Heartbeat, August 2023

SWB launches ARC Star to recognise colleagues

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Colleagues can nominate one another to recognise successes that align with our values

Lesley Writtle, Deputy Chair

HELLO FROM THE CHAIR

Welcome to the August edition of Heartbeat.

This month, we are launching our ARC Star programme, which aims to celebrate success across SWB by marking individuals who live and demonstrate our values of ambition, respect and compassion. You can read more about the programme and how to nominate on pages 14-15.

Enjoy J

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Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust

Designed by Medical Illustration, Graphics Team

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust

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We send out a Communications Bulletin via email every day and you can now read Heartbeat articles throughout the month on Connect. Don't forget you can follow us on:

This month I had the pleasure of spending some time with the cancer services team and was able to see firsthand how some of our services are helping patients across Sandwell and West Birmingham.

A long while ago, when I was still practicing as a nurse, I worked on an oncology/ haematology unit in Birmingham, so I was delighted to get the opportunity to meet the teams here in the Trust that are supporting people with a cancer diagnosis. I was struck by how the technology and support systems have moved on so much over the years.

I visited the cancer tracking team led by Jenny Donovan, the team is incredibly dedicated and they all have a passion for doing what is right for the patient. They want to make sure patients get the tests they may need and any treatment required as quickly as possible. It was heartening to see such a talented group of people contributing to all developments and pathways associated with the triage process as well as working with the rapid diagnostic service and wider cancer specific multidisciplinary teams.

All this means quality of care is always being improved resulting in better outcomes for our patients.

I also came away with some homework; to see how I can influence improved joint working with Birmingham hospitals in sharing information more quickly and also looking at how biopsies can be processed quicker.

I then met with our Lead Cancer Nurse, Jo Harvey, who introduced me to the care navigators and specialist' nurses. It was fantastic to see how practices have really improved for patients over the years, especially the close relationship the team has with patients and families and the support given at such a stressful period of time through diagnosis and treatment.

I then had a chance to see the cancer hotline in action; this is for concerned patients, colleagues and members of the public who are able to telephone and speak to a team who can discuss their symptoms and offer advice on the next steps to take. Also this month, Richard Beeken and I hosted the Chair (David Sallah) and CEO (Richard Kirby) of Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust at Midland Met.

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust are a hugely important partner in our care model transformation, given they provide community services to Ladywood and Perry Barr.

It was wonderful to see many parts of the hospital now in their final state. Again, technology is really playing a huge part in the delivery of our new hospital.

We saw the automated guided vehicles which will be transporting supplies across the hospital with pinpoint precision. It’s a great example of how our hospital is using innovation to enable us to be more efficient.

It is also great to see the open spaces that have been created for colleagues, patients and visitors, allowing them to take time out. David Sallah and Richard Kirby were hugely impressed too.

Could it be cancer?

Symptoms of cancer include unexplained weight loss, unusual swellings or lumps, changes to a mole, blood in wee or poo, changes in bowel habits for more than six weeks, a hoarse voice for more than three weeks, difficulties in swallowing, unusual changes to your breast and vaginal bleeding after menopause or between periods.

If you are worried you can ring the cancer hotline Monday to Friday on 0121 507 3330 between 8am and 4pm.

Members of the cancer services team

Midland Met University Hospital

SWB consultant co-leads first round of graduations

Consultant Gynaecologist, Shagaf Bakour has co-led the clinical placements of the first graduates from the Aston Medical School MBChB (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) programme.

In May this year, the General Medical Council (GMC) added Aston Medical School (AMS) to the list of bodies able to award UK primary medical qualifications. With the school gaining full accreditation from the GMC, on 21 July the school had its first MBChB graduations and all AMS graduating students received an Aston MBChB.

Shagaf stated: “It has been a very exciting year for Aston Medical School. It has been a privilege to be leading the school clinical placements through this momentous period, as the director of medical education.

“On behalf of the school, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our local education providers but in particular our Trust, which was the first secondary care Trust to sign service level agreement to place AMS students.”

The AMS graduates have now gone through their induction week as foundation year 1 doctors

CORPORATE AND GENERAL NEWS

and are working in clinical areas across the Trust, as well as in other hospitals throughout the region. We are pleased to welcome them to SWB, with Shagaf stating: “I am sure they will boost the highly needed medical taskforce and shall go on to lead excellent healthcare locally, nationally and internationally.”

The first round of graduates from Aston Medical School

How can the research management and governance team work with you?

Who we are:

We’re

Charlotte Trinham, Peter Price, Ziada Khalil, Lauren Wallace and Balvinder Baines from the research management and governance team

What we do:

Grant applications and sponsorship

For those of you who may have a research idea you wish to explore, we can support you in shaping your research question into a robust project or even a clinical trial. This could result in shaping the way health and social care evolves in your area of work.

If you’re interested in designing your own research, here are some things you may wish to consider:

• Your research idea needs to be articulated in detail by way of a research protocol. This will be your study document, which informs the relevant people of all aspects of the study aims, objectives and the practicalities of how the research will be delivered in a healthcare setting. For further information on writing a protocol, you can visit the Health Research Authority website.

• Each research study that takes place in the NHS requires a study sponsor. This is the organisation that is willing to take legal responsibility for the design, management and conduct of your research. If you are a substantive employee of SWB, you can submit a sponsorship request by contacting Zaida Khalil or Kelly Hard on swbh.randd.sponsorship@nhs.net

• Your research will need funding. We can help you to identify the costs attached to the full lifespan of your research, and can advise you on what funding streams and grant opportunities that may be available to you.

• Your research will need evidence of peer review. It is important an independent expert in the subject you wish to research has reviewed and confirmed they agree that your research is of good quality and scientifically sound.

• For the purposes of patient and public involvement and engagement, it is vital you seek some independent opinions on your research proposal in a structured way. We can advise you on this if you do not already have some patients who are willing to volunteer their time to give input into your study.

• It is important you look to the experts to help you to refine your hypotheses, agree sample size, advise on research methods, provide analytical support and much more. If you haven’t got a statistician to support you already, get in touch on the email above and we can link you in with our Trust service.

• Once you have the above in place, we can advise you on how you gain all the approvals you need to finally set up and start your project.

Study set up and ongoing management

We support researchers to set up their studies at SWB from a governance and practical sense. The team oversee set up for studies hosted and sponsored by the Trust, which vary across a diverse range of specialities, and complexity. This ranges from exciting new interventions or treatments available to our patients for the first time, to vital data collection for long-term follow-ups of patients, to basic questionnaire studies.

Closure and archiving

A study is closed when all recruitment has been completed and all visits to collect data from the participants are finished. The data is analysed by statisticians to see if the research question has been answered. Data from the study is archived for a set number of years, in case future studies suggest the patients involved need further follow up or if any concerns emerge regarding the side effects of a drug for example.

