Monthly archives: December 2021

Office 365 – did you know you already had access?

Across our Trust, departments are starting to move across to Office 365 as SharePoints continue to come online and more teams move over to our new way of storing and managing files.

But, did you know you already had access to many of the new Office tools online already? and all you had to do was login to http://www.office.com using your NHS email and password.

Whether you’re looking for a way to communicate, write a report or to produce a presentation, you don’t need to worry about the computer you login on having anything more than a web browser installed and you can login to Office 365 simply using your NHSmail email address and password.

Instructions on how to login to Office 365 can be found here and for those of you who are keen to have your documents available with you wherever you are, you can install Office 365 on to your mobiles too.

Further information on the rollout of Office 365 can be found on Connect or by contacting the project team by emailing swbh.sharepoint.migration@nhs.net.

Remember, the full rollout of Sharepoint is being managed on a departmental basis, with department heads planning their migration dates and organising when they move to the new system. If you have not yet been told when you are due to move to Sharepoint, speak to your line manager.

IT issues following network maintenance overnight

Following essential network maintenance carried out overnight last night a number of services are currently unavailable:

• iPM, electronic orders and results which are temporarily unavailable
• New baby registrations
• New admissions from ED into iPM

Informatics are currently working to resolve these issues and further updates will be issued as they return.

To report any other IT issues following the maintenance please call the 24 hour IT service desk on ext. 4050 or 0121 507 4050 for home workers.

Winter bank incentive scheme

In order to support colleagues and meet capacity demands over the next two months the Trust is implementing in new scheme – ‘Work 5 Bank shifts and we will pay you for 6’.

• The scheme will commence from Wednesday 22 December and end on Monday 28 February
• For every 5 bank shifts worked a 6^th shift will be paid at your normal rate – capped at Band 6
• This incentive package applies to and is open to all colleagues in the Trust
• Colleagues who work regularly on the Bank can also take part in the incentive scheme provided they do additional shifts,  a min of 5 hours per shift. Regular hours worked on the bank will be identified by the average hours paid for the 13 weeks prior to 22/12/21.

How payments will be made

• The payments will be paid for shifts requiring band 2,3,4,5 and 6 staff
• Payments will be capped at Band 6 standard rate
• To qualify each shift must be a minimum of 5 hours in duration
• The shift incentive payment (the 6^th shift) will be calculated as an average of the hours worked over the 5 shifts
• Payment will only be verified when all 5 shifts have been worked
• All shifts must be verified by the ward/unit manager (or deputy)
• Payment for the incentive shift will be made at the current standard rate. Staff undertaking enhanced/extended specialist rate shifts will be able to claim the incentive payment and payment will be made at the standard rate
• Incentive payments will be made to staff by 25 March 2022

Bank Holiday payments

• Colleagues working a Bank shift over the Christmas period will be paid at Bank Holiday rate for that shift (that includes the 25, 26, 27 and 28 December)
• Colleagues working one or both Bank shifts on the 1 and 3 January will also be paid at the Bank Holiday rate.

For further information contact the Trust Bank by emailing swb-tr.trustbankrequest@nhs.net or calling 0121 507 3600

Heartbeat: Your Trust Charity have once again teamed up with Mission Christmas

Our charity team were invited to the Fort, Birmingham to select a variety of Christmas presents for our younger patients. The presents were donated as part of Mission Christmas, a gift appeal set-up by grant-giving charity, Cash for Kids.

Cash for Kids set up Mission Christmas with one clear mission – a mission to ensure disadvantaged children wake up to something under the tree on Christmas morning. The charity helps children that need it most across the Midlands and aims to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in our communities who are affected by poverty, illness, neglect or have additional needs.

The presents will be delivered to patients who will be in our hospitals during the festive period to help bring a little joy and cheer during their visit. Additional presents will also be distributed amongst the local community to support our most vulnerable children and young people.

Amanda Winwood, Fundraising Manager said: “We are overwhelmed at the support received again this year, to see what our community far and wide can do to help make the most magical time of the year even more special for our youngest patients in hospital warms my heart. Being in hospital anytime for a child is daunting but Christmas is a time to be with family and friends so for us to be able to bring Christmas to their hospital bed is fantastic. A huge thank you to everyone in the community and local businesses who have supported Mission Christmas, you will most certainly bring a smile to children on Christmas day”.

