Monthly archives: November 2019
Heartbeat: Survival corner helps McCarthy ward through Unity go-live
Going live with Unity involved plenty of late nights and long shifts for colleagues across the Trust. Many teams took different approaches to ensuring that morale and motivation never wavered during this period. Their efforts paid off.
McCarthy ward at Rowley Regis Hospital went to the trouble of creating a Unity survival corner – a place for people to go if they were feeling stressed or unsure what to do. It was kept well-stocked with snacks and helpful information.
“We thought if we put everything in there – all the information like the quick reference guides and the leaflets – that would be helpful. Particularly for family and relatives, so they can find out what Unity’s about,” explained senior sister Lady Ann Ordona on Sunday 22 September, the day when Sandwell and the community sites went live.
“I think the corner reassures the staff as well. If you want a bit of a breather, sit down for two minutes and have a snack. I think the more you pressure yourself to find solutions the harder it becomes. You feel the negativity and start thinking that you can’t do it. But if you sit down there, have a quick break and think ‘We can do this’, then that’s much better.”
This positive attitude contributed to a successful go-live. Lady Ann was proud of her team and thankful for the support they’d received. “It was a bit hectic but we’re happy. We’re familiar with the system but there are still parts where we need to refresh our knowledge. The quick reference guides are very good and we had the floorwalkers who can remind us how to do certain things,” she said.
“All the managers have been here since first thing in the morning and as a PCCT group we’re helping and supporting each other. The feeling of having support around you – physically and emotionally – boosts you up. You share the same feelings and you think ‘We can make it.’ If the acute and the main spine can do it, we can do it.”
After overcoming some initial teething problems, and spending some time reacquainting themselves with Unity, colleagues on McCarthy ward began to feel some of the benefits of using the system. They’re confident that even more will come with time too.
“We’re definitely noticing some advantages,” said staff nurse Beth Hill. “Ordering medications is so much easier. It’s just a couple of clicks. It’s also good that if anyone makes any changes you can all see them.”
Lisa Slater, HCA, added: “I’m getting used to the system now and I’m finding it easier. I’m getting quicker each day. The support’s been absolutely brilliant. If we’ve needed anything the Unity team have helped us straightaway.”
Stop the pressure ‘trolley dash’
Our tissue viability team will be doing a ‘trolley dash’ to all our wards at City Hospital on Wednesday 4 December between 11am-12pm and 1pm-3pm to update colleagues on pressure ulcer prevention and how to use the pressure care bundle on Unity effectively.
For more information please contact tissueviability2@nhs.net.
Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 29 November
Four deadlines passed and one to go! Two if you include Midland Met, read on…
So, today marks the close of the national staff survey. Thanks to everyone who has responded to it across the organisation. I am fairly sure we have managed our largest ever return; special thanks to those who kindly responded to my email and gave ten minutes to give their feedback. This week also saw both our multi storey car park planning applications formally lodged for decision. Our funding is in place so I am optimistic that early in the New Year we will get building and will bring to an end by 2021 the current miseries. That said, I should emphasise that you can buy car park tickets that let you use other transport part of the week, and that we offer subsidy for public transport.
Obviously this week was also the close of voter registration. I hope you have! Our NHS remains a major issue in policy and funding debate and it must be right that we all play our part in choosing MPs, and influencing the next government. We continue to be typically just ahead of national policy announcements, and look forward too, to some definitive coherence on long term care funding for older adults. Sandwell Council are funding additional facilities near Rowley Regis in the years ahead, and we continue to talk to partners about land at Leasowes and at City which could be made available for the right kind of assisted living programmes. For this winter we have secured funding to expand our health team inreach model into more Care Homes in Sandwell, which is great news, as we work to try and avoid admission where we can.
Finally, yesterday was the close of voting for our coveted £5,000 welearn QIHD poster contest. You can see the entries on the fantastic video display kiosks in Rowley reception, Hallam Restaurant, and City (Arches and BTC). We had around 80 entries and the standard is really high. So the judging panel has a tough job, with the results being decided next Thursday at our Trust’s Board meeting in the Education Centre at Sandwell. About half of our Board meetings each year are on one of our sites, the others are in community venues like schools, places of worship, or the Chamber of Commerce. They always take place on the first Thursday of the month. You are always welcome to come and listen: Our community midwifery team go one better next week with their presentation to the Board about how they want to work to deliver a better service and help tackle poor outcomes across the West Midlands.
