Reminder: still time to have your flu jab

Thanks to the 61.5% of frontline staff who have now had their flu vaccination over the past eight weeks. The flu jab is an important way in which you can protect yourselves, colleagues, patients and families this winter. And it's not too late to have yours.

As our focus moves to the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccination shortly, the flu jab can still be given by our incredible team of peer vaccinators. These are clinical staff who have had special training to deliver the vaccine to nearby colleagues.

At RBH, peer vaccinators are also offering the vaccine in the recovery department, in main theatres, each weekday from 9-10am.

Search 'flu' on the intranet to find your nearest peer vaccinator – with more than 130 across University Hospitals Dorset, one is never far away!

Could you be a Schwartz Round panellist?

We are looking for panellists for the first Schwartz Round as University Hospitals Dorset to speak on the subject 'Covid Christmas – silver linings' on Thursday 10 December 1-2pm.

Schwartz rounds are a way for all hospital staff in all roles and from all backgrounds to come together to talk about the emotional and social challenges of working within the NHS and caring for patients. The aim is to offer staff a safe environment in which to share our stories.

If you are interested, please contact the Schwartz Round lead This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Teams information for will be included in the staff bulletin next week.

Staff photo on emails

Many of you have added a photo of themselves to their email/Teams profile. This is a great way to put a face to a name especially with so many of us now working remotely.

If you have added a photo to your profile, please ensure it is an accurate represenation of you and that it is a head a shoulders shot only. Trust email addresses are used for internal and external communication and all content, including you profile image, should look professional. You don't need to have a photo taken by a photographer but please keep in mind who can see your photo.

You Matter: Temporary safe spaces update

The following temporary safe spaces and rest areas are now available for staff. Please note, safe spaces are a quiet area for decompression and reflection, while rest areas are a space for breaks and lunches. The spaces all follow all infection control requirements and social distancing requirements.

RBH:

• Committee Room in the east wing, first floor of the management corridor. This room is now available 24/7 with general access for all staff using their ID
• Eye Unit Seminar Room – part safe space and part rest area (west wing, first floor). Available for all staff.

Poole:

• The Bubble in the Dome will be available from Tuesday 1 December
• The Nest – safe space in the Maternity Unit

Christchurch:

• Safe spaces and rest areas are under review.

Alderney:

• There is limited space, but we will provide rest area items to brighten up the space.

Given the building work commencement, these spaces are temporary and we may need to move/source other areas in time. If you can help provide spaces for any of these essential staff needs, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Would you like to take part in our wellbeing advent calendar?

Self-care and looking out for our colleagues has never been more important this year. If you'd like to lift your team's spirits or that of #TeamUHD in general, by giving thanks or some positive words of reassurance, please get in touch! Just send a photo or video of you or your team or network (in landscape if possible) with a message to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

You can follow the latest advent calendar openings on our Twitter page @UHD_NHS with the hashtag #TisTheSeasonToCare. Look out for some special posts this week!

Injectable Medicines Guide: new layout

The layout of the Injectable Medicines Guide (aka Medusa) has changed and information is presented in a different order. A research project has found this layout is easier to use and was preferred by nurses in clinical practice. There are four new sections:

• Preparation and administration: Presentation, method of administration, reconstitution/dilution, flushing, adverse effects and monitoring, extravasation
• Technical: compatibility, latex content, sodium content, pH, osmolarity/osmolality
• Risk management: NPSA risk assessment score, Infusion pump recommendations
• Suppliers: List of current UK suppliers and links to SPC and patient leaflets

If you have any comments to feedback to the national team, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

POOLE - BEAT VLE manager webinar

The BEAT VLE (Virtual Learning Environment), also known as the Green Brain, will roll-out at Poole Hospital in January 2021. The system will give staff easy access to online learning materials and training compliance information.

The webinar is organised for managers and other individuals who assist with training bookings and queries across the trust. We want to make sure you are fully prepared for the upcoming changes and provide you with some useful information so you can continue to assist staff when we switch to the new system.

If you think you could benefit from attending this webinar on Thursday 10 December at 10am, click This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register your interest.

If you have any queries regarding these webinars or the BEAT VLE at Poole, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call ext. 3608.

RBH - Level 3 domestic abuse training

Face-to-face level 3 domestic abuse training is now available. The session will give you confidence to provide an initial response to disclosures of domestic abuse. The training is targeted for staff who work in any front door services and is relevant for all staff who are assigned level 3 children safeguarding training and/or who will be assigned level 3 safeguarding adults training.

