Chatterbox: 5 March 2021

5 March 2021

A year like no other: Pages 2&3 Inside this issue: Improving patient experience Page 5 International Women's Day: Page 7 National Careers Week: Page 9 Endometriosis Awareness Month: Page 10

Staff support: Pages 14-19

Artist to capture your COVID stories A local artist is planning to capture the challenge we have faced and the support we have received in a new piece of work which will then be donated to SaTH. Over the past 12 months all of our lives had been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Equally for patients and our communities it has been a time of unprecedented change and worry and yet the support they continue to show has been heart-warming, as they have shared with us how much they appreciate and value the NHS. Local artist Rory McCann (pictured) is hoping his new work will celebrate the endurance of the human spirit while living through a global pandemic. This yet-to-be named artwork will be a symbol of reflection and hope.

Rory has asked that we share stories, pictures or perhaps a video-message to help him shape his artwork – and he would like your help.

He is asking for volunteers to spare a couple of minutes to share their thoughts about how public support has touched them. Maybe it was the sight of Captain Tom and his walk for the NHS or an unexpected donation or kind word sent in by a member of the public - or a story about life in the pandemic that you would like to be heard.

SaTH Charity would also like to share some of your stories with our communities to let them know how much their support has meant. As a thank you for sharing your words, a ‘Thank You’ gift set which has been donated by Clarins, is on offer. You can share your story by using the link here.

A year unlike

any other On 10 March last year the first confirmed case of coronavirus was reported in Shropshire.

Since then, sadly more than 500 people with coronavirus have died in our hospitals. But many people who have been treated for the virus have also been discharged home thanks to your care.

This has been a year unlike anything we have ever experienced, where both our work and personal lives have changed beyond recognition.

In those 12 months, vaccines have been developed and the largest vaccination programme we have seen has been rolled out at pace across the county, protecting vulnerable people and our colleagues.

There is light at the end of the tunnel but the fight goes on.

On these pages you will see just some of the images that sum up this extraordinary 12 months.

Your commitment to our patients and your colleagues is incredible.

Thanks you.

*Pictures were taken at various stages during the pandemic and reflect the PPE guidance of the time

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Tesco in the Community and Wellington Orbit continue to donate wellbeing items for colleagues.

Wellington Orbit again delivered ‘care packages’ to PRH and RSH. Due to COVID-19 restrictions the Orbit, which operates a café and 63-seat cinema, has been unable to operate.

Improving patient experience Covid-19 has brought challenges we have never encountered and affected patients’ experience of healthcare, particularly by not having the direct support of their loved ones.

It is important that every experience had by a patient, carer or relative, in our hospitals, is one of care, compassion and respect. We are, therefore, reviewing the experience patients have in our hospitals and the support which is available to them.

A key measure of determining patients experience is the work of our Patient Advice and Liaison Service and the Complaints Team, who review feedback to identify any areas of good practice and areas for improvement.

To ensure these services are effective, the Patient Experience Team, as a whole, would like to know your views.

We want to ensure these services are meeting the needs of our staff, as well as the needs of our patients and their loved ones. Any feedback or suggestions you share will be greatly appreciated, and will allow us to improve the service, with patients’ needs in mind.

Please take the time to share your thoughts anonymously by completing a short survey here.

Alternatively, you can share feedback through a drop in session with Ruth Smith, Head of Patient Experience: Complaints drop in session Open to all staff who are involved in the complaints procedure. Friday 5 March, any time between 11am and 3pm. Click here to join the meeting.

PALS drop in session Open to all staff. Thursday 11 March, anytime between 1pm and 5pm.

Click here to join the meeting.

Sarah Chard, Office Manager said: “While the NHS does all it can to take care of us, we wanted to make sure they had supplies to ensure they can take care of themselves.”

Ten boxes were delivered with items such as snacks and face masks.

Tesco in the Community has also been sending in regular donations – the majority of which have been donated by customers.

Rachel Benson and Rachel Owen, Community Champions at Tesco Extra, Shrewsbury, organised the collection and have been dropping off items every week.

They can be thanked by filling out a survey at www.tescoviews.com and mentioning them at the end.

SaTH Charity is working with companies and individuals who wish to make donations. The team keeps a list of items and distributs them as fairly as possible. Sometimes donors specify where they would like their donations to go.

SaTH Charity has set up well-being trolleys to distribute items and opened up distribution points on selected days.

The Charity Team maintains a record of all donations and wherever possible supporters are recognised with a personal thank you letter.

If you know of anyone who wishes to make a donation or would like to find out more about supporting SaTH, ask them to contact us at we.supportsath@nhs.net

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International Women’s Day

Monday marks International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

IWD is an annual event which celebrates women's achievements, raises awareness about women's equality, lobbies for accelerated gender parity and fundraises for female-focused charities.

