Monthly archives: December 2020
COVID-19 Bulletin: Wednesday 2 December
To keep up to date with the pace of change we will be sharing a bulletin on a daily basis. There’s a lot of change taking place at the moment so please make sure you catch up with the latest bulletins throughout the week, as even if some points seem familiar you may find the details have been updated a great deal.
As our second lockdown period ends, we must ensure we look after ourselves and others within our community. Make sure you keep in touch with those you love and your neighbours. People may well be feeling anxious, lonely and scared at this time
Thank you for looking out for one another.
In today’s COVID-19 bulletin
New
Reminder
1. COVID-19 vaccination update
The Pfizer vaccination for COVID-19 is headline news and we understand that colleagues would 
like to know more about our plans for a staff vaccination programme.
The Pfizer vaccine has been confirmed as safe and effective by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and will begin to be rolled out to groups who the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have decided need it most when the suppliers are made available to the NHS. We are not at that stage yet as outlined by the Government this morning.
Delivering the Pfizer vaccine is complex as it needs to be stored at very cold temperatures and moved carefully. Health care workers are likely to be the one of the first groups to receive this vaccine and we are continuing to plan how this will best be delivered for our workforce.
As well as the vaccination programme for health care workers, we are supporting the recruitment of teams to help with public vaccinations. Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust are the lead recruiter for this and their available roles are here to support this programme.
All of the COVID-19 vaccines will go through rigorous testing before being licensed by the MHRA. A vaccination, in general, is the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and our families against ill health. Current vaccinations prevent up to three million deaths worldwide every year.
We will continue to update you on our vaccination arrangements through this bulletin.
2. Reminder: Self-testing kits roll out almost complete
Thousands of self-testing kits have now been distributed to colleagues in emergency care, anaesthetics, pain management and critical care, and now the phased distribution for frontline staff is coming to an end.
The lateral flow tests are designed to help to identify any asymptomatic COVID positive cases and helps ensure we are playing our part in keeping patients, fellow NHS workers and our families safe.
Each person taking part will be given 25 tests, one of which they should perform prior to their shift every three to four days. Colleagues must submit their results via Connect.
They should ensure they are on the Trust network to enable their results to be saved correctly.
If by tomorrow, Thursday 3 December, you have not received a kit, please call the contact centre:
Monday to Friday, 8am – 6pm
- 0121 507 2664
When you hear the options, press 6 for your call to be transferred into the swabbing queue and prioritised.
Weekends, 8am – 4pm
- 07816 992873
Or
- 07970 428995.
WebEx tip: When setting up WebEx meetings ensure you select appropriate co-hosts to allow sharing of content if the host cannot be present
Here is a WebEx tip suggested by Martin Sadler, Chief Informatics Officer:
“When setting up WebEx meetings ensure you select appropriate co-hosts to allow sharing of content if the host cannot be present. Select Edit and go to ‘Show advanced options’ under ‘Attendees’. Ensure the second or third option is selected if the person setting up the meeting will not be attending.”
To find out more about how to make the best use of WebEx read the meetings and teams guides.
If you don’t have a WebEx account call the IT support desk on 4050 or 0121 507 4050 for home workers for an account to be created.
Flu-Per Troopers – it’s competition time…
Thank you to each of you for supporting our 2020 flu campaign. We called for all of our dancing queens (and kings) to step forward earlier this year and, you didn’t disappoint.
Over 5,000 colleagues have now had their flu vaccination – a fantastic achievement. Our campaign is in its final stage so we have decided to extend our competition.
Over the next week, we’d like you to help us vaccinate as many colleagues as we can. The more people we vaccinate, the better prepared we will be to face this winter safely together.
Here’s the deal
Until Monday 7 December, every Flu-Per Trooper that actively supports the flu campaign will go into a prize draw to win one of the following:
- An Amazon tablet – a powerful device designed for entertainment. If you have Prime, you can stream thousands of Prime Video titles, access over a million book titles, thousands of audiobooks and two million songs.
- Portal from Facebook – Smart video calling at your fingertips. A great way to see family, friends and loved ones if perhaps you can’t all be together this year.
How the prize draw works – this is what you need to do
- For every ten people that you vaccinate or complete a form to say they are declining the flu jab, you will be given one entry into the prize draw.
- If, for example, you vaccinate 25 people and fill out five decline forms, you will receive three entries into the prize draw.
Even better
- Every person vaccinated (including you) will go into a prize draw to win two tickets to see Mamma Mia! The Party. The prize includes money towards hotel and travel costs.
- The person who administers the most vaccinations will also receive an extra day of annual leave.
The name of the game is to get all of our colleagues saying I do, I do, I do, I do, I do want my flu jab.
Good luck!
