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Monthly archives: July 2020

Drug safety notice and supply issues

 

We are having number of issues with the supply of a variety drugs due to shortages. Please see below information sheets regarding various drugs and instructions to follow due to supply issues.

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

Are you parking where you should be?

 

It has come to the Trust’s attention that a minority of colleagues are parking in areas where they shouldn’t be. We must remind all colleagues that anyone parking where they shouldn’t be will still get a parking car notice.

Don’t forget – parking across all our hospital sites is currently free due to the COVID-19 pandemic so there should be no excuse for colleagues parking in areas they are not permitted to.

Should you have any issues or concerns around parking please contact diane.alford@nhs.net or call ext. 6082.

Network upgrade at Rowley today at 7.30pm

 

As part of our ongoing work to improve the network links across all sites, there is a planned upgrade taking place this evening (Thursday 2 July) affecting the network at Rowley Hospital. The work is scheduled to begin at 7.30pm and should be completed by 9.30pm.

We do not anticipate any service interruptions during this work.

Should you have any issues around this time please contact the IT helpdesk on ext. 4050.

Marking 72 years of our NHS

 

Spending 92 days in hospital and seven weeks in a coma, COVID-19 patient Monica Tatton was discharged from City Hospital exactly one week ago. She knows that without the NHS she would not be alive today. As one of over 900 patients we have treated and discharged during the pandemic to date, Monica said she is eternally grateful for the kindness she experienced, from all those who treated and cared so well for her. As you know it is only a few days before we will be marking 72 years of our life saving, care giving, free at the point of delivery national institution, and we would like to invite all colleagues to get involved. It is fitting this year that our theme this year is on kindness, both given and received, so our hashtag #SWBshinealight is where we spotlight the kindness we have been shown throughout the pandemic.

Without doubt, this has been the most challenging year for health services since the formation of the NHS, and by being inundated with kindness, we are keen to reflect back the love that has been showered upon us by our communities. Our campaign centres around the people we serve, and we are saying thank you to them in different ways, by lighting up our buildings across our four main sites in blue light from 8pm on Sunday, to permanent floral displays dug into our grounds to remember all those who have been affected by the pandemic.

If you would like to get involved on our anniversary please put a lamp in your window from 8 – 11pm on Sunday 5 July, if you can. If you do, please send us a photo so we can post it on our social media channels. You can send your photo by email to swbh.comms@nhs.net post on social media using the hashtag #SWBshinealight or tweet us @SWBHnhs.

Trust AGM today at 5pm

 

All colleagues are cordially invited to join our Trust’s Annual General Meeting today (Thursday 2 July), 5pm – 6.30pm.

The meeting will be held virtually via WebEx. You can join by following the link below at the appointed time and date using the password.

  1. https://swbhnhsevents.webex.com/swbhnhsevents/onstage/g.php?MTID=ef160825c00e2d57a16a1c1d05f218498
  2. Password to join the meeting is SWBAGM2020

The AGM gives us the opportunity to share what we have achieved in the last year and to respond to questions and comments. Our guest speakers are Dr Simon Mitchell and Dr James Gwilt, GPs in the leadership team of Your Health Partnership (YHP) Primary Care Network which has recently integrated with our organisation to form a new directorate. Simon and James will be talking about how primary care is changing and the opportunities presented by our integration into a single organisation.

You are welcome to submit questions in advance that can be responded to by Trust Board members. Please send your questions to swbh.invitation-response@nhs.net with “AGM Questions” in the subject header.

1 day left to nominate: Star Awards 2020 – Excellence in Research

 

Do you know an individual or team who has participated in research which has made a demonstrable difference to patient experience and outcomes?

Nominate them for the Excellence in Research Prize for 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 Sarah Clamp.

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.

International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife: Julie Prior

 

This year marks International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, a campaign by the World Health Organisation in honour of the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.

Nurses and midwives play a vital role in providing health services in our workplace. They devote their lives to caring for mothers and children; giving lifesaving immunisations and health advice; looking after older people and generally meeting everyday essential health needs. They are often the first and only point of care in their communities. Throughout the year we will be highlighting some of our nurses, HCAs and midwives who are making a difference to our patients.

Today we feature Julie Prior, staff nurse.

Julie started her nursing career more years ago than she is happy to admit, when she trained at Sandwell Hospital – where she spent many years as a ward manager and sister.

She briefly worked at Rowley Regis Hospital before moving to Leasowes Intermediate Care Centre, where she has worked for the last 12 years. Julie’s colleagues say that her empathy, kindness and caring ways shine through every single day.

Julie has natural poise and grace and nothing fazes her. She was on duty the day the lorry went into Leasowes and without any fanfare she looked after her patients. She goes the extra mile every single shift.

She was also shortlisted for the distinguished service award at the 2018 Star Awards.

In 2020, Julie took partial retirement but due her kind nature of wanting to give back and help others, she returned to the Trust as a HCA.

July is plastic free month

 

July is the start of plastic free month. Originating in 2011, plastic free month is a key initiative of the Plastic Free Foundation that allows us to work towards the vision of seeing a world free of plastic waste. For further information please click here.

Our Trust fully endorses plastic free month and strongly encourages colleagues to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics. 

For more information around anything sustainability at the Trust, please contact francesca.silcocks@nhs.net.

Unity tip of the week: Use VTE Prophylaxis Careset when ordering Thromboprophylaxis for COVID patients

 

This week’s tip of the week comes from both Pam Pahal, Pharmacist and Ilka Fisher, Chief Technician:

“Use the VTE Prophylaxis Careset when ordering Thromboprophylaxis for COVID positive patients”

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.

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