Monthly archives: January 2022

Essential maintenance to Medisoft from Saturday 29 January at 6pm until Monday 31 January at 6am

Please be aware from Saturday 29 January at 6pm until Monday 31 January at 6am our support vendor will be undertaking essential maintenance to the Medisoft application as part of ongoing recovery works for data and document reprocessing following the IT incident.

During this time, the Medisoft application will be unavailable for up to 36 hours from Saturday 29 January at 6pm until Monday 31 January at 6am whilst the data is being reprocessed.

Note: there are no scheduled clinics planned; however, BMEC ED will be required to utilise Unity/paper BCP processes.  

The activity will be closely monitored both by our IT Support and executive leads.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Should you have any queries on this then please contact the IT Service Desk on ext. 4050 or 0121 507 4050 for home workers.

Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccinations available on Friday

A clinic will take place at the City Vaccination Hub on Friday 28 January, 9am – 2pm specifically administering Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccinations. All attendees will be assessed prior to vaccination to confirm eligibility. To book your appointment, call the vaccination hub on ext. 4404.

For Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations and flu vaccinations, the walk-in vaccination centres at City, Sandwell and Tipton remain open for Trust colleagues and members of the public during the following hours:

Don’t forget, you can join the vaccination team at City (Sheldon Block) or Sandwell (Berridge Suite) on Monday 31 January between 2pm – 5pm for a drop in session to discuss any clinical concerns or issues regarding the COVID-19 vaccinations. Enjoy a hot or cold drink and biscuits while having a chat with one of our nurses. This is for all colleagues who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 and will be a relaxed, informal environment to ask questions regarding clinical concerns about the vaccinations.

The deadline for those in scope of the mandatory vaccination legislation is to have the first COVID-19 vaccination by Thursday 3 February. If you need to confirm your vaccination status or have questions about the mandatory vaccination requirements, just email  swbh.hr-advice-for-covid-19@nhs.net.

Find information about NHS Pensions on Connect

A new pensions Connect page has been created on Connect to help colleagues access a range of information about the NHS Pension schemes. You can find it via the Staff Zone tab or by clicking on the following link: https://connect2.swbh.nhs.uk/pensions/

The page includes information on some of the following:

• The value of the NHS Pension Scheme
• How to obtain pension statements and estimates, as well as how to apply for retirement and pension benefits
• Flexible retirement options
• Lifetime Allowance and Annual Allowance
• McCloud Judgement
• Information on a range of other matters such as the impact of salary sacrifice on your pension, ill-health retirement, life assurance and family benefits, state pension and NEST.

This resource has been created to help colleagues understand the benefits of being in the NHS Pension, as well as options they may wish to consider on the run up to retirement. Managers are encouraged to direct their colleagues who may be thinking of retiring, or who may want to join the pension scheme (if not already a member) to this resource.

Learning disabilities webinar: 17 February

The Black Country Healthcare Foundation Trust will be hosting a Learning Disabilities Webinar on Thursday 17 February, 10am – 11.30am.

This event will be an opportunity to find out what the Black Country Healthcare has to offer to support people with learning disabilities and an opportunity to ask questions from clinical experts during a Q&A session.

Note: Zoom joining details will be sent out to you closer to the event.

For further details and to sign up, please click here.

Untrue penicillin allergies and de-labelling spurious antibiotic allergy labels to combat AMR

Is it really a Penicillin Allergy?

Some facts about antibiotic allergy:

1. Penicillin are the most common antibiotic class prescribed globally and 6% of people living in England are labelled as having a penicillin allergy
2. Untrue penicillin allergy labels cause harm and can mean patients don’t receive the most effective antibiotic for their infection
3. 10% report penicillin allergy but less than 1% are truly allergic; 80% of those truly allergic can lose sensitivity in 10 years.
4. Use of alternatives to penicillin can lead to suboptimal treatment, increased risk of antibiotic resistance and higher healthcare cost.
5. Accurate documentation of suspected allergic reaction as per NICE guidance (CG183) would enable correct diagnosis and management.

