Monthly archives: December 2019
Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 20 December
It is Christmas week next week. If you are at work, thank you for giving us your time at this special time of year. If you are at home with friends or family, enjoy! Let’s remember too that in our community and among staff, Christmas can be a challenging and lonely time for some, and let’s look in on those who may be alone or isolated. 116 123 is the Samaritans Suicide Hotline and now seems as good a time as any to make sure that that safety net is known.
Across our whole organisation there are lots of celebrations going on. Today our Staff Networks held a festive event, there were simply loads of Christmas jumpers raising money for charity, and individual teams came together – like our BMEC theatres team who raised over £100 for the League of Friends in our Eye Centre. And of course we did rounds checking on Christmas Decorations. We were out at Victoria Health Centre, around BMEC and the BTC, through wards at Rowley Regis and across the City and Sandwell sites too. It is always exhilarating to see the enthusiasm and energy people put into the decorations and which themes trend each year! Not as much Frozen 2 and Star Wars as Richard Samuda, our Chairman, and I had feared. Many mince pies.
The real judges were our star award winners Richard Burnell and Dottie Tipton. Along with them, we chose the following prize winners, who can collect their gifts from Katherine Bayley from Monday. Contact Katherine on ext. 4795.
The Myrrh Award for the most imaginative decorations goes to our Children’s Outpatients Department on the ground floor of the Birmingham Treatment Centre. With a healthy eating theme, linked to diversity, and tying all that into Midland Met. It has to win – Sue could not have lobbied harder.
The Star Award for our best decorations as a whole department this year goes to the A&E team at City. The decorations mock the Chief Executive, reflect clinical need, include both floors and sides to the department, and put a real colour and bounce into an under pressure area of the Trust. I know they have also pinched some decorations from neighbours while handing over patients, but we see that as naughty but also nice.
Lyndon Ground scoops the prize for the best environment created for and with our patients. Always a tough contest and many areas, including M2 and our day nursery got very close. But the Polar Express theme chosen by staff and then executed brilliantly wins the Gold Award.
And finally, in the mini contest that is maternity services, with five fabulous entries, a split decision gave the Frankincense Award for over the top effort to the candy theme of the Labour Suite. Stretching all the way round the unit and encouraging only a little sugar we nonetheless wanted to acknowledge the team effort and hand-crafted nature of what was done. Isaac and Isla would be proud.
I know the awards are not evenly spread by site or setting: But after Unity it feels more than ever like one Trust here, so we went with artistry not geography this time. It is always invidious to pick out individuals for special mentions. We have some like John Masih in visual function, or Susan Harris on M1 in maternity who always put forward an amazing offer. Hilary Linton in Antenatal and Charlotte Green in Windmill Theatres are clearly award winners of the future. The whole physio team at Victoria Health Centre have worked Christmas into their exercise plans for patients. A special, special mention must go to Emily Lunn on Priory 4 whose Stroke themed tree is worth a visit – reflecting some of the effects of a stroke and the real beauty of any individual. Well done to everyone.
As we look forward into 2020 I want to update you too on some pay changes made in the organisation in recent months. Any time that happens it is likely that some colleagues will be pleased and others aggrieved. What pay changes are not is a statement of someone being more valued than someone else or someone working harder than someone else. They are an attempt to get the right balance of reward, recruitment and retention. Let me mention four areas where this is true. Each are areas where this Trust is trying to live out our values and spend more of our money on employees in our workforce.
So you know that we are a Living Wage employer. In practice that means that we have largely abolished bands 1 and the lower part of band 2. That is not national policy, it is something we decided to do. We are working hard to make it policy across the local NHS, and as GP practices join us some of their lowest paid staff see that benefit immediately. Then we have introduced from next year a performance related pay scheme for all employees, further details of which will come out in February. But in essence the scheme will pay a small premium non-recurrently to any employee rated as 3a/b or 4a/b in your next PDR, after moderation. This is a deliberate attempt to incentivise delivery of objectives. Objectives being the improvements we each make in how we do our job each year, as an individual within a team. A PDR score of 2 is a good score. It is the normal score, but we consider it right to recognise more clearly those achieving more within teams.
