UHD joins wave of Veteran Aware Trusts improving care for the Armed Forces community
University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) has been named a Veteran Aware Trust in recognition of its commitment to improving NHS care for veterans, reservists, members of the armed forces and their families.
The accreditation, from the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VC HA), acknowledges the trust’s commitment to a number of key pledges, including:
- Ensuring that the armed forces community is never disadvantaged compared to other patients, in line with the NHS’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.
- Training relevant staff on veteran specific culture or needs.
- Making veterans, reservists and service families aware of appropriate charities or NHS services beneficial to them, such as mental health services or support with financial and/or benefit claims.
- Supporting the armed forces as an employee.
The trust was presented with a Veteran Aware plaque by John Young, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, at a ceremony held at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital today.
David Moss, Chairman of UHD, spoke at the event and said: “We are very honoured to have received accreditation for being a Veteran Aware Trust.
“We are absolutely committed to supporting our armed forces community and I hope this status amplifies the fact we are there for them when we need us.
It is key that we provide the best possible support for veterans and their families while also supporting the recruitment and retention of veterans, military families and reservists here in our hospitals.”
John Young said: “It’s particularly heartening to see this collaboration so a massive thank you to everybody for making it happen, for making the armed forces covenant a reality, and for doing it so well to benefit veterans and their families.”
Nick Williams from the trust’s Armed Forces Support Group, and armed forces advocate, added: “As part of our commitment to being Veteran Aware, we successfully put a bid in to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to employ an Armed Forces Community Advocate for a period of two years.
“A key part of the Advocate’s role will be raising staff awareness of health problems faced by veterans, and recruiting a team of voluntary armed forces champions from across our hospital sites to improve our services to armed forces veterans.”
NHS staff gather for special Covid-19 services of reflection
Staff at University Hospitals Dorset gathered today to reflect on the pandemic, to tie ribbons and to remember those who have died.
The simultaneous services at Christchurch Hospital, Poole Hospital and the Royal Bournemouth Hospital were led by the trust’s chaplains and included poems read by members of staff and the observation of a minute’s silence.
Hospital staff then laid floral tributes and tied ribbons to trees to remember all the sacrifices during the pandemic and all our patients, including those who have sadly died.
Debbie Fleming, chief executive of UHD, said: “This has been a very challenging few years for us all as we changed the way we work to care for the thousands of patients who tested positive for Covid-19 and needed our support.
“Today is a chance for all of us to reflect on each of these patients – to remember all those who recovered, to think about those who are still suffering the long-term consequences of Covid, and to remember in our hearts all those who sadly died.
“We must never underestimate the impact that Covid has had on families across the country. We have all been impacted in one way or another by Covid-19, and I hope that this opportunity to pause and reflect will help us all in moving forwards.
“It is also an opportunity to reflect on the fantastic work of our teams, their dedication and their commitment to our patients.”
The services can be viewed on the trust’s social media channels.
Teams gather at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital
Staff tie ribbons to the tree at Christchurch Hospital
A floral tribute laid at the ribbon tree at Poole Hospital
£500k investment in new Dorset Clinical Trials Unit
The Dorset Clinical Trials Unit (DCTU) was officially launched at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital today (Monday), providing a dedicated space for patients to take part in life-changing research. 
Based within the trust’s Dorset Clinical Research Centre, the DCTU provides a specialist environment for patients to see expert staff and access state of the art equipment, as well as providing an opportunity for staff at University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) to develop their research skills. The facility, funded through a £500k Getting Building Fund awarded by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), will support the development of research across the Dorset health system, helping to strengthen research evidence in priority areas of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
Research is fundamental to providing patients with the best possible treatments, as highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic. This significant need for investment in improving health and care through research has culminated in the DCTU, the newest clinical trials unit in the country, with a wide remit to investigate various health conditions and treatment strategies. It will provide the opportunity for patients to be involved in high calibre NIHR and charity funded research studies in safe and comfortable surroundings.
The new facility will also give Dorset companies the chance to work with NHS trusts in order to evaluate and deliver health and medical innovations, clinical products and clinical practice enhancements.
