Mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations are coming – how will it affect you?

Ahead of the national 1 April deadline for most NHS staff – including those at UHD – to have received at least two doses of the Covid-19 vaccination, there's another chance to put your quesnions to our panel of experts.

All staff are invited to the briefing chaired by our chief medical officer, Professor Alyson O'Donnell, on Teams from 12-1pm on 20 January. Join it here at this time.

Detailed guidance around the HR implications of the mandatory vaccine, and the impact on unvaccinated staff, is expected from NHS England shortly. The session will be a chance to hear more about how these changes might affect you, and ask questions.

The new mandate will apply to all staff in patient-facing roles, for example doctors, nurses, therapists, healthcare support workers and porters, as well as those who work regularly in close proximity with our patients, such as housekeepers, some receptionists and others in ancillary roles. This includes substantive, fixed term and bank workers.

To meet the 1 April deadline, staff who have had no Covid-19 vaccination dose yet must have their first by 3 February. Vaccinations – first, second, boosters and fourth doses where appropriate – are still available for staff in our hospitals. Check the occupational health pages on the Poole intranet to find out how to arrange yours.

If you received a letter recently because we do not hold your NHS number or our records have shown you have not yet been fully vaccinated, it's vital that you reply as soon as possible if you haven't already by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Your information is treated in strict confidence and in line with data protection legislation.

Ask Aly this Thursday

Join us at 12pm on Thursday (13 January) for our first Ask Aly of the year, hosted by our chief medical officer, Dr Alyson O'Donnell. Aly will be discussing topics including mandatory vaccinations and changes to rules around lateral flow tests.

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.

Don't forget to pick up your lateral flow kits

You can collect lateral flow kits directly from the Public Health Dorset van on site at Poole and RBH. We have also requested that the van visit XCH and are awaiting further details on this, keep an eye on future bulletins for updates.

Read Friday's bulletin for the days and times you can collect them for each site and please take your ID badge when collecting.

Updates from our safeguarding team

There is now a single system for domestic abuse risk assessment and referrals across UHD. The system can be accessed via the e-forms portal on Google Chrome.

The safeguarding team would also like to welcome Mandy Deans at Poole and Michelle Ioannou at RBCH to their team as domestic abuse health advocates.

To find out more about their roles and read our updated safeguarding policies, search for 'S' on the RBCH staff intranet and select 'safeguarding adults'.

If you need any support with safeguarding 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: No homeless care team this Friday

There will be no homeless care team this Friday (14 January).

Please email any queries to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

LGBTQ+ network meeting this week

Join our LGBTQ+ network meeting to discuss the next phase of the NHS rainbow badge project and plans for LGBT+ History Month in February.

Join the meeting on Teams and get involved this Thursday (13 January) from 4.30-5.30pm.

Be Active – focusing on your wellbeing in 2022

Taking care of our own wellbeing is just as important as taking care of our patients. Being active with physical activity is a fantastic way to boost mental health, self-esteem, sleep quality and overall physical health. Guidelines state that adults should try to be active every day, aiming for at least 150 minutes of varied physical activity each week.

We have access to activities and tools which can help us reach those 150 minutes. Over the next few weeks we'll be highlighting these resources to help you become more active.

This week why not check out our activity apps including couch to 5k, Oriento orienteering app and the NHS Active app, which can help motivate us to get outside and be active in our local area.

Every minute of brisk walking counts toward our exercise goals and there are a selection of local walks in nature on our intranet pages - why not start 2022 by increasing your activity and getting to know Dorset a bit better.

For more information on getting active head to our intranet pages and the NHS get active your way pages.

Dry January – alcohol and your mental health

Dry January is the UK's annual challenge that encourages us to abstain from drinking alcohol throughout January and teams and individuals from across UHD are encouraged to take part. Even if you haven't started yet, you can begin your 31 days at any time, and kickstart your healthy journey.

This week the team are reminding us of the relationship between alcohol and mental health with this factsheet.

If you have any questions about Dry January, or you would like to let us know how you are getting on with the challenge email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

How can we improve data and analytics in Dorset?

