Monthly archives: January 2025

Priority spaces now available after 11am

Following the recent review of the priority parking spaces (on level 1) at Midland Met, they will now be available for those staff who arrive after 11am and before 3pm.

Colleagues must ensure they leave the priority space by 7am the next working day.

These time slots allow for those who are travelling from other sites or our community staff who support our teams to park at Midland Met.

This is for an initial one-month trial period.

Outside of those hours, only those who qualify in the priority groups can park in those spaces, to remind yourself of that list, click here.

If you arrive at Midland Met prior to 11am please continue to use the available spaces on level 1 and the additional spaces on level 0.

If you believe you need a priority car park pass at all times, you should contact  sandwellpermits@q-park.co.uk

Note: Your application must include your name, department, job title and clearly state the reasons why you need a priority windscreen permit so the application can be processed promptly.

To use our car-sharing spaces, please download the Kinto app and register by clicking here.

Overflow car parking

If you cannot park in level 1 or level 0, please use the overflow parking on the former Balfour Beatty site office car park which is located off Cranford Street.

You can access the hospital via the turnstiles, then walk across the level 0 car park to gain access to the nearest lift core.

We politely ask that staff avoid parking on nearby neighbouring streets where possible.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Limited shuttle bus service on 29 January

Due to unforeseen circumstances there will only be one shuttle on the morning of Wednesday 29 January.

This means the below shuttle buses will not be available: 

• 6.40am shuttle from City
• 7.10am shuttle from Sandwell
• 8.50am shuttle from City
• 9.30am shuttle from Sandwell
• 10.30am shuttle from City
• 11.20am shuttle from Sandwell

Note: Normal service will resume at 12pm.

We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause for staff travelling to and from our sites.

Double your defence, get vaccinated!

Every year, rates of respiratory conditions such as flu increase across the winter season, putting people across our communities at risk. To protect yourself, your loved ones and our patients, we offer vaccinations over a number of months, offering all colleagues the opportunity to stay safe and protected this winter. Vaccinations are drop-in only, you do not need to book. You will be able to have either or both of the vaccines, administered in two separate injections, on the same day.

Please see the vaccination timetable below:

Note: Please note the vaccination team will be doing two twilight shifts on Tuesday and Friday to accommodate night staff. Please call 07977 687586 to arrange for your vaccination during those hours.

For more information, please call Occupational Health between Monday to Friday 8.30am – 1pm on 0121 507 3306 to speak directly to a member of the vaccination team.

We know that many of our colleagues have had their vaccinations outside of the Trust, at their GP surgeries, in the community or perhaps at another Trust.

In order to ensure we have accurate and up to date vaccination figures, we need to know which of our colleagues have been vaccinated, wherever they have had these! If you’ve been vaccinated elsewhere, please click here to fill out a quick survey and help ensure our data accurately represents our Trust.

BLS sessions now available

BLS sessions are now available for staff to book:

Every Friday 8am – 9am, Clinical Skills, Education Centre, Level 5, MMUH. To book click here.

Every Monday, 2pm – 3pm, Newton 2 Ward, Sandwell Health Campus. To book click here.

Friday (once a month), 10am -11am, D46 Training Room, Sheldon Block – City Health Campus.

Note: You must attend on the time stated otherwise will be turned away by the trainer.

Colleagues must complete their Basic Life Support eLearning modules before attending their practical training. Details on how to enrol on to eLearning training can be found here.

For more information, please contact swbh.resuscitationtraining@nhs.net.

Reporting faulty equipment

As previously, please contact Point of Care on ext. 5352 or email swb-tr.swbh-poct@nhs.net as to report faulty equipment.

Please do not send faulty equipment to MMUH pathology without contacting POCT.

There is only room for 1 member of POCT in the laboratory and they may be called to attend blood gas analysers or working elsewhere.

For more information, please contact a.mctiernan@nhs.net.

Disability and Long-Standing Condition Network meeting: 3 February

Come and join us for our first Disability and Long- Standing Condition Network Meeting of 2025.

Being hosted on Monday 3 February, 10am – 11.30am, Level 4, Room 402, MMUH.

We are hoping to discuss ways in which employees feel that the Network can support staff into this new year.

For more information and if you would like an option to join on Teams, please contact the Disability and Long- Standing Condition Network Chair, siobhan.whitehouse@nhs.net

Stroke Prevention Day, Thursday 30 January

Rowley Regis have opened a new stroke rehab unit. They have planned lots of activities throughout the day and want to invite you to join. They will be running different activities from 10am – 3pm.

The timetable:

10am-10.45am – Stroke reconditioning group- relatives welcome

10.45am-11.15am – Upper limb massage education/ group with relatives

11.15am – Coffee break. Guest speaker- alcohol team

11.30am-12pm – Stroke education/ prevention talk

12pm-1pm – Lunch

1pm-3pm – Headway charity talk

Creative craft group

Free blood pressure check

Sues wellbeing parlour

SLT table- education on swallow and communication difficulties post stroke.

For more information, please contact staceyhesom@nhs.net

One Health and Care system downtime: 30 January, 11am – 4pm

Please be advised that the One Health and Care system  will be undergoing essential maintenance on Thursday 30 January, 11am – 4pm.

During this time, the Population Health BI reports may be unavailable from 11am -1pm, and between 3pm – 4pm One Health and Care CareCentric may experience some minor service interruption. Some users may have their session terminated and then have to log into the system again.

Colleagues should not use the system during the maintenance window as data may only be partially complete.

Calling all budding photographers across our SWB sites!

Are you constantly snapping work-related photos in and around our SWB estate? If so, now’s your chance to enter this month’s 2026 calendar competition!

Sponsored by Your City and Metropolitan Hospitals Charity, our fabulous panel of judges is awaiting your photos, including our very own Chief Executive, Diane Wake.

To enter send your photo to swbh.engagement@nhs.net.