Chatterbox: 24 December 2020

24 December 2020

Merry Christmas

Take-away lockers now available

People across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin are being urged to be a part of history – by applying for roles in the county’s COVID-19 Vaccination Service.

Hubs are already up and running in Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth, with more due online in other areas of the county in the next few days and weeks.

Vaccination represents the country’s best hope of a return to more normal life, and work is under way to roll out the vaccine as quickly as possible – starting with the over-80s, care home staff and vulnerable NHS staff.

Hubs are currently being staffed by healthcare workers from providers across the region who have been temporarily seconded from their regular roles to get the service up and running.

truly important.

“Everyone working in the covid vaccination service will one day be able to look back and tell their families that they did their bit in the fight against coronavirus; that they were a part of history.

But a dedicated workforce is being recruited in order to staff the hubs and make sure other important services are not adversely impacted.

From Shrewsbury in the west to Telford in the east; from Whitchurch or Oswestry in the north to Ludlow or Bridgnorth in the south; we are going to need people in the weeks and months ahead.

There are opportunities for current and retired healthcare professionals, but also for non-clinical staff in a range of administrative, reception and other frontof-house roles.

“It’s a real challenge to set up a service like this from scratch in a matter of days and weeks, so we really need all our local communities to rally around and join us.

Volunteers will also be needed to support the vaccination service as it develops and a volunteer recruitment process is currently being developed, working closely with the voluntary and community sector. Once it is ready, it will be promoted widely so that individuals with time to help and organisations with existing volunteers will be able to register their interest.

“If you think you could help, please do take a look at our advert and apply today.”

Sarah Sheppard, Director of People at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust, which is serving as the lead employer for the vaccination service in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, said: “This is an amazing opportunity to do something

“We all want to get back to the way of life we knew before covid, and the successful roll-out of a vaccine is the quickest route we have. 2020 has been a tough year, but with your help, 2021 can be a new beginning.”

Anyone interested can find further information on how to apply by visiting www.rjah.nhs.uk/vaccine.

“Please do get in touch, no matter where you live, as the chances are that we will have vacancies close to you at some point in the near future,” added Sarah.

Notice Board

Radiotherapy “Christmas drink” idea snowballs When the Radiotherapy Team had to scrap it’s Christmas party, it was decided to buy staff and volunteers a drink to go some way towards making up for it.

But when the teams leaders asked for a helping hand, the idea escalated and resulted in some wonderful gift bags for the team.

Bernadette Mortiboy, Technical Superintendent, said: “We are really grateful to our team for all the hard work they have put in throughout this year, and we normally are able to let our hair down a bit a celebrate the end of another year together, but this year COVID-19 stopped all that. However we still wanted to say thank you for all the work and especially to all our lovely volunteers who come in week after week to support us.

“The original plan was for us to buy some small bottles and create a drink for everyone with a thank you Christmas Card from Lingen Davies. We contacted SaTH Charity, which helped out with cotton bags, now dyed maroon, and the Society of Radiographers helped out with 100 Years of Radiology badges for all the Radiographers, and pens and chocolates for all.

“Then we asked local stores to help out too. Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Percy Thrower all were happy to help - it’s been an amazing response, the bags are enormous.

“We are handing them out this week and it’s been a nightmare trying to keep it all a secret but I am glad we have—the Band 7s all feel a bit like Santa!”

A colleague who organised a collection to help vulnerable families over Christmas has issued a thank you after receiving more than 1,000 items.

Sarah Voice, Anticoagulation Nurse Specialist at RSH, collected toys and gifts for Montgomery Family Crisis Centre (MFCC).

Sarah said: “Once again a fantastic amount of donations were collected from the staff at SaTH and other collection points closer to home in Welshpool and Newtown.

“Over 1,000 items were delivered to help support vulnerable families during this difficult time. I’ve been overwhelmed by people’s generosity and it is a fine example of the community coming together to support those most in need.

“My young son Harry and I have completed this appeal for several years and this year is our fifth campaign and our biggest donation to date.”

Sarah is pictured with Fleur Frantz-Morgans, MFCC Community Liaison Officer.

Great Offers

Shropshire Women and Children’s Centre at PRH received a donation of sweets, toys and gifts from Morrison’s supermarket. Thank you!

The latest winners in the SaTH staff lottery are:

Susan Williams, Information Rachel Byrne, Cancer Services Laura Mound, Ward 24 CCU Gary Walles, Cleanliness Team Angela Charles, ITU PRH Make sure you are in with a chance of winning by downloading a lottery entry form here. Completed forms should be returned to Fund, a restricted fund with the sole aim of sath.charity@nhs.net. improving the working environment and amenities for all employees. Any member of staff can apply Providing entries are made by the end of a calendar month, deductions will be made from the for funds to cover items such as kettles and toasters, fridges and fans for the warmer months subsequent month’s payroll, and you will be etc. entered into the following month’s draw.

