Monthly archives: May 2020
International Day of the Midwife
Today marks an important day in our calendar as we celebrate International Day of the Midwife. This awareness day aims to recognise midwives across the globe and more importantly the fantastic work they do. The day was first observed on 5 May, 1991, and is now recognised crossed across the world in over 50 countries every year.
Our Chief Nurse, Paula Gardner has a special message for all our Midwives across the Trust:
“I would like to say a massive thank you to all our midwives across the organisation especially during these difficult and challenging times. Midwives play a vital role in our Trust and for that we are forever grateful.”
Be sure to check out the short video message from Paula below:
COVID-19 Bulletin: Monday 4 May
This is our every single day bulletin. Please use this bulletin and cascade arrangements within care and corporate groups to guide your actions. Throughout May we are determined to reduce avoidable harm and death in the people we are taking care of. You are doing a great job!
We are not ‘past’ Covid-19. 99 people are with us with a positive diagnosis and community prevalence is unknown. A second surge is probable, not possible. We need to stay vigilant, with handwashing and social distancing. But also we need to stay KIND: Our first “rainbow birthday card” goes out tomorrow to an inpatient not able to have their family around them on their Special Day. Just one of loads of projects trying to help patients to stay connected. Every ward has technology to do that: Let’s use it widely and wisely. Thank you.
Numbers not statistics: Today’s totals (Yesterday’s totals)
| Number of our patients confirmed with COVID-19 during the pandemic | Number of positive COVID-19 patients who have been discharged during the pandemic | Number of patients who have died in our hospitals who tested positive for COVID-19 during the pandemic | Number of patients entered by the Trust into a COVID-19 research trial to date | Number of COVID-19 positive patients who are inpatients with us today | Number of our staff absent due to ill-health or isolation today |
| 1110 (1097) |
713 (704) |
298 (297) |
99 (98) |
99 (96) |
524 (537) |
1. Handwashing Week gets going
Jackie Slater kicked off the Trust’s handwashing week at the weekend with her count of 70 handwashes in one day – can you beat it? Let us know at swbh.comms@nhs.net, sharing your pictures, films and stories and share them on social media too using #SWBcleanhands
Our Chief Nurse, Paula Gardner, emphasises why thorough handwashing is so important and for at least 20 seconds. Is this how you wash your hands?
2. Supporting patients who are discharged
Over 700 patients who were +COVID have now been discharged from our community and acute hospitals during the pandemic. A discharge pathway has been produced which gives clinicians guidance on when it is clinically appropriate to discharge a patient. It includes mandatory discharge summary documentation as well as the follow up arrangements for patients in the community.
Our discharge pack is now available to help patients as they return home with useful advice, exercises to aid recovery and who to contact if you need help.
3. Webex for home workers: 14 May 14.30 – 15.30
On 14th May at 14.30, people who have been working from home during the pandemic are invited to take part in a webex meeting to share your experiences and ideas.
To access the webex please follow the link below – https://swbhnhsevents.webex.com/swbhnhsevents/onstage/g.php?MTID=ece1a91f23682a8cbe9f39af46f2936a4
Use the password SWBWFH
If you have questions or comments you would like to post ahead of the meeting please email them to swbh.comms@nhs.net
If you are on our WFH register we will pop you a questionnaire later this week on your experiences to date!
4. COVID-19 research trials expand at pace: 99!!!
The range of research opportunities and numbers of patients taking part is growing rapidly and our Trust is at the forefront of these research trials. Please consider whether your patients are suitable for these trials and you can hear from a number of colleagues on the film below:
5. Testing patients for COVID-19: Use the correct swab
It is vital to follow the correct process for sampling of swabs from our patients. This will ensure that the swabs are able to be processed by the labs so that results are returned promptly. Follow the directions on the swab guidance document linked below.
SWB in the news:
Following in the footsteps of Charlene Nelson, one of our colleagues who has recovered from COVID-19, Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour on Friday featured critical care nurse Rachel Winterflood, and this evening our outstanding midwives will be featured on The One Show with their new football ground clinics – tune in to see them and their mums in these clinics in the community.
