Monthly archives: August 2021

Emergency maintenance to SWBH Trust Reports System this evening Tuesday 3 August at 7pm affecting Trust Report services

Please be aware that emergency maintenance will be taking place this evening Tuesday 3 August at 7pm to the supporting infrastructure for the SWBH Trust reports system to help resolve an issue with the reporting service not currently sending out information to subscription recipients.

During the maintenance, SWBH Trust Reports service (MI data reporting) will be unavailable for up to 15 mins from 7pm. The maintenance has been scheduled at this time to try to minimise impact and works will begin at 7pm and should be completed by 8:30pm.

Please do call the 24 hour IT service desk if you have any queries accessing reporting after the maintenance on ext. 4050 or 0121 507 4050 for home workers.

Reduced shuttle bus service today between 1pm – 2pm

There will be only one shuttle bus running between 1pm – 2pm today (Tuesday 3 August) so please keep this in mind when planning your journeys across site when using the shuttle bus service.

This also means that there will only be one shuttle from City to Sandwell at 1pm and one shuttle from Sandwell to City at 1.30pm. Normal service is planned to resume at 2pm.

Note: Colleagues must wear face masks on the shuttle. If you do not have a face covering they can be obtained from entrances on both sites or upon entry onto the shuttle.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Latest edition of Heartbeat now online

Check out the latest edition of Heartbeat online now!

What can you expect to find inside this issue?

This month we introduce some of our cultural ambassadors, update you on the actions that have taken place as a result of the staff survey results, and reflect on the NHS 73rd birthday celebrations. But that’s not all, we catch up with Dr Nick Makwana on reasons for doing the Your Trust Charity zip wire challenge, raise money for Midland Met University Hospital and we celebrate Dr Harun Kahn’s scholarship achievement to study at Harvard University.

Plus we’ve got all of this:

• Meet our cultural ambassadors
• Neonatal awarded Unicef Baby Friendly accreditation
• There is another wave coming – a wave of new starters

You can email lauren.jones104@nhs.net if you have an idea for an article or call us on ext. 5303.

Referrals for Long COVID assessment clinic

An online referral form is now available for patients who have been clinically diagnosed with COVID and who are still presenting with symptoms to a Long Covid Assessment Clinic.

Once submitted the patient will be contacted with an appointment date and time.

The Long COVID Assessment clinic is a virtual assessment clinic to identify the rehab needs of the patient.

Once the patient has been assessed the  patients may  be given self-care advice, referred on to all appropriate community services for treatment or referred to a Consultant led MDT for more specialist care.

Please ensure you complete the form

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Creative thoughtfulness in the care of others

This is a new course available for all colleagues via an online class and is divided into six one hourly modules focusing on the small things that can make a world of difference across the hospital.  It is suitable for everyone – medical staff, non-medical staff, patient and non-patient facing staff and could also be an opportunity for you to update your CPD.

The six modules do not have to be done in any particular order so you can do them to suit your own timetable. On completion of a simple reflective journal at the end you will receive a certificate which can count towards your CPD, and if you don’t want to complete all six for CPD purposes, you can dip in and out of them as you wish.

Places can be booked via ESR and you will receive an email with session log on details prior to the course.

Please email swbh.landd@nhs.net for more information.

Assessing patients for enhanced care

As you may be aware, the dementia, delirium and distress team no longer assess patients for enhanced care. The team will however continue to support wards with interpretation of the Lancashire tool, MCA, DoLS and personalised care planning.

Useful documents:

• Agency escalation process
• Agency booking form
• The Lancashire risk assessment tool for enhanced care
• Agency escalation process observational and therapeutic care

Enhanced therapies care: Training sessions 

We are hosting training sessions for enhanced therapies and managing patients who are showing signs of distress. The training will cover new enhanced care processes.  Assessment and escalation for enhanced care will be the focus of the session, with discussions based on Lancashire risk assessment tool, MCA, DoLS management and de-escalation techniques for the distressed patients.

All ward based colleagues are welcome to attend any of sessions listed below:

• Wednesday 15 September, 10am – 11.30am City Hospital, Hayward
• Wednesday 20 October, 10am – 11.30am City Hospital. Postgraduate dining room
• Monday 17 November 10am – 11.30am, Sandwell Education Centre, Room 9/10

To book on any of these courses please email r.begum19@nhs.net or call ext. 2669.

