Monthly archives: May 2020
COVID-19 Bulletin: Wednesday 27 May
This is our seven days a week bulletin. Please use this bulletin and cascade arrangements within care and corporate groups to guide your actions. Throughout May and June we are determined to reduce avoidable harm and death in the people we are taking care of. Kindness remains the guiding principle of all the actions in our work to tackle the virus – kindness in how we look after patients, visitors, and one another.
Antibody testing for the Trust kicks off Monday June 1st. Booking details will be released tomorrow. We have plenty of capacity over coming weeks and we want to ensure as many volunteers, staff and bank colleagues are tested as we can in month. Symptomatic people are excluded during that period and we are working through how to test those who are shielding. Keep your eye out for the test details as we look to ensure we are able to manage a test / trace / isolate environment at other lockdown arrangements come to an end in coming weeks.
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 |
| 1254 (1249) |
819 (817) |
351 (347) |
130 (127) |
84 (81) |
624 (611) |
1. Visionable helping keep our patients in the loop
Whilst WebEx has rapidly become something many of us are familiar with for meetings, for clinicians, another piece of software has become a regular part of their day: Visionable.
In order to help maintain appointments with patients, consultations and even some assessments are being done via Visionable, which operates a secure video call between PCs or mobile devices.
Dr. Derek Connolly (pictured above) is one of those clinicians keeping up with patients via the software: “Visionable is tremendous – you can guarantee you are free at that time, there are no distractions and you can do pretty much everything you can do in a face-to-face meeting. More to the point the patient doesn’t have the hassle of coming in, the cost of parking, etc. It’s time efficient for clinicians and patients alike. Obviously it can’t help with everything, but this method of patient contact is here to stay and will certainly help us with follow-ups in the future.”
For more information or to get set up with Visionable for your clinics contact Mark Whitehouse.
2. Elevators are red, they are also blue – and they’re marked that way for a reason
Our lifts have been clearly marked as either “red” for +COVID or ?COVID patients, or “blue” for those patients who do not have COVID-19 symptoms. The lifts also do not stop being red or blue just because you do not have a patient with you.
It is essential for safety that you use the correct lifts whenever you are moving around, entering or leaving our hospital sites and particularly when transferring patients who are moving between “red” areas. These patients should only be moved using the dedicated red lifts. Using the incorrect lift puts patients at risk, yourself at risk and your colleagues at risk.
3. Sandwell up next for the deep clean treatment
After some hard work over at the Birmingham Treatment Centre and BMEC, Sandwell is next for deep cleaning as we demonstrate we are #OpenForBusiness.
Cleaning has already begun and will continue at Sandwell across June, with the focus landing on City Hospital thereafter. To facilitate this there is likely to be some degree of moving about – for example Newton 5 will be moving temporarily today onto OPAU – to allow wards and other clinical areas to get the proper attention they need.
4. Working from home – revised guidance
To date the Trust has issued two pieces of guidance on this subject, the latest (i.e. the extant guidance) on April 7th. This new guidance will carry us to July 31st in the first instance. We plan to issue a longer-term strategy or plan about home working arrangements later in June to carry the Trust through the period to 2023 and to put arrangements on a firmer and more contractual footing. This ensures fairness for existing and new employees and clarity about eligibility and decision making. We expect this longer-term guidance to see more home working than pre COVID-19, mindful of social distancing and the open plan nature of office accommodation in particular in the Trust’s estate from 2022.
You can read the guidance in full here.
5. Reflect and decompress this Thursday at the Recharge Booth
A reminder that our Recharge Booth is open tomorrow – a ‘virtual’ space that allows you to come together with others, reflect, recharge, decompress, and join a safe and confidential discussion. Hosted by Richard Burnell every Thursday at 2pm, the booth will be sharing stories from different colleagues over a 20-30 minute session. 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. Alternatively 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.
The Connect Coronavirus page is continually being updated with the latest news and guidance regarding the virus, please take the time to read and familiarise yourself with the available guidance.
Star of the Week – Dr Rebecca Edwards
This week’s Star of the Week goes to a doctor who was nominated not only by two senior colleagues but also by numerous families who she came in to contact with.