Quality and assurance function

Once we’ve helped to open a study, we also help ensure it is run according to the study’s protocol and in line with rules and regulations, which have been put in place to protect research patients and ensure data integrity is maintained. We do this through auditing and monitoring studies.

Research Administrative Assistant, Chloe, the newest member of our team, said: “Joining the Trust has been a very exciting experience. There has been a lot to learn and lots of new experiences as I have never worked in research or for the NHS before, however it is very rewarding to be involved. I am enjoying being part of a busy team and working alongside people who are passionate about research. I am looking forward to continuing to learn and expanding my knowledge on research, as well as getting more involved in the governance side of clinical research.”

If you would like to find out more about our services or have a research project you wish to set up at SWB, please contact swbh.randd.generic@nhs.net

Annual welearn QI Poster Contest launches

CORPORATE AND GENERAL NEWS

July 2023 saw the launch of our welearn quality improvement poster contest. This is now firmly established as an annual event and forms part of our welearn programme of learning and knowledge sharing across our organisation. The welearn QI poster contest aims to share good practice, quality initiatives, innovations, research and partnerships that have resulted in improvements for our patients, carers

and colleagues. There is a prize of £5000 for the winner, and £250 each for the two highly commended posters and popular staff vote –so definitely worth taking part.

Entries are encouraged and welcomed from everyone, whether you work with patients or provide non-clinical support. We are looking to see improvement projects and programmes written up and captured in a poster. Don’t be put off by this because help is available: Medical illustration will provide support to design and produce the poster and you can discuss your ideas on content with the library and knowledge services team.

Visit the Connect pages for the guidance document and the poster template. You can also listen to the previous years' winners about their experience of the process and how quality improvement brought about a positive impact on their services and patients.

Closing date for the poster contest is 17 November 2023.

If you need help with your submission or designing your poster, contact the library team or medical illustration via swbh.welearnposters@nhs.net

Last years' winners, Acute Medicine, with their poster and cheque

To showcase your successes, why not submit a poster to #welearn QIHD Poster Competition? You'll be in with a chance to win £5000 for the winning poster, and £250 each for the two highly commended posters and popular staff vote!

Closing date for the poster competition is 17 November 2023

If you need help with your submission or designing your poster, you can contact the Library team and Medical Illustration team via swbh.welearnposters@nhs.net

Knowing exactly how thinly spread and understaffed the VA Team is, makes this Thank You even bigger. We would not be able to do two important elements of the mandatory national audit on Dementia care for our inpatients and their families if it wasn't for the willingness and support from VA Team and the Volunteer service who's agreed to help out. Thanks to you, we should be able to meet the national audit demands for a high uptake on patient and NoK/carer feedback surveys, your eagerness under adversity have changed my usual pessimistic demeanor to pretty optimistic and that's no small feat.

Shout out has been a regular feature in Heartbeat and it is fantastic to see colleagues regularly taking the time to give positive feedback to each other.

To nominate a colleague, visit connect2. swbh.nhs.uk/communications/shout-out/, or search 'shout out' on Connect and fill in the form.

CORPORATE AND GENERAL NEWS

To – Gurj (Medical Illustration)

Always happy to help and do quick turnaround for national audit poster printing. Makes my life so much easier, only need to ask once and the MI team is on it, "service with a smile" as the saying goes. Just wanted to thank Gurj for always replying to emails quickly and the MI teams unwavering support, don't think they realise just how helpful that is, so this is my BIG Thank you, your service is so much appreciated!

From – Amelia Roberts

Coral has gone above and beyond to support the Oldbury Health Visiting team. Her help and support is appreciated by everyone in the team in helping to coordinate bank work and for always being the positive person she is!

From – Maxine Duffield

Bob is always so happy, whether it be first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Always wishes his passengers a good day or evening. Have never heard him complain about anything !! Such a happygo-lucky chappy.

Always puts a smile on my face, lets be more like Bob!! The world would be so much happier :) Thanks for getting us to and from work safely everyday.

To – Rob Kemp and team

Thank you to Rob and the team who are always on hand to help when needed. The team have been particularly helpful to me and the rest of the EA team when organising office moves and moving furniture for meetings, at short notice too! Nothing is ever too much trouble, thank you all!

From – Sophie Harris

The customer service from Haroon and the team is simply outstanding! One of our clinical areas asks for an additional digital screen to enhance communications among staff and with patients/service users. Haroon listened very carefully about the ask, came up with a solution swiftly. The solution fulfils all the requirements, even saving money by utilising some existing equipment that helps shortening the turnaround time of this request. Haroon started working with his team straight away! Thanks a lot!!

From – Essie Li

Emma has worked with an extremely challenging family recently and dealt with a very difficult situation calmly and with professionalism. She supported a colleague through this situation and has worked hard to safeguard the child. Emma works really hard and is always willing to help others in the team.

She has been a big support to me as my mentor when I started in the team. Thanks Emma! You do a great job. Well done.

From – Katrina O'Connell

To – Amanda Peacock

Mandy is a superstar!!!

She always goes above and beyond to help the Nursing Associate Apprentices and the team.

Nothing is ever too much for Mandy and we really appreciate everything she has done.

Thank you so much Mandy!

From – Stacey and Aaron (Nursing Associate Team)

Abbie went above and beyond to offer her expertise and knowledge. We are so grateful for the effortless support Abbie gave to us! THANK YOU!

From – Sophia Parsons

To – Danielle Radford

Danielle goes above and beyond within her role and is a real asset to the team. Her positive attitude and keen work ethic even under pressure is regularly noticed by me and other senior colleagues. Thank you Danielle!

From – Keturah Gardner

For exceptional work with moving community on to allocate.

From – Shelly Colley

To – Coral Lamb

To – Haroon Akhtar and the Informatics 2nd Line Support Team

To – Abbie Gogarty

To – Emma Oakey

To – Charlene Manners

To – Vulnerable Adults Team

From – Amelia Roberts

To – Bob - shuttle bus driver

From – Tammy Hickman

When assisting with the BCG Clinic, Gemma is incredibly efficient with the vaccinations, whilst still maintaining safety standards at all times. She takes the time to show the patients and parents kindness and compassion and is a valued member of the BCG Bank Staff Members.

Fantastic service that run side by side My Patient journey was done with care and efficiently.

I can not thank them enough everyone was kind and caring good working team.

Just a little thank you from us receptionists at Sandwell ED. We appreciate all the hard work that you do for us through a lot of difficult and stressful times, we couldn't wish for a better manager. You're always there for us with a smile and a shoulder and long may that continue!!!

Going above and beyond to support a new HCA recruitment event, sharing amazing innovative ideas and leading the way in how "interviews" should be done, bringing out the best qualities in individuals aligned to our core values as an organisation.

Have

To

I would just like to say how helpful and pleasant Abdi was with my queries today with setting up TEAMs channels and a telecoms request.

He was polite and efficient and explained things in away that a non-technical person (like me) could understand. Thank you, Abdi.

