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University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Staff Bulletin 22 April 2022

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Supporting patients, staff and services - revised UHD full capacity protocol is active

As we continue to see extremely busy hospitals, emergency departments (EDs) and assessment areas, delays in admitting patients and ambulance handovers are impacting our ability to provide safe, effective care to our patients.

The revised UHD full capacity protocol is now active and provides a means to relieve pressure on inpatient beds by allowing some patients who require admission to move into our hospitals from our EDs and assessment units at the same time as ward discharges are progressing. This may mean that patients requiring an inpatient bed will arrive on the ward before the identified bed is unoccupied.

As far as possible and at all operational pressures escalation level (OPEL) stages, the standard practice of transferring suitable patients to a discharge lounge should be followed. The full capacity protocol is available when a discharge lounge is not suitable or available, for example at weekends, is full, or when a discharge is imminent.

Each ward has an area identified set out in the protocol for patients needing an inpatient stay to be brought from our EDs to 'sit out', or boarded, for a short period of time prior to the identified bed becoming free. Each patient identified as suitable for sitting out will be individually risk assessed, and monitored during this period.

The protocol will only be triggered when full capacity - as we are currently experiencing - is declared, and its implementation will be supported and monitored by matrons, group directors and heads of nursing, senior clinicians and clinical site teams.

Getting patients ready to leave hospital - updated guidance

From Monday (25 April), the process for supporting patients to leave hospital in Dorset has changed. This follows an update to national guidance and measures that were put in place to support the Covid-19 pandemic. This information supersedes any previous guidance.

Catch up on Ask Aly

If you missed Ask Aly, your regular chance to hear the latest updates on a range of UHD topics and put your questions straight to our chief medical officer, Professor Alyson O'Donnell, you can view a recording of the session here.

Attendees heard updates on the pressures on our hospitals, Covid restrictions and a number of QI initiatives, and answered questions around car parking, wellbeing, vaccinations, reusable facemasks, staff wellbeing, smoking and the availability of period products for staff in our hospitals. Thanks to all those who attended.

Save the date for the next session: Thursday 26 May, 1pm, via Teams.

The countdown is on to update your car parking

The reintroduction for parking charges has been delayed by a month with the first payment now being taken in May.

Following the reintroduction of car parking charges for staff, it is important that your assignment number and banding details are up-to-date to ensure that you are charged the correct amount.

To update your records, please click on the link below.

Click here to update.

Please ensure you have completed this form by 29 April

Microsoft Office 2010 support ending

Support for Microsoft Office 2010 ended in October 2020. From 1 May, the Outlook 2010 app will no longer be able to connect to Exchange Online so emails within the Outlook 2010 app will stop working. Staff who are affected by the changes will have received emails directly from the IT team. MS Office will still be available to use online.

Outlook Web can be accessed via the staff intranet or clicking this link. Contact the IT service desk if you have any questions.

POOLE: Changes in the way clinic letters appear in eCaMIS

In the single UHD PAS, Poole eCSS letters that are typed into eCaMIS will now show in the tree and Activity Summary in the RBH format, ie the template name of the letter. Poole's eCSS letter templates will be at a specialty level to allow this. For example:

  • Old Poole format: ecss Feed : Clinic Additional Letter – NEUROLOGY - (RAP) – 19/05/2022
  • New Poole format: RBCH - Document - Neurology Clinic Letter - UHD - 19-May-2022
  • Old Poole format: ecss Feed : Clinic Letter – GASTROENTEROLOGY - (NMS) – 09/06/2022
  • New Poole format: RBCH - Document - Gastroenterology Clinic Letter - UHD - 09-Jun-2022

In time, the document type form 'RBCH – Document' will change to simply 'Document'.

There are no changes in the way RBH originated letters are displayed.

Share your views to support our LGBTQ+ community

There is still time to complete our rainbow badge staff survey to share your views and experiences working at this trust so we can create a better and more inclusive healthcare setting for all LGBT+ colleagues and patients.

We are one of 150 trusts enrolled in the rainbow badge scheme. The first phase of the rainbow badge scheme allowed us to pledge our support to combat key barriers to healthcare for LGBT people and in this second phase we will be assessed and accredited for our commitment to support the LGBTQ+ community.

Whether or not you are a member of the LGBT+ community, please fill out this anonymous 5-minute survey.

