Monthly archives: April 2019

Heartbeat: Trust nurses fit for face mask testing

When you are around patients who are suffering from contagious infections, you are putting your faith in personal protective equipment. It is reassuring to know that our Trust has the only two female nurses in the country who are qualified to fit test face masks, using a certain method and machine.

Kasmiro Aheer and Diane Thomlinson have recently completed their accredited training in the quantitative method of face mask testing using the Portacount machine. They have found that they’re very much in the minority of qualified testers using this method of testing.

Heartbeat caught up with the infection prevention and control nurses who are currently forging their way through the Trust with their brand new testing system as they rolled their fit testing training out to another cohort of colleagues.

Kasmiro Aheer said, “We’re really privileged to be qualified and accredited. Fit testing is incredibly important for protecting yourself from airborne and communicable infections. With our Portacount testing kit and our army of fit testers, we’re working hard to ensure that every one of our clinical colleagues who might need to wear a face mask has the opportunity to be fitted and tested. This is the only way we can be certain that when they need to rely on the mask’s protection, it will do its job.”

To date the nurses have managed to train over 73 staff to be fit testers and over 952 colleagues have undergone the testing process. Numerous student nurses have also been fit tested by the nurse education team.

If you have any queries about face mask fit testing, contact the infection prevention and control team on ext. 5900.

Experience something new with Boundless

Boundless is a club with over 200,000 members looking to make the most of their free time. It costs just £27 to join and includes many fantastic benefits including:

• £170 worth of money-saving vouchers
• Bespoke member events
• Savings with over 50 well-known brands

Join now with promo-code “S&WB-NHS” and you’ll be entered into the latest Boundless prize draw.

Note: To be entered into the prize draw you must join before 30 April. 

If you require any further information regarding staff benefits please contact amir.ali1@nhs.net.

Margaret Pearson sadly passed away

It’s with great regret and sadness we have to inform you that Margaret Pearson passed away on Tuesday 9 April. Margaret had been with the Trust for over 25 years, working as a HCA and more recently a ward clerk on Newton 5. She will be sadly missed by everyone in the Trust, especially Newton 5.

With this in mind, Newton 5 will be doing a collection of flowers for Margaret. Should anyone wish to contribute, please contact carly.vasic@nhs.net.

Details regarding the funeral will also be confirmed soon, please contact Newton 5 for details.

Heartbeat: Taking the fear out of fractures

Stephanie Craig is leading the creation of more child-friendly fracture clinics.

She explains, “Children often feel anxious when waiting for their fractures to be treated. Our objective is to keep children calm and happy because if they feel traumatised, they may not want to come back to us if they need to.”

With the assistance of Orthopaedic Practitioner, Steve Hackett-Cann, who established a more child-friendly approach when working as the fracture clinic manager at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, the new child-friendly environment in the fracture clinic at Sandwell includes lots of colourful posters, crayons, pens and colouring books, along with a wide range of children’s books donated by local charity shops.

Tesco and Asda have also donated generously. In April 2018, Sid, the Community Champion from Tesco’s West Bromwich store donated a portable DVD player to the clinic. Watching films has really helped to distract young, distressed patients when they are having casts applied. Also, Paula, the Community Champion for Asda in Tipton, donated a huge selection of colouring books, felt pens, pencils and games.

“The new child friendly environment has made the fracture clinic run much smoother. We’ve helped to take the fear out of fractures, as children are now calmer, happier and more occupied when waiting for their treatment, which means their parents or guardians arehappier too!” says Stephanie.

She continues: “I would like to personally thank both Tesco and Asda for their generous donations. We are currently in the process of creating a similar environment at City and any donations or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.”

If you have donations or ideas to contribute, please contact Stephanie Craig on 0121 507 5351/3152.

Changes to current delivery schedule of NHSSC stock throughout bank holidays

Due to the upcoming Easter and May day bank holidays, there will be changes to the current delivery schedule of NHSSC stock items.

The procurement team will make arrangements for all materially managed wards and departments to receive their delivery on a different day if they are affected by the bank holidays.

For more information please call ext. 4938.

Heartbeat: Carl crowdfunds for critical care

In February 2018, Carl Richards was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer and during an operation to remove the cancer, things took a turn for the worse when he suddenly developed sepsis and ended up fighting for his life in the critical care unit at Sandwell.

During his time with the critical care team, Carl’s family rallied around him, fearing the worst but hoping for the best. They visited day in and day out, hoping for their doting dad to make a quick recovery.

Carl spent a total of nine days on the critical care unit and during this time, he was sedated and required ventilator support. As soon as he was fit and well, he couldn’t stop singing the praises of the team who cared for him, vowing to repay the kindness they showed him. It was this promise that his daughter Jenny took to heart and it spurred her on to start a crowdfunding campaign to bring her father’s wishes to life.

Jenny said: “When we saw dad in hospital, we knew we had to fundraise as soon as he was recovered and although he still has some way to go with chemotherapy, my wife Heidi and I decided to run the Birmingham Half Marathon in aid of the critical care unit.

“We initially hoped to raise £2,000 but donations came flooding in from friends and family and before we knew it, we had doubled our initial target, bringing in a total of £4,655.

“The level of support and care that not only Carl but the rest of the family received during an extremely difficult time, was worthy of far more than we could ever give back. We, along with friends and family, have raised this money in an attempt to show our appreciation and more importantly, to help provide the few extra touches that will continue to speed up recovery for anyone under critical care in the future.”