From

AMU was short staffed and struggling to find someone to help with pat slide. Glynn offered to help transfer a patient went an extra mile thank you !

got a story?

To – Sandwell walk in centre and SDEC unit

From – Lisa Poole

To – Gemma Gates

From – Thomas Devaney

– Abdi

– Angie Williams

To – Glynn Potter

From – Halima Bibi

To – Lisa Joiner

From – Lisa Humphreys

To – Jody Stubbs and Sarah Clarke

From – Justine Irish

Cost of living: We're here to help

Since late 2021, the prices for many essential goods and services began increasing faster than household incomes which had a negative impact on our actual wages. There are a few factors that have caused this crisis such the economic impact of ongoing issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Brexit.

While the whole of the UK is affected by rising prices, the Sandwell and Birmingham area is particularly heavily affected due to higher unemployment and a reduction on the spending on public service that substantially affects low-income earners.

Still more needs to be done and we have put together a few useful contacts to help you find ways of saving money and getting some helpful advice:

Go online for advice and support offered by Sandwell Council, the Government, partner agencies and community organisations on support available at:

www.sandwell.gov.uk/supportingsandwell

You can request council services and report problems to the council 24/7 with MySandwell. It’s easy to create an account – go to: www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell

You can also download a free MySandwell app where you can access a growing number of services.

Do you need some additional support to help you to cope with the cost of living crisis?

Sandwell Consortium and Citizens Advice Sandwell & Walsall offer face to face support provided by trained and experienced advice workers.

• Benefits and debt advice

• Energy advice

• Help with budgeting

• Employment support

• Help to get online

They can help you to make a real change in your financial circumstances through an increase in your household income and a reduction in your household expenditure.

Go to https://sandwellconsortium.co.uk/service/ colt/ to see where the service is being delivered within your community around Sandwell

Help with Food

Find some useful tips at www.sandwell.gov.uk/ homepage/347/help_with_food/ for ideas and support with:

• Recipes

• Food Banks

CORPORATE AND GENERAL NEWS

• Free School Meals

• Healthy Start Scheme

• Community Meals Service

Help with fuel costs

Find some useful tips at www.sandwell. gov.uk/energy for support with:

• Energy saving tips

• Paying energy bills

• Switching energy suppliers

• Energy discounts

See what other support is available

• Check what benefits you’re entitled to, what help you can get with your energy bills and what support is available for essential costs: www.citizensadvice. org.uk/debt-and-money/get-helpwith-the-cost-of-living/

• For local advice please download www.issuu.com/schudio/docs/ shenstonelodge-sandwell-cost-ofliving-booklet

• MoneySavingExpert.com is a onestop-shop for everything you need to help you manage your money and get the best deals.

SWB is appealing for people to join the volunteering team at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital.

The MMUH project team are looking for 80 volunteers to take part in creative health and wellbeing workshops with patients, gardeners, catering assistant support, and more.

Patricia Hunt, MMUH Recruiting Volunteer Manager, said: “This is a great opportunity

Volunteers sought for roles at Midland Met

to volunteer in our amazing new hospital, which will boast ultra-modern facilities, a beautiful Winter Garden, ensuite inpatient rooms and the latest technology.

“We are looking for navigators to help people find their way around when they come to us either for care or as visitors. It’ll be an important supporting role as the nine-floor hospital opens next year.

“As well as navigators, we are recruiting into other roles which all have an equally as important part to play.

“We are after caring and compassionate people who can commit to a minimum of three hours per week.”

For more information and to register interest in volunteering email patriciahunt@nhs.net

Patricia Hunt, Recruiting Volunteer Manager for Midland Met

Rev up your excitement because Midland Metropolitan University Hospital is hitting the road! We've transformed a disused patient transport van into a rolling billboard for the brand-new hospital, all part of an effort to connect with our community.

Our goal? To make sure that every resident of Sandwell and West Birmingham knows that Midland Met is on the horizon and here to transform their healthcare for years to come! Get ready to spot us at libraries, shopping centres, and the heart of the community, sparking conversations about our upcoming hospital and how it will affect everyone around us. Every person matters, and everyone should be in the know.

We’ll be taking our messages out into the community, driving into each and every one of our neighbourhoods. We know that we have a strong community around us, but it’s a community that must be engaged, enabled and feel a belonging to the new hospital build.

Our revamped patient transport van isn't just a set of wheels – it's a conversation starter that’s difficult to miss. We’ll be rolling into libraries, popping in to shopping centres, and hanging out at community hubs to show that Midland Met is #MoreThanaHospital.

With the grand opening in 2024 only round the corner, we’ll be using these opportunities to tackle concerns, bust myths, and shine a spotlight on all the fantastic changes that Midland Metropolitan University Hospital is bringing to Sandwell and West Birmingham.

We’re relying on keen colleagues and an army of enthusiastic volunteers to dive into conversations with our community, real, honest-to-goodness conversations. We're not just going to be talking at people –we're listening.

So if you have time to spare and you enjoy having a chat, you might be able to lend a helping hand on one of our planned outings!

Simply pop an email through to swbh.engagement@nhs.net to let us know you’re happy to help out.

Midland Met hits the road

The MidlandMetMobile

Hold onto your stethoscopes, because Midland Metropolitan University Hospital has this week been taken over by a dozen automated guided vehicles (AGVs) that are here to redefine supply logistics. The 12 bright yellow powerhouses are moving round the building like choreographed dancers, transporting supplies across the hospital behind the scenes with pinpoint precision.

AGV Robo-Revolution hits Midland Met

Gone are the days of standing around waiting for supplies. These AGVs are the answer to our inventory woes. These robots are on it, zipping through the building using their special lifts that whisk them straight into the heart of the hospital. With their charming beeps and faint hum, these powerhouses have aced obstacle courses and mastered the hospital layouts. The AGVs will ensure supplies are always where they need to be, when they need to be there. It’s innovation meeting efficiency, creating a healthcare revolution that’s as futuristic as it is functional.

Dawn Webster, Senior Commissioning Manager, explained: “The AGVs will revolutionise our logistics at Midland Met. They will work behind the scenes transporting consumables, linen, catering, waste and other items.

“The AGVs will navigate our new hospital promptly and efficiently, following set routes. They will have access to separate lifts and facilities management hubs, guaranteeing a seamless and effortless experience. This technology will undoubtedly have a positive impact when Midland Met opens.”

Dawn Webster, Senior Commissioning Manager, with our new AGVs at Midland Met

From now until when we move into Midland Met, we will be sharing updates with you about the many people involved in the project and the role they each play.

The successful opening of Midland Metropolitan University Hospital relies on many people, teams and stakeholders. Once open, it will have a farreaching impact – not only on those we care for but also on colleagues and our community in terms of regeneration, jobs, housing, charitable endeavours and so much more.

Getting us to Midland Met is a team effort. We all have a part to play in making it #morethanahospital!

How long have you been at SWB and what is your current role?

