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Monthly archives: April 2020

COVID-19 Staff Briefings: Wednesday 8 April

 

Our Chief Executive Toby Lewis will be hosting two one hour briefing sessions for colleagues to update on our April COVID-19 plans.

Both sessions will be hosted online so you can login and join the session from your desktop, laptop or mobile phone whether you are on site or if you working from home.

The sessions will have an opportunity for posted questions, as well as a run-through of current expansion and surge arrangements at the Trust, in local hospitals and with the Birmingham Nightingale.

Wednesday 8 April

12 – 1pm:

5pm – 6pm:

Please take the time to join us to learn more about our response to COVID-19 as well as using the opportunity to ask any questions you have.

If you have any questions about how you join the briefing, contact Subtan Mahmood by email: subtan.mahmood@nhs.net

One Minute Resilience Videos

 

Richard Burnell has provided these quick one minute resilience videos to help all staff across SWBH. One minute resilience – Consistency Bias One minute resilience – Futility Bias   One …

Support line for colleagues

 

In the current climate of increasing pressures on our healthcare system, our NHS people potentially face significant stresses. We have introduced a confidential colleague support line, operated by the Samaritans and free to access from 7am– 11pm, seven days a week.

Call: 0300 131 7000

You can call for support, signposting and confidential listening. Alternatively, you can text “FRONTLINE” to 85258 for support 24/7 via text.

Heartbeat: SWB fly the flag for safety in imaging

 

The mention of nuclear medicine is enough to frighten most patients but the care, attention and professionalism in imaging soon settles their nerves. This month, colleagues in imaging have been taking to the stage at conferences and gatherings across the country to share their knowledge and improve services and safety for patients and clinicians alike.

Earlier this month Senior Clinical Scientist, Joe O’Brien took to the stage to deliver his talk at the annual British Institute of Radiology Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) meeting focussing on ‘Physics and new developments in SPECT. Taking a broad approach to the topic, Joe delivered an engaging session on the physics processes behind SPECT\ CT with a particular focus on metal artefact reduction for CT which could be a breakthrough for bone scans and imaging infections.

Taking to the stage at the annual UK Radiology group meeting Consultant Radiopharmacist and Head of Radiopharmacy, Jilly Croasdale focussed on the preparations organisations have to go through in readiness for an Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) inspection. The ONR are the regulatory authority overseeing the transport of radioactive materials and as such compliance is an absolute must for all training. Recognising Jilly and the radiopharmacy department’s expertise on the topic, the ONR recently inspected the radiopharmacy department and praised its risk assessments.

Over at the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine, Consultant Physicist and Head of Nuclear Medicine, Bill Thomson took on the challenge of presenting the findings of a research study into the effects of radioactive spillages. Presenting his paper on ‘Personnel Dosimetry’ Bill detailed his findings from research which looked into estimating the doses to the skin of hands in the event of a radioactive incident or spill of Technetium-99m, Yttrium-90 and Fluorodeoxyglucose. Calculations were made with a program obtained through the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which allowed the protective values of different thicknesses of gloves to be examined.

COVID-19 Bulletin: Tueday 7 April

 

This is our once a day bulletin. This will take all national and professional guidance and information and tell you which changes we are implementing when and how. Please use this bulletin and daily cascade arrangements within clinical groups to guide local action. Remember KINDNESS is our watchword in implementing our plans.

Our Equipment Libraries on both sites have been stood down from routine hours, as the infusion equipment has been very largely deployed to support our 400% expansion of Critical Care. The daily collection of equipment from wards has been suspended. Medical Engineering will continue to provide T34 syringe drivers, epidural and PCA pumps as usual.  The on-call ME service can be contacted for urgent needs. Our brigades will be deployed to help with some equipment cleaning….