Heartbeat: Christmas toy donations

Christmas is wonderful time for many, especially children and young people however being admitted to hospital during the festive period can be a scary and sad experience.

In December 2019, one-year-old Subegh was admitted to Sandwell Hospital with his cousin Thegh admitted nine months before. Subegh was visiting relatives in the Midlands area with his parents. He originally developed a cough but as his symptoms got worse his family decided to take him to hospital where he was admitted to Lyndon Ground Ward.

It’s never nice to be admitted to hospital however during Christmas can be even more difficult. However, in the early hours of Christmas morning Subegh was surprised to wake up to a huge red sack of toys and games. He was delighted with his gifts and ultimately helped his recovery.

From the positive experience, Subegh’s family decided they wanted to show their appreciation to SWB and give something back this year to help others.

Subegh’s family – the Sandhu’s, Kooner’s and Dhillon’s said: “We were so thankful to all nurses, doctors and medical staff on the Lyndon Ward for Subegh’s care over Christmas of 2019. This is why we wanted to repay that kindness we were shown by asking you to accept a selection of toys so that more children can wake up to gifts on Christmas morning if they are in hospital like Subegh was.”

Amanda Winwood, Fundraising Manager for your Trust Charity accepted the gifts on behalf of SWB and said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to Subegh and Thegh’s family for their kind donations of presents for our patients.

“It can be a nerve wracking and anxious experience for any child or young person to have to come into hospital especially around the festive period, so to be able to bring them some joy during their stay is truly a special thing.”

Your Trust Charity would like to say a huge thank you to Subegh’s and Thegh’s family for their kind donation this Christmas.

Heartbeat: Trust welcomes Guru Nanak Gurdwara

As 2021 draws to a close, we were pleased to welcome the management committee from Guru Nanak Gurdwara, a prominent Sikh Gurdwara based in Smethwick just a short distance away to see Midland Met.

The team led by our expert guides, Emma Loosley and Richard Molloy, with Rachel Barlow, Director of System Transformation, giving our guests an insight into our plans for the future of Midland Met.

Visiting the ward areas, the Winter Gardens and outside spaces, our guests were able to get a feel for the scale of the project and just what it will mean to our local communities. Speaking to Heartbeat, Jatinder Singh, President of Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick, told us: “It was wonderful being able to visit the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital. Being in a deprived area, it will give Smethwick and its diverse communities a boost – something which has been needed for a while now. The hospital is not just an amazing building for the local area to be proud of – it has also prompted regeneration in the surrounding area and, it will continue to drive improvements for the people that live and work here.”

Jatinder added: “It was important for our management committee to visit and experience first-hand how the new hospital has the patient, family and community experience in mind. We have learnt how environmentally friendly and patient care focused the Midland Met will be.

“We believe Midland Met will be a high quality environment which will deliver a high-quality service. The project is a culmination of years of planning to create a state-of-the-art hospital that combines the most advanced technologies in a soothing and restful environment that promotes healing and enhances the patient experience. Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust are setting new standards in healthcare and are using the latest technologies to deliver a hospital that will allow staff to provide the highest level of care.”

Rachel Barlow, Director of System Transformation, remarked: “It was fantastic to welcome our local Gurdwara onsite to see the progress at Midland Met. This visit was important as the management committee represent members of our local community, some of the people we will serve when we open.

“It was interesting to hear the views of the management committee and exchange ideas as we made our way around the site. It was good to hear how aligned we are in our focus on community and patient care. Plus, we’re working closely across our partnership with Sandwell Council, Birmingham City Council, the Combined Authority and the Canal and River Trust to ensure Midland Met contributes directly to the wider regeneration in the region, something the Gurdwara were keen to hear updates about.

“Midland Met is more than a hospital. We have an 88ft gallery space and, we are investing heavily into arts and culture, developing our green spaces, launching a learning campus and are passionate about making a difference in our communities. Midland Met stands to make a significant impact on the social and economic growth of the area – that’s something we can all be proud of.”

