Monthly archives: January 2020

Winscribe planned downtime no longer going ahead

The scheduled downtime for Winscribe will now not go ahead as planned this weekend.

Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 31 January

Dr David Carruthers, Medical Director

Toby Lewis is away

Congratulations to this week’s Star of the Week, Sheilah Kamupira, a neonatal consultant, nominated by her colleague for her excellent care. During a recent shift when the neonatal team were under considerable pressure, Sheilah stepped forward and supported the team to continue providing the amazing care they are known for.

Next week the public Trust Board will hear progress on our quality plan which is focused on projects that will improve the health of our patients, aiming to achieve outcomes that rank us among the top providers either within the region or nationally. Lots of good work has been done already but there will be a role for everyone in delivering this plan that includes reducing unplanned readmissions, improving end of life care, team working for adolescent care and transition from paediatric to adult services, and improving outcomes for our cancer patients, to mention a few examples. These will be important pieces of work as we prepare our services for the move into Midland Met, so look out for more information and how you can play your part.

Thank you to everyone who is working hard to keep our sites free from tobacco smoke and well done to everyone who has used this opportunity to quit smoking – we know it is not easy. For those who have switched to vaping I hope you have been able to reduce your vape use over time with the aim of withdrawal altogether. Remember, vaping is just one of many ways to quit smoking and is still not something that is encouraged for non-smokers to start. Our own stop smoking advisors start on our sites soon for patients, and colleagues can continue to access our stop smoking clinics with free NRT at work. This is one part of our public health goals to improve the health and wellbeing of staff and our local communities. Having a healthy workforce is really important for us and we are further developing our plans in this area in coming weeks.

Infection control is at the forefront of many people’s minds as the coronavirus has this week been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation. Thank you to all our clinicians who are supporting worried patients and the teams ensuring that we are well prepared should any cases present to our emergency departments. We have arrangements in place for patients to be isolated and well cared for within our hospitals and detailed guidance on what to do from Public Health England who are monitoring the situation closely.

Importantly, we are also making a change to other infection control practices by introducing MRSA screening from tomorrow (Saturday 1 February) in ED of every patient who needs admission. If a patient arrives on your ward and there is no record of a MRSA screen this should be done on the ward and the results must be checked.

In the coming weeks, look out for our promotional activity on organ donation and bone marrow transplants. Signing up to be a donor is vital in offering patients the best chance of survival for certain critical conditions. The law will change in the Spring to an opt-out system and you can find out more here. We will also be working with DKMS to share information on how you can register as a potential blood stem cell donor.

From tomorrow we will celebrate LGBT History Month which is nicely timed with the relaunch of our LGBT Staff Network on Tuesday 4 February. Do come along and support the network at the Education Centre in Sandwell (room 9) between 2pm and 5pm. You can also show your support by wearing an NHS rainbow badge and play a valuable part in reducing stigma and inequality. The rainbow badge shows that our organisation offers open, non-judgemental and inclusive care for children, young people and their families, who identify as LGBT+ – lesbian, gay, bisexual. If you would like an NHS rainbow badge please contact  swb-tr.SWBH-GM-EqualityDiversity@nhs.net.

And finally, we bid farewell to Dr Julian Chilvers, Anaesthetist and Director of Medical Education who is moving on to new challenges, maintaining his important educational work for Health Education England in the region.  You will be missed. Many thanks for your significant role in supporting trainees and education supervisors, developing simulation training and contributing to the vision for education delivery in the Trust when Midland Med opens.

Infection control

There are key things we must do to reduce our risk of passing on infections:

• Hand hygiene: Using the five moments of handwashing
• Bare below the elbows: Applies to everyone!
• Patient risk assessments
• Appropriate screening of patients
• Correct decontamination practice
• Good outbreak management

Challenging colleagues on infection control compliance is essential and “what we do round here”.

A clinical area is any area that involves patient care.

The infection control team are working with community colleagues on addressing risk of delivering care in peoples’ homes.

For more information please contact ext. 5900 or email  swb-tr.SWBH-Team-InfectionControl@nhs.net or refer to guidance on Connect

Star of the week – Sheilah Kamupira, Neonatal Consultant

This week’s Star of the week has been awarded to Neonatal Consultant Sheilah Kamupira who has been described by her peers as caring, compassionate and empathetic.

