Monthly archives: September 2020

Heartbeat: Imaging on the road to recovery

Post the initial COVID-19 outbreak; diagnostic imaging was one of the first services to restart routine appointments as part of the Trust’s recovery and restoration programme.

The imaging senior management team, modality leads and support staff initially met twice a week as a mini project team, to review and amend working practices such as booking templates, PPE requirements, cleaning regimes and operational segregation of blue (non-COVID) and red (COVID) streams.

The service adopted the Trust pre-screening rules and identified designated blue areas where patients could have their diagnostic test safely and with minimal risk of crossinfection. Routine CT, MRI, US and plain film examinations were provided within the BTC, Rowley Regis Hospital and Glebefields.

Restarting routine services was however only phase one of recovery and restoration programme. Phase two is about increasing activity to pre-pandemic levels, restarting speciality diagnostics and reducing the backlog accumulated during the period where routine work was put on hold.

The whole imaging team has been fully supportive of getting back to business as usual and ensuring that our patients are seen as soon and as safely as possible. To address the backlog the team are working extended hours at Rowley and BTC to provide additional plain film x-ray capacity. Previously all plain film x-ray was a walk-in service, however, to maintain infection control measures, this is now an appointment service only.

There are two mobile MRI scanners onsite and a mobile CT scanner due to arrive in September 2020. Also, the ultrasound team are working extended hours with the support of two locum sonographers.

Additional sessions with DEXA and fluoroscopy have also been initiated. Over the last couple of weeks speciality diagnostics such as radio-frequency ablations, CT colonography and CT cardiac scanning have restarted which required a specific redesign of streaming and working practices to facilitate the separation of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients and seamless continuation of emergency services.

Radiologists, radiographers, assistant practitioners, imaging support workers, imaging nurses and all other imaging staff continue to go above and beyond to ensure that our patients receive the highest standard of care during these difficult times.

Fiona Rotherham, Interim Group Director of Operations – Imaging commented: “This is an exciting time for the imaging department as we begin taking steps forward to restore patient care. COVID-19 has placed a strain on a lot of services – we are pleased to be working together to increase our patient activity and are determined to clear our backlog.

“The team have been so supportive of our recovery efforts and have worked hard to get us to a good place. We are only at the beginning of our restoration journey and look forward to what the future holds for our area.”

Heartbeat: Cancer support workers – providing personalised care and support

The work the cancer services team does reaches beyond the treatment of patients. Indeed, our cancer support workers have a vitally important role to play and offer an array of support ranging from patient information, to how to live with cancer and treatment options to name but a few things.

The new cancer support worker role is having positive outcomes for patients living with and beyond cancer. The role works alongside cancer clinical nurse specialist teams to deliver best practice, personalised care and support to patients.

A key aspect of the role is to deliver holistic needs assessments (HNA) and care planning. The HNA explores what matters to patients to help resolve any practical, emotional or physical worries or concerns they may have. This is done by signposting to relevant information, advice and support. We caught up with cancer support workers Donna Cross, Ilaham Mohammed and Lucy Wright to find out about their diverse roles.

Donna Cross, Haemato-Oncology Cancer Support Worker at Sandwell Hospital remarked: “We support patients from the start of their journeys through to treatment and beyond. By providing a single point of access we can support and provide information to signpost patients to the services they require.

“During COVID-19, I have been able to continue supporting patients over the phone, and I have worked with them to help wherever possible to alleviate any fears and anxiety. I am proud of the relationships I have built up with my patients and enjoy working to offer them the care and support they need.”

Ilaham Mohammed, Cancer Support Worker for lung and gynae specialties echoes these sentiments. She remarked: “The cancer support worker role allows me to work with specialist nursing colleagues and other healthcare professionals to improve the lives of patients. I have daily contact with them, their relatives and carers to help them make informed choices about their care. I feel this role helps to empower people by providing practical and emotional support at a time when they need it most.

“The feedback we have received from patients shows that this additional contact with the patient is very important; it’s an opportunity for us to listen to patient concerns and focus on their needs. Not all of our patients have concerns and that is fine, for us it is important that they know we are here if, and when, they need us.”