In case of mild adverse reaction associated with an antibiotic, it is important to differentiate recognised pharmacological adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea from immunological hypersensitivity which can lead to anaphylaxis. IgE mediated allergy which can lead to anaphylaxis usually presents with itch, urticaria and angioedema with symptoms starting often within minutes, usually within one hour.

Be sure to check this video of Consultant Microbiology and Antimicrobial Stewardship lead Dr Taran Saluja share her thoughts on the need to tackle the silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance. 

Would you like to become an antibiotic champion? We are currently seeking clinical colleagues who want to become antibiotic champions. This could be nurses, junior doctors, ward managers, registrars, pharmacists, consultants, matrons and pharmacy technicians – anyone who is interested in helping to improve the use of antibiotics at the Trust to improve patient care and limit the spread of antibiotic resistance.

If this is something of interest to you, please see the antibiotic champion information sheet for further details.

COVID-19 Bulletin: Tuesday 25 January

1. New: Colleagues in scope of the new mandatory vaccination legislation have 9 days to get first jab

From 1 April it is mandatory that all health and social care colleagues providing a CQC regulated service are fully vaccinated (1^st and 2^nd doses) against COVID-19. This includes those who have incidental contact with patients as part of their role. If this applies to you and the Trust does not have a record of your vaccination status, you will have received a letter to your home address. The letter asks you to confirm your vaccination status so that the Trust can determine the next steps in terms of your role and employment.

Please respond to this letter and engage with those who will be contacting you about this important matter. The deadline for receiving your first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination is 3 February.

The Trust is here to support all colleagues with this new legislation. There are a range of ways you can access more information and support:

• Join the Trust’s COVID-19 vaccination Q&A sessions if you have questions or concerns about the vaccines. These sessions include a panel of clinical experts who can explain how vaccines are made and tested, common side effects and answer any questions.
• Talk to your line manager who will be able to direct you to more information and advice
• Contact occupational health if you are concerned about your own health condition and vaccination
• Contact your trade union representative who will be able to offer advice on the legislation and what it means for you and your role. Trade Unions have also shared updated guidance for colleagues on the new Vaccine as a Condition of Deployment legislation. Colleagues can access this on Connect.
• Join the national webinars that cover common questions about vaccination.
• Read the information, guidance and FAQs on Connect.

Questions and COVID-19 status confirmations (COVID-19 Pass) should be sent to swbh.hr-advice-for-covid-19@nhs.net

2. New: Daily vaccine confidence sessions hosted by clinical professionals

NHS England and NHS Improvement will be running daily drop-in vaccine confidence Q&A sessions from Wednesday 26 January 2022 to February 3, 2022. These sessions are for all NHS staff to attend and will offer an opportunity to ask any specific questions you might have regarding COVID-19 vaccines.

Each of these drop-in sessions will be tailored towards a specific audience and hosted by a relevant clinical professional who will answer any questions and signpost you to any additional information. These sessions will provide a safe and supportive environment for you to ask any questions you may have about the COVID-19 vaccines.

This is not a forum to discuss the Vaccination as a Condition of Deployment (VCOD) policy or any HR guidance.

Dates and themes are:

• 26 January: 12-1pm – Primary Care
• 27 January: 3-4pm – Vaccines and Fertility
• 28 January: 10-11am – Vaccines and the Science
• 29 January: 7-8pm – Vaccines and Your Faith
• 30 January: 7-8pm – Vaccines and Your Faith
• 31 January: 12-1pm – Vaccines for Nursing and Midwifery Staff
• 1 February: 1-2pm – Vaccines and Fertility
• 2 February: 12-1pm – Vaccines for Healthcare Students
• 3 February: 4-5pm – Vaccines and the Science

To register, go to https://www.events.england.nhs.uk/events/staff-vaccination-daily-q-and-a

3. Reminder: Getting your COVID-19 vaccination

Walk-in slots and booked appointments are available at the Trust hubs.

