Update on second vaccination doses

Our online booking platform will open again on 24 February to enable staff who have already had the first dose of the vaccine in our hospitals to book their second.

Our clinics will begin providing these second doses 10-12 weeks after staff received their first at both Poole and the Royal Bournemouth hospitals from mid-March.

Time for a REFRESH - getting the basics right

Making sure we all get the basics right when it comes to infection control sounds easy - but we know it can be hard to do consistently.

Busy wards, staffing issues, operational pressures, changing guidance… all of these can compete with our focus on getting it right, every time.

REFRESH aims to keep those key infection control messages front and centre in all our minds, with a simple set of reminders that we can all use, every day.

REFRESH includes everything from ensuring good ventilation and keeping areas clutter-free, to taking breaks safely and having the confidence to question when something doesn't look right. By working together, and following the guidance, we can all make a difference in protecting ourselves, our patients and our colleagues.

You'll see lots more about REFRESH around our hospitals and in our regular communications in the coming weeks.

Focus on our values - your February edition of The Brief is out now!

Included in this edition:

• our UHD values, what they mean and a look ahead to Values Week
• an update on our hospitals from Debbie Fleming
• all staff briefing today – see below
• REFRESH – a focus on infection prevention and control
• documenting the pandemic – photo special
• one team through Covid – thank you #TeamUHD
• transformation update – what's happening when
• our two charities to become one
• meet your staff governors
• freedom to speak up
• You Matter – emotional and wellbeing support

Click here to read it and please share the key messages with your colleagues.

Ask Aly...

Join us for a virtual drop-in session with our chief medical officer, Dr Alyson O'Donnell, and guests, on 17 February, 12.30-1.30pm. Click here to join.

All staff are welcome and we encourage you to ask questions, raise issues or share your experiences via the 'raised hand' function or chat bar in Teams.

New UHD intranet

We are currently working on bringing together our two intranets into one site for UHD. While a number of departments have already brought their pages together, there are still many that have two separate pages, so please speak to each other and see how the content can be joined up. Your joined up content can then be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

With the new intranet expected to launch in April, any requests for new pages and sections will be created for the new UHD intranet only, so please be patient.

Once the new intranet is established, we will start the process of training superusers to update content.

Mini Schwartz Round in your department

The last year has been extremely challenging and the pressure and demand on NHS staff physically, mentally and emotionally has been relentless. The Schwartz Round team are running a series of mini Schwartz Rounds (MSR) throughout 2021 to give departments and teams the opportunity to talk about the emotions of what we do and discuss the social and emotional issues we face in caring for patients and their families.

MSR focus on specific themes from a particular department which are then discussed in a supportive environment and are only open to staff directly involved with the department where the MSR is taking place.

The first UHD MSR for 2021 is maternity 'We were just doing our job' on 25 February at1pm. Any member of staff from the maternity departments at RBH and Poole are welcome to join the meeting and either just listen in or be actively involved in the discussions.

Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for the link or to request a mini round for your own team or department. Find out more about Schwartz Rounds on the intranet.

Flu vaccinations

There's still time to have your flu jab, ensuring you leave seven days between it and the Covid-19 vaccination. Likewise, if you have had the Covid-19 vaccination recently, you will need to wait at least seven days before your flu jab. Find your nearest peer vaccinator – trained staff able to provide the jab to colleagues in their clinical area on the intranet.

Volunteer update

Following recent recruitment, we have a number of new volunteers joining UHD on our Poole and Bournemouth sites. They are new to the trust and will be, alongside our long standing volunteers, undertaking tasks to help staff and patients outside of the ward environment.

We understand many of you would like to welcome volunteers back onto the wards, but at present the decision remains that for their safety and safety of others that they can only volunteer in non-clinical roles.

New volunteers will be identified by a pink lanyard. This is so the volunteer staff can easily identify who may need additional support. The volunteers will have undertaken normal recruitment checks and training for a non-clinical role.

The roles that the volunteers will undertake include:

• PPE- meet and greet in main entrances, ensuring IPC practices are adhered to
• vaccination clinic – marshalling during operational hours
• Covid safety guardian - helping to reduce transmission of the virus by keeping corridors clear of clutter, reporting faults and wiping high touch surfaces.

Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information

Staff volunteer appeal

Several staff who don't normally work on the wards have volunteered their time on weekends. They have been helping in busy areas, answering phones, helping with meal service and helping patients communicate with their loved ones.

If you don't normally work on the wards and feel you can help clinical staff email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and you will receive additional training and need to complete a risk assessment.

Advanced notice of car park closures and relocation

In order to start important enabling work for the build of the MCEC and main entrance works, car park H (the consultants car park) is closing and car park A is closing and relocating to the rear of car park C. Staff with existing permits will have access to additional car parking at the Littledown Centre, details of how to gain access will be published shortly. The car parks will cease to be in operation from close of play on 24 February.

