Monthly archives: April 2021

Heartbeat: Neurology referral assessment service heads online

The ongoing pandemic has placed restrictions on our services like we’ve never known before; but what it has brought about is an abundance of collaboration, new thinking, kindness and innovation.

One such team that has faced the difficulties head-on presented by COVID-19 is our neurology team. We caught up with Andy Wilkinson, Directorate General Manager – Admitted Care B who told us more.

“Following the restart of elective neurology services after the first wave of COVID-19, the neurology team wanted to use the opportunity of the service restarting to simplify and improve patient pathways. The one thing the pandemic has taught us to do is think differently.

“The initial implementation of the neurology referral assessment service was led by Dr Nicholl, Specialty Lead and I, with the support of the patient access team. What this means in a practical sense is that any neurology outpatient referrals are done via a referral form which is available on Connect. This updated process has been in place since the start of the pandemic, and we’ve seen a good uptake among colleagues using this form.

“This new referral service has drastically improved the specialties waiting list management and improved the booking processes as triage is prompt. For patients, the pathway is improved too. They are better supported by their GPs in the community avoiding unnecessary trips to the hospital.

“Patients also receive a more efficient pathway when referred to the hospital as required diagnostics can be identified and completed before their first appointment with a consultant. It means patients have a much greater chance of receiving treatment earlier and don’t require long waits for follow up appointments. It also means we can hopefully empower and support our primary care colleagues in their clinical decision making.”

Dr Nicholl added: “The implementation of the neurology referral assessment service has drastically improved the treatment pathways for both patients and clinicians and has allowed the service to fully recover after stepping down services during the first wave of COVID-19.

“This approach means not only a better system for ensuring the patient is in the correct clinic but that we’re also optimising the best and safest manner for the patient to have an appointment, e.g. via phone, video or face to face. As the situation we find ourselves in continues to evolve, so will we.”

Critical care outreach services to resume from Monday 12 April

Our outreach service will resume as normal on Monday 12 April. The team will offer a 24 hour, 7 day a week service.

Should any wards need support they should bleep the below numbers:

• City – 6000
• Sandwell – 6234

Logging estates maintenance requests for community sites

Colleagues based in the community will now be able to log all their non-urgent maintenance requests via the SWBH Estates Intranet Page and for urgent requests by contacting the helpdesk directly (0121 507 4444).

The estates team aim to provide a seamless service for our community colleagues and will be liaising with the relevant maintenance provider to ensure requests are carried out promptly and that our colleagues are kept informed all the way.  For further information on this change please contact philippamcleod@nhs.net.

Your library needs you to speak up!

The library service would like to invite you to take part in a short 20 minute interview to help us improve the quality and relevance of the knowledge services and resources available to colleagues. We would like to understand whether you are aware that you have access to free library membership and the reason(s) why you have not yet registered. As a thank you, all colleagues who participate in the project will be automatically placed in a draw for:

• 2 x £20 Blackwell Vouchers
• 1 x £20 Love to Shop Voucher
• 5 x £15 Apple Store Vouchers

Project Background – the BASE Library Consortium is working with an external consultancy ‘Featur Labs’ to explore the information needs of NHS staff and to gain insights that will help us improve your experience of library and knowledge services for your work, professional development and wellbeing.

Here is a list of possible topics they may explore:

• The library sign-up process
• How you find information
• How available do you find the library service?

Your views are very important to us, and so if you would like to support your library service by taking part in a short interview, please email swbh.library@nhs.net .The library will then liaise with the external consultants to arrange an interview at a suitable time.

Note: The draw for the vouchers will take place once all interviews have been conducted.

Alcohol teaching sessions: CIWA and the alcohol care team

Our alcohol care team have developed teaching sessions, be sure to watch this clip featuring Roxanne Mahroof, Alcohol Nurse talking about the clinical institute withdrawal assessment (CIWA) which is the tool used to assess the level of alcohol dependency.

Do you have any patients who would benefit from virtual Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) support? AA provides invaluable support for people who are currently struggling with their drinking, or are recently abstaining from alcohol, so it is very exciting that we now have the opportunity to introduce AA to people before they are discharged. If you know of someone who may benefit from this, please contact the alcohol care team on ext. 5074.

Complete the Healthwatch Birmingham survey and be in with a chance to win a £50 voucher

Healthwatch Birmingham is encouraging you to share your thoughts on the services you use within the local area. The survey should take around five minutes to complete and all who complete the survey will be in with a chance to win one of eight £50 vouchers.

Please click here to complete the survey.

Heartbeat: School nurse shares th-inspiring story of 10 stone weightloss

For many of us, the New Year symbolises change and, for those of you lacking inspiration, the story of colleague Heidi Ferrier-Hixon’s incredible weight loss journey is enough to spring you into action.

Heidi, who works as a school nurse team leader for Sandwell school nursing service, decided to lose a hefty ten stone after thinking she would die.

“Simple things, like walking from my house to the car, would leave me gasping for breath,” explained the 45-year-old, who weighed 24 stone.

“After climbing up the stairs, I’d be panting. I honestly thought I was going to die. I’m just 5ft 3in – I was morbidly obese and an asthmatic. I didn’t fancy my chances of having a long and healthy life. I was depressed.”

Heidi also worried about visiting venues where she would have to sit down. “I would always go early to scope out the chairs to work out if I would be able to fit in them or if they were strong enough. I had weight issues all my life, and I guess I was in denial about my body.

“In the end, something just clicked, and I realised I wouldn’t live long enough to see my son grow up. I knew that I had to do something about it and the only way to do this was by seeking support via my GP.”