The training will be taking place in the Conference Room from 9-11am on the following dates:

• 18 December 2020
• 22 January 2021
• 19 February 2021
• 19 March 2021
• 16 April 2021
• 14 May 2021
• 18 June 2021

Spaces are limited so please do not delay booking your space via ESR using the reference 153 Level 3 Domestic Abuse and Marac Training. If you have any questions about the training please don't hesitate to get in touch with Chloe Day, Domestic Abuse Health Advocate, on ext 4235 or via email – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

RBH - Internal IPT forms

When referring a patient internally to another consultant an internal IPT form must be completed and emailed to relevant address. A list of these email accounts are on the intranet, under 18 Week Referral to treatment pathways. Any internal referrals not completed using the correct form will now have a LERN form submitted.

If you have any questions please contact the 18 Week Team on ext. 4916 or email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or IT training.

CHRISTCHURCH - Works planned at Christchurch Hospital

As part of the wider project to relocate outpatient therapies to Christchurch Hospital, estates have scheduled some building works to convert the current medical records and outpatients bookings areas at Christchurch Hospital into a new gymnasium, changing facilities and office space. The work in these areas is due to start on 4 January 2021 and is planned for completion by the end of March 2021.

Following the occupation of these areas, it is planned to undertake some further refurbishment and remodelling works within the existing gymnasium and hand therapy areas at Christchurch. These works are currently programmed for completion by June 2021.

During the construction period there will be an increased presence of contractors and some noise and disruption is expected in the areas immediately surrounding the work.

RBH - redundant gas pipework excavation

Please be aware on Monday 7 December 2020, a contractor will be making small excavations outside the MRI/CTI building by the main entrance and in car park A by the mains gas building to isolate a redundant gas pipe. Both areas will have barriers around them until the works have finished and on completion the ground will be made good.

Important reminder – eCaMIS letters do not need to be printed for Dorset GPs

All Dorset GP practices now automatically receive electronic copies of any templated letters that are created in eCaMIS which have been verified in Document Manager. The GP practice will receive an electronic copy of a letter regardless of who the recipient is and any copies to (cc's) are. The only exception is that external IPT forms will need to be printed and sent.

ANY letter that is verified in eCaMIS will automatically be sent to the following:

• EPR
• Dorset GPs
• Dorset Care Record (DCR)

Please note: It is only eCaMIS templated letters that are currently being sent electronically to Dorset practices – all other patient correspondence/letters generated from other systems, out of area GPs and other recipients will still require a copy to be sent in the post.

Dementia study for healthcare workers

The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute wants to hear from NHS staff who have first-hand experience of caring for hospital patients with symptoms of dementia. What visual identifiers (e.g. wristbands, stickers, badges) do you use? For more information and to take part in a short survey head here.

Intranet training

Intranet training is now on hold until we have moved to the new joint intranet for UHD. If you need any changes made to your pages in the meantime or want to discuss merging Poole and RBCH intranet sites, please contact the web team – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Care First webinars

Care First, our employee assistance programme, is putting on webinars this week. The themes are:

• Tuesday 8 December, 12-12.30pm - How Care First can support you
• Wednesday 9 December, 12-12.30pm - Supportive information for Vulnerable groups during COVID-19
• Thursday 10 December, 12-12.30pm - 'Coping with Burnout & Tiredness'
• Friday 11 December, 12-12.30pm - Maintaining Structure & Routine'

Leading through Covid – resources available

The last year has been a great test of character and determination for all of us. We have all had to play our part as UHD leaders, no matter our role within the organisation. Practical resources are now available to help you navigate being a leader at UHD through times of change and uncertainty on our Leadership pages.

You can find further advice on how to manage your teams' wellbeing through Covid on our You Matter pages.

Get involved in #PurpleLightUp campaign

This Thursday (3 December), help our Pro Ability Network celebrate this year's #PurpleLightUp campaign, which is a global movement that celebrates and draws attention to the economic contribution of the 386 million disabled employees around the world.

As part of the campaign we will be celebrating virtually with a range of tweets throughout the day and we are encouraging you to join in and get tweeting using the hashtag #PurpleLightUp. The network will also be sharing all the good things they have achieved over the past year on our UHD Twitter page with the above hashtag and will be asking you what else we can do to improve working conditions for disabled employees.

