Monthly archives: March 2022

Winter Bank Incentive Payment

Thank you all for your contribution in ensuring that our hospitals, community sites and services were appropriately staffed and could deliver care that was safe and focused on meeting patient’s needs over this winter.

In December we offered a bank incentive bonus scheme and over April we will ensure that you receive that payment if you undertook additional shifts in line with the “Work 5 be paid for 6” initiative . The Trust did advise that these payments would be made at the end of March , however due to the complex nature of shift patterns and the requirement that additional shifts were required to be undertaken to ensure  eligibility staff will receive the bonus payments in their salaries from 8 April.

To ensure staff are paid appropriately, a small number of staff require some of their shifts to be validated by the hiring manager. Our bank team will be working with managers to ensure that this is completed in a timely manner,  however payments for staff requiring shift validation will be paid later in the month.

Again we would like to thank all our staff for their continued efforts over a difficult few months.

The next 30 seconds could save a patient’s life

We are supporting Prostate Cancer UK and NHS England’s campaign to find 14,000 men who have not started treatment for prostate cancer since the beginning of the pandemic.

Share the NHS risk checker and help save lives – It takes 30 seconds.

1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer. A dad, brother, uncle, partner or best mate. We think they’re worth saving which is why Prostate Cancer UK has partnered with the NHS to ask us to share its 30-second risk checker – to help men understand their risk of prostate cancer.

Click here to find out more about prostate cancer and symptoms of the disease.

COVID-19 Bulletin: Thursday 24 March

Numbers not statistics: This week (last week) 

(Note: Percentages may decrease due to changes in the number of inpatients and in the number of staff members (starters and leavers).

1. New: Keeping up with the (lateral) flow

Colleagues will be aware we have switched over from LAMP to lateral flow testing and it’s important that we all continue to do this twice a week before arriving at work.

But we also recognise the difficulties in obtaining these kits, whether you’re ordering them from the Government website, or picking them up from your local pharmacy. Availability fluctuates throughout the day, and we understand the frustration around this.

The Trust has a small supply that we are using for elective patients who need lateral flow test results prior to having a planned procedure and for staff who have difficulty accessing supplies who need to test because:

• They have been in contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19
• They need to test from day five of a positive test result to be able to return to work.

You can access Trust lateral flow tests by either:

• At City – contact sukhpreet.doal@nhs.net or carl.steventon@nhs.net who will arrange for the tests to be available for collection from receipts and distribution, or advise when the tests are available to be collected by Transport for deliveries offsite.
• Sandwell – This will continue via the community contact centre, ground floor, Hallam building.

However, we are expecting a national gateway for health and social care staff to order lateral flow devices and will share the details of this as soon as it is available.

As healthcare staff, there is still a chance that we will come in to contact with those suffering with COVID-19 and vulnerable patients – so it’s critically important that we continue to test and report.

You can order your lateral flow kit by visiting https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests. Please select “Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust” from the list.

Please note there is a known technical error with the portal currently. Colleagues are advised to order via the NHS Staff option but without using a registered account.

All completed lateral flow tests must be reported on the Trust Lateral Flow Test reporting form which can be found by clicking here.

Note: To submit results, colleagues will be required to login with their NHS email and password.

Colleagues are reminded that any unused LAMP test bags and sample containers can be returned to the phlebotomy departments on each site.

2. New: Boosters now available for the over-75s and immunosuppressed

We are now offering COVID-19 boosters for the over-75s and those with a weakened immune system at our vaccinations sites (details below).

As you will know the virus is more serious in older people and those with a weakened immune system, so it is important that this cohort are protected. Individuals can have a booster three months after having their last dose of vaccine.

If you still haven’t had your COVID-19 vaccination there is still time to get the jab and help protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

The vaccination hubs are open daily at City and Tipton and no appointment necessary – you can just drop in.

Here are current opening hours:

• Tipton Sports Academy Vaccination Centre (*walk-ins) – 8am – 7pm (*6pm)
• City, Sheldon Block (*walk-ins) – 8am – 7pm (*6pm)

3. Updated: Swabbing pathway updated for elective patients

An updated swabbing pathway has been produced to outline the process for patients attending the Trust for pre-procedure testing prior to elective or day case surgery.