Flu vaccination is the deadline that is not yet past. I wish it was, because we wanted to end November with more than 5,000 employees vaccinated. More to do, and I am grateful to Tracey and Bethan, to our peer vaccinators, and group teams and line managers for sticking with this. The vaccine is effective and it is safe. It is not mandatory, but as carers and people interested in science I very much hope you have thought through your options, and if you want a vaccination we will get one to you. One option will be to join us in next week’s Jab-A-Thons. Aping the success of Dr. Makwana’s recent dance marathon, Chief Nurse Paula Garner and colleagues will be in Sandwell reception on Monday the 2nd and City through Friday the 6th undertaking mass flu vaccination. If you need your jab, that is one way to do it. Dancing is not required. A commitment to patient safety is.
While I am mentioning fundraising efforts, Nick’s £7,000 is being chased hard by our annual cycle riders, led by Ian Hawthorn. The running total from this year’s cycle ride has raised £4,057.25 (which includes gift aid). If you still want to donate the page is open for another 2 weeks, then it closes down. https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/SWBNHSCycleGroup2019
Today we did also sign another agreement on the Midland Met. Not the big one quite yet. This one sets out the heads of terms to get a contract signed over the next few days and get Balfour Beatty back working on site this side of Christmas. I know this feels sometimes like mañana but I will let you know when we do finally get it signed, bring two years of hurt and hard work to a pause, and we will start 2020 on a surer footing to move in in 2022. Three more Christmases to go; so definitely worth upgrading your decorations with our £50 per team offer and entering this year decorations contest which we are judging on Friday 20 December – details all over Heartbeat which comes out next week.
Next Wednesday (4 December) is our (first) annual Carol Concert. You can’t have missed the posters! Amanda Winwood tells me there are yet seats or pews that can squeeze folk in for 6pm. So look here https://ytccarolconcert2019.eventbrite.co.uk for how to secure your place, have a great sing, some fellowship, and raise money for Your Trust Charity at the same time.
Please be aware of the upcoming rail strikes when commuting to work
West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway will be running a reduced service on the following dates:
- 30 November
- 7 December
- 14 December
- 21 December
- 28 December
Key travel advice
- The West Midlands remains open for business: You can still get to where you need to go but you will need to check before you travel and leave more time:
- Plan ahead: Strike day timetables will be made available a few days before a strike day but could change last minute. Plan your journey based on current information but remember to check it again before you travel by using National Rail Enquiries or by checking with your train operator.
- Leave more time for journeys: Other train companies are due to run a normal Saturday service but will be busier than usual. Don’t aim for the last train home, get there early and expect to queue.
- Stick to public transport: Other train operating companies are due to run as planned and the West Midlands Metro and West Midlands bus networks are a good alternative to the train if you are travelling between Wolverhampton and Birmingham or making local journeys.
For further details around local bus routes around Sandwell and City, please click here.
For more information please visit www.networkwestmidlands.com/railstrike.
Heartbeat: Learning never stops for the surgical unit
“Every day’s a school day” was the motto regularly repeated on the City surgical unit during the Unity go-live fortnight. Ward Manager, Jo Mansell and her team had done plenty to prepare for the launch of our new electronic patient record but were keen to ensure that the learning process never stops.
Preparations for Unity, including individual training, team competencies and regular practise on the Play System, had been co-ordinated by Jo Mansell and ward clerk Jo Leake, but everyone impressively rose to the challenge.
“From a ward and surgical services perspective we wanted to be as prepared for go-live as possible,” says Jo Mansell. “I always think that we should be proactive rather than reactive. We set up a training room on D27 with devices and desktops. It’s a nice quiet environment. Jo Leake supported staff to do their training, for the benefit of them, the team, and ultimately the patients.”
A positive and engaging approach was key, particularly with those who were feeling anxious about change. “Staff were supported with additional IT training to give them the reassurance and encouragement to help them through their e-learning,” explained Jo Leake.
Having put in all the groundwork over the course of several months, the City surgical unit were ready for go-live on Saturday 21 September. There were still some nerves as the switchover started in the early hours of the morning, but also a sense of camaraderie and excitement. Everyone was in it together.
“We had a Unity snack station to look after everyone’s wellbeing and keep their morale up. I made goodie bags for everyone who was working during go-live,” said Jo Mansell. “These included the snacks, health and wellbeing leaflets and the Unity pocket guides.”
Jo Leake added: “It felt a little bit daunting initially, but knowing that there was support there from the Unity team and floorwalkers was reassuring and the staff felt more comfortable. The nurses in charge over the weekend, Charlene Thames on Saturday, and Jade Howell on Sunday, really stepped up to the plate. Everyone did. I was proud to be part of it.”