Lucy Wright is a Cancer Support Worker in the breast unit and for urology. She told us: “A core part of the role is to promote and signpost patients to all forms of support available to our patients. Some available resources include national charities such as Macmillan, Breast Cancer Now or Prostate Cancer UK, others are within the Trust and many more across our local cancer care community. This can include support groups, health and wellbeing events, social activities and complementary therapies.

“We have received great feedback from patient surveys carried out in the breast care unit. Patients have found HNAs very useful – they have enabled them to self-manage their care and improve their quality of life.”

Jane Ogleby, Haematology CNS added: “We have found that by having support workers on hand it gives the patient more of a voice as well as providing a reassuring ear. It supports them to make their own choices around their care and wellbeing which in turn improves their journey holistically. This enables them to concentrate on their treatment and on getting well. It certainly improves their experience and helps to gives them back control about their support needs with a focus on physical side effects that persist, coping strategies, social issues and psychological support.

Emma Hunstone from the Living With and Beyond Cancer Team, commented: “Our cancer Support Workers have an important role to play in ensuring we are delivering best practice cancer care and support to patients and improving their experience and outcomes.

“The results of the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2020 are already showing the positive impact that HNAs and care planning is having on the patient experience overall. This year alone, we’ve seen more people receiving information about support groups, getting financial help and exploring the impact cancer could have on their day to day activities. These are all genuine concerns raised by patients and once resolved it enables them to concentrate on living well.”

Parking at Sandwell

We would like to remind colleagues that the car park behind the Hallam Street Hospital Resources Centre belongs to Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and colleagues are not authorised to park there and may be issued with a parking charge notice for parking in an unauthorised area.

Note: This also applies to the car park spaces between their wards at the bottom left of Hallam Street staff car park. 

Working from home arrangements extended

Our working from home policy will remain in place until 15 January 2021, as we continue to evaluate what is best for colleagues and the services we provide.

• This includes a safe office space review which is now close to conclusion. As a result, the health and safety team has written to managers in areas where this has been completed. If you have not yet responded, please ensure you do. If you require any information on the safe office space review then please contact Jacque Calloway on ext. 4118.
• We will maintain contact with colleagues who are shielding and continue to provide support.
• There will also be engagement over long term working from home arrangements over the coming months. This strategy will reflect learnings from over the last five months and look to put arrangements on a firmer and more contractual footing that will carry the Trust through to 2023. This ensures fairness for existing and new employees and clarity about eligibility and decision making.

You can read the working from home policy in full by clicking here.

Update to the implementation of our Trac recruitment system

A new recruitment system, known as Trac, has been implemented within our Trust. Consequently, managers will now be receiving email notifications and so should be using the system with immediate effect.

There are some handy user guides on Trac that will help managers navigate through the system. However, if you need further training and support, please contact your named recruitment team leader in the first instance:

• For queries relating to Medical Staffing, the team leader is Daniel Hamblett.  Please email Dan at swbh.medicalrecruitment@nhs.net
• For Women and Child, PCCT, and Surgical Service queries, the team leader is Sarah Gibson – sarahgibson3@nhs.net
• For Corporate Nursing & Facilities, Imaging and Medicine and Emergency Care queries, you can contact Priscilla Owusu – p.owusu1@nhs.net
• If your query is still not resolved then please email Michelle Jarrott, Recruitment Manager at michelle.jarrott@nhs.net.

When adding new jobs you will need to use the Trac dashboard. If you do not already have an account, please contact your recruitment team leader so that they can set you up.

All new jobs and all new conditional offers will be processed via Trac. Please bear with the recruitment team during the transition period.

Get involved with Fab Change Day and help us learn from COVID-19

To reflect the global pandemic, and the impact it has had on health and social care services globally, #FabChange20 will be celebrating, reflecting, sharing and learning from COVID-19.

The aim of #FabChange20 is to recognise, celebrate and share the innovations and changes within each part of the health and social care system that have arisen from the pandemic.

We want teams to dig deep and share the changes, big and small, that have been made, including what has and hasn’t worked.

During the week of 19 – 23 October 2020 we will be out and about, capturing stories on film and sharing them across the organisation. The stories and videos will also be uploaded to the welearn pages on Connect and in the daily bulletin.

To take part, please complete our short form by clicking here. The form is designed to help others put your learning into practice. Try and complete every field if you can, but don’t worry if you can’t.

Alternatively, you can complete the Fab Change Day form which then you can email back to swbh.welearnnhsfabchangeday@nhs.net.

