Monthly archives: May 2022

Join us at a Shine a Light Festival

2022 is an exciting year for our region. In just a few weeks, the Commonwealth Games will commence, and to celebrate, the Shine a Light Festival will be shining a spotlight on Sandwell. 

Events will run until September 2022 and will ‘Shine a Light’ on Sandwell’s rich, diverse culture and showcase the best of arts, sports and culture from all ages, backgrounds, and parts of the community. 

A programme of events and activities will take place over six weekends – one in each of Sandwell’s six towns. First up was Oldbury on 14/15 May which was well attended by local residents.

We’ll be attending and speaking to the public about Midland Met, our Get Involved membership scheme, the Fundamentals of Care, and Your Trust Charity, to name but a few things.

If you’d like to find out more about our new hospital, check out our latest brochure to get the inside scoop on our arts programme, plans for regeneration and how you can have a name of your choosing inscribed in our Garden of Gratitude.

Why not check out one of the following festivals?

• West Bromwich – 11/12 June
• Rowley Regis – 25/26 June
• Tipton – 16/17 July
• Sandwell Valley – 25 July – 8 August

We have eased some of our visiting restrictions

Earlier this week (Monday 30 May) we took a further step on our living with COVID-19 plan in line with NHS national guidance.

 In relation to general visiting:

• Patients can now receive up to two visitors per day for one hour. A child can attend as one of the two visitors and remains the responsibility of the parent/guardian
• Visiting appointments must continue to be booked with the ward, as they are currently
• Visiting hours are between 11am – 7pm
• Visiting is extended to COVID-19 areas, but the appropriate PPE must be worn by visitors
• Masks must be worn by all visitors unless exempt

In relation to outpatients and emergency department:

• A patient can be accompanied by one other person at outpatient appointments or in our emergency departments
• Masks must be worn by all unless exempt

As always, people who test positive for COVID-19 should not visit or accompany a patient. However, household contacts of COVID-19 cases can attend, just not if they have COVID-19. Negative lateral flow tests are no longer required to attend.

 Please note that visiting is further relaxed for those at end of life, children and those who lack mental capacity. Extensions to our general visiting arrangements can be considered for other vulnerable patient.

Updated posters and guidance for the public have been rolled out across our sites and the Trust website. For any queries about the guidance please contact Infection Control on ext. 5900 or email swb-tr.SWBH-Team-InfectionControl@nhs.net.

COVID-19 Bulletin: Tuesday 31 May

1. Reminder: Infection prevention and control guidance

As part of our Living with COVID-19 arrangements, all IPC practices have been reviewed and updated. The full list of changes can be found on the attached table. This includes updates to the aerosol generating procedures (AGP) list, isolation guidance for COVID-19 positive inpatients and bringing back of contractors/ volunteers into clinical areas.

Mask wearing is no longer required in non-clinical buildings (such as Trinity House, SGH and Old Management Block, City) and shared offices where 1m distance can be maintained. If this distancing is not possible then masks must be worn. Please note that masks must be worn in all public areas where there may be contact with patients.

2. Reminder: Did you know lateral flow testing twice a week is a Trust policy?

We have now moved our testing for COVID-19 away from LAMP testing and over to lateral flow testing. Colleagues must complete two tests a week at home before arriving at work.

We all know how important testing is and as restrictions have eased, we must remember that as healthcare colleagues, 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.

Lateral flow testing kits can be ordered online. Colleagues can either have them delivered directly to their home address or alternatively collect from community locations.

Order your lateral flow kit online here: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests.

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 NHSmail 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.

3. Reminder: We have eased some of our visiting restrictions

Yesterday (Monday 30 May) we took a further step on our Living with COVID-19 plan in line with NHS national guidance.