Star of the Week: Diane Alford

Our Star of the Week this week is Diane Alford, Contract Performance Manager.

Diane recently joined the contract performance team. Since joining the team she has had a significant positive experience on the community property contracts, expediting the resolution of helpdesk calls and ensuring that user issues have been addressed. Diane has also helped to negotiate new leases and licenses and has successfully negotiated reductions in our rental commitments.

Diane’s hard work has been recognised with a commendation note from one of our Landlords – Community Health Partnerships who said: “I just wanted to let you know what a great support Diane has been in assisting both CHP and the CCG in obtaining a resolution to an longstanding issue around room bookings across some of the Sandwell sites. We are very grateful to her for her help.”  

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.

Heartbeat: Dr Phil talks bedside manner with colleagues

The Trust welcomed renowned doctor, comedian and journalist Dr Phil Hammond who performed on stage to a socially distanced audience as part of his visit to City Hospital.

Dr Phil, as he’s known, was not just there to provide the laughs though – he was there to chuckle himself by listening to some of the funnier stories from colleagues which will be featured in a special show broadcast on Radio 4 next month.

Those featured included Rev Mary Causer, our lead chaplain, who not only shared stories of the lighter side of being a confidant for patients, but also the support that she’d provided throughout the pandemic.

Mary said: “It was a pleasure spending time with Dr Phil and speaking about some of the delightful moments I have experienced at the Trust.

“Sometimes we tend to dwell on the negative but there is always a lighter side to life and it’s nice to be able to provide a laugh or two for someone else.”

Dr Phil also got to meet renowned catering assistant Anthony Edwards, who’s known as Tony to most people.

During his interview with the famous medic, Tony, who is based at the kiosk Coffee Culture, revealed how he is one half of a comedy duo and regularly – before the pandemic – performed on stage.

He also shared how he had to tend to a patient who had collapsed in his kiosk. Dr Phil was so impressed with Tony, that he invited him to perform one of his songs on stage during the show at the Postgraduate Centre.

“There’s quite a few stories I could have told Dr Phil, but I guess then it would have turned into the Tony show,” laughed Tony

“It’s been a really tough year for so many so this was a really welcome change. It was an honour being asked to get up on stage with Phil and I think everyone enjoyed my performance too!”

He also met with Liza Gill, Volunteer Service Manager, who shared stories of how dedicated volunteers had been throughout the pandemic.

Dr Phil said: “It was an absolute joy returning to Birmingham, where both my kids were born, and meeting the rather wonderful staff, patients, carers and volunteers at City Hospital.

“I was very struck by the warmth, compassion and humour of the staff, and the fact that many of them had been with the hospital for so many years.

“I’ve just listened to the episode and it is the best yet, full of great stories, laughter, and a real sense of dedication and togetherness. Nurse Mary Parker’s laugh should be available on prescription. And in Tony from the kiosk, a star is born…”

Dr Phil didn’t just mingle with staff – he also met with Malcolm Robinson, a patient who had undergone heart surgery performed by Dr Derek Connolly, Cardiologist.

Malcolm spoke about how he came close to death, but the actions of a passer-by giving him CPR saved his life. He now carries out CPR training to the young and old. Dr Phil was left impressed with Malcolm’s determination to pass on life-saving skills to others so that they too could act quickly to help if needed.

Our very own medics also spent some time with the presenter. Consultant paediatrician, Dr Nick Makwana gave him an insight into caring for the young and how his dances had lifted the spirits of colleagues during the pandemic.

Whilst consultant haematologist Dr Richard Murrin described the moment a patient asked for his autopsy report!

Heartbeat: Hello my name is… Meagan Fernandes

Meagan Fernandes has recently joined our workplace as deputy chief people officer. The chief people function supports development and implementation of a people strategy for sustainable and transformational services in the Trust, developing an inclusive and open culture, ensuring organisation wide change supporting our objectives and strategic goals in attraction, retention and engagement.

Meagan brings with her over 16 years’ experience within the field of people and organisational development across community mental health and commissioning services. Prior to joining the Trust, Meagan worked for Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust as the head of people and culture.

