POOLE: Business continuity incident in theatres

The cable providing power to the chillers in our theatres at Poole Hospital was replaced last night and all temperatures are back to normal. We are therefore standing down the business continuity incident.

Once again thank you to all staff involved, including our theatre admin staff and partner organisations.

Electronic Do Not Attempt Resuscitation / Allow a Natural Death (DNAR/AAND) forms

From the beginning of August, RBH and Christchurch are moving to electronic DNAR/AAND forms for doctor changeover, tying in with the system already in place at Poole.

The electronic forms have the major advantages of being legible, easily located at the top of the electronic patient record, will be visible on future clerking, could be duplicated if needed by multiple care agencies, are auditable and completion will be audited.

The forms are on EPR under ‘Create Documents > DNACPR or TEP' and a paper version, printed on red bordered paper, should be placed at the front of the notes. The paper can be ordered via Powergate.

When do I complete the form? Doctors - following a conversation with your patient and/or their representative, log into EPR, open the correct record for the patient and complete the form electronically, including details of the senior decision-maker and reason for decision.

You are encouraged to use the electronic Treatment Escalation Plan which should be completed for every patient, for each admission, and when clinical condition changes during admission. This is conveniently completed at the same time as the electronic AAND.

Will there be a printed version of the form? Yes, on red bordered paper to be placed at the front of the notes. The AAND/DNACPR form from the notes should be sent home with your patient when they are discharged. If the indefinite box has been ticked, the form will automatically be sent to SWAST, meaning that special messages need only be completed if additional information e.g. injectable medications in the home needs to be sent to SWAST.

Where do I get the red bordered paper? The paper can be ordered on Powergate. Please ensure you have a supply in place. Legacy paper forms remain valid during the transition period.

What about future admissions? For future admissions, it is good practice to re-confirm the patient's wishes. However a form completed previously and documented as "indefinite" can be used for subsequent admissions without being amended and should be printed on red bordered paper for the front of the current inpatient notes.

Share the news: Please pass this message on to all staff who may be affected by this change in your department. The induction for junior doctors will include this change.

Join our all staff briefing next Wednesday

Catch up with the latest news about our trust at the next all staff briefing with Siobhan Harrington. This takes place next Wednesday (3 August) at 8.30-9am in the gym at Christchurch Hospital and on Teams – join here. You'll also receive a copy of the August edition of The Brief, including the cascade form to share the key messages with your teams.

Mindfulness for Wellbeing

Join our UHD mindfulness sessions to help train your mind to be in the present moment though the practice of mindfulness techniques, such as mindful breathing, mindful movement and different types of meditation. When you practice being mindful, you practise accepting your present experience and are able recognise when your mind has wandered from the present, and learn to bring it bring back to what you want to focus on. For more information see our mindfulness intranet pages under M on the A-Z.

We have a range of taster sessions and eight week courses available for our staff over Zoom. Taster sessions have no limit on the number of attendees, so you are guaranteed a place on the date you choose. The dates below are the taster sessions we currently have available.

• Monday 22 August 1-2.30pm, Friday 9 September 1-2.30pm and 5 December 3.30-5pm

To book a place simply email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the date you wish to attend.

8-week courses

The 8-week courses are limited to 15 places per course. If you are unable to get a place on the course of your choice, we will provide information on alternative courses that may be attended. The dates below are the courses we currently have available and both courses include a break for half-term.

• September-21 November every Monday from 1-2.30pm
• January-13 March every Monday from 3.30-5pm

To register for an 8-week course, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and let us know the date you would like to attend. We will reply with further information, including links to complete the required course evaluation measures and personal information form.

New virtual clinic pods available

Four new virtual consulting pods are now available in the Dorset Cancer Centre at Poole Hospital. The pods are initially earmarked for cancer care, and provide an additional soundproof space for virtual clinics to be run, making our in-demand consultation rooms readily available for face-to-face clinics.

There are two virtual consulting pods positioned on the cancer care management floor and two on the top floor of the LINAC. All you will need to do is bring your laptop, open Attend Anywhere or the softphone, and carry out your clinic. Power points and fans are available in each pod. Please note that there will be no telephone, computer or monitors in the pods, so contact Billy Stewart, operational manager for cancer care, if you require Softphone to be installed on your device.

The pods are available for bookings on the Bookwise clinical room booking system, in addition to five recently added virtual consulting pods in Poole's main outpatients department, also available on Bookwise.

These have been installed as part of our digital outpatient transformation programme - to find out more go to the outpatients pages of the intranet.

It's time for TikTok...

"Teenagers in Britain are increasingly turning to social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for news, and are moving away from traditional outlets..."

That's the latest update from media regulator Ofcom in a report published last month. Its findings outlined how a range of age groups consumed news differently and showed for the first time that Instagram was the most popular news source among teens, with TikTok following fast behind.

At UHD we're committed to communicating as openly and honestly as we can via social media, and we're proud of our well-established networks. With that in mind, and a timely announcement given Ofcom's latest report, we're pleased to reveal that we're expanding our social media portfolio and have launched our official TikTok channel!

