Monthly archives: September 2021

Action required: Urgent IT Maintenance affecting multiple systems taking place at 11:30pm this evening Wednesday 22 September

Please be aware IT will be carrying out urgent maintenance today at 11:30pm this evening which will affect multiple IT systems. Please be assured Unity will remain available. The work is scheduled to begin at 11:30pm and should be completed by 00:30.

This will result in the systems detailed below being temporarily unavailable for up to 60 minutes:

• Patients new to the Trust will not be able to be registered on iPM (Lorenzo) and FirstNet – full BCP required.
• Patients new to the Trust will not be able to be visible in Medisoft – full BCP required.
• Orders placed in Unity will not go to Radiology/Pathology during this time but will be sent once the systems come back up – BCP required.
• New results will not be visible in Unity during this time but will be sent once the systems come back up.
• Inpatients admitted from ED will not show up in iPM until the systems are back up.
• Inpatients transferred between Wards will show on Capman but not on iPM until the systems are back up.
• Inpatients discharged during this time will not show as discharged in iPM until the systems are back up.
• Any new baby registrations will not be able to be completed until the systems are back up.

Colleagues will need to ensure they revert to BCPs for blood tests and imaging requests during this time. Other Unity functionality such as documentation and meds admin will not be affected by this activity. Desktop alerts will be issued from 10pm advising colleagues about the planned downtime.

Please be assured the activity will be closely monitored at all times.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Should you have any further queries then call the 24 hour IT service desk on ext. 4050 or 0121 507 4050 for home workers

Heartbeat: Cystoscopy pilot proves a huge success

Over the last 18 months, we have all felt the pressures of the pandemic and countless teams have found new ways to continue supporting patients. Our urology team is of those teams and has recently trialled an innovative procedure to help reduce their backlog and offer reassurance to their patients.

Speaking to Heartbeat, Mr Tariq Sami, Urology Consultant, told us: “The pandemic has meant that we have a backlog and limited capacity to see all of our patients. We needed to find an efficient way for patients to have their diagnostics done and see patients who have been waiting a long time for their cancer management.

“With the help of the Trust, we have moved forward with this trial. Approximately £65,000 was secured in funding for the cystoscopes and it has meant we can start to see the patients who need a diagnosis or follow-up treatment. A cystoscopy is a procedure to look inside the bladder using a thin camera called a cystoscope. There is a high rate of bladder cancers and because of the delay; our pick rate has been high. Being able to do this means patients can go on to have their surgery after having this procedure.”

Mr Sami continued: “This is an in house service; done externally, it would mean a higher cost. We do 40 cases a week – that’s on top of what we ordinarily provide. It means we are providing care on the wards and patients aren’t going to theatres. It reduces their pathways and diagnosis and improves the overall patient experience. It’s quick for us, quick for patients and, it has helped with difficult categorisation cases. Plus, we’re now looking at using this in outpatient clinics. It will mean prompt care and stopping patients going back and forth.”

Amy Harper, CNS Urology, told us feedback has been excellent. Some of the comments from patients include: “Thank you so much to all the staff who have supported me through my treatment”, whilst another remarked: “Staff were extremely helpful and pleasant – a superb and efficient service.”

Asked about when this trial began, Mr Sami explained: “We started in May; I came in on my annual leave, as have other consultants so that we can do this work. Working weekends allows us to continue our day to day service without disruption.

“Four consultants have been part of this trial. Including me, there has been Mr Ullah, Mr Khan and Mr Dhanasekaran. Our nurses have been coming in on the weekends too – Maria Delarosa, Lindsey Broadhurst, Sue McKenzie, Emma Hill, Emma Jones, Stacey Clarke and HCA Kully. It’s been a real team effort that has been supported by the bookings team and our management, in particular Andy Torrance and Mohammed Nawaz.”

Reflecting on the success of the pilot so far, Mr Andy Torrance, Colorectal Consultant, remarked: “Mr Sami has led on this initiative and, it has been an extremely positive pilot for patients and the Trust. Adapting as the team has is making a real difference in people’s lives is something we can all be proud of. Well done and, thank you to everyone that has supported this project.”

Today is National Fitness Day

Today (Wednesday 22 September) is National Fitness Day – a chance to highlight the important role physical activity plays in helping us lead healthier lifestyles.

Join our onsite gym at City:

City Hospital gym based just behind the ED is open again following a refurbishment to make the premises COVID-19 safe and compliant with Infection Control Guidance.

• For existing members: Your pass should now be activated and ready for use.
• For new members: Please contact Jatinder Sekhon on 0121 507 5586/3854 to complete your registration.