It applies to all patients receiving treatment requiring local anaesthetic or general anaesthetic at Sandwell Hospital, the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre and at City Hospital’s BTC and Windmill Theatres.

You can read the document in full by clicking here

4.  Reminder: General visiting entry restrictions eased

We have eased our general visiting restrictions to remove the need for visitors to inpatient areas to show evidence of a negative lateral flow test. The following points summarise our rules and are for those wards where visiting is allowed (amber wards only). Visiting red and green departments is only allowed on compassionate grounds (this is where a visit by a carer or family member is central to ensuring that the patient’s fundamental care needs are met). All wards regardless of COVID status should ensure robust systems remain in place to support regular communication between patients and their loved ones.

To visit a patient on an amber inpatient ward:

All visits must be booked in advance by telephoning the ward to allow wards to limit the number of visitors on a ward/bay at any one time. Ward staff should ensure that visitors are given the following information prior to visiting:

1.     All visitors must be free of COVID-19 symptoms, and must not attend if they are a household contact of a COVID-19 positive case. We regret children (under 16 years) or those who are immunocompromised are currently not allowed to visit.

2.     Patients in amber areas should be supported to receive one visitor for up to 30 minutes per day. Patients can nominate two individuals who can visit for the duration of their stay, ideally from the same household. There should be no more than 2 visitors per bay.

3.     Visitors must use hand sanitiser and wear a fluid resistant surgical face mask on entry.

4.     All ward areas must ensure adequate supply of PPE for all visitors and recheck they are wearing a mask on entry to the ward and have sanitised their hands.

5.     Staff should continue to strongly advise patients to wear their masks and ensure a minimum of one metre distancing is in place at all times.

6.     Bay/ward areas should be well ventilated.

7.     Weather permitting – visiting can be conducted in the hospital grounds as long as the patient is medically stable and can be kept safe.

The current visiting arrangements for paediatrics, maternity and ICU remain in place. Our usual exemptions apply for inpatient children, those at end of life and people who lack mental capacity.

We continue to review visiting arrangements based on a risk assessment taking into account COVID-19 case rates in the community and numbers of COVID-19 cases in our hospitals.

For more information see the visiting information here.

5. Reminder: Give your wellbeing an MOT

Wellbeing means something different to everyone. It often describes being happy and comfortable, but it’s so much more than that. It encompasses your physical, mental, social, and emotional health too.

SWB offers a wide array of wellbeing options, and colleagues are actively encouraged to take advantage of what service suits their individual needs.

One of the ways you can take time for yourself is via our wellbeing hubs. Focusing on ensuring that colleagues have a good day every day, the wellbeing hubs aim to help improve mental health, relieve stress, build resilience, and restore balance for colleagues closer to their work base.

Services in the wellbeing hubs include:

• Confidential chat – an opportunity for colleagues to offload and talk about anything which is troubling them.
• Meditation Relaxation POD (massage chair).
• Back, hips, leg massager.
• Seated acupressure massage.
• Hypnotherapy (Sanctuary only).

The wellbeing hubs are completely confidential; all services and treatments are free of charge for Trust colleagues and delivered by trained wellbeing coaches.

They are a regular weekly service across all the sites listed below between 8am-4pm and the Sanctuary from 10am-5pm.

• Every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, Jayne Wright Therapy Room, Trinity House, Sandwell
• Monday – Friday, Wellbeing Hub, Arches, 1st Floor, Corridor A (old physiotherapy corridor) Room B002/F/049 situated to the right of the corridor, City Hospital
• Monday – Friday, The Sanctuary, Unett Street, Smethwick B66 3SY.

Other ways you can take care of your wellbeing include:

• Signing up to use our onsite gyms at City and Sandwell Hospitals. To find out how to sign up click here.
• Join the Be Military Fit programme to enjoy a selection of exercise classes, webinars, hints and tips.
• Enjoy mindful yoga with Chris online.
• Speak to occupational health to assist and guide you in managing health and wellbeing issues.

Don’t forget to apply for your Q-Park permit

Do you need to park on Trust sites? If you haven’t already applied for your new Q-Park permit, please do so as soon as possible.