Be sure to go and give us a follow, and if you or your team would like to get involved with TikTok or any of our other social media channels, get in touch with us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – we'd love to hear from you!

Reminder for social media

It is important we uphold our trust values when online. On our own personal social media accounts, remember to use common sense when determining whether something is appropriate when engaging online. If discussing work-related issues, you should not discuss patients or complaints about colleagues. Even when anonymised, these are likely to be inappropriate.

If you are discussing trust matters, ensure you aren't sharing confidential information. If in doubt, check first either with your line manager or with the communications team. When posting, be clear that you are not speaking on behalf of the organisation and be aware of how comments and images online can impact on your professional standing.

Please familiarise yourself with our social media policy.

Don't miss your chance to have your say in our July People Pulse survey

You have until the end of this week (31 July) to make your voice heard in our July People Pulse survey!

When you take part in our NHS People Pulse and National NHS Staff Survey, you help to make a real difference across our hospitals, influencing positive change and making your voice heard. Your views lead to projects across our hospitals to improve health and wellbeing, such as improvements to staff rest areas, and our partnership for subsidised gym memberships with Bournemouth Heart Club.

Take five minutes to share your views in the July People Pulse Survey, so we can continue making changes that matter to you.

Get involved with the Beyond Difference Leadership Development Programme

The Beyond Difference programme is run by Dorset ICS with the aim to develop new and aspiring leaders from ethnically diverse backgrounds. The programme recognises the inequalities and structural barriers that have prevented ethnically diverse staff from progressing their careers and will provide tools and techniques to help them overcome these to achieve their career aspirations.

The programme is open to all ethnically diverse staff, including white and non-white European who are in a new line manager/supervisor/team leader role or those preparing to step up into such a role in the very near future. The core programme includes seven five-hour workshops with half a day of study time for each workshop. The workshops run from September 2022-January 2023. Click here to fill out the form to express your interest. If you have any questions please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Menopause support

Our next menopause listening event will take place on 25 August from 12-1pm via Teams. This is an informal, peer led, confidential opportunity to share discussions relating to perimenopause and menopause. Join the meeting here.

In addition, the Our Dorset Wellbeing Service has a number of forthcoming menopause events. Find out more here.

Watch the film before your resus refresher training

Refresher resuscitation training has changed and you must watch a 45 minute video and pass the online MCQ assessment to complete your training.

The two hour session on basic life support (level 2 resus) training is now split 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.

RBH: Parking onsite out of hours

Please do not park in the on-call consultant car park if you do not have the appropriate permit. This can make it difficult for staff who need to park urgently to administer urgent care to our patients.

Changes to clinical and medical essential core skills update (ECS) training

If you have booked to attend the ECS update in the RBH lecture theatre, please note sessions will now start at 1.30pm on 9 August, 21 September, 24 October, 15 November and 14 December.

Sessions will cover infection control from 1.30-1.45pm and bloods from 1.45-2.25pm. The Mental Capacity Act, (MCA) module within the session has been removed, but you will still be able to complete this training on the VLE.

Become the clinical lead for the Dorset Innovation Hub

The Dorset Innovation Hub (DIH) is looking for a clinician (nursing, medical, midwifery or allied health professional) to help champion the strategy and work of the DIH and be an advocate for healthcare innovation adoption across Dorset.

This is a coordinating role requiring good communication and facilitation skills, working with the hub programme group, hub lead and all partner organisations to support the realisation of DIH strategy and prioritised healthcare innovation adoption projects.

More information and application details are available here. Deadline date for expressions of interest is 23 September.

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

Visit from UNISON

Unison will be between the restaurants at RBH today (26 July) from 11.30am-2pm. They will also be at Poole in the Dome this Thursday (28 July) from 11.30am-2pm.

Come along and find out more about membership and current campaigns. UNISON will also be seeking members' views on challenging the NHS pay deal that has just been announced.

Cakes for charity

Head down to the main atrium in RBH this Thursday (28 July) from 11am-2pm and get your hands on some delicious cakes for a good cause. Claire Stuckey is running the London Marathon in October for University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity and will be selling cakes and goodies by the Lavazza cafe to help her reach her fundraising target.

If you're not able to make it on Thursday but would still like to show Claire some support for this amazing challenge, you can sponsor her here.

August offers from our local gyms

The Village Gym opposite RBH and Anytime Fitness close to Poole Hospital have offered us one free day pass each to try out their facilities in August.

To book your free one day pass at The Village, call 01202 416123 or to book your session at Anytime Fitness call 01202 835970.

Discounted tickets from the Lighthouse Poole

Coastal Comedy and Lighthouse are hosting a triple bill of stand-up comedy, featuring Seann Walsh and some of the best acts on the circuit all in one night. To receive £5 off tickets, at booking enter the code Colossal22. Get your tickets here.

South West Rail strikes this Wednesday (27 July)

Due to a planned national strike, South West Rail is urging customers only to travel by rail if absolutely necessary on Wednesday (27 July). The service will resume as normal on Thursday (28 July). Please check the South West Rail website for updates and to find out how your commute may be affected.