Don't delay – UHD Covid booster vaccinations end soon

An incredible one in four UHD staff are now further protected against both Covid-19 and flu this winter, after just three weekends of vaccination clinics.

The weekend winter wellness clinics began offering the vaccinations earlier this month. In addition to these clinics, many staff are also choosing to have their Covid-19 booster vaccination away from UHD through pharmacies and GPs. Just under a quarter of all vaccinated staff have received their booster elsewhere.

In recognition of this, we will be bringing forward the end of our own clinics by two weeks – the last Covid-19 booster vaccinations through our hospitals will be available on 6 and 7 November.

If you have an appointment after this date, please go to the online booking portal and cancel and rebook your appointment for a clinic in the next few weekends – there are spaces available on all available days.

If you are unable to do so, e.g. because it has not been six months between your second vaccination and the booster, or because you are not 28 days clear after a Covid-19 infection, don't worry. Just follow the instructions on the NHS website here.

Thanks to all who have taken the trouble to provide positive feedback on the clinic service and experience – your comments are greatly appreciated by the project team and vaccinators.

• Flu: dedicated weekday drop-in flu clinics for staff who wish to have their vaccinations separately, or who do not want to have a Covid-19 booster, began this week – for full details see the intranet.

Ask Aly – with Dr Matt Thomas this Thursday

Join us at 1pm on Thursday (21 October) for the latest Ask Aly event, hosted this month by our deputy chief medical officer, Dr Matt Thomas. It's a great opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns or share your views.

You can join the meeting here and if you'd like to send any questions in advance, pop them through to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we can ask on your behalf.

HealthRoster upgrade is coming

Allocate HealthRoster is upgrading to HealthRoster 11 on the 8 November.

The functionality of the service will remain the same but the user interface has changed, familiarise yourself with the new layout.

You can see a preview of the upgrade and user guides on the workforce systems page on the RBCH intranet.

Speak up using our @UHD app

It's Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) month - did you know that you can speak up using our @UHD app?

The app brings useful information and resources about speaking up to your fingertips, wherever you are, from your mobile and you can use it to make referrals direct to the FTSU team.

These referrals can be made anonymously, although we always prefer to speak to you directly in a confidential and safe environment.

Click here for more information on how to download the @UHD app free to your smartphone.

Our new site guides

With more and more of us working away from our 'usual' hospital site, we've designed site guides for RBH and Poole to help you on your way.

The guides are a one-stop-shop a range of, including: refreshments and shops, meeting rooms and other facilities, IT and digital technology, parking, safety and security and useful contacts.

The guides can be downloaded here and can also be found on the UHD app. The Christchurch Hospital guide is coming soon.

Your voice is more important than ever...

We know everyone is extremely busy in the workplace. Life has changed a lot over the past year and thinking back to 2019 or even the beginning of 2020 seems like a long old time ago, so your voice is even more important right now.

This year's national NHS Staff Survey is being run by Quality Health (external company) and includes questions on areas that really matter to us such as what our working lives have been like for this past year, what our home/work life balance has been like and also our health and wellbeing.

We are really keen to hear your answers, your opinions, your voice. There's no denying this past year or so has been one like no other and so we want to hear your experience, your story. We want our staff to help us to build a future that we all care about and together we can make possible...

Please have your say and complete your Staff Survey. If you have any questions please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

RBH: Parking at Littledown Centre

Please may all colleagues parking at Littledown Centre display their Littledown parking permit and park only in the designated bays. There have been cars parked outside of bays blocking the road through the car park recently.

There is parking in two areas of the Littledown Centre car park for UHD permit holders, so please ensure you check the second further area if the first car park if it is full.

Please see the map for the UHD-allocated parking zones.

POOLE: Use Internet Explorer to access EPMA via EPR

Following the upgrade of EPMA, the link to access it through EPR currently only works in Internet Explorer. It will not work when EPR is accessed via Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.

We are working with the software suppliers to try and overcome this, but in the meantime please ensure all colleagues know to only use Internet Explorer to access EPMA via EPR. We will ensure that staff are informed when the issue is resolved.

POOLE: Thank you to Kath

A friendly and familiar face to staff and visitors at Poole Hospital retires next month after nearly three decades service.

Kath Raines, receptionist at the main entrance, is retiring on 1 November after 29 years at the hospital. Her reception colleagues have paid this tribute:

"Kath has worked at Poole Hospital for 29 years and has guided, assisted, supported, empathised and laughed with many grateful patients, visitors and colleagues in her role.

