Your weekly newsletter that focuses on staff and events within the Trust
28 February 2020
Wolves legend Steve Bull joins Zac for bell ring Picture courtesy of the Shropshire Star.
Zac Oliver marked the end of an emotional journey by ringing the end of treatment cancer bell at PRH this week.
about the journey you have been through. The bell represents an important moment and it is important to us as parents to be able to celebrate a really joyful time.”
The five-year-old, who was diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia in May 2018, was joined by family, friends and Hannah thanked the staff at PRH and the Wolves legend Steve Bull has he rang the people of Shropshire for their support. bell inside the Children’s Oncology Unit. She said: “We are so thankful for His recovery has been a tale of inspiration everything and everyone that has got us after the people of Shropshire helped to this place.” raise £500,000 to pay for specialist Car-T Former professional footballer Steve Bull therapy at the Children’s Hospital of added: “I have done a lot of things in my Philadelphia in America. career, I’ve had an MBE, I went to a Zac’s mother, Hannah Oliver-Willetts, World Cup, won medals, but things like said: “It is very emotional, you just think this top it off.
“Zac will be an inspiration to other kids out there that if they have something like that then they can beat it too.” Janice Llewellyn, Paediatric Haematology Nurse Specialist at SaTH, who was Zac’s key worker from his diagnosis in 2018, said it was wonderful to mark the end of his treatment, for the staff at the unit as well as the family. She said: “It is really good to see the children come to the end of their treatment and be happy and healthy and ring the bell and move on with their lives. “We will still follow them up in the clinic but it is very different.”
A Shropshire business has donated a football table and a large selection of cuddly toys to the Children’s Ward at PRH.
Staff at Jaguar parts manufacturer and supplier SNG Barratt, based in Bridgnorth, raised the money to improve the experience for patients receiving treatment on the Children’s Oncology Unit. Sarah Kirby, Marketing Assistant at SNG Barratt, who spent time on a Children’s Oncology Unit with her daughter, Jessica, many years ago, said the delivery of a new football table for the games room on the Children’s Ward, as well as several cuddly jaguar toys and bags of chocolate, was only made possible thanks to the generosity of her colleagues.
She said: “I know first-hand what it is like to have a child on an oncology ward and know the importance of donations. Everyone at SNG Barratt has been incredibly generous and we hope these gifts will help improving the experience for the children on the Children’s Ward. “The staff on the ward are excellent and you can’t underestimate the work done there every day. You can see the children’s eyes light up at the tireless, thankless work that the staff here do.” Janice Llewellyn, Paediatric
Haematology/Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), which runs PRH and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, said: “We’re always very grateful when we receive such a kind donation as this. “The children have already enjoyed playing on the new football table, while the cuddly jaguar toys have gone down a treat. We gave the first of the toys to a little one-year-old boy currently receiving treatment and he was thrilled with it, as was his mum. It was lovely to see.”
Sarah Kirby was joined at PRH by her colleague Peter Stant, and as well as the donation they put on a spectacle for staff by arriving in two classic Jaguar cars. Janice added: “It was a really lovely event and on behalf of everyone at SaTH I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone at SNG Barratt.” If you’re feeling inspired to fundraise for your local hospitals, call the fundraising team at SaTH Charity on 01743 261 000 (extension 1473) or email sath.charity@nhs.net
Shrewsbury Cup introduced at RSH RSH and its League of Friends are getting behind a unique reusable takeaway cup scheme – with the introduction of the Shrewsbury Cup at their cafes. From this week, hospital staff, patients and visitors can choose to have their takeaway drink served in the Shrewsbury Cup; a reusable cup for which they pay a £1 deposit. The Shrewsbury Cup will be available in the hospital-run Caffé Bistro and Mytton Restaurant, as well as the League of Friends’ ward block shop. The move will save thousands of single-use takeaway cups and reduce waste at the Copthorne site. Customers simply pay £1 deposit for a Shrewsbury Cup, enjoy their drink and then return the cup to any participating café to get their £1 back. The cups are then washed ready to be used again. Lee Herkes, League of Friends of RSH Shops Manager, said: “We are very excited to be working with the hospital’s own Caffé Bistro and Mytton Restaurant and trialling the Shrewsbury Cup scheme.” Trish Purfit, Senior Catering manager for SaTH, which runs RSH, said: “We are delighted to be part of this scheme which helps to fulfil the Trust’s ambition to reduce its carbon footprint and the impact it has on the environment. “We are always looking for new ways to reduce waste from single use items, including the introduction of compostable cutlery and biodegradable straws; and now it is great to be working in partnership with our League of Friends to trial the Shrewsbury Cup on our Shrewsbury hospital site.” Alison Thomas, co-founder of the Shrewsbury Cup scheme added: “It’s great news that we’ve not only extended the reach of Shrewsbury Cup but also that our 27th site in town is at the town’s hospital.
