Monthly archives: January 2020

Heartbeat: A special time to remember – critical care hold annual memorial service

Critical care recently hosted their 14th annual memorial service. Held in our hospital chapels this year 104 people attended services at City and Sandwell Hospitals.

The critical care bereavement team is made up of 12 nurses all of whom have an interest in ensuring excellent end of life care as well as providing ongoing support for families and friends. Working closely with the chaplaincy team they host a memorial service annually. It offers relatives and friends a chance to reflect and reconnect with those that looked after their loved ones.

Reverend Mary Causer opened the service with a simple prayer. Speaking to Heartbeat she said: “The service was open to all faiths and I talked about how grief becomes different over time. It’s important to look after your heart and soul when grieving and find ways to prepare for the next season. I think that was something everyone could relate to – the emotion in the room was powerful.”

One attendee commented: “Heart-warming, made me feel closer to the person l lost” whilst another said it was “emotional but comforting.”

Each member of the bereavement care team had a part to play whether it was sharing a reading, a poem or even a song. Catherine Beddowes, Senior Sister said: “The service was emotional. It wasn’t, however, a sad occasion, it was about celebrating life. We read out the names of everyone that has passed away in the last twelve months as a sign of respect.”

Jane Ulfig, Sister commented: “The service gives us as a team a chance to talk to families and see them months later as they are going through the healing process. It’s nice to keep that continuity. For the families, they’re able to talk openly about their own experiences with others who have gone through something similar in a safe environment. We’ve also found that some families return year on year so they can maintain that contact with those that looked after their relatives.”

Based on the theme of forget me not the service incorporated lots of special touches. Each attendee was given a bag of forget me not seeds that once sewn will flourish into a remembrance plant. A symbol of love and memories, this small but thoughtful gesture is a sign of just how much the team care about those they look after. Candles were lit and messages shared on our prayer tree allowing families to be actively involved in the service.

Catherine commented: “Year on year relatives are surprised that we do a service like this but are always so thankful. Their appreciation makes it all worthwhile. Unexpectedly at this service, a family donated £1,500 as a thank you for how their relative was treated in our care. It makes you feel very humble.”

Heartbeat: SWBH Women’s Clinician Network – “Women Empowering Women”

Following the success of the “Women Empowering Women” conference in May this year, there was an overwhelming demand for a clinical network. Colleagues who flocked to the conference felt so strongly about the empowering messages that they felt they should develop an ongoing network to continue their work and so the SWBH Women’s Clinician Network was born.

Launching the network, Heartbeat caught up with Deputy Medical Director and Consultant in Acute Medicine, Dr Sarb Clare. She said, “When we launched the first Women Empowering Women Conference we knew there was a desperate need for women to be heard, empowered and encouraged to be the best that they can be. It wasn’t long in to the conference that we knew this couldn’t be a simple one off event, there needed to be an ongoing momentum to this work and before we knew it, the SWBH Women’s Clinician Network was born. “

The network has four simple but powerful aims and objectives, to encourage role modelling, offering mentoring and career advice, promoting leadership and most importantly being a safe place to raise concerns.

Founding members of the network include:

• Dr Sarb Clare – Deputy MD and Consultant Acute Medicine Lead
• Raffaela Goodby- Executive Director for People and Organisational Development
• Dr May Yan – RCP Tutor and Consultant Acute Medicine
• Dr Sarah Faloon – CMT2
• Dr Christine Wright – Safety Guardian, Consultant Haematologist
• Dr Alison Eastaugh – RCP Chief Registrar, SpR Elderly Care
• Miss Mei Ju Hwang – Consultant Breast Surgeon
• Dr Huma Naqvi – FY1 Tutor, Ortho- Geriatrician

The network will also be launching sessions on positive thinking and how to manage inappropriate verbal and non verbal language in the New Year with the help of this year’s Star Awards Employee of the year and Organisational Development Specialist Trainer Richard Burnell.

