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Monthly archives: January 2021

Important message from Richard Samuda, Chairman

 

Dear Colleagues

I am writing to provide you with an update on leadership arrangements at the Trust that are due to take effect from Monday 8 February.

As you aware, our Chief Executive Toby Lewis continues to be away from work and we wish him well for his recovery. Dr David Carruthers, our Medical Director has served as acting Chief Executive in Toby’s absence.

I am now pleased to confirm that Richard Beeken has agreed to act as Chief Executive on a temporary basis in Toby’s absence to allow David to return to his substantive Medical Director role, which he has welcomed.

Richard, who many of you know, is currently Chief Executive of Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust where he has been for the past three years and will take on this role as a temporary secondment until Toby is able to fully resume his duties. Richard has had several senior roles in Black Country Trusts including Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust. He has previously been Chief Executive at Wye Valley NHS Trust where he led the Trust out of special measures, as he has also done successfully at Walsall, along with leading the creation and implementation of the Walsall Together place-based Integrated Care Partnership with a number of partners in Walsall. He is committed to working collaboratively with partners at place and across Birmingham and the Black Country STP and we are very much looking forward to his leadership support at this time.

I would like to thank David Carruthers for his considerable contribution and service whilst stepping into the Chief Executive role until this point and in particular leading the Trust through an unprecedented surge in activity during the recent phases of the Pandemic. I hope you will join me in welcoming Richard to our organisation.

Richard Samuda, Chairman

Could you be our next Directorate General Manager for Surgical Services?

 

Are you ready for the challenge of being a Directorate General Manager for Surgical Services (8b) on a 6-12 month secondment basis starting in February 2021?

This is an exciting time to be joining the senior team in Surgical Services as we plan to develop, implement and embed service improvements to enable us to restart surgery following COVID-19 and also to ensure that we are performing to our very best as we move into MMUH.

We’re keen to develop someone internally into this role who knows the organisation, the key stakeholders, our patients and our processes. It’s vital the successful applicant understands the challenges of delivering high quality, patient focussed surgical services in this challenging and increasingly fast-paced environment.

Although you do not need to have direct experience of surgical services, you will need to have transferrable skills and you will need to be keen to take on new challenges and think about how we can work differently to achieve measurable success. Please see the job description and person specification for more details. The role is band 8b and plays a key part in our group senior leadership team as well as across the organisation.

Any expressions of interest should be made via email to Marion Pavitt at marion.pavitt@nhs.net by Monday 1 February 2021. Interviews will take place the following week. Please discuss your release from your substantive post with your line manager first to ensure that this would be feasible.

The Black Country and West Birmingham Sustainability Transformation Partnership (STP) Inequalities Project

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Black Country and West Birmingham Sustainability Transformation Project would love to hear from your perspective about events during 2020. Your views are important and will help to put inclusion at the heart of agenda they are working on.

The Black Country and West Birmingham Sustainability Transformation Partnership is seeking views to truly understand what it is like to work in the health and care industries in the area. In particular, they are interested in understanding inequalities at multiple levels.

It is hoped this project will highlight areas of focus and help us to ensure that the Black Country area is championing these values.

There are two elements to this project, firstly colleagues are being asked to participate and complete a survey via this link and will take approximately 15 minutes.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HSGRCSM

The second part will be to attend and encourage colleagues to participate in listening events/focus groups. We will be replicating the sessions over morning, afternoon, evening and weekend slots to offer staff a flexibility of access, all session will be held via Microsoft Teams.

To book onto a focus group session please contact Rhi Thompson via rhi.thompson@nhs.net and for any further information regarding the STP project please contact Del Radway via del.radway@nhs.net or Sabrina Richards on sabrina.richards@walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk

View the flyer to find out more – We want to hear from you! A5 Flyer

Newtown Medical Centre has a new home

 

Effective from Monday, 25 January, Newtown Medical Centre has a new home.

The new address for the centre is 243 Wheeler Street, Birmingham, B19 2ET. Should you need to call the team, they can still be reached on 0121 203 0666.

The practice is no longer at 171 Melbourne Avenue, Newtown, Birmingham B19 2JA.

 

COVID-19 Bulletin: Monday 25 January

 

New:

Updated:

Reminder:

  1. New: Guidance for colleagues faced with making difficult decisions

Many colleagues will find themselves making difficult decisions during these challenging times regarding the care received by patients who are nearing end of life.

As a result a process has been produced by the Trust’s Clinical Ethics Committee to give guidance to those faced with this situation.

This process should be implemented at all times and all decisions regarding patient care should be documented, including those colleagues who are involved in the decision-making.

It is also important that patients, or their next of kin are involved in this process.

You can view the full process here.

If you have any questions please contact the Clinical Ethics Committee by emailing swbh.clinical-ethics-group@nhs.net.

