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Monthly archives: February 2021

COVID-19 Bulletin: Tuesday 23 February

 

1. New: SWB leads the way in COVID-19 research recruitment

Good news to report as we’ve recently received a letter from Public Health England congratulating the Trust for its efforts with the SARS-CoV2 Immunity & Reinfection Evaluation study – aka SIREN. With Sandwell and West Birmingham, thanks to the efforts of our Research and Development team, having been identified as one of SIREN’s most successful recruiters.

Following the roll-out of vaccinations among healthcare workers, SIREN will be leading the way in providing estimates of vaccine effectiveness. This is particularly important for groups that are currently underrepresented in the overall data: non-clinical support workers, males and people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

R&D is a crucial step in our understanding of not just COVID-19, but countless other illnesses. It has a direct impact on the survivability of patients and improving the patient journey. So well done R&D team and a big thank to those of you who have volunteered for this important study.

 

2. Update: Donate your plasma in the fight against COVID-19

Last week we advised you that NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has restarted collections of convalescent plasma as a potential treatment for COVID-19, and they are appealing for more donations specifically from males who have been hospitalised. (This is due to them having a tendency to have high antibodies.)

NHSBT has produced postcards to go in patient discharge packs, which will be delivered to wards this week.

As soon as you receive the cards please start getting them out by ensuring every patient who has been diagnosed with COVID is given a postcard in their discharge pack.

The appeal is urging both patients and colleagues to donate to help this important study. Colleagues and patients can donate plasma by calling 0300 123 23 23, or by providing details at www.nhsbt.nhs.uk.

Convalescent plasma is being collected at NHSBT’s 23 donor centres around the country, and a number of pop-up donor centres. Donation takes about 45 minutes. Your body usually replaces the plasma you’ve donated in 24-48 hours. Your body also quickly replaces the donated antibodies. All donations are tested for COVID antibodies.

 

3. Update: Surgical Services next in line to join the LAMP testing programme

Earlier this month we began our switch to LAMP (Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification) testing from the Lateral Flow tests. These remain screening tests for asymptomatic staff. If you have symptoms suggestive of COVID then you must still self-isolate and obtain a PCR swab test and not just wait for the LAMP test result.

LAMP testing is a weekly test where you collect a saliva sample first thing in the morning (before you brush your teeth or have your breakfast). You collect your sample at home and as you come into work, you deposit your sample in to one of the collection boxes which is then sent off to the lab to be tested. LAMP test results are processed quicker than the usual PCR swab tests and notifications of both positive and negative results sent back to you via text message.

Instructions on how to perform the test can be accessed by clicking here.

If the result comes back positive you and your household will need to immediately isolate for 10 days and you will not require a PCR swab test to confirm the result.

Colleagues in the following directorates should now call 0121 507 2664 option 6, to register and book a kit collection slot for LAMP Testing in order to go live with testing from 1 March:

  • Anaesthetics
  • Specialist Surgery
  • Theatres
  • Ophthalmology
  • General Surgery

By 22 March, we will have testing available for all staff. You should continue with the lateral flow testing until you move to the LAMP testing programme.

If you have kit left over from your lateral flow tests please return these to your service area and we will arrange for left over testing kit to be collected. If you are at the end of your Lateral Flow Test kit and not due to transition over before you run out of kit, please contact the Community Contact Centre on 0121 507 2664 option 6.

You can read the Frequently Asked Questions by clicking here.

 

4. Update: Don’t take risks – ensure assessments are followed

Every colleague should have undergone a risk assessment – it is essential, as it will determine how you will continue to undertake your duties whilst COVID-19 remains in our lives.

Therefore it is important that managers take the outcomes of these assessments into account.

There are four categories:

  • Relatively very high risk
  • Relatively high risk
  • Relatively medium risk
  • Relatively low risk

Managers can read more about how to support their staff by reading the document: generic advice to managers for supporting at risk groups of staff in their teams information sheet. 

 

5. Reminder: Online COVID vaccination event for BAME colleagues to share their experiences

NHS England and NHS Improvement will be facilitating a series of online events for BAME staff in the region to share their lived experiences around the vaccination programme to date. The events will take place on the following dates:

  • Wednesday 24 February 2021, 2pm to 3.30pm – book here
  • Saturday 27 February 2021, 1pm to 2.30pm – book here

The events aim to provide a clearer understanding of vaccine uptake and potential hesitancies that are emerging among BAME colleagues and communities across the region, as well as helping to allay concerns by providing a safe space for staff to ask questions of experts from a diverse range of backgrounds.

