Chatterbox 5 June 2020

05 June 2020

Young fundraisers’ outstanding efforts to support SaTH Charity

The kids are alright Two nine-year-olds have raised more than £1,500 between them for SaTH Charity by taking part in some amazing fundraising ventures.

Will Bowd (left) has been fundraising for SaTH with his very own 999 challenge.

Will wanted to complete nine sports, over nine hours – and was hoping to raise £999.

The youngster smashed his target, collecting a whopping £1,463.98 for the Trust.

Will began his challenge with a bike ride, followed by football, swing ball, scootering, cricket, table tennis, trampolining, badminton - before finally crossing the finish line with a run nine hours later.

Will’s family stepped out to support him, with his mum and dad, Phil, completing the bike ride and run challenges with him and other family members, friends and Will, from Shrewsbury, set himself the task neighbours cheering him on at the finish after deciding he wanted to do something line, from a safe distance. to help during the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile Felicity Plant (right), from His mum Rachel said: “The challenge was Bridgnorth, decided to fundraise for SaTH all Will’s idea and drive. We fully Charity by doing a sponsored bike ride. supported it and helped set the wheels in motion. We’re so proud of what he’s Felicity cycled five miles around her home achieved.” town with her dad in tow and her mum, sister, neighbours and family friends Will said: “I was so overwhelmed when I cheering her along the way. Felicity finished and saw the total amount raised. finished the challenge in 40 minutes - and “I was very tired and hot at the end - but I raised more than £300 for the Trust. enjoyed doing it.”

Felicity said: “I wanted to spread some

kindness and raise money to help the NHS. I discussed lots of ideas with my mum and dad; and we decided a sponsored bike ride was a great way for me to keep active and do some fundraising at the same time.

“I was beaming when I finished, although my legs were a little bit tired, I was so happy I had done it.”

Marie Plant, Felicity’s mum, said: “We’re bursting with pride and absolutely over the moon that she completed the bike ride, raised money and simply wanted to help others. Long may her positive attitude towards being kind continue.

“And what a great achievement to remember, especially at nine-years-old.”

Do you want to be part of a ‘Rainbows for the NHS’ Mosaic? The People’s Picture is calling for your pictures videos and stories to create a giant rainbow mosaic made up of thousands of NHS staff, key workers, and carers combined with the nation’s pictures to be revealed at a landmark iconic location. The artwork will honour the community efforts during the lockdown as one online interactive giant rainbow mosaic, and an unveiling in an iconic central London location. For more information visit https://thepeoplespicture.com/rainbows-for-the-nhs/

This week we have been celebrating Volunteers’ Week. As well as sending thank you cards to our volunteers directly, we’ve taken to social media to highlight the wonderful work of the people that selflessly give their time to volunteer at our hospitals.

To round off, the Volunteers Team and other members of staff have created a video to say thank you to those who come in and make a difference by volunteering with us.

For information about volunteering, please visit www.sath.nhs.uk/volunteers

Coronavirus: Spotlight on the work of our Dieticians This week we highlight the invaluable work carried out by our Dietetics team throughout the coronavirus pandemic as we mark Dietitians Week.

Dietitians diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems at an individual and wider public-health level. They work to tackle some of the biggest health issues facing the nation, from obesity and frailty to diabetes and cancer.

To mark Dietitians Week, Sarah Thomas, Specialist Dietitian, explains the vital role she and her colleagues carry out during the pandemic to support patients suffering or recovering from the virus.

She said: “Good nutrition is crucial in supporting the body to get through and recover from COVID-19, but getting access to the right nutrition in the right quantities can be difficult.

“The majority of people with COVID-19 will experience only a mild cough and fever requiring rest and recuperation at home.

However, some patients may experience far more severe symptoms, requiring the highest level of medical support available in our hospitals’ critical care units, and this includes the expertise of a dietitian.

“When a very ill patient is transferred to critical care they may be sedated and ventilated. In order for them to receive nutrition, hydration and medication, a tube is placed into the stomach via the

nose and, for a small number, nutrition and hydration will be will be delivered directly into the vein.

“Dietitians work closely with ward staff including the “The clinical condition of COVID-19 nurses, Doctors, patients can change quickly. Dietitians ward must be flexible and reactive to these housekeepers, changes to ensure that the patient Speech and receives the correct nutrition. language “Patients on critical care often receive therapists and medications that can affect their nutrition. physiotherapists to ensure that there is a Dietitians constantly assess what the holistic approach to the patient’s recovery, patient’s nutritional requirements are and and any aspects of their treatment which take these extra calories into can impact on their nutrition (such as consideration when formulating the increasing mobility, swallowing difficulties patient’s feeding regime. or periods of nil by mouth for procedures) are accounted for.

