Staff Bulletin 14 October 2022

Get boosted this weekend

The vaccination clinics move to Poole Hospital's outpatients department this weekend (15-16 October). Saturday's clinics are now full, but there is a drop in service on Sunday from 8am-3pm. Please bring your UHD ID badge. If you would like to book a slot for another day, please do so through the online portal here.

Now is the time to protect yourself and those around you from these illnesses as we see cases increasing in the community and in our hospitals.

If you can't make our weekend clinics, NHS staff registered with a GP can book the Covid booster - or any of the preceding doses – for free via the national Covid-19 vaccination booking portal here, or search 'NHS Covid vaccinations' online. Please contact your GP practice to find out if you are also able to have your flu vaccination there, also free for NHS staff. Find out more in the latest news on the intranet, including how to tell us if you have had your jabs elsewhere.

Blood management following national amber blood stocks alert

An Amber alert status has been declared by the National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) around blood stocks. We have now implemented our provisional UHD Emergency Blood Management Policy for red cells at the Amber shortage level.

The NHSBT will remove the alert once they are confident that stocks have reached a sustainable level but anticipate this will continue for a minimum of four weeks and potentially escalate to a red alert.

The following actions are being put in place in response to this alert:

• All clinicians must strictly observe transfusion triggers and targets – laboratory staff will challenge ALL requests outside of guidance (Hb >70g/L or >80g/L in presence of acute coronary syndromes). All such requests should be discussed with the consultant in charge of the patient's care and laboratory staff may refer the request to a consultant Haematologist.
• The blood component indications app is available from both the app store and google play - www.bloodcomponents.org.uk
• Surgical procedures that require blood donor support are being reviewed with a view to postponing elective non cancer operations
• All requests for >1 unit in the absence of bleeding will be challenged and may be referred to a consultant haematologist (this excludes haematology/oncology patients on a transfusion regime). This single unit policy requires a check FBC/Hb following transfusion of a single unit of packed red cells
• Patient blood management strategies including the use of cell salvage, IV iron pre and post-surgery and intravenous tranexamic acid use, where appropriate, should be observed (post-operative IV iron policy)

Further communications will be sent to specialties that we believe will be specifically impacted by this situation.

During this challenging time, please be patient and considerate when discussing requests with colleagues.

If you have any specific questions, please contact a member of the team below:

Dr Ian Mowat, cons anaesthetist and chair of the Royal Bournemouth Hospital Transfusion Group
Dr Alison McCormick, cons anaesthetist and chair of the Poole Hospital Transfusion Group
Mike Trevett, transfusion laboratory manager (trust-wide)
Lorraine Mounsey, transfusion practitioner for Royal Bournemouth
Vikki Chandler-Vizard, transfusion practitioner for Poole Hospital
Dr David Allotey, cons haematologist, Royal Bournemouth
Dr Rebecca Maddams, cons haematologist, Poole Hospital

If you would like to donate blood through NHSBT, click here to find out how and where.

Have you had your NHS Staff Survey invite?

Invitations for the 2022 NHS Staff Survey were sent out on Friday 30 September. The majority of people should have received their invitation by now either by email or post.

If you haven't received yours yet, please search your inbox for an email from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.'. If you still haven't received your invite by Friday 21 October, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The NHS Staff Survey is your chance to speak up and spark change. It's so important that every one of us uses this opportunity to give open and honest feedback about our experiences at UHD. Find out more about the survey here.

#SpeakUpSparkChange

Catch up on 'Ask Me'

If you missed Ask Me this month, you didn't miss out! This month's session was hosted by Dr Ruth Williamson, acting chief medical officer. Topics discussed included the national blood shortage, flu and Covid-19 vaccines, progress on our transformation programme, services that may be impacted by winter pressures, SAS doctors and how best to reach out to doctors, the use of our canteen spaces and the importance of completing the staff survey.

You can view a recording of the session here, and catch up on earlier sessions on the intranet.

Parking at The Village Hotel opposite RBH

While The Village Hotel is regarded as a valuable partner to the trust, please note unauthorised parking is not permitted on their property due to the negative impact this has on its customers.

The Village's car parks are controlled via ANPR and we have been informed their enforcement efforts will be increased in lieu of this situation. This will mean that any vehicle that is parked without permission may receive a parking charge notice (PCN).

If you have permission to park at The Village, you will have received a separate communication to confirm this. Please note there are no further spaces available to us and no further applications will be processed.

Health of the ward update

While the falls team and moving and handling team have been added to the referrals column within health of the ward, please note that how you refer to these teams has not changed. For moving and handling please continue to ring the team. The falls team will continue to review all LERNS so will know who they need to see. The team will then update HOTW to make it clear who has been seen and who is to be seen.

Annual Report Summary published

Our Annual Report Summary for 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 is now available. The publication provides a summary of our work over the past financial year and looks back at our achievements and key developments across our services and sites. You can read it here.

POOLE: Reduced podiatry service until 24 October

Patients will be prioritised and those with diabetes and ulceration will be seen as a priority. Apologies for any inconvenience.

Well done to our UHD Charity!

Following the successful Walkerbot campaign, our UHD Charity has been recognised at the NHS Communicate awards. The team were 'highly commended' in the category for the best NHS charity campaign award, and for achieving exceptional impact across the NHS.

UHD Charity: Sign up for a challenge of a lifetime

Sign up to join us on 22-29 April for a 100km charity trek through rural and coastal northern Spain. The challenge includes seven nights hotel accommodation, breakfasts, luggage transfers and more. For further information click here and for further information, get in touch with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Never quit on quitting

Our fab smoking cessation team and LiveWell Dorset were on hand in the RBH atrium yesterday, offering advice and resources to help you kick the habit for good! For everything you need to know about stopping smoking, click here or for local support click here. The team will also be over at the dome in Poole on 20 October.

Leading teams through change workshops

Are you leading a team through change? Join one of our leadership development virtual 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. We have more workshop dates available which can be booked through the intranet using this link here.

RBH: Traffic diversion this weekend

Traffic using the main access road that surrounds the RBH site will be temporarily diverted this Sunday (15 October), between 6-9am, while contractors install information panels on the hoardings that surround the BEACH Building construction. Disruption will be kept to a minimum with traffic marshals in place to direct drivers from the entrance adjacent to the bus hub to the Deansleigh Road entrance while the main access road is closed for this work. Staff car parks will still be accessible via this rear entrance road.