Happy birthday, UHD!

Debbie Fleming, chief executive, celebrates the first anniversary of the founding of University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, when Poole and the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch hospitals joined together to form UHD, in a new video message.

Debbie reflects on how far our Trust has developed over the last 12 months and thanks all staff for everything they have achieved.

"It has been a very exciting and challenging 12 months within UHD and I am so proud of all that been achieved," she said.

"We are now looking forward to delivering even more over the next few months and years, and playing our part in creating a much more positive future... Together, we are Team UHD, and we could not do it without you!"

You can watch Debbie's video message here.

'Life's a BEACH' – new name for the big build at RBH

On our first birthday it has been announced that the new construction at Royal Bournemouth Hospital is going to be called The BEACH Building. BEACH represents what happens in the building: Births, Emergency care, And, Critical care and child Health. The idea came from Lisa Stooks, a librarian in the Trust's library and knowledge service, who took part in an extensive engagement to suggest a name for the building. More information here.

We're University Hospitals Dorset (we're one year old), and we're here to care for you...

We're looking back over a year of achievement on our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels, including the opportunity to watch again an updated of the poem created for our launch day in 2020 - take a 'sneak peek' of it here.

Chief executive to retire

Debbie Fleming has announced that she will leave the NHS next year after 38 years' service.

Message to staff from Debbie

Dear colleague,

I am writing to let you know of some important personal news, which I shall be sharing today with our Board of Directors. At the end of March next year, I shall be retiring from the NHS after nearly 38 years' service and stepping down from my role as Chief Executive of University Hospitals Dorset.

In making this announcement, I am aware that this comes very near to our first anniversary together as UHD - and looking back, I could not be more proud of our organisation and all those who work within it. The past year has been extremely challenging for everyone in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic and I am so proud of all that we achieved in maintaining emergency and essential services.

I am also very proud of the way in which our teams have continued taking forwards our transformation and estates programme, despite such a turbulent environment. In this way, coming out of the worst of the pandemic, we are still on track to deliver our ambitious change programme for local people.

Most importantly, I am so proud of all that we have achieved in creating University Hospitals Dorset as a new organisation – in particular, in developing our new, shared values, which are becoming embedded in our organisation. These values play a vital part in supporting the development of a positive culture within UHD, and will impact on the way in which we treat our patients and each other for many years to come.

I have been a chief executive for more than twenty years, and by the time I retire, I will have been leading UHD and its two predecessor organisations (through my former joint post) for three and a half years. I feel incredibly privileged to be the chief executive of such a fantastic organisation, made up of so many talented, skilled and dedicated people. I am confident that having successfully achieved our merger and established a strong platform for our new organisation, our Trust is now well-placed to appoint a new chief executive, who will take UHD through the next important phase of its development.

In the meantime, there is lots to do! I am looking forward to continuing to work with colleagues in (a) managing the winter well, (b) developing our plans in response to the latest national planning guidance, and (c) establishing the new Dorset Integrated Care System (ICS). In the midst of all this activity, my priority will of course be to ensure that there is a smooth transition to the new leadership arrangements, so that UHD continues to go from strength to strength.

We shall of course get the chance to say goodbye properly at a later date. In the meantime, I wanted to take this opportunity to share this news, and to thank you once again for all your ongoing support.

Best wishes

Debbie Fleming

Chief Executive

POOLE: End of Barclays House staff parking from today (1 October)

The temporary parking arrangement with Barclays House, agreed to provide hospital staff with nearby parking during the pandemic, has now been withdrawn to allow improvement works and the return of many Barclays staff who use this building. We apologise for the very short notice given.

UHD staff who have been using this facility are asked to revert to their previous parking arrangement, if they have not already done so. Alternatively please contact BCP Council or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. regarding discounted parking available at these sites.

Minimising fuel related disruption

As fuel supplies remain disrupted, we continue to work with our partner organisations to coordinate efforts to minimise any disruption to healthcare services.

Please only make essential journeys and consider using public transport or car sharing if you can (please remember to wear a mask), or work from home if this is an option.

Department leads are asked to refer to their business continuity plans that define minimum staffing levels in the event of severe staff shortages, and list contingency plans for any outside providers they are reliant upon.

Disruption may extend to rail services, and it is advisable to check with your train operator for any impact.

Please note, there is at present no provision for staff to have access to fuel. The National Emergency Fuel Protocol whereby essential critical users are given access to fuel is only enacted by the Government if fuel refineries are running low on fuel, which is not the case at present. If enacted only critical staff would be able to access this, it would not be available to staff to travel to and from work.

We understand that the current situation is stressful for many and will continue to keep you informed as circumstances develop.

Did you Ask Aly?

If you missed yesterday's Ask Aly you can now watch the recording here.

Ask Aly is a great way to hear updates directly from Dr Alyson O'Donnell, our chief medical officer, and other members of our senior leadership team.

Importantly, it is your forum too, and a chance to pose your questions.

Yesterday's session was led by Dr Ruth Williamson, deputy chief medical officer, Peter Gill, chief informatics and IT officer, and Richard Renaut, chief strategy and transformation officer.

Covid-19 and flu vaccinations start this weekend – have you booked yours?

Our winter ready clinics offering the Covid-19 booster vaccination, as well as the annual flu jab, get underway at Poole Hospital tomorrow. Clinics will operate at weekends, alternating between Poole (from this weekend, 2-3 October) and Royal Bournemouth (9-10 Oct, etc), to minimise impact on our normal operations, and are due to end on 5 December.