POOLE: reduced medical photography cover next week

There will be no medical photographer on site next week (25-26 April). A standby camera will be available for appropriate use, provided by the equipment library.

New guidance on choosing the right type of outpatient clinic available

Deciding how to consult with your secondary care patients is a critical part of clinical practice.

Many clinicians and patients have embraced remote consulting options. Others have been more hesitant.

The resource is designed to help you reflect on different approaches and to support a conversation with your patients so you can make an informed choice together. Read the quick and full guides in the outpatients section of the UHD intranet

One size doesn't fit all, so your decision should always be based on your speciality, clinical need and patient choice.

Video consultation training offer for clinicians from NHS England

Do you need to improve your confidence and skills with video consultations? Maximising video consultations as a positive alternative to face to face benefits you, and our patients by saving time, reduces stress and saves the environment. Learn more here.

Jobs for newly qualified nurses at UHD

Nurses due to qualify in September 2022 can apply to join us for a newly qualified recruitment event on 21 May.

The event, held in the education centre at RBH, will include interviews and job offers for roles across our hospitals and will be an opportunity to find out what it's like to work with our teams.

If you know anyone who may be interested in joining us and develop their career at UHD, applications to join us on the day are open until 7 May.

Prospective attendees will need to make an application for a nursing role at UHD here. The application will then be reviewed and our recruitment team will be in touch about the event.

Our staff lottery needs you

The UHD staff lottery committee is looking for new members. As a member of the committee, you will take part in monthly draws, and help to oversee the annual bidding process, where teams across UHD can bid for money to improve their team and department wellbeing.

This is a fantastic opportunity to meet regularly with colleagues and help bring a smile to the faces of our monthly winners and be involved in the annual initiative designed specifically to benefit our staff.

For more information on the lottery see the intranet. If you are interested in joining the committee, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Get your tickets for our 2022 Revue - Pandemonium

Staff are working hard rehearsing for our staff production of 'Pandemonium'. The show is by our staff, for our staff, and will be an evening of comedy, songs and fun. This is a great opportunity for us all to come together with our colleagues, take a lighter look at life in the NHS and support our UHD Charity through ticket sales.

You can watch the show on 25 and 26 May at Talbot Heath School in the STEAM hub auditorium. Doors will open at 7pm, with the show starting at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10 (plus booking fee) and include an interval drink during the show. You can buy tickets here.

Take a moment for yourself

During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. Throughout the week there are three times when you are welcome to come to the RBH prayer space or join us on Teams for mindfulness and for meditation.

Monday 1pm click here

Tuesday 12.30pm click here

Wednesday 2pm click here

POOLE: Purbeck Rise-s again

Purbeck Rise café in Poole will reopen next Monday (25 April) with new opening hours 8am-3pm. The café will serve Lavazza coffee and selection of new toasties and Panini's, as well as new breakfast products. We are really looking forward to welcoming colleagues after a long break.

Dr David Shepherd - memorial service

The memorial service for Dr David Shepherd, an inspirational interventional radiologist at RBH for over 30 years, is this Sunday (24 April) 2pm at Canford School assembly hall, close to the visitors car park.

David retired in 2009, and was a much valued colleague and expert in his field.

David was held in high regard by all those fortunate to have met him, both professionally and socially. His enthusiasm, humour and sheer hard work have resulted in the success of our radiology department today. The family welcome everyone who would like to come together to celebrate his life. The family has asked that attendees avoid wearing black.

RBH: ID badge office closed

Due to staff unavailability the ID badge office in Bournemouth will be closed from today (22 April) until Tuesday (26 April). The office will re-open on Wednesday (27 April) at the normal opening time of 10am.

POOLE: Thank you to Susan Marshall

Healthcare support worker educator Susan Marshall is retiring at the end of this month. Susan has dedicated 36 years of care and education to healthcare support workers at Poole. Sue has been a prominent figure within the bands 2-4 team and we wish her all the best in her retirement.

If you would like to come and wish Sue a happy retirement, the team is holding a lunch on 29 April at 12.30-1.30pm. This will be based in the BEAT team office (3rd Floor, education centre.

View your P60 online

P60s will only be available online via ESR employee self-service. If you need login detail please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Our Payroll provider will not be able to print P60's.

Continuing to make a difference with Covid

Take part in a new clinical trial conducted by Moderna is evaluating investigational booster vaccines. If you received your second or third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 90 days ago, you could be part of research that may help protect against the COVID-19 Omicron variant and other variants. Find out more here.

