coaching is a tool that all managers need to have at their disposal in order to get the best out of their teams.
“It is all about listening to individuals and allowing them to develop their own solutions to problems, helping them to grow personally and professionally.
“Our coaching skills course gives an understanding of the coaching process and looks at practical skills that can be taken away from the classroom and implemented in the work place.”
One of the first people to embark on their coaching and mentoring journey was Community Matron, Justine Irish who shared her insight into the course.
“I joined the coaching and mentoring programme to get some support to build my resilience within a challenging environment,” explained Justine.
“Initially, I was very much led by the routine of switching my phone on and seeing where I was needed the most as opposed to feeling empowered to take responsibility for setting my own goals and them in turn becoming larger team goals.
“I’ve developed in leaps and bounds with the techniques I’ve been taught and they’re helping me develop not only in a professional capacity but also personally and I can confidently say since having coaching I am much more in control of my working week and feel I have a clear plan for achieving goals within my teams.
I also feel being able to use the skills with others has made me a much more appreciative listener, helping to set realistic goals for my colleagues and empowering them to take responsibility too.
“You have nothing to lose when it comes to coaching and mentoring, at first I was sceptical, but now I’m thankfully for taking the leap and enrolling. The course is free, but I would I would happily have paid for my coaching.”
For more information on coaching and mentoring, contact learning and development on extension 4794.
Fizz Free February
Could you and your family give up fizzy drinks for February?
Taking part in Fizz Free February is a great way to reduce your sugar intake by cutting out fizzy drinks.
Fizzy drinks are the largest single source of sugar for children aged 11-18, and they provide an average of 29 per cent of daily sugar intake. By committing to going fizz free for the entire month of February, you can develop new habits to make it easier to cut down on fizzy drinks for the rest of the year.
Be sure to check out this video featuring our Chief Executive, Toby Lewis who is supporting Fizz Free February and together let’s help tackle obesity and promote better health in our community.
Save money, save your teeth and stay healthy, join us in #FizzFreeFeb
Job of the week: Band 6 Nutrition Support Nurse (secondment)
Are you an experienced and motivated Registered Nurse looking for a fresh challenge in a unique role? If so, we have an exciting new secondment opportunity in the innovative and rewarding clinical area of Nutrition Support. The secondment will be at band 6 and for 6 months initially; with a view to extend to 12 months/ or even a permanent position.
To find out more about the role, please see Nutrition Support Nurse Job Description and Nutrition Support Nurse Person Specification.
For more information please contact Par Lidder, Clinical Nurse Specialist: Nutrition on 0121 507 5737 or Luke Banfield, Clinical Lead Dietitian on 0121 507 3862/4564.
NHS Hero Lynne keeps it in the family
As featured in The Chronicle Week:
It’s not often you help to deliver your own granddaughter at your work place.
But for Lynne Hewitt she did just that – and a month later she coached her other daughter through labour, who also went on to give birth at City Hospital where she is a Maternity Support Worker.
“It was all very surreal,” recalled Lynne, 53, who has worked at the hospital for eight years.
“I guessed both of my daughters were pregnant when we were out for a family party. I noticed they were drinking lemonade with orange juice so I asked them.
“They obviously couldn’t keep it a secret. I was very excited about it and of course I knew I would be part of the births because of the job I do.”
Daughter Becki, aged 33, was the first to give birth in November to Niamh at the Serenity Birthing Unit, which is based at the hospital.
“I was there throughout the labour and helped to deliver little Niamh. It was such a magical moment and a huge privilege,” explained Lynne.
“Laura gave birth to George a month later in the hospital’s labour ward. I was there throughout the labour until she was taken into theatre.
“It was so lovely to be there for my daughters during such an important time of their lives. And of course I was able to give them my guidance too.”
Lynne, from Bearwood, first began working in the maternity department eight years ago and joined Serenity two years later. Her job involves supporting midwives as they assist women in giving birth and making sure the environment is safe and clean for patients.
“It’s such an unpredictable job,” she said. “I could be helping to look after women who are postnatal, but then on other occasions I could be assisting with the birth. I work varied shifts too.
“I do love my job and knowing that I can give women the best care and support possible really drives me. I remember how different it was for me when I gave birth all those years ago and I want to make sure women have a good experience when they are in our care at City Hospital.”
So what would she describe as her next challenge?
“Every year women who give birth in February are asked to fill in a survey, which is run by the Care Quality Commission.
“It’s really important for new mums to take part, as this looks at how women are treated throughout their journey with us and how things can be improved. We want people from all cultures to take part in the survey, so we will be busy promoting this initiative.”
When Lynne isn’t working, she of course, enjoys spending time with her new grandchildren, and going on family holidays.
“I think I’ll be babysitting quite a lot over the next few years,” she laughed.
Who would she describe as her own hero? “My mum Winnie. She brought my brother and I up on her own and she always worked hard to make sure we didn’t go without. She’s definitely my role model.”
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