Covid-19 vaccinations

The first people in Dorset began receiving the Covid-19 vaccination last week from Dorset County Hospital. The order in which the vaccine is being rolled out in England is set by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) – more information on these priorities can be found here.

We will bring you more news on our staff vaccination programme as soon as we have it. In the meantime please do not contact occupational health for updates as they are unable to provide this.

Covid self testing

We have now distributed thousands of Covid home testing kits to staff across UHD and hope to deliver to all staff by the end of the week. Thank you to everyone who has helped get these kits out and to all those who have started self-testing and recording their results. We have already identified a number of asymptomatic positive cases of Covid-19 through the kits.

Your line manager will be contacted and you will each initially receive a 12-week supply of testing kits. Please make sure you only take one kit so there's enough for all of us. You will still need to wear PPE and will be asked to self test even when we start to roll out the vaccine.

Please note: If you have any symptoms of Covid-19, please make sure you self isolate and arrange a PCR swab from our swabbing team.

Information and videos about how and when to do the tests, how to upload your results and other FAQS are all available on our Covid intranet pages.

Poole Hospital: Important: B2 is not a thoroughfare

Staff are continuing to use the Covid (blue) intensive care unit on B2 as a thoroughfare, which must stop with immediate effect. Only enter this area for essential clinical needs, or to complete any work required in the unit, such as estates. Staff will continue to challenge anyone trying to use this route as a shortcut.

Clinical staff who need to travel rapidly from one zone to another must be aware of how to do this without using ICU B.

Thank you for ensuring the safety of our patients and staff.

RBH - Hand gel at main entrance

Volunteers have recently reported that a small number of staff are not using the hand gel when they enter RBH via the main entrance. Everyone coming into the hospitals should be using the gel. If you are using your own gel, please let the volunteer know.

Had your flu jab elsewhere? Let us know!

If you've had your flu jab elsewhere this year, it's important to let our occupational health teams know so we gain an accurate picture of how protected we are as an organisation. Currently this stands at just over 63%. Our peer vaccinators are ready to vaccinate staff who have not yet had their jab – having the jab now will protect you and your family over Christmas and New Year, and ahead of the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccine. Full details of our peer vaccinators, as well as limited new flu trolley rounds, are available on the intranet.

The winners in our Amazon gift voucher prize draw have been selected at random from all staff who had their flu vaccination through the trust before 4 December.

Congratulations to Dr Nicole Morton, who works in elderly care, and Amanda Curtis, staff nurse on B3, both based at Poole Hospital, and Catherine Porter, cancer information officer, Debbie Detheridge, diversity and inclusion lead, and Stephanie Thain, staff nurse in the surgical directorate, all based at RBH, who each win a £50 voucher. They will be winging their way to you this week!

Catch up on the latest staff briefing

Yesterday's staff brieifng with David Moss, our chairman, and Debbie Fleming, our chief executive, as well as fellow executives provided updates on Covid, the rollout of the vaccine, staff testing, EU transition, and our building and development plans for the years ahead.

You can watch the full briefing here and view the slides here.

Christmas parking

There will be free parking for all visitors and patients in all car parks Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's day. The barriers will be raised so no tickets will be needed.

Staff Christmas taxis

Staff working over the Christmas period at any trust site, who are dependent on public transport to get to work, can arrange a Christmas taxi.

• Poole staff - click here for instructions about arranging a Christmas taxi and here for the booking form.
• RBH and XCH staff - here for instructions about arranging a Christmas taxi and here for the booking form.

Christmas catering voucher – Thank you!

As a festive thank you, all staff (including bank staff and volunteers) will be given a UHD catering voucher to use in our UHD run catering venues. Each voucher is worth £4 so you can purchase a drink and a cake or anything else you would like to the value of £4. Directorate managers will be contacted via the OD team with regard to accessing vouchers for their teams. Enjoy your refreshments!