Lab opens doors to young patients Youngsters with cancer and other serious illnesses can now become junior biomedical scientists for the day to understand what happens when their blood is tested.
taken down to tour the pathology laboratory, where the youngster can look at their blood cells Pathology laboratory staff at PRH have introduced ‘Harvey’s under the microscope and Gang’ to demystify the process for children who are in and out learn how their blood of hospital and having regular blood tests and transfusions. group is determined. Harvey’s Gang, named in memory of a young boy who was As part of their tour, each curious to find out what went on behind the scenes when his child is given a goody bag blood was taken, aims to empower children and help them which includes a lab coat understand an essential part of their care and treatment. to wear during the tour, a ‘Junior Scientist’ ID badge, a lanyard Once they have had their blood taken, the junior scientist is and a ‘test tube’ of sweets. Alex Turner, Biomedical Scientist in Haemotology, said: “It is a privilege for us to meet young patients and help them understand happens to their blood when it comes to the laboratory. “We work in an area of the hospital where we don’t usually see patients so each tour is a humbling reminder of why the work we do is important.”
Joey Hogan was the first member of ‘Harvey’s Gang’
Paul Jakeways, who launched the scheme at SaTH when he was a Senior Biomedical Scientist, said: “It makes me incredibly proud to see how Harvey’s Gang has been embraced and to have played a part in getting it set up at SaTH.” To be able to help empower a child during what can be a challenging and upsetting time is an honour.”
Awareness course There are still places available on a free ‘Raising Awareness of Exploitation and Vulnerability, Covering County Lines, Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery’ course that is taking place on 25 March. These sessions are available to anyone who requires an understanding of vulnerability and exploitation. On completion of this training you will be able to:
Identify the vulnerability factors.
Explain what the various forms of exploitation are.
Recognise the signs, symptoms and indicators of the various forms of exploitation.
Understand exploitation and vulnerability and how it impacts on a young person in respect of trauma.
Know how to respond, record and report concerns and how to signpost .
The trainers are jointly funded by West Mercia Police and Telford and Wrekin Council and have the appropriate experience and knowledge to deliver this important training. The course, which takes place over two sessions (9.30am— 12.30pm and 1pm—4pm) in the Lecture Theatre in the Copthorne Building at RSH, is free.
Book signing event raises funds for the League of Friends of RSH Author K.S. Horak held a book signing event outside the League of Friends office at RSH yesterday (Thursday 27 February) to promote his latest book ‘Mildred the Crazy Cat Lady’. The author wrote large parts of his book while undergoing treatment at RSH and is now doing a signing event for staff, patients and visitors.
And as a way of saying thank you, all staff and volunteers with valid NHS identification could buy the book yesterday for just £4. Those without valid NHS identification were asked to pay the full retail price of £7.99—with all profits going to the League of Friends of RSH. K. S. Horak is a former top 500 bestselling author on Amazon. He is also a former director of the Shropshire Chamber Of Commerce. Mildred The Crazy Cat Lady, the first in a series, is set in and around Shrewsbury and North Wales. It has many local references drawing upon the rich history of the town and county.
Got a story for Chatterbox? Click here Pension drop-in sessions The Pensions Team will be holding a drop in session on:
Thursday 12 March between 9.30am and 4pm in in Room G in the Education Centre at PRH A drop-in session at RSH was held in December, and further sessions are being arranged.
Chance to join the stem cell register On Saturday 7 March, from 11am-4pm, the Race Against Blood Cancer team will be encouraging everyone at PRH to sign up to the stem cell register.
The team will be there to answer any questions or queries that you have about your NHS pension. There is no need to book. They will be able to provide information and hand outs on:
Race Against Blood Cancer is a non-profit charity whose goal it is to increase the volume and diversity of people who register as potentially life-saving donors.
Their team will be located near the Friends of PRH café. If you are interested the process will takes around five minutes. You will be asked to fill in a form regarding your details and mouth swabs will be taken. Following this you will receive confirmation in the post to confirm you are on the stem cell register and then all you need to do is to wait to see if you could be a life saver.
