Monthly archives: October 2020

Unity tip of the week: Always use Patient List or Scheduling where possible and not RXK number to find your patients

This week’s tip of the week comes from Leong Lee, Clinical Safety Officer and Ash Sharma, Chief Clinical Information Officer.

“Always use Patient List or Scheduling where possible and not RXK number to find your patients. If you have to search with RXK ensure you have the correct encounter. A Results Only encounter will not allow you to order tests or prescribe drugs.”

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: Reunited in time for their anniversary

A couple from Great Barr got to celebrate their anniversary back in each other’s company after the wife returned home following months of treatment for COVID-19.

A tearful Hanifabibi Shaikh left City Hospital to applause, as colleagues formed a socially distanced guard of honour to mark the end to a long period of treatment. Treatment which began when Hanifabibi fell seriously ill to the Coronavirus back in March, requiring a spell on the hospital’s intensive care unit before beginning a slow recovery on City’s D47 rehabilitation unit.

Now, although her journey is not yet over, Hanifabibi is recovered enough to go home to finish her recuperation in the company of her loving husband Abdul.

The Shaikh family had been in regular contact with staff during Hanifabibi’s treatment and developed a special relationship with those helping her. They even presented ward staff with a special book, full of messages of thanks from relatives far and wide.

Staff in return presented Hanifabibi with two cards – one a best wishes card, but another for the couple’s wedding anniversary which they were delighted to be able to spend together. At the same time, others caught up with family news, expressing sadness they would miss their regular updates.

“It’s a very special day for me today,” Hanifabibi Shaikh told Heartbeat. “I’m going home after coming here in March but as happy as I am going home I’m going to miss all the friends I’ve made on D47. Although they are my health carers, my nurses, they all treated me as a friend. They have given me a second chance at life. I cannot find sufficient words to express what I feel about them all – I thank the Lord for giving me a second chance, but so many people have played a part in it.”

Memory Seka, Senior Sister on D47 rehabilitation unit added: “We’re both sad and happy to see Hanifabibi leave after so long needing treatment. It’s heartwarming to see her reunited with Abdul and we all wish her the very best in her continued recovery. I’m very proud of all the staff on D47 for all they have done to support Hanifabibi and her family while she has been under our care. They have maintained and upheld the care promises set out by our Trust.”

Join our Virtual AHPs Day for 2020!

Wednesday 14 October is National Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) Day and this year we have planned a programme of virtual events to celebrate the value of AHPs within our organisation. This year’s theme is Collaborate, Appreciate, Inspire, Connect.

We will have presentations and videos from AHPs within the Trust, a chance to find out more and express your interest in apprenticeship opportunities within AHPs  – from entry level, to degree and even MSc opportunities. Each session will include a Q&A with our teams. At 12:30pm we will join a link to a national webinar being chaired by Suzanne Rastrick, Chief Allied Health Professions Officer for England.

So, if you’re an existing AHP, want to find out more about the work that your AHP colleagues do, or are interested in career opportunities within our AHP professions, do join us!

The programme of events will start at 10am and finish at 2pm, and you will be able to dial in/out at a time to suit you.

The joining instructions can be found below:

Link: https://swbhnhs.webex.com/swbhnhs/onstage/g.php?MTID=e07188df515df6ea26a57d9f2c15f7d45

Password: AHPDAY2020

For further details please contact Sarah Oley, Directorate Lead for iBeds (PCCT) via saraholey@nhs.net or see SWB AHPs Day agenda 2020.

To find out more about AHPs Day nationally, and it’s grass roots beginnings please visit the NHS England AHPs day web page.

Black History Month 2020: HSJ Top 50 BAME power list

Seeing people who look like you in senior and influential positions encourages you and others to strive for similar roles; it gives the belief that it is possible to get there.

The HSJ has produced a top 50 power list to recognise those BAME people in healthcare who are making a positive impact in their area of work, and who are likely to do so in the coming year. Find out more by clicking here.

October is Speak Up Month

October is Speak Up Month and this year, the National Guardian’s Office is drawing up an Alphabet of Speak Up. There are 26 letters of the alphabet and 26 days to explore the issues, the people, the values, the challenges – everything which goes into what Freedom to Speak Up means in health. When things go wrong, we need to make sure that lessons are learnt and improvements made.