A panel will award the money monthly in line with Tickets cost £1 and a maximum of 5 tickets can income to the Fund. be purchased. Payment will be deducted from your salary (a minimum of £1 per month to a Money can also be donated to this fund by maximum of £5 per month). It is the responsibility patients and their families wishing to say thank of each employee to check that deductions are you to the staff at our hospitals. accurate.

For more information visit intranet/Charity/ The extra special thing about our staff lottery is lottery.asp that all of the money raised is spent on our staff – 50% of profits are given out in prizes and the other 50% is adding to our Small Changes Make a Big Difference Fund which is all spent on items for staff. The Small Things Make a Big Difference

A time for giving, a time for getting Teams across SaTH have been spreading and receiving some festive cheer ahead of the big day.

1. Cash Providers in Wellington donated toys to the Children’s Ward at PRH, something which the company does every year.

2. The Therapy Team at RSH donating their Secret Santa money to the Shrewsbury Ark, which supports the homeless and vulnerable.

A total of £100 was raised, which was donated in the form of food vouchers.

3. Last week the Hospital at Night team delivered a chocolate bouquet to the AAA Screening Team; which they share an office with at RSH. Ellie Manders from the team said: “We never see them as they work days and we work nights, but we wanted to give them a Christmas gift to show how much we appreciate them being so lovely and sharing their office with us no fuss. Little notes and the odd packet of chocolate biscuits make us feel so welcome so thank you again. On Monday when we came in we found they’d left us a Christmas gift - a hamper of biscuits for our tea, what a fabulous idea. Thank you we love it.”

4. As mentioned in an earlier Chatterbox, colleagues Rhiannon Jones and Julie-Anne Askew set up a collection to try to get a present for every patient at SaTH. Julia-Anne said: “We did it!!! Every patient in the hospital got a present!!!! Thank you! Thank you to each and everyone of you that donated!

We’ve had tears and smiles and each and every single patient was so grateful! So from us! Thank you!!!”

5. And for no other reason than it’s Christmas, here are Julia Scott, Kerry Watson and Maz Lewis getting into the festive spirit in their Christmas scrubs in Ultrasound at RSH.

Merry Christmas

Representatives of Agribusiness Communications, including (from left to right), financial administrator Caroline Francis, founder Matt Mellor and managing director David Butler, present their cheque outside the Lingen Davies headquarters at RSH.

Boost for cancer fund

A patient with a breathing condition has praised SaTH after having an operation at PRH during the COVID19 pandemic.

Lingen Davies Cancer Fund has received a much-needed festive boost with local agricultural PR consultancy Agribusiness Communications (ABC) making it the focus of its 2020 Christmas giving.

Christine Lloyd from Telford, had been shielding since March as her condition made her more vulnerable to coronavirus. She had an appointment with a consultant at PRH’s Ear, Nose and Throat Department.

Representatives of ABC dropped into the Lingen Davies office at RSH to present a cheque for £1,000, a sum that will help towards the charity’s current key priorities of a new CT scanner and additional clinic rooms.

David Butler, Managing Director, said: “We’re delighted to be able to support Lingen Davies in this most challenging of years.

“So many of us have family and friends affected by cancer and we’re very fortunate to have a local charity doing such great work.

With opportunities for the usual fund-raising events being so restricted this year, it felt right for us to support such a valued local charity.”

Helen Knight, Lingen Davies Development Manager, said: “Thank you so much to ABC for their ongoing support to us at Lingen Davies. It is our ambition to work with more companies like ABC who can bring a team offering to the charity.

“2020 has been a challenging year for so many communities, businesses and charities, and we are therefore extremely grateful to those who are able to think of us and provide support in these difficult times.

“We are hopeful that 2021 will bring much brighter times for us all.

“Without companies like ABC we couldn’t continue to do what we do in supporting people affected by cancer in our local community.”

“My husband could accompany me to hospital, but wasn’t allowed into the consultation room with me,” said Christine.

“We didn’t see anyone else around – it was quite surreal and also a little frightening to see the staff wearing masks and visors. I also had to wear a mask, but the consultant put me at ease and explained everything about the procedure.

“During my pre-op assessment, I think I was more nervous about COVID than about the operation, but staff looked after me really well and answered all my questions. Everything was written down for me to read later.

“Two weeks before the operation, I was tested for COVID, then my husband and I had to isolate at home to make sure I could have the operation safely.

“The consultant saw me before I went into theatre, and a registrar saw me afterwards to give me my discharge letter which explained what would happen over the coming weeks. My consultant phoned me two weeks after the operation to follow up, but I knew I could phone her at any time if I had any concerns or questions.”

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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 Vicki Robinson, HR Advisor Vicki.robinson1@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