Monthly archives: September 2020

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Heartbeat: Let’s get publishing!

Did you know that you can submit your quality improvement reports, short reports, narrative reviews, systematic reviews and original research to BMJ Open Quality?

BMJ Open Quality is dedicated to publishing high quality, peer-reviewed healthcare improvement work. Articles covering original research, local, national and international QI projects, value-based healthcare improvement initiatives and educational improvement work are all considered.

Jointly funded by Library Services and Medical Education team, you are provided with an access to an exclusive publication route via BMJ Open Quality, so publish today to benefit from:

• Rapid publication – a fast submission and review process with continuous publication online ensures timely, up-to-date knowledge is available worldwide
• Inspiration – access an extensive archive of worldwide Quality Improvement projects
• Supporting resources – A wide range of supporting resources such as videos, learning modules, blogs, podcasts and templates are available to help you run and write up quality improvement projects
• High readership visibility – Easy discoverability and wide dissemination through an Open Access model journal

All content is also indexed by PubMed and therefore discoverable in searches.

Green Impact – get involved, make a difference and get rewarded

Is your team looking for new, fun and interactive ways to make a positive impact toward ‘greening’ our Trust? We are looking to recruit more teams onto our ‘Green Impact’ staff environmental engagement programme. It’s an easy way for colleagues to work together in teams to complete simple actions that make a big difference – helping making our Trust more environmentally friendly and also saving costs. There are also awards and prizes to be won.

Environmental sustainability is becoming a big focus for the Trust and we are working on some exciting and ambitious plans. Colleagues are integral to this journey. Now is your chance to get involved and make a positive difference.

If you would like to find out more, please contact Fran Silcocks on Francesca.silcocks@nhs.net.

Heartbeat: National podcast focuses on award winning programme

The Learning and Development team were the focus of an NHS Employers podcast for the work they have done around community career progression and inclusivity through recruitment.

Lawrence Kelly, Co-ordinator, Raffaela Goodby, Director of People and Organisational Development, along with Apprentice, Paulina Lapinski, all spoke about the Live and Work programme, which helps to find jobs and accommodation for vulnerable people.

Paulina said of her experience: “The apprenticeship role had a huge impact on me. I felt like I became a lot more confident and I feel like I can now do more. When I didn’t feel 100 per cent confident, there were people around me to motivate me. I feel like I have become stronger and my life has improved. The accommodation was affordable and, the staff have been very supportive. If there were any issues, I would be given help and advice.”

Paulina now works in the events team. She added: “I have been working here for 18 months, it’s great and I can progress in my role and feel supported. If I want to work towards higher qualifications, I will speak to the manager and be given an opportunity to do this.

“When I got the call to say that I had got the apprenticeship, I was excited and scared at the same time, but I knew it was a changing point in my life. I’m just happy that this opportunity was given to me.”

Meanwhile, Lawrence told NHS Employers about how the Learning Works was created.

He said: “We wanted to develop an access point for local people in our community on how to access training and careers and in our Trust.

“We identified a building that was vacant close to the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital and named it the learning works, breaking down barriers to careers in our Trust.

“As an inclusive employer, we are open to working with people and supporting them to overcome challenges such as mental health, disability or conviction. We have an honest conversation with them – and that makes them more forthcoming.”

Raffaela added: “By being more flexible in our recruitment, and by offering a role, an apprenticeship and home to a young person, the vulnerable candidates are less likely to fall into homelessness.

“We are a very much a ‘value-based’ organisation. A successful apprenticeship relies on a team to support that person into the organisation, the apprenticeship team led by Maxine Griffiths provides an accredited programme of learning and by making sure there is a holistic package of support around them as well.

“When I read a story about someone who came here as a refugee, had nothing and through our work, we’ve helped them and the impact it’s had…that’s one of the reasons I come to work.”

On call consultant parking bays at Sandwell

Following the closure of the rapid access car park (formerly known as the consultants car park), the Sandwell on call consultant bays have been relocated to the PM car park behind Trinity House, location of the bays is indicated by the yellow box on the photo below.

The spaces are for consultants when they are on call and have a windscreen permit to park there. They are not for normal daily parking.

