Monthly archives: December 2020

Sandwell phlebotomy relocating to outpatients, corridor D

From Monday 14 December, our Sandwell phlebotomy service will be relocating to the outpatients area, on the first floor of corridor D.

For more information please contact sukvinder.atkar@nhs.net.

COVID-19 Bulletin: Thursday 10 December

1. New: Visiting arrangements for inpatients

As you know, our Trust has restricted all visiting unless in exceptional circumstances, or for patients who are at end of life, those who lack mental capacity or children. The Women’s and Child Health Group now have new arrangements in place to allow limited visiting on postnatal wards, a partner to accompany scanning appointments and an additional birthing partner.

Due to the tier 3 restrictions for Birmingham and the Black Country that are a result of high community infections, rate of rise and impact on the NHS, we are retaining a ban on general visiting. Should our local area move to a tier 2 or tier 1 alert level then different visiting arrangements will apply. These arrangements are set out here.

We expect to relax the restrictions during 23 – 27 December to allow visiting, which would be in line with the tier 2 arrangements. We may change this decision depending on the numbers of COVID patients in the hospital, community cases and any hospital outbreaks, however we very much hope that we can allow limited visiting during this period to support our patients and their families. In these circumstances, the appropriate PPE must be worn by the visitor that will be supplied by the Trust. Each ward should only allow a maximum of 30% of the patients to have visitors at any one time, and each bay the same (a maximum of 30% visitors at any one time.) Patients who are nursed in beds in bays must not have visitors whilst their immediate patient neighbour has visitors.

2. New: Critical Care at City returns home

Following a week in temporary accommodation, staff on the critical care unit at City were delighted to return home this afternoon. It took a concerted effort from across the organisation to enable the move home to take place, after a thorough deep clean.

HCA Sharon Francis (pictured second from left) has worked for the Trust since 1994, and retires on New Year’s Eve, leaving the organisation at a pivotal time for the country also. Colleagues from Estates, Site Services and Medical Engineering pulled out all the stops to get critically ill patients back and we would like to thank all those concerned for their focus in achieving this in advance of the weekend. Pictured on the unit today from left to right are some of the many colleagues who have been hard at work over the last week focussed on returning patients to the unit: Housekeeper Mark Peterson, Sharon Francis HCA, Head of Medical Engineering Lawrence Barker, ICU Matron Vanessa Taylor, and Senior Sister Laura Harman.

Estates maintenance at Rowley: 10 December

Essential generator maintenance is taking place at Rowley Regis Hospital today (Thursday 10 December). As a result there will be four planned power outages today in the period up to 4pm. Each outage is expected to be approximately 30 seconds in duration. The majority of desktop computers on site are UPS backed so this should cover the brief loss of power on each occasion.

Additional estates support will be available on site for the duration of the work. As we are unable to provide fixed times for the switching, for preparation purposes we will liaise with each department ahead of each outage.

For any issues or concerns please contact Steven Wilcox on 07790 349996 or call the estates helpdesk on 0121 507 4444.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Leaving the European Union – message for EU colleagues

The Trust is continuing to prepare for leaving the European Union following the transition period coming to a close on 31 December. All colleagues who are identified via ESR as being an EU national are being written to, confirming that your employment remains with the Trust and is unaffected by this change. However, in order to remain living and working in the UK, EU nationals must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to acquire either settled or pre-settled status. The deadline for apply is 30 June 2021. Further details are available at https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

If you have a question or would like more information or help please email swbh-gm-hr-enquiries@nhs.net and put “EU Withdrawal” in the subject heading.

For everything Brexit at the Trust, please click here to visit our dedicated Brexit pages.

Wellbeing Wednesday: We offer a variety of support

Across the Trust we offering a variety of support in regards to health and wellbeing from telephone support services, counselling services through occupational health to other supportive resources and materials. Click here to find out more about these.

Wellbeing sanctuary:

Would you like to take 30-90 minutes to look after yourself? We very rarely take the time, so why not book now! The Wellbeing Sanctuary gives you the chance to de-stress and relax in a confidential safe place.

The sanctuary has a variety of offerings including:

• Massage
• Chill out downtime over a tea/coffee and a biscuit
• A chat – a listening ear to hear anything you want to talk about in confidence
• Meditation
• Mindfulness
• Relaxation hypnotherapy
• Music therapy

Note: Social distancing measures are in place and PPE and sanitisation is provided on site.

To book please contact the wellbeing team on 0121 507 5886 to book your free session.

The sanctuary is only a 5 minute drive away from City Hospital and a 10 minute. drive away from Sandwell Hospital (Learning Works on Unett Street, Smethwick, B66 3SY) with free secured parking right outside.

For further details please see daily sanctuary information sheet.

Christmas shopping made easy for you!

Are you wondering where your are going to get the time to do your Christmas shopping? 

Well worry no more Your Trust Charity has a fantastic range of toys (limited amounts) for you which will keep your children smiling over Christmas!

You will be able to shop whilst on your break and support Your Trust Charity.

Payments will be online via Paypal and we can arrange a collection time from Trinity House.

