Monthly archives: March 2021

LGBTQ+ Network meeting: 16 March

The LGBTQ+ Network will be hosting their second network meeting of 2021 on Tuesday 16 March, 2pm – 4pm via WebEx. You do not have to be on camera or even speak if you do not want to and if you wish to remain anonymous you can dial in as this way your name will not be shown.

Joining details can be found below:

• Link: https://swbhnhs.webex.com/swbhnhs/j.php?MTID=m4183af9d6848c5484c646b5003bcb9e4
• Meeting number (access code): 183 793 0253
• Meeting password: x9vSVSygs73
• Join by phone: +44-20-3478-5289
• Join from a video system or application: 1837930253@swbhnhs.webex.com

Please click here to check out the agenda. If you have any issues that you would like to raise at the meeting, or if you are interested in joining the LGBT+ Network please email swbh.lgbt@nhs.net.

LGBTQ+ survey – help shape our network: To further develop our network, we’d appreciate a few minutes of your time to answer our questionnaire.

LGBTQ+ History Month conference: SWB is working in partnership with healthcare providers across the West Midlands to bring you a regional LGBTQ+ History Month conference. The event will take place online on Thursday 25 March, 12pm – 3pm. You can book your place by clicking here.

Latest edition of Heartbeat now online

Check out the latest edition of Heartbeat online now.

What can you expect to find inside this issue? Well, for starters we have vaccinated over 10,000 people at our COVID-19 hubs.

Plus, we’ve got all of this:

• Bringing Midland Me to life
• Making the move to Engie
• LGBTQ+ History Month

You can email famena.nawaz@nhs.net if you have an idea for an article or call us on ext. 5303

Star of the Week – Jilly Croasdale

Our Star of the Week this week is Jilly Croasdale, Head of Radiopharmacy and Associate Director Healthcare Science.

Jilly has been recognised for going the extra mile and being caring and kind. Velindre Cancer Centre, Cardiff, had 10 patients urgently requiring scans prior to treatment. The Cardiff radiopharmacy centre developed electrical problems the afternoon prior to these scans and so could not produce radiopharmaceuticals the next morning. Other closer centres were unable to help with radiopharmaceuticals. In desperation, they contacted Jilly who immediately agreed to help and was able to arrange delivery for the next morning with our transport department. All patient doses arrived not much later than they normally get them from Cardiff and all patients had their scans. The Velindre Cancer Centre were incredibly grateful for this effort by our radiopharmacy team and Jilly in particular.

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.

West Midlands Fire Service event: How digital innovation is making our communities safer

West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) will be hosting a digital event around how they and their close partner organisations have had to adapt their ways of using technology due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event will take place on Tuesday 30 March, 10am – 1pm and will be hosted via the Microsoft Teams platform.

For the full itinerary please click here.

To register your interest please click here.

For more information please email lucy.lawson@wmfs.net.

Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 12 March

Hello, colleagues

With mass Covid-19 vaccination efforts underway so successfully in the UK, we need to understand and redress the disparities in its uptake. Data to 14 February 2021 show that over 90% of adults in Britain have received or would be likely to accept the Covid-19 vaccine if offered. However, surveys have indicated much greater vaccine hesitancy among people from some ethnic minorities. In a UK survey in December 2020, vaccine hesitancy was highest among black, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani populations compared with people from a white ethnic background.

Even more worryingly, data up to 15 January 2021 show substantially lower rates of Covid-19 vaccinations among over 80s in ethnic minority (white people 42.5%, black people 20.5%) and deprived communities (least deprived 44.7%, most deprived 37.9%) in England.  More immediately of relevance to us is data from many NHS Trusts show lower Covid-19 vaccination rates among ethnic minority healthcare workers (70.9% in white staff v 58.5% in South Asian and 36.8% in black colleagues in recent research).  We are still validating and checking our data at SWBT, but we believe that our vaccination rates in black and Asian colleagues may be even lower than this.

This has serious implications, particularly given the populations we serve and the makeup of our staff in this Trust. The pandemic continues to have a disproportionate effect on people from ethnic minorities, with higher Covid-19 morbidity and mortality and greater adverse socioeconomic consequences.  Without an effective vaccination strategy to mitigate the risks, the situation will worsen. The differential uptake will surely further exacerbate pre-existing health inequalities and marginalisation of ethnic minority groups.