Meagan tells us more: “I am passionate about placing our patients at the heart of everything we do, to create an environment where colleagues feel safe to speak up and to enable learning so as to enhance patient care and staff experience. I am always keen to contribute as much as I can, to improve and develop services using evidence and best practice.”

The Trust’s focus on integrated care, public health regeneration and tackling poverty align with my Meagan’s own passion and commitment to tackle inequalities and to always look for opportunities to enable person centred outcomes for our patients, colleagues and communities.

She continued: “I feel strongly about the inequalities that we see within the local population and I believe my role will give me the opportunity, through the workforce transformation agenda, to really expand opportunities for those in under-represented groups to gain meaningful employment, to tackle poverty and as a system to collaborate in an integrated way, in ensuring we have the right workforce in place to meet the diverse needs of the population we serve.

“In my new role, I have responsibility for leading the HR, learning and development, organisation development, widening participation, occupational health, recruitment, workforce information, ESR, workforce transformation and equality, diversity and inclusion teams.

“My experience in transforming people services, leading workforce transformation including at systems level, and implementing evidencebased interventions to improve engagement, staff wellbeing and developing compassionate and inclusive cultures will be invaluable in supporting the Trust. I am looking forward to being a part of the journey towards recovery and restoration as well as developing our new People Plan, refreshing our values and behaviours and in transforming our leadership, culture and staff experience.”

Welcome to our #SWBfamily Meagan!

Heartbeat: Urology demonstrate recovery of surgical services

Urologists at City Hospital have shown that the introduction of an innovative treatment for men with enlarged prostates, combined with new efficient ways of working, can not only benefit patients but can also help with the post-COVID-19 recovery of surgical services. Patients with benign urological conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), who require surgery to treat their symptoms have been particularly hard hit by the impact of the pandemic.

Consultant Urologist, Ananda Dhanasekaran joined the urology team at City Hospital in 2015, bringing with him the aim of introducing novel, NICErecommended treatments to patients with benign urological conditions. Supported by the urology team and the surgical directorate, in 2018, he started offering patients with symptoms of BPH a totally new approach to their condition – UroLift (a prostatic urethral lift). UroLift had been recommended by NICE and, at the time, was one of the innovations supported by NHS England as part of its innovation and technology programme.

This novel treatment is designed to relieve symptoms, is very quick and requires minimal time in hospital. This contrasts with traditional surgical treatments for BPH, such as TURP which involves a general anaesthetic, a longer procedure time, an inpatient stay of 1-3 days and a lengthy recovery.

The urology team have also developed ways to make the treatment pathway more efficient and easier for the patient. They were the first in the country to carry out the UroLift procedure under a complete local anaesthetic with no sedation or anaesthesia. A one-stop assessment clinic for patients with symptoms of BPH also means that the number of times a patient needs to visit the hospital is minimised.

Ananda said: “Introducing innovative treatments like UroLift offers benefits including improved patient experience and quality of care. Compared with traditional surgical approaches, the new treatment is associated with improvement in quality of life, preservation of sexual function and quick recovery time. We have also found that a simplified pathway, involving fewer preoperative investigations, did not compromise outcomes and was associated with shorter waiting times for treatment.”

There are also important benefits for the Trust by being able to streamline the patient pathway and a reduced requirement for theatre time and inpatient beds. These benefits have been brought sharply into focus this past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, where patients with benign urological conditions have been most affected by the impact of the pandemic on elective non-cancer surgical services. Three or four UroLift procedures can be completed in the time it takes to perform a single TURP. With the current backlog of patients with benign urological conditions awaiting surgery, offering UroLift instead of TURP where appropriate, means it will be possible to treat these patients and relieve their symptoms quicker. Also, by using UroLift which does not require an overnight stay, inpatient bed capacity is also freed up for patients who require it.

Ananda said: “Our Trust now offers UroLift to a wider range of patients with more complex prostate anatomies and we are glad to see now our SWBH trust is a recognised UroLift training centre.”

By offering minimally invasive treatments like UroLift to patients who need surgery for BPH, Ananda and the team have shown how adopting innovation can be part of the solution to post-COVID-19 recovery of surgical services.