Monthly archives: December 2019

New winter rate for nurse bank shifts

Message on behalf of Paula Gardner, Chief Nurse

Colleagues will recognise the challenges being faced in safely staffing our clinical teams, to ensure our patients are receiving the best care. In order to safely staff our Trust over the winter period, we are offering a ‘winter rate’ effective from now until the 31^st January, where all bank shifts for band 5, 6 and 7 nurses will be paid at a flat rate of £21 per hour. This represents an increase for all levels of nursing to the current bank rate, and reflects what other Trusts in the Black Country are doing. There are high numbers of vacancies in some areas that are actively being recruited to so that substantive staffing is in place, with a large recruitment event planned for 18 January.

This means the biggest increase for band 5 nurses in the hourly bank rate, which recognises the high number of vacancies at that level. We hope that the increase for bands 5 – 7 reflects our commitment to patient care, and enables nursing colleagues to plan in extra shifts over the next six weeks and know what additional pay you will receive. You can book your shifts by ringing the Trust Bank on 0121 507 3600 or booking your shift in the usual way. This winter rate applies until the 31 January 2020.

Heartbeat: ‘Help Us, Help You’ this winter

If you are active on social media you may have noticed we’re supporting the national campaign ‘Help Us, Help You’ run by NHS England, NHS Improvement and Public Health England. This is their overarching NHS winter pressures campaign. It’s designed to help the public understand how they can stay well this winter and access appropriate services.

It also aims to educate people on how to access emergency services appropriately. This is vital at a time of increased pressure on our emergency front doors at City and Sandwell. Amandeep Tung, General Manager in Emergency Care explained: “Communication is a priority when dealing with patients who use our emergency services. At a time of increased need, usually in winter, then we must communicate well with our population and those who need our help in our emergency departments.

“Setting expectations is essential to managing patients’ care. We need to ensure they understand how our service works and what their pathway will be if they need emergency treatment. We enlisted the support of our colleagues in communications who helped us design a communication tool to explain what the check-in, triage and treatment path looks like in ED. In addition to posters, we had an animation produced which now runs in the department. We are translating it into five of the most commonly spoken languages, to expand the reach of the message.”

This sits beside the national winter pressures campaign. It is delivered across a range of phases that target different audiences with different calls to action to help reduce these pressures. This includes messages about flu vaccination, contacting NHS 111, seeking advice at the first signs of a winter illness, accessing evening and weekend GP appointments and the advantages of consulting with community pharmacists.

The unifying ‘Help Us, Help You’ campaign is based on the principle of reciprocity and aims to increase peoples’ understanding of the actions they can take to help the NHS to help them.

Following the expert advice of NHS staff, people can help the NHS help them stay well; prevent an illness from getting worse; take the best course of action and get well again sooner. It is an integrated multi-channel campaign that involves advertising, partnerships, PR, social media, specific Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and disability groups’ communications.

Do you have ESR, self service or mandatory training issues – get in touch

If you have any ESR, self service or mandatory training issues please contact the ESR team via the ESR Helpdesk by emailing swb-tr.esr-helpdesk@nhs.net.

Further guidance can be found on these dedicated pages:

• Manager self service guidance: https://connect2.swbh.nhs.uk/esr/esr-service-guides/
• Employee self service guidance: https://connect2.swbh.nhs.uk/esr/employee-self-service/
• ESR forms: https://connect2.swbh.nhs.uk/esr/esr-electronic-forms/

Note: We have now ceased using the ESR service desk however all outstanding tickets will be actioned. Going forward, you should use the email address listed above.

For more information please contact estelle.patil@nhs.net.

Heartbeat: Community care – we’ve got it in the ‘red’ bag!

Red Bag Sandwell is an initiative we’ve been using at our workplace for the past year. It’s designed to support care home residents in the local community should they need to visit the hospital in an emergency.

The scheme is very much a result of a positive partnership between our Trust, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Sandwell Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and local care homes. Our holistic approach ensures we’re joined up in the right way. Above all else, it means we’re all striving to achieve the same common goal – the best standard of patient care.

If a care home resident is admitted into hospital urgently they arrive with a red bag along with a detailed health summary. The bag also contains standard paperwork, their medication, personal belongings and remains with the patient until they return to their care home.

What is essentially a simple idea helps those that need medical help often in unexpected circumstances. It provides their personal information in a visible and easy to access bag. Plus, it includes clothes to encourage individuals to get up and dressed once well enough to do so. Overall, this new way of working means that everyone should receive the same safe, coordinated and patient-focused care.