I’m Kevin Jennison, Lead Resuscitation Officer for the deteriorating patient and resuscitation team and I’ve been at SWB for over 4.5 years now.

What part does your role contribute to the Midland Met project?

Our responsibility is to ensure that there is an

My part in Midland Met

Kevin Jennison - Lead Resuscitation Officer

adequate and well-trained response to clinical emergencies across all specialities within our hospitals. This involves providing training to all staff and ensuring that emergency equipment is in place.

One of the exciting projects that we are involved in is the procurement of new Mindray D3 AED and manual defibrillators. This will mean that Midland Met will have the same device throughout providing continuity of care. Additionally, we are implementing the two-year trial of My Kit Check, an electronic system for checking emergency equipment. This system makes checking of emergency equipment easier for the user and provides the organisation with the governance and assurance of emergency equipment checks.

How are you preparing for the opening of Midland Met in your team?

As we prepare for the opening of Midland Met, my team and I are making sure that we are ready for any clinical emergencies that may arise. We are ensuring that our staff are adequately trained to respond to emergencies within our new hospital, as well as within the

retained estate, including Sandwell Hospital, Birmingham Midland Eye Centre, and the Birmingham Treatment Centre, as these facilities will continue to provide care for our patients.

The biggest benefit that Midland Met will bring in your opinion is...

We are excited about the opportunities that Midland Met will bring, particularly the benefits of having all acute specialties under one roof. This will ensure that the most critical of patients receive enhanced and timely care.

Have you been on a site tour?

I have had the opportunity to tour the Midland Met site, and I must say that I was impressed by the state-of-the-art facilities and the friendly staff. The Mindray D3 defibrillators that we have procured are impressive, and the data they provide from cardiac arrests will help us to improve patient outcomes in the future.

We are working hard to ensure that we are ready for the opening of Midland Met, and we are excited about the opportunities that this new hospital will bring to our patients and staff.

Kevin Jennison, Lead Resuscitation Officer

Introducing our new employee recognition scheme: Nominate your ARC Star

ARC Star is our new employee recognition scheme, which will replace Star of the Week. It will be awarded monthly, and we are asking you to get involved by nominating your colleagues.

An ARC Star is someone who consistently lives our Trust values of Ambition, Respect and Compassion. They will go above and beyond to make a difference to both their colleagues and patients. They display our values and behaviours in everything they do.

How will ARC Star work?

• ARC Star will be open for anyone to nominate, including patients and their families. Nominations will be submitted via a simple online form and will be open from the first Monday of each month, closing on the 24th of each month.

• All the nominations will be judged, and a winner will be chosen. They will receive a visit from a member of our executive team, who will present them with a certificate, their very own ARC Star pin badge and a special voucher to thank them for all their hard work.

• Our ARC Star winners throughout the year will then go forward to a special category within the Star Awards, where we will crown our ARC Star of the Year. This will be included for the first time at our 2024 event.

Deputy Chief People Officer, Meagan Fernandes, said: “I am excited to be launching ARC Star – we have done lots of work to embed our new values across the organisation, and this is a wonderful way of bringing them to life and celebrating the amazing work that goes on across the Trust on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

“I would encourage all colleagues to have a think about those people around them who truly show ambition, compassion and respect and put them forward for an ARC Star. ”

Ambition: We’re ambitious for our communities. We want to make a difference, improving life chances and health outcomes. We’re ambitious for our people. We want them to be happy here, to feel supported to achieve their own goals and ambitions. We’re ambitious for our Trust, open to new ideas, developing new technology and treatments to provide the best possible care. Working together, and alongside our partners to continually improve.

Respect: We are a place of inclusivity. We value, celebrate and draw strength from the diversity among us, and in our communities. This is what makes us special. Our people and our patients feel listened to. Everyone’s voice counts. We’re a place where people feel safe to speak up knowing their voices will be heard. Respect and dignity for everyone.

Compassion: We’re a welcoming, friendly Trust. We have care, kindness and compassion at our heart. For us, everyone matters. We’re a place where compassion is not just for our patients and their families, but a right for all of us. Our people are amazing, meeting challenges head on. They put patients first, day after day, to deliver the best care they can.

As a reminder of our values and how they can be put into action, we asked colleagues what they mean to them.

Dr Mike Blaber, Palliative Medicine Specialist and Wellbeing Lead for Junior Doctors, said: “Seeking to truly understand a person is a big part of respect. As a doctor in Palliative Medicine, I always try to understand what is important to each patient, how they see the world and who needs to be involved in significant conversations. This is all with the aim of ensuring patients know the options available to them and that their choices are respected. Respect between colleagues works similarly. It starts with understanding one another, which paves the way for great collaboration in service of our patients.”

Laverne Gordon, Nursing Associate, said: “Compassion for me is doing the very best I can, to ensure that the patient feels welcome and valued; and has a positive hospital experience. I treat every patient as I would want my loved ones to be treated. I treat every patient as a unique individual, and I see them as more than just their illness. I place the patient at the centre of their care, promoting and encouraging them in the making of decisions regarding their care – empowering them. I also treat every patient with respect, kindness, dignity, compassion, understanding, courtesy and honesty.

Sister Jessel Pacis said: “We can’t heal the world today, every person fights battles never told just to survive, every person has their own struggles, hence I believe compassion, a heart of love, the power of touch and the smallest act of caring, empathy and kindness can change a person’s life, uplift spirits and ultimately have its own reward.”

Kristina Diridis, Intensive Care Consultant said: “My ambition is to empower our diverse teams through guidelines and frameworks, to deliver compassionate, safe and respectful care for our patients. I want to enable staff training and patient participation in good quality research that advances science and gives our population hope.”

Dr Amelia Lloyd, Chief Registrar, said: “For me respect is acceptance of individuality, it is about bringing out the best in colleagues and seeing uniqueness as strength. Having a team that is inclusive and accepting of people, demonstrating kindness in the little things is the team I want to be part of.”

Our journey to rightsizing our beds

CORPORATE AND GENERAL NEWS

Effectively managing the inpatient bed base and delivering efficient patient journeys has been a challenge for many years in our Trust and in the wider NHS. With rising numbers of patients, pandemics and complex conditions that take time and resilience to manage, one thing has been clear, to be able to safely move into the Midland Met we have to be able to better manage our bed base.

Over the past number of months we have marked a notable achievement: we are proud to announce the successful closure of over 50 unfunded beds, a significant milestone in rightsizing and a reflection of our commitment to efficient and effective healthcare.

Whilst seasonal fluctuations in inpatient numbers have helped, it's clear that the launch and successful implementation of virtual wards has played a pivotal role

in this accomplishment. Virtual wards have been instrumental in enhancing patient care and have become a beacon of hope, catering to diverse medical needs such as palliative care, frailty, respiratory, and EPICENTRE. By embracing technology and leveraging telehealth solutions, we have been able to revolutionise the way healthcare is delivered, bringing it right into patients' homes.

