Monthly archives: May 2022

Menopause cafe rescheduled to Tuesday 31 May

The menopause cafe which was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 1 June has now been rescheduled for Tuesday 31 May – click here to join via Microsoft Teams.

Menopause cafes are an opportunity to gain support and information about menopause in the workplace.  If you are a colleague who wants support and advice about the menopause, or a manager who wants to know how we can support menopausal staff members please drop in and join the session.

There will be menopause champions available to talk to you and offer support.  We need to normalise menopause and remove the ‘shame’ that stops us talking about it and make it part of our everyday conversation when discussing wellbeing.

Can’t make the cafe on Tuesday? Why not join us on the dates below:

• 1 July, 1pm – 2pm: https://bit.ly/3KQiluo
• 3 August, 1pm – 2pm: https://bit.ly/36lAjG0

For more information on menopause cafes contact Amber Markham by emailing amber.markham@nhs.net.

Join us at the Shine a Light Festival tomorrow in Wednesbury from 10am 

Join us for the Shine a Light festival in Wednesbury town centre, 17 Camp Street, WS10 7BF, tomorrow between 10am – 4pm.

What is Shine a Light?

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. 

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.

Can’t make it tomorrow? Why not check out one of the following festivals instead?

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

Find out more about how you can contribute to our Trust strategy

We have developed a five year strategy to make sure we are focusing our time and resources on what matters most. In developing our strategy we have taken stock of where we are and where we need to improve. We have also considered local and national priorities for the NHS and our populations.

Over the next five years we will:

• Open a new hospital, the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital
• Focus on creating a great experience for staff and patients
• Embed a new way of doing quality improvement that everyone can be a part of
• Develop more seamless services by working together with other health and care organisations
• Use our influence as a large employer to improve the health and wellbeing of people in our communities.

We are holding a series of Q and A sessions with members of the exec team to give you an opportunity to find out more about the strategy and how you can contribute to it.

You are welcome to join any session below:

• Monday 13 June, 1pm – 2pm, Haywood room, Postgraduate Centre, City
• Tuesday 14 June, 12 pm – 1pm, Room 10, Education Centre, Sandwell
• Monday 20 June, 9.30am – 10.30am via MS teams, click here to join
• Monday 20 June, 3.30pm – 4.30pm, Committee Room, Rowley

Star Awards 2022: Distinguished Service Award

Do you know an individual  or team who has worked above and beyond the call of duty in their service to the Trust. This could be a current employee or someone who has left during the previous year.

Why not nominate them for the Distinguished Service Award  at this year’s upcoming Star Awards!

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Nominations close on Friday 3 June.

Last year’s winners of this prestigious award was Bill Thomson. Beyond his 30+ years of service Bill gives his complete and utter best every day. He is kind and supportive to his colleagues. He always has time to help you and will give things a proper look and come back with real critical appraisal. He is also a superb scientist and never shy’s away from resolving any problem. Just one of his achievements is him playing a pivotal role in setting up our invaluable krypton gas service.

Be sure to also check out this short video showcasing last year’s glitzy awards event.

If you have any questions, please contact the communications team on 0121 507 5303 or email swbh.comms@nhs.net.

Find out more about how you can contribute to our Trust strategy

We have developed a five year strategy to make sure we are focusing our time and resources on what matters most. In developing our strategy we have taken stock of where we are and where we need to improve. We have also considered local and national priorities for the NHS and our populations.

Over the next five years we will:

• Open a new hospital, the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital
• Focus on creating a great experience for staff and patients
• Embed a new way of doing quality improvement that everyone can be a part of
• Develop more seamless services by working together with other health and care organisations
• Use our influence as a large employer to improve the health and wellbeing of people in our communities.

We are holding a series of Q and A sessions with members of the exec team to give you an opportunity to find out more about the strategy and how you can contribute to it.

You are welcome to join any session below.

• Monday 13 June, 1pm – 2pm, Haywood room, Postgraduate Centre, City
• Tuesday 14 June, 12 pm – 1pm room 10, Education Centre, Sandwell
• Monday 20 June, 9.30am – 10.30am via MS teams, click here to join
• Monday 20 June, 3.30pm – 4.30pm, Committee Room, Rowley

COVID-19 Bulletin: Thursday 26 May

If there was an overarching theme of this week’s COVID-19 bulletin it would be ‘change’. Not only are elements of our guidance changing, but the bulletin itself is changing. Next week we will issue a Living with COVID-19 special reminder bulletin and following this, our key COVID-19 messages will be incorporated into the Trust’s daily bulletin, as well as our other internal communication channels such as Connect.

Numbers not statistics: This week (last week)

Note: Vaccination uptake figures may decrease due to changes in the number of inpatients and in the number of staff members (starters and leavers). Other figures may change as data is processed and cleansed. 

1. New: Easing our visitor restrictions

From this Monday, May 30 we are taking a further step on our Living with COVID-19 plan in line with NHS national guidance.

