Chatterbox 10 July 2020

10 July 2020

Back in June, on one of the hottest days of the year, seven-year-old Khadija Usman set up a fresh lemonade stand to raise money for SaTH. The Lawley youngster, along with some help from her younger brother, Ibrahim, made lemonade and created a stall outside her family home to sell the drinks to thirsty neighbours.

The siblings sold 81 glasses of lemonade and raised £60 for PRH. Proud dad Usman said: “We really appreciate our local hospital and everyone

who works for the NHS have been doing during lockdown to keep us all safe and healthy.

“We’ve been talking to our children about the pandemic and the importance of the NHS. So on 25 June, when it was very hot, Khadija asked if she could make lemonade and sell it to passersby to keep them hydrated.

“Khadija and Ibrahim decided themselves that the money raised should go to the NHS. The kids were so happy that they could do something nice for the key workers.  Thank you Khadija and Ibrahim.

Help establish a network for staff with disabilities As part of our commitment to be an inclusive “Many of our staff with disabilities or long term and caring employer, we would like to health conditions may be feeling anxious and establish a network for staff with disabilities. worried at the current time. We want to ensure we are supporting our staff and enable them to The network will help to review and prioritise continue to provide the great service they do. actions as part of our commitment against the Workforce Disability Equality Standard. We also want to make sure we are considering issues that may affect staff with dyslexia, autism and other hidden disabilities.

“We want staff to feel safe at work and we encourage staff to speak to their line manager if they have any concerns or are worried about anything.

Rhia Boyode, Interim Workforce Director, said: “We know that not all staff will have advised us of their disability, or may not have spoken to their line manager, and that’s ok.

“Please remember that if you have any concerns or require support, contact our Freedom To Speak Up Guardians (FTSU) on sath.ftsu@nhs.net.

Raising awareness of insulin safety The aim of Insulin Safety Week (July 6-12) is to raise awareness of insulin safety in a bid to reduce insulin errors among healthcare professionals.

The safe and effective management of diabetes whilst people are within our hospitals is vital and can have a huge impact on people’s quality of life.

Staff are being asked to think about the six steps to get it right and reduce insulin errors:      

Right person Right insulin Right dose Right time Right strength Right device

Erica Richardson, Lead Diabetes Specialist Nurse, has organised packs to be delivered around the hospital.

The packs include: insulin profile pocket cards, posters, online training opportunities, a training pack for staff highlighting common areas where things can go wrong/pitfalls and useful links to resources, stickers, high strength insulin flash cards and some goodies for staff.

Figures have revealed 40% of insulin-treated patients have at least one insulin error during their hospital stay so we are all in support of #InsulinSafetyWeek2020 and to #ThinkInsulin.

The new Star Card is a great way to recognise each other and to say thank you on an ongoing basis.

Star Cards have been live for two weeks and already hundred of cards have been sent.

Nicola Brockley received her first Star Card this week, saying: “I had been working closely with Kal, our new Equality and Diversity Lead to help promote the new staff networks Kal is putting in place. I really enjoyed working with Kal and the type of work she is doing, but I was over the moon to receive a card thanking me for my help and support.

"It really made my day and was nice to know what Kal had thought of me. It also encouraged me to send out a few cards of my own."

Have you sent a star card yet? Brighten someone's day - it only takes a minute. CLICK HERE!

Book your antibody test today The antibody test booking line is now open to all substantive, bank and agency staff.

If you haven’t booked your test and would like to have it, please book your slot. Thank you to all those who have had their test so far. 

To book, please contact the booking line on Ext. 7015 or 01743 497015

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The line is open for individual bookings between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday. If it is busy you will be asked to call back

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You will need to provide an nhs.net email account to receive your results

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Agency colleagues without an nhs.net account will need to provide another email address, or a phone number to receive a text message

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Trust staff without an nhs.net account will be receiving a letter, and will need to activate their account

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If you have not received your results with 72 hours of your test, please contact the booking line so we can help you

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Staff who work at weekends will be able to have their test undertaken on Saturdays and Sundays, between 9am and 1pm. Please ensure you book via the booking line

Read how Army Reservist Andrew Ja military experience to his role

From the front line Today we meet Andrew Jackson, who in his civilian life is an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) SaTH and in his military life is an ODP and Sergeant Major for 202 Field Hospital West Midlands (Army Reserves).

He tells us how over the years his work in civilian and military settings have complimented each other and helped equip him with the skills necessary to overcome challenges he has faced along the way, including those associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

He explains: “For over a decade, I served as an ODP in the UK, Germany and the Falkland Islands. I also worked in support of a specialist medical team supporting the UK Special Forces for a year.

“In 1993 I left the army for a job with West Mercia Police. I did however continue working as an ODP at the Nuffield Hospital on my days off to keep up my clinical competencies.

“Then, about seven years later, 202 Field Hospital opened a Detachment in Copthorne Barracks. I popped along to speak to the

recruiting staff and left about an hour later having signed on the dotted line.