The sessions are open to all health and social care colleagues working in the Midlands region, as well as BAME Workforce Allies, Chaplains, BAME Staff Networks, EDI Leads, Freedom to Speak Up Guardians (FTSU), Staff Sides representatives and health and wellbeing champions.

Action required – Essential Unity update resulting in full Unity downtime tonight from 1am – 3am

 

There is an essential update to the Unity databases being carried out by our supporting vendor Cerner tonight (Wednesday 24 February) from 1am – 3am.

This is required to ensure Unity will continue to work as expected when the clocks go forward in spring.

This will result in Unity being unavailable for up to 2 hours as the update requires a number of database cycles and restarts to take place in order to apply the change.

All departments will be required to revert to business continuity plans and have 724 machines ready and utilise 724 boxes.  Below are the key systems/services affected:

  • Patients new to the Trust can be registered on iPM (Lorenzo) but will not transfer to UNITY / FirstNet until after the downtime.
  • Patient details update messaging from iPM (Lorenzo) will be queued and sent into UNITY after the downtime.
  • Clinical Documentation and Medication Administration will be unavailable until after the downtime and will need to be completed using medication charts printed from 724.
  • Blood Tests and Imaging requests will be unavailable to order electronically; please use handwritten request forms to request Pathology during the downtime; however results will be available via the iLab web page.
  • Emergency Departments will have to print records from 724 for ALL currently registered patients to allow them to continue delivering care; all patients arriving during the downtime will have to be recorded using the ED Business Continuity tool and have all care documented on paper (BCP).
  • Patients new to the Trust will not be able to be visible in Medisoft (This only applies to patients booked into FirstNet if they are registered in iPM and admitted directly to a ward then these will go to Medisoft as normal).
  • New results will not be visible in Unity during this time but will be queued and sent into UNITY after the downtime.
  • Inpatients admitted from ED will need to be manually admitted on iPM and will be queued and sent into UNITY after the downtime.
  • Inpatients transferred between Wards will need to be retrospectively entered into UNITY and transferred in CapMan after the downtime.
  • Inpatients discharged will need to be retrospectively entered and discharged from UNITY after the downtime.

Please be assured meetings have been held to ensure all departments are fully aware of action required in order to accommodate the update.

The activity will be closely monitored at all times both during and after the systems are back up by a designated operational and Informatics management cell along with an additional CNP on site to support teams.  Desktop Alerts will be released from 11pm reminding colleagues of the planned downtime and need to revert to BCPs.

In the meantime please do call the 24 hour IT service desk if you have any further queries on ext 4050 or 0121 507 4050 for home workers.

Online COVID vaccination event for BAME colleagues to share their experiences

 

NHS England and NHS Improvement will be facilitating a series of online events for BAME staff in the region to share their lived experiences around the vaccination programme to date. The events will take place on the following dates:

  • Tuesday 23 February 2021, 5.30pm to 7pm – book here
  • Wednesday 24 February 2021, 2pm to 3.30pm – book here
  • Saturday 27 February 2021, 1pm to 2.30pm – book here

The events aim to provide a clearer understanding of vaccine uptake and potential hesitancies that are emerging among BAME colleagues and communities across the region, as well as helping to allay concerns by providing a safe space for staff to ask questions of experts from a diverse range of backgrounds.

The sessions are open to all health and social care colleagues working in the Midlands region, as well as BAME Workforce Allies, Chaplains, BAME Staff Networks, EDI Leads, Freedom to Speak Up Guardians (FTSU), Staff Sides representatives and health and wellbeing champions.

Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 19 February

 

Hello, everyone.  Welcome to my second attempt at a weekly blog and I hope that at least some of its content inspires you – because this week I want to talk about people who inspire us, to be both better in our roles at work, but also better people.

Firstly, some important notices for you all:

Star of the week this week is Randeep Degun from Estates who has been instrumental in putting in place the changes needed in response to the pandemic, including converting the education centre to a vaccine hospital hub. Liam Kennedy, our Chief Operating Officer, is presenting this award.  This is particularly appropriate because much of the work that Randeep and colleagues have delivered, in particular its responsiveness and urgency, will have benefitted the schemes and services that Liam and his teams have delivered during the course of the last few testing months.