"She is a much loved, valued and respected colleague who has constantly been there for the team. She has been a font of all knowledge over the years, if Kath doesn't know, nobody does. She has worked tirelessly to make sure shifts are covered to enable the reception desk to stay manned. Kath is going to be sorely missed.

Just a typical piece of feedback from a grateful visitor: "You were really helpful, lovely and I wish there were more people like you in the world".

We all wish Kath good luck, health and happiness for her retirement."

Congratulations on your retirement, Kath!

POOLE: Lifting operations and equipment inspections (LOLER) in November

Zurich Insurance with be on site from 1 November for two weeks to carry out LOLER inspections.

Please can all areas check for lifting equipment, slings and hoists and make them available in your department for inspection. All equipment must be cleaned and sanitised during the visit and prior to inspection.

All overhead patient hoists should also be docked and fully charged ready for inspection.

If you have any questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

RBH: No alcohol care and treatment service cover on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 October

Clinical information can be found on the alcohol intranet page.

If you need an urgent clinical opinion contact Poole ACTS bleep 0561, otherwise leave a patient referral on ext 5329 and they will be seen later that week.

National pension banding reassessment process

A new national payroll process has been added to ESR to automatically reassess new starters and assignments with certain pay-affecting changes, to ensure they are allocated to the appropriate pension per cent band.

Pensionable pay includes, but is not restricted to, basic pay, enhancements such as unsocial hours (night duty/weekend payments), on calls, clinical excellence awards, it is not overtime above whole time, or expenses.

This process will use all pensionable pay in the period of change to estimate pensionable pay for the assignment for the whole year.

Events that trigger the new assessment process on an assignment are as follows:

• new starter, including a new or secondary assignment for an existing person
• a change to the assignment grade step which is pay affecting
• assignments affected by a pay award.
• Where the reassessment process finds that a new pension band is required the new pension per cent rate will be updated from the start date of the change in pay, either on the 1 of the following month, or backdated from the date of change in pay.

Sending COP26 a clear message on climate change

In the run up to the UN COP26 Climate Conference in November and one year on from the launch of the NHS Net Zero Carbon commitments, the health community around the world is coming together to send a message calling for real action to address the climate crisis.

You can help by adding your name to 'The Healthy Climate Prescription letter'.

Read an update from Stuart Lane, sustainability and carbon manager, on the context around climate change and the determinants of health, and sign the letter here.

Time is running out to sign up for the randomised coffee trials

Randomised coffee trials are a way to meet colleagues from around the trust to share ideas and get to know each other.

The closing date to sign up for the next trials is 31 October – don't miss out on your chance to meet new colleagues.

Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out more.

Allied Health Professionals (AHP) day quiz winners!

Congratulations to Kris Knudsen, Caroline Caton and Lisa Drury the winner and joint runners up of the AHP day quiz.

We hope they enjoyed their AHP goody box containing almonds, after eights, apples, hula hoops, hershey's, hob nobs, peanuts, pears, plums and pistachios.

We would also like to say a huge congratulations to Chris Efford from our musculoskeletal outpatients therapy team who was shortlisted for the 2021 Chief Allied Health Professions Officer AHP awards, this is a fantastic achievement – well done Chris!

Late applications to the EU settlement scheme

If you are a member of staff from the EU and you missed the deadline for the EU settlement scheme, you can still contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to make a late application.

Mini Schwartz Round for UHD palliative care team

The next mini Schwartz Round will take place via Teams on 19 October between 2-3pm. The meeting will focus on 'when patients make choices that we find challenging' and is open to the UHD palliative care team only.

If you are part of this team and would like to join the meeting please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Forest Holme) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Mac Unit) for the link.

To find out about Schwartz Rounds and how your team/department can be part of a mini round, please go to the Schwartz Rounds pages on the intranet.

POOLE: Don't miss your chance to win the staff lottery

Poole is joining RBH for the UHD staff lottery. Lottery players can choose to between one and five numbers at the cost of £1 per number.

There are 17 prizes each month and a range of prizes across the year ranging from £25 to £500 each month, and then quarterly additional bonus prizes of £750 all the way to £1,000.

As well as monthly prizes we have a yearly lottery fund where teams can bid for money to buy goods to benefit staff such as materials for wellbeing spaces, pictures to enhance staff rooms and staff physio sessions. This will be launched in January each year with awards being made in the April.