One of the most powerful ways to support IWD is by getting involved in IWD activities and encouraging others to do so too.

We’d like to encourage all colleagues to share a selfie or video on social media telling us how you are marking IWD, or explaining what the day means to you, using the hashtag #SaTHIWD, along with the hashtags #IWD2021 and #ChooseToChallenge, which is the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day. Individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions. We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. You could strike the Choose To Challenge pose (above) and share it on social media using the hashtagsto encourage more people to commit to helping forge an inclusive world.

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Former apprentice Corrine Smith on her journey so far…

“I joined the NHS in 2015 as an Administration This week is National Careers Week. Here, Apprentice completing a NVQ Level 2 in Business Recruitment Manager Louise Graham (above) tells more about why the NHS Apprenticeship scheme has and Administration. I chose an apprenticeship as it was a great way to made such a big difference to the Recruitment Team. gain practical work experience at the same “When thinking of careers in the NHS many people time as earning and completing a imagine roles within medicine and nursing. However, there qualification. My apprenticeship was a year, are many non-clinical roles which contribute to the but after nine months I was offered a everyday running of the NHS and can offer fantastic career permanent Recruitment Assistant position.

opportunities and development.

“As a Department Manager, I feel that it’s really important that I offer apprentices the opportunity to come and work within my team. It can often be a Catch 22 situation whereby you haven’t got the relevant experience, but no one is willing to give you the opportunity to gain that all important valuable experience. That’s where I feel I can come in!

“Since the Recruitment Team was launched six years ago, we have recruited three apprentices – Corinne, Tasha and most recently Chloe.

“The team were amazing and really supportive, training me in a new role and helping me finish my NVQ. The Trust really promotes and encourages personal development and supported me in continuing my learning when I decided to complete the level 3 NVQ in Business and Administration. The knowledge and skills learnt whilst completing this helped with my professional development; whilst completing the NVQ I was successful for a Recruitment Advisor role.

“I had been with the Trust for three years

All three have successfully completed their apprenticeship, when the opportunity came up for the whilst gaining qualifications in Business Administration.

Recruitment Supervisor position. The During their apprenticeship and beyond, I’ve watched Corinne, Tasha and Chloe develop and their confidence grow within the Recruitment environment. As a result, all have gained substantive roles, with some gaining promotions. They are an asset to our team.

“I’d encourage any appointing managers to consider recruiting an apprentice - you are giving someone the opportunity to kick start their career or take a career change, which can be very rewarding.”

For more information about working with us, visit www.jobs.sath.nhs.uk

support and encouragement from the team, especially my supervisor and manager, gave me the confidence to apply, and I was successful. I have been in this position for two years and thoroughly enjoy it.

“I would recommend an apprenticeship. It’s a great way to gain invaluable experience and skills in a work environment. The NHS is an excellent employer in regards to career development with opportunities to complete various qualifications, in-house training and a multitude of skills you will learn in the workplace.”

Endometriosis Awareness Month

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, and to mark it, we spoke to Dr Joanne Ritchie, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist.

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the inner lining of the womb (endometrium) is found elsewhere, usually in the pelvis around the womb, ovaries and fallopian tubes. This means that these areas of endometrium also bleed when a woman is on her period and with the blood having nowhere to escape to, the blood irritates the lining in the abdomen and can cause pain. It is a very common condition, affecting around 1/10 women. You are more likely to develop endometriosis if your mother or sister has had it.

Endometriosis usually affects women during their reproductive years. It can be a long-term condition that can have a significant impact on general physical health, emotional wellbeing and daily routine.

What are the signs and symptoms?

Common symptoms include pelvic pain and painful, sometimes

irregular or heavy periods. It can cause pain during or after sex and can lead to fertility problems. You may also have pain related to your bowels, bladder, lower back or the tops of your legs, and experience long-term fatigue. Some women with endometriosis do not have any symptoms. Endometriosis can cause pain that occurs in a regular pattern, becoming worse before and during your period. Some women experience pain all the time but for others it may come and go.

The pain may get better during pregnancy and sometimes it may disappear without any treatment How is it diagnosed?

Endometriosis can be a difficult condition to diagnose. This is because:  The symptoms of endometriosis vary so much

 The symptoms are common and can be similar to pain caused by other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) The diagnosis can be made on symptoms alone, with an ultrasound scan, MRI scan or with a diagnostic laparoscopy (an operation which uses a telescope to

look in to the abdomen).

What are the treatment options?  Pain-relieving medication  Hormone treatments Some hormone treatments that may be offered are contraceptive and will also stop you becoming pregnant. They include: The combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill An intrauterine system Progestogens in the form of injection, the mini pill or the contraceptive implant.  Surgery Surgery can treat and remove areas of endometriosis. The surgery recommended will depend on where the endometriosis is and how extensive it is.

