Monthly archives: June 2019

Heartbeat: Volunteers’ Week – Helpforce mobility scheme sees new training to support patients on D43

Twenty eager volunteers gathered to take part in new training to help patients stay active and mobile whilst staying on ward D43 at Sheldon block, City Hospital. The training is part of our volunteering scheme that has had funding from national volunteering organisation Helpforce, and has already been running on OPAU at Sandwell and our assessment units at City.

Jane Burton, Senior Ward Charge Nurse on D43 told Heartbeat: “This is significant as we are educating volunteers and improving the service provided, which helps to improve both ourselves and them.”

The training also gave volunteers an understanding of what to expect in certain situations. Colleagues brought along some of the games and reminiscence equipment used to help patients with dementia whilst they are in hospital. Sarah Oley, Advanced Physiotherapist in Acute Medicine said: “This is a very exciting project that we started in OPAU in Sandwell, and at AMU in City. Now we are continuing it in D43 too. The idea is that the volunteers are here to support colleagues and patients.

“The volunteers are so compassionate and their readiness to help means a lot to us.” Yunus Hussain, Volunteer on D47 ward added: “I found the training session very informative and educational. It was a really positive experience as I enjoy engaging with other volunteers who are doing similar roles to me; it is nice knowing that they are there with the same motivation, which is to help.”

NHSSC code changes: Anti-embolism stockings

The Trust will be switching anti-embolism stockings from standard ‘Fitlegs’ to ‘Fitlegs Grip’ both by G&N Medical.  These stockings are the same in terms of measuring and materials but have grip pads to the foot to improve patient safety and prevent falls. Representatives from the company have been visiting Clinical areas over the past 4 weeks showing colleagues the new stockings and how they should be used.

Note: Slippers are still to be used when mobilising patients but having grips on the stockings reduces the risk for confused patients who may get up without putting slippers on. The NHSSC ordering codes for anti-embolism stockings is changing with immediate effect.

For more information please call ext 4938.

The new codes are detailed below:

EMRT meetings venue change

EMRT morning meetings between Monday-Frdiay are now taking place in the following locations:

• City Hospital, D30 (main building top floor/end of corridor furthest from ED), 9.15am
• Sandwell Hospital, ED meeting room, 9am

Note: This will continue until further notice (due to City ICU relocation at the moment)

For more information please contact jonathan.hulme@nhs.net.

Drug notice – new product available: Phosphate polyfusors

Phosphate polyfusors should now be used in place of addiphos vials.

Please see drug notice – phosphate polyfusors for full details.

Note: Addiphos vials may still be used on the advice of the specialist nutrition team for re-feeding syndrome, or in a critical care setting where smaller volumes of fluid may be required

For more information please contact the pharmacy department on ext. 5259.

Ladywood Leisure Centre discount for colleagues

Ladywood Leisure Centre are offering discounted membership for Trust colleagues:

1 month rolling 

• Gym, swim, classes, sauna and steam: £30 per month
• Cancel anytime with 30 days notice
• No joining fee if you join during presale so save £20

12 month contract 

• Gym, Swim Classes, Sauna & Steam: £27.99 per month
• Save £5 per month compared to normal rate
• No joining fee if you join during presale so save £20

For more information and to join call 0800 612 5210.

Digital champions training – book your place

Digital champions are people who will be given additional training on Unity in order to support their colleagues during cutover and go-live. Digital champions training is split into two parts and both are now available to book onto:

• Soft skills – This part will take place in a lecture theatre setting and will help digital champions to deal with colleagues who may be struggling to use Unity, or finding the experience stressful. It will also include information and insight into the role of a digital champion in the workplace
• Classroom session – This part will take place in a classroom, with each person sat at a computer. The morning will involve a recap of end-user training, and the afternoon will focus on scenarios relevant to your area

Details of how to book your place onto both parts of digital champions training can be found on Connect. There are dates throughout June and July. For more information please email swbh.unity-champions@nhs.net.

Unity unavailable until 10 June due to upgrade

Unity is currently being upgraded to ensure that everything is in place ready for go-live. In order for the upgrade to be completed in time, and also to avoid any disruption to the testing process, the system will be unavailable until 10 June. Please don’t try to log in during this period.

Apologies for any inconvenience and thanks for your co-operation.

Please be aware that this does not prevent you from accessing the Play System, a dummy version of Unity which you can use to safely practise different scenarios and workflows.

The Play System is available again after planned maintenance was completed last week. Feel free to try it out. You can find plenty of support, including FAQs, quick reference guides and standard operating procedures, on the Unity section of Connect.

If you have any queries, or require more information, please email swbh.unity.queries@nhs.net

23 days left to nominate – Star Awards 2019: Learner of the Year

Do you know an individual who can demonstrate the impact training has had on themselves, their team and their service?

This award is open to all colleagues and could include, for example, completing an apprenticeship, a computer course or a post grad/leadership programme or university module.

Nominate them for Learner of the Year in this year’s upcoming Star Awards!

Ways to nominate:

• You can complete a paper nomination form which you can download by clicking here.
• You can send in a video nomination for free to swbh.comms@nhs.net via www.wetransfer.com Choose go to free. When doing the recording remember to state clearly who you are and the name of the person/team you are nominating.
• You can complete the online form by clicking here.

Be sure to check out this video featuring last year’s winner Stephanie Craig.

If you have any questions regarding the Star Awards, please contact the communications team on 0121 507 5303 or email swbh.comms@nhs.net.

For more information, please visit our dedicated Star Awards page on Connect.

Can Your Trust Charity help you? Charity workshop – 6 June

Your Trust Charity will be hosting their quarterly workshop on tomorrow (6 June) at City Hospital, old management block, meeting room 4.

The meeting will give attendees the opportunity to find out more about Your Trust Charity, whether you’re interested in charitable funds or need ideas promoting a fund or charitable cause close to your heart within the Trust.

If you wish to attend please call 0121 507 5196 or email trustcharity@nhs.net to book on one of the drop in sessions.

Note: You can book time slots between 10am – 1pm.

Drug safety notice: Potassium chloride defect

A quality defect in a limited number of potassium chloride containing infusion bags has been found. The front panel of a small number of infusion bags are missing the red text highlighting the presence of potassium chloride.

Please see Potassium chloride drug safety notice for full details.

Note: Any potassium chloride containing infusion bags without red text must be quarantined and returned to pharmacy.

For more information please contact the pharmacy department on ext. 5259.