Thirdly, we flex our bank pay rates to try and ensure we are competitive. Two years ago we dropped our rate to align to others. We have now introduced a temporary winter rate for some grades and professions, but not all, to address consistent gaps in rosters. To be clear we want to recruit substantively, and neither rely on agency nor bank – which is why many bank staff were offered guaranteed substantive jobs earlier this autumn and dozens took up that offer. Finally, we agreed with staff-side some time ago that we would create a single skills-related pay scale from band 2 into band 3 for clinical HCA roles. The programme started on our wards but will roll out in 2020 to areas like theatres. For our first phase effective from October 1st some staff are now being paid on a band 3 given an assessment of their current skills. Those on a band 2 can progress to 3 if, or better when, they meet those skill requirements. Contrary to an urban myth this project does apply in surgical wards – and I know that Diane and her colleagues are working through a skills assessment, and what support we can give anyone wanting to meet the higher skills threshold. If anyone feels that those assessments of current skills has been undertaken wrongly, then their individual case will be looked at, but thank you to all involved for the work done to resolve this longstanding concern. In advance of introducing nurse associate roles at band 4 we absolutely want to invest in, thank, and support our many HCAs who do an outstanding job looking after our patients – and are part of a Trust rated Outstanding for caring.
The NHS in 2020 will only thrive if we find better ways to look after, support, and recognise the talent in our midst. I hope during 2019 we have begun to do that, and whilst the phrase ‘morale has never been lower’ is as annual as Christmas itself, the data from your views and voice is clear. Our organisation now has above normal levels of engagement, involvement and advocacy. We are not at 4/5 yet (which is our top ten in the NHS goal) but actually things are looking up….
#hellomynameisToby
Drug safety notice: For the attention of prescribers and dispensers of controlled drugs
There have been two deaths in the East of England that have resulted in the Coroner issuing a Regulation 28 letter to the NHS. Please refer to the information sheet below for further details on these issues and references.
Drug safety notice information sheet
For more information please contact the pharmacy department on ext. 5259.
Would you like to support the Trust through winter pressures?
In preparation for winter weather conditions, we are creating a list of colleagues who would be able to drive the Trust 4X4 vehicles in order to ensure colleagues in difficult to access locations can get to and from work safely.
If you work in a non-clinical role and could move across to driving duties without impacting your service, then we’d like to hear from you.
You will need a full, clean driving licence with 5 years driving experience and be confident driving in winter weather conditions.
Interested? Please contact Jay Akbar on ext. 2540.
Note: You will need to have your driving licence checked. Jay will access the DVLA website to check the licence is valid and that you have the correct categories to drive.
Staff networks Christmas celebration: 20 December
Our staff networks will be coming together to host an informal Christmas celebration on Friday 20 December in the conference room, Education Centre, Sandwell from 11:30am – 1:00pm. Refreshments will also be provided.
For more information, please contact d.mighty@nhs.net.
Refurbished neonatal unit reopens in maternity
Yesterday (Wednesday 18 December) our neonatal unit moved back to their newly refurbished home. Seven-week old twins, Harleen Kaur Sandhu and Jasleen Kaur Sandhu along with mom (Daljit Kaur) and dad (Gurpreet Sandhu) were our first patients to move to the unit. The twins as well as mom and dad safely arrived in the refurbished unit at 9.30am.
Our neonatal unit has been operating from ward D16 since August of this year to allow for the refurbishment.
Massive thanks to everyone involved in the move and refurbishment.
Get your flu jab on site – help us reach herd immunity and protect our patients
As our flu season continues into its 12th week we have administered a total of 4,220 vaccinations to colleagues with 3,555 of jabs being given to patient facing colleagues as of Friday 13 December.
However with this being said, there is still more we need do to reach herd immunity.
Be sure to check out this short video from David Carruthers, Medical Director on the importance of having the flu vaccination.
If you haven’t had chance to get your flu vaccination, be sure to pop by one of our flu clinics:
Week 12: 18 December – 20 December
- Wednesday 18 December, 8.30pm – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 4.30pm, occupational health, Sandwell (walk around, 1pm)
- Wednesday 18 December, 9am – 2pm walk around City
- Thursday 19 December, 8.30pm – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 4.30pm, occupational health, Sandwell
- Friday 20 December, 8.30pm – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 4.30pm, occupational health, Sandwell
- Friday 20 December, 8.30am – 4.30pm walk around City
The flu vaccinator will also be in attendance at both Sandwell and City TeamTalk sessions on Wednesday 18 December.
