Chatterbox 10 March 2023

10 March 2023

NHS Staff Survey results are in!

Last Autumn, we invited you take part in the NHS Staff Survey 2022. The results were published on 9 March.

Although we remain below average, we are pleased to share that we have improved in all nine elements of the People Promise and themes. This shows that what we are doing is making a difference. We know we still have more to do but we must feel proud of this progress and keep our focus to embed the culture we desire, build on the progress we are making together to continue to improve.

We have created a video which outlines these results, along with what this means for us as a Trust, and our next steps. You can watch this here.

Headlines

We have improved in the following areas:

• We are safe and healthy

• We are a team

• Morale

• We work flexibly

Areas we need to focus on:

• Compassion, inclusivity and ensuring our colleagues feel able to speak out

• Ensuring colleagues feel able to raise concerns

• Advocacy

What are we doing to improve our culture?

• Working to improve our race equality, disability equality and gender metrics

• Collaborating with the ICS in areas such as education and workforce planning

• Launching a Year of Listening campaign – more details coming soon

• Improving our health and wellbeing offer for colleagues

Get involved

Due to adverse weather conditions impacting on staff and services,

the staff briefing sessions due to be held on Friday 10 March were cancelled. We will now be running briefing sessions for Corporate and the Divisions. Please click here to find out the dates and times of the briefings.

We are really proud of each and every one of you for everything you continue to do for our patients, communities and each other.

These results show that change is happening, and we are making some real progress. It doesn’t happen overnight, but I look forward to working together with you on the next steps of our improvement journey.

As part of National Careers Week (6-12 March) we have been shining the spotlight on our colleagues.

We have over 7,000 employees, which makes us one of Shropshire’s biggest employers.

National Careers Week (NCW) helps young people across the country to explore different career paths that match their interests at what is a pivotal stage in the academic calendar.

Find out about some of your colleagues here:

Ellen Bebbington, Apprentice Operating Department Practitioner

“My first job within the NHS was as an Operating Department Orderly, where my main role was to collect patients for their surgery.

“I knew I wanted to progress further within the department so when the position for a Theatres Healthcare Assistant came up I applied, and I was successful.

“Becoming an HCA allowed me to better understand the different roles within the team and I loved that there was never a day when I wasn’t learning anything.

“In 2021 I became an Apprentice Operating Department Practitioner. Once I qualify, I will work in all three areas of the Theatre Department: anaesthetics, surgery and recovery.”

Adam Wills, Organisational Development Trainer

“My role is full of variety, and I love the fact that I get to work with individuals from all areas of the organisation. I have learnt so much about how our health service works behind the scenes, and I am learning new things every day.

“The work I do supports individuals and departments to enhance their capability, be this through improving communication skills, leadership programmes, understanding self and others, or sharing the fantastic health and wellbeing offers we have.

“Prior to joining the NHS I spent a decade serving in the Royal Air Force as an aircraft technician specialising in the electrical systems, and I have also taught aviation engineering at a local college.”

Sarah Sixsmith, Radiographer

“When I was in sixth form, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted a career that involved science, but I wasn’t sure what that would be.

“I hadn’t heard of radiography until I went to do some work experience at the Princess Royal Hospital. I spent two days observing X-ray, CT, MRI, and Ultrasound and it was this experience that inspired me to be a Radiographer.

“I studied Diagnostic Radiography at University of Suffolk for three years before joining SaTH as a Radiographer – back where I had my work experience. Since then, I have gone on to do more training and this year I’ll be doing a Postgraduate Certificate in CT at Birmingham City University.”

Pictured left to right, Ellen Bebbington, Adam Wills and Sarah Sixsmith

Arty anatomy workshop for colleagues

An Anatomy Art Workshop was the latest Healthcare Art Club and some fine examples of work from the evening are pictured above. Clubs such as this are great for the wellbeing of our colleagues. The club is kindly supported by SaTH Charity and is free to all NHS staff.