 In relation to general visiting:

• Patients can now receive up to two visitors per day for one hour. A child can attend as one of the two visitors and remains the responsibility of the parent/guardian
• Visiting appointments must continue to be booked with the ward, as they are currently
• Visiting hours are between 11am – 7pm
• Visiting is extended to COVID-19 areas, but the appropriate PPE must be worn by visitors
• Masks must be worn by all visitors unless exempt

In relation to outpatients and emergency department:

• A patient can be accompanied by one other person at outpatient appointments or in our emergency departments
• Masks must be worn by all unless exempt

As always, people who test positive for COVID-19 should not visit or accompany a patient. However, household contacts of COVID-19 cases can attend, just not if they have COVID-19. Negative lateral flow tests are no longer required to attend.

 Please note that visiting is further relaxed for those at end of life, children and those who lack mental capacity. Extensions to our general visiting arrangements can be considered for other vulnerable patient.

 Updated posters and guidance for the public have been rolled out across our sites and the Trust website. For any queries about the guidance please contact Infection Control on ext. 5900 or email swb-tr.SWBH-Team-InfectionControl@nhs.net.

4. Reminder: Long term effects of COVID-19

NHS Black Country and West Birmingham CCG have put together a short video featuring Dr Mohit Mandiratta around the post-COVID-19 syndrome known to many as long COVID, as for some people COVID-19 can cause symptoms that last weeks or months after the infection has gone.

Watch the short video below for more information.

5. Reminder: Scam alert – fake NHS PCR text message

It has been recently reported that fake text messages are being sent encouraging people to order COVID testing. If you receive a text message similar to the image below, please delete the message and do not click the link.

Need a lateral flow test? Lateral flow tests are free for NHS colleagues. You can order your lateral flow kit by visiting https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests. You will be prompted to set up an account using your NHS email address. Once set up please select “Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust” from the list and continue to place your order.

All suspicions of fraud or bribery should be reported to the Local Counter Fraud Specialist Sophie Coster (Tel: 07436 268747), Chief Finance Officer Dinah McLannahan; or NHSCFA via 0800 028 40 60.

6. Reminder: Keep fit at Sandwell or City Gym

If  you wish to use the gym facilities at Sandwell, simply register your interest with the wellbeing team. Following an online induction, you can commence using the gym which is located in Trinity House, ground floor. The gym accommodates a maximum of two users at any one time and colleagues will be limited to a maximum of 40 minutes each.

At 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. For ventilation, colleagues will be responsible for opening windows whilst exercising and closing when finished.

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

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

• Gym membership application form
• Gym disclaimers
• Gym induction

Free parking for carers of end of life patients

Acts of kindness can go a long way to shaping experiences, particularly when going through times of distress.  For the loved ones of patients in their final days of life at SWB, we want kindness and compassion to be their daily experience. This starts from the moment they park their car at our sites.  We have committed to provide free car parking to people in this position.

Free car parking is available for visitors to SWB if:

• There has been an unexpected death in the emergency department
• Visitors for people in their last days of life or if attending for long periods of time and/or is assisting with the care needs of the patient, thus helping the nursing staff.

Further information on how you can make this provision available for the people you are caring for is available on the following link – it’s a quick, easy and a token of kindness and compassion.

https://connect2.swbh.nhs.uk/palliative-care/car-parking-for-visitors/

Costa at outpatients department at Sandwell reopening today

The Costa Coffee outlet in the outpatients department at Sandwell has reopened today.

We apologise for any inconvenience this closure may have caused.

BME Staff Network meeting: 9 June

The BME Staff Network will be hosting a meeting on Thursday 9 June, 12pm – 2pm via the Microsoft Team platform with the main topic of discussion being around speaking up.

If you wish to join the meeting, please click here.

For more information please email trina.bme@nhs.net.

This week is Volunteers Week

Volunteers’ Week is an annual celebration of the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK.

Right here at the Trust, we have a number of volunteers who support us to deliver first class healthcare to our patients.

Be sure to check out this short video featuring mother and daughter Kim and Lauren who have been volunteers at SWB for seven years. Here they talk about why volunteering has been important to them.