Sharing his thoughts on the success of the bed rightsizing, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Demetri Wade said, “Virtual wards have opened up new opportunities for care pathways, enabling clinical colleagues to remotely monitor and manage patients' conditions. This approach not only provides convenience and comfort to patients but also reduces the demand on physical resources. Patients who are suitable for virtual care can benefit from enhanced self-management, reduced hospital stays, and minimised exposure to infections commonly found in hospital and healthcare settings. Most importantly, virtual wards promote a sense of empowerment among patients, allowing them to actively participate in their own care from the comfort of their own home.

“The closure of over 50 unfunded beds

signifies our commitment to efficient resourcing and sustainable capacity. Unfunded beds not only strain our financial resources but also contribute to operational inefficiencies. By rightsizing our bed base, we create a system that ensures patients are treated promptly and receive the attention they require.

“Reducing the number of unfunded beds is crucial to ensure that we can accommodate the increasing demands on our services. As the new hospital gains momentum and patient volumes once again surge, maintaining a manageable bed base becomes imperative. This achievement acts as a catalyst for positive change and encourages us to continue striving for excellence in resource management.

“While the closure of unfunded beds is indeed a remarkable accomplishment, it is vital to recognise that this is just the beginning. Our ongoing commitment to virtual wards and optimised bed utilisation is pivotal to maintaining our progress. We must emphasise to our colleagues the importance of referring eligible patients to virtual wards, ensuring that these resources are effectively utilised.”

Five-star catering at SWB

Our in-house catering services have recently achieved a five-star food hygiene rating from the local authority.

Environmental health officers from Birmingham City Council and Sandwell Council carry out regular inspections based on:

• Compliance with food hygiene and safety procedures

• Compliance with structural requirements

• Confidence in management and control procedures

Inspections at Rowley Regis Hospital specifically are carried out every six months, in compliance with a cook/chill manufacturing establishment whilst at Sandwell and City hospitals, the catering production and ward-based kitchens are inspected once a year alongside the catering retail units.

“Our catering departments consistently operate at high standards of food safety and cleanliness in compliance with relevant food safety legislation and guidelines,” said Michael Best, Catering Manager.

“In addition to these high standards we have adapted our working practices in line with the implementation of ‘Natasha’s law’ (allergen labelling) and provided relevant evidence to prove due diligence.”

Ilona Petersen, Catering Manager echoed these thoughts and said: “We also provide our staff with training at a higher level than legislation requires, with all our catering colleagues achieving a minimum of level two food safety and allergy awareness. Our chefs and team leaders achieve level three food safety and our front of house retail staff complete customer care training.”

Jane Owen, Head of Catering Services, said: “I am very proud of the catering team and the services we provide to our patients, visitors and Trust colleagues. I must thank

CORPORATE AND GENERAL NEWS

everyone in the catering teams in all areas of the departments across the Trust, as they all work extremely hard to maintain our high standards and this is shown through consistently achieving the five-star food hygiene rating.”

She added: “In addition to the patient meal provision at Rowley, Sandwell, City and Leasowes, we also provide meals to Sandwell Day Nursery. Collectively, the in-house catering service produces in excess of 5,000 meals per week. The team also operates our nine retail units, including a restaurant and eat in and takeaway coffee shops, across City, Sandwell, and Rowley Regis sites, open 15 hours per day, seven days a week, 365 days a year which makes this five-star rating even more outstanding!”

Catering colleagues at City Hospital proudly show off their five-star rating

Identifying and supporting smokers in our care

CORPORATE AND GENERAL NEWS

By Sarah Potts,

In a busy ward with endless tasks all competing for priority, it can be all too easy to overlook a common addiction that affects many in our care – smoking. However, it is our collective responsibility to ensure we offer appropriate support to quit smoking to each and every patient who needs it. While smoking rates have shown a sustained downward trend nationally, here in Sandwell prevalence has always been higher than the national average and recent statistics show a worrying increase in smoking rates. Around one in four of our adult inpatients are smokers, a statistic that cannot be ignored or brushed aside. We owe it to our patients to address this issue head-on and ensure we provide the support they need to overcome their addiction.

A recent audit of AMU patients found that only 20 per cent of admitted smokers

receive advice or treatment regarding their smoking habits while they are in our care. This percentage is alarmingly low and highlights a significant gap in our approach to patientcentred care. As healthcare professionals, it is our responsibility to ensure that every patient receives the necessary guidance and resources to manage their addiction, control their symptoms and ultimately improve their health outcomes.

One of the core issues we face is the frequent failure in identifying smokers among our patient population. Despite our best intentions, we often miss opportunities to capture this vital information during the admission process. Our team has developed teaching material and an educational poster aimed at highlighting the issue and equipping our medical and nursing staff with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and support patients with nicotine addiction. We are working towards integrating this training into the induction programs for junior doctors, ensuring that they are all wellprepared to offer appropriate guidance and prescribing advice to smokers and to try to limit the number of smokers who slip through the net during admission.

This teaching is based on the ‘Very Brief Advice’ (VBA) model developed by the National

Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT). VBA is the approach recommended for all UK health professional and includes just three simple elements:

Ask – Do you smoke?

Advise – Do you know the most effective way to quit is through a combination of behavioural support and Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)?

Act – To arrange support and give NRT

While our training initiatives are a crucial step forward, it is important for all of us as healthcare professionals to adopt a simple yet impactful approach when offering smoking cessation advice to patients. By keeping the conversation brief and non-judgmental, we can create a supportive environment that encourages open dialogue and helps patients feel comfortable seeking assistance.

For further information please get in touch: sarahpotts2@nhs.net

Comprehensive, free and CPD accredited online learning around smoking cessation is available from the NCST website (https://elearning.ncsct.co.uk/).

Sarah Potts, Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner

Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner

Transforming care in the community with our NCOT

In January 2022, the neonatal community outreach team (NCOT) service was born. It facilitates the early discharge of babies with ongoing medical or nursing needs and helps parents to be confident and competent in the care of their child at home. The service promotes a smooth transition from the hospital environment to their home.

The NCOT team comprises of several professionals, such as clinical lead, Dr Sivakumar, team leader, Carmen Nuttall, and Matron, Stacey Shaw.

Carmen Nuttall, NCOT Team Leader, explained: “We support parents and babies that meet the qualifying criteria. Our service has been in place for over a year, and since we started, over 140 babies have been supported by our team in their homes whilst empowering each family to learn the skills they need to care for their baby at home. It has reduced their length of stay and made their neonatal journey more enjoyable - families feel more involved and empowered.

“The team supports and educates families to be competent to care for their babies. We also educate colleagues to help support

families with their training needs, including the STORK programme. This learning is shared with families before discharge to enhance safety and reduce infant mortality.”

Focusing on how the NCOT team will support the care we deliver at Midland Met, Carmen explained: “In preparation for the opening of Midland Met, we are continuing to optimise our services and ensure that young patients and their families receive care in a home setting where possible. We are working on new guidelines to help babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) home with a safe and appropriate carer when they require specialist medication.

