Monthly archives: January 2020
Self-care: Keeping hydrated – the importance of drinking more water
It’s well-known that drinking water has many health benefits – to function properly all of the cells and organs in our body need water. It’s also cheap, has no calories and contains no sugars that can damage our teeth. Yet many of us struggle to drink the recommended 2 – 3 litres per day (around 6 – 8 glasses).
There are some simple adjustments we can make to increase the amount of water we drink. To find out more about the benefits of drinking water and some top tips and tricks to help us drink more, click on links below:
Still time to get your flu jab at Sandwell and City
As of yesterday, we officially reached herd immunity for our 2019/20 flu season. This means that 80 per cent of our patient facing colleagues have now had the flu vaccination.
Why is the flu vaccination vital?
Patient, Sinead Hayes contracted the flu whilst she was 13 weeks pregnant with her daughter. Be sure to check out her story below and why she believes it is vital for health care professionals to be protected from flu so that you can’t pass it on to your patients:
Still need your flu jab?
Our occupational health team will be across site visiting wards and areas administering flu jabs. The vaccinators will be wearing either a tabard or flu badge indicating who they are. The dates are listed below:
Sandwell:
- Thursday 9 January, 9am – 3.30pm
- Friday 10 January, 9am – 12pm
City:
- Thursday 9 January, 9am – 2pm
You can also get in touch with your nearest peer vaccinator to get your jab. If you’re unsure who your peer vaccinator is, please contact occupational health on ext. 3306.
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.
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.
Apprenticeship courses for January
We have limited spaces remaining on the following apprenticeship courses for January:
- Team leading Level 3 – start date 16 January
- Business administration Level 3 – start date 9 January
- Senior healthcare support worker – start date 9 January
To find out more about each course and express your interest please contact the apprenticeship team by calling 07976 683565 or email swbh.apprenticeship@nhs.net.
For more information please visit the apprenticeship connect page.
Building emotional resilience workshop
This is a three hour accredited workshop to understand what emotional resilience is, what impacts our emotional resilience and learn ways to improve our resilience through stress management techniques, time management and change management.
- Date: Tuesday 21 January
- Venue: The Berridge Room, Courtyard Gardens, Sandwell Hospital
- Time: 10am – 1pm
To book onto any of the workshops please contact Jatinder Sekhon or Emma Williams on 0121 507 3306 option 4.
Note: Other dates, sessions and venues are available.
Palliative care two day training: 4 – 5 March
Our palliative care team are hosting a two-day training programme aimed at registered nurses who want to learn more about end of life care and take learning back to clinical areas.
The course will be hosted at the Postgraduate Centre, City Hospital from 9am – 4pm on 4 and 5 March.
For more information or to book your place, please call 0121 507 3611.
Arches café seating capacity to be reduced from 13 January
From Monday 13 January, the Arches café seating will be significantly reduced whilst essential works within the ED department are completed. The works are expected to take up to five weeks with the project as a whole to be completed by the end of April.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding whilst we are improving the services provided by our Trust.
Heartbeat: Championing the rights of vulnerable women
Meet Joanne Simpson. Some of you may know her as a translator, what you may not know is that she once lived in Albania as a charity worker. It’s this unique background and the work she does within our organisation that saw her recognised at this year’s Star Awards as the Equality and Diversity Champion.
Helping care for pregnant asylum seekers, Joanne works as an Albanian translator. Using her linguistic talents Joanne is able to gain an insight into the challenges faced by Albanian women in the UK. As a result, pregnant Albanian asylum seekers represent some of the most traumatised and vulnerable patients that Joanne works with.
Joanne said “I love what I do. Being able to try and help these women have positive pregnancies is what makes my job special. Working overseas has helped me to understand some of the pressures faced by the women I look after. I attend clinics and scan appointments to ensure they understand what’s going on every step of the way.”
Pip McKnight – Community Midwife commented “Effective communication is a huge part of the healthcare role and is so much more than merely translating words. Jo gives her voice to these women. Using her skills and experience Jo reduces barriers to accessing care for vulnerable Albanian women at a time when their voices and wishes most need to be heard.”
Assertiveness, confidence and resilience training
This is a three hour session which will give an understanding on what confidence and self-esteem is, will look at our current skills and qualities and what an ‘ideal’ would look like. It will offer practical skills development on becoming more assertive and practical techniques on saying ‘no’, increase your awareness of how joy/happiness increases confidence and how to build resilience through lifestyle choices – 5 Ways to Wellbeing.
Delegates will be provided with information, participate in practical exercises and share personal experiences and will be provided with a work booklet. This approach enables practical skill development for future application and peer support.
Date: Thursday 30 January
Venue: Surgical skills room, Postgraduate Centre, City Hospital
Time: 10am – 1pm
For bookings and information please contact Jatinder Sekhon or Emma Williams on ext. 3306.
2020: The year ahead
In case you missed it, be sure to check out this 5 minute film from Toby Lewis, Chief Executive talking about the year ahead at the Trust as well as the long term future of the NHS in Ladywood, Sandwell and Perry Barr.
Note: If you do not have a sound card, or just prefer reading, the YouTube film allows you to switch on subtitles in the icon bar at the bottom right of the screen.
Restore and relax: Yoga, pilates, body tone classes and much more
With the Trust looking to focus on healthy eating and general health and wellbeing in 2020, we offering some fantastic classes open to all abilities. From Yoga and pilates, to body tone classes, there is something for everyone.
Be sure to check our everything we offer – Restore and relax flyer
Would you like to join one of our Trust gyms?
We’re hosting gym induction days at our newly refurbished City Hospital gym (behind ED) and our Sandwell gym in Trinity House:
- City gym – Thursday 16 January, Tuesday 11 February and Thursday 27 February, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm
- Sandwell gym – Tuesday 21 January 11am, 12pm and 1pm
The gyms will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days week and are free for colleagues, however before you are able to use the facilities you must have an induction.
If you’re interested in signing up, please complete the following forms:
Upon completion forward the application to jatinder.sekhon@nhs.net or post to occupational health and wellbeing service. If you have any questions, contact the occupational health and wellbeing team on 0121 507 3306 option 4.
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