You can also book an appointment via the national booking website.

4. Reminder: Join a COVID-19 Q&A session

Colleagues who are yet to get their COVID-19 vaccinations are encouraged to join one of the online Q&A sessions that are taking place this week to find out more about vaccination.

If you are unable to join one of the sessions, you can listen back the discussions by watching the recording.

These sessions are a safe space for colleagues to have an opportunity to understand and ask questions about how the vaccines are developed and tested, side-effects and the new legislation on mandatory vaccination for health and social care staff.

Session dates and times are for remaining sessions are below – there is no requirement to book, simply login using the link below:

5. Reminder: PPE requirements

We recently enhanced our PPE requirements having risk assessed COVID-19 infection rates and outbreaks within our hospital ward areas.

For all inpatient areas where there is direct patient contact (in both red and amber wards), clinical and non-clinical staff who are having patient/bed space contact should wear as a minimum:

• A silicone mask/FFP3 mask – these can be sessional use. Single use gloves and aprons (please ensure you have been fit tested for an FFP3 mask before use). Visors may be necessary in some clinical circumstances as per risk assessment for each individual patient.
• You should wear a fluid-resistant surgical face mask if you do not have direct patient contact. Non-direct patient contact includes walking on a ward area, clerical staff, estates and facilities staff. Disposable gloves/aprons should be worn for contact with patients/immediate environment. Porters who are transferring patients should wear FFP3/silicone face mask when transferring patients to red and amber wards.
• If you are visiting the ward from another area, a minimum requirement when entering the unit will be to wear a fluid resistant surgical face mask.

We have also made the wearing of surgical masks mandatory for all inpatients and outpatients. This means that all patients must wear fluid resistant surgical masks whilst they are under our care. Masks do not need to be worn whilst patients are sleeping, eating or drinking. Exceptions are for patients who are under clinical exemptions. Other exceptions include women in labour, patients without capacity, including those who are not able to put on or take off their own mask, and for children under the age of 12.

Please note: staff must follow their individual risk assessment for PPE. Occasionally this will recommend a higher level of protection depending on your individual assessment.

We will continue to risk assess our infection prevention and control guidance regularly in light of changing COVID-19 restrictions, hospital rates, outbreaks and community infections.

COVID-19 Public Inquiry Document Preservation: STOP Notice

Message on behalf of Kam Dhami, Director of Governance/Senior Information Risk Owner:

Dear colleague,

We all recognise that the fight against COVID-19 is far from over. Thank you for everything that you are doing to try and overcome the latest wave.

In Spring this year a statutory nationwide Public Inquiry into the pandemic will begin. In order to ensure that the process truly learns from what has gone right and what has gone wrong, we need to preserve our records and our knowledge.

Attached is a national stop notice asking all NHS employees to retain all information relating to COVID-19, including documents, texts, WhatsApp messages and emails. This will help us to marshal our learning and support the Trust to contribute to the Inquiry.

I appreciate that this notice may seem daunting or worrying. Please be assured that it is simply an encouragement to store information. I am leading the internal inquiry team on behalf of the Board and will be in touch again later in the year about what you need to do, and how we can all help. Until then hang onto everything, do not destroy any information, and let’s work together to make sure that we can reflect on what has happened with strong records and good information.

If you do have any immediate queries, please be in touch via Swbh.data.controller@nhs.net

Best wishes,

Kam Dhami

Director of Governance / Senior Information Risk Owner

Lessons learned bulletin

Staring this month, a lessons learned bulletin will come out sharing the highlights from the governance directorate which are of benefit for the wider Trust. The January bulletin includes a missed lung cancer diagnosis and incidents involving medical air being used in place of oxygen.

Read more in January’s edition by clicking here.