“NAS is a condition caused when a baby withdraws from certain drugs following exposure in the womb before birth. We aim to save at least 10-20 cot days per patient, saving over 100 cot days per year based on patients admitted to the neonatal unit with NAS. The home environment is more conducive to NAS babies - a calm, relaxed environment with minimal stimuli. Regularly assessing and visiting babies in their homes also helps to create an improved neonatal experience.

“We provide essential care outside of the neonatal unit, and we are not keeping babies

WOMENS AND CHILD HEALTH

in the hospital setting for longer than necessary. Early discharge also means we can optimise the use of special care cots, and it supports patient flows and improves our service provision.”

Carmen added: “In the year since launch, we have saved 1,500 cot days, not including maternity bed days saved from the transitional care area and reduced readmissions to paediatrics.

“For our population, this reduces the burden on families that a neonatal stay can create, such as the financial burden of travelling to the hospital and the strain of juggling other young children at home alongside a hospitalised baby. Early discharge reduces the stress associated with such situations, and this family focused approach has proved invaluable for improving our service. It will only continue to improve as the service develops as we head towards opening Midland Met.”

Members of our NCOT team with some of the babies and families they have cared for

Vanessa Wright: From nurse to sonographer

WOMEN'S AND CHILD HEALTH

At our Trust we always encourage colleagues to go the extra mile, doing what they can to improve the care and life chances of our patients.

Vanessa Wright has exemplified this spirit, recently achieving the remarkable milestone of qualifying as a sonographer to bolster our gynae unit's capabilities. Vanessa's journey from a dedicated general nurse to a skilled sonographer is a testament to her unwavering commitment to her patients.

Six years ago, Vanessa embarked on her medical career in the emergency department. Her drive and determination to deliver great care was immediately apparent, but it was her innate passion for women's health that drove her ambitions. After three years of service in A&E, Vanessa's aspirations led her to the gynae unit, where she began her journey as a general nurse.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought about unprecedented challenges. Elective surgeries were deferred and referrals surged, placing immense strain on services.

Recognising the desperate need to address the growing wait times and endless breaches, the team in the gynae unit explored the option of training a general nurse to become a sonographer.

Vanessa, ever determined, embraced this opportunity wholeheartedly. Though her background lay in nursing and not radiography, she embarked on a one-year medical ultrasound postgraduate certificate program. Balancing her responsibilities at work, family life and the demands of the course was undoubtedly challenging.

One of the key challenges in Vanessa's journey was finding a qualified sonographer to mentor her practice development. The scarcity of available experts with time to spare in this specialised field posed an obstacle that she tackled head-on.

Today, we celebrate Vanessa's remarkable

achievement – she stands before us as a qualified sonographer, ready to contribute her newfound expertise to our gynae unit. The Gynae Unit now stands as an established one-stop clinic, leveraging the skills of a colposcopists, hysteroscopists, and now Vanessa as a sonographer.

The unit has significantly reduced the risk of breaches and long patient waits. Specialists can now attend to patients on the same day, ensuring swift diagnosis and treatment planning. Moreover, the unit's newfound autonomy in offering scans and scopes facilitates the prompt initiation of treatments for patients diagnosed with cancer - a potentially life-saving change.

Vanessa's journey serves as an inspiration, a reminder that in the face of challenges, resilience and the pursuit of excellence can lead to remarkable accomplishments.

Congratulations, Vanessa – your dedication will truly make a difference to the patients in the gynae clinic.

Vanessa Wright has qualified as a sonographer

New online appointment booking for blood tests

PRIMARY CARE, COMMUNITY AND THERAPIES

All blood tests are by appointment only and can be carried out at the following locations:

• Oldbury Health Centre

• Neptune Health Park

• Soho Health Centre

• Lyng Centre for Health

• Rowley Regis Hospital

• Victoria Health Centre

• Summerfield Primary Care Centre

• Tower Hill Medical Centre

An online booking system has been introduced for blood tests which will allow patients to also cancel and reschedule their appointments.

Patients will be able to use the Airmid UK app, which can be downloaded onto a smartphone or tablet, if they meet the following criteria:

• Had a blood test previously with our service.

• Aged 16 and over.

• Have been referred for a blood test by their GP. Lucille Hedges, Patient Access Service Manager for Community Services, said: “This is a more efficient way for the patient who has already used the service to book, cancel or reschedule their appointment. It saves time and means they have the ability to do this at their fingertips.”

The app is available via Appstore or Play Store and there have been various guides created which will assist the patient in downloading the app and booking an appointment.

Patients who are new to the service, children under 16 and those wishing to attend Sandwell or City Hospitals for a blood test, will still need to call the telephone booking line on 0121 507 6104 or email them at swbh. phlebotomy@nhs.net

A new approach to treating leg ulcers

A new approach to treating leg ulcers has saved £14,798 and over 188 nursing hours in just six months. When you add in that it empowers patients to become experts in their own care and reduces healing time – it’s no wonder the team are so excited by it.

Venous leg ulcers (VLU) are the most common chronic wounds across England, costing the NHS over £3billion each year. Initially piloted by two of our district nursing teams, a new self-care programme has now been rolled out across all the teams, saving both money and nursing hours, as well as improving patient experience. This initiative was supported with partnership working with L&R medical.

On average, a patient with VLU would receive three visits per week from a district nurse to assess and treat their ulcer. With this new approach, they are provided with self-care products (ReadyWrap and hosiery kits) which they are trained to use by a district nurse.

Self-care is effective for both patients and clinicians, as Andy Churm, District Nursing Matron, explains: “By engaging in self-care practices, patients can improve their physical, emotional, and mental health, reduce stress and anxiety, and prevent or manage chronic conditions including lower limb management. Self-care also helps patients to develop a sense of self-awareness and self-compassion, which can improve their overall quality of life.

“Self-care is effective for clinicians because it helps them to maintain their own health and well-being, which is essential for providing high-quality care to their patients. Clinicians who engage in self-care practices are better able to manage stress, prevent burnout, and maintain a positive work-life balance. This, in turn, can improve their job satisfaction, reduce turnover rates, and increase the quality of care they provide to their patients.”

Andrew Kerr, Tissue Viability Nurse, said the products have been a real hit with the patients: “The find them really easy to use - one of the patients liked the ReadyWrap so much that she now describes it as her armour! Another one said that she is so happy she says she feels like she has won the

lottery – as a clinician that kind of quote is music to your ears.

“The products are also a lot more sustainable, so we are trying to do our bit contribute to the NHS long-term plan.” Instead of three visits per week, the patients now receive a visit every six weeks, with a phone call from their district nurse every two weeks.

Lesley McDonagh, Tissue Viability Lead Nurse, said this has made a real difference: “Patients now have more flexibility around managing their condition. They aren’t having to wait in their house three days a week for the district nurse to visit them. They can go about their daily lives with more freedom – reassured that the nursing team is only a phone call away.