To join complete this form and for more information visit the staff lottery page on the intranet.

Your wellbeing weekly

Don't forget to check out our wellbeing pages on the staff intranet. You can find out more about Tranquil Tuesday Pilates, Wellbeing Wednesday sessions on physical and mental wellbeing, Thriving Thursday yoga and much more...

Free Piede Pilates Session this afternoon

Tired feet? Give them a little love with a session filled with exercises to mobilise, stretch and strengthen your feet at the Poole Hospital physiotherapy gym.

The session takes place today (Tuesday 19 October) at 5.15pm and participants will need to bring their own tennis ball, or spiky massage ball.

Spaces are limited, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to book.

POOLE: Availability this weekend at winter wellness clinic

Around one in five staff is now further protected from Covid-19 after our winter vaccination clinic at the Royal Bournemouth at the weekend.

The clinic, which also offers staff the annual flu vaccine, moves back to Poole this Saturday and Sunday, with limited appointments available on Sunday (17 October). Use the online booking system to find a time that suits, using your Chrome browser to do this.

Please remember:

• Bring your NHS number with you to your appointment
• If you cannot attend your appointment, please let us know using the instructions in your booking confirmation email, or via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For more information check out this FAQ.

Time running out in consultation on compulsory vaccinations for healthcare workers

The Government's consultation on extending compulsory vaccination requirements to health and care settings for COVID-19 and flu ends on 22 October.

The consultation proposes that, if introduced, requirements would apply to frontline health and care workers– those with face-to face contact with patients and clients. It would mean only those workers that are vaccinated (or those with a legitimate medical exemption) could deliver those services.

These are complex and important issues and the consultation seeks to gather a wide range of perspectives across the health and care sectors about whether requirements should be introduced.

One contact for e-roster

There is now only one email address for raising any problems with e-roster across UHD - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. will no longer be monitored.

Public Health England hands over to the UK Health Security Agency

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is the new body that takes on the roles of organisations including Public Health England and NHS Test and Trace.

The UKHSA's remit will include public health, including the fight against Covid-19 through the continuing development of effective vaccines.

The UKHSA will also work to tackle health inequalities, one of UHD's strategic objectives as a partner on the Dorset Integrated Care System.

All Public Health England and Public Health Dorset contact details will remain unchanged for now.

POOLE: New members of #TeamUHD

A warm welcome seven new international nurses to the trust. They have finished their isolation period post arrival in the UK and started work last week.

They join us from the Philippines, Ghana, Zimbabawe, Nigeria and Kenya and will be joining our teams in wards A5, B2,B3, emergency department and theatres.

Welcome to all of our new starters this week, we are so glad to have you.

It's time for Abbott glucose and ketone external quality assurance (EQA) samples

If you use Abbott glucose and ketone meters look out for the letter and sample to test coming to your ward from Wednesday (13 October).

The letter will include details on where to send results, which must be submitted for each meter before 1 November.

Every meter on our register must have a result submitted by the point of care team within 21 days of the sample dispatch to be compliant. Any results returned after the deadline are not submitted and the ward or clinic is marked as non-compliant. If ketones are also measured on a device we expect a glucose and a ketone result for each meter.

If you have any questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

EQA compares different sites testing the same analyte, so there can be continuity of testing over geography. At UHD we subscribe to Wales External Quality Assurance Scheme (WEQAS) and samples are sent for us to test quarterly.

When reporting results to WEQAS point of care needs: meter serial number, strip lot number, test being performed, date of test, operator details and the result. The operator details are not reported but is a contact for us should the results be unacceptable, and we need to investigate or troubleshoot.

RBH: Limited inpatient stoma care service the Friday

We may not be able to facilitate day of referral review on Friday.

Stoma care service can be contacted on extension 4813, bleep 2633 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

National pension banding reassessment process

A new national payroll process has been added to ESR to automatically reassess new starters and assignments with certain pay-affecting changes, to ensure they are allocated to the appropriate pension per cent band.

This process will use all pensionable pay in the period of change to estimate pensionable pay for the assignment for the whole year.

Events that trigger the new assessment process on an assignment are as follows:

• new starter, including a new or secondary assignment for an existing person
• a change to the assignment grade step which is pay affecting
• assignments affected by a pay award.