  1. New: Let’s talk about mental health

Managing our stress and psychological health at this time is as important as our physical health.

Taking care of basic needs and employing helpful coping strategies are top priorities. 

The Trust offers a range of support including one to one counselling, referral to mental health practitioners as well as helpful advice through the Wellbeing Together newsletter. But it is important that you decide what the right support is for you.  Remember, it’s ok to not be ok, and if you aren’t, there is support available to you.

Frontline19 is an independent UK nationwide service delivering psychological support to those who are, or have been on the frontline of COVID-19. The service can ensure you get the right help quickly and easily and is free and confidential. So, if you need someone to talk to, they can put you in touch with a therapist and you can take it from there.

Some common themes healthcare professionals request support for include:

  • Worrying and over-thinking a situation and its consequences
  • Poor concentration on other things and easily distracted
  • Feelings of anxiety
  • Feelings of panic
  • Irritability
  • Restlessness and fidgeting
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Poor daily functioning and difficulty carrying out routine tasks
  • Avoidance of usual tasks and routines
  • Feelings of helplessness and loss of control or incompetence
  • Fatigue and muscle ache.

To get started all you need to do is fill in a short online form. Pairing usually takes seven days or sooner if possible. Visit https://www.frontline19.com/ for more information.

  1. Updated: COVID-19 Vaccinations now open to all staff

The vaccination team is ploughing ahead with the programme to protect all colleagues across the Trust, regardless of their role or risk assessed criteria. That now includes bank staff.

The hub is situated at the Education Centre at Sandwell Hospital and invitations via email have been sent to all remaining colleagues who are yet to receive their first dose of the vaccine.

If you haven’t spotted the message, you can still contact the booking team on 0121 507 4112.

But please remember the following:

  • We are currently only offering the first dose and have 380 vaccines slots available until lunchtime on Thursday that need to be filled by you. If you haven’t already booked your appointment please do so now so that we can use these slots and no vaccines go to waste.
  • At your first vaccination appointment, a slot will be booked for your second dose to be administered 12 weeks later. Please note there is no flexibility on this.  This is following
    national guidelines and is mirrored in all other Trusts, GPs practices and vaccination centres.

The first dose offers good levels of protection and we can reduce transmission significantly in the community by giving more people the first dose and the second dose after 12 weeks.

  1. Reminder: Revised PPE Guidance: Important update

We have carried out a further risk assessment in relation to PPE usage in our clinical areas.

This has taken into account the following:

  • Current high volume of infection rates in the community
  • The corresponding high number of COVID-19 admissions
  • Some cases where patients on amber non-COVID wards have subsequently had a positive COVID PCR swab test after initial negative test
  • The ventilation in our ward areas.

The outcome of that risk assessment has led to a decision to increase the required level of PPE in these inpatient environments for some staff. This is above and beyond the current national guidelines.  This is under constant review and may well change if the regular review of the risk assessment indicates that the risk is lowered.

For all inpatient areas where there is direct patient contact (in red and amber wards), staff should wear:

  • A silicone mask/FFP3 mask and a visor, these can be sessional use. Single use gloves and aprons (please ensure you have been fit tested for an FFP3 mask before use).
  • You should wear a fluid-resistant surgical face mask if you do not have direct patient contact.  Non-direct patient contact includes walking on a ward area, pharmacists, clerical staff, estates and facilities staff. Disposable gloves/aprons should be worn for contact with patients/immediate environment. Porters who are transferring patients should wear FFP3/silicone face mask when transferring patients to red and amber wards.
  • If you are visiting the ward from another area, a minimum requirement when entering the unit will be to wear a fluid resistant surgical face mask

Please note: staff must follow their individual risk assessment for PPE, occasionally this will recommend a higher level of protection depending on your individual assessment.

For all outpatients and community staff inclusive of health visitors/school nurses/GP practices, for staff visiting care home facilities, patients and families homes, surgical face masks and visors should be worn as a minimum with a disposable apron and gloves for direct patient care.

If clinical intervention is required, a clinical risk assessment should be undertaken prior to the contact to establish whether there is a requirement for a higher level of PPE.

For example if a patient with a known respiratory condition has a persistent cough (not COVID related), an FFP3 and a visor should be worn in the event that the contact is essential and cannot be delayed.

Porters and facilities staff on wards can continue to wear a surgical face mask. However, if they are in direct patient contact they will then need to follow the guidelines outlined above for inpatient staff.

If you have any questions please speak to your line manager or infection control who will advise you.

 

Waste management – do you know the rules?

 

We know that we are all working under very different situations at present, and our normal working lives have been turned upside down. All the various cycles of working that we fall into, our routines – the well-trodden practices  of how we operate, it’s all gone completely out of the window. Every day is constantly changing and we’re constantly changing to stay on top of it. However, waste disposal hasn’t changed, just the volumes.