Half price entry for Ride London 2022

Sign up today to cycle for #TeamUHD at Ride London 2022 and raise money for your hospitals while taking on an epic 100 mile challenge!

Closing date for entries is 29 April so apply today to make sure you don't miss out on this unique opportunity to see London in a completely different way!

Entry is now half price at just £50 and you'll receive the full support of our team to help you achieve your fundraising target including motivational meet ups, a fundraising pack and your very own free charity cycling jersey.

Register here.

Tickets for UHD staff from the Regent Centre, Christchurch

Written by ABBA songwriters and Tim Rice, 'Chess' the musical is a complex rock opera played around the world. Our friends at the Regent Centre has offered us 2-4-1 tickers for NHS staff for 27 and 28 April. Book online here and enter the code 241OFFER in the promo code box at checkout.

Staff Bulletin 19 April 2022

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Poole: departure lounge opens to support flow

A departure lounge is opening from 9am-4pm from today (19 April) in the old WRVS café. This will run until Thursday (21 April). We hope this will enable some early flow from wards in the mornings after the busy bank holiday period, to contact the departure lounge for any queries ring ext. 5707 or ext. 4172.

To find out more and view the departure lounge SOP, please check the latest news on the intranet.

RBH: discharge team delays

The discharge team at Bournemouth are experiencing reduced staffing levels for the remainder of this week.

The team is operating an 8am-4pm cover Monday to Friday with cover this Saturday 8am-4pm but no service across the discharge team in UHD this Sunday.

Have you updated your car parking records?

Following the reintroduction of car parking charges for staff, it is important that our assignment number and banding details are up-to-date to ensure that we are charged the correct amount.

Our assignment number can be found on our payslip, via BEAT, or the employee self-service. Our banding can be found on your contract.

To update your records, please click on the link below. This form will take approximately two minutes to complete.

Click here to complete the form.

Please ensure you have completed this form by 29 April.

Join us for Ask Aly on Thursday

Join us at 1pm on Thursday (21 April) for Ask Aly, hosted by our chief medical officer, Dr Alyson O'Donnell.

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. We hope to see you there.

#YouMatter – the People Pulse survey, hearing our views throughout the year

"As a trust we care about all our staff, please have your say by completing the People Pulse staff survey. It will only take a few minutes. Your opinion matters." - Karin Bauser, senior education administrator and foundation programme coordinator.

We know our experiences at work change over time, which is why we regularly ask how you are feeling. The quarterly People Pulse survey allows us all to be listened to and understood around a range of important topics throughout the year.

Click now to tell us how you feel.

When you access the survey, select University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust as your organisation.

Investing in informatics

A range of devices across the Trust are set to be modernised. The investment will ensure that IT and telecoms devices (eg PCs, laptops iPADs, digital phones) and equipment that is invisible to users (eg servers, data storage and back up, wireless access points and networks etc) will be replaced according to manufacturer's recommendations. Updating the equipment will mean that it is more reliable and easier to use which will play a key role in ensuring day-to-day work can be carried out efficiently with limited interruptions. With this investment, we aim to improve the care and working lives for our staff and believe it represents an excellent development for UHD.

The roll out will take place throughout the year.

EPMA update

EPMA is now deployed throughout medicine and cardiology, and the EPMA team are preparing to begin rolling-out the system to surgery after Easter. The roll-out plan is available on the EPMA intranet pages here, and has been agreed with surgical leads.

If you work on any of the surgical areas at RBH, make sure you've completed your EPMA eLearning to get an account.

Covid pneumonitis trial

If you have a patient who has Covid pneumonitis and you think they may be suitable for the recovery trial then please bleep 2831 at RBH and 0116 at Poole. The research team will come and assess them for suitability. Please document in the notes that you are happy for them to be recruited into the trial. Recovery at our site currently has the high-dose corticosteroids and Sotrovimab arms open.

Together leading compassionately - leadership and management support and development from Dorset ICS

The Dorset ICS is launching a new offer of support and development for leaders and managers across the Our Dorset System. Together leading compassionately is a new well-being offer that supports, connects and develops leaders and managers in health and care across Dorset. If you decide to take part, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so we can get an idea of what support our staff are receiving and we can share your learning.

You can find more about the offer and links to sign up here.

What does the ICS mean for you?