This year we will be supporting the National Guardian’s Office looking at the alphabet of speak up, with each day identifying a word and what that means to colleagues across the Trust.​ We are encouraging managers to use this as an opportunity for discussion with your colleagues and team. Speaking up is an important part of a culture that focuses on safety and quality, and we would like you and your teams to play a part in encouraging these conversations to be part of who we are and how we work.

Today’s letter is provided by Ian Galligan, Capital Equipping Manager, Medical Engineering and Speak Up Guardian

J is for Just Culture

A just culture guide helps ensure staff involved in a patient safety incident are treated fairly, and supports a culture of openness to maximise opportunities to learn from mistakes. If you feel you have been affected or you feel the process has not been fair, speak to a Guardian for advice.

 What the video below for more information on Just Culture.

COVID-19 Bulletin: Monday 12 October

Welcome to our twice weekly COVID-19 bulletin now being issued on Mondays and Thursdays. The ‘numbers not statistics’ section you usually see below this introduction will be featured on Thursdays to maintain a weekly update.

Things are tough – and may well get tougher – but we remain determined to do what we can to reduce avoidable harm and death among those we are taking care of. Kindness must remain our watchword in all that we do.

Summary of key points

• Relatives are just a video call away
• Swabbing guidance on issues and pathways
• Checking in with Test and Trace
• Limited accommodation available
• Stay Connected – by logging onto our intranet site

1. Relatives are just a video call away

One of the ways colleagues can help to make their patients more comfortable during their stay in one of our hospitals, is by arranging communication between them and their loved ones. We have an ample supply of iPads which patients can use to video call their relatives. Colleagues need to agree with relatives how often and when they will provide an update on their loved one so everyone receives the right communication at the right time, reducing any anxiety about loved ones in hospital.

If you should encounter any issues with these devices, then call IT on ext 4050.

We’d like to remind everyone that visiting restrictions are still in place across our sites in order to keep both colleagues and patients safe.

Only patients with booked appointments and those with emergency healthcare needs are allowed on site. In some exceptional circumstances visitors are permitted for certain patients.

These include birthing partners, one person for children, end of life patients and for those who lack mental capacity. Approved visitors also include birthing partners for women who are in established labour.

2. Updated: swabbing guidance on issues and pathways

An increasing number of COVID-19 swabs are being rejected from the laboratory, due to a number of issues. This may include a specimen leaking, incorrect swab received, or duplication of samples

Our Infection Prevention and Control team has put together a document which lists common issues and the relevant solutions. Click here to read the full document.

We have now increased the availability of urgent and rapid PCR sampling from 16 to 76 samples per day. These have been allocated to respective areas and detailed in the PCR flowchart which can be accessed by clicking here.

Routine samples: It has been agreed that COVID-19 samples will be collected by porters from all wards, ED and AMU every hour at City and Sandwell from 8am to 8pm.

Overnight samples (taken after 9pm) which are mainly taken in ED and AMU should be kept in these areas overnight to be collected by a porter during the early morning run at 5.30am. Please make sure that the sample is securely deposited in the MediBins provided. Do not leave any samples out on the side and remember not to use this for urgent samples.

Urgent samples: Please ensure that the ‘Urgent 2 Hour TAT’ sticker is attached to the outer blue transport bag and is hand delivered to pathology reception. DO NOT put urgent samples into the MediBins.

Remember:

• Every patient MUST be swabbed on admission.
• Patients on Lilac wards MUST be swabbed every three days.
• Patients on Amber wards MUST be swabbed every five days.

Please refer to the following swabbing pathways for unplanned and planned admission.

3. Checking in with Test and Trace

As you know the NHS recently launched its COVID-19 contact tracing app. The app is designed to help the NHS understand where and how quickly the virus is spreading, so we can respond quickly and effectively. It is being used alongside traditional contact tracing, to notify users if they come into contact with someone who later tests positive for Coronavirus, while protecting users’ anonymity.

You may have seen posters featuring QR codes for people with the app to ‘sign in’ at selected locations across our sites, but there has been some question as to whether colleagues using the app should sign in at our locations. The recommendation from the NHS is that health or care workers should pause the app when:

• You are at work and following infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance including wearing the correct PPE.
• You are working behind a fixed Perspex (or equivalent) screen and are fully protected from other people.
• You store your phone in a locker or communal area.