Where the reassessment process finds that a new pension band is required the new pension per cent rate will be updated from the start date of the change in pay, either on the 1 of the following month, or backdated from the date of change in pay.

POOLE: Help keep our workplace fire-safe

Fire wardens have a vital role in maintaining fire safety compliance in their local workplaces and assisting in fire alarm incidents.

Two further courses have been booked in for Poole Hospital fire warden training. If you are already in the process of becoming a fire warden and have had to miss a previous session you can also book on to one of these dates.

• Monday 29 November 9-11am
• Tuesday 14 December 10am-12pm

Courses are held in the lecture theatre and can be booked on the Poole education and training pages on the intranet.

If you have any questions contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

POOLE: Telemetry outage next week

Due to a planned upgrade of the telemetry system next week there will be no ability to monitor telemetry centrally on Tuesday 19 October. This means the telemetry boxes will not be working.

It is planned that the outage will only last 24 hours and the system will be back up on Wednesday 20 October.

If a patient requires telemetry monitoring during this time, please discuss with the cardiology team. Patients who require monitoring will need to be transferred to AMU or ACU for monitoring whilst the telemetry system is down.

Save the date for our Christmas Elf Dash

Our first UHD Charity Christmas event is here and you're invited.

Join us at Branksome Dene Beach from 11am on Saturday 4 December 2021 – run, walk, skip or dance your way along a festive promenade route followed by a visit to Santa in his grotto!

Pop the date in your diary - sign up information coming very soon.

Do you know how to have difficult conversations?

If you have line management responsibilities, why not come along to a leadership development session aimed at helping develop techniques for managing difficult conversations.

The virtual programme, delivered by Practive, also aims to support attendees to tackle poor behaviour and support individual performance

Sessions can be booked on the leadership development pages of the RBCH intranet.

Spaces available at 'leading teams through change' workshops

Are you leading a team through change? Join one of our leadership development workshops to gain knowledge on leading through times of uncertainty and network with other leaders across UHD.

Workshops can be booked on the leadership development pages of the RBCH intranet.

Job of the week: Workforce lead across sites

The workforce team is looking for a motivated registered healthcare professional to join them on an 18-month secondment. You will support delivery of the workforce agenda for nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals across UHD.

The work is challenging, interesting and hugely varied, reflecting the current and future needs of the trust.

You will need to have experience in working with multidisciplinary teams and some operational and clinical experience.

The job closes on the 21 October. Click here for more information.

Your wellbeing weekly

Be sure to read up on all of the latest wellbeing offers on the You Matter pages of the intranet. This month is Menopause Awareness Month and there are workshops and discussions on offer which allow us all to learn more about menopause and its effects. You can also join mindfulness courses, take up exercise group opportunities and much more.

Flu-only vaccination clinics available from next week

Drop-in clinics for staff who wish to have their flu vaccine separately to the Covid-19 booster, or who don't wish to have the Covid booster vaccination, start on Monday (18 October).

You must bring your NHS number, which can be found on the NHS smartphone app, and your staff ID badge to ensure the clinics run smoothly. They run at Gala Lodge at Poole Hospital and the Stour building at Royal Bournemouth at the following times and days each week until further notice:

• Mondays: 8.30-10.30am, Poole Hospital
• Tuesdays: 4-6pm, Royal Bournemouth
• Wednesdays: 8.30-10.30am, Royal Bournemouth
• Thursdays: 4-6pm, Poole Hospital
• Fridays: 8.30-10.30am, Royal Bournemouth; 4-6pm, Poole Hospital

There is no need to book, and no need to wait between having the Covid booster or flu jab, and vice versa.

The Staff Survey 2021 is here and we need you...

You may well be thinking 'not another survey' but rest assured this survey is one with a difference.

We have been through a lot over this past year; the pandemic that hasn't yet come to an end, the two hospitals merging as one, never mind what we have experienced in our personal lives... this is why the Staff Survey of 2021 is so important.

It's the first for UHD as a merged trust, it has relevant questions to the current climate and the here and now of what our staff are experiencing including home and work life balance and it will help us shape the future of UHD as one team and how together we can move forward.

If you have any questions, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Next week is Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) week

Our IPC team will be holding a display in the dome and atrium next Friday (22 October) from 11am-2:30pm.

The team will be showcasing a QI project commencing on two wards across both sites in November and providing information about becoming an IPC Champion. The fit test team will be on hand to answer questions relating to changes in guidance for FFP3 respirators.