Note: We may contact you to capture your story by video. Please let us know if you do not want to be filmed.

COVID-19 Bulletin: Wednesday 23 September

This is our weekly bulletin and will be issued every Wednesday. Please use this bulletin and cascade arrangements within care and corporate groups to guide your actions. 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.

Numbers not statistics: Today’s totals (last week’s data)

Summary of key points in today’s bulletin

• You must ensure you wear PPE when required and observe social distance rules.
• New restrictions imposed, but vulnerable adults and those with childcare arrangements are excluded.
• Scrubs still being taken home and not laundered, make sure there is enough for all.
• We are still having 10% of swabs a day rejected and require repeating, make sure you get it right for the safety of patients and your colleagues.

1. Ensuring a safe environment – we all play a part
As you have no doubt heard on TV or read in a newspaper or online, the threat of a second wave is now very real. We have seen more and more local lockdowns, such as those imposed in our region, implemented throughout the UK and the government is slowly increasing its national lockdown measures again, as it looks to quell the growing R number. We aren’t at a full national lockdown again yet, but it remains a possibility.

It remains, as always – but in particular now, vital that all colleagues adhere to the rules of wearing a face mask at all times whilst in clinical areas of our main hospital buildings. Where social distancing is not possible this remains important during handovers, breaks and with ward based teaching. Hand hygiene is equally important. The reason for this is clear, we need to remain vigilant against the transmission of COVID-19 and do everything we can to keep our patients and colleagues safe from infection. Complacency is our enemy, so we must all work together to continue to fight the spread. See below for some important points to protect patients and colleagues:

Handwashing and gloves: 

• Regular and effective hand washing is the best way to reduce the spread of the virus
• Gloves are single use and should only be worn when they are needed as part of PPE for a particular procedure or task and should immediately be disposed of following this and hand hygiene performed.
• Gloves are not required for procedures where there is a minimal risk of cross infection between patients and staff.

Social Distancing

To stop the spread of COVID-19 you should be taking steps to practice social distancing by leaving 2 metres (6ft) between you and those around you.

Whether you work in an office, clinical area, or someone’s home, you should be taking steps to limit close contact with colleagues.

• In communal areas such as coffee shops and restaurants you will see markings on the floor showing the ideal spacing between people.
• Observe the space around you and be mindful of not stepping into the personal space of others.
• Make good use of the technologies we now have available such as Webex Teams and Meetings to limit your face to face contact.
• If someone is too close, it’s ok to ask them to give you some space.

Manage the risk around you, if you feel that the behaviours of those around you are putting you at risk, speak up and notify your manager.

2. New restrictions imposed 

On Monday, the UK’s COVID-19 alert level moved to level 4, meaning transmission is “high or rising exponentially”.

• Extra restrictions have now been brought in including the ‘rule of six’ with guidance to encourage people to work from home where possible.
• The ‘rule of six’ now excludes paid or unpaid child care of children under 14.
• The new ‘rule of six’ means that any social gatherings of more than six people will be against the law.

In addition to national restrictions, there are further restrictions in Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull.

• Residents in these areas are no longer able to mix with people they don’t live with, in their homes or gardens.
• Your household is defined as the people you live with and any support bubble.
• Households that have formed a support bubble with another single adult household behave as if everyone lives in the same house.

These new restrictions have come into effect for Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull and Wolverhampton to reduce the coronavirus rates of infection.

3. Options if you need to stay away from home

As case numbers climb, you may, unfortunately, find yourself needing to remove yourself from your normal place of residence. We have a limited number of rooms available and they will be allocated based on need, be it to protect your loved ones who are either vulnerable or shielding, or to ensure you continue able to help the NHS by staying well by staying away from a household member who is COVID positive. If you need to book a room please contact the team on swbh.hotel-booking@nhs.net. If your request is out of hours, you will get an out of office email with instructions of the number to call in order to book your room. This is a key part of our work to reduce absence and avoidable self-isolation during coming weeks.

4. Support with childcare in the event of school closures

Following the increase in COVID-19 cases and the introduction of local restrictions, some colleagues will experience a breakdown in their normal childcare arrangements. It might be as a result of extended family or friends no longer being able to provide childcare, the temporary closure of schools or school bubbles being required to isolate following a suspected COVID -19 case.

