RBH: Main entrance closure from 2 August

The next phase in the construction work on site begins next month - this will mean that the main entrance will be closed from 2 August. Please use the updated map to find the nearest alternative entrance, and you can find details of the relocation of key offices here.

We apologise for any disruption caused by these essential changes and we are doing everything we can to make sure that any inconvenience is kept to a minimum.

POOLE: Longfleet Road temporary closure next weekend

A small section of Longfleet Road will be closed from Friday, 30 July, to Monday, 2 August, to allow for the installation of a new 50m tower crane ahead of the construction of the new theatre complex.

The closure has been coordinated with BCP Council's highways department, traffic management specialists, the emergency services and teams across the hospital. Diversions will be in place for through traffic, with no changes to hospital access for ambulances and pedestrians. More details can be found in the latest site newsletter here.

Focus on Flow week – getting our patients home safely this summer

This week has seen a Focus on Flow, gaining insight from staff across UHD on how to help prioritise the safe and timely discharge of patients using the Criteria to Reside (C2R) framework and best discharge practice so that we can admit those who need our acute care.

25 wards have been involved this week, and a further five are to be reviewed next week. Thank you to everyone who has been involved so far.

The feedback has been positive in terms of how hard working and dedicated the teams are, and that many areas show commitment and understanding of C2R, and its use as a framework.

The week has also helped us to gain greater insight into the variation of consistent understanding and application of C2R and best discharge practice across the hospitals, wards and all staff levels. This insight is helping us to formulate a plan going forwards to improve consistency of care and experience for all our patients.

The Criteria to Reside Implementation Group will be reviewing and reflecting on all feedback next Thursday.

If you/your team haven't yet had a chance to contribute your thoughts, ideas and experiences, please do take a moment or two to fill in either the online form or the JamBoard.

Double bag when returning soiled linen

All wards are reminded that red soluble bags must to be used for disposing of any soiled linen containing bodily fluids. Only when the linen is placed in red soluble bag can it then be added to the textile bag. All soiled linen must be double bagged.

Please make sure everyone on your ward is following the correct procedures in double bagging as when these items are incorrectly disposed of they are an infection control risk.

Click here to view the colour coded guide for all linen bags.

Aligned patient menus across UHD

The catering and dietetics departments have completely aligned patient menus across UHD.

From 2 August all menus within UHD are changing. Poole will see significant changes to a one week menu with different options both for lunch and dinner daily.

The new menus will have many benefits including improved diet coding, which will allow patients to make a more informed selection, reduced costs and reduced waste.

If you have any questions please contact:
RBH: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. POOLE: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

All staff briefing catch up

Click here to catch up with the all staff briefing hosted by chairman David Moss, chief executive Debbie Fleming and fellow executives. The briefing detailed the latest on managing the Covid-19 pandemic and our guidelines, an operational update, our tier 3 appointments, and future development plans.

Staff security and safety survey

The security department is seeking your opinions and experiences of lone working, both on and off site.

Click here to take part in a short survey to guide the team to providing a suitable response to any security risks associated with lone working.

Governors stepping down – message from our chairman

Christine Cooney and Stephen Tee have both announced that they will be standing down shortly as governors. On behalf of the council of governors, I wanted to pay tribute to them for the significant contribution that they have both made and to wish them all the best for the future.

Christine is a public governor for the Poole and the Rest of England constituency and, prior to her election as a governor for UHD , she served as a governor for the former Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for several years.

Stephen is the appointed governor for Bournemouth University which is one of our key partners. Prior to his appointment to UHD, Stephen was the BU appointed governor for the former Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital Foundation Trust for several years. In his role as dean of the faculty of health and social sciences he has played a major part in the development of the vital partnership between BU and UHD and in the achievement of University Hospital status, which is so important for the future of both our organisations.

David Moss, chairman

Blood transfusion laboratory to cease using historic blood group data

Due to the installation of a new laboratory information system (LIMS) containing a blank database from Tuesday 17 August the blood transfusion laboratory will not be able to use historic blood group data for the provision of group compatible blood components.

This means any patient requiring any blood component will not have a historic blood group on record. Therefore, all patients will require two samples, taken separately, for group compatible blood component issue.

Emergency group O red cells (and group AB plasma) will still be available if absolutely necessary – as per major haemorrhage protocol. We apologise for any inconvenience this system replacement causes. This is a significant change for the laboratory and every effort is being made to minimise clinical impact as much as possible.

We will shortly be contacting the following individual areas where impact will be most significant: TIU, Jigsaw, haematology, maternity, pre-op assessment, theatres, ED and portering services.

If you have any specific concerns or questions, please contact the laboratory manager, Mike Trevett, via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

RBH: New porters lodge

As the new building works across UHD starts to take shape, former porters manager, Nick Williams, cut the ribbon on our brand new porters lodge this week.

Stuart Williams, current porters manager, said: "We are in exciting times - there is a huge amount of development work across our hospitals and a tremendous investment in the new porters lodge which reflects just how important a role our team plays. The new facilities will also help us provide the very best high quality care to our patients from the heart of the hospital and a comfortable work place for our much valued staff."

Returning locker keys when leaving the trust

The travel team request that any doctors who are leaving the trust return their locker keys. Please return your key in a named envelope to the travel team office.

If you have any questions please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Find out the latest from the estates and capital development team

The first estates and capital development quarterly update has been published.

Introducing the team and showcasing their latest work, it also includes details of Debbie Fleming, chief executive's, recent visits. You can read it here.

Dorset Indian Mela supporting the Portland Ward at Poole Hospital

Head to Poole Park on 8 August and join a celebration of Indian culture at the Dorset Indian Mela, which is raising funds to support the Portland Ward in Poole Hospital.

The event is free to attend and offers fun for the whole family with a wide range of entertainment including chendamelam, live music, handicrafts, food stalls and henna painting.

Heatwave reminder

After this week's exceptionally hot weather we are all reminded to be familiar with the UHD heatwave plan. High temperatures are expected across the summer and being prepared minimises risks and allows us all to be prepared ahead of extremely hot weather.

Job of the week – RBH estates capital project manager

This role, reporting to the head of estates capital development, will be responsible for the delivery of a diverse portfolio of capital schemes, supporting the estates' strategy, from inception to the point of delivery of the completed scheme. There are two positions available in this role.

Working closely with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders; including clinicians, consultants and contractors, you will ensure that the projects delivered, are innovative, effective and meet high customer expectation. These projects will include backlog maintenance, and capital schemes, new works, reconfiguration and adaptation. Involvement in strategic planning within both the Trust and the wider Dorset ICS.

The successful applicants will need experience of planning and delivering multiple concurrent complex capital investment projects, within the NHS or other large corporation.

Click here to apply, the closing date is 22 August.

Weekly wellbeing offers

This week our offers include Care First sessions for next week, woodland wellbeing sessions, a menopause in the workplace discussion and more. Please check the intranet A-Z under W for the wellbeing pages.