Come and chat to the team or leave us a question in the box on our stand.

RBH: Derwent department closure this Sunday (17 October)

From 7am on Sunday (17 October) there will be an outage of heating and hot water in the Derwent department, and the department will be closed.

All patients will be relocated to ward 12 before the closure. There will be future outages of heating, but not hot water, in the Derwent department at the end of October and we will provide updates on these.

If you have any queries, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

POOLE: Telemetry outage next week

Due to a planned upgrade of the telemetry system next week there will be no ability to monitor telemetry centrally on Tuesday 19 October. This means the telemetry boxes will not be working.

It is planned that the outage will only last 24 hours and the system will be back up on Wednesday 20 October.

If a patient requires telemetry monitoring during this time, please discuss with the cardiology team. Patients who require monitoring will need to be transferred to AMU or ACU for monitoring whilst the telemetry system is down.

Celebrating our AHPs

The diverse roles that make up allied health professionals (AHPs) took centre stage in our hospitals on Thursday as we helped mark Allied Health Professionals Day.

AHP is the broad term use to describe professions as diverse as therapists, operating department practitioners and radiographers, and who make up around a third of the NHS' workforce.

Displays in the dome at Poole and atrium at Royal Bournemouth showcased some of the work undertaken by AHPs, including a quiz which tested just how much staff in general knew about AHPs and the skills and services they provide.

"AHPs are such a far-reaching group of staff that it is great for us all to come together to celebrate the contribution that they make to patient care and the value they bring to colleagues on this day," said Dr Debbie Lane, associate director for allied health professionals and healthcare scientists at UHD.

Find out more about AHPs in their newsletter, available here.

RBH: Limited dementia and delirium service

We currently have a very limited dementia and delirium specialist nursing service.

This will be for the next few weeks, and we will be triaging patients to prioritise.

Phone advice can be given if required on ext 5335.

Ask Aly – with Dr Matt Thomas

Join us at 1pm on Thursday (21 October) for the latest Ask Aly event, hosted this month by our deputy chief medical officer, Dr Matt Thomas. It's a great opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns or share your views.

You can join the meeting here and if you'd like to send any questions in advance, pop them through to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we can ask on your behalf.

POOLE: Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA) upgrade is coming

EPMA is being upgraded on Sunday (17 October).

The upgrade will introduce new features to improve user experience, such as 'quick charting' for nurses and a 'right-click' menu for prescribers.

EPMA will now be known as WellSky so desktop icons will also be updated. Look out for the new symbol when accessing from a desktop.

Search 'EPMA' on the intranet for further information on the new features. The EPMA team will be visiting the wards next week to highlight the benefits that have been implemented.

In the meantime, if you have any further questions then please call the EPMA team on 2984 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Text messages to patients to help our waiting lists

We are currently contacting patients via text message as part of our work to tackle the large waiting lists caused by the pandemic.

They will be sent texts or letters asking them to confirm details about their care. If asked, please reassure patients that this is not a scam and they can respond to the message or letter.

You can find out more about what the messages will say here and download a patient awareness poster for your clinical area here.

RBH: No medical photographer available

There will be no medical photographer available on site until 21 October.

Your new safeguarding newsletter

The adult, children and maternity safeguarding team has created its first newsletter, raising awareness of the topic around the trust.

This month's edition introduces the team as well as a seven-minute focus tool to answer the question – what is safeguarding?

You can read the newsletter here.

RBH: No alcohol care and treatment service cover on Tuesday 19 October

Clinical information can be found on the alcohol intranet page.

If you wish to refer a patient please leave a message on ext 5329 and they will be seen the next day

Return your ID badge if you're leaving us

If you are leaving your job at the trust you must return your ID card to the card office or your line manager.

These cards are the property of UHD and must be returned in line with our security protocol and leavers policy.

Line managers are responsible for collecting ID cards when a member of staff is leaving.

Patient information stickers

Our patient experience team is working hard to update and rebrand to UHD the thousands of patient information leaflets currently in use across the trust.

While this work is ongoing, we have some stickers available that can be placed on leaflets that have yet to be rebranded, advising patients of the phone number and email address changes.

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you'd like any of these stickers for your department.

Jenni Douglas-Todd confirmed as Dorset's Integrated Care Board (ICB) chair designate

This appointment is an important step towards the creation of statutory Integrated Care Boards which will also replace existing NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups from 1 April 2022.

