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University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Staff Bulletin 13 April 2021

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Last opportunities for Pfizer vaccinations at UHD – this week only

While take-up of the Covid vaccination has been high at UHD, we are aware of small numbers of staff yet to have their second vaccination after having their first with us, and of some staff who have not been vaccinated at all. Vaccinations cease at UHD at the end of this week, so to support staff in these groups we are offering 'walk-in' appointments from 9am-1pm at the vaccination clinic in outpatients at the Royal Bournemouth until Thursday only.

Please let your colleagues without regular access to a PC or emails know about these walk-in sessions. All staff need to do is simply turn up between those times tomorrow, Wednesday or Thursday, with their staff ID, NHS number if they have it available, and their vaccination card from their first jab if they have this too.

While alternative routes outside of UHD to having the vaccination do exist, we are aware that these may be problematic to access in a timely way.

These walk-in sessions really are the last opportunity to be vaccinated at UHD for the foreseeable future.

If you already have an appointment booked for later this week, please keep to this appointment.

Vaccinations and Ramadan

The British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) has issued specific advice urging Muslims observing Ramadan not to delay getting their Covid-19 vaccine. There is no material of fetal or animal origin in either of the available vaccines. All ingredients are published on the MHRA's website.

For general advice and guidance on supporting staff during Ramadan see the article further down.

Changes to maternity restrictions

As the spread of the Coronavirus evolves, we are now able to relax some of our restrictions around partners / support people coming into the unit. These changes will take place from 12 April 2021.

All partners / support people accompanying pregnant women to their appointments or visiting the maternity unit may attend subject to a negative lateral flow test (LFD) and should wear a face covering. It is the responsibility of the partner / support person to arrange an LFD test before attending. LFD tests can be ordered online or are available from locations across the county.

Helpful resources

Key changes:

  • Outpatient areas, community clinics and ultrasounds scanning - one partner/support person may attend all appointments.
  • Induction of labour - one partner/support person can accompany women on admission, until gel has been administered and monitoring has been completed.
  • Haven and central delivery suite - one birth partner may accompany women throughout labour and birth.
  • Inpatient wards (antenatal, postnatal, Transitional Care Unit and NICU) - visiting to inpatient wards is permitted for one hour per day and should be booked in advance. In NICU, unlimited visiting is available to mothers and partners may book two visits per day.

Thank you to everyone for their hard work in bringing this together to support our patients and their families.

Ask Aly...

The next 'Ask Aly' event with our chief medical officer, Dr Alyson O'Donnell, will be 15 April, 12.30-1.30pm. It's a great opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns and share your views.

You can join the meeting here and if you'd like to send any questions in an 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.

All staff briefing

The next all staff briefing will take place on Wednesday 21 April, 1.30-2.30pm. David Moss, our chairman, and Debbie Fleming, our chief executive, as well as fellow executives will provide the latest on managing the Covid-19 pandemic, an operational update and future development plans. The Teams link can be found here.

The meetings are a great opportunity to ask the questions that matter to you. You can either ask them in person at one of the briefings or, if you prefer, you can send your questions in advance to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will make sure you get an answer.

Recognition and recovery – last chance to be part of our story

Culture champions have already played a key role in identifying the trust's new values. It is now your last chance to apply to become a new champion to help find answers to questions about recognition and recovery as we write the next chapter of Team UHD's story.

You can find out more about the role and download the application form here. The closing date for applications is 16 April. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the role further, please contact the organisational development team on ext. 4438, or via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Agenda for Change 2018 contract refresh: removal of transitional points

In line with the 2018 contract refresh, the transitional arrangements for bands 5, 6 and 7 was completed on 1 April 2021 with the removal of the final transitional pay point in each band.

For ESR this means staff on the affected points will be automatically uplifted to the maximum value of the scale on the as of 1 April.

Details of the changes being made can be seen here. More information can be found here.

Appointments of new UHD director and deputy director of medical education

After many years as director of medical education for the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch hospitals, Professor Mike Vassallo will step down from this role at the end of this month.

