Monthly archives: September 2019
Star Awards 2019: Clinical Team of the Year (Adults) – vote now!
This year, the Star Awards are set to be the biggest and best yet, recognising those colleagues who go above and beyond the call of duty to help us provide great care and support to our patients.
The ceremony which is due to take place on the 11 October at Villa Park will be the highlight of the staff calendar. There are four awards categories in which the winners are chosen by staff vote including Clinical Team of the Year (Adults).
Clinical Team of the Year (Adults) is a team that has provided consistent, high quality care for adults whilst meeting financial and operational targets, a team that has demonstrated best practice or has driven forward improvements in patient care or has pulled together through particularly difficult circumstances.
The nominees this year are:
Clinical Team of the Year (Adults):
- Critical Care and Critical Care Followup
- Homeless Patient Pathway Team
- SPA Single Point of Access
Voting will stay open through to 20 September. Please take the time to think about who has gone the extra mile and submit your votes.
Click here to cast your vote now!
If you have any questions, please contact the communications team on 0121 507 5303 or email swbh.comms@nhs.net.
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West Midlands forced marriage and honour based abuse helpline
From 1 October, a West Midlands forced marriage and honour based abuse 24 hour helpline will be available. This service can be contacted on 0800 953 9777.
The helpline will be providing support and information to victims, survivors and professionals and is funded by the West Midland’s Police and Crime Commissioners Office.
Star Awards 2019: Employee of the Year – vote now!
This year, the Star Awards are set to be the biggest and best yet, recognising those colleagues who go above and beyond the call of duty to help us provide great care and support to our patients.
The ceremony which is due to take place on the 11 October at Villa Park will be the highlight of the staff calendar. There are four awards categories in which the winners are chosen by staff vote including Employee of the Year.
Employee of the Year is somebody who has shown an excellent attitude to work, colleagues and patients, someone who has repeatedly gone beyond the call of duty, made improvements to the delivery of services or the patient experience, or who consistently demonstrates the Trust’s promises to provide excellent care.
The nominees this year are:
Employee of the Year:
- Allison Annikey
- Corrine Dacosta
- Huma Naqvi
- Richard Burnell
Voting will stay open through to 20 September. Please take the time to think about who has gone the extra mile and submit your votes.
Click here to cast your vote now!
If you have any questions, please contact the communications team on 0121 507 5303 or email swbh.comms@nhs.net.
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Health and Wellbeing Newsletter: September
The latest edition of the health and wellbeing newsletter is now available for all colleagues.
Find out how you can get support to quit smoking, join the free gym or take part in yoga and pilates amongst many other opportunities.
To download, please click here.
Heartbeat: Pain management and outpatient therapies join forces
Pain management, outpatient physiotherapy (both paediatric and adult musculoskeletal) and outpatient speech and language therapy have moved from the main spine at City Hospital to Sheldon Block all in order to offer better patient care.
The move took place in June, to the refurbished 3rd floor of Sheldon Block and is part of the retained estates project and service reconfiguration in preparation for the opening of the Midland Metropolitan Hospital.
Lydia Jones, Director of Therapies explains the move will be of great benefit to patients.
She said: “It’s fantastic to be moving, as this will mean that the team now have a purpose built facility, including bespoke clinic rooms for Speech and Language and the Paediatric physio casting room. The move makes us more accessible for patients resulting in a better patient journey for our patients.”
The move has created a first class multidisciplinary centre which will improve the patient pathway and provide a holistic approach to patient care.
The new facilities include six clinic rooms which are used for assessments and treatment which includes acupuncture.
Whilst the old space had become old and in need of some updating, the Sheldon block
features rooms set up with demonstration models as a visual aid to explain to patients exactly what their MRI scans show, dual screens to work from and a plinth in each treatment room.
Allison Rogers, from the Pain Management Team said: “The new space is cleaner, brighter and more modern; it’s a lovely space to work in”.
There have already been very positive comments from patients who are appreciating the more modern facilities, most have expressed how the new department is much more ‘bright and spacious’.
