Monthly archives: May 2019
Essential theatre maintenance works Saturday 18 May
Sandwell theatres will be undergoing essential maintenance and replacement of its chiller unit between 5am-9am tomorrow (Saturday 18 May). During the period of works, theatres on the 1st floor and 3rd floor will not be used.
In the event of life threatening or immediate need of theatres, the maintenance work will be paused.
We apologise for any inconvenience during the works.
For further information on the planned works contact Malcolm Partridge on 07773 630866 or email Malcolm.Partridge@nhs.net
Update on car parking developments – Sandwell
Following the brief on car parking on 9 May regarding the temporary changes to car parking arrangements, work had been ongoing to develop alternatives to offset the loss of car parking capacity.
The Dartmouth entry development work was completed on Monday 13 May. This has created an additional 15 spaces and created a one way circulation route from the front of the DHQ building (Lewisham Street) through to the Dartmouth exit barrier.
The second scheme to create additional capacity opposite the cylinder store going up to the Old Chapel was completed recently and this has created 10 spaces.
A further development scheme will create additional spaces at the rear of the Hallam Close flats, further information and dates will follow on this as we receive details from the contractor.
The location for the medical centre will be Lower Lyndon car park, the lower level patient parking area which exits onto Lyndon. From 1 July this area will be boarded up ready for the development work. This exit onto Lyndon will be closed and a new exit from the Upper Lyndon patient car park will be directed past the entrance to Trinity House, and then exit left towards the Dartmouth barrier.
Due to the loss of patient parking on Lower Lyndon, the car park at the end of Little Lane, known as All Saints Way car park will be reconfigured from a staff car park to a patient car park on 29 June. Therefore colleagues will no longer be able to park on the All Saints Way car park from this date.
The above developments are the reasons we have had to make alternative arrangements and move a number of staff parking to New Square.
In regards to the alternative parking arrangements all the relevant colleagues that will need to relocate have been contacted and further work is ongoing in regards to the car sharing scheme and an incentivised public transport scheme, details to follow.
Remember to check your Unity login details
It was great to see so many colleagues come along to Favourite Fairs over the past couple of weeks but we noticed that some people were having trouble logging in to Unity. It is vital that everyone is able to access and use the system as we prepare to go live.
You can access Unity, or Unity 4 ED, via the clinical systems icon on the homepage of Connect. Please try using your standard network username and password to log in. If you’re not able to login then ring 4050 and raise a ticket.
There has also been some confusion around the difference between the Play System and Unity proper. The Play System is a dummy version of Unity which you can use to safely practise different scenarios and workflows. It resets each night so all work you have done during the day is removed.
Unity is the real-life system that you will be using to do your work. Those who attended a Favourite Fair will have set up their favourites in Unity ready for when it goes live.
For more information please see the Unity section of Connect.
Unity 28-Day Challenge – Day 19, Friday Night Fever
Thanks to everyone who sent in their team selfies for yesterday’s competition. If you haven’t already, then please send them to swbh.landd@nhs.net and we will announce the winner next week. Here are a selection of some that we’ve received so far.
There’s an extra chance to get a picture with one of the executive or senior team today, who will be continuing their tour of the Trust to see how the 28-Day Challenge is going.
Today’s challenge is for nightworkers. When the patients are asleep, re-do a couple of observations, or events from your shift, on the Play System. As a nightworker, what do you think would make you feel better prepared for go-live?
If you’re not a nightworker then take the opportunity to discuss with any of your colleagues who are about how you can help them to get ready for Unity.
Heartbeat: T&O research team are lead recruiter in clinical trial
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Kanthan Theivendran has welcomed the success of his team in recruiting patients to the ASCRIBED trial, for they are the lead recruiter out of 35 acute hospital trusts currently participating in the trial.
He explained: “The aim of the study is to evaluate whether hip fracture patients with dementia show elevated markers of systemic inflammation and of brain inflammation in comparison to stable patients with dementia and hip fracture patients without dementia, as measured by biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood.