Details of how to apply for your new Q-Park permit can be found here: How to apply for you parking permit. Please allow five working days for processing. You will receive a confirmation email once your application has been accepted.

Need to collect your parking permit? If you have been notified that your new Q-Park parking permit is ready for collection, please collect your permit from the collection point listed below. Your permit will only be available from your primary site which you have stated in your application.

Please ensure you bring a form of ID with you to collect as permits can only be given directly to the applicant.

width=”622″></ Note: You cannot collect your permit outside of the hours above. If you do try to collect outside of these hours you will be asked to return at the correct collection times. *Collection times may differ during bank holidays.For more information please email sandwell@q-park.com.

Keep fit at Sandwell or city gym

As colleagues may be aware, the gym at Sandwell recently reopened. If you wish to use the gym facilities, simply register your interest to use the gym with the wellbeing team and following a simple induction you can begin to use the gym to keep fit. Located on the ground floor of Trinity House, the gym accommodates a maximum of two users at any one time and colleagues will be limited to a maximum of 40 minutes each. Please remember to wipe down equipment after use. For ventilation, the onus will be on colleagues to open windows whilst exercising and close when finished.

In regards to the city gym we’ve created the space you need to work out while keeping a safe distance. The gym has also been rearranged and clearly marked out for you to use safely, so it is easy for everyone to follow. The maximum number of users is five at any one time with the maximum gym time usage being one hour per visit, in order to allow other colleagues the opportunity to use the facility.

We’ve placed more hand sanitiser dispensers and wipes around both gyms so it’s easy to regularly clean your hands and equipment during your visit. We ask that you also sanitise your hands before entering the gym to keep yourself and others safe.

Existing members: Your pass will already be activated ready for use

For new members: Please contact Jatinder Sekhon, by emailing  jatinder.sekhon@nhs.net or call 0121 507 3854 to complete your registration. The relevant forms can be found below:

• Gym membership application form
• Gym disclaimers
• Gym induction

Calling resuscitation instructors

Are you a current or lapsed ALS, EPALS GIC and NLS instructor? The deteriorating patient and resuscitation team run multiple courses to support the development of our colleagues and would like you to join them as faculty.

If you would like to join or find out more, please contact the deteriorating patient and resuscitation team by emailing swbh.resuscitationtraining@nhs.net.

Healthcare evidence and knowledge now a simple search away

The new, Health Education England funded NHS Knowledge and Library Hub brings together a vast range of databases, journals, NICE guidance and other support tools in one place.

Designed to give quick and easy access through a secure online platform, we hope this will help practitioners, trainees and students with their professional development and evidence-based care.

Content includes:

• Over 7,000 journals
• Books and e-publications, including OUP handbooks
• One-click access to full-text, request a copy or contact an NHS library
• Clinical decision support tools such as BMJ Best Practice
• NICE pathways and guidelines
• Databases like Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycInfo

The hub provides free access to all the HEE core content. This means that, once they have signed in, users can tap into the same system wherever their career or courses take them.

Start your search or learn more through our short user guides.

For more information, please contact library and knowledge services by emailing swbh.library@nhs.net or calling ext. 3587.

Dementia awareness sessions

The Dementia, Delirium and Distress (DDD) team are hosting dementia awareness sessions on the following dates:

• Tuesday 19 April, 10am – 12pm, Hayward room, City
• Wednesday 18 May, 10am – 12pm, Hayward room, City
• Wednesday 22 June, 10am – 12pm, Hayward room, City

The sessions are aimed at all our patient facing colleagues. Topics that will be covered during the sessions include:

• Memory screening tools
• Mental capacity assessment/ deprivation of liberties
• Dementia friendly environments
• De-escalation techniques and how to improve patients journey whilst in hospital

To book onto one of the training sessions please email r.begum19@nhs.net or call ext. 2669.

Heartbeat: Kickstarting careers in the NHS

Seven young recruits keen to get their foot on the first step of the NHS career ladder recently joined the team at Lyndon Primary Care Centre thanks to the Kickstart employment scheme.

The Kickstart employment scheme aims to offer young people aged 16 – 24 years old a work placement which will give them the experience they need to succeed. The fully funded government scheme supports organisations to offer new six-month placements to young people in receipt of universal credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment.

