Monthly archives: April 2020

Heartbeat: Friends and family – the true test of the patient experience

The Friends and Family Test has been a staple in our workplace since its introduction in 2013. It is however changing to better meet the needs and challenges of our organisation and patient groups.

The Friends and Family Test (FFT) is a quick and simple way for patients to give feedback about their experience. It is a continuous improvement tool that gives patients the opportunity to anonymously feedback to our Trust about their care and treatment.

Friends and Family Tests provide a way to continuously track the experiences of patients across our organisation. This allows us to respond quickly and effectively should an issue become evident, and likewise, to celebrate any positive developments.

Feedback can draw our attention to any immediate or specific issues, as well as identifying themes. Along with questions about the overall experience, we will also be asking patients whether we met their expectations and if there is anything else they can tell us.

Individuals can still give feedback via SMS text message, interactive voice messages (IVM) or FFT postcards. The mandatory requirement to ask for feedback at specific times will be removed. This will enable patients to give feedback in real-time – allowing us to address any issues promptly.

Checklist:

• Ensure FFT posters and leaflets are visible in your area
• Inform patients that they will be contacted for anonymous feedback, but there is an ‘opt out’ option should they wish to do so.
• Return all completed postcards to Shila Patel, Bryan Knight Suite, Sandwell Hospital making sure your ward/department name is clearly written on each postcard.
• Log on to the envoy portal weekly to view feedback/ comments received to identify themes or issues raised. Take action where you can to implement any quick wins and follow up with any other issues that may arise.

TeamTalk via WebEx today

TeamTalk is our monthly Trust-wide team briefing system led by Toby Lewis, Chief Executive. The next session will take place today (Wednesday 22 April) at 1pm.

Please note that Teamtalk will be hosted as an online webinar with colleagues joining in remotely. Colleagues are advised not to attend in person.

Please ensure you are able to access a computer with speakers or headphones to enable you to participate.

• To join the session from your computer click on the following link: https://swbhnhsevents.webex.com/swbhnhsevents/onstage/g.php?MTID=e8776566d54c176eba216eb72de9ab360

• Event password is SWBTEAMTALK2020

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

Wellbeing sanctuary – a place for calm

For access to the latest health and wellbeing Events, including details of health and wellbeing support at the sanctuary please download the calendar to your Outlook or NHS mail account.

Anybody can access the health and wellbeing calendar which has the details of exercise classes, holistic therapies, workshops available all to support you with your wellbeing.

Daily sanctuary sessions

It’s really easy to open and access to the wellbeing calendar –  please seee instructions to help you with this below.

Health and wellbeing events calendar guide

Looking after yourself and your colleagues

Your health is as important as our patients which is why you need to look after yourself.

Click here to access some of our quick tips to help you maintain positive health and wellbeing.

Free emergency repairs from HomeServe for colleagues

HomeServe are offering free emergency repairs to all colleagues at the Trust.

For more information please call 03300247222 or click here.

Heartbeat: My Friend Jen – a story about a girl who’s a little bit different

Acclaimed sickle cell author, Jenica Leah recently launched her second book in the My Friend Jen series. Coinciding with World Book Day on 5 March, the launch held in Birmingham celebrated the release of her latest book called The Check Up.

The inspirational story told by her friend follows Jen as she embarks upon a hospital visit for her sickle cell check-up.

He introduces her by saying, “My friend Jen is as fun as can be. She wears her hair big and high for everyone to see.”

Whilst this may be fiction, the story itself is rooted in fact. Jenica has sickle cell and is a patient of ours at City Hospital.

Speaking exclusively to Heartbeat, she remarked, “City Hospital is where I have been cared for since I was a teenager.

They have a dedicated sickle cell and thalassaemia centre that provides day care for patients, which I attend.”

When talking about her motivation to create these books, Jenica said, “I’ve had sickle cell from birth and, I was in and out of hospital growing up. I didn’t understand my condition, so I grew up in isolation, unable to explain what I had or how it affected me.”

“Living with an invisible illness has led me to create my children’s book series, My Friend Jen.

I want other children growing up with sickle cell to have the peace of mind growing up that I didn’t have. I pride myself on not letting my condition stop me achieving my goals. I want other children to grow up and have that same motivation.”

Eddie Edmead, Major Grants Manager for Your Trust Charity, attended the book launch.

He said, “It was great to catch up with Jen again. We have worked together before for the launch of her first book. This was a fantastic event that was well put together.

It was great to see so many people there to support her and help raise awareness of sickle cell.”

