Monthly archives: April 2020
ORMIS downtime this evening at 19:30 – Maintenance taking place affecting Theatres
The ORMIS theatre management system will be offline for a period of two hours from 7:30pm today (Thursday 2 April) whilst essential updates are made to the system.
During this period theatres will need to revert to business continuity to record in theatre events.
The upgrade is due to be completed by 9:30pm when the system will be back online and operational.
Heartbeat: Hello my name is… Gina Dutton
We recently welcomed Gina Dutton who has started with our organisation as head of research and development.
Gina joins us from the University of Worcester where she was head of the association for dementia studies, which involved research to improve the care of people with dementia, as well as teaching health and social care professionals. Prior to that Gina was a cancer research network manager working across the NHS for 13 years. As part of that Gina was seconded to the national team working on improving the delivery and conduct of clinical trials.
“Before that I worked as a dual qualified diagnostic radiographer and sonographer,” said Gina. “That was the first role that gave me the opportunity to work in research. I was one of the local collaborators on the study which brought nuchal translucency screening into antenatal care. It’s obvious that research makes a difference to the patient journey and how care is delivered.”
When Gina recently spent some time in the NHS as a relative (after her husband fractured three vertebrae), she realised just how much she had been missing clinical engagement. “The experience reminded me of my radiography roots and patient care,” she said. “Although I’m not particularly in a patient facing role, it’s important for me to be in a position that makes a difference. I was keen to get back into the NHS and into research which is what I know and do well. I was delighted to have the opportunity to do just that at SWB.
“I believe all patients and members of the public should have the opportunity to take part in research should they want to. Our workplace needs to have the breadth of portfolio so every service can have the opportunity to open a trial or some sort of research study.
“Likewise, I am aware there are a lot of health professionals who to date have not been exposed to research. I know people do want to take part in research, so my role is about widening participation and giving colleagues and patients the opportunity to take part. Research active organisations provide better care.”
So what does Gina enjoy in her spare time? She told Heartbeat: “I am a member of the Women’s Equality Party and I also sing in a local choir. From time to time I attend glass fusing courses.”
Food donations for the homeless and vulnerable elderly patients
Our homeless team are seeking food donations for their most vulnerable and elderly patients due to COVID-19. If you wish to donate any food products please contact helen.taylor54@nhs.net.
Free shuttle bus service in and around City Hospital
Transport for West Midlands have kindly put on a shuttle bus service for NHS colleagues around City Hospital between 7am-9am and 3pm-5pm, Monday – Friday.
Please see below graphics for details including pick/drop off points and alternative bus details:
Communicate better and faster with WebEx
It is now possible to host your meetings virtually via WebEx allowing you to connect easily and collaborate with colleagues. The tool is easy to use and you can connect by phone only or by phone and video using your computer or your phone – bringing your team together when you all can’t be there in person.
To find out more read the guide produced by our informatics team.
Deferred retirements
If colleagues have applied to retire but are not in receipt of retirement benefits and would now like to defer their retirement, please email deso.kaur@nhs.net with your details. Please include ‘Deferred Retirement’ in the email subject heading.
Our team will prioritise this correspondence and cancel the application for retirement. Members will need to make new applications at a future date once they wish to retire.
COVID-19 bulletin: Wednesday 1 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.
The latest Chief Executive update about Covid-19 was issued this morning (Update 8). Take a look at that for details of bank rate changes for band 5/6 nurses and midwives to support staffing continuity through the Surge period. If you accept five or more shifts in April or May we will pay you more.
1. Psychological support for employees at this time
Our programme of support is growing all the time. The menu includes:
Personal Resilience Coaching is available via phone / video link. If you would like to have an initial conversation to see if this might help, please email richard.burnell@nhs.net to arrange a call, appointments are immediately available. Colleagues who are self-isolating or shielding will be telephoned by a colleague to check on their health and wellbeing and ensure they have everything they need.
Clinical leads are encouraged to debrief with the colleagues at the end of a shift and our junior doctors have established a 3 Squares Club programme. More details can be found at https://connect2.swbh.nhs.uk/medical-education/postgraduate-information/welcome-to-the-swbh-wellbeing/
Counselling support is free and confidential with external, trusted providers, Kaleidoscope. Ask for a counselling appointment and leave your phone number on ext 3306. A counsellor will be in touch. A ‘drop in’ counselling telephone wellbeing session can be accessed via one of the Trust’s accredited counsellors. Linda, Mondays between 7-9pm Telephone 07973664125 and Tony, Thursdays between 7-9pm Telephone 07970225929. We also have an agreement with Health Assured Counselling who provide telephone and video link counselling for all colleagues 24/7 – to access this, please ring 0800 783 2808.