“Whilst it is great to save money and time, the most rewarding part for the team has been seeing the difference it has made to our patients. They are happier, more empowered to manage their condition and we have also seen the average healing time reduced too.”

The Airmid app is a new online booking system for blood tests

Professor Derek Connolly awarded honorary degree by Aston University

MEDICINE AND EMERGENCY CARE

Professor Derek Connolly, one of our leading cardiologists specialising in the detection, treatment and prevention of coronary heart disease, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Aston University.

Prof. Connolly was recently appointed as a visiting clinical associate professor for Aston Medical School, receiving the honour at a ceremony at Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Thursday 20 July 2023.

He has been recognised for his significant contribution to the development of the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

As well as being a consultant cardiologist, he is also director for

research and development at the Trust.

He is the chief/primary investigator in several large clinical trials in cardiovascular medicine and was responsible for developing one of the UK's largest cardiac CT programmes, as well as one of the UK's first primary angioplasty programmes.

He said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this wonderful award from our friends at Aston University. Although this is the first individual award I’ve had since joining the Trust from Cambridge 23 years ago, I’d like to share it with all the wonderful staff I have worked with, saving lives over those many years.

“Nearly 20 years ago, I was at the first meeting to plan the new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital. In fact, Metropolitan, part of the name, was my idea. Clearly, with our friends in Aston and the University of Birmingham, we are now a major teaching hospital for medical students and this year marks the first tranche of Aston medical graduates.

“It is truly a great time to be in our Trust and it’s wonderful that are developing such a close relationship with Aston University.”

Professor Anthony Hilton, Pro-ViceChancellor and Executive Dean of the College of Health and Life Sciences at Aston University, said: “I am delighted Aston University has bestowed this honour on Derek.

“He has been working at the forefront of developments in diagnosis and treatment of heart disease with a strong international research portfolio and a continuing interest in and commitment to educating the next generation of general and specialist practitioners.

“Derek been instrumental in developing links with the College, particularly within research but he has also undertaken to contribute projects for students and as a career guide.

“He is an asset to the University and an inspiration to our students.”

Professor Derek Connolly receiving an honorary doctorate at Aston University

Critical care outreach present Call 4 Concern

The critical care outreach team will be taking referrals for clinically deteriorating patients – but they will be taking them from patients themselves, as well as their loved ones.

Nurses’ and doctors’ intuition can be crucial when recognising and treating deterioration: this often comes from continuity of care by being on a stretch of shifts together. However we don’t always have this and on occasion we rely on the patients and relatives to inform us of deterioration. Sometimes this is missed or overseen, which can lead to frustration for

patients and relatives and a breakdown in trust. Call 4 Concern aims to overcome this by giving patients and relatives a knowledgeable and skilful team to call, with vast expertise on deteriorating patients.

Critical care outreach will be trialling this initiative cross site to all inpatient wards over the next year. During this time, they will collect data to ensure the effectiveness and appropriateness of the initiative.

Posters and leaflets will be made available to all wards: posters are to be put up in clinical areas that are easily visible to patients and

SURGICAL SERVICES

relatives. It will be expected that the patient or relative will ask for a leaflet if they feel there is a clinical deterioration. The critical care outreach team are hopeful that this will be a fully established service prior to the move to MMUH. If you have any ideas or feedback, please contact Sophie O’Sullivan on sophieo’sullivan@nhs.net

Jonathan Hume, Sophie O’Sullivan and Dean Farrington from critical care

Video proving a hit for attracting radiographers

IMAGING

A video advertising a variety of radiographer roles has attracted more than 700 applicants – just months after it was first shared to promote the imaging department. The film, which features a snapshot into the role of a radiographer, was first released in January and first attracted 310 applicants for a which were shortlisted down to 50 interviewees, with eight successfully appointed. Following the release of more band 5 radiographer roles in July, the video continued to attract job seekers with around 400 applying. Interviews were due to take place at the end of August for the roles available.

CJ Browne, Group Director of Healthcare Professions, said: “The video has proved a real hit with applicants as it showcases not only how we are using cutting edge technology, but our new hospital, the Midland Met, and how we support staff through various health and wellbeing initiatives.

“As well as advertising the job in the usual traditional way through Trac Jobs and the NHS jobs website, this video was shared by the communications team via social media, on Facebook and TikTok.

“Radiographers are traditionally hard to fill roles, so we are really excited by the number of candidates wanting to come and work in SWB.”

The video was shared via Facebook community groups specifically for radiographers where it has attracted international attention. In total, it’s received around 25,000 views across the social media platforms operated by the Trust’s communications team.

CJ added: “The new staff will be completing a newly developed 12-week induction programme with a mentor to ensure they have support and guidance while they learn their new roles. Recruiting to these posts will increase our staffing level on a daily basis and will eventually allow us to train more staff to work in specialised areas.

“I would like to thank the communications team for their work on this project, their creative ideas and determination to make it happen really helped us to address a significant recruitment issue.”

The team haven’t stopped at the recruitment drive - to address the shortage of radiographers, they have recently made apprenticeship roles available and are now training six apprentice radiographers in conjunction with Keele University and Sheffield University. They are also recruiting internationally.

Radiographers Robert Hornsby and Jaskeert Birring in the recruitment video

Parking fine for coming to work

Dear Heartbeat,

So me alongside some fellow staff were recently given parking tickets for parking at City. We all work hard in our jobs so to come back and find tickets on all our cars was an absolute shocker to say the least. I could understand if we were blocking an ambulance or on double red lines but we were only slightly out the bay and this was only because all the other cars had not parked in the bays correctly so we were all forced to park slightly outside the bay. There are no lines on the side of the bays like at Sandwell so it is really hard to judge on the best of days never mind when there are conditions of heavy rain downpours. We all work very hard for our hospital so to be given these fine feels like a real gut punch especially in the current cost of living crisis we are in. Compassion is one of our values I’m told but I feel that some of our own staff didn’t show this! I think the Trust needs to rethink its ticketing system as I know of many staff who have been unfairly treated when it comes to tickets. We could risk appealing and then lose out and pay out even more money! Is it actually worth making a quick buck off staff by getting them to pay these charges but to damage and negatively impact staff wellbeing in the process?

Kind regards, Anonymous

YOUR RIGHT TO BE HEARD

Dear Anonymous,

Whilst I sympathise with the situation, the ticket will have been issued correctly by Q Park, in that the vehicle is not parked in a designated parking bay. If the recipient feels that is not the case, then they should appeal. If successful, the ticket will be cancelled. If not, they still have 14 days from notification to pay the reduced amount.

I've noticed there are quite a number of staff getting a PCN for this offence and it only seems to be in this car park. I have mentioned it to Q Park and our contract management team to get a quote for resurfacing and line marking, as this area forms part of the retained estate. It may be that we close this area to encourage people to use the multi-story car park, which has two levels not in use and where I would recommend that people park in the future.