As a thank you to all our volunteers, we will be hosting a variety of volunteer celebration events throughout the week across our site for our volunteers.

Do you want to become a volunteer? You can contact our volunteer service on 0121 507 4855 or email swbh.volunteer@nhs.net.

Job of the week: Could you be our next Chief Clinical Information Officer?

Digital improvement and change never seems to stop and we are looking for a Chief Clinical Information Officer to help lead the Trust’s clinical digital journey. This is an exciting opportunity for a medical professional to join our team at an exciting time. We are currently implementing our digital strategy throughout our organisation and need to lead the development of our skills as well as create a strong link between clinical improvement and technological innovations.

The Chief Clinical Information Officer role is critical to the success of the digital journey – transforming and converging our digital, data and technology services, integrating and simplifying our applications and leading innovation for our staff and citizens to transform how care is delivered.

We are looking for a confident, energetic and experienced leader with a passion for developing improved and innovative ways of delivering care and the tenacity to keep going.

Without doubt this is a challenging yet very rewarding job that is at the centre of health and care transformation and improvement across our organisation and the wider ICS, making a positive difference to our population. We look forward to hearing from you.

Note: This is a part time role with 2 PAs or equivalent.

Please email martin.sadler1@nhs.net for further details and if you are interested in applying.

The deadline for letters of intent for this role is Friday 1 July with interviews taking place later in the month.

Star of the Week – Lisa Raybone

Our Star of the Week is Lisa Raybone, Staff Nurse.

Lisa has been recognised for the excellent care she recently gave to one of our patients. The patient said: “During my recent admission to SDU Lisa was incredibly supportive to me. She always had time to listen and was always polite, kind and caring. She always explained everything she was doing, and not just to me to other patients on the ward. She spent time with everyone and I feel always went above and beyond to deliver the best care she could. Even at the beginning of her shift she took time to come and introduce herself to new patients. She showed exceptional continuity, never rushed, was never rude or impatient. Always there to comfort me when I was upset and checked in on me even if she wasn’t allocated the bay I was in. I can’t thank Lisa enough for how she made me feel during my admission. She’s an absolute credit to SDU and I feel that she should be recognised for this.”

Do you know someone in your team that has gone above and beyond the call of duty? Why not put them forward for Star of the Week by clicking here.

Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 27 May

This week I want to focus on the duty of care we have for our patients. We have started engaging on our fundamentals of care approach which is a multi-professional plan to ensure we are meeting the basics of delivering good care, consistently well across all our services and locations. When we provide health care services we take on the duty of care for those individuals and families. This duty is a privilege and I know that you all take this duty extremely seriously and strive to do the best you can for every patient.

At times, other factors can influence the standards of care we are able to provide. Throughout the pandemic we have been tested because on occasions we have not been able to provide the high quality services that we all aspire to. This week teams from surgery, emergency care and critical care took part in a major incident simulation that tested our abilities to provide safe care at times of severe demand with high numbers of casualties arriving to our sites.
Whilst the quality of our care may suffer in these moments of extreme pressure, the duty of care for individuals must remain.

That means, making sure you have checked in with your patients and act on any concerns you may have, escalating and getting support if you are worried, and ensuring you have good documentation.
It is these basic checks and safeguards that keep our patients safe and protect you and other colleagues.

As we head towards the double bank holiday week, we know that many of our services in primary care, in the community and in our hospitals will, once again, become more pressured. Throughout these challenging times, let’s all commit to ensuring the duty of care is at the forefront of our minds as we continue to provide the best care we can for our patients and families.

Congratulations to Lisa Raybone, staff nurse in SDU, who was nominated by a patient for the incredible support she provided, always being kind and caring and having time to listen. The nominators noted that Lisa spent time at the beginning of her shift to introduce herself to the new patients. This is an excellent example of an individual who takes her duty of care to heart. Well done, Lisa, and thank you.