Please take part in a short survey aimed at capturing what the Our Dorset integrated care system means to you to help create a new visual identity. Deadline to take part is 3 May, click here to take part.

Last chance to try Dynamed

Our trial of Dynamed will be ending on 24 April. Dynamed is an online tool designed to provide the most useful information to health care professionals at the point of care.

If you haven't had a look yet click here and log in using you NHS OpenAthens account. We would also really love it if you could complete our quick survey here to give us an idea on whether our library should purchase it for the Trust. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to get in touch at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Twilight Walk for Women's Health

To celebrate Easter, UHD charity are offering a special 10% discount on all tickets for Twilight Walk for Women's Health until Sunday 24 April! Join us at Baiter Park, Poole at 7pm and sparkle to support women's health projects at UHD.

Whilst sponsorship is an important part of fundraising at our events, we want Twilight to be about shining a spotlight on women's health across Dorset. So, gather a group of friends, family or colleagues and run or walk the 5k route in your most glittery outfits to help us spread the word. Invite your loved ones to cheer you across the finish line and bring your four-legged friends along for a walk under the stars.

Sign up today here and walk with us for every woman in our community.

Fighting period poverty at UHD

Do you work at UHD and need period products? Last week, the education and training department are proud to offer free menstrual items to those who need them in our bathrooms. The education centres are open 24/7 with a ID badge, and products are available in our female and accessible bathrooms on the ground floor. This is only possible through kind donations. If you are able to support this initiative we welcome donations at the education centre reception desk.

Free tickets from Lighthouse, Poole for NHS staff

Our friends from the Lighthouse are offering NHS staff free tickets to see Alistair McGowan: the Piano Show on 5 May. With only 100 tickets, be quick to snap them up by entering the code ALIMCGNHSFRE at booking. Book here.

Staff Bulletin 8 April 2022

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Covid-19: Changes to guidance for household contacts

If you live in the same house as someone who has Covid-19, or are a close contact of a friend or relative, you can now continue to work as normal if you do not have symptoms and feel well.

You do not need to have a PCR test in order to return to work and a formal risk assessment is no longer required. However managers should consider the area in which the colleague is returning and ensure a risk-based approach to reduce contact with people who, in spite of vaccination, are at higher risk of serious illness from Covid-19.

You must continue to test twice weekly and report through the gov.uk portal.

Have symptoms? Take a lateral flow test and only return to work when you are feeling better. If positive, self-isolate and repeat your LFT on day 5 and 6 if you are well, before returning to work.

Symptoms: Please be aware NHS England has updated the list of Covid-19 symptoms, which can be viewed here.

Asymptomatic: Asymptomatic staff should continue to take LFTs twice a week. You can order your tests here.

Our HR guidance is being updated to reflect this.

Discharge services admin support

Effective from next week (11 April) until the end of the month, the admin teams across both sites will work 8am-4pm Monday to Friday. Weekend cover remains in place and the hours are unchanged, 8am-4pm.

If you require further information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

RBH: Palliative care team reduced service this weekend

Due to unforeseen circumstances there will be no RBH palliative care cover this Sunday (10 April).

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.

Microsoft office

Support for Microsoft Office 2010 ended in October 2020. From 1 May, outlook 2010 will no longer be able to connect to Exchange Online so your emails within the Outlook 2010 app will stop working.

Outlook web can be accessed via the staff intranet or clicking this link. Contact the IT service desk if you have any questions.

Important reminder: intravenous administration

Under no circumstances should trainee nurse associates, registered nurse associates and registered nurse degree apprentices be involved in any type of intravenous administration. This includes intravenous fluids, intravenous medication and involvement in intravenous preparation.

For any enquiries please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

Bowel cancer is a common type of cancer in both men and women. About 1 in 20 people will get it during their lifetime. April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and our bowel cancer screening team will be answering your questions in the Dome on Monday (11 April) and the Atrium at RBH on 19 April.

Paperless at Poole and Christchurch

From 1 June, the outpatient physiotherapy teams at Poole and Christchurch will no longer accept paper referrals or blue cards. This move will enable referrals to be processed in a more timely manner and reduce the scope for error and lost referrals. Any paper referrals received after this point will be returned to sender and may potentially delay triaging.

Referrals can be completed online via EPR under the create documents new request tab. Select ‘adult physio referral form'. IPT forms and referrals from outside the trust should be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for Christchurch, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for Poole.

