Monthly archives: December 2023

Refreshed Population Health Management elearning now available

The Introduction to Population Health Management (PHM) elearning programme has been significantly reviewed and updated to further upskill health and care professionals in the approach.

The reviewed content, developed with NHS England and wider partners, covers topics including how to get started on PHM, core capabilities, intelligence tools and practical examples.

PHM uses linked data and continuous improvement cycles to understand the needs of local people and communities. It helps predict what is driving poor future outcomes and supports frontline teams with designing and implementing new preventative models to meet local needs.

Additional elearning on related topics such as needs assessment and population segmentation are also available. The modules are all hosted on the Population Health Management section on NHS England’s elearning for healthcare Hub.

A new communications toolkit for colleagues to promote PHM within their own networks is also now available.

Winter Ambition continues at Sandwell

Our Winter Ambition focus week continues this week at Sandwell Hospital. Our improvement team are working with our medicine and emergency care to observe what works well and look at how we could improve areas that don’t perform so well.

The team are particularly focussing on the effectiveness of board and ward rounds, to take out (TTOs) medication and how effectively patients are being prepared for discharge.

A shout out to Priory 5, who have been praised for their ward round, and in particular their use of the SHOP model.

The SHOP (sick, home, others, plans) model is a way to conduct ward rounds that go to where the patients’ needs are. The consultants should see the sick patients first, followed by those patients who can go home, taking the actions required for them to be discharged, before they move onto the other patients.

An important part of maintain good patient flow is the discharge. Watch this video to see how the discharge lounge works and why it is so important that we utilise it effectively.

We still want to hear your feedback about what works well and what you think we can improve. Your observations are important to us being able to make meaningful changes that make things better for you and for our patients. Please do speak to your leadership teams, or if you prefer to feedback anonymously, you can do so here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Winterambition

Midland Met lunch and learn recap – December 2023

Did you miss our latest lunch and learn session? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered.

Just because you couldn’t join us on the day, doesn’t mean you can’t get to grips with the topics we covered. Lunch and Learn sessions are a fantastic way to learn about work taking place across SWB as we get ready to move into Midland Met. These sessions let colleagues discover more about a topic or area as we get ready to open our doors in 2024.

Everyone is encouraged to attend regardless of their role or department. If you have a question you’d like to ask, you can do so on the day, or you can submit it in advance via    swbh.mmuh@nhs.net.

Dates for 2024 sessions will be available shortly. 

You can check out the slides here and be sure to watch the session to stay in the loop.

CSS/CDA: Expect slowness and delays

We have received reports of some issues with service in CSS/CDA for a few days, which includes intermittent slowness and delays when opening documents.

The application support team have identified the cause which is due to capacity on the database reaching the maximum threshold. Emergency work has been completed to add memory in addition to index and code changes being applied to improve the performance tuning and optimisation (PTO) of the clinical data archive service.

We apologise for the disruption experienced and please be assured the informatics team will continue to monitor and improve current performance levels.

As always, should you have any further queries please do contact the IT Service Desk on ext. 4050 or 0121 507 4050 or via  Chat with the IT Service Desk.

Join the shared reading group at Sandwell today from 12.30pm

The library services have launched a new reading initiative to encourage employees to get involved in reading and to be a part of a community of like-minded individuals who enjoy reading.

Unlike a normal book club, colleagues won’t be expected to read a book prior to the meeting and will read texts, books, and poems together and then discuss them and share any lived experiences relating to the topic.

The next session is running today (Wednesday 6 December), 12.30pm – 1.30pm, Sandwell Education Centre

If you have any further questions please contact the library services, via email or ext. 3587.

Single patient use blood pressure cuffs phase out

Single patient use blood pressure cuffs have now been phased out. The new order codes are below:

Our infection, prevention and control team have approved multi-patient use cuffs for all patients. This will save money and reduce our impact on the planet.

Note: To decontaminate between patients, please use a Clinell universal wipe available on your observations machines (VJT253).

For more information please call ext. 4938.

Drug safety notice: Potassium chloride (sando k) 12mmol effervescent tablets

There is currently no supply of potassium chloride (Sando K) 12mmol effervescent
tablets available to order. Normal supplies are expected to resolve by the end of December 2023.

Please note: Once current stocks at ward level are exhausted Pharmacy will be unable to resupply.

Potassium chloride (Sando K) is indicated for the treatment of hypokalaemia in
adults, dosing can vary dependent upon the patient’s clinical condition and
potassium level, but standard dosing is up to 24mmol (two tablets) TDS

Please see Safety Notice – Sando K  for further details, advice and alternate solutions

For more information please contact the pharmacy department on ext. 5263/3783.

Drug safety notice: Lidocaine 1 per cent or 2 per cent with adrenaline (1:200,000)

There is currently a national shortage of lidocaine (xylocaine) 1 per cent and 2 per cent with
adrenaline 1:200,000 solution for injection vials.

• Xylocaine 1 per cent with adrenaline 1:200,000 is expected to return April 2024
• Xylocaine 2 per cent with adrenaline 1:200,000 is expected to return May 2024.

Due to similar problems in other countries, it is proving difficult to procure unlicensed products.

Note: SWB has no stock remaining.

Please see Safety Notice Lidocaine 1 per cent or 2 per cent with adrenaline for further details, advice and alternate solutions.

For more information please contact the pharmacy department on ext. 5263/3783.

Freedom to Speak Up – colleagues went Green

Throughout Freedom to Speak Up month, colleagues around the Trust wore green to show support of Freedom to Speak Up #breakingftsubarriers.

Congratulations to the health visitors based at Mace Street Clinic for being the best team dressed in green!

To find out more about how to speak up at SWB and our guardians, please click here.

Free Starbucks drink for NHS colleagues

Starbucks outlets are offering a free tall drink from on Wednesday 6 December, to all NHS colleagues.

Simply present your NHS card prior to purchasing a tall drink.