Chatterbox: 11 December 2020

11 December 2020

Inside this issue: Project Wingman: Page 3 Food lockers go live: Page 5 £5.8m for SaTH: Page 7 Christmas round-up: Pages 8-11 Staff support: Pages 14-17

Dr Ed Rysdale receives one of the first COVID jabs

History-makers The largest vaccination programme in the history of the NHS is now under way, with the first COVID-19 vaccines administered at RSH this week.

We are proud that The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust is a part of that programme – with the RSH being one of 50 hospital hubs around the country delivering the vaccine in the first wave.

Dr Arne Rose, Medical Director, said: “Colleagues across our health and care system in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin have worked tirelessly to prepare for, and deliver, the first jabs. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone for their commitment and care.

“The programme will initially focus on those at greatest risk – people aged 80 and over and care home workers, along with NHS workers who are at higher risk.

“As vaccines become available, we will let you know who should come forward – please do not seek a vaccine before then.

“This is a moment we have all been waiting for since the scale of the pandemic became evident, and the arrival of the first vaccine is wonderful news but we should not let our guard down. We must all remain vigilant and continue all the COVIDsecure practices we’ve been working on to keep ourselves, our colleagues and our patients safe.”  Battle: See Page 4

Notice Board

Staff on the front line of the fight against coronavirus are being helped to unwind thanks to some first class support from airline crews.

Colleagues across SaTH are being treated to a ‘first class lounge’ experience by cabin crew and pilots who have been furloughed or made redundant during the pandemic.

The crews, working as part of a national programme called Project Wingman, are visiting hospitals across the country.

And next week they will set up lounges RSH and PRH. The lounges are environments where staff can unwind and destress before, during or after shifts by chatting to crew members or musing over a glossy magazine while enjoying a cup of tea or coffee.

Julia Clarke, Director of Corporate Services, said: “We can’t thank the airline crews enough for using their own time to support our staff in this way.

will provide a welcome space for colleagues to pause, reflect and unwind as together we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The lounge at PRH will be based in the Common Room in the Education Centre. It will open on 14 and 15 December. At RSH, the lounge will be at the League of Friends in the Treatment Centre, and will be open on 16 and 18 December. Both sites will operate between 10am-2pm.

Captain Emma Henderson, CEO and Founder of Project Wingman, said: “We are delighted that Project Wingman “We are doing everything we volunteers continue to step up to can to make sure emotional support our NHS colleagues wellbeing is a priority for despite their own uncertain colleagues across the trust and I futures. This is such a great way would encourage staff to take a for us to shed a little bit of light break in the lounge whenever and hope especially at this time they can. of year.”

“The Project Wingman lounges

“I’ve never even met a pilot, and now there’s one making me tea.”

Coronavirus battle not over: Dr Arne Rose This week, we reached what we all hope will be a significant turning point in our fight against coronavirus when we administered the first vaccines as part of the biggest immunisation programme in the history of the NHS. We are proud that SaTH is a part of that programme. Colleagues across our organisation and the local and national NHS, local government organisations, independent organisations and voluntary sector groups worked tirelessly last week, over the weekend and into this week to prepare for, and then to deliver, the first jabs and I want to say a huge thank you to everyone for their commitment and care.

This is a moment we have all been waiting for since the scale of the coronavirus pandemic became evident. But – and this is a very big but – it does not signify that the battle against the disease is over.

The vaccination programme will last until next spring at the very least. That is still some way off, and we have the cold winter months that respiratory illnesses like coronavirus love so much to get through. And, of course, the vaccine is not immediately available to everyone.

What this all means is that we absolutely should not be throwing caution to the wind now that a vaccine has arrived. We continue to treat patients who have contracted coronavirus and, sadly, people are still dying. So, please, continue to follow the advice and measures that are in place to keep not only yourself, but your loved ones safe.

The arrival of the first vaccine against coronavirus is wonderful news. But it is not the end of the story.

Dr Arne Rose, Medical Director

This week our Face of SaTH is Nabeel Ajazi. Nabeel’s is based in Theatres at PRH and is responsible for purchasing and ordering any goods/stock that the department needs. Here, Nabeel took the time to talk us through his role, and how it has changed during the Coronavirus pandemic: “Since the outbreak, I have had to find new ways of working to manage my demanding job. I have also had to take on new responsibilities in order to adapt, not only to the outbreak itself, but to changes to the surroundings, especially in theatres. A lot has changed to inhabit this ‘new norm’ that we face.

“A major challenge has been trying to source high usage items that are needed in a theatre environment – there have been stock issues that were national and worldwide. We worked as a team to get through any difficulties that we faced, with the help of Procurement and Internal stores to make sure we had adequate supplies in case of a surge in coronavirus cases.