POOLE: Return your patient-controlled analgesia pumps

Please check your area and return any patient-controlled analgesia pumps that are not in use to the recovery team as soon as possible. These are essential for our patients, and we must ensure that our stock is returned and accessible.

RBH: Free bike tagging

On 12 April, our local police cadets will be in the marquee from 9am-3.30pm to offer bike tagging. Bikes can be left with the teams throughout the day or be collected from the bike shed. Please contact Julia Bassil, cadets coordinator, on 07912 898684 to arrange pick up.

RBH: Portable cabin removal

This Saturday (9 April) car park B will be temporarily closed while a small portable cabin is removed from site. Another portable cabin will also be picked up in the morning of 16 April close to car park F. This may cause a slight disruption in traffic. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

LGBTQ+ rainbow badges – it's time for phase two

Did you know that 23% of LGBT people have witnessed anti-LGBT remarks made by healthcare staff, and almost a quarter of healthcare staff have witnessed colleagues behaving in a way that could be considered homo, bi or trans-phobic? At UHD, we are one of 150 trusts enrolled in the rainbow badge scheme. We're now moving into phase two where we will be assessed and accredited for our commitment to support the LGBTQ+ community.

We want to hear your views and experiences so we can create a better and more inclusive healthcare setting for all LGBT+ colleagues and patients. Whether or not you are a member of the LGBT+ community, please fill out this anonymous 5-minute survey.

Click here to view the full programme details.

Take part in the Stress Awareness Challenge

April is Stress Awareness Month and you're invited to take part in a 30 day challenge that encourages you to pick one action each for your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing to carry out every day. Try and add actions for your social and spiritual wellness too. See this page for more details.

OPM Journal Club

The OPM Journal Club takes place in the glass room of the Library at RBH next Tuesday (12 April) between 1-2pm.

We will be discussing the paper "Decision-making capacity assessment for confused patients in a regional hospital: A before and after study". If you would like to come along or find out more about it, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also join via Teams.

Consent training

There are still spaces available for consent training and updates with our education team at RBH. The training will be face to face in our education centre on 25 and 27 April. Book via ESR or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Health and Safety Audit Tool is open for completion

It's time to complete your department's submission for the annual health and safety audit.

The reporting year runs from April to March, and data is collected in the first quarter, April to June each year. Department and service managers can access the form and further information on the intranet.

To see the trust's performance last year please see the >intranet pages. For further support please contact your local health and safety advisor.

Social media photograph reminder

If uploading pictures taken in the workplace to social media, please ensure people are adhering to our infection control measures, including wearing masks. If you are unsure of what photos we are able to share, please contact the communications team for advice on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

POOLE: Advance notice of travel disruption on Wimborne Road

Wimborne Road in Poole is going to be receiving a series of walking, cycling and bus improvements between Denmark Lane and the New Inn junction. These improvement form part of a 7km sustainable travel route between Poole town centre and Merley, Poole.

Work is due to commence later in spring, and may cause some disruptions and diversions that will affect patients and staff travelling to our hospital.

You can find out more information on the work taking place on the BCP council website. We will keep you updated with any further news as work commences.

Car parking at Littledown

Please be wary of leaving valuables on show when parking your car. There have been reports of cars being broken into in the Littledown car park and valuables being stolen.

Job of the week – fundraising officer

Our charity team is seeking an enthusiastic and driven individual who has a sound understanding of fundraising to join their team. Our charity works to enhance the care and treatment of patients accessing NHS services at our hospitals by fundraising to provide enhanced facilities, state of the art equipment and support NHS staff health, wellbeing and development. Take a look at the exciting opportunity here.

Have you lost your hand sanitiser?

Bottles of 520l of OrcaGel, hand sanitiser in 5l containers has been left in cages outside of the pathology flammable stores and general store room at Poole for a number of weeks. If this belongs to your department please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Free adult cycle training

BCP's Bikeability instructors are offering free cycle training for anyone over the age of 18 who lives, works or studies in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. To read more about this offer, please click here.

Tickets from the Regent Centre, Christchurch

Our friends at the Regent Centre are offering us a 2-4-1 offer on 'Hello Again... A tribute to Neil Diamond'. Click here for tickets and enter 241OFFER at the checkout.

Staff Bulletin 12 April 2022

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Reminder on changes to Covid-19 guidance, symptoms and HR Q&A

For household contacts: if you live in the same house as someone who has Covid-19, or are a close contact of a friend or relative, you can now continue to work as normal if you do not have symptoms and feel well.