Mike will be handing over to Dr Lynn Poynter, consultant physician in older people's services and currently interim deputy medical director at Poole Hospital. Lynn will be assisted by Dr Safa Al-Shamma, consultant gastroenterologist and hepatologist at the Royal Bournemouth, who has been appointed as her deputy.

Mike will continue to be involved in the international medical graduate arena and support the diversity agenda and I would like to thank him for the dedicated service he has given to medical education and training and his contribution to the wider multi-disciplinary education programme. I would also like to congratulate Lynn and Safa on their appointments and look forward to working with them in their new roles.

- Dr Alyson O'Donnell, chief medical officer, UHD

POOLE: Tributes paid to Canon Jane Lloyd

It is with great sadness that we learnt yesterday (12 April) of the death of Canon Jane after a short illness. Jane established, led and has been at the forefront of chaplaincy for over 30 years at Poole Hospital. During that time she has provided pastoral and religious support to thousands of patients, their families and hospital staff. She was passionate about Poole Hospital, chaplaincy and the NHS.

She was immensely creative and pioneering in many aspects of our pastoral provision, in particular, in the area of neo-natal death. She was involved in chaplaincy locally, regionally and nationally and for a period she held the post of president of the College of Health Care Chaplains.

She is survived by her husband Canon Nigel, daughters, Victoria and Charlotte and grandchildren Keira and Ella. She will be remembered and deeply missed by many.

- Rev. Declan McConville, lead chaplain

RBH: Works to enable new porters lodge build

The corridor leading to the East Wing past the travel team will be closed from 19 April, with a current planned re-opening in July.

Alternative routes and signage are being installed to access to the east wing, and towards exit points, which will be rerouted to the west wing corridor adjacent to x-ray, past the clinical site team offices.

Toilets in the East Wing opposite the current travel team office will be permanently closed and will not be re-opening.

When the area re-opens the corridor width will be narrower than it is currently, and a one-way system will be introduced.

ID card roll out ends

The ID card roll out phase is now at an end. Any members of staff still holding an 'old' style Poole or RBCH ID card should contact their line manager.

Line managers are requested to compile a list of those staff and contact ID card admin to arrange the return of old and issue new ID cards at the earliest opportunity

All staff are advised that with effect from 6 June all old style Poole and RBCH cards will be deactivated and removed from the access control systems rendering them ineffective for gaining access to sites.

Poole: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ext. 8051

RBH: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ext. 6638

Leading teams through change workshops – new dates

Are you leading a team through change? Join one of our leadership development workshops to gain some knowledge and tips around leading through times of uncertainty. The workshops are also a great opportunity to network with other leaders across UHD. We have more workshop dates available on 7 and 25 May and 8 June.

If you would like to book, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Patients and staff observing Ramadan

Ramadan started yesterday (12 April). Below are some documents to support teams with members of staff who will be observing Ramadan and for those caring for patients who will also be observing Ramadan.

RBH: New products from BBraun

RBH will shortly be introducing several new products from BBraun. From mid-April new infusion sets will be put into circulation, and from early May needle-free devices will be introduced.

Click here to see more information on the new products and for contact details.

Job of the week

We are looking for a band 6 inflammatory bowel disease nurse specialist.

The post holder will provide expert care and psychological support to patients and their families within Poole Hospital and will contribute to advancing the body of knowledge through education, research and audit with a view to enhancing the service.

This post will include working at Victoria Hospital Wimborne for one clinic on alternate weeks. This will also include virtual clinics

This is currently a 1 year fixed term position with the potential of becoming a permanent full time position dependant on funding.

Click here to view the full job description and to apply.

To view and apply for all our internal and external vacancies click here.

POOLE: Can you help us?

An old wedding photograph has been found behind a radiator on ward C4 E. The ward does not know how long this has been there or who it is of. If anyone has any leads please contact 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 and next. The themes are:

Roadworks

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

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