Laura Purandare, Head of Research and Development at UHD, said: “We are so excited to be launching the DCTU and seeing the investment made by Dorset LEP come alive.
“With our local population of over 65’s expected to grow by 22% by 2029, this investment in research will help us support people to ‘age well’. The trials unit and research centre provides the environment and infrastructure for us to work closely with fellow health and social care providers in the region which will clearly benefit patients within the county and nationally.”
By 2025 it is hoped the project will have created/safeguarded more than 40 jobs, assisted 14 businesses/ institutions, and in terms of economic productivity, will have generated almost £3.4m gross value added for the local economy.
Cecilia Bufton, Chair at Dorset LEP, said: “This new unit provides a much-needed facility for the delivery of research-led, medical innovations, right here in Dorset. It will enable Dorset to retain skilled researchers and attract new talent to increase collaborative working, with the aim of building spin-outs and academic start-ups.”
As part of its partnership with UHD, Bournemouth University (BU) will support the unit to strengthen research capability and patient insight. For example, the university’s PIER (Public Involvement in Education and Research) Partnership will support with patient/carer experience. Additionally, BU will provide support from experts in healthcare statistics to help with clinical trial design, data interpretation and dissemination.
Professor Tim McIntyre-Bhatty, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Bournemouth University, said: “We are delighted to continue to strengthen our relationship with UHD and the Dorset health community, securing another key milestone for medical science in the region that will benefit the people of Dorset as well as contribute to national research.”
Professor Anand Pandyan, Executive Dean for the university’s Faculty of Health and Social Sciences , added: “At BU, our research, education and practice is helping people live better and longer lives. We’re pleased to be able to work with colleagues in the DCTU to further improve Dorset’s excellent health and care provision, particularly by sharing our expertise in clinical study design, healthcare statistics, and public engagement.”
You can find out more about research at UHD at www.uhd.nhs.uk/services/research-and-innovation
Tackling our waiting lists: We need to hear from you
To help us to tackle the large waiting lists caused by the Covid-19 pandemic we routinely contact patients waiting for appointments or procedures. Increasingly, this is by text message (SMS), but can also be by letter or phone call.
Over the last two years, many non-emergency operations and procedures across the NHS had to be cancelled or postponed because of Covid-19. We are working hard to prioritise these patients and will be contacting patients waiting for appointments at the Royal Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch hospitals.
If you are contacted, please be assured that:
- our communication will only ever ask questions relating to your care
- we will never ask for bank details or reference to money or payment
- we will never ask you for your name or address
- for security reasons, we’ll ask you to confirm your date of birth.
Please respond promptly so we can help you with your care, or offer your future appointment to someone who needs it.
We can only contact you if we have your up-to-date contact details and especially your mobile phone number – you can ensure we have yours by talking to the reception team at your next hospital appointment or by calling the number on your appointment letter.
Dr Ruth Williamson, consultant radiologist and deputy chief medical officer, said: “We know some patients have been waiting a long time for treatment and we’re trying our best to catch up from the treatment that was delayed during Covid. If you hear from us, please do respond as we’re trying to arrange your healthcare as soon as we can."
Update on our visiting guidance
As you may know, visiting arrangements in hospitals across England have been restricted during the pandemic to reduce the risk Covid-19 poses to vulnerable patients, and staff keeping health services running for those who need NHS care. At University Hospitals Dorset, in line with the latest national advice, our visiting guidance for the public has now been updated to include the following:
·A maximum of two visitors are now allowed at any one time, and may stay longer than one hour. Patients may have more than one such visit per day, which can be by different visitors. Visits should continue to be pre-arranged with the ward
·Anyone showing any signs of Covid-19, or who are unwell, should not visit
·Visitor PPE requirements remain unchanged
·Compassionate visiting and ward/clinical team discretion must be balanced with the related IPC risks, and must focus on the patient’s/visitor’s wellbeing
·Patients in our emergency departments may be accompanied by one other person at the discretion of the department (including one parent if the patient is a child)
·This guidance will continue to be kept under regular review.