For more information go to endometriosis-uk.org. #EndoTheStigma by encouraging everyone to be more open about endometriosis – to talk, acknowledge and understand.

NHS Thank You daisies SaTH Charity is having a fantastic response for our NHS Thank You Daisies – they are due for delivery towards the end of the month and there is still time to guarantee one from the first batch.

The daisy has been designed

by The British Ironwork Centre, who have sold a number of cheerful of them to SaTH Charity at a discounted price. All donations for the daisies will go to the SaTH Charity Small Things Make a Big Difference fund to support staff.

If you would like one of these daisies, follow these steps: 1. Follow this link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/? hosted_button_id=9EZPKNSKMTSK6&source=url 2. For every donation, SaTH Charity will gift a Thank You Daisy. If you donate £10 you will be offered two daisies, for £15 three and so on.

3. SaTH Charity will send you an email within 48 Hours as confirmation.

Hospital at Night Nurse Practitioner Steve Fletcher has found a great way to fill his time during lockdown—creating a YouTube Channel for him and his camper van.

Steve, who has worked at SaTH since 2006, decided to created Steve the Transit Camper, a lighthearted diary of his interest in camper vans and camper van maintenance.

Steve said: “It has a teaching element of interior design and ‘how to’ tips. There is also lots of footage of my dog called Cat, a tiny lovable jackawawa who is very happy when in the campervan, who comes along on my adventures.

“The channel is completely family friendly and will always remain that way. It has kept my mind occupied during the lockdown and I would encourage others to find something to do the same, especially from a mental health point of view.

“I currently have 250 subscribers and the channel is growing. If colleagues got on board by subscribing, which is a simple click, on YouTube I would be extremely grateful and it costs nothing.

SaTH Charity is expecting another delivery of the daisies at the end of the month and will be in touch to arrange delivery.

“A HCA from Ward 23 won a bottle of wine for my 200th subscriber.

There will be a prize for the 500th Julia Clarke, Director of Corporate Service said: “I have ordered subscriber, 750th and a 1,000th in one to brighten my garden – it will be positive reminder of this year the future. It would be nice if that and how the amazing NHS rose to the challenge.” was someone from SaTH!”

If you have any questions, please email we.supportsath@nhs.net

To find Steve’s page, click here.

Take-away lockers now available

PAGES 14-19

At SaTH your wellbeing matters and that’s why we all need to take some time to consider the factor

The COVID-19 crisis has affected us all, whether this is within our personal life or at work. This is why this w ranging from exercise, nutrition, sleep, financial advice and mindfulness. You will be able to find useful tips,

Each Wednesday our staff wellbeing team will be walking round our two hospitals to speak to you, ask how selves. They will be in their purple wellbeing t-shirts so do look out for them – they are there to help you.

To find out more about the weekly activities, please look out for detail in the weekly staff information bulletin Upcoming Wellbeing Wednesdays 17 February - Home Workers Support 24 February - Psychological PPE 3 March - Mindfulness 10 March – Benefits of Exercise 17 March - Nutrition & Hydration 24 March – Resilience

These sessions will be facilitated by Team Prevent and are available for all staff to attend. To book please e

As part of Wellbeing Wednesday, we’ve created a Wellbeing Wheel which is intended to help you think abo complete the Wellbeing Wheel and to develop a Wellbeing Action Plan which you should review regularly. T

rs which have an impact on our wellbeing.

week we’ve launched Wellbeing Wednesdays. Each Wednesday we will be touching on a different topic , resources and we will also be arranging some online sessions.

w you are feeling and what we can do to support you and to promote the importance of looking after our-

n and notifications from the staff app.

Upcoming Wellbeing sessions via MS Teams 3 March 10.30 – 11am – Mindfulness and Breathing Exercises

PAGES 14-19

10 March 2.00 – 2.30pm – Benefits of Exercise

17 March 12.30 – 1.00pm – Nutrition & Hydration Tips

email l.westcott@nhs.net and you will be sent a link for the session.

out your wellbeing and lifestyle. We encourage all staff to work with a trusted colleague or line manager to This booklet also outlines the support available from SaTH to help improve and enhance your wellbeing.

Staff Support

Ultrasound assistant, jan.dibben@nhs.net

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

First prize: Richards Jones, Communications Team Second prize: Hannah Brown, Radiotherapy Third prize: Mandy Hill, X-ray Fourth prize: Diana Martin, Workforce Fifth prize: Luke Davies, Medical Engineering

The final word...

Sending much love to the SaTH teams, in particular the lovely nurses in outpatients dialysis for taking special care of my dad after my mum died. It is so much appreciated.