Paula Gardner, Chief Nurse said: “This approach means that everyone that comes into contact with a patient from a care home will know their information. This way of looking after patients means we’re offering a much more personalised level of care.”

Marian Long, Group Head of Nursing added: “The red bag scheme provides a better experience for care home residents by facilitating a smoother handover between care homes, ambulance and hospital staff. It means that there should be fewer phone calls and follow-ups made by hospital staff to care homes requesting health information.

“NHS England reported that the length of stay can also be reduced using the scheme. NHS Sutton CCG found that residents with a red bag spent four days less in hospital than those without a red bag saving £167,000 a year. It also stopped patients losing personal items such as dentures, glasses and hearing aids worth £290,000 in a year.

“We’ve started using the red bag scheme and are seeing encouraging results. Our plea to all colleagues is to use the red bag as intended. Ensure it transfers with each patient throughout their hospital stay and that it returns to their care home with them.”

Heartbeat: Restructure re-connects HR to our workplace

The last few months has seen a flurry of activity within HR as the team has expanded and colleagues move around to better manage their support to the organisation.

Frieza Mahmood, Deputy Director of Organisation Development joined our workplace just over six months ago; we caught up with her to find out more.

“A real focus has been placed on how the HR team can support the organisation more effectively and efficiently,” said Frieza. “Our restructure has been about establishing what support is required by colleagues on the ground and how we can best meet their expectations.

“It’s important that there are processes in place to help and support managers and colleagues so they can call on us for sound professional advice. It’s crucial that our HR advisors have a good understanding of the demands in the areas they support.”

The HR department have increased their numbers across operational HR, recruitment and Trust Bank. Some of the more significant changes have occurred in the provision of support for areas like diversity and inclusion, wellbeing and retention.

Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) roles are now re-focussed to include:

• Diversity and inclusion
• Wellbeing
• Retention
• HR management

Frieza continued: “The entire team has been re-configured based on people’s strengths. It is crucial for HR colleagues to work directly with teams within their own environment and develop strong relationships. If you’d like any extra support please do contact us.”

Do you need support from the HR team?

You can contact your HRBP as below.

Del Radway del.radway@nhs.net

– People and Organisation Development

– Medical Director’s Office

Special Projects: Policy Co-ordination; Resourcing Strategy; Management of teams

– inc case work investigations unit, Trust Bank, recruitment, operational HR managers and Sandwell Day Nursery

Nick Bellis nick.bellis@nhs.net

– Imaging – Finance Special Projects: Inclusion

Stephanie Cowin stephanie.cowin@nhs.net

– Women and Child Health – Strategy and Governance – Primary Care Communities and Therapies cover

Frances Jackson francesjackson@nhs.net

– Corporate Nursing – Operations Special Projects: Retention

Sarah Towe sarah.towe@nhs.net

– Estates and Midland Metropolitan Hospital Project. Special Projects: Wellbeing

Julia Crannage julia.crannage@nhs.net

– Primary Care Communities and Therapies

Leeanne Owens leeanne.owen1@nhs.net

– Surgical Services

 Akvinder Sandhu akvinder.sandhu1@nhs.net

– Medicine

 Philip Andrew philipandrew@nhs.net

– Medical Workforce

Weighing scales service to take place this week

Marsden will be visiting our sites throughout December to service our weighing scales. Please ensure all scales are ready on the days that Marsden will be attending.

For more information please contact either Mark Bartram (ext. 4849) or Chris Murphy (ext. 4592).

Heartbeat: Energy pods boost busy shifts

Taking 5 really can make a difference to how you feel. Recognising that our staff need time to rest during busy shifts, our Trust has invested in some exciting technology. This will help colleagues take some time out and recharge their batteries.

In July our Trust was lucky enough to secure two state of the art energy pods on loan for a short trial. The results have been so overwhelmingly positive that the pods are now becoming a permanent fixture and long term investment in wellbeing.

Leading on the trial of the energy pods has been Junior Doctor CT1, Eoin Dore who shared his thoughts with Heartbeat. Eoin said: “Recently there had been a number of high profile deaths of clinicians who after long shifts caring for patients have unfortunately been involved in accidents on their way home. This sowed the seed for a conversation with our colleagues and it soon became evident that there were colleagues who felt that a little rest and recuperation during a shift could have a significant positive impact on their ability.

“Few people would know that moderate sleep deprivation—equal to being awake for 16–18 hours can have the same effect on reaction time as being at the legal blood alcohol limit for safe driving. Would you want someone that tired looking after you or a loved one?”

