Staff Bulletin 25 February 2022

Supporting patients and their mental health

Join a face-to-face session with our education team to gain a better understanding of mental health conditions, where they come from, and how to support our patients.

The session can be combined with breakaway conflict resolution training (see below) for a full-day course. Dates for classes can be found on the education and training pages of the intranet.

To book a space search '153 UHD mental health training' in ESS or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Poole) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (RBH).

Learn how to de-escalate situations

Breakaway training is useful when working in high risk areas for learning how to de-escalate verbally aggressive situations.

Staff will learn breakaway techniques, allowing them to extricate themselves from violent or dangerous situations and learn how to apply safe-holding techniques in the event that a patient becomes a danger to themselves or others. Specific areas covered include personal safety, verbal and non-verbal techniques, room awareness, ethical and legal considerations, and how to respond to physical attacks.

See the education and training pages on the intranet for more information or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Poole) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (RBH).

PCA cassettes at critically low level

Nationally there is a critically low level of PCA cassettes, this is affecting UHD and we are waiting to hear of a delivery date from the suppliers. Our acute pain service has tried to divide the supplies that are remaining so be mindful and share if another ward requires one for a patient.

Prefilled morphine cassettes are still available to order through pharmacy so consider if there is a clinical reason to have an alternative. In the event we run out of cassettes completely and a patient requires IV analgesia, this will need to be prescribed and given as IV bolus doses titrated to pain.

Please could all stores and stocks be checked for any cassettes that may be unaccounted for.

POOLE: Safeguarding training

Safeguarding Children Level 3 (SGCL3) will go live on the BEAT VLE for Poole staff on 1 March. Please note SGCL3 is not a new topic, if your training is up to date your brain will be green, if need to revisit the brain will be red.

The training can be completed with face to face training or eLearning. Further booking details are available by clicking on the appropriate line on your BEAT VLE.

Support for those affected by the conflict in Ukraine

We know that major events around the world, such as those currently unfolding in Ukraine, can affect us all, and particularly those with family, friends or connections in the areas affected. These events are a timely reminder of the need to look out for one another.

Please raise any concerns or anxieties you may have with your line manager, and remember that our wellbeing support services and staff networks are also available to support staff at these times. In addition, our employee assistance programme provider, Carefirst, can be contacted on 0800 174 319.

Jonathan Harding, Helen Martin or Deb Matthews, from our OD/HR teams, can also be contacted directly.

Our prayer spaces are also open for you to take comfort or have a moment of reflection.

New digital maternity system and app

From Monday (28 February), we will have access to Badger Net, a product and service designed for Dorset Local Maternity System (LMS) to enable paper-light records and minimise data entry.

Badger Notes will provide expecting parents personalised care throughout their maternity journey. Read more here.

If you would like to find out more, please contact the maternity digital team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

POOLE: Reminder - fire extinguisher update

A changeover for fire extinguishers will begin on Monday (28 February) and will take three weeks to complete. Our suppliers will remove all existing fire extinguishers and replace with new ones. The new P50 fire extinguisher is multipurpose and can be used on all of the types of fires that the CO2 and foam fire extinguishers are used for.

The new extinguishers are extremely environmentally friendly and will represent significant cost savings to the Trust.

Any queries, please contact fire advisor This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

LGBT+ History Month round-up

Thank you to everyone who has joined us in celebrating LGBT+ history month. From attending our poetry session with the LGBT+ poet laureate, Trudy Howson, to making pledges to show allyship by wearing a rainbow lanyard and badge, it has been brilliant to see some many members of #TeamUHD following our values of listening to understand, and being inclusive.

We have now added the option to include gender pronouns in our official UHD email signature template, which many of us already do. Using our pronouns in our signatures tells everyone that you are not going to assume their gender and that you care about individual preferences. If you would like to learn more about gender pronouns, click here.

Challenge yourself to your marathon your way for UHD Charity

The TCS Virtual London Marathon will return on 2 October and UHD Charity are offering you the chance to be a part of what promises to be another recording breaking day!

Last year our participants raised almost £7,000 for our hospitals, taking on routes all over our beautiful county. Whether you’re a rambler or runner this challenge gives you the opportunity to do your marathon your way.

The Virtual London Marathon is a celebration of fabulous fundraising, community spirit, positivity, and togetherness for people who want the flexibility and freedom of running wherever they are.

Participants will have just under 24 hours to complete the 26.2 miles and all finishers will receive the coveted medal and t-shirt. There is a registration fee of £28 and minimum sponsorship target of £250.

Sign up today to claim one of our limited charity places.

Discounted sailing opportunities for UHD staff

The Rona Sailing Project charity in Southampton is offering discounts to UHD staff for sailing experiences running out of the port. To find out more contact the RSP office on 01489 885098, or visit their website here.

It is the responsibility of individual staff members to ensure offers are still valid and to check individual terms and conditions. The trust does not endorse or vet these offers.