Vaccine hesitancy, characterised by uncertainty and ambivalence about vaccination, is a legitimate viewpoint, underscoring the failure or lack of effective public health messaging.  It should not and will not be dismissed in our organisation as a viewpoint based on being an “anti-vaxxer” or a conspiracy theorist.  Nor will we attempt to tackle this by “busting myths”.   We will NOT be making the COVID vaccine mandatory in this Trust.  Whether white, middle aged, middle class people like me like it or not, there are genuinely held concerns and reservations about vaccination and we won’t tackle them by dismissing them.

The most common reasons for hesitancy are concerns about side effects and the long term effects on health, and lack of trust in vaccines.  Trust is eroded by previous unethical healthcare research in black populations, under-representation of minorities in health research and vaccine trials and negative experiences of our healthcare system.

Trust can and will be established by funding and supporting community and primary care led vaccination efforts, as GPs are likely to be more trusted by the communities they serve because of relationships built over time.  Engaging community groups, champions, and faith leaders, and resourcing targeted, culturally sensitive interventions should also help reduce vaccine hesitancy and we are doing this. For example, managing doubts regarding the religious acceptability of vaccines will require consistent non-stigmatising messages in targeted populations, co-designed, shared, and endorsed by people within the community,  particularly health professionals.  This is where we can all play our part in the wider effort.  We have been prioritising high risk staff for vaccination and many of those colleagues are from minority communities.  We recognise they can play a key part in tackling vaccine hesitancy.  But we know those colleagues can only do this if their own vaccine hesitancy is tackled.

If you are a colleague who is hesitant about the COVID vaccine, please do make contact with colleagues of a similar background to you, who have had the jab.  Discuss and explore how they were convinced it was the right thing to do.  If you want advice on the science or evidence, for example about its impact on pregnancy or fertility, then there are any number of people who you can ask, including our occupational health team.  If you haven’t had the vaccine yet, your line manager will possibly be approaching you to have this conversation.  I hope that both people in that conversation explore the issues in a mutually respectful way, our organisational values demand it.

The legitimate concerns and information needs of ethnic minority communities must not be ignored, or worse still, labelled as “irrational” or “conspiracy theories.” We need to engage, listen with respect, communicate effectively, and offer practical support to those who have yet to make up their minds about the vaccine.  Covid-19 vaccination is one of the most important public health programmes in the history of the NHS. Tackling vaccine hesitancy and developing immunity in our populations, is a responsibility that all of us can take on.

Earlier today I wrote to all colleagues to thank you for your commitment and dedication to the Trust throughout the pandemic and particularly during this latest wave. Your contribution is valued. My letter is linked here.

Congratulations to our star of the week, Jilly Croasdale. It is particularly apt to recognise Jilly around the time of International Women’s Day. Jilly was nominated for her sterling efforts to ensure supply of radiopharmaceuticals to a cancer centre across the border in Wales enabling their patients to be scanned the following day. Many of you know Jilly well for her commitment to women in science, particularly for the work she does to encourage young people to consider a career in healthcare science. I am delighted that she was selected as star of the week.

Our focus on wellbeing continues and Dr Makwana is once again on the dance floor encouraging us all to get moving with his latest dance 4 wellbeing. Do take the time to view and join in this month’s dance routine either on your own or with your teams. We’d love to see how you are getting on. And this week we marked stop smoking day with a short film about our smoke free sites campaign. This is an initiative that has confounded many NHS Trusts and I am pleased to see how well it is embedded here. The campaign is nominated for a HSJ award on Wednesday evening so good luck to the smoke free team and to our other entries covering sustainability, the alcohol service and Dr Sarb Clare for clinical leader of the year. You can keep up with the announcements by following the HSJ twitter feed @HSJ_Awards so feel free to follow the feed from 5pm and show your support to the teams who have been shortlisted.

Richard Beeken
Interim CEO

Drop off points for LAMP testing samples added

The roll out continues for all colleagues to switch to LAMP (Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification) testing and as a result we are increasing the number of collection boxes across our sites and in the community.

Drop off points are now available at the following community venues:

• Neptune Health Park, first floor, Sedgley Road West, Tipton.
• The Lyng Centre for Health and Social Care, second floor clinical suite, Frank Fisher Way, West Bromwich.
• Oldbury Health Centre, ground floor, Albert Street, Oldbury.
• Victoria Health Centre, ground floor, Suffrage Street, Smethwick.
• Rowley Regis Hospital, outpatients.

