Monthly archives: December 2022

Heartbeat: New chief registrar comes ‘home’

Local girl Dr Laura Pearson took up the position of chief registrar in September and speaking to Heartbeat she explained why it felt like coming home.

“I was pleased to be appointed chief registrar for SWB, as I have a very soft spot for the Trust gained through different periods working here. Initially I started in 2009 as an FY1 (Foundation Year One doctor) at Sandwell, was a SHO (Senior House Officer) at City in 2012-13 and have done some of my registrar training here. Although I am new to the Trust in this role, I feel like I’ve come home, for even as I walk down the corridor there is always someone saying hello. It is a really warm and friendly place to work. What stands out is that senior colleagues treat you as their equal; they really care and support you and that is important when you are starting out in your career.

It was a serious riding accident when she was 12 that helped Laura find her calling in medicine as she recovered from a broken back in hospital. She explained: “I was really interested in what was going on around me in hospital and was in awe of the work that the medical staff were doing. I felt drawn to a career where I could help people.

“After choosing medicine I knew I wanted a speciality where I could engage with my patients and look at them as a whole, rather than focusing on one symptom or diagnosis. As an elderly care registrar, I am able to realise my ambition to care holistically about patients and have difficult conversations compassionately. As a geriatrician we are not just treating one illness but looking at the whole picture and the care going forwards – looking at the whole patient.”

Laura is keen that her experience and insight helps inspire colleagues as she makes wellbeing a priority. “One thing I hope that my experience of working here during my training brings to my role is a real insight. My experience of working at other Trusts – especially during the pandemic – has shown me that SWB has one of the best approaches to wellbeing for junior doctors, and that is not solely my own view but is echoed by other junior doctors I have talked with. I feel passionately about it, and I hope that I can be part of making it even better.

“I think the communication about our wellbeing support is very well done and it is very well publicised, keeping it at the front of everyone’s minds. And, our peer support sessions facilitated by Mike Blaber, along with other senior colleagues including Huma Naqvi and Anna Lock, are very well done.

“As a new mum and working less than full time I hope I can be an example to others, showing that it is possible to be in a leadership position whilst also having a young family. I feel passionately about the wellbeing of colleagues and would encourage them to contact me if there is anything more we can do.”

Colleagues who would like to contact Laura can do so through swbh.chief-reg@nhs.net.

Heartbeat: Stephanie presented with inaugural Chief Registrar Award

Dr Vaishnavi Kumar was known across our Trust as a compassionate and caring chief registrar who always put her patients, colleagues and those around her first. With her passion for care, courage and tenacity to lead, she quickly became a leading light for junior doctors so with her passing, it was clear that what she stood for should be honoured and celebrated.

The Dr Vaishnavi Kumar Chief Registrar Award will be an annual accolade presented to a junior doctor who demonstrates the leadership qualities and behaviours of what a doctor should be – caring, kind and empathic all whilst striving to give the best high quality care at all times. It will be awarded to remember what Vaish symbolised. The chief registrar, alongside the wellbeing committee, will be responsible for choosing the recipient and submissions can be made from across the UK and Ireland.

This year’s inaugural award was awarded to Dr Stephanie Wallis, Internal Medicine Trainee who is astute, compassionate and works to a very high standard and someone whom the team saw a future registrar within. She always thinks laterally, is eager to learn and a team player. Stephanie worked very closely with and was mentored by Vaish which makes the award very poignant.

Disability History Month: People can work in different ways, and still achieve

Disability History Month takes place between 16 November and 16 December 2022, it’s an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of people living with a disability and also raise awareness.

In the UK, 1 in 5 people have a disability, 83 per cent of which are acquired during working life.

Reasonable adjustments – Helping you work differently

The NHS is committed to giving employees reasonable adjustments. These aim to reduce or minimise disadvantages in the workplace by helping you to manage existing or developing long-term conditions. They can also support you with ill-health or other disabilities.

Reasonable adjustments could include:

• Flexible working arrangements
• Wheelchair access
• Health and wellbeing support
• Specialised equipment, e.g., keyboards or dictation software

Emma Wood, the Chief People Officer at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston, has experience with reasonable adjustments. After being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, Emma explained her situation to her line manager in her new role and was able to take more frequent breaks to eat, as well as having the option to work from home on certain days.

To find out more about her experience click here.

For more information about reasonable adjustments click here.

Are you aware of norovirus and other winter illnesses?

Norovirus, also called the “winter vomiting bug”, is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. It can be very unpleasant, but usually goes away in about 2 days.

The main symptoms of norovirus start suddenly within 1 to 2 days of being infected, which includes:

• Feeling sick (nausea)
• Diarrhoea
• Being sick (vomiting)

You may also have:

• A high temperature
• A headache
• Aching arms and legs

You can usually treat yourself or your child at home. The most important thing is to rest and have lots of fluids to avoid dehydration. You will usually start to feel better in 2 to 3 days. Find out how to treat diarrhoea and vomiting in children and adults.

Please stay at home until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days, as this is when you’re most infectious. Do not visit hospitals or care homes during this time.