“Some medications can contain calories, whilst other medications can slow down “Dietitians are instrumental in providing gastrointestinal transit, or make it harder education and support regarding food for patients to absorb nutrition. The role choices, and in many instances, will of the dietitian here is to recognise these suggest nutritional supplements to help medications and advise on different meet nutritional requirements for preparations of feed and alternative recovery and rehabilitation. This support methods of feeding when required. does not stop when the patient leaves hospital. At this point, our outpatient team “When a patient is well enough to return will work alongside GPs and community to the ward after critical care for COVIDhealthcare professionals to guide the 19, they must work hard to regain enough patient as their health and strength return. strength to return home. Their nutritional requirements are increased, and The past few months have felt uncertain swallowing difficulties can also occur after and at times, scary, but the outpouring of critical illness as the muscles involved with support and love experienced from fellow swallowing become weak and tubes used NHS workers, patients and the general to ventilate the patient can irritate the public has been nothing short of mouth and throat. phenomenal. I have never been more proud to call myself a Dietitian.”

COVID update: Freedom To Speak Up (FTSU) Whether you’re frontline, clinical or non-clinical, this pandemic and Diversity Lead, and our Organisational Development Team to is affecting us in so many different ways. Staff are feeling ensure we all link in with the support work that we are providing. emotions and anxieties they might have never felt before. FTSU The Wellbeing Rooms have been well received and over the Guardians are here to listen to your concerns and support you. coming weeks you will see more information in these rooms and Speaking up is always the right thing to do, and as a Trust we throughout the Trust on how to raise concerns. We’ve also been take all of your concerns seriously. From the start of COVID-19 I sharing information on how to raise concerns and speak up with have had regular contact with the Executive Team, Senior our agency and temporary staff.

Leaders and Managers to ensure they’re kept up-to-date with In the first instance, I would always encourage you to raise concerns from the ‘shop floor’. Many of these you will see have concerns with your line manager and, if appropriate, submit a been addressed and answered in the regular messages sent out.

Datix Report. FTSU Guardians are here to signpost, support and We continuis to recruit FTSU Advocates so we have a diverse let you know speaking up is the right thing to do. Don’t suffer in network to further promote FTSU and raise the profile of silence, there are lots of support mechanisms to help you and no speaking up. Please get in touch if you would like to become a concern will be seen as insignificant, however much you think it FTSU Advocate. I’ve also been working with Kal Parkash, Equality might be.

Celebrating National Bike Week On Wednesday it was World Bicycle workers. To redeem, call your local Day and as an organisation we store to book an appointment. encourage staff and visitors to use Don’t forget to take your work ID more environmentally friendly forms with you. of transport wherever possible, so we  Secure Staff Cycle Parking at our thought we’d take the opportunity to hospitals: we have secure cycle highlight some of the wonderful offers shelters a both of our hospital sites and resources available: for staff – for the code please email  British Cycling are currently offering sath.greenertravels@nhs.net with a three month British Cycling your name, contact number, type of Commute Membership free of bike (mountain bike, commuter, charge to all NHS staff, as a thank racer, hybrid), colour and make and you during these times: Click here how far you intend to cycle. for details.  Free Cycle for NHS Workers offer  Sustrans have developed a helpful from Shropshire Cycle Hub, a new portal in which all key workers can community charity based in find bike offers and services in their Shrewsbury whose volunteers area (including offers on cycle loan/ renovate cycles to provide to those hire and cycle repair). Click here for in need and promote community details. participation in cycling as sustainable transport and healthy  The Bike Project is offering its virtual recreation. Click here. service, Dr Bike, free to all NHS staff.

Alex Ford (pictured), our Sustainable Sessions are one-to-one and cover Travel Plan Co-ordinator, said: “There basic repair and maintenance. You are lots of reasons why cycling is good will be doing the work but their for you, including your health and the mechanics will talk you through environment. every step. Email info@thebikeproject.co.uk with a But for me it’s simpler than that. It’s photo of your NHS ID and they’ll that freedom. With mental health being send you a voucher code more important than ever I find cycling to work is as much about mindfulness  Halfords are offering free bike service for NHS staff and emergency than it is fitness or physical health.”

June is Bike Month and we are inviting all staff to register and record at least one ride.

It takes 30 seconds to sign up at www.lovetoride.net You could win a brand new bike, a £500 donation to a local Bikes for Key Workers or Coronavirus Community Support initiative or one of the daily spot prizes.

Cycling is a great way to get some exercise and boost your mood. It also has huge health benefits: people who ride regularly reduce their risk of cancer and heart disease by 45%.

Cycling moves more people using less space than any other mode of transport.

Love to Ride will help you to ride confidently for transport but all rides count during June.

Dodiy film goes live Last year a Malaysian film crew visited RSH to shoot a documentary about our ED Consultant Dodiy Herman.

Some of you were involved in the filming so his brother, Imran, has kindly shared the footage for us to watch here.