Heartbeat: New group to support myeloma patients
Not so uncommon, but often diagnosed late, myeloma is an incurable but treatable form of blood cancer found in the bone marrow. It impacts thousands of people across the UK and accounts for 15 per cent of all blood cancers.
A newly formed support group has launched to support myeloma patients. The Midland Metropolitan Myeloma Support Group (MMMSG) officially launched on 22 April. It provides a broad array of support ranging from patient and carer information, living with myeloma and treatment options to name but a few things.
The inaugural meeting will take place at the education centre at Sandwell Hospital. Patron, Dr Farooq Wandroo, Haematology Consultant commented, “MMMSG is a new myeloma patient support group established with the help of registered charity Myeloma UK. Over the years, we have been feeling an unmet need to have something in place to support myeloma patients and their carers when they are newly diagnosed or post-chemotherapy.
“It’s essential that there is support available to share information, experiences and expert advice. Information plays a vital role in helping individuals come to terms with a myeloma diagnosis and understanding treatment options. Over 17, 000 people in the UK have myeloma and, though the disease remains incurable, the majority of patients now live a pronged life with current treatments.
“This group consists of several patients and carers who are very enthusiastic about meeting and supporting each other. Doctors and nurses will support the group by providing advice on treatments available, management of pain, toxicities and measures to help myeloma patients live life to the fullest. The group will also help spread awareness about myeloma and promote early diagnosis to help prevent complications. It will also be working closely the Trust’s cancer services team.”
Jane Ogleby, Macmillan Haematology CNS said: “We’re looking forward to the launch of the MMMSG; it will offer a great way for patients and family members to meet in an informal and welcoming setting. It will provide those living with myeloma lots of useful resources and access to trained professionals. It will also offer specialist support to help individuals deal with everything from their diagnosis through to more practical tips on how to navigate life with myeloma. As well as this individuals will benefit from support from each other as well as carers.”
Top tips from our tissue viability team
Following the tissue viability mobile skin clinics, here are some of our top tips for looking after your skin:
HANDS: red, sore and dry from hand washing?
- TIP: Ensure thoroughly dry and pat dry rather than rub. Don’t forget to dry in between your fingers.
- TIP: Barrier cream can be used to reduce the drying effects of frequent hand washing. Use it sparingly and continue with normal hand hygiene and moisturising.
- TIP: Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise!
NOSE: pressure damage, redness, irritation, discomfort from the PPE masks?
- TIP: Try to take regular breaks – every 2 hours is practical.
- TIP: Get FIT tested for another mask so you can alternate between them.
- TIP: Use barrier film to protect but remember to use the Appeel adhesive remover too to prevent a build up.
- TIP: If you have been FIT tested to use duoderm under your mask, remember any of it exposed will be contaminated. Use Appeel adhesive remover to remove slowly and gently (don’t pull it off!).
- TIP: If your skin breaks, complete an Incident report.
- TIP: Try not to pull straps too tight.
- TIP: Take photos so the TV nurses can review if required.
FACE: red, irritated, swollen? Hands: breaking down?
- TIP: Contact the tissue viability mobile skin clinic for advice and to discuss a dermatology referral. You can contact them on ext. 3278 or email tissueviability2@nhs.net.
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 second myth is around getting a sun tan being healthy. It is indeed a myth that this is healthy as excessive exposure to UV(ultraviolet)A and UV(ultraviolet)B rays can lead to skin cancer.
For more information around skin cancer and sun protection, please contact arutland@nhs.net.
Handwashing week starts today
This week is the start of our special Handwashing week. We want to know how you wash your hands, how many times you do it, why you do it, and how to get everyone doing it.
Get involved by sharing your pictures and videos of handwashing best practice on Twitter @SWBHnhs with the hashtag #SWBCleanHands
The recharge booth
We will soon be launching the Recharge Booth as part of our welearn programme.
The Recharge Booth is a ‘virtual’ space that allows you to come together with others, reflect, recharge, decompress, and join a safe and confidential discussion. The booth will be hosted by Richard Burnell and will focus on the feelings and emotions that are experienced during our daily work, rather than trying to find solutions.
The Recharge Booth will ‘open’ virtually on Thursday 14 May, 2pm, with each session lasting about 20 to 30 minutes, and will run every Thursday at the same time. Each week we will be sharing different colleague’s stories and experiences.
