Chatterbox: 22 January 2021

22 January 2021

Inside this issue: Making A Difference Together: Pages 2&3 Veteran Aware boxes: Page 7 Runners’ thanks to Cardiology Team: Page 9

Gifts from orbit: Page 5 Helping patients in our hospitals To help families stay connected to their loved ones in hospital, SaTH has introduced a "Send a message to a loved one" scheme.

Colleagues are asked to encourage those with loved ones in our hospitals to visit our website www.sath.nhs.uk/message and send a message to them to cheer them up. The message can include photos and will be delivered same day if it is sent before 3.30pm.

Ruth Smith, Patient Experience Lead at SaTH, said since the scheme launched, they had already received some lovely patient feedback.

Staff support: Pages 12-15

Ruth said: “We are acutely aware of the pain of separation during this pandemic so to try to ease this we have introduced this scheme.

A special thank you: Back page

“We know how much messages from family and friends mean to patients and how much they brighten up their day. To send a message, all relatives and friends need to do is fill in our online form on our website and PALs will make sure that this is delivered for them.

“Just under 24 hours of launching the scheme on social media, it received 365 shares on Facebook and Instagram and had been seen by over 33,500 people.

A patient has also said how much it had cheered them up.

“We are also very grateful for the support of the local Tesco Extra in Shrewsbury which has offered to donate paper to support the printing across both sites.”

Making a Difference Together is our first all-staff conversation, where every member of our organisation can have their say, share experiences of working in the Trust and help paint the picture of what our culture looks like, and it is now live!

Since 12 January, colleagues have been anonymously logging on to SaTHMakingADifferenceTogether.org to take part in the interactive discussions about what it is like to work at SaTH. Together staff members have shared over 1,200 contributions.

Every staff member has been invited via their nhs.net email (please check in case this has gone into your junk folder) to join the conversation, whether on a permanent or temporary contract, work on the bank, or as a volunteer.

The Making a Difference Together platform gives everyone an opportunity to share ideas and insights in a safe, anonymous online space. It is available 24-hours-aday, seven-days-a-week and you can join the Making a Difference Together online workshop from a PC, tablet or smartphone.

The conversation asks our staff to share their views on five broad questions: Living our Values How do we make sure everyone who works at SaTH lives our new values, what behaviours would we want to see and what would we not tolerate?

Creating a compassionate and inclusive culture What do we need to stop, start or do differently to make sure that SaTH is an inclusive, compassionate and kind place to work?

what should we do? How should people be held to account?

How we will know we are improving How will we know we are learning and improving?

Making a Difference Together also wants to hear your ideas on how we can improve the organisation – within the first week, 50 ideas were anonymously raised on the platform, and these ideas are available for all staff members to read, rate and comment upon.

We know that Trusts which have engaged staff, working in a positive cultural environment, provide better care, so we need to identify what should be done differently – and what we should do more of - to ensure we have a consistent positive culture that allows everyone to thrive.

We know we don’t have all the answers, so we will not be alone on our cultural improvement journey. We will be working collaboratively with a specialist team at Clever Together to co-create a positive culture to improve and sustain performance.

Clever Together have used cultural assessment tools to understand and solve truly complex issues in other NHS organisations. They have worked effectively, and transformed the culture of Leeds Teaching Hospitals (LTHT) through staff engagement following the co-creation of The Leeds Way. Clever Together’s methods were cited as being central to the Trust winning awards for its transformation in staff engagement and for helping to improve clinical performance. More information on Clever Together’s work with LTHT and the Leeds Way is available here.

The conversation will be live until 1 February 2021. Once closed the conversation can still be accessed and read Making it easier to collaborate but new contributions can’t be made. If an issue is raised What do we need to stop, start or do differently to make it that can be resolved quickly, we won’t wait for the easier to collaborate and work better with others to ensure conversation to finish, we will act. we provide the best care?

Our external partners, Clever Together, will analyse all of Setting high standards for ourselves your suggestions and ideas and will help agree what When we see or hear people behave in ways that are not actions and interventions we will need to make. in line with our values and the culture we want to work in,

What you’re saying

“

To find out more , you can watch a short video at the sathmakingadifferencetogether website.

Just click the play button to get there.

Start being more human.

“What I mean by that is to start being more honest about the fact that we are all people. Be open with each other, be authentic, share your stories, be vulnerable, be honest when we get things wrong and share our successes when we get things right. Move away from being focused on processes and forms and put our focus on treating people the way we want to be treated ourselves. Prioritise our human interactions, from the simple things like saying hello, asking how people are etc. We are not machines, we are real people with real lives.”

Charity round-up Serving up a treat The SATH Charity Treats Trolley went down a storm at Trust sites this week.

Volunteers and the Charity Team supplied items to help staff with the continued use of PPE and frequent handwashing.

Feedback from staff included messages like: “A big thank you from the IBD and Nutrition teams for the lovely goodies today we picked up today.”

