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University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Staff Bulletin 24 Nov 20

View the staff bulletin from home

If you have team members who work from home or who work for the staff bank, please forward this link to them so they can read the bulletin from home and keep updated with news from the trust.

Four days left to complete your staff survey and make a difference!

We only have a few days left until this this year's confidential NHS National Staff Survey from Quality Health closes on Friday 27 November. Our chief executive, Debbie Fleming, said: "I know things are really busy and pressurised at the moment, but I would like to encourage you all to take a few minutes to take part. The feedback is really helpful to us. We do listen, and it really does make a difference."

If you haven't already had the chance to share your voice, you can find the survey by searching This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in your inbox. If you have received a survey invitation by letter, but would prefer to fill it out online, feel free to do so by following the instructions in the letter.

To find out more please email or contact the organisational development team.

Reminder on mandatory infection control training

All clinical and medical staff should complete the infection control eLearning module as soon as possible, unless they have attended face to face level two infection control training, completed the eLearning for health infection control module or the infection control level two module via BEAT/VLE within the last 12 months. Poole staff can complete training online via the education and training intranet. Bournemouth and Christchurch staff can view it via the BEAT VLE.

All other staff should complete level one infection control mandatory training. This training takes around 10 minutes and is available via BEAT VLE (RBCH) or the intranet (Poole).

All staff should also compete the Covid-19 safer working toolkit, available on the intranet.

Could you be a Schwartz Round panellist?

We are looking for panellists for the first Schwartz Round as University Hospitals Dorset to speak on the subject 'Covid Christmas – silver linings' on Thursday 10 December 1-2pm.

Schwartz rounds are a way for all hospital staff in all roles and from all backgrounds to come together to talk about the emotional and social challenges of working within the NHS and caring for patients. The aim is to offer staff a safe environment in which to share our stories.

If you are interested, please contact the Schwartz Round lead This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Teams information for will be included in the Staff Bulletin nearer the time.

Flu vaccinations still available

More than 58% of staff have now had their flu vaccination across UHD – a great achievement. There's still time to have yours if you haven't yet – it's important to have the jab as soon as possible, and before our focus and resources move to Covid-19 staff vaccinations due to start next month.

We have more than 100 peer vaccinators spanning our three sites who can provide the jab. A full list of peer vaccinators, where to find them and how to contact them is on the flu portal on the intranet. You can also find out when our flu trollies are out and about and how to request a visit (it's a great idea if you can get a few colleagues together at the same time).

Finally, don't forget that all staff who have their jab through the hospital before 4 December will be entered into a prize draw to win one of five £50 Amazon gift vouchers in time for Christmas.

Staff parking at Poole Hospital

During the Covid-19 pandemic as outlined by government policy, we have been giving staff with parking permits free parking across our sites and will continue to do so. Earlier this year, when there was not so much demand on our parking, we were also able to open up the multistorey car park (MSCP) at Poole for members of staff without parking permits for free. Now we are running a lot more procedures than earlier in the year and with more patients on our sites, we no longer have the capacity to keep this offer open to staff without permits as it caused congestion and stopped patients from being able to park. There are only 613 spaces in the MSCP for staff and patients at Poole and we have over 4,000 staff.

We have recently introduced a new scheme to further support non permit holding staff - weekly tickets for the MSCP. These are issued on a first come first served basis and availability is dependent on demand and spare capacity identified in the MSCP. We are currently issuing circa 120 tickets for this purpose.

We have worked with local organisations to offer free parking to staff without permits locally. Please do use these free spaces and do not park in the MSCP if you don't have a permit or one of the weekly tickets as this will cause congestion and lead to patients not being able to access our services.

Free parking remains available for trust staff at Barclays and Poole College. Please register at the car parks office near the main entrance at Poole Hospital and obtain a temporary permit valid for those car parks. BCP free parking for NHS staff is also available at Poole Swimming Pool on approval of application via this link.

Support for staff to quit for good

If you want to escape smoking, but aren't sure where to start, talk to LiveWell Dorset. Provided by your council, LiveWell provides free healthy living advice and coaching for adults in Dorset. Make your stop-smoke plan with the support of a LiveWell Coach. Learn where to find your local face-to-face support. Access apps, NRT and e-Cigarettes to help you start stopping.

Register by searching LiveWell Dorset, call freephone 0800 840 1628 or attend an online information session for NHS Staff by clicking here.

The Smoke Free App is providing a free month of full access to all features of the app. To get your card ask a Smokefree Champion or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

You Matter: Temporary safe spaces

All staff are welcome to come to the Committee Room in the east wing of RBH to relax, recharge and decompress after a challenging time at work. This temporary space is available 24/7 with general access for everyone using their ID to access the management corridors. The space follows all infection control requirements and social distancing requirements. The Nest in the Maternity Unit at Poole is also available. Other locations are under review.

If you can help provide spaces for any of these essential staff needs, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Old ID badges to be removed from system

The secure access software which controls all the doors, via the use of our ID badges, is starting to reach its limits. We are beginning to reach the point where there are too many active ID cards in the organisation meaning that some controllers may start to fail and people may lose access.