“If I could go back to January and tell myself one thing it would be not to worry about money, nothing matters more than seeing those you love.

Treasure life and never take anything for granted.”

“Out of work, to relax, I take daily walks with my wife and kids and attend mosque more - for religious prayers to keep oneself focused.”

Food lockers go live Takeaway Food Lockers installed at PRH and RSH are now operational.

This will allow you to order your favourite takeaway and have the food delivered to secure food lockers by the main entrances of both hospitals. Details of how to order and collect are below.

SaTH is the first trust in the country to introduce these lockers and others are now looking to follow our example.

Others include 24-hour high quality ‘Bon Appetit’ vending machines which contain highquality frozen meals and snacks that can be heated in the machine or taken to staff rooms and heated. The machines are in the Apley Restaurant at PRH and the Wellbeing (League of Friends) Room by the Ward Block at RSH.

Our restaurants have also been introducing a pre-order facility for meals to help us meet a If you are interested in using the  Your preferred email address range of dietary requirements, (preferably one you can takeaway locker facility you will such as halal, gluten free and access via a mobile phone) need to register via our Logistics vegan options. Ring the Manager Ian Morris-Jones. To restaurants at PRH (Ext 2848 or You will not be able to access do this please email the takeaway locker facility until 2832) and RSH (Ext 1147 or ian.morris-jones@nhs.net and you have registered your details. 3183) for further details. provide him with: The food lockers are just one of To find out more about the initiatives that have been put in  Your name a series of initiatives that have been set up at SaTH to improve place to improve your time at  Your phone number work, click here. our work environment.

Still time to get involved in courtyard design SaTH has teamed up with waste and resource management firm Reconomy to look for ideas from budding designers for the renovation of a courtyard at PRH. Reconomy raised £14,600 that will be used to create an outdoor space that can be enjoyed by patients, staff and visitors – with the intention to start the work next spring.

Reconomy and SaTH are now running a competition to get design ideas submitted for the courtyard area – giving local people the chance to Julia Clark, Director of Corporate Governance at make a contribution to the project that will last SATH, said: “As the challenges associated with well into the future.

COVID-19 are set to continue through the winter and beyond, the renovation of this outdoor area at There is plenty of space to play with – around Princess Royal Hospital takes on even more 440m2 – and all creative approaches are welcomed. Of particular interest are designs that importance.” reflect the experiences of 2020, for example To enter the competition and submit a design, rainbows, which could be used in art or through simply visit www.sath.nhs.uk/design-our-garden the choice of flowers for landscaped sections. before 8 January 2021.

There should also be consideration for seating and covered areas for use in all weather.

SaTH awarded £5.8m for hospital maintenance SaTH has been awarded £5.8 million from a share of £600 million given to NHS Trusts for maintenance backlog. The money is part of £1.5 billion capital funding announced in the summer to help the NHS build back better.

TheTrust will put the money towards maintenance backlog. This includes improving wards, updating nurse call systems, fire safety improvements, upgrading to lighting and heating systems and modernising kitchens.

James Drury, Interim Director of Finance at SaTH, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this funding which will go a long way in helping us to build a better future.

“The funding will bring significant benefits to our patients, including the upgrade of wards, and will also ensure that our colleagues have an improved environment in which to care for our patients.”

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said: “Alongside delivering on our manifesto commitment to build 40 new hospitals and 20 major hospital upgrades across the country, this investment will help our NHS build back better.

“These crucial maintenance projects will deliver immediate benefits and provide NHS staff with the facilities they need to provide world-class care to their patients this winter, helping ensure the NHS is always there for you when you need it.”

The £600 million has been released to 178 NHS trusts to cover almost 1,800 maintenance projects.

Many of the projects are now under way and will be completed by March 2021.

Three members of staff in ITU at PRH have been spreading support to colleagues by getting creative a positivity board in their staffroom.

Critical Care Nurses Jodie Shaw (above left), Sharon Moore (right) and Rebecca Cotton (inset) put together the board during their own time in order to reach out to other members of the team, as we continue to tackle the second wave of coronavirus.

The board includes inspirational quotes, support line numbers, and has even taken on a festive theme with the addition of bauble templates for staff to write their own messages on.

Jodie, who’s worked on the ITU since September 2019, said: “Some staff on the unit have struggled with commutating how they’ve been feeling during the pandemic. We hope that this shows how we can help each other and that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

“We want to show support for each other and this seems like a great way of getting messages out to the team.”

The Children’s Ward at PRH received a special delivery, with pupils of class Base 11 at Hollinswood Primary School providing festive decorations.