Note: If you are an on call consultant and do not yet have the windscreen permit, please call the car park admin office on ext 6424 to request a windscreen permit. 

Tissue viability training throughout October

The Tissue Viability Team and 3M are inviting colleagues to attend digital tissue viability training sessions every Thursday throughout October between 1pm-2pm.

Please see details below regarding sessions:

• 1 October – pressure ulcer update, categories, MASD
• 8 October – wound assessment
• 15 October – wound dressing selection
• 29 October – basic diabetic foot

If you wish to book on these sessions please contact tissueviability2@nhs.net.

New coronavirus restrictions in Sandwell, Birmingham and Solihull – do you know the rules?

From Tuesday 15 September, Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull residents will not be 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 are coming into effect for Birmingham, Sandwell, and Solihull to reduce the coronavirus rates of infection which is rising fast.

Click here to access a full FAQ and for more information.

World Sepsis Day: 13 September

Sepsis remains our number one quality priority.

Sepsis is a global health crisis. It affects between 47 and 50 million people every year. Around 11 million people die as a result of sepsis which is approximately one death every 2.8 seconds. 20 per cent of all deaths worldwide are associated with sepsis and many surviving patients suffer from the consequences of sepsis for the rest of their lives.

World Sepsis Day is an awareness day which aims to remind people of the detrimental impact sepsis can have as sepsis is one the top causes of preventable deaths worldwide.

Colleagues who are unsure of the sepsis screening processes are encouraged to speak to their ward matrons or contact the deteriorating patients and resus team on ext. 5908.

BME Staff Network Chair – elections 2020

Are you a colleague who self-defines as being black, Asian or minority ethnic? Could you be the Chair of the BME Staff Network?

This is a dynamic role that can help influence the work and policies of the organisation and can help staff have a real voice in leading change, you will be a spokesperson for your network and work with colleagues from across the Trust to work in partnership to deliver our staff pledges and lead events and actions to improve the experience of our BME colleagues.

Should you wish to be involved please email the equality and diversity inbox swb-tr.SWBH-GM-EqualityDiversity@nhs.net and declare your interest by  Thursday 1 October.

Note: You will need to supply a brief statement as to why you wish to stand and provide a current head shot photograph.

Heartbeat: Kissing It Better one performance at a time

Cheer and delight was the order of the day earlier this month when the wards at Rowley rang out to the sound of a live violinist serenading patients from the courtyard.

Heading into August, people across the country have started to enjoy some sense of normality and life before COVID-19, a trip to the local pub, a haircut and meeting up with friends.

However, some of the frailest patients remain in our care at Rowley Regis Hospital, where they enjoy their ‘round the clock’ care in safety. COVID-19 has deeply impacted these patients, and the additional stress of cancelled visits from family and friends has added to a sense of isolation.

Stepping up to the challenge of spreading cheer and joy were our friends at ‘Kissing It Better’ who stopped off at Rowley Regis Hospital on their travels across the country where they have been visiting organisations to play live music and host musical performances. Staying at a safe distance from patients they have performed through windows, on doorsteps and out in open spaces.

On an overcast day at Rowley Regis Hospital, we caught up with Jill Fraser, Chief Executive of Kissing It Better and Pete Hartley who performed an array of classic songs on his violin including Frozen and Michael Jackson.

Jill told us: “When we couldn’t go inside hospitals and care homes, we decided to take our performances outside. If you play the right music it reminds you of happier times, and it also means patients are moving inside, they are tapping their toes, clapping along automatically because they know the songs we play.

“We do this just to say we have so much respect for the patients, for the contributions they have made and we haven’t forgotten you. This is our way of saying thank you and showing that we care.”

Pete added: “It’s my absolute pleasure to do something like this that brings some happiness to older members of our communities. You see them tapping their fingers and toes and straight away you know they appreciate it. It sparks a sense of connection, and I hope they enjoy it as much as we do.”

Ward Manager, Sarah Whitcombe commented: “The patients thoroughly enjoy listening to the live music. It’s uplifting and boosts the spirits of not only the patients but colleagues too.”