Staff are also invited to wear purple to work…the purpler the better, with the best dressed winning a prize! We will also be flying the purple flag at both Poole and RBH.

For more information or to help contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the network's intranet page.

Terminal cleans at RBCH

The old terminal clean forms have now been amended and are available on the Housekeeping section of the intranet.

Hard of hearing posters available for wards

Wards and offices can now print out posters raising awareness of how to make communications easier for those who are hard of hearing. The posters are relevant for all staff, visitors and patients and can be found here.

Reindeer Run starts this weekend!

Join Bournemouth Hospital Charity's festive fun-run in aid of your NHS Heroes! Don't worry if you haven't signed up yet, you still have time to enter! We want you to run, jog or walk 5km between Saturday 5 and Sunday 20 December. You can complete your run wherever you like (please adhere to restrictions and social distancing), but there is a route at Avon Heath Country Park you can follow using the signs or Strava running app.

Registration is £8 per person of £20 for a group of four. Sign up now at BHCharity.org/reindeerrun

Bournemouth Hospital Charity's Light Up Our Tree

Remember your loved ones this Christmas with Light Up Our Tree. Make a dedication in memory of a loved one and we will place a personalised candle decoration with their name on it on our tree in the Chapel of the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. You will also be invited to take part in our virtual Light Up Our Tree remembrance service in December. Find out more and make your dedication at BHCharity.org/ourtree

Virtual Elf Dash 2020

It's nearly time and not too late for you to sign up to Poole Hospital Charity's Your Virtual Elf Dash 2020 this Sunday 6 December! (If you are unable to make that date, you can choose any December date).

Sign up to take part and remember to get sponsored to support Poole Hospital Elf Service this Christmas. For more information click here and for tickets click here.

Virtual Christmas wish card

Don't forget you can send and share virtual Christmas wishes to your family, friends and colleagues while supporting the Poole Hospital Elf Service 2020.

Click here, write your Christmas message and donate to make your extra special Christmas donation this year.

RBH - Advance warning of road closure

The road around the west wing and the Jigsaw Building entrances will be closed from 7am until 12noon on Saturday 5 December 2020. This is a temporary closure to enable the replacement of the water chiller outside the Eye Unit plant room.

Diversion signage will be in place for the duration of the closure to assist patients, staff and visitors.

How to access the HSJ online

Exisiting HSJ registrations

To update your account to a UHD email (i.e. you previously logged in with a Poole/RBCH email address but cannot access):

• visit www.hsj.co.uk
• log in with your old Poole/RBCH email address
• hover over your name top right of the page
• go to "Account Settings"
• update your email address to your UHD one

If you already have an account but cannot gain access:

• click "forgotten password" to reset
• log in and you should have access

New to HSJ
To create an account using your University Hospitals Dorset email address, visit www.hsj.co.uk and complete the registration form. Once you receive the welcome email you have access.

Please note: The library currently pays for the subscription but to benefit you must create an account using their UHD email as per the instructions .

Carers Rights Day

Last week we celebrated Carers Rights Day. The day aims to raise awareness of the rights that carers are entitled to. This year local councils, NHS services and other health and care organisations who deliver integrated care across the county, are working in partnership to recognise, support and value local unpaid carers of all ages.

Unpaid carers can be people who look after a relative, partner, friend, or neighbour. All have the right to:

• a break
• have a Care Act Carers Assessment to determine whether additional support is available
• register with their GP practice to enable them to access health checks and free flu jabs
• flexible working arrangements and additional support at work if they juggle their caring responsibilities with employment

We have a new webpage that outlines all the help and services on offer to carers at Poole Hospital. A new carers support leaflet for wards and departments can be found here.

Check the intranet to read this year's carers right statement. Contact Karen Uphill, carer support sdviser, on ext 8714 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Support the UHD Hospital Charities while you shop locally for 100% eco-friendly family games!

A new game called Hedgeways, a dominoes style game has been released in time for Christmas. UHD staff can get 10% orders and a donation to the UHD charities will be made for each game sold.

Visit www.sproutandgherkin.com and enter the code UHD2020 at the checkout for 10% off and FREESHIPPING for free delivery to your Poole, Bournemouth or Christchurch site workplace.

Roadworks

Click here for a list of the current roadworks taking place.

View the staff bulletin from home

If you have team members who work from home or who work for the staff bank, please forward https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/news/our-publications/staff-bulletins to them so they can read the bulletin from home and keep updated with news from the trust.