Internal capacity incident continues

Thank you to all the individuals and teams across UHD who are working extremely hard to support our efforts to move out of our current operational pressures. While we remain in an internal capacity incident mode please look out for our regular operational updates sent to staff via email and the intranet front page, as well as items in this bulletin, for the latest position and how you can help.

Covid vaccinations continue ahead of 1 April deadline

If you are yet to have either your first or second vaccination and wish to do so, time is running out to comply with the national 1 April mandatory vaccination deadline for most NHS staff. To allow eight weeks between doses, the first dose must be given before 3 February. Vaccinations are available at both Poole and Royal Bournemouth, with details on the occupational health pages of the intranet, or for appointments away from our hospitals, use the national booking service.

Want more information? Watch the latest briefing, focusing on HR issues and how mandatory vaccinations might affect your role, here, and the first briefing, focusing on efficacy and common concerns, here.

RBH: Can your patient wait away from the ward at discharge?

A trial of a new 'departure lounge' service begins tomorrow for two days on Ward 21 at RBH. The lounge will be open from 9.30am-4.30pm and the team can assist with transferring suitable patients from the wards to the lounge – just bleep the team on 2595. Patients attending the lounge need to be ready to travel and have access to their destination before 5pm. Refreshments will be provided as required.

The lounge is not for patients on stretchers or under the following criteria:

• not medically ready to transfer
• very confused patients who pose a risk to themselves and others
• transfers to another acute setting
• patients who require palliative care

Your feedback on this trial is welcomed – send to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Any issues should be raised with the duty manager on bleep 2002.

Discharge Perfect Fortnight: Get to know the discharge standard operating procedure

We're aiming to discharge at least 30 per cent of patients who are medically ready to leave our hospitals by the end of January. Today's theme is 'Discharge standard operating procedure (SOP)'. Please encourage your teams to familiarise themselves with our discharge SOP which includes roles and responsibilities for all healthcare professionals and support services in relation to safe and effective discharge planning.

Want to know more about Discharge Perfect Fortnight? Speak to your ward or department lead and keep an eye on the operational updates and Staff Bulletin.

Hot food in our vending machines

To further improve the hot food available to staff, particularly those working out of hours, a range of tasty new prepared meals from major brands is now available. They can be found in vending machines located in the atrium at Royal Bournemouth, the restaurant 'ramp' in Poole and in the foyer at St Mary's, and can be heated with the adjacent microwave. The vending machines contain a range of meat, vegetarian and vegan dishes.

If you have any suggestions for items the machines could stock, or ideas on how to further improve the availability of hot food to all staff, get in touch with our head of catering operations, Andy Whittingham, via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Easy Expenses launches next week

Easy Expenses is UHD's new expenses system and will be live for staff to use from next Tuesday (1 February). If you have previously claimed expenses through our old sel-expenses system you will be receiving an email with details on how to register for our new Easy Expenses system on Tuesday, and if you need to claim expenses for the first time you can register for the new system from Tuesday through a link on the new finance intranet pages. Please note all expense claims should be submitted on a monthly basis.

When you register for Easy Expenses some information will be requested as part of your individual registration process. Our duty of care requires assurances that appropriate car business travel insurance, valid driver's licence, MOT and Vehicle Road Tax is in place.

Any expense claims dated before 1 February 2022 should be submitted via the old sel-expenses system here. These claims must be submitted and approved by 11 February 2022.

RBH: Stroke thrombolysis direct admissions

From 24 January between the hours of 8:30am - 4pm from Monday to Friday, stroke patients receiving thrombolysis will be bypassing ED from the CT department and be admitted directly to the hyper acute stroke unit at RBH.

This will include patients pre-alerted by paramedics and appropriate to be admitted direct to CT once assessed by paramedics and triaged on the emergency phone in ED. All infection risk patients will continue to follow the current process of arriving to ED for an initial assessment as will patients requiring resus due to their clinical need.

Any concerns or for further information please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

New version of the personalised care plan for last days of life coming soon on EPR

An updated personalised care plan for patients at the end of life will launch next month.

The document reflects the five elements that support the Butterfly WINGS project which is aimed at promoting dignity, respect and compassion at the end of life:

What matters: sensitive communication with the patient and those important to them

Identify: recognise, understand and anticipate. Is the patient believed to be entering last days of life?

Needs: create an individualised care plan to help patients to be comfortable throughout

Goals: do what matters, step outside the box and facilitate what is important to the patient and family

Support: throughout and including bereavement–ensuring the needs of the patient and family being met, documented and reviewed regularly

Alongside the EPR documents, there is also useful documents on the palliative care pages of the intranet. Over the next few weeks the end of life specialist nurses and practice educators will be visiting wards to support the changes.

To find out more contact:

RBH: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 6021

Poole: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 3152

RBH: broken telemetry boxes

The coronary care unit has experienced a very high number of damaged telemetry boxes on their Philips MX40 units which Philips has said is 'user error'.