If identified as being in contact with someone that has tested positive for Covid-19 via the app, you should speak to your line manager in the first instance. You will need to let the Test and Trace team know  that you work in a hospital setting/NHS trust  and that, if a contact was from work then contact tracing for colleagues is being undertaken internally via the Trust. Contact tracing will be undertaken via your manager in conjunction with our occupational health team. The only exception to this is if you have contact with a positive case in the community in which case the Test and Trace team will complete the contact tracing.

You can find a general FAQ on the app here.

4. Hotel accomodation available, part of protecting you and others

Limited hotel rooms are available to support colleagues who may be at risk of being exposed to COVID-19 from people in their households. The accommodation can be used to help you remain at work so that you can stay in an environment away from a confirmed or positive COVID-19 case. We have accommodation available at:

• Mercure Hotel, West Bromwich and
• Holiday Inn Hotel, Snow Hill, Birmingham

You can access a hotel easily by emailing swbh.hotel-booking@nhs.net.

5. Stay Connected – by logging onto our intranet site

Did you know you can access all the latest information on guidance around COVID-19 by going to Connect, our Intranet site?

Colleagues are able to access clinical guidance, the latest guidance on when and where to wear PPE, information on our health and wellbeing initiatives, research and development currently taking place and news around the latest restrictions.

We are continually adding to this section, which you can access by clicking the link here. If there is information that you would like to see please email suggestions to swbh.comms@nhs.net.

Heartbeat: Chief Registrar calls for colleagues to keep being kind

Last month Specialist Registrar in Diabetes and Endocrinology, Dr Vaishnavi Kumar was appointed Royal College of Physicians Chief Registrar for the Trust for the 2020/21 term. This means that in her clinical role she will work on the frontline providing medical care during general internal medicine oncalls, whilst training to be a specialist in diabetes and endocrinology.

Her focus is on learning and development, and as chief registrar, she sees herself as a bridge between senior clinical leaders and the wider trainee workforce. She said: “I am keen to hear from all trainees within the organisation if they have any concerns and also on how learning and training can be improved.

“I am keen to have continued involvement in junior doctors’ wellbeing whilst my main project for the year is to deliver a leadership and management course for registrars/middle grades in the Trust.

“I’ve witnessed some great examples of good leadership in the Trust during the first wave of COVID, so it made perfect sense for me to take on the chief registrar role here as I learn more about leadership. Along with good training opportunities, staff wellbeing has been a big priority for the Trust, and this has encouraged me to stay on to take the additional role.

“As a trainee, COVID has had a major impact on my training, especially specialist training. Clinically, I worked mainly on the acute medical unit during the pandemic and was not able to provide any care in the outpatient setting where I am mainly based during my specialty training time. I am back to doing what I enjoy but anxious about the growing number of cases.

“My message to colleagues across the Trust is to keep doing what you are doing, be kind and to my fellow trainees, please contact me if you are experiencing any issues or worries. Even if I cannot solve the problem myself, I can help to signpost and escalate issues.”

Latest edition of Heartbeat now online

Check out the latest edition of Heartbeat online now.

What can you expect to find inside this month? Well, for starters we’re celebrating Unity’s first birthday and looking towards future developments. Plus, we’ve got all of this:

• An update on Star Awards 2020
• Kelly Stackhouse breaks the taboo about poo with her award win as Continence Nurse of the Year.
• Patient, Hanifabibi Shaikh is reunited with her husband in time for their anniversary
• Your Shout Outs and our Stars of the Week.

Inside you’ll find all of this and so much more. Visit Connect to take a peek inside this month’s edition of Heartbeat.

You can email the team at swbh.comms@nhs.net if you have an idea for an article. If you prefer to have a chat (we love a good natter), you can call us on extension 5303.

Until next time…

Tissue viability training throughout October and November

Convatec are providing free tissue viability training sessions via Microsoft Teams in October and November.

Note: Please email jade.hill@convatec.com to express which sessions you will attend, and you will be added to the session.

For further details please see Convatec tissue information sheet.

Online Grand Round: 15 October

We will be hosting online grand rounds on Thursday 15 October, 12.30pm – 1.30pm via WebEx which will be chaired by Dr David Nicholl. Other speaks will also include Dr Hagan, Dr Sumangala, Dr Martinez Alvarez and Dr Hasan.

If you wish to join this WebEx event please email swbh.welearngrandrounds@nhs.net who will provide you with joining instructions.