Monthly archives: November 2024

Access surrounding Cardiac Cath Lab

The Cardiac Cath Lab is located on Level 2 of MMUH, off the main corridor between Resus and AMU, also located directly on lift core b.

It has been reported that a lot of staff members are using the Cath Lab recovery area as a shortcut between these areas to exit to the car park, lifts and food facilities on the ground floor.

Please do not do this – as the Cardiac Cath Lab is a sterile clinical area that also has exposure to radiation, and the recovery area for patients post procedure and could potentially transferring acutely unwell patients through the unit.

The team appreciate that staff are still new to the site and trying to learn their way around site, but there is a need to maintain infection prevention and control, as well as the privacy and dignity of patients. Signs have been placed on doors that are being utilised by non-cardiac staff and the team will continue to verbally signpost staff away from this area.

DoLS and MCA training session 8 January 2025

Vulnerable Adults team will be hosting a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and Mental Capacity Act (MCA) training sessions across the Trust.

The training is aimed at colleagues in patient facing roles. Year 3 student nurses are also welcome to join the session. The training will include topics such as the criteria of a DoLS, who needs a DoLS, how to complete a DoLS form and where a DoLS form is sent. The training will also cover the Mental Health Act 2005 and lastly flow charts on how to access and complete MCA and DoLS via Unity.

The training will take place on Wednesday 8 January 2025 from 10am to 12pm at MMUH, Lift A, Level 4, Seminar Room ADM 422

To book on please email r.begum19@nhs.net

Message from Chief Executive Richard Beeken and Chair, Sir David Nicholson KCB CBE

Dear Colleagues,

We did it!

Today we have completed our final patient moves from City Hospital, and Midland Metropolitan University Hospital is now a fully operational acute hospital.

Over three moves, we have safely transferred over 300 patients, from three-hour old babies to a 97-year-old lady. All three moves have been very successful and completed ahead of schedule each time. That is testament to the meticulous planning that has gone into it and we are incredibly proud of all of you.

This achievement is a significant milestone not only for our organisation, but also for the communities we serve, and it is all thanks to your dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment that we have made Midland Met a reality.

This was a monumental task – 10 years in the making.

But over the last six weeks, we have seen incredible collaboration of countless individuals from across all departments, from hospital clinicians to our community teams, admin teams, IT, estates and facilities, cleaning, communications, catering – the list is endless. Every single one of you has made a difference. Your professionalism, resilience, and passion for delivering the very best patient care through our new facilities and new care models, has been second to none.

We know that there will be challenges, as we continue to adapt to our new environment and the changes across our estate, but with the same spirit and teamwork that we have seen to date, we have no qualms that these will be dealt with professionally, and with the patient at the heart of our resolutions.  We must use this as a fresh start and to embrace best practice in acute care, leaving our old habits behind.

For most of us, this will be a once in a career journey, and there can be no better reward than knowing that you are leaving a legacy behind, that will benefit the Sandwell and West Birmingham communities for generations to come.

Thank you again for your commitments, and please do take some time to reflect on what a wonderful journey we have been on together.

The best is yet to come.

Kind regards,

Richard Beeken, Chief Executive
Sir David Nicholson, Chair

Blood Gas Anaylser Training, 10 -12 November

If you use a Blood Gas Analyser, please attend one of the training sessions to facilitate access to the new anaylsers.

The trainer will be visiting the following locations at MMUH:

• ED
• ICU
• AMU
• C3
• Theatres

Please contact Point of Care Testing for any training requests or for further information via telephone:  0121 507 5352 or ring a.mctiernan@nhs.net on Teams for Sunday 10 November only, or via email: swb-tr.swbh-poct@nhs.net

Where available the trainer will be using the Blood Gas Analyser Room.

Remembrance Day event at MMUH on Monday

Remembrance Day is fast approaching and the Chaplaincy team are hosting a special service to mark the occasion at the MMUH Winter Garden (Core C), 10.45am on Monday 11 November.

For more information please eddie.briones@nhs.net.

Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 8 November

My Friday message this week is themed around first and lasts – things that many of us will have experienced over the last few weeks, and even more so in the coming days.

First and last moments hold a unique magic. The first moment of something – the start of a journey, the opening lines of a story – carries with it an energy that’s fresh and filled with possibilities. It’s the thrill of stepping into the unknown, not with all the answers, but full of hope. In contrast, last moments are layered with the weight of memory, sometimes bittersweet, sometimes triumphant. They’re tinged with nostalgia or perhaps a sense of completion, last moments remind us of our resilience, our growth, and the richness of what we’ve experienced, even if there’s a feeling of sadness in letting go.

