Monthly archives: November 2021

Heartbeat: ‘Hug-in-a-bag’ bring smiles to survivors

A brilliantly caring and compassionate charity has been bringing smiles to the faces of breast cancer survivors undergoing the chemotherapy and radiotherapy at our Trust with their innovative ‘hugs in a bag’ campaign.

Brimming with thoughtful gifts for ladies attending undergoing treatment, the bags donated by ‘Ladies fighting breast cancer’ have been a welcome arrival at clinics where patients beginning their often long and arduous cancer journey can get some welcome relief from their contents.

Sharing her thoughts on the care packages, Macmillan Breast Care Nurse, Catherine Zaidi-Crosse said: “We were first contacted by ‘Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer’ who were incredibly helpful in offering support and discussing how they could help us. They very kindly offered to support us with their ‘hug-in a-bag’ programme and the support didn’t stop there.

“Ladies fighting breast cancer have gone on to support one of our patients with a bursary as well as providing special arm pillows for ladies who have recently undergone surgery.”

Checking for changes – By checking your breasts regularly you will be able to more easily identify if there is a change as soon as it occurs. Breast changes can happen for many reasons, and most of them are not serious. Lots of women have breast lumps, and most breast lumps are not cancerous.

However, if you find changes in your breast that are not normal for you, it’s best to see a GP as soon as possible.

Find out more information about being breast aware online by clicking here.

Trust telephony issue now resolved

The issue affecting the Trust telephone lines this afternoon has now been resolved and all services should be back to being fully operational.

If you continue to have any issues with the telephone system, please ensure you log these with our IT Service Desk online using the online portal at http://servicedesk.swbh.nhs.uk/ 

Wellbeing Wednesday: Movember and men’s health

Many men have common health concerns however, they are often less likely to talk to someone. Male colleagues are urged to consider some of the many ways to support your wellbeing.

Here are 10 ways for you to make a start:

1. Connect with someone

• Connect with a colleague or friend, your mates are important. Stay connected.

2. Prostate health

Chat to your doctor about your prostate if you have a concern at any age but certainly after 45 and ask for a PSA test if you are concerned.

https://uk.movember.com/mens-health/general

3. Check your testicles regularly, early detection saves lives

https://uk.movember.com/mens-health/prostate-cancer

4. Some helpful podcasts if you want to know more

https://uk.movember.com/story?tag=podcast

5. Book a confidential chat

Book a chat at the wellbeing sanctuary – to book 0121 507 5886

Counselling available to you via occupational health – call 0121 501 3306

Have a conversation with one of our REACT practitioners – 0121 507 5886

6. Stay active. Being outside and being active can help lift our mood. Fancy getting fitter? Try this link:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/get-running-with-couch-to-5k/

7. Learn something new – free courses

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses/full-catalogue

8. Support for mental health wellbeing – Listen to Peter Crouch’s podcast

https://www.headstogether.org.uk/the-duke-of-cambridge-joins-a-special-episode-of-that-peter-crouch-podcast/

9. Helpful support and resources for men’s health and wellbeing

https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/five-ways-wellbeing

https://people.nhs.uk/

10. Useful links

Men’s Sheds
Beating Eating Disorders
The Male Menopause
Male specific cancers
NHS Health Check
The campaign against living miserably
Mental Health for BAME and POC
LGBTQ Foundation
Men’s Advice Line
Drink Aware
Sexual Health
Quit smoking
Kickstart your health
Risk factors for heart health

Priory 3 Christmas gift appeal

Priory 3 ward will be participating in the Samaritans Christmas present appeal again this year. The ward will be donating new, unwrapped toys and gifts for local children who might not otherwise receive a Christmas present.

Please see suggested gift list for children and young people below:

• 0-3 years: Dolls, teddy bears, cot mobiles, baby clothes, bath toys, CDs of suitable music and nursery rhymes, puzzles.
• 3-5 years: Dolls and action figures, cars, lorries, DVDs and CDs (music and nursery rhymes), colouring sets, pencils, crayons, books, puzzles.
• 5-9 years: Educational games and toys, stationery (colouring sets, pencils, crayons, school sets), CDs and family friendly DVDs, books, puzzles, word-search, crosswords.
• 9-12 years: Games and toys, stationery, DVDs, books, t-shirts, hair accessories, gloves, scarves, hats.
• 13-16 years: Books, make-up and toiletries (please try to ensure non-allergic ingredients if possible), gloves, scarves, hats, t-shirts, hair accessories and gift vouchers.

For more information or to arrange toys drop off to Priory 3, please call ext. 3307 or rachel.howell2@nhs.net.

