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University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | OCTOBER 2014
You said, we did...
Health talks for Foundation Trust Members 2014 Morning Sessions: 10.00-10.30 – Registration 10.30-noon – Health Talk VENUE: Lecture Theatre 3, Education Centre, Level 1, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Wednesday 5 November Blood disorders Wednesday 3 December Conditions of the stomach and bowel
Evening sessions: 18.00-18.30 – Registration 18.30-20.00 – Health Talk VENUE: Lecture Theatre 3, Education Centre, Level 1, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Book a place by contacting Lorraine Bateman via email to lorraine.bateman@ uhb.nhs.uk, or telephone 0121 371 4957
Recruits for SRMRC Rosie Sanderson and Hannah Brooks have joined the Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre (SRMRC) team as research communications officers. The National Institute for Health Research Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre (NIHR SRMRC) is a national centre for trauma research, taking discoveries from the military frontline to improve outcomes for all patients in the UK. Rosie, who previously worked for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, said: “We’re looking forward to continuing to raise awareness of the SRMRC and positioning it as the partner of choice across the full cycle of translational medicine.” Rosie and Hannah are based on the 4th floor of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and can be reached on 0121 371 4223.
Obituary Teresa Poyner-Jones 17 September 1953 – 23 August 2014 It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to a very special person who has been a steadfast companion and integral part of the Epilepsy team. Teresa has been a great driving force for all what is good about providing compassionate care, and had worked in Neurosciences for ten years. Teresa transformed the concept of a secretary or a personal assistant to that of a facilitator for clinical staff and a safe haven for patients and their families. Teresa provided a real and strong link between the clinical team and our patients who, without exception, hailed her as a champion for them whenever they had a need. Teresa had a deep understanding of patients’ needs and a unique way of unburdening them of their anxieties and uncertainties. Teresa was a real advocate for the clinicians in the team and the patients who made things happen with a strong ‘can do’ mantra. Teresa has been all along the unsung hero of the service. We are all devastated by her loss, we had in our midst a wonderful caring being who gave all and more. Teresa leaves us with very special memories and an impetus to do more for everyone around us. - Imad Soryal
Reunion to mark ‘Acci’ hospital All staff at the former Birmingham Accident Hospital are being invited to a special reunion to celebrate the vital role it played in the care of the city’s population. The ‘Acci’, as it was commonly known, closed 21 years ago in 1993, with its trauma services eventually being transferred to Selly Oak Hospital and, in turn, to the QEHB in June 2010. Professor Sir Keith Porter, Professor of Clinical Traumatology at QEHB, is organising the 21st anniversary reunion, which takes place at Rowheath Pavilion in Bournville on Sunday 19 October between 2pm and 6pm. He was jointly appointed at the Birmingham Accident Hospital and Selly Oak Hospital in 1986. Prof Porter said: “As it is 21 years since the ‘Acci’ closed we thought it timely to have a reunion, so I hope that current and former colleagues will spread the word to anyone who was involved with the hospital. “The Accident Hospital was a world leader and has been the forerunner of the trauma services that we now have here at QEHB, so I look forward to seeing as many people as possible on what should be a very memorable day.”
People attending the event, which will include a cake and celebratory speeches, are urged to bring any photographs or memorabilia along with them. A CD of the day will be made, so it is hoped to conduct some informal interviews on the day to record memories from the Accident Hospital. There will be a nominal charge of £5 to cover the cost of administration, catering and the cake. Tickets for the event are available from Prof Sir Keith Porter, with cheques made payable to the Academic Department of Clinical Traumatology and sent to Room 24H, 6th Floor, Nuffield House, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.
The Accident Hospital…has been the forerunner of the trauma services that we now have here at QEHB, so I look forward to seeing as many people as possible.
Professor Sir Keith Porter
You said: Our GP colleagues asked if the hospital’s Imaging Department could extend the hours of the walk-in X-ray service to accommodate patients who wished to attend after work. GPs refer hundreds of patients to the department every month. The hospital’s own clinicians also suggested this change so the flow of patients through the department could be more evenly spread and waiting times reduced. The Imaging Departments sees outpatients, GP referral patients and inpatients who come from the wards for scans. We Did: The GP X-ray referral service now runs from 2pm until 7.30pm from Monday to Friday. Tina Jones, Operations Manager - Medical Physics, said: “We want to run a service which is convenient for our patients and the new evening slots are really popular with patients who come after work.”
Long Service Awards If you have completed 25 years’ service or longer in the NHS you will be entitled to a Long Service Award. For further information contact HR First Contact Team on ext. 51577 for an application form.
Foodbank is lifeline for those in need Due to a mixture of the rising cost of living; of food and fuel, unemployment and underemployment, stagnant incomes and changes to benefits – there has been a large increase in the numbers of people and families being referred to food banks across the country. In the last year over 900,000 people used the support of food banks in the UK. A third of these were children. Redundancy, illness, benefit delay, domestic violence, debt, family breakdown and paying for the additional costs of heating during winter are just some of the reasons why people go hungry. This month, in partnership with the Trussell Trust and the hospitals Faith and Community Centre, the Trust will be operating a food collection point to which members of staff, patients or visitors can donate food items to help those in real need. As a result of this partnership, key staff groups will be able to use this resource by issuing vouchers to patients that we see who
Delivering the best in care
are in need of support. This may come in the form of a Trussell Trust referral voucher, which can be redeemed at a food bank for a three day supply of food, or out of hours, staff will be able to supply an emergency food box for those in need. In the second phase, starting in the New Year, we will provide the opportunity for staff to donate clothes to the Trussell Trust. This will then enable us to ‘draw down’ clothes for patients who we assess as being in need. QEHB health and wellbeing lead, Antony Cobley, said: “The Trussell Trust food banks are about more than food. People who are referred to them are also offered practical and emotional support by sign posting other agencies, whether that is financial advice or counselling services or in some cases, help with clothing. “This initiative will be the first collaboration of its type and we hope staff will support us so that together we can help break the cycle of poverty.”
For food items, please supply items from the list below: Q Milk (UHT or powdered) Q Sugar Q Fruit juice (carton) Q Soup Q Pasta sauces Q Tinned Desserts Q Tinned vegetables (tomatoes, peas, carrots, potatoes) Q Cereals Q Tea bags/instant coffee Q Instant mash potato Q Rice/pasta Q Tinned meat/fish Q Tinned fruit Q Jam Q Biscuits or snack bars For further information, visit the website at www.uhb.nhs.uk/trussell-trust.htm