Collection boxes at our acute sites are situated in these areas:

• Phlebotomy, first floor outpatients, Sandwell Hospital.
• Corridor D and Phlebotomy ground floor, Birmingham Treatment Centre, City Hospital.

More drop off points at our acute sites are planned and will be available shortly. We’ll keep you updated via the COVID-19 Bulletin as to where these will be.

LAMP testing is a speedy and reliable COVID-19 test which requires you to collect a saliva sample in the morning before you brush your teeth or have your breakfast.  When you arrive at work, you can deposit your sample into a collection box – and you’ll receive your result within 24 hours.

If you haven’t already, you can now book a kit collection slot by calling 0121 507 2664 and selecting option 6.

Visionable Q&A Session

Visionable is the our Trust’s virtual consultation solution, enabling our clinical colleagues to engage with patients without the need for patients to travel to hospital. The new system enables clinicians to see patients safely whilst practicing social distancing. It also supports the involvement of family members who do not live locally.

The Q&A session will include the following topics:

1. Visionable – What is it – an overview of its functions
2. Training – what training is available
3. A super user’s point of view

The Visionable Q&A session will take place on Webex on 22 March 11am – 12noon

To join the session login at: https://swbhnhs.webex.com/swbhnhs/onstage/g.php?MTID=ec1d8aa00b6d0399b116428205a7a517e
Password: VISIONABLE2021

If you would like more information on Visionable or if you would like to be set up to use Visionable in your clinic, contact Mark Whitehouse on  markwhitehouse@nhs.net

COVID-19 Bulletin: Thursday 11 March

In today’s COVID-19 bulletin

 New:

• Exec shares personal reasons for having COVID-19 jab
• Focus on fertility, pregnancy and the vaccination
• COVID-19 community infection cause for concern
• Option to sell outstanding annual leave back to the Trust
• Fit testing hub is on the move
• Drop off points for LAMP testing samples added

Numbers not statistics: This week (last week)

1. New: Exec shares personal reasons for having COVID-19 jab

Chief People Officer Frieza Mahmood has shared her first-hand experience of receiving the COVID-19 vaccination and her thoughts about why it’s so important.

In an open and honest video recording, filmed in her car, Frieza speaks about her nerves just moments ahead of having the jab at the Al-Abbas Islamic Centre, in Birmingham.

She says: “I’m a little bit nervous because I don’t like needles. But having thought about the information out there about the benefits of the vaccine, and my desire to want to protect my loved ones, friends, colleagues and the local community, I’ve decided that outweighs any natural fears I have.”

Speaking into the camera after her jab, she says: “I didn’t even feel it – it was so fast and everyone was very professional. They know what they’re doing. If anyone out there is nervous I hope they find this message reassuring.”

To watch the full video click below:

2. New: A focus on fertility, pregnancy and the vaccination

A webinar around fertility, pregnancy and the vaccination is now available to watch. The discussion features experts from across the country, including TV medic Dr Nighat Arif, a GP regularly featured on the BBC, Tendai Nzirawa, from NHS England/Improvement, and Rachel Heathcock, from the Wellbeing and Work for Refugee Integration.

You can watch the 90 minute webinar by clicking here.

3. New: COVID-19 community infection cause for concern

Whilst COVID-19 rates in the community have been falling across Sandwell, there still remain some areas of significantly high levels of infection.

The Tipton Green ward which covers Tipton town centre, areas of Dudley Port and the Dudley border currently has levels of infection that are twice as high as the rest of Sandwell combined.

Sharing her words of caution, Lisa McNally, Director of Public Health in Sandwell said: “We are urging people in Tipton, and indeed the rest of Sandwell, to keep being careful to avoid infection.

“Although rates continue to fall across Sandwell we still have some areas for concern where the number of people testing positive in the last week has increased.

“The new variant of the virus that is prevalent in our area is more likely to lead to hospitalisation and death than the previously most common version.”

As we all look forward to the easing of lockdown and a swift return to normality, it is important that we don’t forget that the risk of further outbreaks remains, and that we still need to ensure we wash our hands, limit unnecessary contact and practice social distancing.

