Staff briefing on mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations on Thursday

All staff in patient-facing roles or who work in close proximity with patients must have had at least two vaccine doses by 1 April – and the first by 3 February - to comply with new legislation which comes into force 1 April.

Join a briefing session on Teams this Thursday (20 January) to hear the very latest HR guidance on how the new rules may affect your role, chaired by our chief medical officer, Professor Alyson O'Donnell, from 12-1pm - join it here at this time.

• You can arrange your vaccination, as well as your flu jab, at either Poole or Royal Bournemouth hospitals by following the instructions on the occupational health pages of the intranet.
• If you are not fully vaccinated and have concerns and would like expert advice, please contact our occupational health team via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call ext 4217.

If you believe you are exempt, please call 119 - the NHS' dedicated advice line for Covid-19 issues.

Discharge perfect fortnight

Today marks the start of discharge perfect fortnight. We hope to discharge at least 30 per cent of patients who are medically ready to leave our hospitals by the end of January. We know that this is better for our patients and their ongoing recovery and improves the flow of patients throughout our hospitals. This can take the pressure from our emergency departments as they are able to move patients to more appropriate places for their care and free up space for quicker ambulance handovers.

We are putting in place a range of actions across our hospitals, including a theme for the day to help. Today's is "review of all potential discharges using Health of the Ward" and escalation to matrons, GMs, heads of services. This request is to help minimise the number of potential discharges cancelled each day due to internal/external issues, where possible to do so.

Please do ask in your wards/departments what is being done to support this and also to find out how you can be involved.

Internal capacity incident continues

We remain in an internal capacity incident, in response to operational pressures across the trust. Please look out for operational updates which provide the latest information on our response, and details of how you can help.

Book your own PCRs via our swabbing portal

You can now book your own Covid-19 PCR swab at one of our drive through facilities via the UHD swabbing portal: Book PCR Swabbing (uhd.nhs.uk)

The portal allows you to book directly into available slots at Poole or RBH (including household contacts) and most importantly provides an automated text service to give you your results as soon as they are released from the laboratory.

Patient information amnesty

It's vital that patient information is accurate and up to date, to support this we are holding a patient information amnesty.

If you:

• have any patient information leaflets that aren't branded as UHD (either properly rebranded or with an interim sticker on)
• have any patient information requiring an update
• know of any leaflets that are no longer in use
• need a new leaflet approving
• have been waiting more than a month for a response regarding a leaflet

Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by the end of January.

Hot meals for night shift staff – we want your feedback

This weekend we trialled hot food for our night shift teams, provided by food trucks at Poole and RBH. This trial was part of a larger drive by our wellbeing team to provide a permanent solution to giving our night shift teams a hot meal.

It's important to our wellbeing team that we get this right, so if you used the trucks over the weekend we would like to hear your feedback.

Click here to fill out a short survey.

Something for everyone – support our charity this year

If you missed the range of exciting ways you can support University Hospitals Dorset Charity on page 15 of this month's The Brief, click here to catch up.

Whether you're a keen walker, thrill seeker, fancy dress lover or passionate about travel, our hospital charity team has a range of challenges to suit all. Walk the Jurassic Coast in May, wing walk or skydive in July or trek through northern Spain in September – there really is something for everyone.

Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you'd like to get involved!

RBCH: Maintenance inspections on drug refrigerators next week

Engineers from EPTA Refrigeration will be on site from Monday (20 January) carrying out the routine maintenance inspections and cleaning on drugs refrigerators.

The team will start at Royal Bournemouth and move on to Christchurch and will be contacting department heads before starting work in their areas.

They will be on site for approximately two weeks, please ensure they have access to all units in your department and that if you are experiencing any problems with your refrigerators you let them know.

If you have any queries, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ext. 4291.

Supporting internationally trained allied health professionals (AHPs)

Are you an internationally trained AHP working as a support worker or as a registered AHP?

We want to know how we can support internationally trained AHPs to gain their Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration and how we can further support internationally recruited AHPs.