“Just wanted to pass on a big thank you to the SaTH charity and the team for the goodies available to us in the RSH canteen today. The items will definitely come in handy with the current pandemic situation worsening again.

Much appreciated.”

“I just wanted to say a massive thank you for the freebies (wipes and lip salve). I’m a secretary, the wipes in particular are amazing! I sit for long periods of time surrounded by Perspex and wearing headphones, glasses and a mask can make things feel a bit claustrophobic. The wipes are great – they cool me down and just remind me to take a moment for myself. ” Julia Clarke, Director of Corporate Services, said: “We want to support our staff who are working so hard during this pandemic. The items on the trolley this week were to help them cope with some of the problems caused by the continuous use of PPE. If there’s any areas we couldn’t reach this week please let us know by emailing we.supportsath@nhs.net.”

The items were purchased by the Charity with money made available through the Staff Lottery, colleagues using Amazon Smile and donated funds to support staff from members of the public.

Look out for the dates for the next Treats Trolley in next week’s Chatterbox.

“When you are so tired you can hardly move remember, we are thinking of you” Community-owned cinema and cafe, Wellington Orbit is showing its love for colleagues at PRH by creating and delivering over 40 food hampers.

And each hamper comes with messages of support from the community.

Phil Morris-Jones, Chair of the Orbit, said: “The Wellington Orbit is more than just a cinema, it’s a project to delight the community. This is a small token of our appreciation, combined with messages of support and gratitude from the community for the incredible work done by all of the staff”.

Messages from people who have contributed to the scheme include: “Words can’t even begin to describe the gratitude to you all, from the community of Wellington. Every day that you turn up for work is another day where we hope you are aware that you have our full support, love and encouragement to help you through your shift. When you are so tired you can hardly move, remember that we are thinking of you and sending you our very best thoughts and wishes.

“Thank you for what you do. Thank you for your hard work, your smiles, your kind words and for continuing on, no matter how hard things get. You are awesome, wonderful, amazing, and we are so proud of you. Thank you.”

“We think you are amazing. Thankyou for your bravery, your strength, your kindness and compassion. Thankyou for carrying on going against all odds. Thankyou for doing a job that so many of us couldn’t.”

“A huge thank you to our true heroes. You should all be very proud of yourselves for all that you do and all that you are - Kind, caring and compassionate people.”

Over the last week the SaTH Charity Team have been handing out Thank You bags to people who were nominated to receive one back in December.

Julia Clarke, Director of Corporate Services said “The Thank You bags have been an absolute pleasure to give to staff.

Included in each bag was a card with the details of who nominated them and the reasons why.

These messages of appreciation have meant more to staff than the thank you bag themselves.

“We recognise this has been a tough start to the year, and these have brought a smile to lots of people – not least because it was a fellow colleague who has recognised their hard work.”

Volunteers will be handing out free samples of Dettol hand gel on Monday (25 January) from the Response Volunteer Desk (main entrance corner desk) at PRH. There are plenty of bottles for everyone to have a sample. The bottles are travel-size and are meant to support staff for use outside of the hospital.

Samples were given out to staff at RSH this week, and colleagues at Shrewsbury Business Park, Queensway, Severnfields, and Atcham will also be sent some of the samples.

Notice Board

Resources boxes to help staff identify and help Armed Forces veterans and serving personnel will soon be rolled out to Wards across SaTH. The boxes will help colleagues explore with patient which services available in the community they might find of benefit. They will include: details on:  Armed Forces Outreach Support Co-ordinator (Shropshire)  National and Local Charities  Veterans' Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service

These quarterly meetings have representatives from over 30 local organisations, charities, and service users and are helping drive change.

 Red Cross home from hospital The Armed Forces Covenant highlights the principle that no services member of the Armed Forces  Pathway Zero Referral Process Community should face disadvantage while working or  Staff and Patient information receiving care within our hospitals. leaflets It also demonstrates the value we  List of Veteran Aware place on Serving Personnel, both Champions Regular and Reservists, Veterans This development has been led by and military families. The Trust signed up to the Covenant in 2015 Sharon Groome and Rebecca Bromley from the Patient Journey and worked successfully to be accredited as Veterans Aware in Facilitator team who are both 2019. We also hold the Siver Veteran Aware Champions. With Award under the Defence time and learning we anticipate that more patients will be referred Employer Recognition Scheme. to these services. There is early Since the end of 2019 there has feedback from our Veterans Aware begun a renewed effort to increase Stakeholder Group meeting that awareness of the Trust's staff to this is already happening. the Armed Forces Covenant.

Supported by the Veterans Covenant Hospital Alliance, local authorities, and veterans' charities we have embarked on increasing the number of Veteran Aware Champions. The environment veterans might experience in our hospitals can trigger certain emotions and memories from their military experience which can disadvantage them if not recognised. The need to wear surgical masks to minimise risk of spread of COVID might for example be a trigger. You can become a champion by viewing the online training package accessible here.