If City gym isn’t for you, why not take advantage of a 20 per cent discount per month at Sandwell Leisure Trust via their one card membership.

Yoga: We have now started our weekly Yoga classes at both City and Sandwell. Click here for further details. Online yoga sessions are still also available via the Zoom platform. To register for the Sandwell online yoga classes please click here and to register for City online yoga classes please click here.

Heartbeat: Understanding your role in research – best patient care

Research is important to improving patient care, but you may not know why and it’s not always obvious how you can contribute.

A research culture is important to the delivery of care to our patients. We know that patients who are treated in organisations who are research active have better outcomes and patients want to be included in research.

To embed a research culture, all colleagues patient facing or not, need to know about research. It doesn’t matter whether you are a receptionist, senior clinician, nurse or the chief executive. You matter in clinical research by being aware that it happens in your organisation, or by actively supporting it through your role whether or not it involves direct contact with patients.

You are likely aware from the numerous weekly COVID-19 bulletins – an important read for any member of the Trust, produced by the communications team, about several of the ways research and development (R&D) has played a part in our battle against COVID-19. Such as the SIREN study which recently celebrated its first year, and the PRINCIPLE Research Trial.

R&D has been part of a pilot project to ensure that all colleagues who work in the NHS know a little about the importance of research. With the help of colleagues in the communications team, we have used nationally created information to bring a consistent message to all colleagues.

To get involved with research at our Trust, please take a look at our new intranet Connect site ‘Best patient care, clinical research and you’ to learn more and find out what role you could play in research and development. You can find it by clicking here.

This guide raises general awareness so that staff members become more aware of their potential impact on research in their Trust. Its main focus is to be accessible, quick and easy to navigate so that staff can engage simply by using core messages, relevant links, pictures and visual material. This guide also helps the trust fulfil requirements in the CQC Well Led inspection Framework and the NHS Long Term Plan.

You will also find some key messages about the value of clinical research in NHS trusts as well as links to evidence which shows that research active Trusts have better patient outcomes. Most importantly however, the purpose of the guide is to give you some practical understanding of how your role can have a positive impact on improving patient care through supporting research.

Complaint training sessions

Complaint training sessions have been arranged to take place on the below dates:

• 13 October, 2pm – 3.30pm
• 17 November, 12pm – 1.30pm

The training will cover the Trust’s expectations if you are contacted by the complaints team and complaint regulations all colleagues need to be aware of.

To join one of these sessions and for more information please contact caroline.burgin@nhs.net.

Nearby road closures at Sandwell this weekend

We must remind colleagues that this weekend there will be road closures near Sandwell Hospital and the surrounding area for the Elrow Midlands Festival on Saturday 25 September and Sunday 26 September.

Colleagues should allow extra time when travelling to and from Sandwell on these dates.

Note: We have been assured by Sandwell Council that emergency vehicles and carers will be able to access our sites at all times.

A fully managed event traffic management plan has been developed for the events which includes measures to ensure community impact is minimised where possible while ensuring the safety of event visitors.

The roads which will be affected by the event traffic management are as follows:

• Salter’s Lane
• Warstone Drive
• Devonshire Drive
• Woodward Street
• Slaithwaite Road
• Kiniths Way
• Lyndon Grove
• Kiniths Crescent
• Hallam Drive
• Hallam Close
• Little Lane
• New Street North
• Park Crescent
• Christina Court
• Summer Street
• Stoney Lane
• St Clements Lane
• Taylors Lane
• Sandwell Road West
• Albion Field Drive
• Grafton Road
• Sheridan Street
• Graham Road
• Lloyd Street
• Dagger Lane
• Church Vale
• Parsonage Street
• Holyoak Street
• Lyndon Grove
• Cottrell Street
• Lewisham Street
• Temple Meadows Road
• Europa Avenue
• St Augustus Close
• St Caroline Close
• St Eleanor Close
• St John’s Close
• St Kenelm’s Close
• St Edmund Close
• St David’s Close
• St Benedict’s Close
• Priory Close
• St Christopher Close
• St Cuthbert’s Close
• At Valentine’s Close
• St Martin’s Close
• Offini Close
• St James Close

There will also be a number of roads closed during the evening of all events to ensure event visitors are able to leave the venue safely. The following roads are closed from 9pm to 12 midnight on both weekends.

• Walsall Street
• Reform Street
• Seagar Street
• Hallam Street
• Lloyd Street
• Dagger Lane
• Church Vale (Dagger Lane – Parsonage Street)
• Cooper Street
• Park Street
• Treddles Lane

For further details please click here.