Core Medical Trainee Rebecca Edwards has been working on the frontline of COVID-19 and has been a shining light in supporting dying patients as well as supporting families. Nominating Rebecca for the award, Consultant Huma Naqvi said, “Rebecca has always been a caring and compassionate doctor but in recent times and especially managing a cohort of patients who have been seriously unwell and dying with COVID, she has taken the time and has been particularly compassionate and caring in her approach. She took the extra effort with these patients and their families, ensuring they understood the nature of this illness and also taking special efforts with one family to have a final conversation with their mother. It made all the difference and went that extra mile. Bec is one of a kind, she epitomises the essence of how any health care professional should care for patients. That should be recognised and hopefully serve as an example to her peers (be that junior or senior doctors). We all have a lot to learn from doctors like herself.”
Do you know someone in your team that has gone above and beyond the call of duty? Why not put them forward for Star of the Week by clicking here.
TeamTalk via WebEx today at 1pm
TeamTalk is our monthly Trust-wide team briefing system led by Toby Lewis, Chief Executive. The next session will take place today (Wednesday 27 May) at 1pm.
Please ensure you are able to access a computer with speakers or headphones to enable you to participate.
Details on how to login are as follows:
- To join the session from your computer click on the following link:
https://swbhnhsevents.webex.com/swbhnhsevents/onstage/g.php?MTID=e0e446b7cf71a00cede44fe285dc3c039 - Event password is SWBTEAMTALK2020
If you have any questions about how you join the briefing, contact Subtan Mahmood by email: subtan.mahmood@nhs.net.
Unity tip of the week: We need your suggestions
Unity is now live and many colleagues are reaping the rewards of our electronic patient record.
Although Unity go-live has been an overall success there remain many opportunities for us to optimise Unity, which is where we need your help!
We are encouraging colleagues at all levels across the Trust to suggest any quick wins or top tips they have for using Unity in their ward, area or department.
All suggestions are welcome so please get in touch! The best suggestions will be featured in our Unity Tip of the Week every Wednesday on Connect.
This week’s tip of the week has been suggested by Paul Brady, Cardiology Registrar and is:
“Double clicking on the UNITY Banner Bar RXK number (or any other demographic) will automatically copy this allowing you to paste information with ease into other programs.”
If you have a tip of the week please send it to swbh.unitytips@nhs.net.
COVID-19 Bulletin: Tuesday 26 May
Numbers not statistics: Today’s totals (Yesterday’s totals) |
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This is our seven days a week bulletin. Please use this bulletin and cascade arrangements within care and corporate groups to guide your actions. Throughout May and June we are determined to reduce avoidable harm and death in the people we are taking care of. Kindness remains the guiding principle of all the actions in our work to tackle the virus – kindness in how we look after patients, visitors, and one another.
Heartbeat: Brave doctor puts the NHS first in our battle to beat COVID-19
As we find ourselves amid a global pandemic it is stories of selflessness and sacrifice that are bringing hope to many people at this difficult time. Now more than ever, our nation has shown just how much it appreciates the work we are all doing to protect lives whilst battling this unknown and dangerous virus.
Our healthcare system is a melting pot of talented people, all specialists in their areas, with some people choosing to join the NHS from outside of the UK. One such person is Dr Gerald Rajakulenthiran Santhiyapillai, a young doctor who became part of our Trust just six months ago from Sri Lanka.
Having moved to the UK with his family, Dr Santhiyapillai has quickly become a well-regarded member of the cardiology team. He joined our organisation through the Medical Trainee Initiative (MTI) via the Royal College of Physicians in London. This national scheme allows junior doctors to work and train in the UK for up to 24 months before returning to their home countries. For the NHS, it means we get to work with and train up some of the most talented, young, international medical graduates.
As the COVID-19 crisis began to unfold, the Sri Lankan government contacted doctors that were part of the MTI and made provisions for them to return home. Upon being contacted, Dr Santhiyapillai arranged to send his family home but decided to stay in the UK to help us battle the outbreak. Speaking exclusively to Heartbeat, he said: ‘My wife and I decided that my family should return home to Sri Lanka where they could be surrounded by our family. I chose to stay here in the UK because I have taken the Hippocratic Oath. I have a duty of care towards my patients; I will not leave or resign at this time of crisis.’
Understandably this altruistic act has not gone unnoticed. Dr Fairoz B Abdul, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, commented: ‘Our department is incredibly touched by this act of selfless commitment. It has raised the morale of the team, made us stronger, more resilient and even more dedicated to beating COVID-19.