You do not need to have a PCR test in order to return to work and a formal risk assessment is no longer required. However managers should consider the area in which the colleague is returning and ensure a risk-based approach to reduce contact with people who, in spite of vaccination, are at higher risk of serious illness from Covid-19.

You do need to continue to test twice weekly and report through the gov.uk portal.

If you have symptoms: take a lateral flow test and only return to work when you are feeling better. If positive, self-isolate and repeat your LFT on days five and six if you are well, before returning to work if the tests are negative.

Updated symptoms: NHS England has updated the list of Covid-19 symptoms, which can be viewed here.

Asymptomatic staff: staff with no Covid-19 symptoms should continue to take LFTs twice a week. You can order your tests here.

Our HR guidance has been updated – read the Q&A here.

Update your car parking records

Following the reintroduction of car parking charges for staff, it is important that your assignment number and banding details are up-to-date to ensure that you're charged the right amount.

Your assignment number can be found on payslips, via BEAT, or the employee self-service. Your banding can be found in your contract.

To update your records, click here. The form will take approximately two minutes, and should be completed by 29 April.

For further information on the new UHD car parking charges, you can view these in appendix D of the UHD car parking policy.

RBH only: no diabetes inpatient cover today

There is no specialist inpatient diabetes cover at Royal Bournemouth today (12 April). Telephone advice can be accessed via bleep 2273.

Read all about it with the next edition of The Brief

Our staff magazine is a great way to stay up-to-date with the latest updates in the trust. Find out about the biggest change to acute medicine in a decade, our new clinical trials department, humans of our hospitals and much more! Read more here.

#YouMatter – make a difference to UHD with the People Pulse survey

We've all been facing an extreme challenges and pressure, which makes it more important than ever for us to know what we are getting right, and where we can improve. The quarterly national NHS People Pulse survey is your opportunity to share your views and help us make changes at UHD, and in the wider NHS. Scan the QR code or click here for your chance to have your say.

"We want to support our staff at UHD in the best way possible and to do this we need to know how you feel. You can help by filling in this quick survey, what you say really does make a difference."

- Soracha Dossit, occupational health advisor and physiotherapist.

RBH: alcohol liaison reduced service

Due to unforeseen circumstances there will be no alcohol liaison service this week from 11-18 April.

For clinical guidance visit the intranet pages.

Join us for Ask Aly on 21 April

Join us at 12.30pm on Thursday 21 April for Ask Aly, hosted by our chief medical officer, Dr Alyson O'Donnell.

It's a great opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns or share your views. You can join the informal meeting on Teams 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. We hope to see you there.

Update to Windows 10

To ensure our Windows PCs and laptops are kept up to date all Windows 10 devices across the trust need a large update installed and IT will beginning deploying the required update in a phased approach to applicable PCs throughout April and May. This update will take approximately 30 minutes and your device will need a restart.

You can find out which version of Windows 10 you are using by clicking on the start button (bottom left hand corner), typing ‘about' and clicking on ‘about your PC'. This shows the version under Windows specification, and if it states ‘Windows 10 Enterprise, version 1909' the device will need an update.

You can still complete the update manually via the software centre/update section which can be located on your desktop or via the start menu. Follow the below steps to complete the instillation and plan the reboot of your machine - taking into consideration the longer process and ensuring you do not power off the device whilst it is updating.

Please contact the IT Service Desk if you have any problems.

Calling all trainee doctors

The deadline to complete the National Training Survey for doctors in training is 3 May – make sure you have completed it to help us build an accurate picture of our medical training provision and how you feel about it.

Visit www.gmc-uk.org/nts.

Meet Craig, our clinical audit and effectiveness manager

"Clinical audit measures current practice against best practice standards and addresses any shortfalls. The clinical audit team can help you design your project from the start – just email or call us for an initial discussion. We can help you set the standards against which you will be auditing. We can help to design your data collection questionnaire, and have software that can enable you to collect your data online. Once you have collected your data, we can help with collating the results, developing an action plan, writing your report, and preparing any presentations. For any completed projects, we would be more than happy to provide you with a certificate confirming your participation.

"I am very proud of our team as everything we do aims to make treatment safer and better for patients. It is great to help facilitate improvements that will make a difference and is really satisfying to see audits lead to positive changes for our patients.