The Dorset integrated care system (ICS) wants your views on data and analytics services to help shape the future data direction of the ICS and allow us to make the best, most informed, decisions for our patients.

Operational, clinical and management colleagues are encouraged to share their views on the systems currently in use, what could be improved, and what additional services would be helpful in a short survey.

Any data from the information systems you or your teams have access to is relevant, as is analysis from national, regional, or local sources.

The survey is completely anonymous and designed to assess what your current data needs are, the challenges you face, and what you may need in the future.

Click here to take the survey.

Last week to enter the Dorset Clinical Research Centre (DCRC) photography competition

The DCRC team are looking for staff to submit images to be displayed on the walls of their new unit. The images should represent the unit, our Dorset heritage, or something that might represent hope and opportunity for the future. Recognisable, or abstract – we will look forward to viewing your creations. Submissions should not have images of the general public for confidentiality reasons.

If you are interested in taking part, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Click here for entry requirements, the competition closes on Friday (14 January).

Healthcare evidence and knowledge just a simple search away

The new Health Education England funded NHS Knowledge and Library Hub brings together a vast range of databases, journals, NICE guidance, and other support tools in one place.

Their content includes over 7,000 journals, e-books, clinical decision support tools, guidelines and clinical and medical databases.

You can access the system here Accessed via NHS OpenAthens, users will be able to tap into the same system wherever their career takes them.

Find out more information here.

RBH: Have you seen this parcel?

A consignment of fleeces was delivered to RBH on 9 December, however the delivery wasn't signed for, and its whereabouts are unknown. It is a large box weighing around 5 kilograms.

The parcel is missing - if you have it please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Avian influenza (Bird Flu)

The Department of Environmental Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has notified us of an outbreak of bird flu in the local area. Avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public's health is very low.

However, if you see a deceased bird or one that looks unwell don't approach it. Contact estates urgently stating the location on docket line ext 4287 for RBH or ext 8056 for Poole.

For further information please go to the Infection Control pages on the intranet.

Mood boosting music from Hospital Radio bedside (HRB)

Being in hospital can be lonely and isolating for our patients, and HRB would like to remind us all that their station with friendly presenters and uplifting music is available for free on Hospedia units 24 hours a day.

The station also hosts request shows for patients and their families from 8pm- 9.30pm Monday to Friday and 4pm- 6pm on Sundays.

Patients and staff can ring through song requests at any time, with their name, ward number and song choice. To call for free at RBH lift left-hand phone on the Hospeida unit and touch grey button on top screen that says "hospital radio" and at Poole lift left-hand phone and dial *800. Staff can all using ext 4415.

Requests can also be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Job of the week – pharmacy technician at Poole

We're recruiting a motivated and proficient individual to join our pharmacy technical service department. The successful candidate should have relevant experience, qualifications and to be a registered pharmacy technician.

The candidate will join an aseptic team dedicated to the safe delivery of cancer therapy to the hospital. The role will comprise of technical duties, including clinical trial treatments, along with supervisory responsibilities and the support and implementation of our quality systems.

Click here for more information, the job role closes on 19 January.

Doctors in Distress support group for nurses and allied health professionals with an overseas heritage

Doctors in Distress is a UK charity committed to reducing suicide amongst healthcare workers. Their team are continuing their support programmes and their first peer support group will be for any nurse or AHP with an overseas heritage. This includes nurses, midwives, health visitors, healthcare assistants, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

The programme begins with a webinar on 3 February from 1-2pm. The webinar will introduce the programme, discuss how the facilitated groups will work and talk about what participants would like to get out of the programme.

The weekly support groups will begin on the 14 February 11am-12.15pm and will run for nine weeks via Zoom.

To join the webinar, please click on the link here.

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

Ticket offer for UHD staff from Lighthouse, Poole

Our friends at Lighthouse have offered UHD staff a special ticket price of £10 to see Believe: The Cher Songbook this Saturday night (15 January).

The evening will be a tribute to Cher, featuring a range of songs from her catalogue.

Click here to book, using the code CHER10 at the checkout page.