Chatterbox 29 May 2020

29 May 2020

Meet some of the volunteers who are stepping up to help us There is another quiet army of selfless heroes who have stepped up to help us all – with no reward other than knowing they have helped make a difference.

When the coronavirus outbreak began the government put out a call for volunteers to join the NHS. Thousands responded – people wanting to do what they can in the face of an unprecedented crisis.

It is no different at SaTH, where scores of volunteers have given up their time to help hold the line against the coronavirus pandemic.

There are countless more but today we share the efforts of seven volunteers who stepped up when it matters.

Brian Finch runs a construction business in Market Drayton, but because he is currently unable to work he volunteered as a porter at RSH. For the past four weeks the 58-year-old from Cold Hatton has been carrying out vital tasks, such as transporting patients and moving blood samples.

He said: “It is very different to what I am

 Volunteer couple Shirley Sheehy and Mark Sheehy. Picture: Shropshire Star used to but I am really enjoying it. There is a lot of walking involved, which is keeping me fit, and everyone I have met has been great.

“Everyone is rightly focusing on the on the medical staff during the coronavirus pandemic, but the porters do a

magnificent job. The hospitals wouldn’t function without them and it is a privilege to be part of their team at the moment.”

Brian, whose wife is a retired nurse, says he is open to continuing his volunteering work once normal life resumes.

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 Meg Reidy  Continued from front page.

Meg Reidy recently graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University and has also spent the past month volunteering at RSH. She said: “It has been a really busy start to what I hope will be a long career in the NHS as a dietician having recently graduated with a nutrition degree. It is great that I can take a bit of pressure off the NHS and do something for the community.”

The 22-year-old, from Church Stretton added: “I am volunteering in the Radiotherapy Department at the moment and it has been fascinating. I am essentially doing any jobs that help speed up processes and ensure a better experience for patients.”

Mike and Shirley Sheehy spend up to four days a week delivering medicines to cancer patients across Shropshire.

Having moved back to Shrewsbury from Cyprus in 2015, the married couple of 49 years started volunteering at RSH about two months ago, and are “absolutely loving it.”

Mike, 69, who spent 22 years in the RAF, said: “We travel all over the county delivering medicines to cancer patients who aren’t able to come into hospital at the moment. It is an incredibly rewarding job that we are both really enjoying.”

Shirley, 68, added: “We have met some amazing people along the way. Everyone is working so hard in very challenging circumstances, but what is obviously apparent is how much everyone at the hospital trust really appreciate their army of volunteers.”

When not volunteering Mike and Shirley can be seen using their daily exercise time jogging along the streets of Shrewsbury or exercising at home with

 Meg Reidy

 Brian Finch

online videos provided by their local gym. “I have only been doing it for a few weeks but I am really enjoying myself. It Matthew Hartill (not pictured) was helps being fairly familiar with my teaching English in Austria when it was surroundings but a lot has changed since announced the county was entering I used to work here.” lockdown.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic Lisa The 22-year-old from Much Wenlock, was volunteering at the British Heart who is studying Languages at Sheffield Foundation furniture store in University, is now volunteering in the Shrewsbury, but when it had to close she Estates Department at PRH. decided she wanted to return to the He said: “It is a really difficult time for NHS. people and I just want to play my part.

She said: “I had time on my hands and “It is not how I envisaged spending my wanted to put it to good use. Our NHS summer but I am really enjoying my time staff are doing a fabulous job and I am at the hospital. I do the morning shift, pleased to be playing my part to help.” four-days-a-week, and have met some Medicine student Charlie Harpin (not great people. pictured) has signed up to be a mask fit “My role differs every day. I am working tester at SaTH. at the front of house so one moment I The 18-year-old from Shrewsbury would could be making staff ID badges and the normally be preparing for his end of year next I could be liaising with a contractor. exams at Manchester University, but It doesn’t really matter what the job is when it closed due to the coronavirus though as long as I am helping.” pandemic he felt he had time on his For Lisa hands which could be used to help Morgan people. (pictured, He said: “I wanted something to do in right), these uncertain times to get me out of volunteering the house and do some good. has been a trip down memory “I have been given all my training to fit lane having protective masks and am now worked at desperately looking forward to my first SaTH in the shift. I just want to get on and help us 1990s as a Healthcare Assistant. much as possible.

“I’d forgotten how many miles you walk in a day,” joked the 54-year-old from Clive, near Shrewsbury, “but I must admit it, I have really enjoyed being back.

“It’s incredible how many people have signed up. It just goes to show that when push comes to shove people do want to help.”