1. Thank you, thank you, thank you….

Across the NHS there is a massive collective effort to be ready for the Surge.  The lower and slower, the better.  Everyone in our Trust is playing their part.  This weekend lots of people have changed their plans to be on site working.  People have volunteered for brigades and for nightingale, even more people have volunteered or agreed to change role.  Yesterday’s bulletin outlined what to do if you feel aggrieved by the request.  We will listen and consider your concerns fairly.  We will make reasonable adjustments.

We now have more than 175 colleagues in hotels.  Others have agreed to work more night shifts to help us cope.  The Trust is supporting individuals with travel, laundry, frozen meals for night workers, and free car parking.  Most importantly, we have widely advertised and are continuing to expand our wellbeing and psychological support offer.  Do let us know via your group team or direct to the Chief Executive if there are gaps in how we are supporting you to support one another and our patients.

2. Swabbing continues, be ready…

Across the West Midlands, some antigen staff testing centres are gearing up.  This includes provision for us, although we have tested more staff than anywhere else locally we do need to be collegiate.  About 110 slots will typically be available to us daily, although we continue to work with GPs, care home workers, social workers and others to maximise long term staffing capacity for our place.  Crucially slots can now be used for household cases who are keeping you off work.  The ask of you is to come forward for testing, with your best contact number, and your car license plate number.

To book your testing slot:

  • Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm, call 0121 507 2664 option 5
  • Weekends 9am – 4pm, call 07970428995  or 07816992873

3. Opening CCS-Newton 1 and CCS-D16 this week!

Nightingale NEC will not, in the first instance, have Intensive Care provision (this differs from the London model).

That is why our top priority is to make sure we expand our currently 100% full ITU and introduce a much largely NIV (Non Invasive Ventilation) unit (x10 bigger than base).  Almost all of our 180 staff have now been trained/updated to support these rosters.  That allows us to move to 52 intensive care beds, with two new units opening.

It will be really important to have step-down capacity available for both blue and red streams from CCS.  Over the longer term we are aiming to retain five blue wards.  The biggest single thing that we could do to maintain flow is to make absolutely best use of our community beds at Rowley and Sheldon, and especially to fully utilise our single room End of Life Care unit at Leasowes.  This Bank Holiday we want to make sure anyone who could use that unit is transferred there.

4. Revised working from home guidance

350 colleagues are currently formally working at home.  About half of those staff are in three corporate functions.  The balance are individuals across a number of departments, some with underlying health conditions.  Our attached guidance will allow some more staff to work at home.  However, it also requires some line managers to consider with directors and myself which functions could be paused allowing staff to be deployed into our volunteer brigades:  As porters, cleaners, transport, ward assistants, and admin teams.

Please consider the guidance and talk to your line manager.  This guidance will remain in place until May 7th. If you are shielding or consider you have an underlying health condition you must make sure your ESR record reflects that by talking to ext. 3116.

5. Nightingale volunteers – next steps

In the next week the NEC will be converted to adult general medical wards for COVID+ patients as step down from acute hospitals.  Initially around 125 beds will open, used by 14 Trusts across the region.  Understandably clinical leaders want more detail of the model and this is not yet available.  Frequently Asked Questions for transferees are awaited, but the sense is that transport and some accommodation will be available.

Today we are contacting everyone who is being asked to deploy to Nightingale and also reverting to all other volunteers to explain what happens next.  Some staff are undertaking roles here at the Trust which preclude you being released.  Thank you for accepting that.

Laundry and clinical waste are really important, now as ever.  The video below gives you information to consider.  Take a look.  It’s not PPE, but it is vital.

https://youtu.be/0iMls4fBg2M

 

Heartbeat: Wave goodbye to… Dr Roger Stedman

 

We recently said farewell to Dr Roger Stedman, Consultant in Anaesthetics and Critical Care Medicine. Having worked at our Trust since 2012, Dr Roger Stedman initially joined us as medical director. Bringing a wealth of experience into that role his main focus was on delivering the best level of patient care across our organisation.

Reflecting on his time as medical director, Dr Stedman recalls some of his achievements. Speaking to Heartbeat he said: “The Beacon Services programme is something I look back on proudly. It focused on celebrating all that was excellent in clinical services across our organisation.”