The lockable staff bike shelter will also not be accessible. Additional bike shelters will be available once the building work is completed at the west entrance (Eye Unit and Jigsaw Building Entrance).

RBH - staff lottery bid application now open

The Staff Lottery Fund annual bid is now open. Teams need to write a proposal as to what they would like to purchase, with actual or approximate costs; this year a 'bid form' is available for use so that submissions are received in the same format.

Unfortunately, we are unable to accept bids from Poole colleagues until next year when the lottery will have merged. We have been unable to do this until both sites are under the same payroll provider, which is from April 2021. Check the staff lottery pages on the RBCH intranet for more information.

The committee will meet at the beginning of April and review all of the bid requests and teams will be notified as to whether there bid has been successful.

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Cross-site ID badge activation

Any RBCH staff wishing to activate their RBCH card for use at Poole must complete an ID application to bring with them to the ID office.

The same is required for Poole staff wishing to get RBCH access.

#LookOut4TheLight

#LookOut4TheLight, supported by our end of life teams, has been set up to support those who have lost loved ones.

The idea is for each Wednesday at 8pm, a candle is lit or an LED light shone at a window.

Click here to hear from Dr Saskie Dorman, consultant in palliative medicine, about what the initiative means, and why it matters to her.

Saskie is encouraging individuals across the trust to join in, so that you know that you are not grieving alone. She also invites anyone who has lost a loved one during the Covid pandemic, whatever the cause of death, to record their stories and share it using the #LookOut4TheLight hashtag.

LGBTQ+ History Month

Join us this month in celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month. This month we will be holding the following virtual events:

• 12 February, 12–1pm - Pronouns – lunch and learn
• 23 February, 3.30-4.30pm - Film premiere: 'Any Other Business'

During the month look out for the rainbow flag at our hospitals and check out of social media on Twitter and Facebook.

To join the LGBTQ+ staff network or become an ally email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

RBH – ward 14 missing hoist scales

Ward 14 has had their hoist scale go missing. The ward urgently requires the scales.

They may still say 'ward 24' on them due to a ward move. There is a serial number for them which can be checked.

The car benefit scheme is now open

About the car benefit scheme:

Your car benefit scheme from Tusker is the smarter way to run a car. A fixed monthly amount is taken directly from your gross salary and in return, you get the use of a brand-new car – Tusker sort everything else out at no extra cost.

Not only is a brand-new car included, there is:

• maintenance of the vehicle including all servicing, batteries and tyres
• fully comprehensive motor insurance including all business travel for you
• annual road tax
• contactless doorstep delivery
• roadside assistance (homestart and recovery UK and European cover)
• relief car for when your car is off the road (if selected)

All of this and no deposits.

Access the scheme today:

To get a quote and see the range of cars available simply reset your password via tuskercars.com and log into your account to access the Car Benefit Scheme.

If you need a hand with the site, or you want to chat to Tusker about ordering a car, you can get in contact through 'live chat', an online instant messaging service that will put you in touch with one of the team, who will guide you through the process. You can also get in touch by phone: 0333 400 7431 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Leadership development events

A great opportunity to allow leaders to focus on leadership practice. Our Dorset is offering an opportunity for all leaders to attend a series of 90-minute virtual webinars provided by guest speakers:

• Professor Michael West, 30 March, 9.30-11am, will speak about compassionate leadership
• Myron Rogers, 20 April, 9.30-11am, will speak about leadership of living systems: changing the way we change
• Mitzi Wyman,10 May, 10-11.30am, will speak about inclusive leadership

These events are free to access. There are no limits on the number of places from across the Dorset health and care system.

For more information and to sign up to one or more of these events click here.

'Time for you' virtual sessions

The NHS South West Health and wellbeing team have been developed 'time for you' sessions to support colleagues' wellbeing.

The sessions are light hearted and fun that let staff to take time away from the day job to rejuvenate themselves.

Future sessions include:

• 17 February, laughtercise, 2-3pm
• 24 February, emotional logic, 2-3pm
• 3 March, story telling, 2-3pm
• 10 March, Emotional Logic, 2-3pm
• 17 March, laughtercise, 2-3pm
• 24 March, motivational session, 2-3pm
• 31 March, Mrs Bun the baker, 2-3pm

The programme invites will come from our generic inbox This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. asking you to place a hold in your calendar. An updated invitation will follow once the session is finalised.

Care First webinars

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

• Friday 12 February, 12- 12.30pm – Domestic abuse
• Monday 15 February, 12- 12.30pm – Care First
• Tuesday 16 February, 12- 12.30pm – Supporting colleagues
• Wednesday 17 February, 12- 12.30pm - Kindness
• Thursday 18 February, 12- 12.30pm – Avoiding eye strain
• Friday 19 February, 12- 12.30pm – Mental health

Staff offers

We have a range of offers available for staff from take away to a newly added virtual 'self-care' session from Ambas Yoga taking place this weekend. Check the intranet to see all offers.

Roadworks

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