Monthly archives: May 2021
Heartbeat: Wave goodbye to… Amardeep Singh
We recently said farewell to a familiar face, someone known to many people across our organisation, Lead Pharmacist for HIV, Amardeep Singh.
Amardeep began his career in 2005, completing his pre-registration training at Buckinghamshire Hospitals, followed by two years at Derby Hospitals before joining SWB in 2008 as a rotational pharmacist.
Amardeep told us: “I joined the Trust in a band six position and had the opportunity to move into a band seven role as a rotational pharmacist, rotating through ITU, AMU and SAU for about two years. I completed my postgraduate diploma in clinical pharmacy with the support of John Persaud, our former Deputy Chief Pharmacist. From there, I took on the role of HIV pharmacist in January 2012.”
Amardeep has a wealth of experience, having been a part of our Trust for 12 years. He told us: “I was part of an expansion of the HIV multidisciplinary team. We brought in a new homecare medicines supply service which saved the Trust money and gave patients more flexibility.
“I have been a tutor on our pre-registration Amardeep Singh Lead Advanced Pharmacist pharmacist training programme since 2013 and have been the programme manager since 2016. We have trained several pharmacists who I have been lucky enough to see develop within our department. Two of the individuals I tutored are now tutors with us. That feels like a positive legacy.”
Amardeep continued: “We recently expanded our programme. We became the first Trust in the West Midlands to host a split sector programme with a local GP practice. I was supported through the development of this and consider it as a positive step for the department. I have also been a member of the Hepatitis C MDT since 2015. We have had excellent results, curing over a hundred and fifty patients using recently developed treatments.”
When asked what Amardeep has enjoyed most about working at the Trust, he was quick to reply: “This has been a kind, compassionate and welcoming place to work. When I moved to sexual health, the gynaecology and GU team welcomed me. Similarly, colleagues in pharmacy have supported me through many challenges.
“Also, in the time I’ve worked here, I have raised money for a variety of charities and projects. At every stage, I have had support from colleagues who have donated money and given me advice. It has felt like being part of a family.”
Amardeep will be moving to work at Vale Primary Care Network as a pharmacist. “I hope to take the skills gained from nine years in chronic disease management in the Trust to those GP practices.”
He also added: “There are so many people I would like to thank at SWB for their support, patience and advice. I was born at Sandwell Hospital, I have lived in the area for most of my life, and I am honoured to have provided care for patients in the area.”
This week is Insulin safety week
Insulin safety week aims to raise awareness of insulin and everything diabetes among healthcare professionals. Be sure to check out these free online education modules regarding the safe use of insulin in hospital by clicking here.
Do you live with diabetes and want support?
Would you like to be empowered and learn more the about support available to better manage your diabetes? Would you like to learn up to date information and guidance about your diabetes as well as alternative diabetes education platforms available to you?
If so please email anitakaur@nhs.net who can help you access education or support with your diabetes.
COVID-19 bulletin: Friday 14 May
Numbers not statistics: This week (last week) No. of our patients confirmed with COVID-19 No. of positive COVID-19 patients who have been discharged No. of COVID-19 positive patients who have …
Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 14 May
This week has been a very busy one. It has at times felt overwhelming. The enormity of the agenda we have to manage and deliver on as an organisation, has honed into view for me.
The intensity of that agenda was nicely encapsulated in that we had three awareness raising and celebration weeks to note last week, all of which were competing for air time and for space in our collective consciousness given the enormity of the recovery, restoration, population health and people agenda we have to deliver on. We were celebrating International Nurses Day on Wednesday. We also needed to note Mental Health Awareness Week and it was also NHS Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Awareness Week. I feel we gave International Nurses Day good air time and my exec colleagues and I enjoyed handing out the goody bags to nursing and HCA colleagues in our services this week. The day was also marked with a hugely emotional “Shine a Light” memorial service, which the Trust Chair, Sir David, and I attended with Mel, our Chief Nurse and was expertly led by our Head Chaplain, Rev Mary Causer. The event celebrated nursing and nurses, but also respectfully honoured the memory of colleagues we have lost during the last year, including those who contracted COVID. Their family members attended. One family came up from London for the ceremony. It was an emotional but expertly handled event, which combined both celebration and commemoration. You can watch the service below:
As I said above, it has also been NHS Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Week. We haven’t addressed that week particularly strongly as a Trust but I would certainly like to address that now. It is important that we do, not just for one week, but in every week. Our community is very diverse and our society is changing rapidly in its expectations. Discrimination of any kind cannot be tolerated.
I’d like to start my comments on equality and inclusion with an apology. The key event of Iftar, the breaking of the fast during Ramadan, held at the Sandwell site on Friday 30th April, was not a success. A combination of miscommunication and other misunderstandings led to an event which could have been handled within the Hallam restaurant, being crammed into the foyer of the restaurant with colleagues waiting outside to get in. A celebration event which should have shown inclusivity and togetherness between people of different faiths, didn’t achieve that. To all colleagues who experienced this, I am sorry and we will ensure next year’s event is better planned and will be a success.