Jenni says she is looking forward to being a part of a new and exciting team for the NHS and wider Integrated Care System.

Read more on the Dorset CCG website.

POOLE: Are you feeling lucky – enter the staff lottery!

Poole is joining RBH for the UHD staff lottery.

Lottery players can choose to have between one and five numbers at the cost of £1 per number. The numbers are allocated at random and the money is deducted directly from your wages. Currently, only staff who are paid monthly can enter.

There are 17 prizes each month and a range of prizes across the year ranging from £25 to £500 each month, and then quarterly additional bonus prizes of £750 all the way to £1,000.

As well as monthly prizes we have a yearly lottery fund where teams can bid for money to buy goods to benefit staff such as materials for wellbeing spaces, pictures to enhance staff rooms and staff physio sessions. This will be launched in January each year with awards being made in the April.

To join complete this form and for more information visit the staff lottery page on the intranet (look under S on the A-Z).

RBH: Catching out the bike thieves

Police cadets will be offering us a free bike security marking service.

You can register your bike with the police-approved database Bike Register and apply a unique code to your bike frame. Should your bike be stolen, a report can be submitted and the unique code can help police return your bike to you.

If you'd like to have your bike security marked for free bring it to the marquee from 25-29 October 10am-2pm.

Your Wellbeing Weekly

Head over to our weekly wellbeing pages to find out all the latest offers across UHD. This week, book into Tranquil Tuesdays for some lunchtime Pilates and yoga, find out about living well in retirement with Active Dorset and sign up for menopause discussion workshops.

Your voice is more important than ever, get ready to complete your NHS Staff Survey

We know everyone is under huge pressure in the workplace. Life has changed a lot over the past year and thinking back to 2019 or even the beginning of 2020 seems like a long old time ago, but your voice is even more important right now.

This staff survey has been tailored by Quality Health (external company) for NHS staff across the country to say what their working life has been like for this past year, how much of a work/life balance they have and how they would rate their wellbeing.

We as a trust are really keen to hear your answers, your opinions, your voice. There's no denying this past year or so has been one like no other before; we want to hear your experience, your story.

For the first time, as a merged trust, we want to hear from staff for us to build a future, a future that we all care about and together we can make possible...

Winter is coming – are you ready?

Our winter wellness vaccination clinics move to Royal Bournemouth this weekend, with around 1,000 staff taking advantage of the enhanced protection that the Covid-19 booster and annual flu vaccination offer at our first clinic in Poole last week.

Please note that the west entrance at Royal Bournemouth is closed this weekend – use the outpatients entrance instead.

It's not too late to book your Covid-19 booster and flu vaccination jabs using the online booking system before clinics end on 5 December. Please remember to use your Chrome browser to do this.

If you experience any problems with the booking process, or need to change your appointment, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The vaccines offer an enhanced level of protection above and beyond that derived from having the two Covid-19 vaccines earlier this year, or by having contracted Covid-19.

The clinics are alternating each weekend between Poole and Royal Bournemouth.

For more information check out this FAQ.

Poole: Some delays to pharmacy services today

The pharmacy team at Poole is extremely stretched today (8 October) across all specialties and areas, and there will be some delays to clinical screening and discharge medications. Information for same day discharges must be received by 4pm.

Congratulations to our dermatology team

Our dermatology team has been highly commended in the British Medical Journal awards and were awarded second place in the Dermatology Team of the Year award.

The team was recognised for setting up a bespoke image transfer service from scratch in three weeks, enabling patients to upload photographs to their electronic medical records. The images are then triaged by a consultant in virtual clinics. The redesign meant that 100 per cent of two week wait referrals were seen within that target, with 66 per cent managed remotely.

Dr Anjnee Shah, dermatology registrar at Poole Hospital, said: "We are so grateful to have the opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication the whole dermatology team have put in over the past 18 months to maintain the service, meet increasing demand and support local dermatology services. All that with a pandemic and a merger thrown in the mix is something to be truly proud of."

RBH: West entrance closure this Saturday

The west entrance will be closed this Saturday to staff, patients, and visitors. Please use the outpatients entrance for access to the hospital.

If you are due to deliver or receive the Covid-19 booster vaccine at RBH this Saturday (9 October), you will also need to use the outpatients entrance.

Can you support our phlebotomy teams?

Our phlebotomy teams are urgently looking for staff competent in venepuncture to assist them with clinics at both Bournemouth and Poole.

