CHATTER BOX
Your fortnightly bulletin for SaTH colleagues and events
Sleep out in aid of homeless military veterans
Colleagues will swap their warm beds for sleeping bags as part of ‘The Great Tommy Sleep Out’ in aid of homeless military veterans.
Emma Colley, an Emergency Care Technician, and Sarah Millington, a Healthcare Assistant (HCA), who both work in the Emergency Department at PRH will be joined by others to sleep out on the Wrekin.
Fifteen adults including doctors, nurses, HCAs and non-clinical staff, and four children have so far offered to join the pair on Saturday 29 March.
The sleep out is a national award-winning fundraising challenge, raising money for the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) to support veterans that are experiencing homelessness.
Sarah said: “We will spend the night sleeping outside on the Wrekin. It will be cold and probably wet but it’s nothing compared to what some veterans are facing day in, day out.
“The RBLI also supports veterans to find work and lead independent lives. These are our patients, patient’s family members and colleagues and we want to show our support.
The group’s Just Giving fundraising page can be found here
LGBT+ History Month
LGBT+ History Month promotes equality and diversity. It’s a time to celebrate the rich and diverse history of the LGBT+ community.
It is celebrated in February every year. February is a significant month in LGBT+ history because it’s when Section 28 was abolished in 2003. Section 28 was a policy that prohibited the “promotion” of homosexuality.
The theme for LGBT History Month 2025 is ‘Activism and Social Change’. Throughout history LGBT+ people have been activists and helped shape and create social change, advancing society for everyone.
The LGBT Historical Timeline traces the pivotal moments, struggles, and triumphs of the community, highlighting key events and figures that have shaped the fight for equality and recognition over the years. For full details please click here
Watch a video of the
what
LGBT+ History Month means to them.
Introducing NHS LGBT+ Sheroes, Heroes and Queeroes:
• Dr M Drage
• D A Hunt
• S Hams
A colleague talks about her experience of joining SaTH as a queer woman
I started working for SaTH in the Autumn of 2023 when I moved to Shropshire to follow my (then) partner who had a new job in the area.
I arrived as an out and proud queer woman and I am happy to say that I have been accepted and valued as a member of my team. There has never been any from prejudice from any member of staff in and SaTH is a welcoming and inclusive place to work. Members of my team have recently
supported me through the break-up of my relationship and I am grateful for their love and support.
I didn’t know about the LGBTIA+ Network until recently when I came across it on the intranet and I thought I would attend to see what it is all about, I am truly glad that I did, they made me feel welcome and part of the group from the start. So if you identify as LGBTQIA+ why not come along to the next one and add your voice?
One of our volunteers, Claire Ashton was interviewed by the BBC about how her experiences in the army as a trans woman led to a mental breakdown.
You can read more here.
PRIDE network chair Pat Aldred and co-Chair Gemma Tudor discuss
Could you host an intern?
Could you support an intern in your department?
DFN Project Search aims to give young people within our communities with learning disabilities and autism vital work-based learning opportunities within a hospital setting.
For more information please see the intranet.
Ramadan
Ramadan is a month which aims to nurture God consciousness, commitment, reflection, generosity and discipline amongst many other qualities.
In addition to fasting, extra attention is also given to many more acts of worship. By performing such actions which are pleasing to Allah (God), we become closer to our Creator.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar (Lunar Calendar), and is the most blessed of months for Muslims. The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, which is around 11 days shorter than
the solar Gregorian calendar and therefore starts earlier each successive year. The month starts on the night the new moon is sighted.
Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. It also marks the first revelation of the holy Quran to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The annual observance of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and lasts 29 to 30 days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.
Therefore, there are different scenarios for the start and end dates of Ramadan and when Eid Al-Fitr will be celebrated, as shown below:
Start of Ramadan First day of Fasting Last day of Fasting
Evening of Friday 28 February 2025
Evening of Saturday 1 March 2025
Saturday 1 March 2025 29 days: Saturday 29 March 2025 (Eid Al-Fitr: 30 March 2025)
30 days: Sunday 30 March 2025 (Eid Al-Fitr: 31 March 2025)
Sunday 2 March 2025 29 days: Sunday 30 March 2025 (Eid Al-Fitr: 31 March 2025)
30 days: Monday 31 March 2025 (Eid Al-Fitr: 1 April 2025)
We wish all our colleagues, patients and visitors who will be observing Ramadan a Blessed Ramadan. One full of light and spiritual upliftment. And may Allah, (God) bring peace and comfort to all those suffering wherever they are.
Pictured: A hospital-wide iftar in the Doctors’ Mess which took place last April.
New ‘Men Like Us’ cancer support group to launch in Telford
‘Men Like Us’, a dedicated cancer support group for men, is expanding with the launch of its third group in Telford.