“Dementia is an umbrella term used to refer to a wide range of symptoms linked to a reduction in memory and/or other thinking skills, which reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. Inflammation is generally a beneficial response to tissue damage or infection. However, when inflammation is extensive or prolonged this can damage healthy tissues and disrupt normal cellular function. Previous research suggests that acute illnesses or injury causing inflammation can accelerate dementia. However there are few studies which examine underlying mechanisms of how this happens in humans. This study aims to address the gap.”
Kanthan has been leading T&O research since he joined the #SWBHfamily in February 2016. He was extensively involved in research during training and published widely in national and international T&O journals.
He told Heartbeat: “Research provides the basis of evidence based medicine. It’s the ultimate tool to ensure we provide safe and effective care to our patients.
“I would encourage all colleagues to take part in research as it provides very important information on the efficacy and effectiveness of our treatments in healthcare. Moreover, it has the ability to help improve patient safety and the quality of care we provide.”
Head of Research and Development Clark Crawford agrees. He commented: “This is another great example of how an engaged specialty is offering research opportunities to patients while being recognised as an important partner for delivering nationally funded studies, which will ultimately lead to improved care.”
The ASCRIBED trial has been running for eight months within SWB, although it originally launched on 1 June 2017. Results are expected towards the end of 2020.
Support the homeless team
Our homeless team continually provide homeless patients with food parcels, toiletries and clothing.
To provide this support the team are seeking donations of any of the following items:
- Tinned food
- Packet pasta, noodles and rice
- Tea, coffee, sugar
- Bottled water / juice
- Cereals and biscuits
- Toiletries
- First aid kits and plasters
- Clothing
Donations can be taken to the homeless patient pathway team at the back of ward D24, 2nd Floor, City Hospital or we can arrange to collect from your ward area/hospital site if required.
For more information please contact helen.taylor54@nhs.net
Critical Care at City moving to D16 from Monday 20 May
Critical Care at City Hospital will be moving to D16 ward for approximately 40 days from the 20 May to allow for essential maintenance to be carried out on flooring in City’s Critical Care unit. The unit will be known as CCS on D16 for the duration.
The move will include the transfer of all patients from the current Critical Care unit on the ground floor up to D16 on the first floor of main spine on the 20 May.
All current telephone numbers and contacts for Critical Care at City will remain the same and will be rerouted to the new home on D16.
We apologise for any inconvenience during the move.
For further information on the planned move contact Dean Farrington on ext. 5098 or email Dean.farrington@nhs.net.
Unity 28-Day Challenge – Day 18, Team Selfie Thursday
We know that it can be difficult to find time for other things when you’re busy providing patient care, but the 28-Day Challenge is designed to fit around your work. These bite-sized tasks will help you to learn more about Unity, increasing you confidence and skills.
Lyndon 5 have been particularly keen to embrace the 28-Day Challenge, led by ward clerk Jane Ferguson. Each morning Jane introduces the day’s challenge as part of their team meeting and reassures her colleagues that she’s there to help if they get stuck. The approach has worked well and might be something for other areas to consider implementing.
Teamwork is a key part of the 28-Day Challenge and ensuring that Unity is a success. Today you might have an unexpected visitor who will discuss the 28-Day Challenge and your team’s progress. It could be Toby Lewis, one of the Executive team, a manager or supportive colleague. Get a team selfie with them, perhaps in your Unity Corner. The best will win a prize!
When you’ve taken your team selfie, please send it to swbh.landd@nhs.net. We will announce the winner of the competition next week.
Dying matters week
It is dying matters week and we are hosting a variety of sessions across the Trust:
- Palliative care showcase: Thursday 16 May, 9am-12.30pm, Sandwell Education Centre
- Helpful conversations drop-in for coping with bereavement: Friday 17 May, 10am-12pm, main reception, Sandwell Hospital
For more information about any of these sessions, please call 0121 507 3611.
WhatsApp hack – urgent software update required
Following an attempted hacking attack in the UK on Sunday evening, WhatsApp released an urgent update to patch a weakness in the software which allows an attacker to use the WhatsApp voice calling function to install spyware on users’ devices without the need for the call to be answered.
Once installed, the spyware is able to spy on the victim, recording phone calls, opening messages, turning on the phone’s camera and microphone and sending the phone’s location back to the attacker.
For details of how to update your app please see the WhatsApp hack information sheet.
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