July 2022 Page 5

Do you need support after a formal speaking up process?

If you need support after a formal speaking up process, the new NHS speaking up support scheme could help you. This free online structured programme is designed to help you move forward in your professional and personal life. Over 10 months you can access:

An initial health and wellbeing session
One to one psychological wellbeing support
Career coaching
Personal development workshops

The scheme is run by NHS England for any of our NHS people who have experienced challenges in moving forward professionally or personally after raising concerns through a formal speaking up process.

Places on this scheme are limited and anyone who is unable to get on the scheme this time will be offered an opportunity to reapply for the next cohort or signposted to well-being hubs and services.

Who can apply?

Open to current and past Trust colleagues ( of three years and less) who can:

Evidence they have gone through formal processes of speaking up to raise concerns which potentially impacted on safety, posed a risk or presented as malpractice or wrongdoing
Can demonstrate that this has had an adverse impact on their personal and professional life

Note: Applications are open until Friday 19 August

For more information please email speakingupscheme@nhs.net.

In case you missed it: Grand Round last Thursday

Last week (Thursday 14 July) we hosted an online Grand Round which saw our clinical teaching fellows deliver a series of presentations showcasing educational research that they recently delivered at the prestigious Birmingham Conference.

In case you missed, you can access the recording by clicking here.

Heartbeat: Say hello to Flo – a text messaging service for parents

The infant feeding team has introduced a new information text messaging service for expectant parents and those who have recently had a baby.

The service called Flo sends useful tips around safer sleep for babies, breastfeeding and building a loving relationship. Friendly reassuring texts are sent throughout the pregnancy from 28 weeks until the baby has arrived. Once the baby is born, parents can sign up to continue to receive useful information.

Louise Thompson, Infant Feeding Team Coordinator, said: “Being a new mum can be wonderful, but also overwhelming at times. This service helps parents before their is born and when they arrive by sending useful tips, videos and information on building a relationship with your baby, how to tell if your baby is feeding well and safer sleep.

“They can sign up to it by asking their midwife to register their number. It doesn’t cost the parents anything and they won’t be charged if they reply to the number. Flo is used in a number of other maternity services in NHS Trust’s and has proved popular with parents.

“It is delivering information to them in an accessible way.”

weLearn Wednesday: Venous thromboemolism prevention

Each month as part of weLearn Wednesdays we will present a new learning pack identified as a key learning topic from local serious incidents, investigations, complaints, litigation or coroner cases. The learning may not have a direct link to your area of work, however the learning provides an opportunity to reflect on some of the wider issues that could be useful for you to consider.

Please see useful documents and help sheets below regarding venous thromboemolism:

Have your say on the ICS EDI strategy

The Black Country Integrated Care System (ICS) want to get colleagues views and feedback on the draft equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy. Note: If you are unfamiliar with with the draft strategy, please click here.

If you wish to complete the survey, please click here.

Have your say in the ICS EDI strategy questionnaire

The Black Country Integrated Care System (ICS) want to get colleagues views and feedback on the draft equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy. Note: If you are unfamiliar with with the draft strategy, please click here.

If you wish to complete the survey, please click here.

Hot weather alert: Prepare for high temperatures today

Colleagues are advised that the Met Office has now issued a Red Warning of extreme heat affecting the West Midlands. This period of extreme heat is expected to last until midnight tonight (Tuesday 19 July).

This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services. In order to ensure we are prepared and our patients are kept safe it is essential that all managers ensure that all actions for levels 1, 2 and 3 (level 3 heatwave action can be found below) are being carried out in your ward or area.

Any issues should be escalated to the site senior capacity managers or the CNPs after 7.30pm.

Factors which increase an individual’s risk during a heatwave include:

Chronic and severe illness, including heart conditions, diabetes, respiratory or renal insufficiency, Parkinson’s disease or severe mental illness.
Medications that potentially affect renal function, the body’s ability to sweat, thermoregulation or electrolyte balance can make this group more vulnerable to the effects of heat
Inability to adapt behaviour to keep cool: having Alzheimer’s, a disability, being bed bound, babies and the very young

Actions to be taken include the following:

Minimise heat increase by drawing blinds or curtains
Where possible switch off anything connected to the power system and likely to produce heat e.g. computers, printers, additional lighting
Maintain hydration in patients
Ensure that discharge planning takes into account the temperature of the accommodation and level of daily care during the heatwave period

