Monthly archives: July 2019
Abbey pain assessment tool for nurses
For measurement of pain in people who have communication difficulties (for example, due to dementia or delirium) a tool has been developed for nurses to help you look for non-verbal clues.
Note: It is not a measurement of the effectiveness of pain-relieving interventions and should be used a movement-based assessment only.
For more information please call ext. 5459.
Healthwatch Sandwell survey: What matters to you?
Healthwatch Sandwell are carrying out a survey asking members of the public their thoughts on what they believe they should concentrate on for the next 12 months.
You can complete this survey by clicking the link below:
https://engagingcommunities.researchfeedback.net/s.asp?k=156163762099
Critical Care team feel the benefit of their Unity corner
Unity corners are an important part of getting ready for go-live. Each team should have one as a way to gather together all Unity information and resources in one place.
Critical Care at City and Sandwell have recognised the importance of creating a Unity corner to keep colleagues motivated and focused as we head towards go-live. Matrons Amber Markham and Dean Farrington have been co-ordinating the team’s efforts, and setting an example for others to follow.
“As matrons we’ve created a Unity corner on each unit,” said Dean, the Unity lead for critical care. “I think, on the whole, since we started the 28-Day Challenge, we’ve noticed the momentum across the two units really start to pick up.
“The motivation is there and now we’re starting to get the workstations on wheels. When we’ve got some quieter times we’re getting nurses involved in looking at the workstations and trying to replicate their everyday practice in Unity.”
“You’ve got to keep Unity in people’s minds…,” said Amber. “So we make a real focal point of Unity every morning.
“We’ve always got an update at handover around training, super users, the Unity – it’s all about U checklists. This is organisational change and it’s about making sure that we’re creating the momentum and that we’re getting a snowball effect.”
We know that some areas are restricted in terms of space so you might need to be creative in setting up your Unity corner.
If you think you have a good example to share with other teams, or would like help setting up a Unity corner in your area, including access to relevant resources, please email swbh.Digital-Champions@nhs.net.
Heartbeat: Warm welcome for Birmingham GP surgery
Heath Street Health Centre (formerly known as Summerfield GP Practice) recently joined our organisation bringing ‘closer to home’ care to its patients.
The GP surgery is now one of three in the Sandwell and West Birmingham area that will be operated by our Trust in partnership with GP colleagues after successfully bidding to secure a contract to run services.
We are working with Broadway Health Centre to deliver primary care services to patients at the Heath Street practice, which is based at Summerfield Primary Care Centre.
Working with partners, we will embrace the opportunity to work differently which may see some patients having their care delivered by consultants in a primary care setting, and seeing increased consultant-led clinics opening closer to home.
For many patients, they will see the benefit of having almost all their NHS services (with the exception of mental health) delivered by one organisation that includes, primary care, acute and community services.
Dr Imran Zaman, GP at Broadway Healthcare Centre, said: “I am a firm believer that healthcare should be delivered as a whole and that’s why I’m very excited with this opportunity as it will deliver the integrated care model that we have always been talking about.
“I’m thankful to everyone who has been involved in making this partnership happen.
Over the next couple of months and indeed in years to come, I hope that patients and staff will see the difference that this opportunity brings.”
Dr Manir Aslam, GP at Broadway Healthcare Centre, added: “We’ve been really fortunate to collaborate with the Trust to deliver this truly integrated care model.
“This partnership has tremendous benefits for patients and means that there will be joined-up services, where treatment plans will be designed by generalists from primary care, specialists from the Trust and our patients.
“We will definitely see a more seamless pathway for patients so they can be seen quicker and treated more effectively.
From my point of view, this partnership shows the true meaning of integration and that’s the future of our healthcare service.”
Our Trust is smokefree
As you may be aware, our Trust has now become smokefree, which means no smoking on any outdoor areas of our sites. We support vaping in our grounds, but not in our buildings or entrances, and it will be in line with the current Public Health England advice.
It is our collective responsibility to ensure that people do not smoke anywhere on our sites, and in this we will be supported by dedicated smoking wardens who will be patrolling our sites, and by an external company who will police our ban through an on the ground presence backed up by CCTV. The maximum ban for anyone caught smoking on site is £50, and this includes smoking in cars on our premises. Colleagues who receive three fines will be subject to disciplinary procedure.