The new group will hold its first meeting on Thursday 10 April at Telford Fire Station. Open to men of all ages who have been affected by cancer in any way, ‘Men Like Us’ offers a welcome and supportive space to share experiences, find friendship and access valuable support.
Meetings are free of charge and attendees can expect a warm welcome and a cup of tea. For more information please contact The Personalised Care Team at sath.lwbc@nhs.net or call 01743 492424.
Meeting details:
• Thursday 10th April (going forward, it will be the second Wednesday of every month)
• 10am - 12 noon
• Telford Fire Station, Stafford Park One, TF3 2BW
Katey Evans, Personalised Care Navigator, said: “The Personalised Care Team is incredibly proud of the ‘Men Like Us’ Group and what it has achieved in the first 12 months. From the realisation that men were not accessing the support on offer, to recruiting our wonderful volunteers who lead the groups, it has been a privilege to be part of and watch it grow.”
Did you know...
There are two libraries at SaTH –Shrewsbury Health Library in the Learning Centre, RSH, and Telford Health Library in the Education Centre, PRH.
You can join the library by visiting one of our libraries in person or join online by filling in an online registration form on our website at www.library.sath.nhs.uk/joining. There is a large range of medical books but also some fictional books for you to pick from too.
Who can join the library?
• All staff employed by SaTH
• All staff employed by Shropshire Community Healthcare NHS Trust (Shropcom)
• Students studying with or on clinical placement at SaTH or Shropcom
• SaTH volunteers
New equipment for the Speech and Language Therapy Department
The Macmillan Speech and Language Therapy department has secured funding to buy a new piece of equipment to support a head and neck cancer patients.
The Expiratory Muscle Strength Training device (EMST) is used with patients who have difficulty swallowing. This device helps cough strength and the movement and strength of the swallowing muscles to help clear food and drink through the throat.
The team is very grateful and would like to thank the Get Ahead Charity who agreed to fund it.
Thank you to the League of Friends
The League of Friends Berrington branch has raised funds for an important piece of equipment for the Paediatric Department.
Beckie Nock, Advanced Clinical Practitioner in paediatrics, said: “The donation of the veinsight device has been really valuable in assisting nursing and medical staff in carrying out venepuncture and cannulation for our patients. The device allows us a better view of the target vein so that the procedure can be completed
at a higher success rate and in turn causes less distress and discomfort for the patients. Valuable donations such as this help us make a big difference to the care we provide in paediatrics”.
In group photo: Jane Titley, Paediatric Sister; Emma Higgins; Paediatric Practice Education Facilitator; Charlotte Davies Paediatric Ward Manager, with Liz Setters from the Berrington Branch League of Friends who raised for the purchase of this equipment.
Critical Care Patient diaries
SaTH Charity has purchased diaries for our patients on the Critical Care Unit(s). The diaries are used to support patients and relatives during their stay on the unit.
The diaries are completed by staff, family and visitors whilst the patient is on the unit helping to document the day-to-day routines. It helps to give patients perspective on how far they have come and fills in gaps about their recovery journey, as patients often have little or no memory of their time on the unit.
Research has shown that patients and relatives find a diary valuable, and it enables patients to make sense of their stay on Critical Care. Studies have shown that receiving a Critical Care Unit diary reduces the risk of developing depression, anxiety and PTSD in the future, for both patients and relatives.
The diaries were developed a few years ago, by Katie Craft, Therapy Assistant Practitioner in Critical Care, whose background is in psychiatry. Having worked as a Registered Mental Nurse for 23 years, she felt strongly that our patients could benefit enormously from a well-kept patient diary.
The first diaries were exercise books and there was little structure or guidance for staff. Katie worked with Carla Webster (formerly part of the Improvement Hub) and Rachel Hanmer, Service Improvement Hub Co-ordinator from the SaTH Improvement Hub Team to take the diary to next level. They worked with Jemima Hughes, Graphic Design Lead, in our Communications Team to design the current diary.
The diary is being recognised by other NHS Trusts as a valuable tool for their patients. Katie is working with five other hospitals who are keen to use the diary format. The diaries now include photographs taken with a camera which was also provided by SaTH Charity, which prints out hardcopy photographs to put in the diary and there is also a developed training package to support staff.
Katie said: “We know from the feedback we receive from our patients and their families that the diaries provide a clear insight into the patient’s Critical Care journey and beyond, helping them to set realistic rehab goals and better understand their limits. It has significantly reduced distress in
patients who were affected by delirium, where nurses have written entries describing incidents in a supportive way.”
James Owen, Deputy Director of Improvement, said: “The aim of SaTH’s Improvement Hub is to empower colleagues at all levels to have the confidence, capability, passion and knowledge, to test changes and make improvements at SaTH and the communities we serve.”