“I spend every Thursday in the Therapies Department where I load up the dietician orders for the week. When the orders come in for specialist food and drink items it is my job to gather them from the store room and ensure they are delivered to the right departments.

Charlie, who has been keeping in touch with family and friends online during the lockdown period, also applied to join the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital as a Healthcare Assistant and is expected to start work in mid-May.

SaTH has partnered with Locum's Nest, an initiative founded by doctors, with the aim of improving access to locum bank work opportunities across the Trust.

specialist care but also with the inevitable sickness amongst our own staff.

We are working with Locum’s Nest to start posting bank shifts for doctors. You will be able to view and apply for the We feel, now more than ever, that we shifts posted via the Locum's Nest need a robust system in place to ensure app. You can do this now, and shifts will that we give ourselves every chance to fill be available from Monday 8 June. vital vacancies in these difficult times.

The key benefits to you are: The COVID-19 pandemic has put a huge  A very quick, hassle-free process of strain on the whole of the NHS, not only seeing and applying for shifts with the increase of patients needing

 No more paperwork with in-app time sheets and a built-in timesheet tracker  Automatically record your bank work experience on your built-in CV The app is absolutely free to use and you can download the app today. All you need to set up an account is your full name and GMC number!

To find out more, please visit the Locum’s Nest website at www.locumsnest.co.uk

Donation for staff at PRH

Thank you Andrew Cleaver, from Dulux Paint, donated 36 tins of paint to help with AMU refurbishment.

2,000 gift bags containing hand sanitiser cream, hand balm and cotton gloves have been distributed to staff at PRH.

This amount of paint would normally have cost the Trust ÂŁ1,260.

The donation was made by the company Tropic Skincare, whose products have been made especially for the NHS to say thank you.

The organisation chose 13 hospitals across the country, with PRH being one of them.

Can you help?

Our Dementia Team would like to put a call out for any colouring/drawing books, pencils, puzzle books, dominoes, playing cards and magazines to be donated in order to help patients in our hospitals who are living with dementia.

Activities such as these will provide comfort to patients and will be supported by the team during use. Karen Breese, Dementia Clinical Specialist, said: “Hospital is the most difficult place to be if you live with dementia as you are separated from people you know, the environment is strange and routines are different. We are trying our utmost but we are short of activities to stimulate people and support their independence while with us.�

Following arrangements with our infection control team, all activity materials will be single patient use. Any donations can be sent to our hospitals, addressed to the attention of the Dementia Team .

Do you have a story for us?

Email sath.commsteam@nhs.net

Citizens Advice Telford & the Wrekin is matters. offering a priority information and advice You can easily refer yourself or a patient service to all employees, volunteers, and using our secure online referral form. patients of PRH. Use the username: ‘refer’ and the They provide free, confidential advice on a password: 1939Cabinet. wide range of issues including employment and furlough advice, benefit Add 'PRH Staff', 'PRH Volunteer' or 'PRH calculations, claims and appeals (including Patient' as the first line in the Key Issues Box. Universal Credit) and fully regulated and accredited debt advice.

Alternatively, you can call 01952 567193.

They also provide advice on housing, Outside of our opening hours there is an family, immigration, and consumer answerphone facility . Leave your name,

Book today To access MCA/DoLS training please click on the intranet’s training diary and select the category: Mental Capacity, then MCA/DoLS training to book the session for yourself and department.

The training dates available to book are:  2 June, 1pm to 3pm at RSH. SECC  3 June, 1pm to 3pm at RSH, SECC  9 June, 10.30am to 12.30pm at RSH, SECC  10 June, 10am to 12 noon and 1pm to 3pm at RSH, SECC  18 June, 10 to 12noon and 1pm to 3pm at RSH, SECC  22 June, 10am to 12noon and 1pm to 3pm at PRH, Education Centre  23 June, 10.30am to and 12.30pm 1pm to 3pm at RSH, SECC Level 3 Adult Safeguarding is also available on the training diary. Just select the category ‘Safeguarding’ followed by ‘Safeguarding Adult Level 3 training’ to book the session for yourself and department.

The available dates are:  1 July, 9.30am to 3.30pm, at RSH, SECC  6 July, 9.30am to 3.30pm at RSH, SECC

your contact number, and a brief message for contact the following working day.

They will prioritise your request and arrange a time for a member of our local team to contact you to discuss your enquiry in confidence.

In recognition of hospital working patterns, the advice services are available to PRH employees outside of normal Citizens Advice Telford and the Wrekin opening hours by appointment. Please request if needed upon contact.