Serving his country

“Three years later I was called up for the second Gulf War. This was a compulsory call up with only six days notice to move and get my affairs in order with my family and employers.

“On landing in Kuwait we were driven to a location in the middle of the desert a few miles from the Iraq border.

We encountered a number of problematic areas within the department, but all problems were overcome with time, imagination and common sense.

“I was asked if I would volunteer for an Afghanistan tour in 2009, which I agreed to do. On this occasion, I was the senior ODP at Camp Bastion Hospital Complex. This tour was completely different, more complex, and certainly more emotionally draining. I worked long hours of operating on seemingly insurmountable trauma cases along with draining spells in resuscitations with young men, woman and children being caught in the conflict.

ackson, OPD at SaTH, has applied his in the fight against COVID-19 SaTH is committed to delivering care to our serving armed forces personnel and veterans that is consistent with the values of the Armed Forces Covenant.

“In reading and listening to the presentation, staff will better understand the needs of the veteran and will be able to help patients access the wide range We started a rolling educational of services available to them in programme which was the community. interrupted by the COVID-19 “We need to introduce systems efforts and need to socially in our departments that helps distance. us identify serving personnel To get this programme back and veterans, and underway Dr Kevin Eardley has encourage staff to take time prepared an educational and explore their experiences presentation.He said: “My aim and identify those is to have the majority of our whose service has affected staff sign up to becoming their physical or mental health. a Veteran Aware Champion.

“We can then improve their In 2019 SaTH committed to increasing the awareness of the needs of veterans and serving personnel.

“W encountered many challenges ,yet through hard work and determination we overcame these.

COVID-19 pandemic

experience when in our hospitals, and also importantly help those that wish to access community services provide by local organisations and charities that may improve their health and wellbeing, as well as their families.“ The presentation takes about 20 minutes. Upon completion you will be provided posters, patient information leaflets, and a Veteran Aware Champion Badge. These badges will help patients and staff engage in a discussion about the needs of our veterans, and help ensure a greater number of them access the help available to them.

You can download the presentation on the Trust’s intranet here.

“These times remind me very much of my times in Iraq and Afghanistan. We must be mindful of the impact this time has on staff’s physical and emotional welfare, as undoubtedly many have been drained by the difficult conditions.

“Prior to the COVI-19 Pandemic I was working Health and wellbeing regularly for the Army Reserve, Nuffield Hospital, and on the SaTH ODP Bank.

“Mental health and stress will also take a toil, people will say they are fine when really they are When it became clear that the pandemic was not. Please take time to talk, venting frustrations fast coming to the UK I was asked if I could should be encouraged and no ideas for the commit to supporting the theatre team, which I solution to problems are to be dismissed and agreed to do. The army directed all Reserves indeed free thinking should be listened to. like me to prioritise their effort in support of the

NHS.

“I was asked initially to complete a military tasking and then responded to a call from Lisa Walker, the PRH Theatre Matron with whom I had served in Afghanistan and asked to start working regularly for SaTH. “I attended COVID-19 training and was called to start nights on ITU as part of support for that department. The first week was 76 hours, the second week was 60, so again long hours in heat and PPE. All shifts were 12 hours and remain so.

“Difficulties in the supply chain of equipment were initially experienced, which also reminded me of my time on tours abroad. In Army terms, we experienced times of doing more with less, and performed to the highest standards with the minimum of equipment available. Teamwork was then and now key.

“Do not underestimate your team’s ability to perform at the highest levels under unbelievable pressure and always make them feel appreciated and valued. Most of all you must love and support each other throughout the worst of times.”

Our fantastic Swan Fund is celebrating its 5th birthday today – having raised £55,000 since its launch.

The fund was started by End of Life Care Facilitator, Jules Lewis, in July 2015 with a £500 donation collected at the funeral of her own father, Harold, who died at the RSH.

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The generous donations over the years have come from individuals, families, and organisations; and the most recent was a £1,000 donation from Shane Tickell.

Shane donated to the fund following the release of a COVID-19 specific version of the book Bereavement Management in Crisis, by Jules, Jules Lock and Roy Lilley. At the time of the production of the book, Shane’s mother-in-law, Joan Owen, went through end of life - and as a comfort to the family and the amazing life and work of Joan, Shane decided to donate to the fund.

The book has been written in Joan's memory and was released free of charge on the 20 April, and it had over 3,000 downloads in the first seven days. To date there have been more than 5,000 downloads.

The Swan Fund was set up to benefit patients who are at end of life, and their families, at both RSH and PRH – and it has funded Swan Rooms, Swan Bags, Ceiling Skylights, vouchers for relatives, Pet Passports, Children’s Bereavement Bags and much more.

It is also supported by The League of Friends of the RSH and the Friends of PRH through Swan Memory Boxes, which can be used by relatives and loved ones to keep special items.

Jules said: “The team, my mum and I are all very proud of the Swan Fund. Myself and my family see this as a celebration of the Swan Fund rather than five years since dad died, which is lovely for us to think he is still making a difference every day.”