Teacher Caitlin Arrowsmith said children were worried the ward wouldn't have decorations due to coronavirus restrictions, so decided to create wipeable ones.

Miss Arrowsmith (right), who is the daughter of Children’s Ward Manager Hazel Arrowsmith (left), said: “Due to COVID-19 we have had lots of discussions about hand washing and germs and how they spread. The children came up with this idea. They were concerned that the children in hospital wouldn't have decorations if you couldn't clean them, because it is important to be able to wipe things clean, and they wanted the children in hospital to feel ‘Christmassy’ although they might be poorly. I had read that schools in other areas had been asked to make laminated/wipeable decorations and knew it was a project the children in our school would want to help with.”

Hazel said “What a lovely thoughtful thing for the children to have done. The decorations they spent time making will definitely brighten up the ward and in doing so will hopefully lift the mood for staff and patients and help them feel a bit more festive.

“Many of the decorations include thank yous to NHS staff and its very sweet that they have thanked us for the work we do.”

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

An appeal has been launched to find gifts for colleagues at SaTH who will be spending Christmas away from their loved ones.

Kayleigh Williams, Cohort Facilitator with the International Nursing Team, wants to arrange for a small gift for colleagues at the Trust to open on Christmas Day. She said: “All of our international nurses will be away from their families this Christmas, which got me thinking and I decided I wanted to organise a present drive for all colleagues across SaTH who may also be away from family, so they too would have something to open on Christmas Day and know that people here are also thinking of them.

“If anyone could provide a wrapped gift for either a male or female, labelled, and get it to me before 23 December, I can deliver these to the wards at both hospitals.”

Anyone who can help can drop gifts off at the International Nursing Office in Block 3, in the former nurses’ residences near Stretton House, between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday, when the office is manned.

Kayleigh can also collect gifts on 21 December at the following locations:  9am-10am: Mytton Restaurant, RSH  11am-12noon: Apley Restaurant, PRH Kayleigh said: “If a note can be left with the name of the person who provided the gift, their department and what the item is, I will ensure it is delivered to the appropriate recipient, anonymously if giver so wishes.

“If anyone wants to nominate a colleague who would benefit from a gift, please e-mail me kayleigh.williams8@nhs.net”

Great Offers

PAGES 14-17

Staff Support

Staff Support

Peer-to-peer listeners In many situations, having someone to talk to can lighten our load; when we are listened to this helps us to feel valued.

Therefore we have trained a group of staff from across the Trust as Peer to Peer (P2P) Volunteers to help support colleagues. P2P are trained to provide confidential, non-judgmental peer support, signposting to other internal contacts where appropriate.

P2P listeners are trained in supportive listening skills but they won’t be acting as counsellors.

Teresa Love, Nurse and Workforce Project Office, P2P Lead Teresa.love3@nhs.net Charlotte Beirne, OD Practitioner, P2P Lead Charlotte.beirne@nhs.net Ella Collison, ITU Staff Nurse e.collison@nhs.net Angie Lunt, Recovery Staff Nurse angelamary.lunt@nhs.net Sarah Thomas, Senior Corporate Education Advisor sarahthomas@nhs.net Nerys Cox, Pain Nurse Specialist nerys.cox@nhs.net Jules Lewis, End of Life Care Nurse Specialist jules.lewis@nhs.net Lucy Stanley, HCA SAU lucy.stanley3@nhs.net Nyree Porter, PA nyree.porter@nhs.net

Rachel Hanmer, TCI Administrator Rachel.hanmer@nhs.net Adam Anderson-Woods, Library Assistant, adam.anderson-woods@nhs.net Samantha I'Anson, Corporate Educator s.i'anson@nhs.net Viv Orme, Radiographer viv.orme@nhs.net Maria Scenters, Library Assistant maria.scenters@nhs.net Erica Davies, Barista erica.davies@nhs.net Sally Roberts, Barista sally.roberts23@nhs.net Elaine Evans, Nurse, TBC Caroline Callister, Workforce Assurance caroline.callister@nhs.net Nick Robinson, Leadership & OD Coordinator nick.robinson5@nhs.net Jeanette Barnes, Specialist Nurse jeanette.barnes3@nhs.net Petro Hryziuk, Champlain petro.hryziuh@nhs.net Megan Griffith, A&E Sister megan.griffith2@nhs.net Mervyn Williams, Champlain mervyn.williams@nhs.net Kirsty Wagg, Specialist Nurse kirsty.wagg1@nhs.net Lynette Charles, Specialist Nurse lynette.charles@nhs.net Jules Lock, EOL Volunteer juleslock@live.com Rachael Maskell, Corporate Education Assistant rachael.maskell@nhs.net