Colleagues who cannot attend work (including on-call activity) because of the breakdown of their normal childcare arrangements may have the first day off to make alternative arrangements. This one day of absence will be carer’s leave. On 21 September, the Government confirmed an exemption to the ‘rule of six’ for children under 14 or vulnerable adults where this is necessary for informal and formal care arrangements. Managers are requested to be flexible in supporting staff. Do consider alternative shift patterns and/or allowing colleagues to make up time to enable them to remain at work.

If a colleague is unable to attend work and options to work alternative shift patterns have been exhausted, staff may take parental leave or annual leave or accrued time in lieu. The possibility of working from home should also be explored as part of this process.

 5. Working from home arrangements extended

Our working from home policy will remain in place until 15 January 2021, as we continue to evaluate what is best for colleagues and the services we provide.

• This includes a safe office space review which is now close to conclusion. As a result, the health and safety team has written to managers in areas where this has been completed. If you have not yet responded, please ensure you do. If you require any information on the safe office space review then please contact Jacque Calloway on ext. 4118.
• We will maintain contact with colleagues who are shielding and continue to provide support.
• There will also be engagement over long term working from home arrangements over the coming months. This strategy will reflect learnings from over the last five months and look to put arrangements on a firmer and more contractual footing that will carry the Trust through to 2023. This ensures fairness for existing and new employees and clarity about eligibility and decision making.

You can read the working from home policy in full by clicking here.

6. Your health and wellbeing

Your health and wellbeing is paramount to us. The COVID-19 pandemic will take a toll on colleagues both mentally and physically. With this in mind, we are encouraging all colleagues to take advantage of the wellbeing resources we have available. These include but are not limited to:

• Access to the Thrive app. Go to https://swb.thrive.uk.com to create an account and claim your free access to Thrive.
• Our recharge booth takes place every Thursday. It offers a safe space to come together with others, reflect, recharge, decompress, and join a safe and confidential discussion. For more information please contact Richard Burnell on 07747 144874 or Angharad MacGregor on 07976 322893. Alternatively, drop an email to rechargebooth@nhs.net.
• The wellbeing sanctuary offers a chance for colleagues to de-stress and relax. You can take advantage of a free massage, meditation, music therapy and relaxation hypnotherapy. It is located at the Learning Works on Unett Street, Smethwick, B66 3SY with free onsite parking.

Click here for a detailed list of health and wellbeing resources available to colleagues.

7. Laundering scrubs correctly

Support Services are currently undertaking the laundering of Trust owned scrubs from Sandwell Hospital in our onsite laundry. This is to ensure there is sufficient stock available for designated areas. These include theatres, red wards or areas that require scrubs as identified by infection control or senior management.

All used scrubs must be placed in the blue trollies situated on the links and in departmental areas as indicated below.

• Under no circumstances can scrubs be worn outside the hospital or taken home for laundering
• Scrubs should not be stockpiled in lockers
• Do not wear scrubs in undesignated areas.

Maintaining the supply of scrubs to essential areas is dependent on everyone following the same process when it comes to laundering scrubs.

8. Going virtual for group activities

The ongoing pandemic has changed the way we all do our day-to-day activities and we’ve had to change the way we approach internal events (such as recruitment) and external events (such as our annual Star Awards) as a Trust.

So, we are taking our activity online, with virtual events being adopted by Your Trust Charity. In light of the current restrictions, YTC is sadly having to decline requests for face-to-face fundraising or 50/50 events for the foreseeable future. These include cake sales, coffee mornings and sponsored challenge events onsite (such as walks) that we all know many so enjoy taking part in. However, there are still virtual options for you to help raise money for those in need. There is almost no limit to what you can do virtually – if you need help or advice you can contact trustcharity@nhs.net and they will help you with your plans.

9. Routine swabbing: A ‘how to’ guide

It is vital that inpatients are not only placed in the right care environment (red, lilac, blue ward) but also that swabbing is carried out appropriately and effectively in each environment.

Remember:

• Every patient MUST be swabbed on admission.
• Patients on Lilac wards MUST be swabbed every 3 days.
• Patients on Blue wards MUST be swabbed every 5 days.

Follow the Trust’s pathway here.