4. New: Option to sell outstanding annual leave back to the Trust

Staff have been actively encouraged to plan and take their annual leave, during the leave year, as part of maintaining their health, safety and well-being, particularly during this difficult time.

Getting adequate rest and recuperation is vitally important for the physical and mental well-being of all our staff. There is an expectation, therefore, that staff will have been able to take at least their statutory minimum leave entitlement (28 days for full-time employees).

However, given the current situation, we are aware that some permanent staff may have some outstanding annual leave, i.e. above their statutory minimum entitlement, which they have been unable to take due to severe service and capacity pressures during the year 2020/21.

Therefore, in these situations, and as an exception to the Trust’s existing policy, staff have two options:

• Staff will be allowed to carry over leave to the next leave year (1 April 2021 – 1 April 2022). The maximum leave that can be carried over will be the number of days above and beyond the employees statutory minimum, this being 5.6 working weeks per year inclusive of statutory holidays (equivalent to 28 days), plus any leave carried forward from 2019/20.
• Staff will be able to sell back to the Trust their annual leave on the same basis, i.e. the number of days above and beyond the employee’s statutory minimum. For example if you receive 27 days leave plus 8 bank holidays, you could opt to sell up to 7 days leave, plus any leave carried forward from 2019/20.

As above statutory leave provisions still apply, so you will still need to take at least 28 days of annual leave during 2020/21. This is important for supporting the health and well-being of staff at this challenging time. Let’s work together to make sure that all of our staff take the rest that they need. This arrangement also applies to colleagues whose leave year is different to the Trust’s financial year. Full details are in the guidance.

For further information or to apply for this scheme please click here to see the guidance.

The scheme opens Monday, 15^th March 2021 and closes on 22^nd March 2021. Send your completed forms to swbh.albuyback@nhs.net if you would like to make this request.

5. New: Fit testing hub is on the move

The Fit Testing hub at Sandwell has found a new home in the Strategic Control room, in the Management Offices at Trust Headquarters.

From tomorrow (Friday) colleagues who have an appointment to be fitted with a face mask, will need to attend the new location, accessed via the courtyard gardens (see photo).

Entry is via the door with fob access only, so for those of you who are unable to enter, please call ext. 2344 using the internal phone in the yellow box. The fit testing team will be able to let you in.

Fit testing slots are still available for tomorrow. Please call 0121 507 5050 to get booked in at a site, date and time that suits you. Clinics are available everyday between 8am and 4pm. Phone lines are open until 8pm.

 6. New: Drop off points for LAMP testing samples added

The roll out continues for all colleagues to switch to LAMP (Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification) testing and as a result we are increasing the number of collection boxes across our sites and in the community.

Drop off points are now available at the following community venues:

• Neptune Health Park, first floor, Sedgley Road West, Tipton.
• The Lyng Centre for Health and Social Care, second floor clinical suite, Frank Fisher Way, West Bromwich.
• Oldbury Health Centre, ground floor, Albert Street, Oldbury.
• Victoria Health Centre, ground floor, Suffrage Street, Smethwick.
• Rowley Regis Hospital, outpatients.

Collection boxes at our acute sites are situated in these areas:

• Phlebotomy, first floor outpatients, Sandwell Hospital.
• Corridor D and Phlebotomy ground floor, Birmingham Treatment Centre, City Hospital.

More drop off points at our acute sites are planned and will be available shortly. We’ll keep you updated via the COVID-19 Bulletin as to where these will be.

LAMP testing is a speedy and reliable COVID-19 test which requires you to collect a saliva sample in the morning before you brush your teeth or have your breakfast.  When you arrive at work, you can deposit your sample into a collection box – and you’ll receive your result within 24 hours.

If you haven’t already, you can now book a kit collection slot by calling 0121 507 2664 and selecting option 6.

Workplace fire safety training – have you completed yours?

If you are yet to complete your workplace fire safety training, there is a session taking place on Friday 26 March in the Education Centre, room 15, 9am – 10am. The session will last 1 hour and should be booked via ESR.

For more information please contact swb-tr.SWBH-Team-FireSafetyTrainers@nhs.net.

Email address change for adult safeguarding referrals

Please be aware that all adult safeguarding referrals for Birmingham based patients are now to be sent to the email address of CSAdultSocialCare@birmingham.gov.uk with immediate effect.

To contact the adult safeguarding team or for more information, please call ext. 2612 or 5461.