The same principles of recognising the needs of our patients are entirely appropriate for everyone.

Pathway Zero describes a process which helps those patients that do not require a formal referral to a social worker but who might benefit from short term access to local charitable services to support their discharge. Work has already begun to improve care for the homeless along similar lines. You can hear more from local charities working for the homeless, rough sleepers, and in need of foodbanks here.

For more information on the Veterans Awareness work please go to our Intranet page.

Notice Board

Runners say thank you to Cardiology Team Two runners who struck up a friendship after each recovering from a cardiac arrest have made donations to the Cardiology Team to thank them for the treatment they received.

Peter Corr (above, left) said the staff at the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) at PRH were “amazing in their care” while Martyn Bidgood (above centre and right) says he could never thank the team enough for “saving his life”.

Both Peter and Martyn recovered and were able to resume running. Martyn, 66, from Kemberton, near Telford, has shared his experiences in a book called Cardiac Athletes. Now he has donated a copy to the Nurse who saved his life so the Cardiology Team can share it with other patients.

Through the Cardiology Team, Martyn was put in touch with Peter, 47, from Telford, and helped him in his return to running. Peter completed a half marathon in October, raising £500.

Martyn became unwell after returning home from a long weekend in Llandudno with his wife. After his condition became worse he was admitted to the PRH. It was there that he suffered a cardiac arrest.

Martyn said: “The staff explained to me that I had gone into cardiac arrest and they had given me CPR and used a defibrillator to stimulate my heart into beating again. I have no recollection of any of this and because there were no marks or bruises I could not really believe that

cardiac arrest. I don't recall anything about it. My understanding is that five Martyn was transferred to the Queen people stopped to help.

Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where he had two stents fitted.

“I was clinically dead for 14 minutes before being revived by the He said: “On my release from ambulance crew. I was taken to PRH Birmingham I was given a copy of the and admitted to the Coronary Care discharge letter that was sent to my Unit, where I remained for nine days GP. It clearly stated: ‘While on CCU and had one stent fitted in to an at Telford, he had a syncopal episode artery. with a VF arrest which required 30 seconds of CPR followed by a shock “The ward staff were amazing in their care for not only myself but my wife, with ROSC.’ too. She was really traumatised by “It was only at this point that I what had happened. They were there realised the staff at the Princess to listen, care, support, hold my hand Royal Hospital had, indeed, and encourage me on the road to performed those actions that saved recovery. my life. How can I ever thank them “Once I was home I was recovering enough?” quickly and was keen to get back to The Nurse who shocked Martyn out running. Martyn was an absolutely of Ventricular Fibrillation was Sister invaluable ally in giving me someone Nicky Brierley, a Cardiac Assessment to run with which reassured my family Specialist Nurse. Nicky is also a keen and also someone I could share my runner and she and Martyn struck up experiences and frustrations with. He a friendship through their shared has become a true friend out of this hobby. and we run together when we can.

Nicky said: “I was very proud to give “I had originally intended to run the Martyn his finish token at the Telford Ironbridge Half Marathon in March Park Run on the first anniversary of 2020 to raise money for the CCU, but his cardiac arrest.”

COVID put pay to that, as the race was cancelled in the first lockdown. I And it was Nicky who put Martyn in eventually got to run the Thoresby touch with Peter after he also Half Marathon in October 2020, suffered a cardiac arrest. raising £500.”

Peter said: “I have been running Nicola said: “We are very grateful to marathons and half marathons for about 15 years and consider myself Martyn and Peter for their donations and that we were able to help them fairly healthy. both on the road to recovery and so “In September 2019 I was running on that they could both continue my own near my home when I had a running.” it had happened.”

Take-away lockers now available

PAGES 12-15

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

A message of thanks The following message was sent in from a member of the public who wanted to pass it on to everyone working in the local NHS:

“I just wanted to say how much I (and I believe so many other people) admire, respect and so much appreciate all the energy, effort, and dedication you demonstrate and continue to show in these current really challenging times.

“Your commitment to others and each other is exemplary and outstanding. Given that empathy and the desire to alleviate suffering are your trademarks the current situation must be harrowing for you.

“Please know that it is your strength, love and care that helps us to feel better. It is the fact those we love are with, and looked after by, those that really care which makes such difference when we are not able to be there and makes such a difficult time better.

“I am saddened to hear that sometimes people do not show you the appreciation you deserve.

You, however, know that in times of distress and stress we may not always act as we would like and that some people are very self-centred!

“Just hold on to the fact you are all wonderful, generous in giving and doing your brilliant best in a really difficult scenario whatever your role.

“It must be so hard on you all right now and I just wish there was something more constructive I could do to help and support you all. You are absolutely wonderful, and I salute you all.

“THANK YOU.”