Hospital ‘hand hub’ improves patient experience

An innovative ‘hand hub’ at University Hospitals Dorset is offering same day minor surgical procedures for patients with hand and finger injuries, eliminating the need for a trip to theatre and cutting waiting times for treatment.

The initiative is being run by the hospital’s trauma team and is based in a treatment room at Poole Hospital. Waiting times for patients are between eight and 17 days quicker, with time spent in hospital dramatically reduced.

Consultant surgeon, Miss Joanna Higgins, was behind the vision for the hub, which has been in the planning for two years. Her name has now been added to the initiative.

Miss Higgins and colleagues in the hub

She said: “Prior to the ‘Higgins Hub’, we carried out around 100 hands theatre cases every year in our main hospital theatres under a general anaesthetic. Now we can carry out these procedures in a more accessible space, using local anaesthetic, which means patients don’t need to be ‘starved’, there is no need to stay in hospital and it reduces the risks of general anaesthetic. It is better for the environment too, as we limit waste, are not using anaesthetic gases and have reduced our carbon footprint.”

She added: “We’re really proud of the hub and the whole team and have had great feedback from our patients already. By treating our patients in this way, not only does it have many benefits for them, but frees up our theatres for other trauma surgery, improving the quality of care we provide to all.”

Patient Ben after his procedure

Newly qualified nurses recruitment day

University Hospitals Dorset is inviting all new newly qualified nurses or those due to qualify in September 2024 to sign up for a recruitment day at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

The twice-yearly event, hosted by UHD, will be based in the education centre at RBH on Saturday 11 May from 9am – 5pm.

The day includes presentations from matrons, information on our bespoke training and development programmes offered by our nationally-recognised education team and a talk from a newly qualified nurse a year into her nursing career with the hospitals.

Attendees will be interviewed at the event, with provisional job offers to successful candidates on the same day.

Sue Davies, senior matron for trauma and orthopaedics said: “We’re very excited to show off our wonderful facilities. We have vacancies in a number of areas, so there’s something for everyone.” 

To sign up and secure your place, click here 

Nominations open for our Patient Choice awards!

Your local hospitals are giving you the chance to put forward staff or volunteers you feel have gone the extra mile for special recognition.

The Patient Choice Team Award and Patient Choice Individual Award are two of the categories seeking to highlight some of the incredible individuals and teams that make up University Hospitals Dorset – Christchurch, Poole and Royal Bournemouth hospitals.

They form part of the UHD Awards 2024, which recognise and celebrate hospital staff, those working for key partners in our hospitals and for volunteers who freely give their time and skills.

Nominating is simple – just click here to find an online form and guidance on what judges will be looking for to help your nomination stand out.

Judges will be looking for individuals and teams for who nothing is too much trouble, provide great care or service, treat others with kindness and respect, and are a great example to others.

Siobhan Harrington, chief executive for UHD, said: “Ultimately we are all here to provide the best care we can for our patients. For me, this means the complete experience patients have from the moment they step foot in our hospitals or speak to a member of our team on the phone or online, not necessarily just the clinical care we provide.

“Every member of our staff can contribute to the care a patient experiences, and I hope as many members of the public as possible take the opportunity to put someone forward in the Patient Choice categories.

“We saw at our first awards last year how much that recognition from the public means to our UHD family, so we’d love to see as many nominations in this category as possible.”

The winners will be decided by a judging panel representing a wide range of UHD staff and announced at an awards event at The Pavilion in Bournemouth on 20 June.

Nominations must be made by midnight on 3 May 2024.

Click here to make your nomination!

Our 2023 UHD Awards winners

Patient Choice Awards judging criteria

Recognising an individual or team who (some or all criteria may be relevant):

• actively promote a positive and memorable experience of our hospitals
• go the extra mile - nothing is too much trouble
• deliver consistently great care or service
• treat others with kindness and care, dignity and respect, and are supportive and compassionate
• are a great example and role model to others

NHS Covid time capsules capture moment in history

Hospital staff at the Royal Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole hospitals have buried time capsules on each site, providing a lasting memorial for those who worked in the NHS during the pandemic and all the patients they cared for.

The capsules were buried as part of special services across the three hospitals, held in the weeks following the anniversary of the global pandemic being declared and leading up to the anniversary of the first full UK lockdown.

Children from local schools – Park School in Bournemouth, St Peter’s in Southbourne, and St Joseph’s in Poole – performed songs at the three services, which were also attended by Dame Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England, Dr Michele Board, Bournemouth University’s deputy head of department for nursing science, and by the chair of BCP Council, Councillor Lesley Dedman.

Items in the capsules were chosen by hospital staff, and include a special book of reflections with a number of photos and recollections from those working in the NHS at the time. Other items include personal protective equipment worn at the height of the pandemic, lateral flow testing kits, Covid vaccines, photos and videos produced to support staff and patients, glass rainbows made by one of the hospital’s consultants, and knitted hearts given to the loved ones of those critically ill in intensive care or those at the end of their lives.

The capsules will be opened again on the 100th anniversary of the NHS – 5 July 2048 – and the capsule sites have been marked by a special memorial stone to create a lasting space for colleagues to spend time reflecting on the pandemic, the way it changed NHS life as we know it, and the very personal impact it had on them and their loved ones.

Dame Ruth said: “It’s important that we continue to reflect on the lasting impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had. I will remain forever proud of our nursing and midwifery workforce, and all our colleagues across the NHS, for the extraordinary contribution they made during this time.”

Siobhan Harrington, chief executive of University Hospitals Dorset, added: “Covid was a challenge, a test of our skills, our courage, and our ability to provide care under the most extraordinary circumstances. And it was a challenge we rose to despite every obstacle thrown in our path, and despite the very personal toll it was taking on everybody in our UHD family.

“I hope these capsules and memorial stones give us all a time and space to pause, reflect and mark this moment in history.”

Sue Doheny, NHS England South West chief nursing officer, said: “It was a privilege to be invited to attend the Covid time capsule event. It is four years since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic and these services marked a poignant moment in history. They also provided time to reflect on how the Covid pandemic changed working for the NHS family, and the personal sadness, loss and impact it had on their own lives, those of their families, their loved ones and their community.”

You can find out more about the capsules and what’s inside at www.uhd.nhs.uk/news/covid-19-time-capsule