Debbie Fleming video update

Debbie Fleming, our chief executive, meets staff from our emergency departments who have had to cope with a huge surge in the number of patients coming in and looks ahead to our Think Big project which we are planning to help tackle the many patients we have on our waiting lists. She also highlights our virtual open day and annual members' meeting which are taking place on Saturday 11 September. Watch here.

Covid-19: Exemption from self isolation

On 16 August the legal requirements to self-isolate if contacted through NHS Test and Trace or the NHS Covid-19 app ceased to be in place.

However, there is additional guidance for NHS staff that we now need to follow.

The NHS guidance applies to all staff including substantive clinical and non-clinical roles, staff bank, contractors and students working in all our facilities and settings delivering NHS care.

This guidance is applicable to fully vaccinated staff and students who are identified as a contact of a confirmed Covid-19 case.

They will no longer need to self-isolate and will be expected to return to work through a risk-based approach following a number of safeguards that need to be implemented to assure their safe return. In summary these would be;

• a negative PCR result prior to returning to the workplace (staff should not attend while awaiting results)
• two doses of MHRA approved vaccine at least 14 days before point of exposure
• complete daily lateral flow device tests before each shift for a minimum of 10 consecutive days
• remain asymptomatic
• follow IPC guidance

This risk assessment is available on the IPC Covid-19 section of the intranet under 'Exemption from self-isolation'

If the criteria within the risk assessment cannot be met, they have not had both doses of the vaccine or are living directly (same household) with a positive Covid-19 case they will continue to be asked to stay away from work.

It may be appropriate in some circumstances for a staff member to return to work if living with a positive case, but this should be risk assessed on a case by case, day by day basis. This risk assessment is held by the group directors of nursing.

We will continue to assess this process to ensure that the precautions in place protect our patients and staff.

Please note that there is going to be a difference between what you are expected to do within the healthcare environment and what you can do when you are not in work. The reason behind these differences is that we continue to strive to protect the NHS both in terms of patients and the staff delivering care. This guidance is reflected across the Dorset Healthcare system.

Poole: Urgent return of portable teal sink to infection prevention control

If your department has a portable teal sink which is not being used, please may it be returned to the infection prevention control office urgently.

Works will be carried out in the emergency department on Monday and the sink is needed to facilitate hand hygiene during the water shut down period.

Please return to the IPC office in Poole room f1-44 (next to the chapel). If you have any queries or would like this to be collected from your area, please call ext 2232 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Catch up on Ask Aly

If you missed our monthly 'Ask Aly' event with our chief medical officer, Dr Alyson O'Donnell, you can catch up here. This month we discussed staff mental health, self-isolation guidelines, the outpatients Think Big project and more.

The next 'Ask Aly' session will run on 30 September at 1pm Click here to join the meeting.

Ensure biochemistry sample labels are correctly placed

When sending samples to the biochemistry department please ensure the labels are placed close to the lid and vertically, ensuring the label has maximum contact with the container. This is to ensure the barcode can be constantly recognised through analysers.

Proper placement of labels will reduce errors and ensure a faster turnaround time for results.

Junior Doctors Forum next Wednesday

The next JDF for Poole Hospital will take place next Wednesday (25 August) at 1pm via Teams. In the session we will be meeting the new UHD JDF chairs for the Poole Site and discussing the new mess re-design at RBH. It would be fantastic to have as many of your inputs as possible, and the session is open to all junior doctors across UHD.

You can join the meeting here. If you have any questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Changes to accessing trust email on personal devices

Our IT department is implementing some additional best practice security measures which will affect those who access their trust emails via their personal phone (including through the @UHD app).

These essential changes will go live on Tuesday 24 August. From this time, you will be prompted to enrol for Multi-Factor Authentication before you can access trust data on your personal devices. More information and guidance can be found on the informatics pages of the intranet.

Internal telephone directory changes

There is now a single directory for telephones across UHD on the staff intranet which has information relating to departments, services and individuals across all our sites.

Please note the UHD internal directory is the same database that runs the automated switchboard. There are many entries in the directory to enable the automation to work as well as possible.

If you find an item missing, or an incorrect item in the new directory, please log this via the IT service desk portal on the intranet.