Share your story as part of our strategic AHP workforce project by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Virtual consultation training offer from NHS England - apply now

Clinicians in the South West in acute and community care settings can access a new training opportunity to enhance skills in delivering video consultations to create the best and safest experience for staff and patients.

2 different training offers are available:

• Virtual Hug (1 CPD point) - rapid remote consultation/appointment skills course with a focus on soft skills and technical housekeeping.
• The Principles of Remote Consulting (4 CPD points) - a comprehensive course encompassing the key principles of current advice issued by a range of UK primary and secondary care bodies.

There are a limited number of online places across the South West based on a first come first served basis, apply using this form. There are some FAQs on the training here.

Be Active – focusing on your wellbeing in 2022

Physical activity is a fantastic way to boost mental health, self-esteem, sleep quality and overall physical health. Our wellbeing team have a range of fantastic tools for us all to use to encourage #TeamUHD to be more active.

This week we're focusing on the tools available to help us take up the habit of running and jogging.

Taking up running can seem like a scary prospect, especially if you feel out of shape or unfit. NHS Couch to 5K helps us work up to running 5km using a mix of running and walking to gradually build up your fitness and stamina.

Parkruns are free, weekly, community events where all abilities are welcome. There is no time limit and no one finishes last. You can sign up for free and local events include runs at Upton Country Park, Poole Park, Kings Park, Moors Valley and Lymington Woodside Gardens.

We even have a UHD running club at RBH on Tuesdays at 5.15pm. The run starts at the brick triangle by the bus hub. To join you must be able to run 5k - but you don't have to be fast! To join, contact Dily on 07970 714475.

There are a huge number of local running clubs that we can get involved with, not only to build our physical fitness, but to make friends and socialise with other runners:

• Littledown Harriers
• Poole Runners
• Christchurch Runners
• Bournemouth Joggers
• Westbourne Runners Club
• Verwood Runners
• Poole Joggers
• White Star Running

If you would like to start running but are in need of some new kit, Up and Running Bournemouth and Running Free in Poole also offer 10% discount for NHS staff.

Dry January – alcohol and your physical health

Dry January is the UK's annual challenge that encourages us to abstain from drinking alcohol throughout January. If you are taking part you should now be feeling the health benefits – and if you would like to get involved, why not start your 31 days now?

This week the team are reminding us of the relationship between alcohol and physical fitness 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..

RBCH: Nebuliser boxes are now in use

If you're thinking of ordering an air cylinder to drive a patient nebuliser, order a nebuliser box instead. They are available to order from equipment library for patients requiring nebulised medications, replacing the need to use piped medical air in most clinical areas.

The boxes stay with the individual patient, including during any ward moves. When a patient no longer needs a box, or they are discharged, it should be cleaned, labelled as 'clean' and returned to the equipment library.

You can order nebuliser boxes via Siso, and if you have any questions please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

More international nurses joining UHD this year

Thank you to our teams who have been hard at work supporting the training of our invaluable international nurses. Our international nurses are so important to our hospitals and we're incredibly lucky to have them join us.

We are expecting a further 120 international nurses over the next year, and we can't thank them and the training team enough for all that they bring to our hospitals.

Our training team supports the international nurses become registered nurses through their OSCE exams, and provides additional pastoral support for our new colleagues as they settle in to life in at UK and at UHD.

Job of the week - PA to colposcopy, menopause and Harbourside Gynaecology Centre at Poole

There is an exciting opportunity for an experienced personal assistant to join our friendly women's health team to work as PA to colposcopy, menopause and the Harbourside Gynaecology Centre.

You'll need to be a very organised, motivated and diligent individual to provide effective administrative and secretarial support.

This post is job share position for 15 hours per week (2 days).

Click here to apply, the job closes on 31 January.

Two for one tickets from the Regent Centre

Our friends at the Regent Centre in Christchurch have offered us two-for-one tickets to their pantomime production of Sleeping Beauty. The offer is valid for the opening night performance on 27 January at 7.30pm.

To book your tickets call the box office on 01202 499199 and quote "two for one offer" or book online here and enter "241OFFER" in the promo code box.