Russell, a former patient on Critical Care, said: “First of all, Katie thank you so much for introducing the diary. It is the timeline link between my scary dreams and what was actually going on at that moment. It also provided the names of the nurses and hospital staff that were close to me.
“The photo taken by Katie was a pivotal memory as it wasn’t how I imagined that time. I had no clue how long I was on the ventilator, in ITU, HDU and how short a time I was on Ward 25. Being able to know what happened to me after my operation that saved my life was mind blowing.
“I think this diary is extremely important for someone like myself to have, to put what happened to me into perspective but also to see how many of you were in my corner and wanting me to fight.”
If you have an idea you would like to discuss with the Improvement Hub, you can contact them by email - sath.improvementhub@nhs.net. If you want to raise money for your area or have an idea that you would like the charity to fund, please contact sath.charity@nhs.net
‘Safe space’ for the Professional Advocate Team
With some help from SaTH Charity, the Professional Nurse/Midwifery/AHP Advocate Team now has a comfortable ‘safe space’ to facilitate Restorative Clinical Supervision (RCS) sessions for our colleagues working at PRH.
Previous feedback from some of the team highlighted the difficulties in finding a suitable place to meet with members of staff away from their place of work to talk openly and confidentially.
The generosity from SaTH Charity, and the ‘Small Things Make a Big Difference’ fund, helped to
purchase a coffee table and two chairs. The team hopes to create the same at RSH in the future.
The support the Professional Advocate Team provides colleagues is a confidential, nonjudgemental reflective conversation, helping colleagues process some of the thoughts they may be having relating to their work and/or home life.
Professional Advocates are that ‘listening ear’ whilst guiding colleagues through reflective thinking. Where necessary, Professional Advocates can signpost for further support in which a staff member may not have considered.
SaTH Charity needs your help
We are putting together our calendar of events for this year and would love to hear from you about what you would like to see.
We have a short questionnaire for you to complete, so if you have a burning desire to do a skydive or another abseil, please let us know so we can organise the type of events you would love to attend.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/ r/78H3XT9
Colleague Notice Board
I
Joanne, an Anatomical Pathology Technologist, Mortuary, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, talks about her 6th William Bailey book:
Where the inspiration came from for book 6. If I told the truth, it would reveal too much about the plot and the twist!
It was based on a real life crime. Something I’d actually seen in my highly expensive forensic pathology book (which provides technical information). I had to change it slightly for my book. My lovely niece, Lauren helped me with research. I also drew on knowledge from my work. A colleague, Tamsin provided the perfect formula. She painstakingly researched the subject and text me the answer late one night. I was blown away with her formula!
It s now available from Amazon.UK, I m just awaiting my author s copy. And more importantly, I’ve started writing book 7! ‘
A Cruel Requital
Mrs Penn is a woman with strong principle...
But one day, someone takes great offence at her words. Whilst recovering from a life changing injury, an opportunity to solve the brutal murder of his ex landlady lands at the door of P.I., William Bailey. But in order to find evidence of her accused nephew s innocence, William must put aside is hostility at being reunited with his business partner, Nisha. When an unforeseen tragedy threatens to end his career, William discovers the lengths that some people will go to, to hide who they really are.
Colleague Notice Board
STAFF LOTTERY
This month ’s winners
1st £550
Jade Jones, Outpatients RSH
2nd £275
Joanne Harris
2nd £275
Sheryl Cadigoy-Macaspac, Renal Unit RSH
3rd £125
Karen Perry, Gynaecology Outpatients
3rd £125
Corinne Smith, Recruitment
4th £100
Rebecca Race
4th £100
Samantha Roberts, Anaesthetics & Theatres
5th £50
Hanah McMullen, Theatres RSH
5th £50
Susan Westwood
5th £50
Rhian Lewis, Pre-Reg Education AHP
5th £50
Steph Gamble, Respiratory
5th £50
Colin Lamb, Plaster Room PRH
12 cash prizes every month!
Payment will be deducted from your salary; winnings are paid into your salary the following month.
Why not join our lottery?
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 SaTH Small Things Make a Big Difference Fund aims to improve the working environment and amenities for all employees.
Click here to download the T&C’s and enter the staff lottery
Thank you
To all of staff on Ward 37, a great big thank you to every one of you on the ward for looking after my husband Paul so well. He was transferred to your ward from HDU on Saturday 2nd November to continue his recovery from surgery to remove a very septic gall bladder. You all do a terrific job. Everyone is so kind and helpful. Paul has recovered very well from his surgery and we are so grateful for that. Thank you so much. You should be so proud of yourselves for what you do for us. My grateful thanks to those whom I met and to the many more I didn’t who are so involved in the recovery process.