2. FIT test, FIT test, FIT test
We are fortunate to have equipment and staff able to undertake FIT tests. Because the pandemic supply stock is being distributed country-wide we have a lot of staff who are tested on something other than what we have. So if you have not been tested or are finding you need to use something else we need to hear from you.
FIT testing appointments are running every day and we have a 24 hour line in place to book an appointment – please call 0121 507 5050 to arrange an appointment before your next shift. Your appointment will be prioritised based on your upcoming shifts so book as soon as possible. You must be clean shaven. If you have been fit tested previously we recommend you continue to use the mask that you have been face fit tested with. The Alfa S mask is currently in limited supply so please book an appointment for fit testing so that you can be tested with alternative masks. You should be 30 minutes clear from eating and drinking at your appointment and not have smoked or vaped for the hour beforehand.
3. Scrubs and laundry
The Trust has issued three pieces of guidance on scrubs:
- Mandatory areas where they must be worn (delivered to you)
- Red areas where non-uniformed staff should wear scrubs
- An option for other staff in red areas to wear scrubs
Scrub supply is increasing and by this weekend we expect to be close to matching demand. In the meantime we issued information on laundering your uniform in the bulletin on Saturday 28 March. Scrubs and PPE should not be worn outdoors. If this practice continues then our outlets will decline to serve people wearing prohibited garments and equipment.
Laundry arrangements are being made to help staff to launder via the organisation from next week, as not all hotels provide access to laundry securely.
4. Transport to and from work
UBER are offering NHS staff free rides currently. Meanwhile, the Trust is covering the cost of taxis if you live in one of our hotels and use Ola. Other Trust employees who use Ola will get a 50% discount on work related travel. Look out for more information over the next two days on how to manage ‘Sunday service’ bus routes with shift times.
New pilot bus routes are in place to help transport staff to and from work. For City Hospital you can now get on a free NHS staff only shuttle bus that runs from the Winson Green Metro stop direct to City. This currently runs between 07.00 and 09.00 and 15.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday. We are working with National Express and the Mayor of the West Midlands on more routes designed with you in mind.
5. Temporary deployment and re-training
Thank you to everyone working so hard to be ready to work in Intensive Care or on one of our wards. It is a big change. Unity needs getting used to. New team members. Different patients and processes of care. And altered shift patterns. Make sure you get involved with the training and ask questions. If you have worries about the pay and conditions under which you will be working give extension 3116 a call and they will advise you.
In some departments there has been some confusing messages given about shift patterns and so revised guidance is being issued. In simple terms: Part time and daytime workers are entitled to not agree to work more hours or overnight respectively. Revised shift patterns similar to the current pattern worked are being developed from which reasonable adjustment requests will be considered. The more flexibility everyone can offer the easier it will be for absolutely everyone. So please, for this limited period, think about how you can make your contribution.
On that note of contribution, look out for details on Friday of how you can opt in to work in another department and help with our efforts as we gear up in areas like portering, cleaning and across our ward clerk brigade. Everyone matters.
Sun safety week continues this week
With the days getting longer and summer fast approaching it is vital we stay safe in the sun.
The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) is currently running a national campaign around skin cancer called sun awareness and to help generate awareness around sun safety, each day this week we will be myth busting everything around sun safety, giving hints of tips of how to stay safe in sun.
Our fourth myth is around sunscreen drastically reducing vitamin D intake. This is indeed a myth as normal sunscreen use doesn’t result in vitamin D deficiency. With this in mind, you should not use vitamin D as an excuse for not using sun protection.
For more information around skin cancer and sun protection, please contact arutland@nhs.net.
Gurdwara Aid: Fruit and vegetables for colleagues
Gurdwara Aid are kindly offering Trust colleagues limited fruit and vegetables free of charge.
Fruit and vegetables can be collected between 10am-6pm from Kanshi TV, Unit 2, Howard Street, Hill Top, West Bromwich, B70 0ST.
Note: You will need to present your NHS ID card upon collection of any foods.
Returning and refilling sanitiser bottles
Colleagues are reminded to please return sanitiser bottles (as pictured) to pharmacy for refilling when they are empty. Pharmacy have supplies of sanitiser but need colleagues to remember to return the bottles when they are empty so that they can be refilled and reused.
Empty bottles should be returned to Pharmacy at Sandwell or City Hospital.
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