In case you missed it: A conversation about suicide on World Suicide Prevention Day

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust hosted a special World Suicide Prevention Day digital event on Friday 10 September.

The aim of the event was to inspire confidence and light in everyone in the Black Country and to remind them that our actions, no matter how big or small, can provide hope to those who are struggling.

In case you missed the event, you can check it out below.

Heartbeat: Adapting apprenticeships in a pandemic

Across the Trust, both clinical and non-clinical teams have adapted their ways of working due to the COVID-19 pandemic and this is no different for our widening participation apprenticeship team.

On the evening of Monday 23 March 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivered a speech which would change the day-to-day operations at SWB including our apprenticeship team. A lockdown was announced and people were only able to leave their homes for basic necessities. This meant during the last 18 months, the apprenticeship team have had to totally adapt and create new ways of working.

“Before COVID-19 we used to offer mainly classroom based teaching with a lot of face-to-face support and coaching, but due to social distancing measures this has had to drastically change,” said Maxine Griffiths, Widening Participation Manager/ Apprenticeship Lead.

“Despite this, the team rose to the challenge and have adapted with no fuss, which has ensured people have continued to thrive at learning. Despite limited face-to-face contact, ongoing online and digital support has been available to all our apprentices.”

Our apprentice team play a key role in improving our workforce by upskilling which in part saves the Trust money in terms of recruitment. It encourages promotion and progression from within and gives many younger people and older people alike, an opportunity to flourish and grow and really advance their career and skills.

In addition to this, one of the initiatives the team recently worked on was Apprenticeship Week which profiled the successes of apprentices across the Trust and gave them a platform to showcase the exceptional support and value that they bring to the Trust.

Our apprentices are great – the stats don’t lie.

Between September 2018 – April 2021, despite the pandemic the team have had:

• 60 people get their Level 2 Healthcare Support Worker
• 7 people get their Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker
• 16 people get their Level 3 Business Administration
• 8 people get their Level 2 Customer Service Practitioner
• 28 people get their Level 3 Team Leader
• And many of these people got Distinctions also and this number continues to grow month by month.

From a recently conducted survey by the team it was found that:

• Would recommend SWB Training Provider to a friend.
• Feel they get the support they need.
• Feel they are given feedback to help them improve.
• Feel they are treated fairly by SWB Training Provider staff.
• Feel SWB Training Provider has created a safe, disciplined and positive environment for them to learn.

Do you feel you are ready to upskill yourself? Why not consider an apprenticeship? We are currently planning a range of apprenticeship programmes using a blended learning approach of online and remote training delivery methods. We have a variety of apprenticeships available across both Level 2 and 3 and more importantly, the cost for the apprenticeships will be funded through the apprenticeship levy.

For more information about apprenticeships please email swbh.apprenticeship@nhs.net.

Green Impact – help make our Trust ‘greener’

Want to join our exciting ‘green’ sustainability programme to help make a difference?

We appreciate that times are extremely difficult at the moment. We are busy looking after our patients but we can easily make simple changes that can protect our planet and save valuable money and resources.

We want you and your team to join us in our movement to go green with our environmental sustainability programme – Green Impact.

All you have to do is work with your team to complete the simple actions in the toolkit (for example, switching off lights and equipment when not required, wasting less and using the correct bins, driving less, reducing paper use, etc.) These simple actions collectively make a big difference and help us move towards a more sustainable and healthier place to work.

Note: The level of input it flexible and down to you so please do get involved. Awards, prizes and recognition for your team are up for grabs!

If you would like to find out more, please email Francesca.silcocks@nhs.net.

New drug to treat COVID-19 soon to be made available

A new treatment (Ronapreve) which is a neutralising monoclonal antibody treatment will soon be available for inpatients who meet the following criteria.

Hospitalised patients are eligible to be considered for casirivimab and imdevimab (known by its brand name Ronapreve) if:

• SARS-CoV-2 infection is confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or where a multidisciplinary team has a high level of confidence that the clinical and/or radiological features suggest that COVID-19 is the most likely diagnosis

AND

• Hospitalised specifically for the management of acute symptoms of COVID-19

AND

• Negative for baseline serum anti-spike (anti-S) antibodies against SARS-CoV-2

AND:

• EITHER Aged 50 and over; OR Aged 12-49 AND determined to be
immunocompromised by multi-disciplinary team assessment

Note: We are expecting the drug to be made available for our admitted patients soon. A pathway is being developed to streamline its use.