We have recently produced a film for women about the breast screening service, emphasising the safety measures that are in place to reassure patients and encourage them to take up screening appointments.  Nationally, screening services will be coming to the fore again as amongst our immediate priorities for service restoration post-COVID wave 2.  Breast screening is hugely effective and we hope this film reminds women of this.

ITV weatherman Des Coleman has produced a film for us talking about the importance of getting the COVID vaccine when it is offered. Des has hosted our staff awards ceremony for the past two years.  The film will be available on our intranet from today.

We will be announcing the winners of our Flu-Per Trooper competition next week, but I would like to congratulate everyone who took the time to go and get vaccinated. We managed to vaccinate 5498 colleagues in total which include 80.3% of patient facing colleagues.

Finally, some reflections on inspirations and inspirational people, many of whom we work side by side with.  This week, we said “happy retirement” to Emergency Medicine Consultant, Jonha Rizkalla, after 30 years at Sandwell.  In that time, he will have inspired medical students, doctors in training, nursing staff and others.  His acquired wisdom and experience will have benefitted many a patient, family and colleague.  All of us will have worked with or do work with, a Jonha.  We wish him all the best in his retirement.

I have also myself been inspired and enthused by the colleagues I have met in this, my second week at the Trust.  I’ve been inspired to help put my weight behind the inclusion agenda after great discussions with both LGBT and Disability action staff leads.  I have met a terrific group of Deputy Medical Directors and Group Directors, each with a unique experience, talent and role which will help the Trust realise its integrated care ambition, deliver better quality services and radically change its care model for the move to the MMUH.  I’ve seen a talented executive team start to lift their heads up from the immediate management of the pandemic and look to what the Trust and our populations need in the longer term and I’ve discussed how our organisation, with its significant reach and size, can play an increasing role in the research and development of clinical care, so this isn’t always just seen to be the preserve of the traditional university teaching hospitals.

Many people have inspired and motivated me this week.  Who has inspired you?  We are all leaders – so who have you inspired today and how?

Best wishes

Richard

Online COVID-19 vaccination event for BAME colleagues to share their experiences

 

NHS England and NHS Improvement will be facilitating a series of online events for BAME staff in the region to share their lived experiences around the vaccination programme to date. The events will take place on the following dates:

  • Tuesday 23 February 2021, 5.30pm to 7pm – book here
  • Wednesday 24 February 2021, 2pm to 3.30pm – book here
  • Saturday 27 February 2021, 1pm to 2.30pm – book here

The events aim to provide a clearer understanding of vaccine uptake and potential hesitancies that are emerging among BAME colleagues and communities across the region, as well as helping to allay concerns by providing a safe space for staff to ask questions of experts from a diverse range of backgrounds.

The sessions are open to all health and social care colleagues working in the Midlands region, as well as BAME Workforce Allies, Chaplains, BAME Staff Networks, EDI Leads, Freedom to Speak Up Guardians (FTSU), Staff Sides representatives and health and wellbeing champions.

 

COVID-19 Bulletin: Friday 19 February

 

COVID bulletin frequency is changing

As regular readers will be aware, the number of inpatients with COVID that we are caring for across the Trust has started to fall, and although we are not relaxing our vigilance, we are however reducing the frequency of our COVID bulletins.

From next week (commencing Monday 22 February) we will be distributing two bulletins a week – on Tuesdays and Thursdays – following our strategic meetings. This means that if an important decision regarding our response to COVID is made during our strategic meeting you will hear about it quickly. If we need to get a message out to the whole organisation regarding COVID on a different day, then we will issue a special bulletin with the important message.

We will only issue a bulletin with information you need, so please ensure you read the bulletins when they are distributed.

In today’s COVID-19 bulletin

Reminder:

 1. Reminder: Keeping you in the loop with LAMP testing

Earlier this month we began our switch to LAMP (Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification) testing from the Lateral Flow tests. These remain screening tests for asymptomatic staff. If you have symptoms suggestive of COVID then you must still self-isolate and obtain a PCR swab test and not just wait for the LAMP test result.