Support Black Country Women’s Aid to provide toiletries for the vulnerable

Black Country Women’s Aid are seeking toiletry donations so when women and children arrive at a refuge they have the vital essentials they need. In addition to this, they are also accepting male toiletries to give to victims of modern day slavery who they support within the community.

They will accept any of the below items listed in the table:

Donations can be left at the following locations:

• Rowley reception: Addressed to Justine Irish
• City medical infusion suite: Addressed to Natalie Whitton

Note: If you are based at Sandwell and want to donate items, please email jirish@nhs.net or natalie.whitton1@nhs.net to arrange collection.

How to register onto the smartcard self-service portal to unlock your own smartcard

We recommend for every smartcard user to spend a few minutes to register onto the self-service portal so they are able to unlock their own smartcard.

For step by step instructions and further details, please see unlocking smartcard self service guide.

Note: If your smartcard is locked and you haven’t registered on the self-service portal prior, you will need to visit your local IT walk-in centre to get your smartcard unlocked.

Please do call the 24 hour IT service desk on ext. 4050 or 0121 507 4050 if you have any further queries.

Are you still using the old yellow one shot tickets?

All colleagues are reminded that the old yellow one shot tickets (from Parkare) do not work on the car park barriers (managed by Q-Park). Sales of one shot tickets to patients and visitors ceased on 1 April 2021.

If you still have a stock of these old tickets, please do not use or give them to patients/visitors as they may be asked to pay for a parking ticket.

For more information please email sandwell@q-park.co.uk.

Have you accepted your offer from Q-Park for your parking permit? We must remind colleagues to ensure that once their permit has been issued by email that they click on the link to confirm they accept the terms and conditions of the permit being issued. If this process is not completed within 14 days of the permit being issued the permit will be cancelled and you will have to re-apply. Please click here for further details

Essential IT upgrade affecting access to CSS within Unity: tonight from 10pm

Please be aware an essential IT upgrade to publish the latest release of the CSS (Clinical Support System) website to include the Medical Examiner and eOUtcome appointment type changes is taking place on Tuesday 9 November from 10pm to midnight.

During this time Unity will remain fully available. However, access to historic patient data will be unavailable for up 2 hours from 10pm.

Any colleagues accessing the ‘CDA’ icon from the Unity tool bar will be presented with a “Page Unavailable message”. This will not affect any other function in Unity. The HIE access to GP records will still be available.

Direct access to the CSS application from Connect will also be unavailable giving the same “Page Unavailable message”.

Please do call the 24 hour IT service desk on ext. 4050 or 0121 507 4050 if you have any further queries.

Jobs of the week: Frailty therapy roles – Band 6 and 7

We are looking to recruit to some new Band 7 and Band 6 therapy posts (physiotherapy and occupational therapy) within the frailty intervention team (FIT) as we seek to expand the team in order to meet the needs of our frail population and as part of our preparation for the design of frailty services when we move to the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital.

The Band 7 post will be part of the Frailty Intervention Team based in ED and the Band 6 posts will be part of the rapid response therapy team, who work cross site providing therapy assessment and treatment to patients in not only ED but also the AMUs and frailty assessment unit, as well as being part of the MDT that support the work of FIT.

• Band 6 role – click here for further details and to apply. The closing date for this role is Wednesday 17 November
• Band 7 role – click here for further details and to apply. The closing date for this role is Thursday 18 November

Roll up roll up – time to get vaccinated

Thank you to those who have already received your flu jab and COVID booster. In order to ensure we are protected, we need to do what we can to keep ourselves, our loved ones and our patients safe.

The flu and COVID booster are safe, and just to reassure you, we’re here to clear up any myths. Over the next two weeks, you’ll see our myth busters in the daily bulletin starting with today.

MYTH! The injected flu vaccine cannot cause flu because there are no active viruses in the vaccine. Your arm may feel slightly sore where you were injected, and some people get a slight temperature and aching muscles for a day or two, but other reactions are very rare.

The vaccine takes around 10 days to protect you fully, so if you’ve been sick after having your flu jab, you would have been unlucky and caught the flu (or a flu-like virus) just before it took effect.
There can sometimes be several strains of flu virus circulating at the same time, which is why some people may still get the flu despite being vaccinated.

That doesn’t mean it’s not worth having the jab – some protection is better than none at all!

Where to get your jabs:

• Sandwell: Pop up clinics are taking place on Wednesday 10 November and Wednesday 24 November in the Berridge suite in occupational health
• City: The City vaccination hub is open seven days a week
• Rowley: The next pop up at Rowley is due 25 November, with walk ins able to come in to Westwood ward from 9am – 4pm.

Visit a pop-up clinic to get your flu jab and COVID-19 booster. If you are still unsure, you can contact the vaccine hub on 0121 507 4404.