To combat this, the new badge team will be starting to remove old cards from the system. We had planned to do this when the old cards had been retuned but due to the limitation in the system a different approach is necessary. Work will start on this process Wednesday 25 November.

The team will start with the areas who received their new cards first and work through the lists. Therefore managers who may still be holding cards for their staff are encouraged to distribute asap. Colleagues who are yet to receive their new badges will retain access on their current card for now.

Please remember that it essential that managers collate old cards and return them to the relevant locations with the paperwork provided as soon as possible.

  • Bournemouth – Malcolm Keith's office
  • Poole – porters lodge

Please note all staff retaining their old card for BloodTrack will still be able to keep the old card for this purpose. It will simply no longer work on doors or the car park barriers etc.

POOLE HOSPITAL - Important update on the refer a friend scheme

The staff referral scheme which was previously available to staff working at Poole Hospital has been paused while a suitable scheme for UHD is decided upon. Outstanding applications will be administered up to and including 30 November 2020.

Difficult conversations

Delivered by Practive, this leadership development session aimed at those with line management responsibilities, is designed to help attendees develop techniques for managing difficult conversations. The workshop aims to support delegates to increase their confidence and skills in handling difficult conversations and tackling poor behaviour and under performance.

If you would like further information on dates and would like to apply for a space, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Using email through a web browser (Outlook web access)

When accessing your email through a web browser, especially on a shared PC, you must log out of your email account when you finish. Closing the browser window will not log you out automatically, so the next person using the PC will automatically have access to your emails.

To do this, click the circle with your photo or initials in the top right corner of the screen, and then click 'sign out'.

Do you have a recent hospital experience or helped someone who has?

Join our Value-VOICE research study as a patient and public participant to help improve the care of older people in the future.

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to join or click here for more information.

Get involved in #PurpleLightUp campaign

Help the Pro Ability Network celebrate this year's #PurpleLightUp campaign, which is a global movement that celebrates and draws attention to the economic contribution of the 386 million disabled employees around the world. The network will be sharing all the good things they have achieved over the past year on our UHD Twitter page with the hashtag #PurpleLightUp and will be asking you what else we can do to improve working conditions for disabled employees. The network are also asking people to wear purple to work.

For more information or to help contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Book amnesty

Our libraries renewed all books over the first wave of the pandemic but many have still not been returned. Please check for any overdue books that belong to one of our libraries and return to the book bin outside the library as soon as possible. If new copies need to be purchased you may be sent an invoice for the replacement. Thank you.

'A great tool to improve patient care' – be part of Clinical Audit Awareness Week

Hear from our leads for clinical audit in a new video made as part of Clinical Audit Awareness Week this week (23-27 November). Dr Suzanne Ragab, clinic director for clinical audit at Poole Hospital, and Dr Guy Titley, clinical lead for clinical audit at RBH, explain how it helps to improve patient care, and how everyone can be involved.

Be part of the week yourself by taking the '5-a-day' audit (with a chance to win a £25 in M&S voucher), or by looking out for posters and displays around our hospitals.

For further information visit our intranet pages or call us on 8748 (Poole) or 4127 (RBCH).

Help support national cancer waiting times pathways

One in two people now get diagnosed with cancer. Please help support cancer waiting times pathways for early diagnosis and better outcomes for patients by submitting referrals at the following times:

  • 62 days from referral to treatment
  • 28 days from referral to diagnosis
  • 31 days from decision to treat to treatment start

To help patients receive a faster diagnosis you can supporting cancer waiting times pathways with diagnostic tests, outpatient appointments, clinic letters and result reporting.

A member of the cancer information team will highlight if a patient is on a cancer waiting time pathway in any correspondence sent. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information or see this poster.

ASPIRE - a simple guide to help you talk about discharge

Our discharge teams have created a useful guide to help staff talk to patients and their families about discharge. Using the acronym ASPIRE (Acknowledge, Safety, Preparation, Include, Reassure, Escalate) this advice will help to guide conversations so that there is a consistency of language used. You can access the campaign poster via the discharge section on the intranets or here.

Local neighbourhood update on the development of Poole Hospital

Debbie Fleming, chief executive, has written to Poole Hospital's local neighbours and businesses in order to provide an update on the major construction project currently underway. The letter also introduces the principal partner for this extensive project, Integrated Health Projects (IHP). Attached to the letter is the first in a series of joint newsletters which gives readers 'at a glance' information on the project, including details of the site set-up, service diversions, enabling works and demolition timetable.

You can read Debbie's letter here and accompanying joint newsletter here.

Would you like to be the star of our wellbeing social media advent calendar?

We know this has been a difficult year for everyone, so this year we'd love to spread a little cheer by doing a social media advent calendar with a heart. You can help by sending us a photo or video of you or your team with a wellbeing message for your colleagues. We'll then link your message through to useful resources on wellbeing and emotional support for our staff. Is there something positive or reassuring you'd like to say to help give your team or fellow UHD peers a boost? Would you like to lift your team's spirits by reminding them how important they are and how grateful you are for their work?

