Monthly archives: June 2020

Drug safety notice: Zyban 150mg

Zyban 150mg prolonged release tablets will be out of stock from week commencing 15 June until the end of November due to a manufacturing site transfer. Champix tablets which are licensed for the treatment of nicotine dependence are available as Pfizer have advised they are able to support an uplift in demand during this time.

All healthcare professionals should work with clinicians including pharmacists to ensure they defer initiating new patients on Zyban 150mg prolonged release tablets until the supply disruption is resolved.

Please see Zyban information sheet for details.

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

Unity tip of the week: Endorsing results

This week’s tip of the week comes from Russell Davis, Cardiology Consultant:

“When endorsing results on Message Centre clicking on the patient’s name to the left of the search bar will take you straight to their record. Please remember to also continue endorsing results as you review them (e.g. during ward rounds).”

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.

If you have a tip of the week please send it to swbh.unitytips@nhs.net.

Heartbeat: We clapped for businesses that have supported our Trust

At the time when our NHS has most needed it, local businesses have come forward to offer us help, even when they have been struggling with the impact of lockdown. Just as people come out every week to clap for our carers, we wanted to show our appreciation for the fantastic support we have had from suppliers that enables us to care for patients and colleagues throughout this pandemic.

To recognise the support of the local community and businesses we unveiled “thank you” banners recognising those who have come to the aid of our organisation during the pandemic. The signs were revealed at City Hospital where colleagues gathered on 15 April, to clap for businesses.

Toby Lewis, Chief Executive, said: “At the time when our NHS has most needed it, local businesses have come forward to offer us help, even when they have been struggling with the impact of lockdown. Just as people come out every week to clap for our carers, today we want to show our appreciation for the fantastic support we have had from suppliers that enables us to care for patients and colleagues throughout this pandemic.”

Paul Faulkner, CEO of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “This is a lovely display of thanks to all the many businesses who have stepped forward at this time to provide support for the patients and staff at the Trust. Of course, we all think that it is the staff working throughout the NHS, and in other critical care roles, who are the true heroes. This gesture helps to highlight how business is also a force for good and demonstrates the way people across our society and communities are pulling together at this difficult time.”

Drug safety notice: Danazol 100mg and 200mg Capsules

Sanofi discontinued Danazol capsules from the UK in December 2019. With this mind, clinicians should not initiate new patients on danazol 100mg or 200mg capsules and should make early contact with patients to allow time to plan for any switch strategies. Clinicians refer to national local or national treatment guidelines to switch patients to an alternative licensed therapy.

Please see Danazol 100mg and 200mg capsules information sheet for details.

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

welearn from excellence

welearn from excellenceis 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:

Effective management of redeployment – Joanne Lee, Community Heart Failure Specialist Nurse

Joanne Lee was nominated by Jacqui Elson-Whittaker, Heart Failure Nurse who told us how amazing Joanne has been, rapidly stepping into a leadership role with kindness and compassion.

Joanne has taken on new leadership responsibilities whilst redeploying her team, who have commented how they really appreciate her support.

To enable the redeployment, Joanne has picked up a larger caseload of patients and still continues to go over and above for them, keeping them safely at home and preventing admissions.

For more information on welearn from excellence please contact swbh.welearnlfe@nhs.net.

Star Awards 2020: Distinguished Service Award

Do you know an individual or team who has worked above and beyond the call of duty in their service to the Trust?

This could be a current employee or someone who has left during the previous year.

Nominate them for the Distinguished Service Award in this year’s upcoming Star Awards!

Ways to nominate:

• You can complete a paper nomination form which you can download by clicking here.
• You can send in a video nomination for free to swbh.comms@nhs.net via www.wetransfer.com Choose go to free. When doing the recording remember to state clearly who you are and the name of the person/team you are nominating.
• You can complete the online form by clicking here.

Be sure to check out this video featuring last year’s winner Carroll Brashier.

If you have any questions regarding the Star Awards, please contact the communications team on 0121 507 5303 or email swbh.comms@nhs.net.

For more information, please visit our dedicated Star Awards page on Connect.

COVID-19 Bulletin: Tuesday 2 June

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 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.

Today Public Health England published their review of Black and Minority Ethnic deaths related to COVID-19.  The report confirms national data suggests much higher incidence of the virus in some communities, which is not inconsistent with some local Trust data.  Our own Assessment Framework for Workplace Safety for staff incorporates this and other evidence and launches on Thursday June 4th.  In responding to the PHE document, we will work with both local authorities to examine what additional actions need to be taken to ensure that we learn lessons from the enquiry outcome.

Numbers not statistics: Today’s totals (Yesterday’s totals)

1. Patient Swabbing – Testing, reporting and timely treatment

Thank you to colleagues who have been following our updated guidance on swabbing patients using white oropharyngeal swab kits.

Following agreed guidance on swabbing is critical to ensure accurate testing and timely reporting, as well as the to protect patients and colleagues from the risk of cross infection.

Where swabs are taken, colleagues must ensure that they are hand delivered to the pathology departments as soon as possible so that they can be tested and reported without delay. Samples must not be left on wards for extended periods of time as this significantly delays the time taken to report results and ultimately puts patients and colleagues at risk.

Swab samples should not be sent by post or by air pod system.

Further details further details on the swabbing process are available in the attached poster. Please ensure this process is followed carefully as failure to do so will result in samples being rejected and discarded.