You Matter: Festive Wellbeing Support booklet now available

Our last wellbeing booklet was very well received; our festive edition is available here online now – a practical guide to looking after your wellbeing and others helping you to reflect, recharge and feel better. Limited copies will also be available on the Staff Wellbeing hubs.

Christmas decorations competitions

To help brighten up the hospitals and spread some Christmas cheer, we are inviting departments to have a wipeable festive window display. Decorate a window in your department or ward by using wipeable stickers and then send a photo of the display with two of the team to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 5pm on Friday 18 December. Staff and the public will then vote for their favourite and they'll be a prize for the department with the best one.

Staff at RBH can also choose to decorate one of the new Christmas trees that have been put up in the outside quadrants at RBH and submit this for the decoration competition. Spruce up one of the trees, take a photo and then send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. All we ask is they are decorated in a traditional style (no medical equipment) with fire retardant decorations.

Winners will be announced in the Staff Bulletin and we can't wait to see what you do!

Please note: All these trees are located outside and therefore meet infection control guidelines.

Rest areas

The marquee by the lake at RBH is available to use as a rest area and is now heated from late morning. Please observe the distancing rules and clean down your table when you leave. We are currently investigating the provision of heating for the Poole marquee.

Team recognition funding - it's not just for Christmas!

Funding to support team wellbeing has been well received. Your directorate manager has full details on how much your team has to spend and how to claim. We have received some innovative applications from teams which are being progressed e.g. coffee machines. Please remember this money will be available to apply for until the end of February. Don't miss out!

POOLE - The BEAT VLE is coming to Poole Hospital – less than three weeks to go!

Plans are on track for the BEAT Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to launch at Poole Hospital in the new year. Final preparations are underway for staff to be able to access the system from 4 January 2021. An online launch event is planned for 2pm on this day as an introduction to the system. The event is available using this link and all Poole staff are welcome to join.

The VLE will give staff and managers easy access to online training and compliance information, both supporting you to understand your mandatory training requirements and encouraging the uptake of training completion. All staff who access the system during January will be automatically entered in a prize draw to win a £50 Amazon voucher (one entry per person). If you have any queries about the VLE at Poole please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call ext. 3608.

POOLE - New e-Rostering newsletter published

The latest edition of the e-Rostering newsletter is out now. The winter edition includes the latest news from the department as well as training information and top tips. Read it here.

The Brief - 2021 publication dates and deadlines

The publication and deadline dates for The Brief in 2021 are now available on the publications pages of the intranet. Please click here to see them.

It's not too late to join our Virtual Elf Dash

Have you signed up to take part in our Virtual Elf Dash? If not, it's not too late. Dress as an elf, get sponsored and dash about the local community or beauty spot of your choice while supporting Poole Hospitals Elf Service this year. In line with government guidance, many dashers took part earlier this month and it was a huge success. There were family dashers in the dark, four legged dashers, baby dashers and a huge team effort of dashers covering over 300 miles! You too can get involved and keep the festive spirit alive while helping us reach our target of £25,000. Sign up here.

Send Christmas cheers with a virtual festive message

Leave your virtual Christmas message to friends, family and colleagues here with a donation, big or small. Let's spread some festive joy! Especially in what has been a very difficult year.

Bournemouth Hospital Charity Christmas cards

There's a great selection of cards available to buy online in time for the last posting dates. Each pack of 10 costs £5 (not including postage), with £3 going back to the charity, helping to support patients, staff and the hospitals in the future. Buy yours here.

Last posting dates are Friday 18 December for second class mail, Monday 21 December for first class mail and Wednesday 23 December for special delivery.

One week left for Charity's Reindeer Run

There's still time to sign up to Bournemouth Hospital Charity's festive fun-run in aid of your NHS Heroes. We want you to run, jog or walk 5km before Sunday 20 December at a location of your choice (please adhere to restrictions and social distancing). There is even a route at Avon Heath Country Park you can follow using the signs or Strava running app. Registration is £8 per person or £20 for a group of four. Fundraise £30 or more to earn yourself a medal! Sign up now here.