During the loan period colleagues made use of the two energy pods at City Hospital and the results are nothing short of outstanding. Colleagues were asked to complete a short survey before using the pod and once again at the end of the trial period to understand the long term effect.

Before the pods were available only 38 per cent of colleagues were able to take 30 minute breaks, however following their installation, this jumped to 82 per cent of doctors being able to take a break and 67 per cent of nurses. Overall, 85 per cent of colleagues polled felt more alert after using the pods, 83 per cent felt more energised and almost every single one of them would recommend the energy pods.

A testament to the positive impact of the energy pods, colleagues commented in the polls, “Feel calmer like I’m able to process thoughts better” and “Whilst I had my time in the pod, I felt relaxed and ready to do my job all over again.”

Countdown to 2020

Our campaign to get our patients home over the festive period has started.

Additional schemes have been set up to help including:

• Community in-reach to ED
• Additional therapy input for assessments (many that can be done in the community rather than waiting in hospital
• Think Glucose assessment as an outpatient appointment with daily rounds earlier in the day
• Additional transport crews
• Hot clinics for certain specialties where specialty review is required for a patient. These can be booked for the following day in most cases, saving patients staying a night in hospital

We are aiming to discharge a further six patients each day at Sandwell and three patients each day at City every day (including weekends and bank holidays) over Christmas and New Year.

Speak to your ward manager, matron, consultant or duty CNP for support.

There should be no barriers to discharge so let’s try and get our patients home!

Heartbeat: Trust’s flexibility is a draw to new recruits at lively open days

The beginning of November proved to be a busy one for recruitment at our organisation with two events taking place at Sandwell General Hospital’s Education Centre.

Members of both the medicine and emergency care and surgical services teams were on hand to welcome potential newcomers to our Trust. Both events were said to be buzzing with energy. There were interviews, compliance checks and job offers on the day.

The first event for medicine and emergency care took place on 2 November. They held 24 interviews and appointed 24 candidates of “excellent calibre” including 15 Band 5 staff nurses. The second, a week later, proved even more successful with 29 candidates offered positions, 21 of which were staff nurses.

With it being half-term flexible working and family-friendly working was a key message. Both events had colleagues and candidates bringing in their children to engage in activities organised by the nursery team. The one-stopshop element of ‘selling’ both areas and the organisation, through to on the spot job offers meant that candidates felt “reassured and welcomed.”

Speaking on the first event, Group Director of Nursing, Julie Thompson remarked to Heartbeat that the recruitment event was “a prime example of team working and collaboration which enabled a successful day. The flexible working approach worked well with children being entertained while their parents were successfully recruited.” Head of Engagement and Retention Amir Ali explains further: “We wanted to really sell for both of these events the benefits we’re offering that are not available at other Trusts and organisations. We offer flexible working options – 7.5-hour shifts, twelve-hour shifts, weekend, day or night-only shifts. We’re flexible and we want to let recruits know that this is a wonderful place to work with heaps of employee benefits available relating to personal wellbeing and more material benefits.”

Heartbeat: Local teens get a taste for science

Secondary schools from across Sandwell were recently invited to a science day extravaganza to learn more about science within our Trust. The science taster day was organised for children interested in pursuing a career within the field. It highlighted the critical role science plays within the NHS as a whole and, in particular, our workplace.

Jilly Croasdale, Associate Director, Healthcare Science facilitated the healthcare day. It featured respiratory physiology, radiopharmacy, neurophysiology, nuclear medicine, medical engineering, cardiac physiology and audiology. Each area hosted a science speed dating booth to showcase different departments and the work they do to enhance patient care.

“All the children seemed like they enjoyed the day and all the teachers I spoke with felt it was a rewarding experience for their students,” Jilly told Heartbeat. One teacher said: “An amazing event! We’ll be bringing more students next year as they loved it. Thank you.”

Following on from the science speed dating booths, students were split into groups.

They had the opportunity to have a tour of the area they were most interested in. They also got a chance to take part in interactive workshops and, to witness first-hand how each department plays a fundamental role at our hospital.

Jilly believes the day was hugely beneficial. She said: “It aims to show the children what options are available to them in the world of science should they be interested. If they go away and decide it’s not for them it’s fine. They have assessed the information and it’s helped them in making their decision. If however, by hosting a taster day like this it inspires even one child to pursue a career in science then it’s worthwhile in my opinion.”

She added: “I hope we’re able to stage a similar event next year for another cohort of schools in the local area so they can reap the benefits too.”