LAMP testing is a weekly test where you collect a saliva sample first thing in the morning (before you brush your teeth or have your breakfast). You collect your sample at home and as you come into work, you deposit your sample in to one of the collection boxes which is then sent off to the lab to be tested. LAMP test results are processed quicker than the usual PCR swab tests and notifications of both positive and negative results sent back to you via text message.

Instructions on how to perform the test can be accessed by clicking here.

If the result comes back positive you and your household will need to immediately isolate for 10 days and you will not require a PCR swab test to confirm the result.

Colleagues in the following directorates are part of the first stage of roll out and should already be completing the new tests.

  • Admitted Care A
  • Admitted Care B
  • Emergency Care
  • Medical infusion Suite
  • Gynae and Gynae Oncology

If you work in one of these directorates and you are yet to register or collect your test, please call 0121 507 2664 option 6, Monday to Friday between 8am–6pm or Saturday and Sunday on 07816992873, between 8:30am-4pm  to register and book your kit collection slot. The roll out plan is available here.

By 22 March, we will have testing available for all staff. You should continue with the lateral flow testing until you move to the LAMP testing programme.

If you have kit left over from your lateral flow tests please return these to your service area and we will arrange for left over testing kit to be collected. If you are at the end of your Lateral Flow Test kit and not due to transition over before you run out of kit, please contact the Community Contact Centre on 0121 507 2664 option 6.

You can read the Frequently Asked Questions by clicking here

 2. Reminder: REACT-ing to support mental wellbeing

The Trust is training more REACT Practitioners to support the mental wellbeing of colleagues. The training is a half day online course that can be completed using any type of tablet or laptop and it can be done from home. The equipment used does not need to be supplied by the Trust, personal devices are fine.

Here is a link with more information.

The following dates are available with spaces, with training sessions lasting from 9am – 1:30pm

  • 26 February
  • 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 16 and 22 March.

If you would like to become a REACT Practitioner, please ask your line manager to email Mandeep.gill11@nhs.net and provide your name, place of work and which course you would prefer to attend.

Staff must be willing and able to provide support to colleagues within the Trust and it is not anticipated that this would take more than a maximum of one hour per week. We especially welcome staff to complete the training from the surgical services group and also any staff who work on wards and areas that have been particularly impacted by COVID. However, all colleagues may request a place.

Please note: This training is externally purchased by the Trust and failure to attend once booked may incur a financial penalty.

3. Reminder: Annual leave carry forward

Further to previous guidance about annual leave for the year 2020/21 we have updated our guidance which means that:

  • Any colleague who has been unable to take their annual leave entitlement due to the impact of COVID-19 on our services, has the opportunity to carry over up to 10 days. This must be agreed by the line manager and documented (updated on ESR,  the erostering system or other leave booking systems). The line manager will need to agree that it has been impossible for the individual to take their leave during the 2020/21 leave year.
  • Colleagues who have more than 10 days annual leave entitlement remaining may be able to carry over up to 20 days. This will need to be agreed by the line manager, approved by the Group triumvirate, or departmental lead, for corporate areas and signed off by the relevant Executive Director. The expectation is that the leave that is carried over will be taken during 2021/22 at a time agreed with the line manager and service manager. There may be opportunity for colleagues to be paid for some of this leave entitlement should they prefer, however the process and criteria for this is to be determined.

Line managers will be required to confirm that any annual leave carried over is due to the impact of COVID-19 on the services that the Trust provides and the need for staff to be at work.  Such authorisation must not  be due to an employee’s holiday arrangements being disrupted due to for instance, travel restrictions and/or national lockdown arrangements. All discussions about annual leave carry over must be completed by 28 February.

Please note: Usual arrangements apply for those with accrued annual leave relating to sickness absence, maternity, paternity or other leave.

During the week starting 8 March, managers will receive an email from the ESR team asking them to provide the relevant information regarding leave carry over days for their team members.  Managers are asked to not send any information about leave carry over to the ESR Helpdesk prior to this date.

Star of the Week – Randeep Degun

 

Our Star of the Week this week is Randeep Degun from our estates department.

Randeep Degun  has been instrumental in putting in place the changes needed in response to the pandemic, including converting the education centre to a vaccine hospital hub. This is particularly appropriate because much of the work that Randeep and colleagues have delivered, in particular its responsiveness and urgency, will have benefitted the schemes and services that Liam and his teams have delivered during the course of the last few testing months.