Olivia Figgis speech and language therapy patient said: “The area is much more spacious and welcoming whilst also being easier to find. The team are always extremely kind and helpful”.
Organ donation week – Join us at Sandwell and City
It’s Organ Donation Week and we are marking the occasion by having two awareness stands – one at the main reception at Sandwell Hospital on Thursday 5 September and the other at the Birmingham Treatment Centre at City Hospital on Friday 6 September.
Our two Specialist Nurses for Organ Donation – Alison Morris and David Cumpston will be there to answer any questions colleagues have around the subject.
Meanwhile be sure to check out our video below which features patient Joanna Garvey, who has had two corneal transplants. She tells us how it has changed her life.
Getting ready for go-live – Unity engagement events for doctors
Senior doctors who want to find out more about Unity, including their responsibilities and what’s happening during go-live and beyond, are encouraged to attend the Unity engagement event taking place today in the conference room in the Education Centre at Sandwell Hospital from 5.30pm – 8pm.
There will be presentations about the clinical safety case, go-live plan and IT, as well as the chance to ask any questions you may have regarding our new electronic patient record.
Several senior figures from the Unity project team will be on hand to address your queries. Refreshments will be available.
With only a few weeks left until go-live, if you have any questions about Unity then now’s the time to ask. You can also find out more about what to expect as we switch over to the new system and how to ensure that you’re fully prepared for it.
Please click here to submit any questions in advance. On the night, after panel members have been given a chance to respond, the floor will then be opened up to supplementary questions.
For more information on Unity, and getting ready for go-live, please visit Connect or email swbh.unity.queries@nhs.net.
Updated guidance on management of patients who are dependent on opiates
Guidance regarding management of patients who are dependent on opiates has been updated.
The guidance is intended to help clinicians manage in-patients with opioid dependence. Though sometimes challenging and with complex social, psychological and physical health issues, these patients are entitled to the same high standards of care we afford to all. Opioids should always be prescribed with caution due to the risk of toxicity and death from respiratory depression in overdose. However, denial of appropriate prescription of opioids in such patients can also have a negative impact on their care, resulting in increased pain, symptoms of withdrawal, and an increased risk of self-discharge against medical advice before adequate treatment has been given.
There are three common scenarios that can cause uncertainty for clinicians not experienced in the management of such patients, and these are the focus of the guidance:
- Patients already prescribed maintenance opioid substitution therapy (OST) prior to admission
- Patients who take opioids without prescription (illicit drug use)
- Pain management in opioid dependent patients
Note: The guidance also covers management of opioid withdrawal and advice regarding pregnant patients who are using opioids.
Please see guidance below for more information:
https://connect2.swbh.nhs.uk/index.php/methadone-opiate-dependent-patients-management-tox-002/
Cardiac marker change: Troponin T to Troponin I
The Trust has changed from Troponin T to Troponin I as our cardiac marker. This change should overcome the many issues we have had in recent months with our Troponin T method. In particular this has been caused by the fact that we have to use small offline analysers for Troponin T and these aging machines have had an increasing failure rate. This has led to us having to transfer samples between our City and Sandwell laboratories far too many times in the last few months. Sometimes this led to delays in results being available to use clinically.
The way that Troponin I is to be used clinically is shown in the user guide below. This clinical protocol has been worked up with our cardiology team.
Note: The clinical scientist overseeing this implementation is James Pethick, Principal Biochemist. James can be contacted at james.pethick@nhs.net. He will be auditing the implementation of this new service and is available to answer any queries on an ongoing basis.
SWBH vs Local Primary Care Networks Cricket Match: Sunday 8 September – need your support
Our Trust will be taking on local primary care network colleagues in the annual friendly cricket match and we’re inviting all colleagues to come along and support the team!
The cricket match is scheduled for Sunday 8 September, 11.30am – 4pm at West Bromwich Dartmouth Cricket Club, Sandwell Park, Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, B71 4JQ.
Food and children’s entertainment will also be available on the day for all to enjoy.
For more information please contact claredooley@nhs.net.
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