Making time for clinical teams to be together away from their areas and think together, learn and share best practice was also something Dr Stedman was particularly keen to implement. He recalls being involved in the thinking behind what is now an ingrained part of our work culture, our QIHD sessions. He commented: “It was important to set aside time for teams to be together and focus on how they could improve and share knowledge across our organisation. I’m pleased that my thinking behind the QIHD sessions became something useful for colleagues. One of the other things I’m pleased has changed since joining the Trust is the huge turnaround in research and development. Over the past three years we’ve doubled the number of patients involved in clinical trials.”

Perhaps the one thing Dr Stedman will look back on most fondly is his work with Unity. He remarked: “I was involved with the implementation of the Cerner system from the start. The EPMA solution has made a hugely positive difference to patients in critical care.”

Heading back to Wiltshire, Dr Stedman is looking forward to exploring the beautiful countryside where he grew up. He’s also looking forward to spending more time with his parents and family. He’ll be taking lots of positives away with him from his time at our Trust. One of the things he will miss the most is the people he has worked with. “I’m pleased to have chosen and worked at a place that is such a caring organisation. It’s filled with kind people that are a delight to work with.”

He added: “I have been supported in my time here, especially when I made the move to resume my career as a full-time consultant again. I’ve enjoyed being a clinician over the past two years and will miss everyone I’ve worked with. I’m confident the Trust will go on to be even greater than it is already with the opening of Midland Met. That will radically transform the nature of the hospital and it’s something that will benefit the communities we work in immensely.”

Keen to keep in touch with colleagues and friends, Dr Stedman remarked: “I can still be reached via NHS email and colleagues can read my blog too at https://rogerstedman.com/wp.”

Thank you for your hard work and dedication, Dr Stedman. We wish you all the best with the move back to Wiltshire.

 

Heartbeat: Breaking Grad – Melanie and Paul are masters of their destiny

 

At the end of last year, Melanie Stephens and Paul Bennett celebrated achieving their Master’s degrees after being sponsored by the Trust to do so. They both were given the opportunity to study part-time over three years to complete their MSc Advanced Clinical Practice.

Speaking to Heartbeat, Melanie and Paul explained that they were supported throughout their degrees and combined their learning with placements outside of the workplace. Melanie remarked: “We were given a day a week to attend university and also completed placements at GP surgeries to help develop our clinical skills.”

Paul has worked at our Trust for 34 years whilst Melanie has been here for 18 years. Reflecting on their careers they both talked about how they’ve been supported to progress and achieve their potential. Paul commented: “I began my career here in 1986. Over that time, I’ve taken advantage of learning that has helped me develop. This course was supported by NHS England and since completing it we’ve been able to move into new roles. We now work as advanced nurse practitioners in iCares focusing on admission avoidance.”

Melanie echoed these sentiments saying: “Over the time I’ve worked here I’ve felt supported, especially as a BME member of staff. I’m grateful to the Trust for allowing us to complete our Master’s degrees.”

Congratulations Melanie and Paul.

 

Pharmacy extended opening hours

 

For the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic pharmacy will be extending opening times on the weekend to 9am-4.30pm.

Note: Pharmacy will be open on the bank holidays as a normal working day (9am-5pm).

 

 

Hotel accommodation for colleagues

 

You may find you have to remove yourself from your normal home, either to protect your loved ones or ensure you are able to help the NHS by staying well. …

Have you got a Heartbeat story?

 

Heartbeat is the Trust’s internal magazine which colleagues receive monthly. We’re always seeking for colleagues to share their stories with us.

  • Have you got an event or special occasion in your department?
  • Do you have an inspirational colleague?
  • Does your department do something that makes a real difference to our patients?

Above are examples of the types of stories we would like to hear about, but if you have anything else that you feel would be good to include in Heartbeat, please do get in touch.

You can contact the Heartbeat editor by e-mail at famena.nawaz@nhs.net or ext. 3409.

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