Heidi was referred to a specialist service – but first had to undergo therapy sessions to receive more support with her weightloss journey. “At first I was reluctant because of my frame of mind,” recalled Heidi. “But these sessions were what helped me to change my way of thinking and go on to lose the weight. I was able to look deeper at my relationship with food and at why I would overindulge.

“My portion sizes were off the scale, and because I was raised to finish everything on my plate, I would do just that. I would also secretly binge on fast food in between my main meals. And I’d think nothing of heading over to the fridge and grabbing a snack whenever I arrived home from work. It was something that I had done from a young age.

“My dietitian and therapy helped me to see all of this so clearly, and my journey to a healthier me began.”

Heidi reduced her portion sizes, dishing up her main meals on a side plate. She also turned vegan, which cut out processed meat immediately from her diet.

“By acknowledging all of the above, I was able to break the cycle. I started having just three meals a day, with healthy snacks in between. I scrutinised food labelling before I brought anything, so I knew what I was putting in my body.”

Her dedication paid off, and now Heidi is a much healthier weight and doesn’t gasp for breath after walking just a few yards. “I feel amazing and physically fit. I go out running, which I wouldn’t have dreamed of doing before.

“I would encourage anyone who’s reading this and relates to my experience, to go and see their GP. Ask for the help and support because it is out there. I did, and it’s changed my life for the better.”

Sandwell main reception opening hours

We would like to inform all colleagues that with immediate effect the Sandwell main reception desk is now open Monday – Friday, 8am – 6pm.

Heartbeat: Alcoholic mum at the ‘brink of death’ urges people to seek help for addiction

A recovering alcoholic who was on the brink of death because of her addiction has urged people to seek help if they need it.

Teresa Allen’s life spiralled out of control after she lost her job, leading her to sink a litre bottle of whisky a day.

Her problems with alcohol abuse first began when she found herself drinking heavily at the weekend to cope with the pressures of work. Teresa’s weight plummeted from 22 stone to a mere seven stone, and she lost her job. But her addiction soon took its toll on her body and she began coughing up blood.

When she was finally admitted to City Hospital to seek help for her addiction, doctors delivered the bad news – her organs were shutting down and it was doubtful that she would survive.

But thanks to the help of our award winning alcohol care team and the drug and alcohol service Change Grow Live (CGL), she is now on the road to recovery and later this month will celebrate her first year of going teetotal.

Speaking during Dry January Teresa said: “I made a mistake with my drinking, but I am grateful that I am here now and able to tell my story.

“I feel horrible when I think back to the worst times. I can’t go down the alcohol aisle in a supermarket as it makes me feel sick and watching TV adverts reminds me of the pain and suffering I went through.

“I still have health problems as a result of the years of abuse but I’m in an amazing place now. I am coming up to my first year anniversary of being dry and I want to make sure that I never go back.”

Teresa’s problems first began when she would turn to alcohol after a hard day at work. “It started with a glass or two of wine or cider,” she recalled. “As work pressures began building, I began drinking more at night and at weekends.

“About two years ago it started getting out of hand after the breakdown of a relationship. I was working lots and to cope with everything I would drink a one-litre bottle of whisky over a weekend. I realised that I had a problem and, with the help of my doctor, I managed to stop for three months.”

But Teresa used a family argument as an excuse to turn back to the alcohol and, the row triggered her drinking again.

“I started secretly back on the whisky which I was drinking during the evening and, my world fell apart,” she added. “I was suspended and when I lost my job I started having a bottle of whisky a day.

“People around me could see I was spiralling out of control. I started vomiting blood and was admitted to the hospital. I had a feeding tube inserted as I wasn’t eating enough. I’d lost so much weight, yet my stomach looked like I was carrying twins because of the alcohol.

“I was referred to CGL and that then led to me getting on the detox programme with the alcohol care team at City Hospital.

“On 20 January I went into detox. It was then I realised what sort of state my body was in. I was on the brink of death – my organs were shutting down. I was told that I was dying because of the extent of the cirrhosis.

“As I started on detox and the medication as well as eating better a miracle started to happen. I was recovering and was discharged from hospital just over a month later. Since then I have had tremendous support from the alcohol team and CGL. It has continued throughout lockdown. Now I believe I am worth something.”

So what advice does Teresa have for anyone else who may be going through a similar experience to her? “If anyone thinks they have a problem with alcohol should go to their GP to start the process. I’m not currently working but I am building up my strength to get fit  so I can return to employment. I’m also completing various online courses to help with this.

“For now I’m enjoying the precious time I have with my family. They can see how far I have come and have been so supportive throughout.”

Roxanne Mahroof, Alcohol Care Team Nurse, said: “Teresa has done brilliantly. From the beginning she was honest and open about her drinking. She acknowledged she was becoming physically unwell and had the courage to make the necessary changes. It was clear that Teresa was willing to do whatever was advised by the professionals to become abstinent and live her life in healthy sobriety.

“During these uncertain times, people are struggling. The alcohol care team has noticed there has been an increase in drinking amongst people. Her story carries hope to others struggling with alcohol misuse; that you can make changes to your life despite what’s going on in your world.”

Maternity Q&A session: 27 April, 1pm – 2.30pm

Come and find out about maternity services and how we are keeping mums, babies and colleagues safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This event which is scheduled for Tuesday 27 April, 1pm – 2.30pm, is aimed at anyone who has given birth recently or about to give birth and their birthing partners.

For further details please click here.

To book your place please email bcwb.engagement@nhs.net or call 0121 612 1447.