COVID-19 Bulletin: Tuesday 1 December
To keep up to date with the pace of change we will be sharing a bulletin on a daily basis. There’s a lot of change taking place at the moment so please make sure you catch up with the latest bulletins throughout the week, as even if some points seem familiar you may find the details have been updated a great deal.
During this second lockdown period, we must ensure we look after ourselves and others within our community. Make sure you keep in touch with those you love and your neighbours. People may well be feeling anxious, lonely and scared at this time.
Thank you for looking out for one another.
In today’s COVID-19 bulletin
Updated
Reminder
1. Updated – self-testing for patient-facing colleagues
New self-testing kits are currently being rolled out across the Trust for frontline colleagues in a phased approach. Below sets out what you need to do when you receive your testing kit.
Once you have completed the test you must ensure you submit your results here.
2. Reminder: Shielding ends tomorrow as we move into tier 3
Tomorrow sees the end of the second national lockdown – which means colleagues who have been shielding because they are clinically vulnerable will no longer be required to do so. A process is in place to assess each individual situation and identify a way forward. Individuals who have been shielding should speak to their line manager to discuss arrangements. You can read the full guidance here.
Most of the West Midlands will be under tier three – that includes Birmingham, Sandwell, Walsall, Dudley, Wolverhampton, Solihull, Coventry, Warwickshire and Staffordshire.
Here is the government guidance on what you can and cannot do in tier three.
Heartbeat: Trust scoops hat-trick in awards ceremony
Our organisation has scored a hat-trick of wins after scooping three prestigious HR awards.
We won the Bevan Brittan Award for Wellbeing, the Health Sector Talent award for Best Recruitment Initiative, whilst our then Director of People and Organisation Development, Raffaela Goodby picked up the coveted HR Director of the Year gong.
The organisation was recognised in the Healthcare People Management Association Excellence in People Awards (HPMA) 2020 that took place virtually this year.
Raffaela said: “We are so pleased to be recognised for the brilliant teamwork with our people teams, our clinical colleagues, junior doctors, nurses, partners and the community, in how we looked after our colleagues with love and care both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am privileged to receive the HR Director of the Year Award. It feels overwhelmingly beautiful to be nominated by so many clinical colleagues and to know our profession, and my energy and values, have had a positive impact. Thank you to all HR and people teams who work tirelessly to support the 1.2 million colleagues within the NHS, you are wonderful.”
Dr Sarb Clare, who headed up the wellbeing initiative at the Trust which saw the introduction of energy pods for clinicians, dedicated rest spaces, coffee and food supplies, added: “I am delighted with the recognition. The energy pods were a catalyst to a huge amount of wellbeing initiatives from dedicated rest spaces, to debrief sessions, to name a few.
“The energy pods created a culture and emphasis around being ok and vital to take a break. Colleagues reported an improvement in concentration, mental state and felt safe to drive home after a night shift. The pods allowed an area for desensitisation away from the hustle and bustle of a busy acute medical unit and, allowed a breather for many who look after very sick patients.
“Staff wellbeing has been a number one priority during the pandemic. I am proud that we have been ahead of the curve, and we must not underestimate the power of looking after our frontline staff as it equates to high quality care for our sick patients.”
Star of the Week – Carly Aston-Mead
Our Star of the Week this week is Carly Aston-Mead, Midwifery Clinical Educator in Maternity.
Carly has gone above and beyond at short notice to re-arrange the mandatory training for midwives. With little notice she was informed that all face to face training was again suspended due to rising COVID-19 numbers within the local areas and quickly put together a virtual learning package not only for all midwives but for all members of the MDT team (including obstetricians and anaesthetists). Carly communicated this information effectively to colleagues who assist with training sessions to enable them time to alter their sessions to go virtual and then collated all of the information together creating an effective learning package. She has also put on weekly sessions for two midwifery topics which must be completed face to face (BLS and newborn resus). She is very passionate when it comes to assisting colleagues with mandatory training and is always there to help.
Do you know someone in your team that has gone above and beyond the call of duty? Why not put them forward for Star of the Week by clicking here.
Job of the week: Assistant /Deputy Chief Nurse – 3 month role
Due to recent changes within the corporate nursing team there is currently an opportunity for a senior nurse, band 8C or above, to go into the role of assistant/deputy chief nurse for three months.
The portfolio will provide corporate leadership and support the IPC work, in collaboration with the IPC team, during the demanding pandemic and ensure the wider work is embedded. Alongside this work the candidate will lead on the nursing workforce and recruitment, falls and tissue viability.
Note: The successful candidate will also deputise for the chief nurse as required.
If you are interested and would like to discuss further please email kathleen.French1@nhs.net or call 07929832079. Please contact Kathleen French by Monday 7 December, 5pm if this role is of interest to you.
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