Monthly archives: December 2021

Visible Leaders Network – now recruiting new members

The Visible Leaders Network (VLN) is a unique network that is specifically focused on leadership and is aimed at a specific audience, namely Black, Asian and minority ethnic colleagues who wish to develop and advance their leadership journey into senior level roles within the NHS. Because of this you can join the VLN if you are an NHS BAME employee working in the Midlands at Bands 3* – 8a level.

VLN aim to offer

A ‘safe place’ for those key conversations
A peer network community
Opportunities to explore and develop the skills you need for progression
Coaching and mentoring
Access to senior leaders for open discussions
Tools to leverage systemic change for BAME people
Topical leadership discussions
Opportunities to shape local leadership programmes
Opportunities to influence the future talent pipeline
Opportunities to make a positive difference to outcomes for service delivery

To register as a new member, go to the website by clicking here.

Note: Band 3s may join if they have the written endorsement of their leadership role by their manager.

Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week

Millions of people across the globe live with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, and even more family members, friends, colleagues, and others are impacted by these incurable diseases. While many individuals have heard of Crohn’s and colitis, many do not fully understand these diseases (collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease or IBD) which is why the awareness week is so important. Crohn’s disease is a lifelong condition where parts of the digestive system become inflamed. To find out more click here or see the video below.

During the awareness week, Crohn’s & Colitis foundation are hosting a variety of free events, webinars and live chats across their social media platforms. To find out more about these events and join, please click here.

16 days of action against domestic abuse

16 days of action against domestic abuse aims to raise awareness of abuse and sign post people across the borough to vital support services. The decision to make the 16 days between 25 November – 10 December was so that three other major events could be recognised: International Human Rights Defenders Day (29 November), World Aids Day (1 December) and the anniversary of the Montreal École Polytechnique Massacre (6 December). This is so that the connection between human rights and domestic abuse could be highlighted.

Domestic abuse:

Domestic abuse is one person exerting power and control over another. Abuse may be psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional. Domestic abuse can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

Help and advice can be found below:

Please call 0121 552 6448 for a direct line to a range of support services in the borough.

Note: In an emergency you should always call 999.

For more information please email n.reid-lyon@nhs.net or joannetoovey@nhs.net.

Mending minds – free mental health conference: 26 – 27 January

Join our counselling service partners The Kaleidoscope Plus Group for their two day virtual conference, Mending Minds on Wednesday 26 January and Thursday 27 January, 9am – 4pm and be inspired and learn how to build mental health resilience and finding coping strategies in a post pandemic world.

For further details and your free ticket, please click here.

Change to the coroners portal referral process

There has been a change to the link to access the coroners web portal.

The process is the same and no user name and password is required to login as you just require a referrers code.

You will access the link as you did previously via the coroners web page and the red box which says ‘Web Portal’. As soon as you click it you will be into a referrers details which is the first page of the referral process.

Note: At the end of this page you will need to input a referrers code and for you the code which is SANDHOSP01.

The reason for these changes is to make navigation easier as you will be presented with more helpful information throughout the process. There is also an add file facility so medical documents can be uploaded directly to the coroner case management system. You will receive an immediate response back with copy of referral detailing all the input information for your records.

Boost day is here – it’s not too late to get vaccinated!

Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself, friends and family from winter viruses so you can enjoy the festive season safely. Get your flu jab and COVID-19 booster vaccination today (2 December) for maximum protection while spending time with loved ones this festive season.

Get your jabs today! Getting your vaccinations couldn’t be easier. There’s no need to book, you can walk in to the Berridge suite today (2 December) at Sandwell between 9am-4pm or the vaccination hub at Sheldon block at City between 8am and 6pm.

Not yet had your first COVID-19 jab? City Hospital vaccination hub in Sheldon Block is open for those 18 or older who would like their first jab. The hub is open daily for both walk-ins and bookings via the national booking website.

Be sure to also check out this sort video featuring colleagues from across the Trust talking about facts around the COVID-19 booster.

16 days of action against domestic abuse

Today we cover women’s safety in public spaces. If you are concerned about your safety when you are out and about you can download the free Hollie Guard app. A simple tap or shake of your phone records what’s happening, calls your emergency contact and gives them your location.

