Monthly archives: December 2023

Do you have ZD oxygen cylinders on your ward and area?

If you have ZD oxygen cylinders on your ward and area please contact the portering department on ext. 4921 so the team can arrange replacement for the correct CD cylinder.

ZD oxygen cylinders can be identified by the collar at the top of the cylinders.

Please turn automatic updates off if you have a Samsung Trust mobile

We’re currently experiencing issues with our management system which is affecting colleagues who have a Samsung Trust mobile phone. It is requested that colleagues who have a Samsung device please turn their automatic updates off.

If you are unsure how to do this, please see turn automatic updates off – Samsung guide.

For more information please email swbh.mobiledevicemanagement@nhs.net.

Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 29 December

I was privileged and delighted to be able to take two weeks leave before Christmas, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I am very conscious that many of you have not had that privilege and therefore the worst that a miserable British winter can throw at us has been borne by you all with very little time off. Despite that, I do sincerely hope that you all got the opportunity to spend some quality time with family and friends over the festive period. You have all deserved that time with your loved ones.

Now Christmas is over, I am inevitably turning my attentions to the New Year. 2024 is going to be a massive year for Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.  This is because 2024 WILL be the year of our move into the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital. In less than 12 months from now, we will have moved all our acute surgical, medical, emergency, critical care, maternity, paediatric and neonatal services from the long serving and largely tired buildings at our City and Sandwell sites, to Midland Met. Less than 12 months from now, we will have established our urgent treatment centre and elective care hub at Sandwell Hospital. Less than 12 months from now we will have needed to have maximised our investment and transformation in community services and admission avoidance, to make our acute bed occupancy dream become a reality. In around 12 months time, we will be establishing our urgent treatment centre on the Midland Met site and shortly thereafter, our learning campus, offering over 1,200 additional vocational education opportunities per year, will be opening.

We have waited a long, long time for this year to come around and it is now upon us. I am sure you will agree that the potential for the Midland Met to radically improve our patient care, our staff satisfaction and our wider populations’ health and employment is significant. It truly will be a care model that, if effectively deployed, will deliver immediate and longer-term benefits for our Patients, People and Population. However, these benefits won’t just happen. They need to be driven by us all, through changes in practice.  For the avoidance of doubt, 2024 needs to be the year not just of the MMUH move, but also of improvement and change.  To illustrate:

For our patients: Getting our “Fundamentals of Care” right for all our patients – on nutrition, on communication with patients/carers, on deterioration, on discharge planning and on patient flow.  We also have a massive opportunity to improve our theatre and outpatient utilisation in advance of our MMUH move, so we hit the ground running and maximise the physical separation of elective and emergency care.  Our waiting lists are unacceptably long.  2024 must be the year we start to bring them down, meaningfully.

For our people : Effectively managing the complex management of change process and team development work needed for the safe occupancy of the Midland Met. Developing our leaders in compassionate and inclusive leadership consistent with our organisational values. Rolling out the priority positive action we can take in recruitment and people policies, so that our staff and leaders better reflect the diversity of our local communities. The MMUH will be a huge attraction to potential new colleagues, and we should cash in on this by making our whole organisation, a place where people want to stay.  How staff are led and engaged is key to success here and we cannot continue to see the apparent levels of disengagement that our staff opinion survey response rates imply. Our next Pulse survey launches on 2 January, and I would really like to see a much better response rate – more responses give us more accurate data, which we can use to drive forward real change – please do look out for it and take five minutes to complete it.

For our population: Developing the approach of and capacity of, our neighbourhood community teams, working in partnership with primary care, much of which we now host, to better manage long term conditions and to start to tackle the lifestyles of those at greatest risk of developing chronic disease.  To continue to be ahead of other places in Birmingham and the Black Country, on the use of virtual wards, care home admission avoidance and urgent community response, so our MMUH care model can continue to be one that emphasises community first and hospital as a last resort.

As I make clear above, none of this will be delivered by saying it.  None of it will be delivered by senior leaders or Board members.  It must be delivered by you – our front-line practitioners and support staff.  If you don’t bring these essential changes in the field of Patients, People and Population to reality, then we may well move into the Midland Met, but that move will not be a successful or transformative one.

2024 – must be the year not just of the move, but also of change and improvement. You will bring that change about. Let’s make it happen.

Have a good week – and happy New Year to you all.

Would you like to attend the Institute of Improvement International Forum in April?

NHS England’s National Nursing Directorate is sponsoring seven fully funded spaces for early career and newly qualified nurses and midwives to attend the institute for healthcare improvement (IHI) forum on quality and safety from 10 – 12 April in London.

This is an excellent development opportunity for the early career nurses and midwives to increase their knowledge, skills, and experience in quality improvement aimed at improving patient care and outcomes. Applicants will also hear about and learn from the latest and best evidence, research and examples of QI practice that will inspire and motivate them. At the forum early career nurses and midwives will have a chance to share ideas, information and learning from others’ experiences.

