Chatterbox: 12 March 2021

12 March 2021

Inside this issue: RAF veteran Paul inspiring others: Page 3 Celebrating our scientists: Page 7 Goodbye, hello: Page 9 Staff support: Pages 12-17 Lottery winners: back page

Holding out for a hero This week we launch our COVID-19 Hero Awards.

These awards provide an opportunity for colleagues to nominate individuals or teams who have gone above and beyond the call of duty since the pandemic hit.

Many of you have worked tirelessly with true compassion and dedication in your normal roles. Others have worked outside of their comfort zone, been redeployed and made sacrifices both in work and personal lives. These awards seek to shine a spotlight on these incredible efforts which has meant we have been able to care for our patients as best we can.

You may wish to nominate a team for readily agreeing to be redeployed to front line services, or an individual who has met the challenge of learning new skills and working outside their comfort zone. These awards will focus on how colleagues and teams have responded at work during this difficult time, whilst continuing to demonstrate our Trust values; partnering, ambitious, caring and trusted.

There is no shortlisting process and everyone who is nominated will receive a recognition certificate. We acknowledge that everyone has played their part in our efforts over the last year and we will be announcing some more recognition initiatives in the coming weeks.

To find out more and make a nomination, click here. Nominations close on 1 May.

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As an RAF weapons technician who served three tours in Iraq, Paul Twitchell saw the trauma of combat at first hand. What he witnessed affected him deeply, leading to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and attempted suicide.

comes with a good job but I had no idea what to do.

“When the pandemic hit I felt that I needed to do something to help so I began volunteering as a porter at RSH. I instantly I fell in love with the role and applied for a full-time position.

Thankfully, Paul survived and, after being diagnosed with PTSD and getting the help he needed, gained a place at the Invictus Games, winning a silver medal in sitting volleyball.

“Working with the team at the hospital has given me strength and friendships that I never thought possible. Now I have the opportunity to work within the Veteran Aware programme and the Step into Health scheme, which not only provides job satisfaction but also allows me to chat daily with fellow veterans.”

But due to his diagnosis, Paul was medically discharged from the RAF. Following further treatment he began to look for a new role, and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. It was then that Paul took up a role volunteering with the portering team at SaTH.

Dr Kevin Eardley, who is hosting the webinar, said: “Paul’s story is one of self-sacrifice to the extent that it made him severely unwell. From the depths of despair he has worked his way back to health. In response to the call for volunteers, Paul started to work at RSH in support of the effort against COVID-19. He has since taken a substantive position at the Trust.

He has since gone on to land a substantive role here, and is leading work being done by the Trust in support of patients who are Armed Forces veterans. He is also leading the Trust’s effort to help others like him ‘Step into Health’ and work in for NHS in Shropshire.

As part of that work, Paul will be the main speaker at a webinar which is being held on Tuesday (16 March).

Paul said: “During 23 years’ service within the Royal Air Force as a Weapons Technician I spent most of this time working on 5131 (Bomb Disposal) Squadron.

“I was deployed operationally three times to Iraq and witnessed trauma on several occasions. Although I was trained to an extremely high standard I found it hard to process the sights, sounds, smells and feelings and so I found solace in alcohol following deployments.

“The symptoms became

unmanageable until eventually I attempted suicide. My wife, Cindy, got me help and soon after I was diagnosed with PTSD and my road to recovery began.

“Using his life experiences, he is now leading work being done in our hospitals in support of patients who are veterans. He is also leading our effort to help others like him Step into Health and work in for NHS in Shropshire.

“In 2018 I gained a place on the Invictus Games Team UK. We travelled to Sydney, where I was fortunate enough to win a silver medal which hangs proudly in our dining room at home. However, due to my diagnosis I was no longer deemed to be operationally effective and was subsequently medically discharged from the RAF.

“I hope veterans living and working in Shropshire, members of our local Field Hospital 202FH Army Reserve, SaTH staff, and others in the wider community will come together and hear of some remarkable work being done in the fight against COVID-19. It’s set to be a very enjoyable and informative evening.”

The webinar will take place at 7.30pm “Following intense therapy and on Tuesday. To join click here. The medication I began to feel stronger and passcode is 564492. yearned to feel the self-worth that

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Last month, a group of final year medical students from Keele Medical School volunteered over 100 hours collectively to produce a wall mural for the paediatric waiting area of the fracture department at PRH. The mural displays a woodland theme with recognisable characters and wildlife for the children to enjoy whilst in the waiting area.

The students involved were Pamela Sturges, Maria Prayle, Abbie Randall, Brittany Hillman and Meeral Mashood.

The students set up a Healthcare Art Club at the end of the first COVID-19 lockdown as they felt the need to create a space for creativity.

The group run monthly workshops free to all NHS staff in the hope to create a social space where skills are taught and shared as well as promote local artists.

In addition weekly challenges are set to engage all staff members and their families.

For details, see the advert on the opposite page.

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Main picture: Sameem Shirzay looking after the 18 SAMBA machines used for rapid testing.

Inset: Molly Watkins-Fruen This week is National Healthcare Science Week – when the NHS celebrates the outstanding work of healthcare scientists, and encourages others to join the profession.