If you can help, contact Claudette Brady, UHD phlebotomy service manager, on ext 4879 or 2851.

Evaluation of clinical audit department

The clinical audit team is currently evaluating their service.

If you have recently undertaken a clinical audit or service evaluation supported by the clinical audit department, please take a moment to complete the evaluation form here.

All feedback is gratefully received.

If you wish to undertake a clinical audit or service evaluation, projects can be registered with us via our intranet pages.

RBCH: No hospital palliative care team cover this weekend

Due to unforeseen circumstances there will be no hospital palliative care cover this weekend (9 and 10 October).

For urgent concerns, 24 hour advice is available from the Macmillan Unit. Please call ext. 5470 option 1 between the hours of 8am-5pm and option 3 between the hours of 5pm-8am.

For non-urgent queries, please leave a message on ext 6021 and a staff member will pick these up on Monday 27 September.

Our apologies for any inconvenience.

Who do you talk to about your mental health and wellbeing?

This Sunday is World Mental Health Day, and we know that the pandemic has had a huge impact on the mental health of staff in the NHS.

Across UHD there are over 100 Mental Health First Aiders who are committed to supporting your mental health and wellbeing, and providing help when you need it. These trained colleagues are available to be non-judgmental listeners and can help you access a range of support.

Check the intranet (under M for 'Mental Health First Aid' on the A-Z) to find out more about contacting a first aider, or if you would like to be one yourself.

We are now offering access to 'We Can Talk' training, which enables you to support younger patients, up to 25, who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. For more information click here.

There is information on support available across UHD on our intranet or via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Celebrating Black History Month

October is Black History Month in the UK. The NHS is the largest employer of people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds in the country.

Across the NHS there are events running that aim to celebrate, empower, and give platform to our black colleagues. There are a huge range of events and seminars available, click here to find out more.

Keep an eye on our UHD social media for stories and opinions from across UHD, and if you would like to get in touch and share your experiences, thoughts, and opinions around Black History Month email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Poole: Catching out the bike thieves

Police community support officers from Poole's neighbourhood policing team will be offering us a free bike security marking service.

You can register your bike with the police-approved database Bike Register and apply a unique code to your bike frame. Should your bike be stolen, a report can be submitted and the unique code can help police return your bike to you.

If you'd like to have your bike security marked for free bring it to the car park outside the education centre next Wednesday (13 October) 3–5pm.

We are hopeful to obtain dates for a similar initiative at RBCH soon.

POOLE: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The chaplaincy team would like two staff members from our Poole site to read a short lesson at the first UHD Christmas carol service. The reading will be provided by the chaplaincy team.

The service takes place on 15 December at 7pm at the Priory in Christchurch and is open for all staff to attend.

If you would like to give a reading contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ext 2167.

RBH: Missing tables and chairs from the Shelley Restaurant

If you have borrowed any tables or chairs belonging to the Shelley Restaurant please return them.

These were stored during the pandemic to allow for social distancing in the restaurant but now we would like to start increasing our capacity and need the chairs and tables back.

RBH: Wellbeing space to be re-provided in marquee

The wellbeing space offered in the committee room is moving to a new home in the marquee adjacent to the restaurant. This allows the meeting room to revert to its original purpose, and is in response to declining use of the committee room wellbeing space.

A range of wellbeing spaces have been offered across UHD during the pandemic to support staff by offering a safe space away from the clinical environment.

Half price tickets for UHD staff from Lighthouse Poole

Lighthouse Poole has kindly offered us half-price tickets to two of next week's performances.

Simon Amstell 'Spirit Hole', Wednesday 13 October. Use the code SA50NHS when booking.

English Touring Opera 'Handel Amadigi', Friday 15 and Saturday 16 October. Use code ETO50OFF (excluding price band A) when booking.

Job of the week – temporary staffing assistant at RBH

This role is within human resources, working alongside a dynamic workforce deployment team.

You will need excellent communication skills and the ability to work independently as well as part of a busy vibrant team. You must be willing to work flexibly (including weekends & bank holidays) in response to the needs of the service and adapt to its changing aspects.

Click here for more information, the job closes on 20 October.

Your wellbeing weekly

Be sure to check the weekly wellbeing page on the intranet for all of your latest offers. This week you can book into our Care First sessions, find out all of our activities for Menopause Awareness Month, and get involved in exercise activities such as running, pilates and yoga.