He added: ‘Other registrars have since put themselves forward for the COVID-19 rota without hesitation, knowing only too well the risks they face to their health. Dr Santhiyapillai has inspired our team and, we feel there is a strengthened sense of commitment despite the adverse situation we find ourselves in.’
Chetan Varma, Consultant Cardiologist and Group Director, Medicine and Emergency Care added: ‘Dr Santhiyapillai is a hardworking, intelligent and efficient doctor who has adapted very quickly to working within the NHS. His kindness, generosity and dedication to our Trust is nothing short of inspiring. Like so many other key workers, he continues to come into work in these uncertain times and puts the lives of patients’ first. I would like to thank him and the rest of the team for their dedication.’
Heartbeat: Dad of one reveals how he beat coronavirus
A dad of one who battled coronavirus from his intensive care bed revealed how thinking positively helped him recover. Anthony Morrison, aged 55, spent a week in City Hospital where he was ventilated after being diagnosed with the disease.
“Many people think that having coronavirus is a death sentence, but that isn’t the case,” said Anthony. “I was in a bad way, but I pulled through, and people out there need to know that just because you have the illness does not mean you are going to pass away. I have a friend who has had it and she has also recovered.”
Anthony first experienced symptoms on his way home from work. A couple of days later he began suffering headaches and had a high temperature. His wife called paramedics and initially, he was told to take paracetamol, but his symptoms didn’t ease and he collapsed.
“The paramedics rushed me to hospital and once I was there it was confirmed I had coronavirus,” he recalled. “My oxygen levels were really low and I was in intensive care. I knew I had to fight this disease, and I practised deep breathing techniques. I knew that I couldn’t let it beat me. It was difficult, but I knew I had to remain positive. I think that is a key factor with this illness.
“Also, hearing from my relatives picked me up and when I received two handmade cards from my grandnieces that picked me up. Their messages touched my heart. I knew I had to get out of the hospital and see them again. There were small things too that I tried to do whilst I was in the hospital. I would set myself goals – every day I made sure I was able to do something that would help me in my recovery.
Anthony thanked our staff for the way he was looked after. “The care I received was brilliant, right from the domestics to the doctors, everyone looked after me well.”
Having now returned home, Anthony is resting until he is fit to return to work. His message to people out there is simple.
“I really would say to people to stay positive. You can fight this disease, and I am an example of that.”
Essential maintenance affecting Ivor: Tuesday 26 May – 6pm
As part of our ongoing work to improve IVOR there is planned maintenance taking place on today (Tuesday 26 May) affecting the Ivor telephony system. The work is scheduled to begin at 6pm and should be completed by 9pm.
During this time for up to approximately 30 minutes Ivor will not be available; however the switchboard will be operating as normal.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Should you have any queries on this please contact the IT helpdesk on ext. 4050.
Drug safety notice: Emerade 500 microgram auto-injectors recall
Emerade 500 microgram auto-injectors are being recalled due to an error in one component of the auto-injector believed to cause some pens to fail to activate and deliver adrenaline. This is a recall for Emerade 500 microgram pens only. Alternative brands of adrenaline auto-injector (EpiPen and Jext) are available in a maximum strength of 300 micrograms.
Please see Emerade 500 microgram auto injectors sheet for further details.
For more information please contact the pharmacy department (City ext. 5263, Sandwell ext. 3783).
welearn from excellence
We have launched welearn from excellence across the Trust through our QIHDs. It is a way to recognise colleagues for their everyday brilliance and show appreciation for their hard work, achievements and improvements to quality or safety.
Positive reporting is quick and easy. Simply click here or on the welearn from excellence logo on the Connect homepage.
welearn from excellence story:
Local guidelines adopted nationally – the nuclear medicine team
Early in the pandemic, the nuclear medicine team realised that COVID-19 would have a significant impact on how they deliver their service, particularly around clinical pathways and how the care could be provided.
As a result they produced some local guidelines which were taken to the British Nuclear Medicine Council, who then adopted the guidelines incorporating them into their national COVID-19 guidance.
Recognising the significant impact these changes would have on urgent patients still needing to access services, the team also put together a supplementary information letter to be sent to patients along with their appointments. The letters provide extra assurance and information at what has been a strange and scary time for many.
Well done to Joseph O’Brien, Alp Notghi, Manish Pandit, Jilly Croasdale, Mohamed El-Sayed, Matt Elms and Jenny Thompson-Peters.
For more information on welearn from excellence please contact swbh.welearnlfe@nhs.net.
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