The damage is taking place when the batteries are being replaced and the clips to the left of the boxes are being broken and therefore not securing the battery unit in position. Awaiting costly repairs impacts on the number of telemetry units we have available for monitoring of patients.

Reminder about resuscitation training

Refresher resuscitation training has changed.

Staff must watch a 45 minute video and pass the online MCQ assessment otherwise staff will not be able to complete their training.

The two hour session training on basic life support (level 2 resus) training is now spilt into two elements; eLearning and a 30 minute face to face practical session.

Training has not changed at Poole or for new trust inductions and all sessions can be booked via ESR.

Schwartz Rounds Steering Group - Could you be who we're looking for?

The Schwartz Rounds Steering Group are looking for new members to help organise Schwartz Rounds and help Team UHD benefit from a place where staff from all disciplines can discuss difficult emotional and social issues that arise in caring for patient.

Schwartz Rounds can help staff feel more supported in their jobs, to give them the time and space to reflect on their roles which they might not otherwise have in their everyday routines on busy hospital wards. Evidence suggests that when staff feel supported and positive about the care they are offering, this is beneficial for them, the patients, and the organisation as a whole.

If you'd like to find out more about joining the group and what's involved, please visit the Schwartz Round page of the intranet or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Thinking outside the box to be active

One of the most important things when it comes to exercise is that we enjoy it - if not, we're more likely to stop doing it. Running, swimming and cycling aren't for everyone, so we wanted to share some alternative and unusual outdoor activities that can help you, and your family, increase your activity levels.

Whether you take up volunteering, have a go at geocaching or take the plunge with some wild swimming – there are plenty of ways you can incorporate wellbeing boosting activity in your daily life.

If you want a healthy dose of life satisfaction with your new-found fitness and wellbeing you could try volunteering with a charity. Not only will you be getting fitter, but you'll be doing something really worthwhile in the process. Take a look at, Dorset Countryside Volunteers, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Brownsea Island Volunteers, GoodGym.

Geocaching is a grown-up treasure hunt - although it's great to do with the kids as well. Use the GPS on your phone or a GPS device to locate hidden treasures, often containing trinkets for you to take and replace with one of your own.

Read more in our beginner's guide to geocaching, and for more information the Geocaching Association of Great Britain is a great place to start.

Encourage the whole family to explore outdoors with Pokemon Go. Pokemon Go is a fantastic way of getting exercise without even realising it as you track and catch the virtual monsters outdoors. If you have children permanently glued to computer games, then this could be the perfect compromise to get them outdoors and exercising.

If you really want to take the plunge immersion in cold water gradually reduces stress levels in everyday life and generates a great sense of wellbeing. There are 14 lifeguard stations on the beach between Sandbanks and Southbourne where you can swim under supervision during the summer months.

Chill is an organisation that offers sea swimming sessions designed for people who have mild or moderate depression and anxiety and the Outdoor Swimming Society will help you learn more about where you can go wild swimming, as well as details about open water swimming events near us.

Dry January – one month of no alcohol

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?

After one month of no alcohol, your risk of developing certain cancers, including two of the most common worldwide – breast and colorectal – is diminishing. Find out what else is changing on this factsheet here.

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..

Would you like to train to be a registered nurse?

The next opportunity to apply for the registered nurse apprenticeship will be starting on 14 February for three weeks.

This is a three and a half year apprenticeship based at UHD with study days at Bournemouth University and is planned to start in September. Information about the course can be found on the intranet here.

To apply you must meet the entry criteria of level 3 study and evidence of Maths and English qualification at application. Applications are made here.

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

Sign up today for March for Men 2022

March for Men returns to Bournemouth Pier Approach on Sunday 13 March welcoming participants of all ages, abilities and genders to challenge themselves whilst doing something truly amazing! Walk or run 3km, 5km or 10km and raise important funds to support men's health.

Tickets are £15 for adults (16+), £8 for children (under-fives go free). Adults will receive a March for Men t-shirt and everyone taking part will receive a complimentary drink.

Together, we can continue to improve men's health services for every man in our community. Sign up today!

Our Dorset – online menopause support drop-in session

Join the Our Dorset Menopause Support online drop-in session for a drop-in session for an opportunity to share your experiences with menopause. Senior clinical practitioner and menopause champion at Dorset CCG, Belinda Stokes, will also be available to take your questions.

The Teams event is on 3 February 11am-12pm find out how to join here.

Let's talk about prostate cancer

World Cancer Day is on 4 February, and to mark the day, Wessex Cancer Alliance, in partnership with Dorset Race Equality Council and Wessex Voices, is holding an online event, Let's Talk About Prostate Cancer, to raise awareness of the increased risk of prostate cancer in black men. The event will take place from 1-2pm - find out more and book your place here.