Triple bagging swab samples for safety

Remember when you are bagging your swab sample, you must ensure the red topped bottle is first put in a clear specimen bag, this should then be placed in a clear zip lock bag and finally packaged in a blue specimen bag alongside any paperwork.

2. Infection control: Don’t use fans, instead open windows 

With the temperature rising in wards, areas and departments we’re strongly encouraging all colleagues to open windows for better circulation.

Do not use fans.

Using fans can disperse airborne particles which could increase the spread of COVID-19. Fans cannot be properly cleaned to meet our infection control standards which could result in the increased risk of transmission of any microorganisms.

By opening windows during the summer months it will help increase the natural ventilation around wards and departments. This enables greater dispersal of any airborne particles.

If you need further advice you can contact the infection control team on ext. 5900 or email swb-tr.SWBH-Team-InfectionControl@nhs.net

3. Social distancing – looking after your wellbeing 

Social distancing doesn’t only apply when you are standing in the queue of a supermarket or getting your lunch, social distancing is now a way of life as we manage our response to COVID-19. Make sure this is observed whatever you are doing.

Remember the two metre rule. Whether you work in an office or ward, you should be taking steps to limit close contact with colleagues. Make good use of the available spaces and technologies we have available and keep yourself safe and well.

This week the Health and Safety Team are out on the ground assessing office spaces against the guidance issued by the Government on safe working spaces.

4. Antibody testing – book your test now

Antibody testing launched across the Trust yesterday and in the first day alone we managed to test an incredible 648 colleagues. Testing is continuing and phone lines are open for colleagues to book.

Any staff member can arrange a blood test, whether you have previously had a positive or negative test result for COVID-19 or no COVID-19 test previously. For the test to be accurate you must have no COVID-19 symptoms and be symptom-free for at least 21 days.  

To book a test please call 0121 507 6104 and select option 2 when prompted.

You can find out more in this questions and answers document. For more information please click here.

5. Changes to redeployment arrangements

Thank you to all colleagues who have supported different areas during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This week everyone who has been redeployed into a clinical area will receive a letter informing you of the next steps regarding redeployment with many of you being released back to your previous roles. We still need to keep some people in place at present to support critical care and our medical wards and, if this affects you, your letter will explain this. We expect to update you on further changes within the next six weeks. Thank you for your co-operation and flexibility.

Volunteers’ Week 1- 7 June

Volunteers’ Week is an annual celebration of the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK.

Right here at the Trust, we have an army of volunteers who support us to deliver first class healthcare to our patients including our new 2020 response volunteers who have been introduced to help support us with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Be sure to check out this short video featuring volunteer Robert Kingston who up until the COVID-19 pandemic, had been volunteering with us for 9 years after he had retired from the Trust. Robert is eagerly awaiting to return to his volunteering role as soon as the government guidelines permit it is safe to do so.

Do you want to become a volunteer? You can contact our volunteer service on 0121 507 4855 or email swbh.volunteer@nhs.net

Would you like to increase your research knowledge and work with a researcher?

Are you a midwife, nurse, allied health professional, pharmacist or healthcare scientist considering a clinical academic career?  Would you like to increase your research knowledge and skills and work with an experienced researcher?

Birmingham Health Partners (BHP) is pleased to have launched the 2020/21 West Midlands Internship Programme (formally CAIP) and Pre-Doctoral Bridging Programme (formally MDBP). These programmes are aimed specifically at non-medical professionals for health professionals who aspire to combine research and clinical practice, and develop a clinical academic career.

Note: The closing date for applications, for pre-doctoral and internship programme is Monday 15 June, 12pm.

Further details can be found on the website. If you have any questions please contact clinicalacademics@uhb.nhs.uk.

Please see forms below as well as information flyer:

• Pre-Doc Programme Application Form
• Internship Programme Application Form
• ICA Programme Flyer

Heartbeat: Over 300 colleagues benefit from hotel accommodation to protect themselves

Top quality hotel rooms are still available if you feel you need to move into one. Please consider this seriously if you are recognising that for the next little while the best answer for you, your work, and your loved ones is separation.

As part of our plan to manage the pandemic, we need to have the right workforce at work and keep absence of all types below 30 per cent.

Hotels we are currently using include:

• Mercure Hotel, West Bromwich
• Holiday Inn Express, St Chads, Birmingham
• Holiday Inn Express, Oldbury
• Serviced City Apartments Ltd.

Any patient-facing colleagues including ward service officers and porters can have access to our reserved rooms to enable you to be away from a household with someone who has symptoms. We strongly recommend that patient-facing colleagues take up this provision so that you can continue providing your vital service to our patients.

Mark Whitehouse, Head of Patient Access & Planned Care, told us: “The main perk of staying in the hotel is reducing the risk of taking anything back to the family on a daily basis. I would encourage staff to book a room if they are at all worried about transporting the flu from work to home. The rooms at The Mercure are big and for your one hour exercise the hotel is located right next to Sandwell Valley Park.”

Staying in a hotel may increase the risk of passing the virus between colleagues working in different environments. National guidance is that where possible:

• Minimise time in communal areas of the hotel including receptions and corridors to reduce risk of infection to colleagues.
• Where possible, to limit to one or two people at a time in lifts where possible, or to use the stairs if appropriate.
• Ideally eat in your room. If meals are provided within the hotel, please try to sit at tables at least two metres apart from other residents in any bar or restaurant.

We will be working with the hotels and providing guidance so they are aware of this and are working to support you.