By joining the Recharge Booth, we hope that colleagues will feel better enabled to maintain their health and wellbeing, and that it helps to support resilience in both personal and working lives.
For more information please contact Richard Burnell on 07747 144874 or Claire Hubbard on 07866 004575.
If you would like to be part of the Recharge Booth, drop an email to swbh.rechargebooth@nhs.net. A WebEx invite will be sent to your outlook diary, and you will simply need to click on the ‘join’ button to enter.
Sun safety week starts today
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 first myth is around sunscreen expiration. It is indeed a myth that it never expires as sunscreen does naturally expire over time as the active ingredients breakdown which can leave skin unprotected. With this in mind, be sure to keep checking the expiration date on your sunscreen protection.
For more information around skin cancer and sun protection, please contact arutland@nhs.net.
Heartbeat: Poo is no longer a taboo thanks to service
It’s normally a taboo subject saved for discussions with your doctor or your most trusted friend or even keeping it entirely to yourself for fear of embarrassment. Not any more – the FINCH (Faecal Incontinence and Constipation Healthcare) team are bringing the embarrassing subject of poo into the open – highlighting the issue on national airwaves.
Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist, Kelly Stackhouse and her team were the focus of the Radio 4 programme Inside Health interviewed by Trust Me I’m a Doctor presenter, Dr Saleyha Ahsan.
The programme is known for discussing health issues which people struggle to understand and faecal incontinence (also known as bowel function) is certainly one of those topics.
The service is for patients who have functional bowel disorders, which means the organ doesn’t work properly, leading to problems such as constipation, needing to rush to the toilet, losing control of the bowel following surgery in that area. Kelly explained, “The FINCH service wants to break the taboo around poo.
Receiving this national coverage is very important as it will alert people to this vital service and raise awareness that there are different treatments available. We are here to help those who are experiencing real problems. Some of them will refuse or be unable to leave the house because it has gotten so bad. Many of our patients have told us how it really has changed their lives for the better being under the care of our service.”
Set up a little over 10 years ago, the team initially comprised of just Kelly and one consultant Miss Kathryn Gill. Kelly had worked as a colorectal nurse at the Trust.
She explained, “Miss Gill wanted to set up a service, so we did this together, with one of the main focuses being on anterior resection syndrome.
Fast forward to 2020, and the service has won a number of accolades. It comprises of three extra nursing team members and two more colorectal consultants. In 2019 it had 500 referrals, compared to just 170 in its first year.
“We hold clinics every day and patients from all over the country visit us,” Kelly added.
One such patient is Lara Simms. The 21-yearold student started suffering from terrible constipation two years ago and was only able to pass a stool once every three weeks.
Lara’s story was featured on the Radio 4 programme. She told the presenter: “It transpired that I had ‘slow bowel’ and it had come on all of a sudden. I found myself suffering from terrible stomach pain and I was constantly in and out of the hospital in Brighton where I’m a student. Doctors were baffled as to what was wrong with me.”
Eventually, she received a diagnosis but medics unfamiliar with the condition were unable to treat the problem effectively. “I was on 15 to 20 laxatives a day and looked so bloated. I couldn’t go out because I knew I would need to use the toilet so much,” she said. Lara visited her family home frequently and on one occasion she was admitted to Sandwell Hospital and referred to the FINCH team.
Kelly discussed Lara’s condition with her colleagues at the multi-disciplinary team meeting. She was told about the antegrade continence enema (ACE) procedure – an operation designed to help with emptying the bowel. It allows the patient to self-administer enemas into the large bowel after a hole is made in the appendix. Lara became the first patient at our Trust to have this procedure, performed by Mr Raj Peravali.
Lara added: “Since having this operation my life has changed drastically for the better. I am able to carry on with my studies, go out and see my friends, go shopping without having to worry about where the nearest toilet it. I have the FINCH team to thank for this.”
COVID-19 Bulletin: Sunday 3 May
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This is our every single day bulletin. Please use this bulletin and cascade arrangements within care and corporate groups to guide your actions. Remember KINDNESS is our watchword in implementing our plans. Throughout May we are determined to reduce avoidable harm and death
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