BEAT VLE manager training

Now the BEAT VLE (Virtual Learning Environment), or 'green brain', is live across the trust, the BEAT team is organising a series of webinars via Teams to support managers or team leaders who need to be able to view and run reports on their team's compliance.

These webinars will include a trainer-led presentation plus a chance to ask questions.

Dates available are:

• 13 September from 11-11.30am
• 23 September from 10-10.30am

If you think you will benefit from attending or need further information about the sessions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Changes to eNA, eObs and Clinical Compass systems

We are in the process of preparing the systems to be merged across UHD.

Poole: While the systems are being prepared you may start to see changes when you are logging in. Initially you may see both your RBH and Poole accounts, please do not worry just select your Poole account and carry on. In the Poole Clinical Compass, you may see the RBH wards start to appear. Initially these will be empty and over the next few weeks we will be loading the historical RBH data in.

RBH: Logging in during this time you should not see any changes.

If you have any issues about this please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For all other unrelated issues please continue to log via the service desk as usual.

Farewell and thanks to Angie

Today (20 August) we say a fond farewell to Angie Challice who retires from her current role as executive services manager after an amazing 28 years' service to the NHS. Friends and colleagues came together earlier this week to thank her for her contribution over the years and to wish her well for the future.

New café, new name...

We need your help choosing a name for the new café in the west entrance at RBH.

The name must be able to stand the test of time and preserve the existing overall positive regard for our catering facilities. If you've got an idea then please send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., interim head of catering operations, by Friday 3 September.

The aim is to agree the name by mid-September – good luck and thank you for your help!

Are you collaborating with Bournemouth University?

The UHD research department is looking to understand the current and future collaborative work ongoing between UHD and Bournemouth University (BU).

If you currently collaborate with BU or would like to in the future, please complete this short survey, open to all clinicians and allied health professionals.

How to have difficult conversations

If you have line management responsibilities, why not come along to a leadership development session aimed at helping develop techniques for managing difficult conversations. The virtual programme, delivered by Practive, also aims to support delegates to tackle poor behaviour and support individual performance.

Sessions will take place on:

• 27 September from 1-5pm
• 20 October from 1-5pm
• 2 and 25 November from 9am-1pm
• 17 February from 9am-1pm
• 15 March from 9am-1pm

For more information and to apply, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

RBH: Bike locks

Please can any bike locks which are left attached to the bike racks but not locked to a bike be removed by the end of September.

These unused locks create a potential trip hazard. From 1 October they will be removed by estates and the trust will not be responsible for their replacement.

We would also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of securely locking up your bikes when you are working on site. Thank you.

Do not take wheelchairs to smoking shelters

Due to the distance and the scarcity of wheelchairs, please do not take wheelchairs to the smoking areas unless for the purpose of safe patient transfer.

We have received a number of complaints from patients who are unable to find wheelchairs.

LIMS is launched!

A big thank you to everyone who have helped with the launch of our new Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) this week - providing a single pathology system for Dorset. Special thanks for their cooperation and patience go to the pathology, IT and laboratory teams for going the extra mile in managing the project.

Be 'stronger together' at Bournemouth's Pride festival this weekend

We are joining our NHS colleagues from across Dorset at Bourne Free pride festival this weekend (20-21 August) to show our support to our LGBTQ+ staff, patients, and communities.

This year's theme is stronger together.

Want to join in but can't attend on the day – share a video message with us on social media by tagging @uhd_nhs #UHDInclusion #StrongerTogether

For more details about the event click here.

If you would like further information about our involvement, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Job of the week - healthcare support workers across UHD

We are looking for HCSWs to join us, with opportunities across various wards and departments.

If you know of someone who might be interested, please pass them this link.

Your wellbeing weekly

Don't forget to check the wellbeing weekly page on the intranet for all of the latest updates including Care First sessions, Nurse Lifeline listening service, strengthen your resilience programme and much more...

RBH: Mindfulness in the chapel

There is a time change to mindfulness in the chapel on Tuesday 7 September. The session will now take place for half an hour from 12.30pm, led by nurse Jools Kilbey.

Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to attend. These sessions are open to all staff.

Christchurch Regent Centre two-for-one tickets

Our friends at the Regent Centre have offered us two-for-one tickets to "And finally... Phil Collins".

This Phil Collins tribute delivers a two-hour high energy show packed full of Phil's solo hits with a sprinkling of Genesis for good measure.

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.