Heartbeat: Survival corner helps McCarthy ward through Unity go-live

November 29, 2019

Going live with Unity involved plenty of late nights and long shifts for colleagues across the Trust. Many teams took different approaches to ensuring that morale and motivation never wavered during this period. Their efforts paid off.

McCarthy ward at Rowley Regis Hospital went to the trouble of creating a Unity survival corner – a place for people to go if they were feeling stressed or unsure what to do. It was kept well-stocked with snacks and helpful information.

“We thought if we put everything in there – all the information like the quick reference guides and the leaflets – that would be helpful. Particularly for family and relatives, so they can find out what Unity’s about,” explained senior sister Lady Ann Ordona on Sunday 22 September, the day when Sandwell and the community sites went live.

“I think the corner reassures the staff as well. If you want a bit of a breather, sit down for two minutes and have a snack. I think the more you pressure yourself to find solutions the harder it becomes. You feel the negativity and start thinking that you can’t do it. But if you sit down there, have a quick break and think ‘We can do this’, then that’s much better.”

This positive attitude contributed to a successful go-live. Lady Ann was proud of her team and thankful for the support they’d received. “It was a bit hectic but we’re happy. We’re familiar with the system but there are still parts where we need to refresh our knowledge. The quick reference guides are very good and we had the floorwalkers who can remind us how to do certain things,” she said.

“All the managers have been here since first thing in the morning and as a PCCT group we’re helping and supporting each other. The feeling of having support around you – physically and emotionally – boosts you up. You share the same feelings and you think ‘We can make it.’ If the acute and the main spine can do it, we can do it.”

After overcoming some initial teething problems, and spending some time reacquainting themselves with Unity, colleagues on McCarthy ward began to feel some of the benefits of using the system. They’re confident that even more will come with time too.

“We’re definitely noticing some advantages,” said staff nurse Beth Hill. “Ordering medications is so much easier. It’s just a couple of clicks. It’s also good that if anyone makes any changes you can all see them.”

Lisa Slater, HCA, added: “I’m getting used to the system now and I’m finding it easier. I’m getting quicker each day. The support’s been absolutely brilliant. If we’ve needed anything the Unity team have helped us straightaway.”