We have had our fair share of firsts over the last few days and weeks:

• We opened Midland Met to our very first patients on 6 October
• Our orthopaedic team performed our first hip replacement in the new theatres at Midland Met on the same day
• We had the first baby born at Midland Met – just a couple of hours after opening the maternity unit on Wednesday – watch some fantastic footage of this which was shown on ITV news: https://www.itv.com/news/central/2024-11-06/first-neo-natal-babies-born-at-midland-metropolitan-university-hospital
• Yesterday our maternity teams delivered the first set of Midland Met triplets

We have also had, and will be having, many last moments:

• Our maternity teams delivered the last babies to be born at City Hospital on Wednesday this week.  I had the pleasure of meeting the last baby to come into the world after over 100 years history at City Hospital, on Wednesday.
• Many of you will be working, if not already worked, your last shifts at Sandwell Hospital and City Hospital – a place that I know is steeped in history and memories for many people.  I’ve said repeatedly that if walls could talk, City Hospital would tell some incredible stories.
• It will be the last time patients are cared for in our Nightingale wards – there are very few of these left now in the NHS
• Patients will be wheeled up and down the famous City Hospital corridor for the last time and we will film the lights going out down that long, famous corridor.

These last moments will provoke different emotions for many of you and indeed your families; take time to reflect on your memories over the next few days. I have spoken to colleagues who were both born and worked at City for many years – and last Friday we had the opportunity to celebrate City – look out for a special piece on that from our comms team on Monday. That history won’t be lost. We are already looking at how we can incorporate it into the Winter Garden at Midland Met – our past plays such an important role in our future, and it is only right that we ensure it features in our new building.  The TV coverage we will get on Sunday and Monday will also mark City’s history and will be online forever.

First moments bring fresh opportunities, new ways of doing things and Sunday will bring one of the best firsts to date, having all of our acute clinical teams under one roof – however this will also be the last time we do things ‘the old way’ – there will be no more ‘Sandwell way’ or ‘City way’ – we will be moving forward with ‘the Midland Met way.’

I have said this in my Friday message before, but we simply must not cut and paste our existing processes and approaches into a new building and expect it to work better – it won’t.

We have redesigned our clinical services, resourced a 7-day service model through a bold £25 million investment at a time when the NHS is cutting its budgets, and so now we must improve the efficiency, quality, and safety of our services. Our performance against important waiting time standards, emergency care access standards, internal quality standards between specialities all need to improve significantly. Our current reasons or excuses for not doing so, will have largely been removed in the forthcoming days.

I recognise that change is hard, but it is necessary – for us to provide the standards of care and patient experience that we desire and that the communities of Sandwell and West Birmingham deserve.

Finally, thank you to everyone who was worked so hard to deliver phase one and two of the moves to Midland Met. They have both been completed ahead of schedule, and with no significant issues or patient safety concerns. This is testament to the meticulous planning that has gone into the move, and I have no doubts that the final phase on Sunday will go just as well. Good luck to everyone involved and see you on Sunday!

Have a good weekend.

Richard.

Midland Met wayfinding maps

To help you easily find your way around our new hospital, we’ve got Midland Met wayfinding maps ready! 🗺️

Whether you’re locating a ward or finding a department, these maps will guide you through every corner.

We’ve now updated the maps to include level 5, which you can find here.

Click here to access the MMUH Wayfinding Maps. Alternatively, scan the below QR code:

Using patient bed lifts on move days

On Sunday,10 November are the final two patient move days from City Hospital into Midland Met. To ensure we get all patients moved into the hospital smoothly without any delays we will be making some changes to how the bed lifts are used.

Patient bed lifts are located on the east and west sides of the hospital to move patients privately, ensuring their dignity is maintained.

On 10 November, the patient bed lifts will be used as follows:

• West bed lifts – Usual patient movement.
• East bed lifts  – Will be used for patients moving into Midland Met from City Hospital.

This means colleagues will be unable to use the bed lifts for casual movement between floors unless it is for the reasons outlined above.

There are five public lift cores A – E or stairs that colleagues can use to navigate the hospital instead on patient move days.

Move day parking at City

This Sunday, Q-Park will be blocking off parking spaces around the back of City Hospital, including areas near the gym and Ellis House, to accommodate removal trucks. An incident occurred during the maternity move with a car parked incorrectly that disrupted operations, and it is critical we avoid a similar situation.

Please be advised: If any barriers are moved or if cars are parked in these reserved spaces, a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) will be issued.

Your cooperation is appreciated to ensure an uninterrupted move process.

Pharmacy focus – Where to get your drugs

The pharmacy departments at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, Sandwell and City sites offer a range of services.  They can be found at the following locations:

City Health Campus:

Main Spine Pharmacy (near the cash machine)

• Closed to clinic/ward staff and patients.
• Access is limited to pharmacy staff, pharmaceutical deliveries, and bulk stock transport only.

BTC Pharmacy (ground floor to the right when facing away from the front entrance)

• Open to clinic/ward staff and patients for all pharmacy services (e.g., discharge medications, outpatient prescriptions, controlled drug books, and ad-hoc orders).
• Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 9am – 5pm

Sandwell Health Campus:

Main Pharmacy (opposite Outpatient area)

• Open to clinic/ward staff and patients for all pharmacy services (e.g., discharge medications, outpatient prescriptions, controlled drug books, and ad-hoc orders).
• Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm, Saturday and Sunday: closed.

Midland Met Pharmacy

Level 4 Pharmacy (opposite Pathology)

• Open to clinic/ward staff but closed to patients.
• Outpatient prescriptions depend on clinic-specific arrangements. Patients should check with their clinic or ward team for medication access instructions.
• Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 9am – 5pm.