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.

REACT-ing to support mental wellbeing: Limited spaces still available

 

There are limited spaces still available on a course taking place this Friday which aims to allow colleagues to train as REACT Practitioners, supporting the mental wellbeing of colleagues. The training is online from 9am – 1.30pm and can be completed using any type of tablet or laptop and it can be done from home. The equipment used does not need to be supplied by the Trust, personal devices will be fully compatible.

Click here for more information.

The following dates are available with spaces, with training sessions lasting from 9am – 1:30pm

  • 26 February
  • March: 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 16 and 22.

If you would like to attend please ask your line manager to email Mandeep.gill11@nhs.net  and provide your name, place of work and which course you would prefer to attend.

Colleagues must be willing and able to provide support to colleagues within the Trust though it is not anticipated that this would take more than a maximum of one hour per week. We especially welcome colleagues to complete the training from the surgery group and also any colleagues who work on wards and areas that have been particularly impacted by COVID. However, all colleagues are entitled to request a place.

Note: This training is externally purchased by the Trust and failure to attend once booked without a valid reason may incur a financial penalty.

Booking appointments on IPM / Lorenzo: Make sure you include consultation type

 

Are you adding the consultation type when booking appointments on IPM/Lorenzo?

It is vital all colleagues who input bookings on IPM and Lorenzo start adding the consultancy/media type when booking appointments so the Trust can ensure we are tracking what activity we are doing and continue to look at improving our booking processes.

If you are not sure about how to log the consultation type, please familiarise yourself with the following standard operating procedure.

For any more information on this please email markwhitehouse@nhs.net or roy.aston@nhs.net.

Shaping the future of our estate with Engie

 

Engie is a leading service, business energy and regeneration company. As you may be aware, they are also our new estates facilities management provider from the 5 April for our current hospitals and the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital.

In early 2019, Engie successfully bid and secured the contract to become our exclusive estate management provider for the next eleven years and will play a critical role in our move to Midland Met in 2022. Boasting a workforce of 17,000 people and managing over 25million m² of space, Engie currently works with 35 other healthcare sites and has 15 local authority partnerships, so it’s safe to say we’ll be working alongside an experienced service provider, helping to make the management of our estate activity as it changes more streamlined and dynamic.

But what will this change mean in reality for our organisation? Well, for starters you can expect to see Engie working closely with SWB, and colleagues in our Trust to not only look after our estate but to innovate, collaborate and actively seek ways to improve our working environment. From 5 April 2021, the team will be responsible for looking after estates facilities management, reactive maintenance, programmed planned maintenance, lifecycle works, small works and some capital works.

Many of our current estates colleagues will be joining the ENGIE team so we are lucky we will still be working with staff we know and who know our estate and services.  ENGIE are also currently working at Midland Met alongside Balfour Beatty, our construction partners getting to know the behind the scenes infrastructure before it is closed behind walls and above ceilings.  This insight is a significant benefit to managing the new real estate in the future.

So how do Engie ensure that innovation remains at the heart of their business model? They keep it simple and keep an eye on developing new ideas and managing their impact on the environment.

Engie’s unwavering commitment to the environment is clear to see – they actively support organisations to reach a zero carbon footprint. They will support this ambition by:

  • Reducing energy consumption
  • Greening supply through investment in decarbonised and decentralised infrastructure
  • Enabling progress through innovative technology, data and partnerships
  • Reconciling economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet.

Rachel Barlow, Director of System Transformation, remarked: “We have been working closely with Engie to ensure the transition to using their service is as smooth as it can be. Over the coming weeks, we will be working with colleagues, holding engagement workshops and sharing what will be changing and how users can access the services they provide.’’

“We’ve all been working hard behind the scenes to move to Engie and, one of the things I am particularly excited about is their focus on sustainability and innovation. Being a forward-thinking organisation looking at how we can operate as carbon neutral as possible will stand us in good stead for the future. Plus, Engie works with over 30 hospitals across the NHS, so they are sharing that wealth of experience with us to impact positively on the work we do onsite and in our communities.”

Richard Samuda, our Chairman, previously remarked: “This is a key long term relationship for us, with a shared commitment to local procurement, local employment and the living wage.”

 

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