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SEPTEMBER 2014 | University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Job prospects for young homeless Young homeless people are taking the opportunity to become apprentices as part of an innovative new scheme being supported by the Trust. The Learning Hub, based at UHB, is providing pre-apprenticeship training for 30 homeless people aged 18 to 24, who have been nominated by the St Basil’s homeless charity. The scheme, entitled RISE – Raising Individuals’ Skills for Employment – and funded by Health Education West Midlands, will result in the homeless young people being offered apprenticeships by Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust. They will also be able to apply for jobs at UHB as do other Learning Hub trainees. Those trainees offered apprenticeships at Sandwell and West Birmingham will also be offered temporary accommodation in a block of apartments opposite Sandwell General Hospital in West Bromwich. The building, which previously housed Sandwell and West Birmingham staff, has been refurbished after becoming disused. David Taylor, Head of Regeneration at UHB, said: “We strongly support Sandwell and West Birmingham’s proposal to provide apprenticeships and accommodation for homeless young people.
“This is a highly innovative project and certainly one of the first times in the NHS that pre-apprenticeship training, apprenticeships and accommodation have been specifically targeted at homeless people.” He added: “Only two per cent of homeless people are in full-time employment and the average age of death for a male homeless person is 45. So there are really strong economic and health benefits of getting homeless people into work. “UHB is actively supporting this through its Learning Hub by providing a five-week preapprenticeship training programme for 30 young homeless people, funded by Health Education West Midlands. “This is aimed at better preparing them for working in the NHS and reducing the potential drop-out rate during the apprenticeship by providing a better understanding of the NHS, training on job roles and confidence-building, all of which are essential for such a disadvantaged group. The initial results are very encouraging indeed,” he added. The third and final group of homeless young people taking part in the project are due to start their pre-apprenticeship training at the Learning Hub in October. However, it is hoped to continue
Take a decision to quit smoking Smokers have been taking up a challenge to quit the habit for 28 days in a national campaign called Stoptober. Research shows that people who stop smoking for 28 days are five times more likely to stay smoke-free but support and advice is still available for those who choose not to get involved in the October campaign. A wide range of support is available for those people who want to quit but have found it difficult to break the habit. Professionals recognise that it can often take several attempts before a smoker is able to completely quit. For further information about the Stop Smoking Service, including a list of community clinics in your area, call the helpline free on 0800 052 5855. Visit smokefree.nhs.uk for information, support or to find the nearest participating pharmacy for a free Quit Kit. Anyone who is concerned about cancer can visit cancerresearchuk.org.
Shortlist success
Members of the eye clinic team
Eye on top award The eye clinic at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) has been nominated for a national award after outstanding praise from patients. The clinic’s macular service is in the running for the ‘Clinical service of the year’ award as part of the Macular Society’s Awards for Excellence. The nomination recognises their exceptionally good practice in the care of people with macular degeneration. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the central vision and is the most common cause of sight loss in the UK. Of the 500,000 people with the condition, 15,000 are estimated to live in the Birmingham area. ‘Clinical service of the year’ is an award for medical staff, teams or services which provide diagnosis or treatment for macular disease, and which demonstrate exceptionally good practice in the care of people with central vision loss. Helen Palmer, Consultant Ophthalmologist, said: “The whole team and I are ecstatic that the service has been nominated for this award. “The entire team works tirelessly in what is an increasingly busy clinic. For our work to be acknowledged by the society and by Professor White is excellent – thank you.” Professor Richard White from Birmingham
the scheme next year with further Health Education funding. Professor Janice Stevens, Managing Director of Health Education England, said: “We are proud to be part of the collaboration in this groundbreaking project that will help support the young people who previously found it hard to gain confidence and self-belief, to enable them to ultimately gain employment and a career in the NHS, through this programme.” Richard Samuda, Chairman of Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust said: “There’s real drive and energy around this scheme given the impressive gains achievable in public health where all stakeholders benefit. It encapsulates what integration really means at a practical level.” Jean Templeton, Chief Executive of St Basil’s said the initiative was a response to homeless young people telling them that what they really needed was a home and a job. “The scheme provides support, apprenticeships and accommodation. The innovation is that they will be able to take up an apprenticeship and live in safe, affordable accommodation without recourse to benefits. This is only possible through a whole community approach.”
Stoptober
is affected by macular degeneration and nominated the team for the award. He said: “Helen is not only a very competent consultant ophthalmologist; she is also a compassionate, caring person who is never in a hurry to show me the door. She always finds time to explain the nature of macular degeneration relapses, to demonstrate the OCT appearances, and to answer my questions. She always ensures that I am seen on schedule even if it means squeezing me into an already full clinic or theatre session. “She works as part of a brilliant team. The whole staff – nurses, OCT technician, receptionists and personal secretaries are helpful, friendly and courteous. Talking to other patients it is clear that everyone, like myself, feels grateful and privileged to be cared for in such a pleasant environment.” The team’s nomination will now be handed over to the judges, who will decide on the overall winners and present them with their awards at the Society’s annual London conference on 27 September. Tony Rucinski, Chief Executive of the Macular Society, said: “The Macular Service team at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham do an incredible job and we are delighted that they have been recognised for their excellent work.”
UHBFT’s PICS (Prescribing, Information and Communications System) has got through to the final for a national award by E-Health Insider in the best use of IT to promote patient safety category. This rules-based clinical decision support system operates throughout University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) in all inpatient, outpatient and daycase areas, including ITUs. It supports: full e-prescribing and drug administration for both routine and chemotherapy treatments; requesting and reporting of laboratory investigations; clinical observations and assessments and extensive order communications, including imaging requests and internal referrals. The system is used across 17 specialties and has been continuously developed with input from senior clinicians across the organisation over the past 15 years. It is used by over 4000 staff in UHBFT and processes 32,000 prescriptions and 137,000 administrations each week. In routine use PICS provides point of care
decision support to clinical users, generating relevant information, alerts or alarms appropriate to the situation and to each grade of staff. The system is also used to automate aspects of patient care, such as the rulesbased proposing of appropriate investigations, admission drugs, etc. based on the clinical specifics of each patient, an example being the prescribing of MRSA eradication therapy following a positive skin swab test. The PICS system incorporates extensive local and national clinical guidelines, pathways, and protocols through which it promotes consistency of care and enables sound clinical decision-making. The design is highly parameterised; allowing these functions to be tailored to suit local requirements and can be applied at specialty level where appropriate. The team are delighted to have got through to the final of this prestigious award and to be recognised for the positive impact the inhouse solution is having on improving quality and clinical care across the whole of UHB.
The team who developed the innovative system
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