Whistle-stop pathology tour for students

A group of science students from North Shropshire College were recently given a whistle-stop tour of Pathology for a taste of life as a Biomedical scientist.

Their teacher, Michael Ungurs, said:

“Thanks to your wonderful staff for giving us their time. We were really impressed at the amount and the variety of science that was going on.

“The students found that each person we met was informative and engaging and it has opened their minds to some future options. The chocolate was also a welcome surprise!”

Congratulations to qualified PNAs

successfully completing a Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) Training Programme.

Girlie Tongo Torregrosa, a Sister in ED, was presented with her PNA certificate by Hayley Flavell, our Director of Nursing. They are pictured (top) with PNA Lead Karen Sargent and Senior Sister in ED Kuldip Feist.

Ward 14 Staff Nurse Sheeja Sanjeev also

Ward 14 and PNA lead Karen Sargent.

Hayley thanked them for their amazing work.

A PNA is a nurse or midwife with the skills to facilitate restorative clinical support, both personally and professionally with colleagues. Our Trust currently has 11 PNAs and a further 10 are in training.

HFNs show that they are simply marvellous

Heart Failure Nurses (HFN) Sue Collinson, Linda Marsh and Ros Burrell from the HFN/ Cardiac Rehabilitation Team at RSH have won a ‘You’re Simply Marvellous Award’ for their exceptional quality of care and treatment with a patient nominating them for the title.

The nomination said: “My husband and I would like to nominate his HFNs Ros, Sue and Linda. They have brought him back from the absolute brink in the last 18 months and introduced him slowly but surely to his medication.

“We would like to thank them for their patience, care, knowledge, for their positivity and for being there for us through this frightening time. Thank you ladies from the bottom of our hearts. There are some nurses in A&E and ICU at the RSH that saved his life but I’m sorry to say he was too ill to remember their names. NHS at its best!”

The team said: “We were gobsmacked. You go along just doing your job and then you receive an award like this out of the blue – it is so nice to be recognised. The letter is gorgeous and the comments lovely.”

Sponsored by the Pumping Marvellous Foundation, the five “You’re Simply Marvellous” awards acknowledge the value that Health Care Professionals bring to the treatment of Heart Failure, improving patient outcomes.

Well done ladies!

PRH’s Catering Team’s fantastic support for Macmillan

The PRH Catering Team has raised an incredible £350 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

They decided not to send Christmas cards and instead donated the cash.

Pictured is Ella Sadd, Macmillan Cancer Support Assistant Manager, collecting the cheque from the team.

This donation is very gratefully received and helps continue to offer much needed support to people affected by cancer.

A team of three Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical Nurse Specialists took part in the ‘Big Winter Workout’ to raise funds for Crohn’s and Colitis UK.

Michelle Gadsden, Sally Edwards and Emily Roberts

had to exercise for at least 31 minutes each day for the 31 days of January.

They took part in gym classes, home workouts, running, cycling and walking.

During the month they complet-

ed a magnificent 4,081 minutes and raised £580.

It’s fantastic work from the three, who are pictured left to right: Michelle, Sally and Emily

Taste not waste! Why not get involved?

Shrewsbury Food Hub is running a new campaign, the Taste NOT Waste challenge this year and it would love it if you joined in.

Seventy per cent of food waste happens in our homes. That’s why the hub would love it if you joined the Taste Not Waste challenge.

It consists of tips and tricks to make the most of your ingredients, through short videos by the hub’s amazing chef Steve

@thehungryguy. The videos come to you by email- if you complete the challenge through the final

questionnaire, you could win a dinner party cooked by Steve @thehungryguy, tickets to the Shrewsbury Food Festival or brunch at Daily Brew.

To join us and sign up through https:// tastenotwaste.shrewsburyfoodh ub.org.uk/#sign-up or email grania@shrewsburyfoodhub.org. uk

Fiery challenge raises cash for charity

Nurse, were all fired up to take on the Fire Walk Challenge for Severn Hospice.