For more information please email swb-tr.RiskManagement@nhs.net.

Heartbeat: Focus on Paula Arlington, winner of the Chairman’s award

At this year’s Star Awards Paula Arlington, Lead Nurse for Quality in Care Homes scooped the Chairman’s award for notable contribution to the local health and social care system. This special award is presented to an individual or team who has made a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of patients, carers or the public in the Sandwell and West Birmingham community.

The award winner will have demonstrated how they have linked up different teams or organisations, and been instrumental in breaking down barriers for the benefit of patients or the wider population. Paula was recognised for making a real difference to our most vulnerable patients during the pandemic and a look at her 23 year career shows exactly why.

Starting her NHS career at Rowley as a healthcare assistant in 1999, she went onto study nursing at university in 2004. Upon qualification she worked in care homes and in 2010 worked for a short period at Russells Hall focussing on renal cardiology and diabetes.

She came back to our Trust in 2012 and worked as a community nurse. She then undertook her community nursing practitioner degree, became an autonomous practitioner and held an independent prescribing qualification.

In 2016 she joined the community outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy team driving the development of intravenous antibiotics in the community, a service she developed for two years. In 2018 she was successful in securing the better care funded post as lead nurse for quality and safety in care homes, working with Sandwell MBC and our Trust. This post was the first of its kind in Sandwell and has led the way.

Paula has built up strong relationships with care home managers and she is the go to person for advice and support which stood her in good stead when managing the pandemic.

During the peak of the pandemic, much of the council’s front line services were not patient facing and it was Paula who would be available and working alongside the care homes.

She supported the management of outbreaks and provided expert advice regarding PPE requirements. She even delivered essential supplies and provided a crucial bridge between public health and the care homes.

As you know, the number of COVID related deaths in care homes was sadly devastating. But Sandwell had the lowest regionally and nationally. Speaking of her win, Paula said: “I was pleased, honoured, excited and very surprised to win the award. I feel privileged to be recognised in such a special way.”

Heartbeat: Immunity, antigens, pathogens and antibodies – what does it all mean?

Four key words which would rarely be mentioned outside of an outbreak meeting have suddenly become part of day to day vocabulary, mentioned on the morning news and echoed in briefings from Downing Street – but do you really know what they mean and how they affect you?

Today, we’re going to break it all down and explain how antigens and antibodies support your body to build immunity against pathogens – without the complex language that requires a doctorate to digest.

Germs and organisms are all around us, in our environment and in our bodies, and when we come across one that manages to get past our physical defences (skin and mucus) it can lead to infection, illness and sometimes death. An organism that manages to infect our bodies and cause illness is called a pathogen, these can be a virus, bacteria, fungi or parasite.

Alongside our physical barriers (skin, hair and mucus) we have our internal defences otherwise known as our immune system whose job it is to track down pathogens that have breached our defences and attack them to bring an infection under control.

Each pathogen is made up of a several subparts which are unique to that specific pathogen called antigen, dictating its behaviour and interaction with the body and the disease it causes. Our bodies immune system in response to a pathogen’s antigen creates antibodies – these are unique, only attacking the exact antigen and pathogen they were created to defend against and essentially our bodies last line of defence to infection.

It takes time for a body to produce antibodies in response to antigen, for flu and COVID-19, it’s often up to two weeks before a body has built up a fully antibody defence against a pathogen.

Once antibodies have been produced, they work alongside the rest of the immune system to destroy a pathogen and stop the disease – this immune response and natural defence is the same used during a vaccination.

Vaccines contain weakened and inactive antigen (parts of the pathogen) or more recently simply just the markers for an antigen which on their own can not cause an infection, but through their introduction to a body will trigger an immune response and begin the production of antibodies.

Some vaccines require multiple doses, given over a period of time to support the production of antibodies and memory cells, ensuring that you are able to fight that specific disease for a long period of time and boosting the response time in future infections.