Kind regards,

Jim Pollitt, Assistant Director Strategic Development

Wave goodbye to…

Dawn McAlister Patient Tracker and Administrator

“Being a new role, this was exciting and challenging, putting systems in place and setting up robust ways of working,” said Dawn.

“I have faced an array of challenges during my time in the role however during the height of the pandemic is where things got really difficult: trying to discharge our patients safely whilst adhering to the ever-changing guidelines was hard at times.”

Tracey Hickman, Discharge Tracker, has worked with Dawn for over 10 years and believes she has proven to be a real asset to SWB.

She said: “I have worked alongside Dawn since 2011 and since I have known her she has always been supportive, helpful and happy to pass on her vast amount of knowledge regarding hospital discharges.

Dawn McAlister, Patient Tracker and Administrator from the Integrated Discharge Hub will be retiring after almost three decades at the Trust.

Dawn first started with us in our A&E department at City Hospital as a receptionist.

“For most of my time in the emergency department as front of house, I used to work

evenings, nights and weekends as I had young children at the time and could work my hours around looking after them,” said Dawn.

“As they grew older, I started to change my shifts up and work more conventional hours.”

Dawn worked in A&E for a total of 12 years before moving to her current position of Patient Tracker and Administrator in late 2007.

“We have been through many changes in the team, but despite this Dawn has always remained a true professional and has always put our patients first. Utimately, she is an example of excellence for us all to aim towards on a daily basis. Her outstanding work ethic and personality will be missed.”

As part of her retirement Dawn is planning on going on more holidays including a trip she has planned with her husband to Cyprus.

Dawn McAlister has supported many patients during her time at SWB including 93 year old, Doreen Shakespeare at Rowley

Dawn McAlister

Richard talks about: the progress of Midland Met

Richard Beeken, Chief Executive

RICHARD'S LAST WORD

Over the past few months, I have been sharing with you the impressive progress of the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital building, the work to get us to fit into the hospital and the relationships we are developing with stakeholders to ensure that we deliver the strategic objectives linked with the new hospital.

Patients

People

Population

We continue to progress well with the interior fit out and the external competition of the building. This includes recent milestones such as beneficial access for one our largest suppliers of equipment in the hospital, Siemens.

I am also extremely impressed that against a backdrop of industrial action and staff sickness we have now closed 50 of the 62 beds stated this year. Closing beds that are not budgeted for is essential for us to safely move into Midland Met and I appreciate all your hard work getting us to this stage. There are lots of colleagues working in teams to ensure that their department/ speciality is fit for the move and I appreciate all that is being done alongside an increasingly demanding ‘day job’.

The Trust Board agreed some time ago to recruit over 480 additional staff to positions within the new hospital and there are several active recruitment campaigns underway to allow us to become fully staffed. The extremely successful consultants open day, held in July, will now form the blueprint for other speciality open day events over coming months.

We are also well into the management of change programme which aims to consult with staff affected by the move to MMUH and will hopefully negate any potential concerns colleagues have concerning their workplace and role.

It is integral to the success of the programme that residents and local population play a key role in the development of MMUH.

We have already held several engagement sessions with near neighbours, listening to their feedback which is helping us to shape programmes of work such as transport and connectivity.

Engagement continues in earnest with the launch of the MMUH community engagement vehicle this autumn. This will enable us to reach the heart of the community to spark conversations about the new hospital and changes to the way we are doing things through the entire Trust.

We are also focussing heavily on local employment for local residents and one fantastic example of this is the successful SWAP programme, where we have been working with Sandwell College to develop courses to upskill local people and bring them into roles in MMUH. So far, we have successfully brought onboard 14 ward service officers through this scheme and plan to recruit more using the scheme.

All the above could not be possible without the continued hard work and dedication from our teams and I would like to extend my thanks to you all and look forward to bringing more updates in future editions of Heartbeat.

To work seamlessly with our partners to improve lives

To cultivate and sustain happy, productive and engaged staff

To be good or outstanding in everything we do

SWB stars score funds for NHS charities

YOUR TRUST CHARITY

@SWBHCharity To donate to the Your Trust Charity text

“SWBH16 £5” to 70070

Founded in 2020, Nightingale Football Club is a charity football team made up of many NHS workers with backgrounds in areas such as radiography, ODP, physiotherapy, emergency services and support work. The team meets to train on a weekly basis with matches taking place every one-two months. The core drive for this team is to help raise much needed funds for NHS charities by means of ticket sales, raffles and individual players efforts to raise money; all of this is done within the players’ own time.

Team manager Tom, who works as a full-time paramedic, says the team is doing better than ever. Their last match, against the Bone Cancer Research Trust, raised over £2,000

and their previous match against the Bradley Lowery Foundation raised a total of £1200. These funds were split between NHS charities chosen by the teams, and will help assist in purchasing healthcare equipment, providing support services for NHS staff or funding research. The team itself is very welcoming and encourage friends and family to attend their matches, providing activities for children, refreshments, opportunity to win prizes and of course the match itself, making it a fun day out for the whole family.

SWB proudly has two players for Nightingale FC: defender Steven PlumleyWood and goalkeeper Lee Witherford. They regularly run a scratch card, usually costing £2 per play, which anyone is welcome to participate in. Simply pick your team and once all teams are sold, the winner will be revealed with the prize money split between the winner and a nominated NHS charity. The current scratch card raffle is raising funds for Your Trust Charity.

The team do a lot of work behind-thescenes, writing to companies asking for support, donations or discounts that can be raffled or auctioned, advertising their team across social media and spreading their aims amongst their workplaces and contacts. Recently the team auctioned off official signed merchandise from West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City football club raising a total of £145,

helping make a total of almost £17,500 raised to date for various worthy NHS Charities.

This excellent work has resulted in the team gaining an experienced photographer, Jake Withephotos of JWP. Jake attends games when available to provide Nightingale with team and action shots for marketing purposes. The photos can also be purchased, with some profits donated to the team’s chosen charity. If you’re interested in joining the scratch card raffle, or you or anyone you know are able to help Nightingale FC in funding equipment, providing food or entertainment, financial or product donations, raffle/auction items or simply help to raise awareness, please get in touch with Steven Plumley-Wood or Lee Witherford in radiography at City Hospital. Find and follow Nightingale FC on social media to gain more information, contact information, or to hear about our upcoming matches and don’t forget to share. The team hope to see you there!

2023 staff lottery results

For further information on the scheme contact Pat Hunt on 07990 351490 or email patriciahunt@nhs.net

Don’t forget that Your Trust Charity lottery costs just £1 a month and anyone who works for the Trust can join. Payment is deducted from your wages each month. To take part email johnny.shah@nhs.net.

1st £141.75 Joanne Bromhall 2nd £85.05 Lesley Jordan

3rd £56.70 Karon Povey

Steven Plumley-Wood and Lee Witherford from SWB, who play for Nightingale FC

Nightingale Football Club