It has been recognised  that policies and practices have slipped and the normal rules are not being followed within the frame work of waste management.

Whilst it is appreciated there’s more deliveries than usual as departments get new equipment and supplies, and we’re also going through consumables at a highly accelerated rate. As a result of this and people are so busy, inappropriate disposal of both domestic and clinical waste is piling up all around the Trust.

Bags are being left on the floor instead of putting them into bins, cages are being left in corridors full of boxes that have not been flattened, this is not only presenting an infection control risk, but it endangers colleagues who have to pick it up and there also the fire risk element – as you can see below the results in some areas is quite shocking.

The correct  rules of segregation apply even in COVID areas:

  • Only healthcare infectious waste should be placed into orange bags ( no packaging)
  • PPE in to offensive (Tiger bags)  ( no packaging)
  • Domestic waste should be placed in black bags.
  • All cardboard should be flattened.

So if you have any general rubbish that needs disposal please make sure it is placed in the correct waste stream to await collection.

COVID-19 Bulletin: Friday 22 January

 

In today’s COVID-19 bulletin

 New:

 Reminder:

1. New –  Kindness, civility and respect are crucial to beating COVID-19

Lets face it, the last 12 months have taken their toll on everyone, from the portering colleagues who have walked endless miles helping move patients between wards, the imaging and diagnostic colleagues who have battled to keep scanners working around the clock to the AHPs, HCAs, Nurses and Doctors at the frontline battling to keep patients safe and well. Everyone has worked incredibly hard to keep our hospitals running and our patients and colleagues safe.

When we started our response to COVID-19, we were clear that ‘kindness’ was our watchword, regardless of changes to plans, pathways, processes or treatments. That promise still remains, but we need to be mindful that alongside the kindness and compassion we show our patients, we remain civil and respectful to all.

Whilst you may feel that you are stressed, overcome with emotion and tired, we urge everyone to remain kind, civil and respectful to each other. Remember, our Trust can only work well if everyone plays their part and throughout the past 12 months, every single department and volunteer has been exceptional.

It’s ok not to be ok, but please do remember, there are lots of resources available to support you, and if you think there is more that can be done, speak up and we will do our utmost to support.

2. New – Your wellbeing counts

Whilst you look after the patients, it’s our job to make sure we look after you.  Hopefully by now you will be aware of and have had the opportunity to use the catering vouchers that were circulated. By no means does this solve or repay the blood, sweat and tears that’s been put in to keeping our patients safe, but we hope that the provisions go some way to supporting those of you who we know are working long shifts.

If you haven’t already discovered them, across our Trust we have a number of rest areas that you can use to relax and unwind during your shift. This list of rest areas on Connect is not definitive, so please do speak to your line manager if you don’t know where your nearest rest area is. You may also consider taking advantage of our energy pods to help you recharge. We have three state of the art energy pods available in AMU and maternity at City and at Sandwell.

The groups are also currently collating ideas regarding what you would like to see to aid your wellbeing. If you feel that there is something that could really help the wellbeing of your team then please email swbh.wellbeing@nhs.net and the team will consider your request.

3. New – Grief is not a taboo subject

Grief is absolutely not a taboo subject in our Trust, we are well aware that colleagues are working in areas where there are incredibly unwell patients who we work hard to stabilise and support, and the grief that colleagues can experience when you lose a patient can be difficult to overcome. However there is help available.

Alongside the national resources that we shared yesterday, remember you can always contact Occupational Health and you can always talk to your manager or colleagues.

Contact Occupational Health on 0121 507 3306

Confidential support by phone

  • General: 0800 06 96 222 (7am-11pm)
  • Bereavement: 0300 303 4434 (8am-8pm)

Support by text message

  • Text ‘FRONTLINE’ to 85258 – 24 hours a day, seven days a week

4. New – Drug safety notice: Methylprednisolone injections

There is currently insufficient supply in the UK of all strengths of Methylprednisolone injections. We urge clinicians to review all patients on Methylprednisolone for acute respiratory distress syndrome in critically ill COVID-19 patients and switch to an alternative steroid.

Please see methylpred shortage information sheet for further details.

For more information please contact the pharmacy department (City ext. 5263, Sandwell ext. 3783).

 5. Reminder – Don’t delay, get your vaccination….this weekend

If you are yet to get your first dose of the COVID vaccination you can do so this weekend.  There are currently available vaccination slots that are open to all colleagues. All you have to do is call the booking team on 0121 507 4112.

Please note that this is only for those colleagues who are yet to receive their first dose. Secondary doses will be available 12 weeks following the first dose.

