Monthly archives: September 2019

Heartbeat: New suite marks turning point for liver disease

Priory 5 ward at Sandwell Hospital have recently opened the Trust’s first ever Paracentesis Suite marking a turning point for liver disease patients.

Clinical and non-clinical colleagues, from our Executive Team to the ward HCAs, were in attendance at the opening at Sandwell Hospital.

Dr Saket Singhal, Consultant in Gastroenterology and Hepatology believes the opening of the suite will be beneficial for patients. He said: “Across the Trust, our liver team look after a huge number of patients with advanced liver disease.  One of the main consequences of advanced liver disease is the development of fluid (ascites) in the abdominal cavity which often requires removal by insertion of a drain, this is called paracentesis and is usually done as a day case intervention.”

“At City Hospital, patients can undergo day case paracentesis on the medical infusion suite (MIS), but no similar facility existed at Sandwell. Therefore, until now patients requiring paracentesis at Sandwell were frequently admitted as an emergency via ED and required admission into a ward bed for several days instead of having the paracentesis done as a day case.  This was not ideal for the patients and was an unnecessary use of valuable resources.”

In recent years, neighbouring Trusts have set up day case paracentesis facilities.  Clare Smith, liver CNS, visited some of these units and in conjunction with Dr Singhal, developed a business case for converting a disused side room on Priory 5 ward into a consultation room in which day case paracentesis could be safely performed.

Dr Carol Cobb, Consultant Gastroenterologist hosted the grand opening of the paracentesis suite and thanked everybody for their hard work in making it a reality.

She said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to Jo Thomas, Clare Smith, Nikole Hazeldine-Potts, Jacqui Moore, Saket Singhal and everyone else who made this happen!”

She added: “We’re expecting this facility will significantly improve the care for patients requiring day case paracentesis as well as preventing unnecessary ED admissions and saving bed days. With this in mind, we will ensure we closely monitor and audit the activity of the suite at regular intervals.”

How Unity will make a difference to you – pharmacy

Unity will help us with the care of our patients. In the video below, Emma Graham-Clarke, consultant pharmacist, explains how she’s been preparing for Unity and the difference it will make in her area.

For more information about Unity, and what to expect during go-live, please visit Connect or email swbh.unity.queries@nhs.net.

How Unity will make a difference to you – critical care

Unity will help us with the care of our patients. In the video below, Dean Farrington, matron for critical care and outreach, explains how he’s been preparing for Unity and the difference it will make in his area.

For more information about Unity, and what to expect during go-live, please visit Connect or email swbh.unity.queries@nhs.net.

Getting ready for go-live – paediatric care

Unity will help us with the care of our patients. In the video below, Oneka Berry, nurse associate apprentice, explains how she and her colleagues have been getting ready for go-live.

For more information about Unity, and what to expect during go-live, please visit Connect or email swbh.unity.queries@nhs.net.

Unity Access Fairs – two days left to attend

The Unity team are currently running Access Fairs where you can check that your login details work and that you have the right level of access.

If you can’t log in, or don’t have the right level of access, then the Unity team will get this sorted for you. The whole process should take 10 minutes at most.

Access Fairs will be running every day until 15 September, from 7am to 8pm at the Coffee Pot at Sandwell, and D29 at City. You will need to book onto these sessions and can do so via the following link: http://myconnect.swbh.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Access-Fairs-Eventbrite-bookings-1.xlsx (Excel)

There will also be several drop-in sessions taking place across the Trust, which you don’t need to register to attend. They will also run from 7am to 8pm. Details of where and when these sessions are being held can be found here: http://myconnect.swbh.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Access-Fairs-Schedule.xlsx (Excel)

Thank you to everyone who has attended an Access Fair so far. If you haven’t already, please make sure you do so over the coming days.

For more information about Access Fairs, or how you can prepare for going live with Unity, please email unity.cutover@nhs.net