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 contracting Covid-19.

For more of your questions answered see the FAQ.

You must leave at least six months between your second Covid-19 jab and the booster – please do not try to book if this is not the case.

Book your appointment here.

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..

It's International Older Persons Day today – do you know the referral criteria?

Serving a significantly higher proportion of older patients than the national average, the care these patients receive is an important focus.

Today is the UN International Day of Older Persons. The UN predicts that by 2050 the number of older people living in the world will have more than doubled, therefore we need to change the way we think about age.

Our older persons services teams would like to remind us of the referral criteria for older persons services across out trust to ensure all of our patients are seen promptly by those who can best meet their needs: The criteria have been drawn up in conjunction with acute medical and ED teams in order to ensure that older people are seen by the most appropriate team.

Admission criteria to older persons services at Poole and RBH:

• General medical admissions should be aged over 85
• Patients aged 75-85 should be referred if they have a clinical frailty score of six or above
• Head injury patient aged 80 or over.

If you would like to know more about frailty the NHS clinical frailty network has some brilliant information here.

To mark the day, representatives from our older persons services teams were in the dome at Poole and visiting wards at RBH today - do have a chat with the team if you have any questions or would like more information.

An awareness stand in the dome at Poole Hospital provides an insight into some of this work, including the nationally recognised RACE unit, while advanced nurse practitioners and clinical practitioners visited wards at Royal Bournemouth.

How will you recognise and promote healthy living and independence within this patient group? Remember, frailty is everyone's business.

RBCH: Reminder: alarm management system offline on Monday

The fire alarm monitoring system for RBH and Christchurch Hospital will be offline between 8am and 5pm on Monday (4 October) for planned work.

Fire alarms and other alarm systems will work locally but there will be no automatic communication with the switchboard, so staff will need to call ext. 2222.

Fire alarms, door alarms, personal attack systems, fridge temperature and locked-in alarms, lift locked in alarms and plant alarms will all be affected

Between 8am and 4pm on Monday 4 October when an alarm sounds call ext. 2222 to raise assistance and break the glass on call point if a fire is discovered.

If you have any questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ext 4296.

National ESR changes to how pension bandings are assessed

Following the NHS pay award it has been bought to our attention that there has been an update to the ESR National process for assessing pension bandings. This new process can be triggered by a change in hours, an incremental uplift or a pay award.

A small amount of employees have been re-assessed on their September pay due to the pay award which has resulted in them being moved into a higher pension banding and arrears calculated back to April.

Employees that have moved into higher pension band due to an increase in their basic pay due to the pay award are correct and are not affected by this change in process.

However, those staff affected by a possible incorrect re-assessment of their pension banding are currently being reviewed and will be contacted separately. Should a refund of pension contribution be due this will be reimbursed within the next 7 working days.

New standard operating procedure for patients (SOP) at risk of adrenal crisis

Following the National Patient Safety Alert: Steroid Emergency Card to support early recognition and treatment of adrenal crisis in adults in August 2020 (ref NatPSA/2020/005/NHSPS), a task and finish group has created a new SOP to support the identification of patients who may be at risk of adrenal crisis following steroid use.

The new Think Steroids SOP can be found under medicines policies on both the Poole and RBCH intranets and under the endocrinology pages on the RBCH intranet under policies and procedures.

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

Bookmark this – it's Libraries Week next week

Why not drop into our libraries, in the Education Centre at RBH or the Lloyd Adams building (under the tower block) at Poole, during Libraries Week, from 4-11 October.

Find out about how we can help you to get the information you need, with demonstrations of electronic resources including Visible Body, BMJ best practice, ClinicalKey and Bates Visual Guide to Examination, as well as displays highlighting the work we do (and maybe even some free goodies!).

Look out for our tweets throughout the week from @EastDorsetLKS celebrating all-things library. We will also be launching the next round of Randomised Coffee Trials during this week, if you want to find out more about these email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or come and see us!

Choosing the right patient menu

Our hospitals now offer the same patient menus, and in addition we also have twelve special menus to cater for patient requirements, including:

• Milk/dairy free
• gluten free
• vegan
• Kosher
• Halal
• finger food
• soft bite-sized (level 6)
• minced & Moist (level 5)
• puree (level 4)
• liquidised (level 3) - Poole only
• high energy - Poole only
• low residue - Poole only

Please check your patient's dietary preference on admission to your ward and remember to use these menus considerately. The cost of the special menu items are much greater than the regular menu so do only use where needed.

Allergen information for all our menus can be found on the intranet on the catering pages.

If you have any queries about menus or patient requirements please contact catering services manager Andy Whittingham via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Gráinne Ford, dietetic manager, via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

RBH: Please attend your BLS training on time

The resus department asks all staff to make sure they arrive at training on time. The team are unable to hold basic life support (BLS) spaces for late arrivals and with immediate effect if you are not on time for your training session you will be asked to rebook via ESR.

We understand the pressures that clinical staff are facing however following these guidelines will help us with trust compliance and reduce wasted training spaces.

Please park off site respectfully

From time to time we are contacted by neighbours to our hospitals raising issues with how some UHD staff have parked, including across driveways. Please be mindful of others when parking. Thank you.

Your wellbeing weekly

This week sign up for Care First sessions, book your place on the free Menopause Awareness Month workshops, and stretch your body at Thriving Thursday's online sessions. Check the intranet for all these offers and more.