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your photo and message or video message and we'll share it to help spread some festive cheer. Together we can make a difference. #TisTheSeasonToCare

Send a virtual message this Christmas

Poole Hospital Charity has launched a virtual Christmas wish card to support this year's Poole Hospital Elf Service. The card allow you to send Christmas wishes to your family, friends and colleagues while supporting a great cause. Click here (https://www.emagiving.com/campaign/view/poole-hospital-elf-service) to write your message and donate to make your extra special Christmas donation this year. Click on a candy cane to see your Christmas message on the tree.

Sign up for Bournemouth Hospital Charity's Reindeer Run

Join our festive fun run in aid of your NHS Heroes this Christmas! We want you to run, jog or walk 5km between Saturday 5 and Sunday 20 December. You can complete your run wherever you like (please adhere to restrictions and social distancing). There is even a signed route at Avon Heath Country Park you can follow using the signs or Strava running app. Registration is £8 per person of £20 for a group of four. Sign up now at BHCharity.org/reindeerrun

Virtual Elf dash 2020

The Virtual Elf Dash 2020 which serves part of our Poole Hospital Elf Service, is already proving to be very popular. Sign up with friends, family and collecgues and help to raise £25,000 for six very special items. Don't forget the first 75 to sign up and raise a minimum of £10 per person receive a FREE elf hat! How fan-DASH-tic!

For more information, please click here and to sign up to take part click here. remember to get sponsored in Your Virtual Elf Dash 2020.

Care First webinars

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

Nuclear Medicine Department refurbishment

The Nuclear Medicine Department will be undergoing refurbishment (starting on 23 November) to allow for the installation of two new SPECT/CT scanners. The project will take eight months and for the majority of the time only one scanner will be in use. While every effort will be made to ensure we deliver an efficient service we will be adhering to a strict clinic and scanning schedule. Thank you for your understanding.

Do you work with patients who have dementia?

UHD is taking part in a study with University of Cambridge looking at current practice around visual identification of people with cognitive impairment in hospital. This will feed into design and testing of a visual identification system for hospital patients with dementia.

All staff who work with patients who have dementia are able to take part – this would involve completing a short (10mins) survey:

Link: https://www.thiscovery.org/register/?group=davinci-t1

For more information, please click here or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

16 Days of action campaign

Wednesday 25 November marks the start of '16 Days of Action to end violence against women and girls', an international movement supported by international, national and local organisations fighting to end violence against women and girls. 25 November is also White Ribbon Day, where men are encouraged to wear a white ribbon, and pledge never to commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women.

Over the course of the campaign, PHE and NHS SW will be running two webinars.

  • Bystander interventions to prevent sexual violence: 2-3.30pm, 30 November - This webinar is for anyone working in the field of violence prevention. It will go through how to implement bystander interventions and the mentors in violence prevention programme for schools.
  • Domestic abuse in pregnancy: 10-11.30am, 2 December - This webinar is for midwives, health visitors, obstetricians, primary care and other health and social care professionals and workforce leads. It will explore how to identify and respond to evidence of domestic abuse in pregnancy.

Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you or anyone in your organisation would like to attend either of the below webinars.

Fraud Awareness Month - identity theft/fraud

Identity theft happens when fraudsters access enough information about someone's identity (such as their name, date of birth, current or previous addresses, place of work etc) to impersonate them. Identity fraud is when the details obtained are used to commit fraud, by: opening bank accounts, obtaining credit, taking over accounts, impersonating you at work to purport to authorise transactions.

Any information used to identify your or your family, or that is used to answer any of your security questions should be closely guarded.

  • Do not give out information over the phone.
  • Never divulge your PIN or passwords.
  • Never click on links on any suspicious emails or text messages.
  • Do not write your personal information on social media.
  • Ensure any sensitive paperwork is shredded and old phones or computers are properly disposed of when no longer required.
  • Secure any online accounts with strong passwords that cannot be guessed.

If you receive any unusual payment or change of bank detail requests from colleagues, managers or suppliers, you must verify this with a known contact, using a previously known telephone number. Fraudsters may take over email accounts or mask the sender's email address. Any person making a genuine request will allow security checks to take place.

If you are in any doubt, speak to a manager or contact the Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS).

If you have time, please take part in this Gifts and Hospitality survey.

Private fostering

Private fostering is when a child under the age of 16 (under 18 if they are disabled) is cared for by someone who is not their parent or a 'close relative'. This is a private arrangement made between a parent and a carer for 28 days or more. Close relatives are defined as step-parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncles or aunts (whether of full blood, half blood or marriage).

To help us keep children safe and support families, all parents and private foster carers must notify their Local Council. If not, they miss out on essential welfare checks for the children, plus other support services. These include:

  • Advice on claiming benefits and possible funding for some essential items
  • Parenting support and advice
  • Help in bringing families in crisis back together

If you know of a child being privately fostered please don't ignore it. Speak to the child's carer or contact:

  • If living in Dorset contact the Children's Advice and Duty Service on 01305 228558
  • If living in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole contact the Private Fostering Team on 01202 454932, or by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Robert White Legacy Fund Newsletter

Please click here to read the latest newsletter from the Robert White Legacy Fund.

Roadworks

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