Vaping will be allowed outside, and as the smoking shelters come down we will retain a small number which will be converted into vaping shelters. These shelters will be monitored by CCTV to ensure they are not used for smoking.
We are following Public Health England guidelines in being supportive of vaping as a route to cut down or quit smoking.
Two vaping shops are now open at City (main spine, ground floor) and Sandwell (outpatients area) Hospitals run by ECigWizard, where colleagues will be able to give advice and supply vaping products for anyone who needs them. We are also making Nicotine Replacement Therapy widely available, so patients will be able to access it through clinical colleagues on our wards and from our pharmacy department.
Be sure to check out this short video featuring Sam Beck, Surgical Matron and smokefree champion who is supporting the hospital in going smokefree and Mike Richmond, Training and Operations Team Leader from ECigWizard who could help you make the transition from cigarette to vape.
We’re a smokefree Trust
Colleagues, patients and visitors are no longer allowed to smoke on our sites, in car parks, or in their cars parked on our property from this date. By bringing in the ban, we are promoting cleaner air in our care.
And who better than to deliver the message than the future generation.
The children, aged between five and 14, are featured in an emotive film in which they explain why a smoking ban is such an important factor in their lives.
“When I grow up I want to be healthly and always breathe in fresh air,” five-year-old Leela Evans tells us.
Whilst Alex Croasdale adds: “I want to play outside with my friends in air that smells of grass and flowers.”
Also featured are Eleanor Varma, aged 11, and Lauren Mighty-Clarke. Be sure to check out the video.
To find out how the smoking ban may affect you, please read the Smokefree Policy
All about the ban – your questions and comments answered
As part of our preparations for going smoke free we wanted to share some common questions and debunk some myths about the ban. Click here to read our smoking FAQ.
Guidance on challenging smokers: Colleague challenging patient
Guidance on challenging smokers:
Guidance has been produced to support anyone who is on the smoking ban rota. During your walkabout you will encourage people to stop smoking on our sites and give advice and support about the alternatives available. The public are generally very approachable, pleasant and compliant and this should be a great opportunity for you to get out and about and speak directly to your patients, visitors, contractors and even your colleagues. However you must take steps to ensure your safety and this guidance will help to keep safe.
Be sure to check out this short clip featuring patient being challenged by a colleague.
Guidance on challenging smokers: End of life patients
Guidance on challenging smokers:
Guidance has been produced to support anyone who is on the smoking ban rota. During your walkabout you will encourage people to stop smoking on our sites and give advice and support about the alternatives available. The public are generally very approachable, pleasant and compliant and this should be a great opportunity for you to get out and about and speak directly to your patients, visitors, contractors and even your colleagues. However you must take steps to ensure your safety and this guidance will help to keep safe.
Be sure to check out this short clip featuring Tammy Davies, Group Director of PCCT on how colleagues should approach end of life patients who are smoking on site.
Shuttle bus drop off and pick up points
It has come to the transport team’s attention that there are some colleagues who are flagging the shuttle bus drivers down to pick them up from undesignated places on both our City and Sandwell Hospital sites.
Please note that colleagues can only be picked up and dropped off from the designated points which are listed below:
- City drop off points – outside the BTC and Anne Gibson room
- City pick up point – outside the Anne Gibson room
- Sandwell drop off and pick up point – Sandwell bus shelter outside main reception
For more information please contact transport on ext. 3869 option 5 or alternatively email j.akbar@nhs.net.
Note: All colleagues travelling on the shuttle bus must wear their ID badges at all times, if you are unable to provide ID you may be refused travel.
Grand Designs Live – free and discounted tickets
The organisers of Grand Designs Live have kindly offered colleagues discounted tickets for event at the NEC between the dates of 9 – 13 October.
To claim your two free weekday tickets, or discounted £10 weekend tickets to the event simply visit the Grand Designs Live website and enter the code “COR2019” to claim and save up to £20!
For more information regarding staff benefits please contact amir.ali1@nhs.net.
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