The team soon became accustomed to this new way of working and are continuing to enhance their knowledge of Unity as each day goes by – finding solutions and sharing tips. The experience has brought them all closer together and given them a greater understanding of each other’s roles.
This has helped to make things much smoother and more efficient in several respects. “Every time we’ve requested a porter they’ve been here within five minutes and all the information is on their device,” said Jo Mansell.
“The turnover with pharmacy, in terms of ordering medication and the discharge process, is much quicker and safer. We’re also doing the drug round in half the time it had taken previously.”
Dom LeGros, who supported the team in his role as business relationship manager, saw a real togetherness in their work: “If we think back to when all this started, and the naming competition, Unity was chosen because it was uniting patient records, but in actual fact it’s done a lot more than that and united the organisation.”
Fraud awareness month: Travel and expenses fraud
Fraud awareness month promotes openness and honesty about fraud. It also aims to raise awareness and share good practice in tackling fraud and financial crime.
What is travel and expenses fraud?
There are various types of expenses that can be claimed within the NHS, these include travel and subsistence, and relocation expenses. Misrepresenting expenses can be done in several ways, such as: inflating expenses when seeking reimbursement, or falsifying receipts.
An example of expense fraud
A junior heart surgeon defrauded his Trust of over £4,800, by submitting bogus mileage claims.
When he originally started work for the Trust, he was commuting some 60 miles and was entitled to relocation travel costs. However, he moved to a new house only a few miles away and continued to claim, submitting a further eight travel claims for 175 journeys, totaling 21,000 miles,
Magistrates fined him £4,800 and handed him a 200-hour community punishment order. He was also referred to the GMC for a ruling on fitness to practice.
How can this risk be reduced?
- Only authorised and allowable expenses should be submitted for payment.
- Full descriptions of the item being claimed, together with the original receipt and/ or supporting documentation should be provided.
- Managers and supervisors should seek to verify claims by undertaking regular expense form checks.
- Expense forms should require the employee to sign a declaration to confirm the authenticity of the claim.
- Any mistakes must be crossed out and initialled. Correction fluid must not be used.
If you require any further information regarding fraud or bribery within the NHS, please contact the organisation’s Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS).
Thank you for supporting this important initiative. NHS Fraud: Spot it, Report it, Together we stop it.
Tracey’s essential holistic and beauty therapy – Black Friday deals
Tracey’s essential holistic and beauty therapy have a variety of treatments available for Black Friday. They’re also offering pre and post Christmas treatment for both men and women.
- 2 x aromatherapy back massages (30 minutes each) £35
- 3 x aromatherapy shoulder and neck massages (20 minutes each) – for the price of two £20.
- 20 per cent off full reflexology treatment £24
Terms and conditions:
- When booking please quote ‘Black Friday Deal’.
- Appointments can be made for the months of November, December and January but bookings must be made between now and 30 November to get the deals.
- Payment made in full on first appointment. Non-refundable.
For booking and information please contact call 07716 811038 or email tracey.moore7@btinternet.com.
Medical pulp wash bowl changes
There is a change in single use patient bowl. This is a like for like product which is to be used for the maximum of two hours to hold water whilst washing patients. This product is made from recycled content of over issued newspaper, and makes the product rigid enough not to have to ‘double’ up or use plastic bags to line the bowl.
Please see the medical pulp wash bowl information sheet for further details including new product codes and step by step instructions for use.
For more information please contact the procurement team on ext. 4938.
Reduced hours at BTC Costa: 29 November
Due to scheduled maintenance work, the BTC Costa outlet at City Hospital will not be open until 11.30am on Friday 29 November.
Coffee Culture which is on the main spine of City Hospital will be open at 7.30am and Arches Café will also be open from 7.45am.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
International Medicines Safety Week
Medicines Safety Week focuses on safe use of medicines and reporting of adverse drug reactions, particularly in patients on multiple medicines.
To celebrate International Medicines Safety Week, our pharmacy department will be hosting awareness events around medicine in general and medicine safety concerns. There will also be the opportunity to take part in a medicines safety quiz with a chance to win prizes. Please see details regarding awareness events below:
- Thursday 28 November: Outside pharmacy, main spine City Hospital, 12pm – 2pm.
- Friday 29 November: Main reception (lobby area by lifts), Sandwell Hospital, 12pm – 2pm.
Wards can also participate in the ‘survival of the safest ward challenge’ quiz by completing the below and returning it to swbh.mso@nhs.net. All completed quizzes will be included into the prize draw.
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