"To contact the team for any help, go to our intranet pages where all our phone numbers and email addresses are listed."

- Craig Murray, clinical audit and effectiveness manager

Listening to staff voices - our way forward

Our trust is an extraordinary organisation and so are our colleagues.

Your feedback in our staff survey results cover all aspects of our working lives, so listening to and understanding this is really important as we continue to develop as #teamUHD. This year's survey includes new reporting areas such as our experience of burnout and enables us to look at how our experience of Covid has affected how we feel about what matters to us.

Staff survey reports, including interactive reports, are easy to access and read electronically and are available on the intranet staff survey page.

POOLE: Do you have any spare hospital wheelchairs in your area?

Our porters collect our wheelchairs every evening so please can all wards and departments put any spare wheelchairs out onto the lift lobbies at the end of each day. This enables the porters to distribute them where needed most.

Explaining the roles of the ICS, ICP and ICB

Last year the government set out proposals for all areas across England to become Integrated Care Systems (ICS) by 1 July 2022. Legislation from NHS England and the government gives legal credibility to this more joined-up way of working. As well as ICS, you may have heard the acronyms ICB and ICP floating about, but what do they mean, and what's the difference between them? Our colleagues at Our Dorset have produced this animated video to help.

Chat with Unison

Find information from our Unison representatives as they host stalls across the trust. Their next event will at RBH on Thursday (14 April) from 10am-2pm outside the restaurant and by the lake.

Outpatient survey from Dorset CCG

As part of the Dorset Outpatient Transformation Programme, Dorset CCG is exploring opportunities to improve their referral and advice and guidance processes.

This work forms a key part of the national elective recovery plan and looks to improve the clinician user experience and outcomes for patients.

Advice and guidance plays a vital role in enabling a patient's care to be managed in the most appropriate setting, providing primary care with continued access to specialist clinical advice, strengthening shared decision making and avoiding unnecessary outpatient activity.

They would love to hear from us about our experience with advice and guidance within Dorset and have put together a short survey to capture our views.

Take part here.

Job of the week - nurse specialist in the early pregnancy unit

Work within a highly skilled team of nurses and clinicians in our women's health gynaecology and early pregnancy assessment units across all sites. The post holder will play a key role in influencing transformation within the early pregnancy team; making this is an exciting time to join us as we move forwards together. Find out more here.

Not long left to sign up for the world's greatest festival of cycling

UHD charity has secured 10 places in the iconic Ride London event Essex 100 which returns on Sunday 29 May 2022.

Ride London is back with an exciting new Essex 100 route that will see participants cross the finish line at Tower Bridge welcomed once again by spectators. Setting off from Victoria Embankment in central London and into Essex via Epping Forest, riders will be able to take in the historic landmarks along the way all whilst raising funds for our hospitals.

Whether you sign up as an individual or bring some friends along for the ride, this unique opportunity is not to be missed by any bike buff! If you're up for the challenge, don't delay, join #teamUHD today!.

Staff Bulletin 5 April 2022

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Update on Covid-19 testing for our staff and patients

NHS England has released new guidance outlining a number of changes in Covid-19 testing practices for staff as well as patients.

Currently, we are advising all staff to continue to order free lateral flow device (LFD) tests using the national ordering system. These should continue to be undertaken twice a week, as well as when Covid-19 symptoms are displayed.

Results, however, should now be reported via the national reporting system here.

Please continue to adhere to current testing practice, with the exception of using the national LFD reporting system instead of our own.

We are reviewing the NHS England guidance for patient testing and are planning to implement changes at UHD, which we will share once the changes have been agreed. Any changes made to our current testing practice will continue to allow us to keep our patients and staff safe while in our hospitals.

LFD ordering link in full: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

LFD reporting link in full: https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result.

#YouMatter - Help us keep improving with the People Pulse survey

By sharing your views, you'll ensure your voice is heard across our organisation and we can act and respond on your concerns and help improve the support that we provide to you.

Click now or scan the QR code to tell us how you feel. When you access the survey, select University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust as your organisation.

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

Executive team update

Last week we said goodbye to our chief executive Debbie Fleming and chairman David Moss. Professor Paula Shobbrook will now be acting chief executive officer and Philip Green will be acting chairman. Our new chief executive Siobhan Harrington will be joining us on 1 June 2022.