The proposed funding stream includes:

• Three places funded by the safety, improvement and innovation team who lead on the national QI networks
• Three places funded by Duncan Burton and the nursing and midwifery retention/workforce budget
• One place to be sponsored by the chief midwifery officer

We would like to share our application support pack for early career and newly qualified nurses and midwives who wish to apply for sponsorship to attend the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) forum and applicants are required to meet the eligibility criteria and respond to the questions provided in the application form and provide a supportive statement IHI Forum – Application Form.

For further details please see IHI Application Pack.

A panel will be established to assess all applications and the closing date is Wednesday 20 January.

The application process will result in the selection of seven candidates, ensuring inclusion of at least one midwife and three international nurses. We aim to share the list of confirmed participants by the end of February, giving colleagues six week notice for rostering.

Join us for our LGBTQ+ Network meeting on 11 January

Our first LGBTQ+ Network meeting will be taking place on Thursday 11 January from 1pm – 4pm in room 9 of the Sandwell Education Centre.

If you are unable to make the meeting in person, the network will also be hosting the meeting via Microsoft Teams. If you would like a Teams invite or more information, please email thomas.devaney@nhs.net.

From the youngest members of our SWB Family to you

From our youngest members of the SWB Family to yours, our nursery children want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

End of Life Care and Palliative Care Workshops

The EOL Care Quality Improvement workshops aim to increase awareness, understanding, recognition, knowledge, confidence in Palliative and End of Life Care.

A variety of EOL workshops are available between the months of January and February

Symptom Management, Nausea/ Vomiting, Constipation

• Date: Thursday 9 January 2024
• Venue: The Lyng – Room 4, Frank Fisher Way, Birmingham B70 7AW
• Time: 2.30pm – 4pm

Advance Care Planning

• Date: Thursday 16 January 2024
• Venue: Oldbury Health Centre Meeting Room, Albert Street, Oldbury B69 4DE
• Time: 2.30pm – 4pm

Recognising Dying

• Date: Wednesday 24 January 2024
• Venue: Oldbury Health Centre Meeting Room, Albert Street, Oldbury B69 4DE
• Time: 2.30pm – 4pm

 Symptom Management, Agitation ,Breathlessness

• Date: Tuesday 6 February 2024
• Venue:Meeting Room – Oldbury Health Centre, Albert Street, Oldbury B69 4DE
• Time: 2.30pm – 4pm

Spiritual Care

• Date: Monday 19 February 2024
• Venue: The Lyng – Room 4, Frank Fisher Way, Birmingham B70 7AW
• Time: 2.30pm – 4pm

Care after Death

• Date: Tuesday 27 February 2024
• Venue: The Lyng – Room 4, Frank Fisher Way, Birmingham B70 7AW
• Time: 2.30pm – 4pm

To secure a place please register via ESR: 381 End of Life/Palliative Care Training.

Note: e-ELCA modules MUST be completed prior to attending the workshops.

For booking queries, please contact paulroberts6@nhs.net

For further information please refer to the workbook found on the Connected Palliative Page.

Colleagues giving priceless gifts this Christmas

Across the NHS and further afield people are rediscovering the gift of kindness and are using it to gift to patients who face the prospect of Christmas in hospital this year. Mel Roberts Chief Nursing Officer explained: “Christmas is a challenge for some as many patients are too poorly to go home and enjoy the festivities with their family and friends. Whilst we pride ourselves on our values of compassion, respect and ambition, it is never more important to demonstrate this care for patients than during the festive season.

“This year there are many activities going on across the hospital with donations by our staff for homeless charities, women’s refuges and children’s homes. Now more than ever it is vital we share the gift of kindness with all and that is the theme of this year’s Christmas poem – written by our staff and demonstrated across the Trust.

“We’ve taken inspiration from Santa Claus that kindness is a superpower that enables him to fly round the world in one night dispensing joy to those in need. Kindness is the most memorable gift, a smile or a moment spent in empathy can change the mood from fear to joy, despair to hope. Our patients deserve to feel cared for and safe in our hospitals, and that is what we aim to achieve.”

Be sure to check out our Christmas poem below:

Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 22 December

As I write this message, we are near the end of the first part of this month’s industrial action days.   Thank you for your all for your continued professionalism and hard work in supporting the organisation to manage to care for patients in the way we would want to.  Nearly 60 per cent of our non-consultant doctors have chosen to participate in this period of industrial action, this means colleagues across the Trust are supporting a gap of 241 roles on our medical rotas each day.

On behalf of the Trust Board, thank you for everything that you do to provide the best possible care for our patients, and for demonstrating support for your colleagues on a day-to-day basis. My Executive colleagues and I have been out meeting staff on the frontline to get a feel for how it’s feeling on the ground and how we can help support you.