How a swab is collected is also extremely important. The team has produced a quick ‘how to’ video that shows you how to collect and package a PCR swab for Coronavirus.
Click below to watch the short film:

National Fitness Day this Friday: Join Your Trust Charity as they #Dance4Wellbeing

To celebrate National Fitness Day and support our colleague wellbeing programme, the Your Trust Charity team will be completing Dr. Nick Makwana first #Dance4Wellbeing routine – Sister Sledge’s song, ‘We Are Family!.’ Be sure to join in the fun and show off your fantastic moves!

You can join Johnny Shah, Head of Your Trust Charity and colleagues in the Sandwell committee room on Friday 25 September from 12pm. Please remember you will require your fob to enter the door, situated on the left by the ramp at the end of the courtyard.

Note: Due to social distancing measures, only limited numbers will be allowed to join at the Sandwell committee room.

Can’t make it to Sandwell? You can also join the exciting event and get your groove on via WebEx! Simply click the link below or follow the joining instructions:

https://swbhnhs.webex.com/swbhnhs/j.php?MTID=m5914e8bc5b5ca8d15a64db983fe3809c

• Meeting number (access code): 137 609 9785
• Meeting password: epGWXx3Jb45

For more information please contact Johnny.shah@nhs.net.

Clair Millard has sadly passed away

Tributes have been paid to colleague Clair Millard, who has passed away suddenly at the age of 36.

The specialist bowel screening practitioner was the heart and soul of the service, dedicating herself to her role which she had carried out for eight years.

During Clair’s time at the Trust, she became known for her bubbly personality and determination, to not only deliver the best care possible for her patients, but also to educate those around her about the importance of bowel screening.

Before her death earlier this month, Clair had also been shortlisted as a Star Awards finalist for the Excellence in Education Prize.

Claire Beats, Lead Bowel Cancer Screening Practitioner, spoke fondly of her colleague: “Clair was kind, compassionate and would do anything for anyone. She really loved being a nurse and working within our team.

“When Clair was here, her personality and laughter filled the room, she was a true joy to be around. She was so passionate about her job and educating those around her.

“She was very thoughtful and dedicated to being a nurse.

“She always went above and beyond for her patients and never grumbled – she would do anything for them.

“Clair was completely dedicated to the health promotion of bowel cancer screening and she decided to take on a special project which led to the service receiving a grant. The money went towards a giant inflatable bowel which she had sourced and was really keen on using to promote awareness. We used it to educate the community around screening.

“It certainly gained the attention of people when we did take it out and about on awareness days.

“As well as using this, she also took herself into the community, meeting with leaders from mosques and other places so that she was able to educate them about bowel screening. She also taught at the University of Wolverhampton and she loved doing this.

“Clinically she saw patients for pre-assessments, and treatments. She had this amazing energy and she just didn’t stop.

“I put it down to the fact she used to be a Haven Holidays Yellow Coat before she became a nurse.

“Clair had such a playful character and out of the office she was always lots of fun. On our team nights out she would always bring a bag of goodies – or ‘funsies’ as she liked to call them. Whether that was glow sticks for everyone, or fancy dress masks, she always had something up her sleeve.

“Clair will not only be missed immensely by the team, but also by the Trust. We will continue the good work she has done promoting awareness, but no one will ever be able to replace Clair.”

Clair’s funeral will be held on Thursday, 1 October. The family would like as many people as possible to line the front of Sandwell Hospital, on Hallam Street, at 11am as the funeral cortege passes by.  A room has been arranged in the education centre where the funeral will be screened, but there is limited capacity due to social distancing. If you would like to attend please email claire.beats@nhs.net by Monday 28 September.

If you would like to leave a tribute or donation in Clair’s memory please visit https://clairmillard.muchloved.com/.

‘Unity Tip of the Week’ gives us highlights on how to best use the system

As Unity celebrates its first birthday this week, we are delighted that the introduction of the Unity Tip of the Week is helping colleagues to maximise the benefits and continue to improve consistency of use of our electronic patient record.

Missed any of the tips? We have complied our top 25 tips between March – September which you can access on connect by clicking here.

We still need your tips: Thank you to colleagues who have contributed to the weekly tips. All suggestions are still 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 would like to submit a Unity Tip of the Week please email swbh.unitytips@nhs.net.

Be sure to check the video below featuring Leong Lee, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist and Clinical Safety Officer talking about the transition to Unity over the last 12 months as well as the value of the tips we receive each week for Unity Tip of the Week.