Talk with Unison

Unison is hosting recruitment and information stalls across the trust – starting at Poole today in the Dome, and outside the restaurant and by the lake at RBH on 14 April from 10am-2pm.

RBH: stoma care reduced service

The stoma care service will be closed this Thursday (7 April) for a team training day. The service will also not be running over Easter bank holiday weekend (15-18 April). Please ensure patients are referred before 14 April.

We need your help to update our clinic letter eForms

The trust is looking at improving the process of how outpatient clinic letters are created and sent to GPs and patients.

Currently the majority of the clinic letters are produced by staff on the eCaMIS module of clinical support system. However, clinicians are increasingly using a variety of electronic and eForms to create clinic letters. The old system also makes it difficult to send letters to GPs electronically for the same reasons. We therefore want to develop electronic clinic templates in EPR which can capture and send out clinic letters.

To ensure we get the design right, share your feedback here.

Celebrating Karen at the Women of the Year luncheon

Senior matron of our children's unit, Karen Fernley was nominated to attend the Women of the Year luncheon, where this year women of the NHS were honoured. The prestigious Women of Achievement award celebrates women who have shown extraordinary courage in extraordinary circumstances, as well as making a contribution to society.

Karen said: "It's really humbling to have been nominated and then to be lucky enough to have been selected to attend. I am really excited to hear of the other areas of excellence that will be celebrated. As individuals we strive to provide excellence. I believe we achieve this but more than that - as a collective female healthcare workforce we are simply outstanding."

The health and safety audit tool is open for completion

It's time to complete your department's submission for the annual HASAT.

The HASAT reporting year runs from April to March, and data is collected in quarter one from April to June each year. Department and service managers can access the form and further information here.

To see the trust's performance last year please see the HASAT intranet pages. For further support please contact your local health and safety advisor.

Library service updates

The library at Poole will reopen from today (5 April). Due to low staffing, the sites may not be staffed at all the time, however you can still access the service online or borrow books.

You can still book a room, register for NHS OpenAthens, recommend a book, request an evidence search, or request articles or training all online.

If you have any questions contact the library at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ext. 4270 or 2101.

Meet Claire, our new lead cancer nurse

Meet Claire Smith, our new lead cancer nurse. Her role is to provide professional nurse leadership for specialist cancer nursing in the trust. She will be responsible for delivering the nursing strategic objectives and will strive to champion cancer nursing care, including the development of nursing roles in cancer care delivery, the development of nurse-led diagnostic and treatment pathways for cancer, and workforce development across the cancer alliance. She will also be an advocate for our patients, leading patient and public engagement forums and ensuring that patient experience and feedback remains central to our care.

Claire said: "It is an exciting time to join the trust. The merger provides huge opportunities and benefits to the way we deliver patient care in the future and will lead to better outcomes, improved quality and more efficient service delivery."

If you could like to get in contact with Claire for a chat please contact her on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Huge congratulations to Sam Murray

Sam has been nominated and shortlisted for a national award the APTUK secondary care pharmacy technician of the year award. An accolade to the incredible dedication and commitment Sam shows to the pharmacy service and wider trust. Well done Sam! Find out more here.

Fundamentals of innovation adoption training

Join the Dorset Innovation Hub team from 10am-4pm on 26 May to further understand the challenges of innovation adoption, develop skills and build knowledge to be better equipped to successfully adopt innovations into practice.

During the session we will:

  • learn about the key steps when taking forwards an innovation project
  • explore the definition of innovation and the challenges of innovation adoption
  • develop skills in using supportive frameworks and tools

Click here to book a place or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further.

Job of the week – healthcare support worker mentors

We are looking for experienced healthcare and clinical based support workers to join the education team providing support to new HCSWs joining the trust. This exciting new post will involve supporting new staff in the clinical setting, support the care certificate and providing pastoral care. This will suit anyone who is passionate about ensuring new staff are welcomed to the trust and those who want to help support staff at the start of their healthcare journey.

For further details please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or apply via vacancies on the intranet. The advert closes on 14 April.

Join the South West NHS Military Challenge

243 (Wessex) Field Hospital are pleased to announce the South West NHS Military Challenge will be taking place in Salisbury on the weekend of 16-18 September. 20 teams of eight will compete over two days for the coveted SW NHS Challenge Trophy.

We want to enter a team from all departments of the trust. If you would like to represent UHD and have a fun filled exciting weekend, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register your interest.

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