There are more than 300 healthcare science staff working across a range of specialisms at SaTH including audiology, medical physics, medical  Pulmonary function tests engineering, pathology, cardiorespiratory and fertility.  Sleep study and Oximetry analysis Their work includes developing cancer  CPAP issue and follow-up for treatments, helping to create families, diagnosis and treatment of sleep diagnosing what is making a patient ill, apnoea repairing vital medical equipment, and matching blood against the clock to  Long-term oxygen assessment provide a life-saving transfusion.  Cardiac device (pacemaker/Reveal/ Dr Arne Rose, Medical Director, said: “I ICD) follow up want to say a very big thank you to all They also assist with: our scientists. Their work during this pandemic, often behind the scenes,  Cardiac angiography has been invaluable and helps us to provide the very best care to our  Cardiac device implants patients.”  Complex echocardiography Spotlight on Cardio-Respiratory  Cardiopulmonary exercise tests The Department has bases at both PRH and RSH, with many staff working The team has been able to continue most services through the pandemic cross-site. There are currently three with staff altering shifts to help with Cardiac and one Respiratory healthcare science students, as well as social distancing during the week and provide ward cover over the weekend. two ‘in-house’ Associate They have also provided a ‘one-stop’ Practitioners. diagnostic service to patients coming to The teams performs and assist with a see a Cardiologist in order to reduce wide range of diagnostic services for visits to the hospital, reduce waiting both inpatients and outpatients. Some lists and provide a comprehensive of the services they provide are: service to patients.  Transthoracic Echocardiography, The departments provides direct access to primary care for some  ECG monitoring and analysis services which makes up a large proportion of our referrals, with many  Exercise ECG

coming through with new symptoms following an earlier COVID-19 infection.

Spotlight on Microbiology 12 months in Microbiology during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic Sarah Gilbert, Deputy Head BMS It’s been over a year since our first request for SARS-CoV-2 testing. We were sending samples away as Public Health England were doing all testing.

The pandemic resulted in laboratories being asked to do their own testing as the pressure on PHE became too great. By mid-March we were verifying the method in-house, and by the end of March we were live and doing about 60 PCRs a day using equipment we’d had since 2009 – it soon became apparent we needed more.

Fast forward to today. We’ve moved the laboratory around several times to make the best use of space; had new analysers to train on, verify, write SOPs and competencies for; we’ve tested over 115,000 specimens for SARSCoV-2 by PCR; analysed 16,000 specimens for COVID-19 antibodies; introduced rapid testing at RSH and more recently PRH (with the help of Blood Sciences); recruited new staff and extended the working day. On our busiest day, we processed 850 SARSCoV-2 PCR specimens (a feat that was unimaginable a year ago). We also managed to get UKAS accreditation somewhere in the middle of all this.

The last year has flown – none of us are sure where the time went. The laboratory remains very busy, but the staff take it in their stride. The team has been amazing. We’ve made so many changes, and we continue to do so.

COVID vaccine: second dose If you've had your first vaccine dose already, you may have had your second dose appointment booked, if not, the NHS will contact you when it's time for your second dose.

It is important to remember that you must go back to the centre where you received your original vaccine.

Always take your ID and the card you were given when you received your first vaccine. This details which vaccine you received so that vaccinators can be sure you are receiving the correct second dose.

The COVID-19 vaccination is given as two doses. You will have the second dose 11 to 12 weeks after having the first dose.

If you have had your first dose and have not yet been offered an appointment for your second dose, you will be contacted with an appointment for your second vaccination in due course. You will be contacted by the team you received your first dose of the vaccine from.

If you have chosen to be vaccinated in one of the vaccination centres, you will have booked both the first and second vaccinations at the same time when you book online.

Three colleagues from the Stroke Unit at PRH have recently retired—and returned to work as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

Between them Ann Allsop, Ward Manager and Amanda Smillie and Jenny Van Der Woning, Health Care Assistants, have over 60 years’ NHS experience.

Ann joined SaTH in November 1999, becoming a Ward Manager in 2008.

Ann, who was recognised for her leadership in the Trust VIP Awards, led the Stroke Unit to become SaTH’s first Exemplar Ward, achieving Gold status.

Amanda joined SaTH via the Bank in 2002 before gaining a permanent place on the Stroke Unit in 2004.

Colleagues say that they would see Mandy’s name and they knew the patients would be looked after and they had a reliable HCA who they could trust to do what needed to be done and could always make patients smile and have a joke while maintaining professionalism.

For more information, click the intranet article here.

Jenny joined Stroke Unit in 1998 as a HCA.

This week saw the 5,000th recipient of one of our Star Cards.

Her colleagues describe her as hardworking and caring, a good friend, with a great sense of humour and who gets on well with the whole team.

Star Cards were launched in June last year as a way of showing appreciation to colleagues.

At the click of a button, you can write your personalised note and send it direct to the inbox of its recipient.

You can send a star card to anyone working within the Trust who has an email address, at any time, and there is no limit to how many cards you send.

You can send a Star Card by clicking here.

Ann and Jenny have now returned to the Stroke Unit, while Amanda is working through the Bank.

Jo Yale, Head of Facilities, has been presented with her Long Service Award by Julia Clarke, Director of Corporate Service. In June, Jo will be celebrating 32 years working at SaTH.

Take-away lockers now available

PAGES 12-17

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

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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: Janet Leeson, Medical Engineering Second prize: Rachael Maskell, Corporate Education; Lauren Jones, Ward 28N Third Prize: Anu Baby, Ward 24; Samantha Hooper, Medical Directorate

The final word...

I wanted to write and let you know what a hugely positive experience we had in the fracture clinic today. My 5-year-old son came in to have a possible fracture reviewed. All the staff involved with his care were amazing. The doctor and staff member who supported us were very considerate towards my son, explaining everything and ensuring he wasn’t any more upset or worried than he already was. In the plaster room the nurse and plaster room assistant were again absolutely fantastic and really put his mind at rest, talking to him and making him feel really special. He even came away and commented how kind and gentle they were. It was a hugely positive experience and greatly appreciated. Please pass on my thanks to all staff involved.