Update on proposed government changes to public service pension 2015 schemes

Following judgement by the Court of Appeal that the transitional protections in place for the 2015 pension scheme reforms were discriminatory due to age and following the public consultation which ended on the 11 October 2020, an update has been released. Click here to read about the proposed changes.

Please note the pension departments have no further information at this time and are unable to answer any queries you may have.

RBH and XCH - New web address for the BEAT VLE

For the attention of RBCH staff who access the BEAT VLE off-site – please note that the web address has changed to www.uhd.nhs.uk/vle.

You can still access it on-site in the usual way i.e. via Managed Bookmarks in Google Chrome.

IT specialist nurse service

From 1 Jan to end of March 2021 there will be a reduced IT specialist nurse service due to a secondment. During this time only Lisa Brinkman will be available to support and train staff on the ward based IT clinical systems. She can be contacted via the dedicated IT specialist nurse form on the IT Service desk, via email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or via phone (4980). For more details click here.

Dorset Care Record - training and overview video

A new five minute Dorset Care Record (DCR) Navigational Overview Video for DCR users and potential users is now available to view. This and other videos are available on our DCR intranet User guides and videos – Dorset Care Record – Staff area.

30 minute training webinar dates for the information sharing and security module have also been added (you will need to complete this training to become DCR user). They can be found here. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your preferred date and time and we'll send you an invite.

NHS England and NHS Improvement: 2019/20 Pensions Annual Allowance Charge Compensation Policy

Clinicians who are members of the NHS Pension Scheme ('NHSPS') and face an Annual Allowance charge in respect of the 2019/20 tax year will be able to have this charge paid by the NHSPS (by completing and returning a 'Scheme Pays' form before 31 July 2021) meaning that they don't have to worry about paying the charge now out of their own pocket. Click here to see the infographic and here for a quick guide for clinicians which should be helpful for eligible clinicians.

Information, guidance and an application form is now published on the NHS England and NHS Improvement website, here.

A Christmas e-card from 243 Field Hospital

Wishing all our colleagues across NHS trusts and the Independent Health Sector in the south west and west Hampshire. A very Happy Christmas, a prosperous New Year and a peaceful and safe 2021.

POOLE - Free bike maintenance

Bike Fixed is visiting Poole Hospital tomorrow (Wednesday 16 December) to tune up bikes and ensure they're in good working condition over the winter months.

The tune up is funded by a national cycling charity, Cycling UK, as part of their Big Bike Revival campaign. It is completely free for staff. Dave, the mechanic, will make minor adjustments such as tightening brakes, pumping up tyres and indexing gears.

If your bike needs any replacement parts, Dave may be able to supply these however this will incur a charge. If Dave spots something which needs to be replaced, he'll advise you about this at the time of the service.

A limited number of appointments between 8am-3pm are available. If you'd like your bike to be serviced, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If you are at RBH and have cycled in today and would like your bike seen, please email Elliot Prescott ASAP as the team are onsite today (as advertised in the bulletin last week).

Discounted tickets to drive in panto or movie

All of the free tickets avilable to UHD staff for the drive in panto were snapped up quickly last week and unfortunately not all staff were allocated tickets. Those who missed out, can get 50% off tickets to any other panto or movie being shown at the venue. Simply quote NHS50 at www.flixdrivein.co.uk.

If you didn't receive email confirmation of your ticket, please do NOT turn up on the night. Numbers are strictly limited and you will need to show your confirmation email when you arrive.

Care First webinars

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

• Tuesday 15 December, 12-12.30pm - Tips to boost your immunity
• Wednesday 16 December, 12-12.30pm - The emotional impact of lone working
• Thursday 17 December, 12-12.30pm - Financial wellbeing and the pressures of buying at Christmas
• Friday 18 December, 12-12.30pm - Protecting and Supporting Mental Health this winter

Roadworks

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