Heartbeat: CQC City spot check praises elderly care

Elderly care at City Hospital has been praised as “safe and effective” following an unannounced inspection.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out the spot check on City Hospital’s two elderly care wards, D26 and D11.

The inspectors praised the recently introduced “blue pillows” initiative which uses cushions to elevate patient heels, relieving pressure and reducing the risk of pressure ulcers. It also helped staff to identify quickly the patients on the ward who were at risk.

The report highlights safeguarding training as an area for improvement along with ensuring all patient records were completed and updated within the recommended timeframe. However, it also found patients at risk of pressure ulcers and pressure damage, were reviewed correctly by clinicians who could easily access special equipment to relieve symptoms.

Those who were not able to eat properly received supplements in the form of readymade milkshakes and juices and were properly monitored. Colleagues were able to speak to dietitians and seek advice from tissue viability nurses when needed. It added that staff were competent in their roles and were supported by their manager, whilst they were also able to make decisions for those patients who did not have the capacity.

Toby Lewis, Chief Executive, said: “We welcome this inspection’s findings which are consistent with our own assurance – that our staff are dedicated and caring. Mandatory training is something we complete annually and by the end of each fiscal year we are confident of complying with our standards.”

Mouth care matters starts Monday

Starting on Monday 27 January a pilot will start on D11, D26, Priory 4 and Newton 4 to improve the oral health of patients.

Mouth care matters is a practice guide seeking to improve the oral health of inpatients. Hospitalisation has been shown to lead to deterioration in oral health. The link between oral health and general health is well established. Poor oral health of a hospitalised patient can result in an increase in hospital acquired infections, namely hospital and ventilator acquired pneumonia, as well as poorer nutrition. This can result in an increase in the length of stay and care costs, alongside poorer quality of life and dignity for patients.

The pilot will evaluate the impact of improved oral care over an eight week period. The evaluation will also provide some useful learning that can be shared across the Trust when implementing the guidance in the future.

Colleagues on the pilot wards will receive training and tools to carry out effective mouth care on patients. They will ensure every patient cleans their teeth/dentures twice a day and will also identify patients with complex needs and take appropriate action.

Julie Thompson, Director of Nursing, Medicine and Emergency Care, explains more in this video:

Heartbeat: Wave goodbye to… Dr Deep Chand

Dr Deep Chand, a Consultant Radiologist is retiring from our Trust after a career that has spanned four decades. From 1977 – 1981, Dr Chand worked as a registrar and senior registrar in radiology at North Staffordshire Hospital. In 1982 he joined our Trust as a consultant radiologist and since then has gone on to have a distinguished career.

Working as a consultant radiologist he has pioneered CT scanning. He’s also been pivotal in the introduction of ultrasound, MRI scanning and nuclear medicine as a whole. Dr Chand is the Chairman of the Division of Radiology and regularly contributes to the teaching and assessment of staff. He commented: “As a teacher, I’m extremely proud of my students. 75 per cent of my students are consultants, group clinical directors and presidents in the UK and overseas.”

Outside of working at our Trust Dr Chand has had an equally impressive career. At 43, he joined the Territorial Army as a private soldier and rose through the ranks to become lieutenant colonel. He said: “I joined the Territorial Army at 43 years old with my registrar and radiographers. Together we created a radiology department in the 202 Field Hospital, Birmingham.”

Dr Chand served in both Gulf wars. During the latter, he ran a 200-bed military hospital over six months in Basra. Working on the front line Dr Chand and his colleagues provided life-saving care by introducing the use of ultrasound. This helped with the diagnosis and management of battle casualties.

He added: “I had the opportunity to serve Her Majesty the Queen, country and mankind during my deployment in the first Gulf War. I am grateful to Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust for releasing me. The team and I not only supported our soldiers, but we were also able to create another ward for local children and females to help save lives.”