Level 3 heatwave action:

Hospitals:

Activate plans to maintain business continuity – including a possible surge in demand for services
Check that indoor temperatures are recorded regularly during the hottest periods for all areas where patients reside
Ensure staff can help and advise clients and patients including access to cool rooms, close monitoring of vulnerable individuals, reducing internal temperature through shading, turning off unnecessary lights/equipment, cooling buildings at night, ensuring discharge planning takes home temperatures and support into account
Visit/phone high-risk people
Reconfirm key public health messages to clients
Advise careers to contact GP if concerns re health

Colleagues delivering services in the community

Review Business Continuity Plans
Advice on how to reduce heat stroke should be provided on a regular basis.
Strengthen the rotas and consider changing shift times.
Ensure DH advice is distributed to all those defined as at-risk living at home or in multiple-occupancy care settings.
Ensure the care plan has full details of informal carer’s and other support, as extra help may be required.
Identify changes to care plans necessary in the event of a Heatwave, including daily visits by formal or informal carers to check on people living on their own, if possible.
Work with patient’s families and informal carers to ensure simple protection measures are in place, for example, ventilation updated or fans available, refrigerators available and in working order.
Liaise with Social Care services to ensure plans are in place for patients receiving home care.

You can find further information in the Trust Severe Weather Policy

Provision of free bottled water:

To support colleagues through the hot weather, arrangements have been made for the provision of free bottled water for our main hospital and community sites, in recognition of difficulties that many staff have working in hot ward areas where it is difficult to get a break and replenish water supplies.

Until Tuesday 19 July, bottled water will be distributed to all ward and clinical areas at City and Sandwell. If colleagues based at City and Sandwell feel they need water urgently, they can visit the catering department (Hallam Restaurant, Sandwell and Arches, City) and request bottled water. Arrangements have also been made for water to be delivered to Leasowes and Rowley.

Colleagues are also encouraged to take plenty of water to work. It’s crucial that colleagues are able to drink water and stay hydrated during a shift. This is especially important during the hot weather and as temperatures are set to rise.

Please ensure your patients are kept hydrated.

Colleagues are kindly reminded to ensure bottles are emptied before disposal in order to support our waste management team.

For more information about keeping your patients and colleagues safe during the hot weather see Connect.

Please ensure your patients are kept hydrated.

Colleagues are kindly reminded to ensure bottles are emptied before disposal in order to support our waste management team.

Relaxed uniform policy due to hot weather:

Due to the extreme weather forecast for today and tomorrow, our uniform policy is relaxed for staff who choose to use alternatives. At all times, please use common sense and ensure your clothing is professional, clean, safe and appropriate for the nature of your role.

Colleagues can choose to:

Wear existing uniforms, minus tights
Wear thinner uniforms (more lightweight) if you have those already
Wear scrubs – we are reviewing stocks to see what can be made available. See more details below.
Switch to a plain white or blue T-shirt (no branded logos)
Switch to plain blue or black tailored knee-length shorts

Wearing scrubs

The linen teams will be delivering scrubs to all wards ( with the exception of those areas that currently provide their own) at City (including Maternity) and Sandwell. The scrubs will be of varying sizes and all but a small amount of reserve stock will be distributed.

Colleagues can take scrubs home to launder over the weekend however all scrubs need to be returned by Wednesday 20 July and we will be asking matrons and ward managers to take responsibility for their return.

We must remind colleagues that they should not be wearing scrubs outside of the hospital grounds.

This arrangement is in place until 7am (tomorrow) Wednesday 20 July, unless otherwise notified.

Updated guidance on the usage of fans:

In view of the extremely warm weather, we have some updated guidance on the usage of fans in non-clinical and clinical areas. Conventional, bladed fans can be used and may be beneficial where there is poor air circulation, moving air towards windows.

Fans should not be used in COVID-19 areas (unless discussed and agreed by IPC) or be directed towards doors, driving air into other rooms, or from sources of aerosol generation, directly towards other patients.

Note: Fans will not cool colleagues wearing water repellent PPE, so they will be of limited practical value in ITU settings and are therefore not advised.

Colleagues should ensure maintenance and cleaning of fans and their blades should continue as all fans need to be clean and free from dust.

Dyson fans must not be used as they are unable to be cleaned.

We must also remind colleagues to close windows at the end of the day before leaving the office. Also, it is a fire hazard to prop open doors so this should not be done under any circumstance.