Welcoming Carl back to critical care fell to Matron, Amber Markham and her team, who were delighted to see a patient who was once hooked up to ventilators and monitors walk through the doors of the unit, looking fit and well.

Amber said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to see Carl doing so well. He’s had a long road to recovery but this is a wonderful surprise.

The money that Carl and his family have raised will go a long way in purchasing equipment to provide our patients with that extra level of comfort and will help to create a more relaxing environment. We are looking to buy mood lighting to assist with sleep and electronic equipment to aid rehabilitation.”

Moving and handling training: Bariatric patients

Moving and handling and Arjo Healthcare are providing training to support colleagues with the movement of our bariatric patients on 25 April, 9.30am-3.30pm at Sandwell Education Centre.

This will be a day to explore the moving and handling issues associated with providing all aspects of care and also to see how the patient feels as there will be the opportunity to wear the bariatric body suits and to experience the problems from the patient’s view.

For more information please contact karen.morsley@nhs.net.

Heartbeat: Sally spreads sunshine to cancer patients

A seriously ill mum of two has launched a goody bag for cancer and end-of-life patients.

Sally Gutteridge of Tipton thought of the idea after she underwent treatment for cancer at City Hospital. Working with Your Trust Charity, she has helped assemble the contents of ‘Sally’s Sunshine Packs’, funded by the money she has raised through various events held over the last year.

The packs feature a number of different items chosen partly from Sally’s experience of undergoing chemotherapy, to help patients through their own cancer journey.

They contain items such as puzzle books, a patient journal, sweets, non-fragranced wet-wipes, hand cream and tissues.

“These goody bags will mean so much to cancer patients,” Sally told Heartbeat at the launch of the packs held at Sandwell Hospital. “I remember seeing others undergoing treatment who were there by themselves. I just thought it would have been so nice for them to have something they could take home, which was useful.” Jenny Donovan, Cancer Services Manager said of the packs: “Chemotherapy treatment can be overwhelming and may affect you physically and emotionally. The Sally Sunshine bags will provide a range of genuinely useful and thoughtful products to make it easier to cope with the side effects of chemotherapy.”

The thoughtfulness of the packs also struck a chord with our colleagues on Newton 5 ward, with feelings summed up by Senior Staff Nurse, Sue Tweddle: “I met Sally years ago back at City. Over the years she’s been through such a lot but she has still managed to do something this incredible for cancer patients. In that bag is everything a patient could want for a long day having chemotherapy. She’s so inspirational.

This bag is truly, truly wonderful. I’m hoping it will go countrywide – because it should.”

Your Trust Charity’s Membership Academy Manager, Amanda Winwood told Heartbeat the team were very pleased to be working with Sally: “She is such an inspirational lady with so much positivity who wants to make a difference to patients facing their own cancer journey.”

Sage and Thyme communication training

Notice Stress, hear concerns, respond helpfully

Sage & Thyme is a mnemonic which guides healthcare professional/care workers into and out of a conversation with someone who is distressed or concerned.  It provides structure to psychological support by encouraging the health worker to hold back with advice and prompting the concerned person to consider their own solutions.

Sage & Thyme is designed for foundation level communication, suitable for any member of staff  (e.g. medical secretary, outpatient clerk, nurse, physiotherapist, doctor, social worker, student) and for any specialty.  It is suitable to be used with patients and carers, students, colleagues and children – anyone who is distressed or concerned – inside and outside of health and social care.

Sage & Thyme is taught in a 3 hour ‘Sage & Thyme foundation level’ workshop for up to 30 participants using three facilitators.  It provides key communication skills training to NHS staff and other professionals working with patients or other people with concerns.

Sage and Thyne Poster

The following date is available for this training –

Wednesday 3 July 2019, 9am – 12.30pm, Hayward Lecture Theatre, Post Grad Centre, City Hospital

To make enquiries or book a place please email emma.williams@marystevenshospice.co.uk  or  telephone Emma Williams on 01384 443010

Heartbeat: DHL deliver donations to delighted children’s ward

DHL, the national distribution company, have kindly donated brand new appliances and funded a children’s Christmas party for the paediatric ward at Sandwell Hospital.

After hosting a variety of fundraising events at their local offices, workers at DHL wanted to make a difference by giving back to the local community and decided to  support Sandwell Hospital, specifically the children and families treated on Lyndon 1.

Joanne Wright, Ward Manager on Lyndon 1 said: “On behalf of all the staff and patients on the ward, I would like to say a massive thank you to DHL.

Christmas is a difficult time for young patients to be in hospital, so we’re delighted that we have a party planned to make it that little more special this year.

The kitchen appliances, including the fridge that has been donated, will improve the ward and make our facilities better for outpatients, their families and our staff.”

Your Trust Charity helped facilitate the generous donation from DHL. Amanda Winwood, Fundraising Manager said: “One of key aims at the charity is to enhance the patient journey wherever possible and what better way to do this than to host a children’s Christmas party to enjoy around the festive period. It can be difficult for anybody to be admitted to hospital during Christmas, especially children, so for us to be able to bring happiness to them around this time is truly special.”

She added: “We’re always thankful to local businesses for supporting us in any capacity, helping ensure our patients have the best quality of care when they use our facilities; whether that be at Sandwell, City, Rowley, Leasowes or any of our other community sites.”

For more information or to fundraise for Your Trust Charity, please contact: Amanda.Winwood@nhs.net.