Dr Chand has received several awards recognising his outstanding career and for his service to queen and country. He has been admitted into the Order of St. John – a royal order of chivalry awarded by the Queen. He has also received the Territorial Decoration award for long service, as well as being appointed as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine.

On top of all this, Dr Chand supports several charitable works. He dedicates his time to many medical and humanitarian projects in deprived areas. One such project includes establishing a home and school for children in India.

Dr Sarah Yusuf, Group Director of Imaging said: “Dr Chand has made an immense contribution not only to our department but to our country too. He’ll be leaving behind big, if not impossible, shoes to fill. We appreciate everything he’s done since joining our Trust in 1982. We’ll be sad to say goodbye to a much-respected colleague and friend.”

After leaving the Trust Dr Chand won’t be slowing down. He’s looking forward to gardening, travelling, spending time with his family and attending the defence studies dining club. He’ll also be completing his autobiography. When asked why he said, “I’d like to inspire the younger generation from underprivileged backgrounds to have progressive careers as I have been able to.”

From all of us at the Trust, we’d like to thank you for your hard work and dedication, Dr Chand. We wish you a happy retirement.

Mental health training for managers

Mental health training for managers is a three hour session which will give an understanding on how managers can recognise and help colleagues with mental health problems and/or stress. It will cover:

• How to recognise the signs and symptoms of common mental health problems
• How to support a colleague in the workplace
• Promoting a healthy, non-discriminatory working environment
• Knowledge of workplace adjustments to help an employee with a mental health problem
• Provide coping strategies to encourage staff to use.

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 skills development for future application and peer support.

Date: Wednesday 5 February

Venue: The Berridge room, courtyard gardens, Sandwell

Time: 10am – 1pm

Note: Future dates and alternative venues are available for all sessions.

For bookings and information please contact Jatinder Sekhon or Emma Williams on ext. 3306.

Mandatory training days for consultants, doctors and medical colleagues: 2 April

A training day is being hosted on Thursday 2 April dedicated to consultants, doctors and medical colleagues needing to complete mandatory training. The training will be held at Sandwell Education Centre.

The mandatory training courses and time slots are listed below:

BLS practical:

• 8am

Infection control level 1 and 2

• 9am

Health and safety level 1

• 9.30am

Fire safety

• 9.45am

Data security 

• 10am

Safeguarding level 2 adults

• 10.30am

Safeguarding level 2 children

• 11am

Equality and diversity

• 11.30am

Conflict resolution

• 11.45am

Note: No booking is required, you can just sign the register for the courses you are attending.

For more information please contact karen.morsley@nhs.net

Mandatory training – basic life support sessions

Currently there are over 1,000 people within the Trust who are out of date with their mandatory Basic Life Support (BLS) Training. Over the next three months we will be facilitating sessions to try and reduce this. With this mind, please see below January dates for both Sandwell and City Hospital.

BLS training sessions

Note: Colleagues must complete their Basic Life Support eLearning modules before attending their practical training. Details on how to enrol on to eLearning training can be found on Connect on the following link. https://connect2.swbh.nhs.uk/learning-development/mandatory-list/

For more information please contact swbh-resuscitationtraining@nhs.net.

Have your say – 2020 travel survey

We have launched our annual staff travel survey to gather information on travel habits – https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SWBStaffTravelSurvey2020

It’s important that we encourage and support colleagues in moving towards more sustainable and active modes of travel, like car sharing, using public transport and low emission vehicles, walking and cycling.

Those that complete the survey will be entitled to a FREE day saver ticket for use on National Express buses (subject to availability).

For more information please contact francesca.silcocks@nhs.net.

Palliative care training for ward champions at Sandwell: 1 April

The palliative care training for all nominated ward champions will run from 9am – 3pm on Wednesday 1 April, Sandwell Education Centre. The day will cover a ward champion’s role, recognising a dying patient and advance care planning including workshops.

To book your place please email paulroberts6@nhs.net.

For more information please call 0121 507 3611.