Drug safety notice: Phytomenadione

UK licensed Konakion MM Paediatric is out of stock until the end of May. Cheplapharm have sourced sufficient Konakion MM Paediatric in EFA (English-French-Arabic) layout which is manufactured in the same facility and to exactly the same formulation and standards as the UK licensed product.

Note: Where there are insufficient supplies of licensed stock available, clinicians should consider prescribing the unlicensed Konakion MM Paediatric. 

Please see Phytomenadione information sheet for details.

For more information please contact the pharmacy department (City ext. 5263, Sandwell ext. 3783).

COVID-19 Bulletin: Tuesday 21 April

This is our once a night bulletin. Please use this bulletin and daily cascade arrangements within care and corporate groups to guide local action. Remember KINDNESS is our watchword in implementing our plans.  It is also our way of keeping in touch with shielders, home workers, part-timers and volunteers.  You are on the team.  Thank you!

Lots of colleagues continue to face skin damage worries arising from PPE.  We are working on a structured clinical solution to help you and have previously published best practice guidance.  If you do have ideas or workarounds that you think others could benefit from please do get in touch with Julie Booth and the infection control team. Our updated Sundstrom guidance is on Connect.

1. Supporting colleagues during Ramadan: Readiness check

This Thursday, 23rd April, marks the start of a month of prayer and fasting. Clearly this year will be different in key respects and our guidance is attached, along with a toolkit used in some other organisations to support making good local arrangements and personal choices.  A map of facilities is attached as well.  Team leaders are asked to explicitly discuss the approach being taken with their teams to make sure everyone feels supported to find solutions to their personal and professional obligations.

• Read the Ramadan guidance
• Read the toolkit
• See the facilities map

2. Food donations – stuff that’s not ok

As you know, we have been overwhelmed by support from the local community with donations of supplies and food. These are being distributed across the Trust – our hospital site and community services – and also among the vulnerable residents locally who may be struggling with lack of income or unable to go out due to self-isolation. Any donations of food must go through our single route to ensure that our catering service can assure the hygiene ratings of the suppliers and that the food is maintained at the right temperatures.

Please do not contact restaurants or suppliers directly to source food for your department. It is not fair on struggling businesses to provide large levels of donations at no cost when there is no need.

If suppliers contact you wanting to donate please direct them to Amanda.winwood@nhs.net

3. Getting scrubs laundered – we are here to help

Scrubs are now in use in key mandated departments and for non-uniformed staff in red areas. If that is not you, no matter what anyone else tells you, you do not have to wear scrubs to be safe. We have previously published guidance on laundering uniforms.

To prioritise the scrubs laundering please place these in the blue plastic bags as per the image below. Our in house team and external supplier Elis will ensure that these scrubs are laundered and delivered back for re-use. Do not take scrubs home!

4. We are still testing for COVID-19!

If you have the classic symptoms of coronavirus (fever, persistent cough) then you can get a test by calling 0121 507 2664 option 5 to book an appointment.  The test is also available to members of your family (including children) if you are self-isolating at home because of their symptoms.  Currently we do not have an asymptomatic test nor an antibody test.  If you are already isolating and past this stage we cannot test you but will expect you back at work at the end of your isolation period.  If you go off now to isolate, you are expected to come forward for a test in time.

The new regional drive- thru test centre opened last week at the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital visitor car park which is currently for colleagues from transport companies, social care, the police and fire service, primary care, care homes and other key worker organisations. Staff swabbing still takes place at City Hospital and the Little Lane Car Park in Sandwell and we can test people at home too.

5. Getting paid – we are not trying to make it hard

We have had changed pay rates, changed rotas, changed places, and changed line managers.  That could create issues with getting paid.  We are working to make sure all worked time undertaken in March is paid correctly in April.  If you are mis-paid in April we will run an additional payment for you.  To be explicit:  We had changed pay rates on certain days in A&E for Trust staff, changed pay rates for bank GCA staff and for some bank nursing staff that month.  Those working the tactical management rota over weekends will be acknowledged.  Those working managers’  revised on/off shifts patterns will take time back.

We are finalising this week rotas from and for April to ensure payment for redeployed staff at the higher of their base and destination job.  Guidance was issued before the April bank holiday on setting staff up for payment, both generally and for that period.  Those required to work the bank holiday for urgent and emergency services will have their pay adjusted.  Staff above band 8a for that period are subject to a scrutiny review and will be paid after that process is concluded.

If you have any pay queries in the first instance, please contact the payroll team, or highlight those queries to swbh.tactical@nhs.net. We will log and address each one.

Numbers not statistics: An everyday feature of our bulletin (yesterday’s data..)