Death Benefits/Life Assurance Increasing Your Pension Accessing your Annual Benefit Statement via Total Reward Statements and Gov.uk Verify Cost of the Scheme How your Pension builds up Transfers in/out Flexible Retirement Options Retirement
For more information, visit www.raceagainstbloodcancer.com
MCA/DoLs training for patient-facing staff 2 April
PRH
9am to 11am
8 April
RSH, SECC
10am to 12 noon or 1pm to 3pm
16 April
RSH, SECC
10am to 12 noon or 1pm to 3pm
22 April
PRH
10am to 12 noon or 1pm to 3pm
29 April
RSH, SECC
10am to 12 noon or 1pm to 3pm
7 May
RSH, SECC
10am to 12 noon or 1pm to 3pm
13 May
RSH, SECC
10am to 12 noon or 1pm to 3pm
14 May
RSH, SECC
9am to 11am
27 May
RSH, SECC
10am to 12 noon or 1pm to 3pm
10 June
RSH, SECC
10am to 12 noon or 1pm to 3pm
18 June
RSH, SECC
10am to 12 noon or 1pm to 3pm
22 June
PRH
10am to 12 noon or 1pm to 3pm
23 June
RSH, SECC
10am to 12 noon or 1pm to 3pm
Level 3 safeguarding training for staff 26 February 3 March
RSH RSH
9.30am to 3.30pm 9.30am to 3.30pm
11 March
PRH
9.30am to 3.30pm
17 March
PRH
9.30am to 3.30pm
27 April
PRH
9.30am to 3.30pm
12 May
RSH
9.30am to 3.30pm
9 June
RSH
9.30am to 3.30pm
1 July
RSH
9.30am to 3.30pm
Training dates for all Nurses and ACPs who are Band 5 and above 26 February 3 March
RSH, SECC RSH, SECC
9am to 5pm 9am to 5pm
11 March
PRH, Education Centre
9am to 5pm
You can book onto these course using the Training Diary on the Intranet.
We are a charitable organisation supporting bereaved parents following early pregnancy loss. We need the following items to fill our NHS Comfort Bags: Shampoo, conditioner, face wipes, hairbrushes, hair bobbles, lip balm, spa slippers, shower gel, deodorant, moisturiser, tissues, peppermint teabags, candles, nail files, faces cloths, toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, extra thick sanitary pads, notepads and pens, hair cream. Collection point: Paul Brown Gym at PRH Drop-off times: 8am—9am and 1.30pm—4.30pm. For further information: call Extension 4032.
Contact Bekki Lloyd, the Shropshire Cradle Ambassador via the Facebook Group by searching ‘Cradle Shropshire’ for more information or if you would like to set up a collection point at home or work. Alternatively email her at cradlebekki@gmail.com
Got a story for Chatterbox? email sath.communications@nhs.net
Join today! The February winners are: Sarah Hotchkiss: Procurement Rebecca Smith: Renal Unit, RSH Sharon Pearson: Patient Access Jane Wilde: Women and Children’s Heather Button: Clinical Trials, PRH How do I enter? You can enter the lottery by downloading a lottery entry form here. Alternatively, you can collect/request a form from the SaTH Charity office. Completed forms should be returned to sath.charity@nhs.net or the SaTH Charity Office (Suite 2, Stretton House, RSH). Providing entries are made by the end of a calendar month, deductions will be made from the subsequent month’s payroll, and you will be entered into the following month’s draw. For example, if you submit an entry form in October, payroll deductions occur in November, and you will be entered into the December draw. Your number(s) are automatically allocated and go forward into each month’s prize draw.
How much do tickets cost? Tickets cost £1 and a maximum of 5 tickets can be purchased. Payment will be deducted from your salary (a minimum of £1 per month to a maximum of £5 per month). It is the responsibility of each employee to check that deductions are accurate.
The remaining 50% of the money will go into the Small Things Makes a Big Difference Fund. There may be a one-off “super draw” every year with larger cash prizes. This will replace one of the monthly draws and will be publicised in advance of the draw date. When are the draws made? The draw will take place on the second Wednesday of each month. The winners will be announced in Chatterbox that week. NOTE: To be in the first draw in July a completed application form must be submitted in May. Can I enter the new Staff Lottery? The Staff Lottery is open to all staff working at SaTH who have regular contracted hours and are on the Trust’s payroll. How is money from the Fund awarded? A panel will award the money monthly in line with income to the Fund. They will meet on: 9 May, 11 June, 9 July, 13 August, 3 September, 8 October, 12 November and 10 December.
What can I win?
Can patients/family donate to the Fund?
A prize pool will be created by the monthly contributions to the lottery. The greater the number of players, the bigger the cash prizes and funds raised for staff benefit.
Yes. Anyone wishing to say thank you to the staff at our hospitals can do this by using code ST211R in your ward paying in books. You can then bid for that money to improve your area of work.
The prize pool will be split so approximately 50% will go on prizes: 1st prize = 20% of the entry money 2 x 2nd prizes = 10% of the entry money 2 x 3rd prizes = 5% of the entry money
For further information please contact SaTH Charity Office, Stretton House, RHS on 01743 241446 (Ext 1446) or email sath.charity@nhs.net