You will be asked some simple pre – screening questions when booking your appointment which are listed below:

  1. Have you had any type of COVID-19 vaccination already?
  2. Are you currently unwell with a fever?
  3. Have you ever had a significant allergic reaction to a vaccine, medicine or food (such as previous history of anaphylactoid reaction or those who have been advised to carry an adrenaline auto-injector)?
  4. Are you pregnant or planning to be pregnant within the next 2 months?
  5. Have you had any other vaccinations in the last 7 days, particularly the flu vaccination
  6. Have you had a COVID positive test within the past 28 days?
  7. Do you have a bleeding disorder e.g. haemophilia?

If you answer YES to any questions you may require a more in depth consultation which will determine if we are able to offer you the Pfizer vaccine.

You may be advised to contact Occupational Health Department or your GP for further advice.

6. Reminder – Donning, Doffing, Do’s & Don’ts

It’s been a while since we reminded colleagues on the proper procedures to put on (Don) and to remove (Doff) PPE, but with the recent updates to the guidance it’s critical that colleagues pay close attention to the proper processes.

The order in which you don and doff your PPE is incredibly important, whilst you may have been protected whilst wearing the PPE, colleagues who are careless when doffing PPE can put themselves at risk of harm and at risk of infection if potentially infected PPE is not removed in the right way.

The following posters and videos highlight the right way to don and to doff. Please do take the time to remind yourself and refresh your memory.

[su_box title="Note: Vented masks must not be worn in sterile areas" box_color="#ff5740"]Colleagues are reminded to please ensure they do not wear vented masks in sterile areas. These types of masks are fitted with a valve that allows the wearer to exhale their breath bypassing the filter. Whilst these masks can be more comfortable to wear for prolonged periods, they MUST NOT be worn in a sterile area under any circumstances. [/su_box]

Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 22 January

 

The focus of our Trust this week has continued to be on our Covid-19 response where we remain dealing with extremely high numbers of patients with Covid-19. My sincerest thanks once again for the professional way you all continue to support our patients, stepping into unfamiliar roles and supporting each other where you can. Community cases are starting to fall (but are still high) and inpatient admissions are beginning to stabilise. And yet, our critical care teams are still caring for more than double the amount of patients they would normally look after. Sadly, too, the number of people dying with Covid-19 on a daily basis has increased. Looking after your own resilience in the face of these extremely difficult circumstances must be paramount.

We have featured consistently within our daily Covid bulletins the support that is available to each and every one of you. It doesn’t matter where you work or what role you carry out. You don’t need to feel unworthy of the help if you are not as pressured as someone else. Everyone can benefit from taking time for you, talking to colleagues and seeking professional help. Please take the opportunity to do that this weekend or into the week ahead.

The Covid threat remains real and I want to thank our lead clinicians who have been before the media this week emphasising how important it is that everyone continues to follow lockdown restrictions and that the vaccine is the real way out of this pandemic. Our vaccination programme is going well but we must all get behind the message to our communities that the vaccines are safe and effective. Dr Chizo Agwu’s film message this week describes why it is vital that people take up the offer of the vaccine when they are contacted. Don’t delay. Slots are available for any staff member this weekend by contacting our booking line.

The debate continues about the timing of the second dose of the vaccine. I have said in this blog previously why I am in support of the new national guidelines. The first dose offers good protection three weeks after your first dose. The best protection we can give you is to reduce the number of Covid-19 patients you need to look after. I want as many people as possible in our communities to be vaccinated. That will give all of us good protection which, combined with our individual vaccine, will make us safer in the long term.

Thank you for continuing to pull together for the benefit of our patients who are relying on us. This weekend we are hoping to see an expansion in the number of colleagues who are out supporting our clinical teams in areas they wouldn’t normally work. This willingness to step in and help out has long been a feature of our Trust and remains the way we will continue to get through the days and weeks ahead.

I wanted to use this opportunity to share the details of our executive team due to a few recent appointments and changing roles. Please remember that all of us are here to support you so please get in touch if you would like to raise anything or have a suggestion on how we can do things differently to make your lives easier. We want to listen and do all we can to help and I am hoping that over the coming weeks we are better able to be accessible and available to hear your stories understand your concerns.

David Carruthers

Heart failure inpatient referrals in Unity

 

From Monday 1 February, inpatient referrals to the acute heart failure nursing should be made via Unity.

You can find the referral via requests and care plans by searching “referral to heart failure” in the search bar on the system. Please ensure you complete the relevant information so the team can then pick up the referral.

For more information please call ext. 5689 or swbh.acuteheartfailurenurses@nhs.net.

Temporary closure of Sandwell and City gym facilities

 

Due to the continued high case rate in the community and the lockdown restrictions we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily close our gym facilities. This is to avoid any potential transmission. The changing rooms and shower areas will remain open. We realise that exercising is vital for our health and wellbeing so would encourage you to access online classes or apps to maintain your health and fitness or if you want to start a fitness programme.

The NHS publishes a list of apps that are useful for health and wellbeing and can be accessed here.

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