During a recent shift when the Neonatal team were under considerable pressure, Sheilah stepped forward and supported the team to continue providing the amazing care they are known for.

Nominating Sheilah for the award, Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Fran Wooton wrote, “Sheilah always works very hard and is hands on when the babies and team need extra help. She is an asset to our team and deserves recognition for this. It’s a pleasure working with such excellent Consultants who set a very good example of work ethic and leadership within the team.

Getting in touch with the recruitment team

The Recruitment Team 1 & 2 inboxes are no longer in use. If you have e-mailed either of these inboxes and not yet received a response, please re-direct your query to the generic e-mail address swb-tr.SWBH-Team-Recruitment@nhs.net and someone will get back to you shortly.

Following on from feedback from Recruiting Managers, you’ll be pleased to know that we have brought back dedicated officers for each group. Your main points of contact will now be as follows:

Daniel Hamblett
Medical Staffing
E-mail swbh.medicalrecruitment@nhs.net
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Sarah Gibson
Women & Child
Surgical Services
Primary Care Community & Therapies
E-mail swb-tr.SWBH-Team-Recruitment@nhs.net
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Priscilla Owusu
Corporate
Medicine & Emergency Care
Imaging
E-mail swb-tr.SWBH-Team-Recruitment@nhs.net

Is your mandatory training up to date?

Please make sure you complete any out of date mandatory training modules over the next 2 days to ensure you stay in the 100 club for mandatory training.  95% of employees need to be in in the club having completed all of their Mandatory Training and keeping it all in date.  January’s report will show you as compliant or not compliant and there are still two days left this month to get the modules you require completed.  Any queries please contact swbh.landd@nhs.net

Dementia, Delirium & Distress training for HCA staff

Dementia, Delirium & Distress training for HCA staff is taking place on the following dates:

• Wednesday 5 February 2020 11am to 1pm Sandwell Education Centre Room 10
• Tuesday 11 February 2020 11am to 1pm City Hospital Second Floor Conference Room

To book please contact Tracey Mansell

Email t.mansell@nhs.net Ext. 5680, Mobile 07971753091

Have you considered becoming a mentor?

Do you consider yourself to be skilled and experienced in your role and supportive to others? We are seeking individuals who would be willing to offer mentoring and guidance to more junior colleagues to help them develop in their careers. This isn’t a large commitment and you can choose how much or how little you feel able to offer.

All you need to do is attend a mentoring workshop on one of the below dates and then you can join our mentoring pool. We want to be the best integrated care provider in the NHS and using your skills and experience to develop up and coming talent internally is a huge part of this.

Dates for Mentoring Workshops

All Times are 10:00-13:00

• 21 Feb – D46, 2nd Floor Sheldon Block, City Hospital
• 12 March – Education Centre, Sandwell
• 9 April – Education Centre, Sandwell
• 28 April – D46, 2nd Floor Sheldon Block, City Hospital

If you want to book a place search for the word ‘Accredited’ on ESR and you will find the Mentoring Workshops listed under the Accredited Manager Modules.

For any further questions please feel free to contact richard.burnell@nhs.net

ESR downtime this weekend

Colleagues are advised that the ESR Production Service will be withdrawn at 6pm on Friday 31 January 2020, in order to carry out essential maintenance.

This period of downtime for the ESR Production Service is approximately 48 hours and will run until 6pm on Sunday 2 February 2020, when the ESR Production Service is expected to become available.

Users are asked to note the 6pm closure time for the online Service and co-operation is requested to ensure that all Users are logged off by this time.

Please ensure you log in and approve any pending notifications

Medicine Dignity Conference

A conference dedicated to patient dignity will be taking place in the Education Centre at Sandwell Hospital on the 10 February.

The aim of the day is to recognise that our patients often feel vulnerable and worried and need emotional support from the health care professionals they meet.

We are excited to launch the role of the dignity ambassador for each team who will be key in promoting dignity in patient care for their areas and will be welcoming guest speakers to discuss patient dignity at each stage of their journey.

Dignity and respect sits at the very heart of what we do, we cannot forget that or we will be failing those we want to help most

If you would like to be a dignity ambassador for your area, please contact vikki.howard@nhs.net or amina.safeer@nhs.net to book onto the day