So grab yourself a cuppa and browse away… happy shopping!

To purchase anything email amanda.winwood@nhs.net or call on 0121 507 4847.

“Health Service Heroes” discounts for Trust colleagues

A variety of discounts are available to both clinical and non-clinical colleagues just in time for Christmas!

Simply scan the QR code the below digital flyer to access discounts available.

Health Service Heroes discounts flyer

Note: Discounts will change and may have expiry dates.

For more information regarding all the staff benefits across the Trust please contact amir.ali1@nhs.net or call ext. 6148.

COVID-19 Bulletin: Wednesday 9 December

1. New: SAFETY is our top priority

It has been a hard year, one in which many colleagues have demonstrated outstanding commitment to our patients, and willingness to step into roles unfamiliar and new. We would like to say thank you to everyone who has already stepped up to help care for our patients safely. It remains essential for all ward staff to be flexible to work in other wards at short notice.

Safety is our top priority, and at the start of a shift when we are faced with unexpected staff absence in a ward, it is essential we are able to maintain at least basic staff to patient ratios for that shift. You may be approached at the last minute to work in a different area when there is no other solution, to maintain patient safety. I am sure you will understand that these requests to move area are essential in order to keep our patients safe.

Thank you for your continued understanding and support to ensure we provide safe patient care for all of our patients.

2. New: Annual Leave carry over

We recognise that during the pandemic, many colleagues have been unable to take annual leave, and have been very flexible to meet service needs during this challenging time. The Trust is extremely grateful for everyone’s flexibility and commitment. However, despite the ongoing challenges, the health and wellbeing of our staff remains a priority and it is vitally important to us that you get the rest you need and the opportunity to spend time with loved ones.

We continue to encourage all staff to plan how they intend to take their leave throughout the remainder of the financial year, i.e., until the end of March 2021, and to discuss and agree this with their manager by the end of December, if possible; this applies equally to all staff regardless of whether they are shielding, working remotely or in the workplace, and regardless of their role or banding. Colleagues who have different leave years (other than April – April) should also have the discussion with their line managers.

The carry over of annual leave may be agreed, by exception, and managers will have the discretion to allow colleagues to carry over up to 10 days or two working weeks only.  Managers will escalate any individual/local issues to the Group Director of Operations for further consideration by the senior team.

3. New: Mortuary visiting policy update

As we often say in these bulletins kindness is our watchword, but it is an unfortunate reality that due to the COVID-19 pandemic we have had to change the way we approach mortuary visiting, as visitors are still under restrictions even in this most unfortunate circumstance. In recognition of this and in an effort to balance sympathy with necessary guidance, an update to the Mortuary visiting policy has been approved by the Trust tactical team and is now in effect, which allows two people to attend so that they can offer support to one another at a difficult time.

COVID-19 Bulletin: Tuesday 8 December

1. New: COVID vaccination programme – can you play a part?

Today you may have seen coverage of 90 year old Maggie – filmed in Coventry, she is the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccination in the UK.

The hospital hub for the Black Country is Walsall Manor and we are expecting additional hospital hubs to be announced in coming days.

Our PCCT team with Your Health Partnership Primary Care Network (YHP PCN) are gearing up to begin vaccinating patients next week. This vaccination campaign will be carried out in addition to usual general practice work and the additional over 50s flu vaccinations.  The plan is to vaccinate seven days per week from 8am-8pm.  We would therefore welcome any colleague who would like to help us in this fight and help to facilitate and administer vaccinations.

YHP PCN plans to deliver their COVID vaccination programme from Whiteheath Medical Centre. It is anticipated that staff will be required to work six hour shifts. Please register with the Trust bank and send an email to express your interest to help with the vaccination campaign to Davinia George our YHP PCN Head of Nursing – davinia.george@nhs.net.

2. New: Know your lifts

Our estates team have installed new floor signage so that it is clear which lifts should be used for which purposes. It is vital that lifts identified as “red” are only used to transfer red stream patients. They should not be used for other purposes. Staff should also ensure that the correct PPE is being worn in all lifts to reduce risk of infection transmission.  You will see the signs on the floor directly in front of the door to the lift. Please ensure you travel safely.

3. Updated: Please log your lateral flow test results

Over 5000 colleagues have now received their lateral flow test kits, yet only 860 have logged their results. If you are having difficulty logging your results please contact swbh.comms@nhs.net and we will help you.

It is essential that all colleagues who have signed for a test kit uploads their results promptly, so the Trust is able to demonstrate that mass testing is working within our organisation. As mass testing further evolves in a bid to keep both colleagues and patients safe, we need to be able to demonstrate that we are keen to be at the front of the queue to receive updated tests.

If we are unable to prove that our workforce are using and recording results promptly, it puts us at a disadvantage when requesting further tests.

You can upload your test results here via Connect, when you are on the Trust network.

Critical care at City temporary move to D16

Due to a deep clean over the weekend, critical care at City Hospital will temporary move to D16 from 8am tomorrow (Saturday 5 December).

It is expected that critical care will return to its base on Tuesday (8 December).