In relation to general visiting:

• From this Monday (May 30), patients can 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 and 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 will be rolling out across our sites and the Trust website on Monday. For any queries about the guidance please contact Infection Control on ext. 5900 or email
swb-tr.SWBH-Team-InfectionControl@nhs.net.

2. New: Further updates to our infection prevention and control guidance – changes to mask wearing in non-clinical buildings

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.

3. New: Pathways and guidance changes

This week we have a trio of pathway related updates to inform you of. If these documents relate to you and your department/service, please make sure you familiarise yourself with them as soon as you are able.

• Firstly, there is an update to the assessment process for pregnant workers. The Trust is committed to creating and maintaining a healthy and safe working environment. This is particularly important in relation to the safety of new and expectant mothers. You can find the updated guidance here.
• Second is the newest version of the Surgical Admissions pathway, which applies to all surgical patients requiring admission to either an inpatient or day-case ward. The latest version of the file (version 6) can be found here.
• Lastly is an update to the Elective Surgery COVID-19 Swabbing and Scheduling SOP. Which outlines the scheduling process and COVID-19 swabbing pathway for patients attending the Trust for pre-procedure testing prior to elective or day case surgery. Version 21 can be found here.

4. Updated: Wellbeing calling… about calling Wellbeing

Please note that also from next Monday the number for the Wellbeing Service’s booking line is changing from ext 5886 to ext 3306 opt.4. from 30 May.

The old extension will not work after this Friday.

5. Reminder: Lateral flow is still go!

One thing that isn’t changing is the guidance relating to lateral flow testing.

Colleagues are still mandatorily obliged to 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 by clicking here. Colleagues can either have them delivered directly to their home address or alternatively arrange to 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.

 6. Reminder: Are you FIT test compliant? Book in on ESR

Colleagues who are needing to be FIT tested for their face mask can book their testing session on ESR.

• Log onto ESR and search for ‘fit testing’ under ‘my learning’ and book an appointment to be fit tested
• FIT Testing is a mandatory role specific requirement
• FIT Testing is held in the Old Security Bungalow, City Hospital

For a step by step booking guide, follow the instructions here: Booking your Fit Test (Word)

Note: If you book an appointment for FIT Testing via ESR you will only become compliant on your mandatory training if you attend the appointment.

If you do not have access to ESR or you are having trouble, you can call one of the following numbers to see if there is availability on the day.

• Jack Southall – 07815 020836
• Kristian Burgoyne – 07815 020808
• Scott Shenton – 07866 007539

Are you checking expiry dates of blood culture bottles?

We must remind colleagues to check the expiry dates of blood culture bottles to ensure they are in date (see image below).

Please do not use expired bottles as they cannot be processed by microbiology. If your bottles have expired please discard immediately and order replacements through your normal channels.

Expired blood culture bottles must not be used.

Urine for microbiology tests other than microscopy and culture

have started to roll-out a new green-topped boric acid tube for urine microscopy and culture.

This comes with a collection cup to allow for a mid-stream specimen to be collected. It is essential that this tube is used if microscopy results are required.

Unfortunately, it does mean that if you wish to send urine for other tests (Pneumococcal and Legionella antigen testing or CMV PCR for example), these samples must still be sent in a plain sterile universal sample tubes as the boric acid may interfere with the testing processes.

For more information please call the pathology service on 01902 307999.

Wellbeing service telephone number change from Monday

The wellbeing service booking telephone number is changing to ext. 3306, option 4 from Monday 30 May. 

Wellbeing Hubs at Sandwell, City and the Sanctuary:

Focusing on ensuring that colleagues have a good day every day, the 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 and holistic therapist.

The wellbeing hubs are a regular weekly service across all sites which are listed below, 8am – 4pm and the Sanctuary, 10am – 5pm.

• Monday – Friday, Jayne Wright Therapy Room, Trinity House, Sandwell
• Monday – Friday, Wellbeing Hub, Arches, 1^st 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

Wellbeing events are available to book for group bookings of 16 staff +. Our wellbeing events programme will help you to look after your mental health and wellbeing. Please submit your interest to christine.rickards@nhs.net.

If you would like to register your interest and book on to one of our sessions please contact the wellbeing team on 0121 507 3306, option 4. Alternatively you can email Jatinder.sekhon@nhs.net.

Celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee and help save our environment by using Diamond Jubilee flags

Our cancer services team are selling Queen Diamond Jubilee flags (which would of gone to landfill) and are hosting a competition for the best flag for the Queens Platinum Jubilee.

The flags are £2 each and can purchased by calling 0121 507 2776.

If you wish to be part of the flag competition, send a picture of your designs to Jennifer.donovan@nhs.net which will be judged on Tuesday 7 June.

Note: The winner of the competition will have the opportunity to pick from peach gin, bridges gift bag or a soap and glory gift set.