Heatstroke guidance:

With the rising temperatures, it is vital that colleagues are aware and have take the time the read the latest heatstroke guidance so that they and our patients can be kept safe.

Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Clinical features include:

Core body temperature >40°C
Central nervous system dysfunction (e.g., altered level of consciousness ranging from confusion to coma [encephalopathy], seizures)

It occurs in the context of passive exposure to severe environmental heat (classic heat stroke) or strenuous exercise (exertional heat stroke).

Heat exhaustion is a mild to moderate heat illness. Clinical features include:

Normal or slightly elevated core temperature (37°C to 40°C),
Mild neurological symptoms (e.g., intense thirst, weakness, anxiety, dizziness, syncope), and an intact mental status.

If untreated, heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke.

To read the guidance including treatment tips, please click here.

Message from West Midlands Fire Service: Heatwave safety:

During a heatwave, there is an increased risk of incidents like fire, water rescue and health issues due to the hot weather. Check out West Midlands Fire Service heatwave safety tips to reduce risk and stay safe during the summer. When temperatures soar, we all need to keep a cool head when it comes to our safety.

There’s lots we can do to avoid emergencies in the first place – from being sensible with barbecues, bonfires and near open water, to carefully disposing of cigarettes and matches.

Full details on how to stay safe whilst part taking in these activities can be found by clicking here.

Please also check in on vulnerable relatives, friends and neighbours who might struggle to cope with the heat.

Remember – if you do have an emergency, always call 999.

Grab yourself an ice lolly today:

Our catering team will be providing ice lollies today to all Trust colleagues:

Sandwell based colleagues can collect in person from the catering department from 8am
City based colleagues can collect in person from catering stores (inside the old Miller’s Restaruant) between 8am – 2pm and Arches Cafe after 2pm
Rowley based colleagues can collect in person from the catering department from 8am
Leasowes based colleagues will have their ice lollies delivered to them from catering mid-morning which will be accessible in freezer for colleagues throughout the day.

Provision of free bottled water

To support colleagues through the hot weather, arrangements have been made for the provision of free bottled water for our main hospital and community sites, in recognition of difficulties that many staff have working in hot ward areas where it is difficult to get a break and replenish water supplies.

Until Tuesday 19 July, bottled water will be distributed to all ward and clinical areas at City and Sandwell. If colleagues based at City and Sandwell feel they need water urgently, they can visit the catering department (Hallam Restaurant, Sandwell and Arches, City) and request bottled water. Arrangements have also been made for water to be delivered to Leasowes and Rowley.

Colleagues are also encouraged to take plenty of water to work. It’s crucial that colleagues are able to drink water and stay hydrated during a shift. This is especially important during the hot weather and as temperatures are set to rise.

Please ensure your patients are kept hydrated.

Colleagues are kindly reminded to ensure bottles are emptied before disposal in order to support our waste management team.

For more information about keeping your patients and colleagues safe during the hot weather see Connect.

Grab yourself an ice lolly today

Our catering team will be providing ice lollies today to all Trust colleagues:

Sandwell based colleagues can collect in person from the catering department from 8am
City based colleagues can collect in person from catering stores (inside the old Miller’s Restaruant) between 8am – 2pm and Arches Cafe after 2pm
Rowley based colleagues can collect in person from the catering department from 8am

Leasowes based colleagues will have their ice lollies delivered to them from catering mid-morning which will be accessible in freezer for colleagues throughout the day.

Updated guidance on the usage of fans

In view of the extremely warm weather, we have some updated guidance on the usage of fans in non-clinical and clinical areas. Conventional, bladed fans can be used and may be beneficial where there is poor air circulation, moving air towards windows.

Fans should not be used in COVID-19 areas (unless discussed and agreed by IPC) or be directed towards doors, driving air into other rooms, or from sources of aerosol generation, directly towards other patients.

Note: Fans will not cool colleagues wearing water repellent PPE, so they will be of limited practical value in ITU settings and are therefore not advised.

Colleagues should ensure maintenance and cleaning of fans and their blades should continue as all fans need to be clean and free from dust.

Dyson fans must not be used as they are unable to be cleaned.

We must also remind colleagues to close windows at the end of the day before leaving the office. Also, it is a fire hazard to prop open doors so this should not be done under any circumstance.

Monthly archives: July 2022

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