Norovirus can spread very easily, and you can catch it from:

• Close contact with someone with norovirus
• Touching surfaces or objects that have the virus on them, then touching your mouth
• Eating food that’s been prepared or handled by someone with norovirus

Practicing good hand hygiene is important – washing your hands frequently with soap and water is the best way to stop it spreading. Alcohol hand gels do not kill norovirus.

Avoid going to your GP, as norovirus can spread to others very easily. Phone your GP practice or contact NHS 111 if you’re concerned about severe symptoms or need advice.

Cycle to work on Wednesday 14 December and get a free breakfast

To aid our commitment to sustainability and reducing air pollution, the Trust is further supporting colleagues who commute by bike.

We are offering all colleagues that cycle to work on Wednesday 14 December a free breakfast and drink on us to help beat those winter blues.

To sign up, fill in this simple form and then cycle to work on Wednesday 14 December. Colleagues who cycle to work will meet in the Sandwell Hallam Restaurant between 7.30am – 9am where they can claim a token which will entitling them to one free breakfast and drink.

For more information please email matthewmacdonald1@nhs.net or francesca.silcocks@nhs.net.

Keep an eye out for phishing emails: Fake NHSmail upgrade emails in circulation

Colleagues are being encouraged to be on the look out for fraudulent emails reporting to be from NHSmail regarding an upgrade and threatening to deactivate accounts if a form is not completed.

These emails are fraudulent and should not be opened or responded to. 

Remain vigilant and if you believe an email you have received is suspicious, contact the IT department on ext. 4050 and do not click on any links.

Issues relating to fraud can be reported to our Local Counter Fraud Specialist Sophie Coster on 07436 268747 or via email  sophie.coster@rsmuk.com. Alternatively, calls reporting to be from IT can be confirmed by calling our IT Service desk directly on 0121 507 4050.

The IMMERSE yourself retreat: 27 January

Colleagues are invited to a half day retreat to IMMERSE yourself in the moment through the experience of a variety of mindfulness practices, to calm the nervous system, boost resilience and cultivate self-compassion. This digital event takes place on Friday 27 January, 1.30pm – 4pm.

To find out more and join, please click here.

Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 9 December

I would like to give my thanks and appreciation to all our colleagues for the care you are providing in very challenging circumstances.

Our emergency departments, children’s services, ambulance services and urgent treatment centres, as well as services in primary care, are under strain either by virtue of the demands exceeding immediate capacity, or because of staffing gaps exacerbated by increases in short term absences. I know this is making both colleagues and patients hugely anxious and we recognise that.

It is our prime responsibility to ensure we put plans in place which will stop at nothing to make our emergency portals safe. Over the coming week there will be a series of engagement sessions with colleagues in our emergency departments and key services that work with them such as urgent treatment centres, the ambulance service and speciality teams from paediatrics, medicine and surgery to explore what we need to keep our patients safe and equally important, how we keep our colleagues safe.

Changes to how our population access health care outside of hospital have contributed to delays in ED, in ambulance handovers and in discharges. All of these impact on our patients and our colleagues and we are committed to maximising our opportunities to reduce the pressures within these areas by listening to you, our colleagues. Please participate and give your honest feedback.

These issues not only affect us, but our neighbours too. All partners in the Black Country are continuing to progress schemes to enable our health and care services to work as well as possible this winter.

Each organisation and borough is working together better than ever to prevent people coming to hospital unnecessarily. We know that it is best for patients to be cared for at home, with the right support, where possible. We all continue to urge our population and our colleagues to take up the vaccinations on offer to keep themselves and their loved ones well.  I know I keep saying this, but it’s a greatly important message – COVID-19 and flu vaccines are life-saving. With high rates of vaccinated people in our communities and among the health and social care workforce we can stem transmission and keep people healthy and reduce the pressure on our services.  Our current vaccination rates are not sufficient and in light of high ‘flu rates that were experienced in the winter in Australia, for example, we need to do better to avoid putting our services under more strain.

We all have a professional duty to protect those who come to see us, and the Trust is making it simple for colleagues to access winter vaccinations across two separate hubs, with early and late opening hours, as well as a roving team of vaccinators visiting wards and departments. This year, we’re also enabling colleagues to book for the vaccination team to come to their ward or department to vaccinate their teams. To find out more, please click here.

Please do your bit to keep yourselves, your loved ones, your patients and each other safe this winter.

Free ice lollies available at Hallam Restaurant

We are currently offering free ice lollies to colleagues at Hallam Restaurant at Sandwell.

Note: The ice lollies are available on a first come, first serve basis. 

Cancer services sale at Sandwell

Did you know our cancer services team are hosting a store at Sandwell main reception offering a variety of Christmas goods on the below days. This week only, buy one get second item over £3 half price. 

• Monday, 10am – 12pm
• Tuesday, 10am – 1pm
• Wednesday, 10am – 4pm
• Thursday, 10am – 1pm
• Friday 12.30pm – 1.30pm (opens first Friday of the month for samosa sale)

For more information please email jennifer.donovan@nhs.net or call 0121 507 2776.