The pair braved the walk over fiery hot coals and raised an incredible £430.

Rachel said: “It was a really fantastic experience. I’m so glad I did it for such a worthy charity.”

Healthcare waste training course

Following on from the successful Carbon Literacy Engagement event held in November, colleagues had asked about recycling general waste at our Trust.

This is something the Sustainability Team had been trying to introduce for a long time, but due to space constraints and other factors, were not able to do this effectively.

However, the Sustainability Team is meeting with Veolia and hopefully a recycling pilot scheme will be seen in some areas of the Trust soon.

If this proves successful, it will then be rolled out across the Trust – to make this successful we will need your help by ensuring you dispose of waste correctly.

If you are unsure of how Trust waste should be correctly disposed of, you can access an online training course called Healthcare Waste Management and Disposal via ELearning for Healthcare https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/

More than 60 people took part in the Fire Walk Challenge and raised a staggering £22,600 plus. Sponsorship is still rolling in for the charity.

Well done both!

Your wellbeing matters

Thank you for your phenomenal efforts in continuing to keep our patients safe and look after each other.

The impact on mental health and wellbeing must not be underestimated and it is really important that we look out for each other, and take proactive and supportive actions to support everyone’s mental health and wellbeing.

We want to ensure that our people are provided with the correct support and an environment that enables and encourages each of us to lead healthy lives and make choices to support our wellbeing.

There are many resources available to you to help with your health and wellbeing and for you to be able to raise concerns with confidence if necessary.

Details on our wellbeing packages are available on our intranet here. This includes physical, mental, financial and emotional support. Please know that this support is available to everyone

• It’s so important that everyone takes time for fresh air and exercise, stays hydrated and has the opportunity to rest.

• Care First can offer you counselling support that can be accessed 24/7. Please call 0800 174319 or click here for more information.

• The Trust has 91 trained Mental Health First Aiders within the organisation. Mental Health First Aiders are trained volunteers ready to offer staff an empathic listening ear, initial inthe-moment support and to signpost as appropriate using their knowledge of mental health and wellbeing, and the Trust’s wellbeing pathways. Though not acting as counsellors or therapists, they can offer initial brief, one-off listening support to staff in their areas. Please check with your manager who the MHF Aiders in your area are. Click here for more information.

• 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. More information can be found here.

• We have a number of network groups (the Disability, Ability & Wellbeing Network, the Race Equality & Inclusion Network and the Hospital Pride Network) who support our aims to improve our culture and I would encourage anyone who is interested in joining to click here to find out further information.

For a full list of other support available to you, including counselling, online support and free wellbeing apps, please click here

Please contact our Wellbeing Team at sath.ahealthieryou@nhs.net and they will be able to signpost you to the most appropriate help and support.

Notice Board

Staff Support

1st - £400 - Carol Bowen, Queensway Sterile Services

2nd - £200 - Diane (Di) Gee, Radiology - MRI

2nd - £200 - Jessica Evans, Ward

17

3rd - £100 - Lauren Jones, Ward

28N

3rd - £100 - Ann-Marie Fothergill, Pharmacy

Hotel Chocolat chocolates winners:

1.Pauline Harbourne, Switchboard

2. Kathlyn Weeks, Theatres

The final word...

I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the care I received from the Elective Surgery Team.

I had gallbladder surgery and the care and support i received from the entire team was amazing. I was very nervous and everyone was incredibly kind. I cannot thank everyone enough.

I particularly wanted to say a huge thanks to Lauren, whose surname i didn’t get but was one of the care staff on the ward. The kindness and care she showed not just to me but to the other patients was exceptional.

Really i just wanted to say thank you, that I appreciated everyone’s care and time, and that I am so proud of the NHS. Please pass on my sincerest thanks