As we work towards truly embedding Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) within our organisation, making it the “golden thread” running through all that we do, I ask you all to consider what you will personally do to help foster an authentic, inclusive, compassionate organisation – for each other, our communities and for our patients. We can no longer afford to pay lip service to the EDI agenda. The last 14 months has highlighted the devastating effects of inequalities. The vaccination hesitancy amongst colleagues from different ethnic backgrounds has highlighted the need for greater curiosity and understanding of each other’s beliefs. We must remind each other that equality is not just about race, either. It’s about understanding of and equal rights for, people with disabilities, of different sexual orientation.
Our staff opinion survey results show that we are far worse than even the average Trusts in the country when it comes to the lived experience of staff with protected characteristics. We can and must do better. The change starts with you.
Star of the week this week is Beth Hampl, Nursing Associate on Newton 3 who was nominated by medical colleagues for frequently going the extra mile to support patients and colleagues on the ward. Beth was particularly commended for her care for a patient at end of life which and the liaison with the family and being a great example of excellent nursing care. Thank you, Beth.
Have a good weekend and a good week, and may I wish Eid Mubarak to all our Muslim colleagues.
Richard Beeken
Interim Chief Executive
National Nurses Week: Cheryl Newton and Helen Hurst on why they are proud to be in their roles
National Nurses Week is an annual celebration of all that nurses around the world do for their communities.
As part of the celebrations we’re continuing to recognise and highlight what it means to be a nurse at our Trust – shining the spotlight on some of our incredible colleagues as they share their stories on why they are proud to be in their roles.
Today we feature Cheryl Newton, Group Director of Nursing – Women and Child Health and Helen Hurst, Director of Midwifery. Hear their stories in the video below.
Some colleagues from the alcohol care team have also shared why they are proud to be part of our #SWBfamily.
National Nurses Week: ‘Sometimes’ – a poem for nurses
To celebrate National Nurses Week, Stephanie Colbourne who works as a nurse a the Trust has put together a short poem around why being a nurse is the best job.
You can check out the poem below.
Neonatal flooring works from Monday
Our neonatal unit will be having some repairs to their flooring from Monday 17 May – Friday 21 May. During this time, there may be delays in accessing the front door. The ‘Hedgehog’ room will also be closed temporarily during the works.
We ask that colleagues please be mindful and remain vigilant when accessing the unit and the surrounding areas on foot.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
For more information please email hscott5@nhs.net or rvelempini@nhs.net.
National Nurses Week: Ensuring our patients get the right oral care
Following a pilot on D11, D26, Priory 4 and Newton 4 to improve the oral health of patients, mouth care matters is set to roll out across the organisation in July.
Mouth care matters is a practice guide seeking to improve the oral health of inpatients. Poor oral health of a hospitalised patient can result in an increase in hospital acquired infections, namely hospital and ventilator acquired pneumonia, as well as poorer nutrition. This can result in an increase in the length of stay and care costs, alongside poorer quality of life and dignity for patients.
The pilot on our four wards reduced hospital acquired pneumonia by 40 per cent.
Group Director of Nursing, Medicine and Emergency Care, Julie Thompson explains more in this video.
Today (Friday 14 May) judging will take place for the best mouth care matters ward display board. We will share more details of the winners in the Communications Bulletin next week. Good luck all!
National Nurses Week: Thank you nursing colleagues
To say thank you to our nurses – our executive team and senior nurse colleagues have been out and about thanking the teams across our workplace.
And they have taken along some well-deserved goodies. Yesterday afternoon, Dr David Carruthers, Medical Director handed out goody bags to colleagues at Oldbury Health Centre and thanked them for their commitment during the pandemic.
Here is a short message from David.
Star Awards 2021: Award for Equality and Diversity Champion
Do you know an individual or team that has demonstrated engagement internally or externally with a minority group or diverse groups from the Sandwell and West Birmingham community to deliver improved services for colleagues, patients or carers?
Nominate them for the Equality and Diversity Champion Award in this year’s upcoming Star Awards!
[su_box title="Star Awards 2021" box_color="#4089ff"][gravityform id="147" title="true" description="true" ajax="true"][/su_box]Ways to nominate:
- You can complete a paper nomination form which you can download by clicking here.
- You can send in a video nomination for free to swbh.comms@nhs.net via www.wetransfer.com. Choose go to free. When doing the recording remember to state clearly who you are and the name of the person/team you are nominating.
- You can complete the online form by clicking here.
Be sure to check out last year’s award ceremony featuring last year’s winner for the award, Alison Byrne (timecode: 25 minutes, 27 seconds).
If you have any questions regarding the Star Awards, please contact the communications team on 0121 507 5303 or email swbh.comms@nhs.net.
For more information, please visit our dedicated Star Awards page on Connect.
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