At our Trust, the widening participation project team have worked collaboratively with the Lyndon primary care team (YHP) in supporting the kickstart scheme and giving a group of new recruits a springboard in to employment.

Launching the programme, Widening Participation Support Officer Nicky Smith said: “This is an incredible opportunity for young people to be introduced and supported in to new roles, with a light touch opportunity – but one that is set to give them an incredible set of skills regardless of how they decide to proceed with their careers.”

The first cohort of seven recruits joined us at the end of January and took on the roles of ‘meet and greet receptionists’ fulfilling frontline duties at six different GP sites across Sandwell and West Birmingham.

Thanking colleagues for their support in launching the programme, Nicky continued: “None of this could have happened without the support of Rajeev Pathak who is the operations manager (telephony) and Louise Ross Frontline (operations manager). They have been instrumental in supporting each of the seven individuals ensuring that they are given all of the help and support they need to help them learn new skills and grow in confidence.”

Mid way through the trainees programme they will receive support from the widening participation team in helping them complete job applications and start to apply for jobs in the NHS. Talking though what they have learnt and ensuring that this is included in their applications.

Trainees will also be offered the chance to sign up to Trust Bank and we will also discuss the pathway into apprenticeships with support from the apprenticeship team.

Heartbeat: Wave goodbye to… Rasekhuta Phillistus Velempini

Rasekhuta Phillistus Velempini (Nee Lephalala) known to most as Phil, is retiring following a distinguished career in children’s nursing.

Born and educated in South Africa during the Apartheid era, Phil was among many Black South Africans in 1994 to take part in the first ever general elections in which citizens of all races were allowed to vote.

“I grew up living with my maternal grandparents in rural South Africa as a young carer but from a young age I was always caring and compassionate and this inspired me to follow my passion leading to my training as a general nurse, midwife, psychiatric nurse and later a children’s nurse”, said Phil, Matron – Neonatal Unit.

“My first post qualification job was in Maternity as a midwife for a year. I got great satisfaction working with women and their families during moments of profound transition and change in their life and was able to assist in the process.”

Phil’s paediatric nursing journey started in 1993 in South Africa. In 2002 she moved to the UK. For five years Phil worked in the private sector of nursing helping both adults and children post-surgery. It was in 2007 she joined the NHS and our Trust as a paediatric ward manager on Lyndon ground and then later on Lyndon 1.

In 2012, Phil became acting matron in paediatrics and three years later in 2015 Matron on the Neonatal Unit. When asked about working in the neonatal unit, she said: “Since 2015 the neonatal unit has been my second home and a family to me. We have dealt with some challenging situations, but I am very proud of our achievements. Some of the challenges were staffing levels which we managed to increase in line with national standards to improve the care of our neonates.

“Between 2020 and 2021, the neonatal community outreach (NCOT) service was developed and successfully launched at the start of this year which makes me feel I’m leaving the service with a sense of satisfaction for a job well done.”

During her time in neonates, Phil also worked very closely with maternity colleagues where she was on the on-call rota for maternity and neonatal areas supporting nurses and midwives in decision making out of hours.

She added: “Children’s nursing is an incredibly rewarding career where I have had the opportunity to not only take care of a child but also to provide care and guidance for the entire family which has been a true honour.

“I would like to thank everyone in neonatal, paediatrics, maternity and SWB as a whole, who have supported me during my time here. I wish them well and a safe move to the new hospital, MMUH (Midland Metropolitan University Hospital).”

Phil has been an invaluable asset to the Trust since joining and will be missed by many of her colleagues. Sonia Dhesi, Neonatal Sister is just one of those colleagues who has had the pleasure of working with Phil.

Sonia said: “Phil is a very dedicated and supportive matron. She works incredibly hard to ensure only the highest standard of care is being provided to our sick babies and their families.”

Carmen Nuttall, Neonatal Community Outreach Team Leader echoes these thoughts and said: “Phil has always shown great passion about neonates and cares about the families we look after which is fundamental in this type of role. She has also supported colleagues through implementation of the new service, empowering families to care for their babies at home whilst requiring neonatal care.”

Thank you, Phil, for your service – happy retirement!