COVID-19 Bulletin: Monday 20 April

This is our once a night bulletin. Please use this bulletin and daily cascade arrangements within care and corporate groups to guide local action. Remember KINDNESS is our watchword in implementing our plans.  It is also our way of keeping in touch with shielders, home workers, part-timers and volunteers.  You are on the team.  Thank you!

More training has taken place today for our Green, Blue and Yellow brigade teams.  Thank you to everyone volunteering a shift, a day, or much of their time to this effort.  Any Exit plan from Covid-19 continues to depend on our ability to protect our workforce and ensure our workplace is Outstandingly clean.  You are vital!

Numbers not statistics: An everyday feature of our bulletin (yesterday’s data..)

1. Last chance to volunteer as mental health first aider

Applications close tomorrow for our first wave of 60 mental health first aiders.  First advertised a week ago, and with expressions of interest flooding in, we will stop taking nominations tomorrow at 3pm, so that we can start selecting by department and get moving with training next week.  If you want to put yourself forward please contact Raffaela Goodby via r.goodby@nhs.net – we are especially keen to make sure we have coverage across our primary care and community teams as well as acute colleagues.

The attached guidance explains again the role and its part in our plans.

• Mental Health First Aider Volunteers and TRiM practitioner volunteers

2. Making sure we have good quality NIV in place

If you have been following the professional literature on treating Covid-19 you will be aware of debates and evidence about the role of mechanical ventilation and non-invasive care.  The Trust, building on our respiratory hub service, is rapidly expanding our provision, and you will have seen that our Respiratory Physiology team won last week’s Star of the Week award.  We are determined to deploy everything we can to improve outcomes.

If you work in our acute care pathways and are unsure of the NIV arrangements now in place across the Trust, please speak up!  The approved pathways are included here for ease of reference.

• COVID NIV (CPAP) Pathway Sandwell
• COVID NIV (CPAP) Pathway City
• COVID NIV (BiPAP) Pathway City and Sandwell

3. Are we planning for recovery?  Yes, we are

Consistent with recent messages we are beginning planning arrangements for re-starting some services across our sites.  These changes will begin with ensuring that we have capacity and capability to undertake diagnostic imaging to support video-based outpatient work, and any surgical activity that we may re-commence in May.

Just as we took a structured approach to surge, we will be taking a sequenced approach to recovery work.  The most important thing is that we ensure we retain workforce capacity to manage safely our emergency patients, and work alongside partners across the Black Country and West Birmingham to re-establish services for elective care.

We will use this bulletin to keep you posted on service recovery.  The tactical group that was meeting twice daily is now using some of its time to oversee this work – talk to your rep!

4. You really need to get your form in …….(nursing colleagues!)

Thank you to all our medical staff who have completed forms on redeployment training and competency.  Nursing colleagues across critical care and our adult ward base now need to follow suit.  Following previous appeals here and elsewhere, we are asking everyone who was redeployed over recent weeks to make sure that you have got your personal competency declaration form in by midday on Wednesday 22^nd April.  It is not linked to wages, but it is important anyway to your portfolio….

The form and checklists are attached again.  If you have any questions please contact Helen Cope.

• Personal Competency Declaration Form
• Non-Critical Care Staff Skills Checklist
• eLfH Resources for Ward Working

5. There when you need it: Grief and bereavement support

At home or at work, many of us are thinking through loved ones’ lost or deeply unwell.  It is really important to find space and scope to talk and think.  When you are ready.  Our support package is with us for a long time, but do think about whether you need help now.

Extended on site counselling Service: Our Occupational Health Service currently offers a free and confidential counselling service. The contact number is ext. 3306. You can ask for a counselling appointment and leave your phone number and a counsellor will be in touch.  A drop in, on site counselling service is available throughout the week and including weekends.

Drop in appointments can be accessed via one of the Trust’s accredited counsellors.

• Linda, Contact Telephone  07973664125 * Available up until 12 midnight at Weekends.
• Tony, Contact Telephone  07970225929

End of life beds available at Leasowes Community hospital

If you have a patient you are caring for who you think maybe in the last weeks of their life please consider accessing one of our 20 beds at Leasowes community hospital in Smethwick, part of SWBH. We take people who would prefer not to be in an acute hospital who want a more peaceful environment. This is a long established service expanded from 2 beds to 20 due to the pandemic.

Our workforce of established qualified nurses, healthcare assistants and doctors is supported by the Connected Palliative Care team. We admit people who are dying of both Covid and non-Covid related illnesses. We focus on maximising quality of life and symptom control and minimise un-helpful interventions aiming for a homely environment with limited visiting supported.

To discuss admissions please call Connected Palliative Care on ext. 3611.