Monthly archives: May 2022
Reset week: Why not home? Why not today?
We’re officially half way through Reset Week, thank you to everyone who has been involved in managing and supporting all of the discharge activity. We know demand is still high across the organisation and its still proving a challenging endeavour, but the wellbeing of patients and our ability to continue providing safe and effective care remains paramount.
We continue to see increased numbers of patients in our Medicine Same Day Emergency Care departments which has been helping to ease the pressures on our ED departments. In addition to supporting our ED department, seeing patients in our SDECs supports better patient care and patient experience by reducing their length of stay and in most cases allowing the patients to return to their usual place of residence on the same day.
Today is a perfect opportunity to remind colleagues that they’re not on their own when it comes to supporting discharges, remember to make good use of the Integrated Discharge Hub and the Discharge to Assess process to get expert advice, support and guidance to help progress packages of care for your patients so that they can rest assured that once they are discharged, they still have ongoing care and support through community services and social care.
If you’re not up to speed, Discharge to Assess is a new model of care for all adult inpatients, and as part of that the language we use to describe discharge plans has been simplified and is nationally recognised.
Unity has been updated to reflect the changes to discharge pathways used as part of the Discharge to Assess (D2A) process.
The change means that inpatient teams need to:
- Be clear on the meaning of each pathway
- Select the appropriate pathways (0, 1, 2, 3 or 4) when setting TDDs for all inpatients (there is a short definition on each drop down to help)
- Use a ‘home first’ approach – being clear that home should be the default destination for a person, before pathways 2 or 3 are selected
- Continue to flag people as ‘Clinically Fit for Discharge’ at the appropriate time
Please see the D2A Unity change poster for further details including screenshots of the change in question.
This is a significant step forwards in using our systems to help us proactively manage and arrange discharge plans for people in our care.
For any queries, please contact the Integrated Discharge Hub on ext. 3147 or via integrated.discharge-hub@nhs.net (open 8am – 8pm, 7 days per week).
Notice of a potential ESR phishing scam
We have been made aware of a potential phishing email that has been sent recently to multiple colleagues. The email references the NHS Business Services Authority, mentions “payroll rejections” and asks users to check their pay details in Electronic Staff Record. The recipient is then advised to click on a link in the email that takes them to a fake site. ESR Users that are clicking on the link in the email are being taken to a fake site and will most likely be asked to enter the ESR logon credentials.
The issue has been reported to NHS Digital who are taking action to block the sender of the email and the website that the phishing email directs the recipient to.
Colleagues are reminded to be extra diligent when responding to emails and in particular check that when logging in to ESR, your browser shows you are accessing the https://my.esr.nhs.uk domain.
Are you parking in patient and visitor parking?
Now that we have opened our multi-storey car parks across both our City and Sandwell sites we must remind colleagues they must not park in patient and visitor parking areas.
Security colleagues will be patrolling patient and visitor parking and should colleagues be parking in these areas when they shouldn’t be, they may be charged.
Car parks to close at City: With the opening of the City multi-storey car park, Summerfield House car park has now closed and Sunken Gardens car park will close on Friday 1 July – please do not use the car park after this date.
In case you missed it here are a few things you may need to know:
- Car parking charges: The national agreement on free car parking for NHS colleagues ceased on 31 March 2022. The Trust has agreed not to introduce car parking charges for staff at the present time. This will be in place for April – June and will then be reviewed.
- Need to apply for a parking pass: 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.
- Make sure you’re using a new parking pass: If you are currently using an old style NHS parking permit that does not have the Q-Park logo on it, please be aware these will shortly be deactivated and will cease to operate on the barriers. All staff parking on site will need to be using the new Q-Park permit to enter and exit staff car parks.
- 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.
Collection point Day of the Week Collection Times City temporary Q-Park lodge in energy centre (opposite eye centre car park) Monday – Friday 6am – 8am, 12pm – 1pm and 6pm – 8.30pm City temporary Q-Park lodge in energy centre (opposite eye centre car park) Saturday – Sunday 6am – 9am and 6pm – 8.30pm Sandwell Hallam Restaurant, room on the right side as you walk in (old fit test room) Monday – Friday 10am – 1pm and 6pm – 8pm Sandwell Hallam Restaurant, room on the right side as you walk in (old fit test room) Saturday – Sunday 11am – 2pm and 6pm – 8pm Rowley main reception Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm
For more information please email sandwell@q-park.com. If you prefer to speak with someone, please call 07795 613203 if your query is Sandwell based and 07785 462142 if your query is City based.
International Nurses Day 2022: 12 May
Thursday 12 May will see us celebrate International Nurses Day 2022. The awareness day is an annual celebration of the nursing profession, held on Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
As part of celebrations we will be recognising and highlighting some of Trust colleagues in the build up to International Nurses Day.
Today we feature Diane Eltringham, Deputy Chief Nurse, Mary Causer, Lead Chaplain, Chloe Richards, Nursing Associate and Paul Lilly, Digital Lead Nurse.
Be Well Midlands: be part of the ‘Big Conversation’ and win yourself a Costa coffee
We are encouraging colleagues both clinical and non-clinical to share their views and give feedback on how wellbeing can be improved across the region.
Colleagues can register by clicking here and show their interest in participating in the ‘Big Conversation’.