Be sure to also check out the advice from West Midlands Police regarding safer nights and staying safe on your night out.

IT Incident: Action required – Business Continuity Plans enacted

We are currently experiencing major disruption to some of our IT systems, however Unity and radiology remain unaffected.

Please ensure you continue to follow your Business Continuity Plans and review the patient activity that can be safely carried out.

Our incident management structure remains in place and all Clinical Groups and impacted corporate services are represented on the Tactical meetings. Please feed through any concerns to your tactical representative.

We will keep you updated throughout the day.

Clinical impact:

Blood bank: There has been an impact on blood bank. If blood is required urgently then please use emergency Group O negative blood. For men and post-menopausal women please consider using Group O pos.
Any requests for cross matched blood must be made by a consultant until systems are fully operational.

Systems known to be affected and currently offline:

Unipoc – Pathology point of care
Aegis – Pathology system
ICE – GP Letters
Immunlink – Pathology Cross matching bloods
Circle – Cardiology diagnostic service
Mckesson – Cardiology system
Equitrac printing – Trust printing to Ricoh MFD/ follow me printing – please note local printers on wards for example will be working
Intouch – patient check-ins for outpatient clinics (can be manually admitted via IPM)
Medisoft – Electronic patient record system for Ophthalmology department
Powergate – Pharmacy accounting system for supplier/order processing.
ChemoCare – Electronic patient record system for cancer patients
S Drive – Files saved to the shared drive (Backup running to restore from 27/11/2021 19:00)
SWBH Fileshare (Y drive community shared files)
SCSM – IT ticket system

Services now back online:

SW-HOME1A – Affected users who had icons and documents on their desktop missing should now find these have returned.
Telecare – Sexual health system
RDP-IT-SUPPORT – Virtual server for IT support

Please note, the IT service desk online portal is currently offline and colleagues needing support with systems that have not been listed as being affected above can contact the IT team on ext. 4050 (0121 507 4050

New Trust research forum

As part of our Trust R&D strategy to increase the number of colleagues undertaking or contributing to research in the Trust, we have developed a new research forum.

This forum is a new initiative which offers a platform for peer-support, knowledge transfer, peer-observation, education and training in order to develop and retain an expert clinical research workforce within SWB as well as facilitate high quality research for the benefit of patients. The forum also helps create a research culture within the Trust encompassing the behaviour, values, formal and informal ethics, expectations, attitudes and norms of research communities.

We are holding a launch event on Wednesday 19 January, 9am – 1pm in the in the Wolfson Theatre, Postgraduate Centre, City. This launch meeting is an opportunity to shape how the forum will work for you.

The Clinical Research Forum is open to all staff and we particularly encourage colleagues who wish to get involved in research to join, as well as colleagues who already undertake research in the Trust.

Please find attached the outline programme for the event. To book a place, please complete the registration form.

This event will be in person and therefore places will be limited.

If you are unable to attend the launch event, but would be interested in knowing more about research and joining the Forum, please sign up with this form.

Heartbeat: Embracing our future with Midland Met – putting patients first with SCaT engagement session

We recently hosted our first sickle cell and Thalassaemia (SCaT) engagement session. On National Thalassaemia Day, (19 October) the Trust welcomed patients, carers, and voluntary sector representatives, to discuss our model of care as we move into our new hospital and actively seek input on the things that matter the most to our patients.

Chief Executive, Richard Beeken opened the event, stating: “We provide the regional services for SCaT services, and we’re proud to do so. Today’s session is about our short, medium, and long term plans to improve the service.

“Our new hospital is the big strategic lever for changing clinical best practices and delivering better for our patients and carers. Today is an opportunity for you to explore with us what it’s all about – what it will look like, feel like, and how the services will change to fit within it.”

The event included the opportunity for Q&As and interactive group sessions. Groups split out, and there was lots of lively chatter about how to best shape the services we will provide at Midland Met.

Sadeh, a patient, told us: “I attended to hear the proposals and to share my opinions so we can work as one multidisciplinary team.” Another remarked: “I found it very useful – it was great to meet some of the other patients and speak to members of staff so that they could hear our voices about what we need from the new hospital.”

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Monthly archives: December 2021

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