Whilst we have seen the calm and professional approach teams are displaying during this pressurised and difficult period, looking after the health and wellbeing of our staff remains important throughout these periods of industrial action. Wellbeing sessions are in place for colleagues who may need that extra support during this time, and I am pleased so say that staff are finding these helpful. Please contact syeda.naqvi@nhs.net or michael.blaber1@nhs.net I would encourage you to drop in and have a chat , or if you have a concern or question, please feel free to email myself on rachel.barlow2@nhs.net, Mel Roberts,  Chief Nursing Officer – Melanie.roberts7@nhs.net or Mark Anderson , Chief Medical Officer –  mark.anderson5@nhs.net.  Planning has also started for the second period of industrial action in early January 2024,  where we will be working on a reduced workforce over a historically busy winter period and public holiday. Again, thank you in anticipation for support during this time.

As we reach the end of the year and reflect on 2023, we should not underestimate the successes and milestones that we have been achieved together. Clinical transformational of services has been evident during the year with the increase in Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) patient pathways avoiding unnecessary admissions which has been enabled in part with the opening of the new SDEC unit at Sandwell.  The development of the Neonatal Community Outreach Service and community based Virtual Wards supporting some of youngest patients as well as our older frail patients at home, are demonstrating impressive clinical outcomes and yielding national recognition as leading best practice. Technical innovation has enabled the introduction of robotic surgical procedures. I-refer Imaging referral pathways have gone live to facilitate the right tests for patients and ultimately help increase optimisation of our radiology facilities through intelligent demand management. Fundamentals of Care remains our key safety focus and has been a driver behind the achievement of 12 months with zero never events and no serious medication incidents. We were also pleased to launch the personalisation of care workstream and the response to our advert for colleagues to become patient experience ambassadors was phenomenal – we know this will enable a better patient experience for those in our care.

Please take some time out at your next team meeting to reflect on your team successes and be very proud of what you have achieved.

We now are less than one year from opening the doors of our new hospital, Midland Metropolitan University Hospital. Some of the highlights this year have included:

• Detailed move planning with colleagues and Healthcare Relocations
• Recruitment of our induction and move champions
• Transforming clinical/operational pathways
• Extensive community and stakeholder engagement
• Scoping and starting to deliver our strategic long-term benefits
• Beginning the switch on and testing of our IT network
• Omnicell pharmacy dispensary robot installation and automated guided vehicles commissioned
• Welcoming 1,100 visitors to see the progress at Midland Met

The Midland Met project has been going on for some time. Some of our colleagues still do not believe that our new hospital will open its doors,  but I want to reassure all , that as Senior Responsible Officer you have my personal commitment that Midland Met will opens to patients in Autumn of next year.  It will be a superb environment to work in and revolutionise healthcare, improving the health outcomes and wellbeing of people in Sandwell and West Birmingham. It will boost employment with our learning campus opening in 2025 offering access to vocational education – all things that will make it #morethanahospital.

It has been impressive to see the festively decorated departments, to support the wonderful festive events being held by the chaplaincy team and thank our catering and support staff for the festive food created in our staff restaurants and eating areas.  We hope your teams enjoyed the chocolates delivered to your area on behalf of the Trust Board as a small thank you for your continued hard work and dedication to the NHS and the Trust.

Finally, thank you to all of you who are working over the festive period to ensure that our patients receive the best possible care. Christmas is of course a time for rest, relaxation, and reflection – and we hope you enjoy spending time with those who matter most to you.

We look forward to working with you all in 2024.

Regards and best wishes

Rachel

Do your part and stop norovirus from spreading

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. It can spread quickly in closed environments such as hospitals, and can lead to ward closures, putting added pressure on colleagues. It’s important to notify the infection control team if you see more diarrhoea or vomiting in patients than you might ordinarily expect for the type of patients in your area.  This is so that measures can be taken at the earliest point possible to prevent spread through the hospital. Norovirus is generally self-limiting, and most people will make a full recovery in 1-2 days. It’s important to keep hydrated – especially children and the elderly.

Colleagues in ward areas are advised to:

• Wash hands thoroughly using soap and water in between patients, after using the toilet, before preparing food and eating.
• Isolate patients as soon as possible following onset of symptoms and send a sample for norovirus testing.
• Inform the infection prevention and control team on ext. 5900.
• Clean shared patient equipment after every use.
• PPE should be used appropriately and changed between each patient.

Managers/colleagues are advised to:

• If a colleague develops symptoms, they should not attend work.
• Colleagues should not return to work until 48 hours after their last symptom.
• Report multiple cases of vomiting and/or diarrhoea in their team to infection control and occupational health by calling ext. 3306, option 4.