The flu prize draw has been extended so there is still time to win one of these fantastic prizes if you get your vaccination:
- £200 shopping vouchers
- 7” fire tablet
- Amazon fire TV stick
- Echo dot
- Tassimo coffee maker
Are you refusing your flu vaccination due to personal or religious beliefs associated with pork? If so please be aware that there are no porcine products contained within the adult flu vaccination on offer at our Trust.
Have you had your flu jab elsewhere?
If you have had your flu jab at your local GP or pharmacy you still count towards our overall flu vaccination total!
Simply let us know by completing this short form by following the link: http://connect2.swbh.nhs.uk/od/occupational-health-and-wellbeing-service/flu/had-your-flu-jab-elsewhere/
Note: If you have 8 or more colleagues who want their flu vaccination in your area or department you can organise a visit from our ‘Jab-in-the-hut’ by calling ext. 3803.
Baggies’ players spread Christmas joy on Lyndon Ground and 1
Patients at Sandwell Hospital were left delighted when West Bromwich Albion stars visited their bedsides to spread festive cheer yesterday.
Charlie Austin, Matt Phillips, Sam Johnstone and Gareth Barry met a variety of our patients from children to young people across our wards and handed out gifts including toys, signed autographs and West Bromwich Albion memorabilia.
Massive thanks to West Bromwich Albion FC for visiting our patients and Your Trust Charity for organising the special event.
Vote for Don for UK’s Best Optometrist of the Year
Don Williams, MCOptom M.Sc B.Sc (Hons) DipTp (IP) PGDip Refractive and Cataract Surgery Prof Cert Med Ret Prof Cert Glauc has been shortlisted for the UK’s Best Optometrist of the Year by the Association of Optometrists. He is a highly skilled, dedicated and talented registered specialist optometrist with a strong commitment to service in the optometry/ophthalmology field.
Don currently works in BMEC and needs your help! Please visit https://www.aop.org.uk/awards and vote for Don.
Voting closes on Thursday 19 December.
Note: The AOP membership number field is not mandatory and you do not have to vote in every category. Instead, you can scroll down to Optometrist of the Year and then click on Don Williams.
Children go free – Peter Pan: 20 and 21 December
The Birmingham REP are kindly offering Trust employees free tickets for children for Peter Pan on Friday 20 December and Saturday 21 December.
To enjoy this children go free offer, simply select tickets for Peter Pan for evening performances on 20 or 21 December. When prompted, quote the code PANOFFER or, alternatively, call 0121 236 4455.
Note: At least one adult must accompany a child to the Peter Pan show.
For more information please contact amir.ali1@nhs.net.
The Stepping Up Programme band 5/6 cohort – applications close tomorrow
Nearly 20 per cent of the 1.3 million people that work in the NHS are from a black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, therefore it’s really important that this diverse talent is nurtured and developed. Many work as doctors, nurses and midwives and without them the NHS wouldn’t be able to function.
The NHS Leadership Academy is helping to develop senior BAME leaders in healthcare with a number of inclusion programmes and interventions designed to change the oppressive culture some colleagues face.
What is the Stepping Up programme?
Stepping Up is a leadership development programme for BAME colleagues run by The NHS Leadership Academy who work within healthcare (the NHS or an organisation providing NHS care). To be a successful applicant, you’ll need to be dedicated to driving forward the inclusion agenda and developing your skills and abilities to grow and progress. The programme is designed to bridge the gap between where you are now, and where you need to be, to progress into more senior roles.
To apply, please read the participant guide (below) and discuss with your manager that you would like to attend – there is a guide for managers as well. You will need to complete a study leave request form locally.
The application link is:
https://nhsx.uk/programmes/stepping-up-west-midlands
Note: The closing date for applications is Wednesday 18 December.
If your application is successful, the dates, times and venue you will need to attend will be:
Location: Sandwell Education Centre, Sandwell Hospital
Module 1: 16 and 17 January
Module 2: 3 and 4 March
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