Festive frauds – don’t get caught out by cyber criminals

Technology has become a key part of our everyday life whether it is at work or at home. Fraudsters are increasingly using technology as a tool to commit fraud. Cyber fraud is now more prevalent than ever, with instances of data theft and compromised financial systems causing organisations significant losses and reputational damage.

One of the main area of risk is social engineering, where fraudsters deceive and manipulate to convince people to click on email attachments infected with malware, or click on links to a phishing site asking for confidential information. This form of risk relies heavily on a lack of individual awareness, rather than vulnerabilities in software and operating systems.

Recently, we have been made aware of a fraud attempt at an NHS body where an email has been received from the domain ‘@esrnhs.top’, purporting to be from the NHS ESR system. The email states that there is a problem with the individuals national insurance number, and requests that they log-in to update their personal information via a link provided within the email.

Actions required by colleagues:

1. Do not click on suspicious links within emails, and do not enter any personal information.
2. Report the email to the IT service desk.
3. Where emails purport to have been issued from within your organisation or include links, hover your mouse over the source email address or the link to view the originating email address and actual file path to verify they are genuine.
4. Be particularly wary if it requests personal or sensitive information.
5. Always use strong, unique passwords for all systems, and don’t share them with anyone.

If you are concerned an email may be suspicious, contact the IT Servicedesk on 0121 507 4050 for further support.

Join in with festive Friday and help raise funds for Your Trust Charity

Christmas is coming and that means festive Friday us here! Why not glitter and sparkle and spread the joy by wearing your favourite festive wear on Friday 24 December and support Your Trust Charity by donating just £2.

To donate text FESTIVEFRI to 70085 to donate £2.

 Note: If you work in a clinical area you must ensure you are bare below the elbow and continue to wear PPE when required.

For more information please email trustcharity@nhs.net.

Weekly pay dates for December 2021 and January 2022

In case you were unaware, the following weekly pay dates over the festive and new year period for colleagues working on the Trust Bank and Locum Medics have been agreed.

The Trust Payroll, HR and E-Roster teams, together with staff side representatives, have discussed and agreed the following weekly pay dates over the festive and new year period for staff working on the Trust Bank and Locum Medics.

*The availability of BACS processing days prohibits the calculation and processing of a payment during the period 25/12/21 – 02/01/22

** to ensure payment on the 07/01/21 we will require all shifts to be booked, verified and approved. Due to the very tight timescales to achieve this payment date, the e-roster team will not be able to chase approval of individual shifts that have not been verified by 9am on 03/01/22 . These instead, will need to be addressed and verified before processing on 10/01/22 (with payment on the next available date of 14/01/22)

The E-roster and Payroll teams will ensure that individual cases are investigated and supported when non-payment results in issues of hardship. Please raise issues through your line manager initially, who should contact the Bank Office. If your line manager is not available during this period, please make contact with the Bank Office directly.

Monthly pay dates for 2021/22:

With the build up to the festive period just around the corner, we would like to remind colleagues that the monthly pay date will be a week early in December. The monthly pay dates up until March 2022 are listed below as follows:

• Monday 20 December 2021
• Tuesday 25 January 2022
• Friday 25 February 2022
• Friday 25 March 2022

Temporary change regarding fit note submission requirements

The Government has announced a temporary change regarding fit note submission requirements. New measures are intended to increase GP capacity to support the COVID-19 booster programme.

This means that employees are not required to provide medical information in respect of the first 28 days of any spell of incapacity for work which either started during the period of Friday 17 December – Wednesday 26 January or which commenced prior to Friday 17 December but which had not lasted more than seven days on that date i.e. Friday 10 December.

In practice, this means that colleagues can self-certify for absences of up to 28 days during the period that the modification was introduced.

Managers are required to continue to maintain contact with employees during their absence and support facilitating a return to work at the earliest point.

If colleagues are concerned about their health, they should still be encouraged to go and see their GP with occupational health support also being available should this be required.

Please contact the HR team should you have any enquiries via the COVID HR contact advice line. You can contact them by emailing swb-tr.swbh-GM-HR-Enquiries@nhs.net or by calling 0121 507 6680.

More information is available by clicking here.