The Big Conversation has already gone live and is a unique opportunity to openly engage our people in a conversation around wellbeing. The next 500 people who share their views will be given a free Costa coffee voucher.
For more information please email Vicky.self@combined.nhs.uk or Bridget.heath@clevertogether.com.
Letter to our nursing, midwifery and ODP colleagues celebrating national recognition days
Dear colleagues,
We are currently in the midst of celebrations marking the contribution of our nursing and midwifery colleagues with International Day of the Midwife on 5 May, International Nurses Day on 12 May and Operating Department Practitioners (ODP) Day on the 14 May.
These annual “days” are a fantastic opportunity for us to thank every colleague who works in these professions for their commitment to our patients, their families and their community as well as their compassion and their support for one another.
Every single one of you makes a significant impact on patient experience, and all of you contribute to our Trust’s vision and purpose, enabling us to work towards delivering our new strategic objectives:
- Patients – to be good or outstanding in everything we do
- People – to cultivate and sustain happy, productive and engaged staff
- Population – to work seamlessly with our partners to improve lives.
This year in particular, it is right that we reflect on the experiences over the last two years that have been incredibly challenging. Our wonderfully diverse nurses, midwives and ODP colleagues have, as ever, been at the forefront of care, leading change, adapting to new systems and guidelines and putting our patients first.
Of course, the hallmark of good and outstanding care is effective working within multi-disciplinary teams and our Trust has a proud tradition of collaboration across different professions to provide high quality care. So, whilst we know that our “togetherness” is what helps us to stand out, it is right that we use this week to appreciate our nurse, midwife and ODP colleagues.
In order to drive our “Patients” objective, we will be soon launching our new fundamentals of care approach, where we are teaming up with international leaders in quality health care. The approach will support all areas in delivering the basic standards of care, good patient experience and achieving clinical excellence. Our nurses, midwives and ODPs will be at the forefront of delivering this exciting new programme.
It is crucial that as professionals we listen and hear from patients, families and colleagues and act on what we hear on their behalf as we are their advocates.
Thank you for all you do. You are valued. You are greatly appreciated. You are the backbone of our organisation and you will be the people who will ensure that we relentlessly pursue the highest standards of care for our patients and their families.
We would like to wish you a Happy International Day of the Midwife, Happy International Nurses Day, and Happy Operating Department Practitioner Day 2022.
With best wishes
Are you documenting your patients property within Unity?
The Trust property form has been updated and can be found in the admission section within Unity and also the adhoc section. Please ensure that all your patients property is documented on the property form on admission and on transfer between ward areas.
Note: Patients with large amounts of money and valuables should be encouraged to leave these at home or they should be sent home with relatives where possible. If property is sent home this should be documented within Unity with details of the property and the name of the person who received the items.
Resetting the Standard – unprecedented levels of pressure and activity across sites as Reset Week launches
The first day of Reset Week got off to a challenging start with ‘Magic Monday’ with colleagues battling unprecedented levels of activity and significant pressures across the Trust whilst also working to progress discharges.
With focussed support and a renewed vigour, colleagues have been questioning ‘Why not home? Why not today?’ understanding that patients who do not need to be in hospital, should be supported to return home. Issues such as the timing of TTO arrivals should not keep a patient confined to a bed on a ward.
Colleagues have been proactive in their efforts to progress patient care and planning every aspect of their journey home – challenging the status quo, no longer is it a matter of waiting for all of the elements to perfectly align for a patient to be ready for discharge, its not ‘What can we do to help?’.
Think, has transport been booked? if not, why not? Are family collecting the patient? Are neighbours available to support their return home?
Are patients waiting for TTO’s? can they be discharged and have the TTO’s delivered when they are ready?
Are we waiting for imaging and diagnostics? Have we done everything we can to ensure that diagnostic time is well spent?
- Does the patient presenting match the referral?
- Do they have a working cannula if one is needed?
- Have they completed Oral Prep?
- Do they have an appropriate escort?
- Has the patient changed into a gown and removed jewellery as necessary
- Do you have appropriate means of transport? E.g. X-Ray compatible trolley?
For more information about Reset Week, contact Becky Hill, Group Programme Manager, email becky.hill8@nhs.net.
Star Awards 2022: Volunteer of the Year
Do you know an individual who has made a significant impact to our Trust whilst volunteering or a person who has shown selflessness and determination to support the people around them?
Why not nominate them for Volunteer of the Year 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 were the Volunteer Befriending Team. Made up of eight volunteers, the befriending service provided a unique service that involved contacting relatives who have been recently bereaved and were experiencing periods of isolation and loneliness by providing them with social contact and friendship.
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.
Star Awards 2022: Non-Clinical Team of the Year
Do you know a team that has consistently excellent performance whilst meeting financial and operational targets, demonstrating best practice or a team that has introduced a change in approach resulting in improvements to financial or operational performance or has pulled together through particularly difficult circumstances?
Why not nominate them for Non-Clinical Team of the Year at this year’s upcoming Star Awards!
Complete the online nomination form by clicking here.
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Nominations close on Friday 3 June.
Last year’s winners of this prestigious award were the Bereavement Care Team. The team were developed initially in April 2020 in response to the pandemic and expanded to contacting all relatives and carers who have experienced the death of a loved one. The team conduct wellbeing calls and offer access to counselling or to the befriending volunteer service including signposting to local community support services
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.
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