Think big to tackle our waiting lists

We need to "think big" if we are to tackle our growing waiting lists. Staff from UHD joined our partners and healthcare colleagues from across Dorset at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) last week to plan how we can do this to help care for our patients needing treatment. We had to cancel many outpatient appointments over the last year because our focus was on Covid-19 and providing emergency care so a lot of our elective activity was stopped. Our waiting list is now around 45,000 patients.

We need to come up with a way for our clinical staff to treat more patients. The priorities discussed were how to create a safe environment for our staff to provide face-to-face care for these patients, while also providing privacy and dignity in a Covid-secure way. We also need to ensure any plans provide support for our own staff wellbeing.

The discussions also focused on where we could provide this care. We considered different locations both within our hospitals and also within the community, including proposals of a "health pop-up village". The BIC was the perfect location for our meeting as it is where Dorset's large vaccination centre is based and we were able to learn a lot from the way Dorset HealthCare planned to see large numbers of people here in a safe way.

All the options discussed are now being developed to work out the best plan for all our patients and for our staff, with feedback from our partners and the many staff groups from across UHD who attended, including patient, operational, IT, outpatient, support staff as well clinical colleagues. The outpatient departments represented included dermatology, ENT, OMF, breast screening and orthopaedics.

This think big initiative follows on from our work to contact all the outpatients on our waiting lists to help us validate our lists to give a more accurate view of our clinical priorities.

- Mark Mould, chief operating officer

Watch a short film about think big here.

Time running out to apply for a Littledown parking permit

A third of the available 100 extra parking permits at the Littledown Centre for non-clinical RBH staff have already been taken since being offered last week – please don't delay if you would like to apply.

By taking up these spaces you free up a valuable parking space on the RBH site for clinical staff who care for patients. This scheme has been prompted by the building works underway to create the new maternity, children, emergency and critical care centre, and which have reduced the amount of parking spaces at the RBH site.

The Littledown permits run until March 2024 and give access to a designated parking area between 6am and 10.15pm on weekdays, and between 8am to 6pm on Saturdays - they cannot be used on Sundays.

To apply, staff will need to already hold a permit to park and should email the travel team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Calling all infection prevention and control champions

Find out about plans for the year ahead and share your views on how to make infection prevention and control more effective at a Teams event on 5 May from 1-2pm. Speak to your matron for an invitation.

Friday's BAME network forum – Covid-19, one year on

All staff across UHD are invited to Friday's (30 April) UHD BAME staff network open forum, this time reflecting on Covid-19 and how it has affected us all over the last year. The forum, from 3-4pm, is an opportunity to share experiences of the pandemic at work and beyond. If you have any questions about the event or are interested in sharing your experiences, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. You can join the event on Teams here.

Apply for NHS clinical fellows scheme

Applications are invited for a new and exciting fellowship scheme for aspiring clinical leaders. The NHS Regional Clinical Fellowship Scheme is open to doctors in training, dentists, pharmacists, allied health professionals, nurses, midwives, and healthcare scientists who are keen to increase their leadership capabilities and have not held a senior leadership role previously.

The scheme is sponsored by NHS England and NHS Improvement and is produced and managed by the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management.

Applications must be received by 9am on 4 May – more information here.

ICYMI: Watch the latest all staff briefing

Catch up with Debbie Fleming, our chief executive, and chairman, David Moss, and hear a range of updates from Covid-19 to operational priorities from last week's briefing - cllick here for the video or here for the slides.

Twilight Walk for Women's Health – sign up

This year's Twilight Walk for Women's Health is a little different. Instead of a single, physical event, supporters are asked to complete a 1km, 5km or 10km walk between 4-7 June at a location of their choice. Everyone can take part in this fun, family-friendly walk suitable for all ages.

For more information click here.

Support workers – have your say

Health Education England would like to hear from healthcare support workers in a range of roles about their experiences of training, education and development, specifically around Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

More information and the anonymous survey, which should be completed by 21 May, are available here.

Applied Research Collaborations funding opportunities targeting specific national challenges and deliver impact

If you want to find out more about the work of the NIHR Wessex Applied Research Collaborations (ARC) and funding opportunities to address specific national challenges and deliver impact, help is at hand.

The Dorset ICS Innovation Hub Programme Group, hosted by University Hospitals Dorset, is holding an open meeting on the 11 May from 1-1.45pm.

There's a chance to hear from Professor Alison Richardson, director, NIHR ARC Wessex, on NIHR Wessex Applied Research Collaborations (ARC) and funding opportunities to address specific national challenges and deliver impact

If you are interested in learning more from Alison and the team, join the event here.

For more information contact Sarah Chessell, head of innovation and Dorset ICS Innovation Hub lead, via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Reminder: new armed forces support group meeting

Our new armed forces support group meets via Microsoft Teams on Thursday (29 April) at 12.30pm. For more details contact Nick Williams (RBH porter manager) on ext 4157 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Major new vaccine hesitancy study

We're supporting a new study into vaccine hesitancy, organised by Imperial College London. The study seeks to understand why healthcare workers are keen or reluctant to have the vaccination, and the reasons behind this position.

To take part, click here.

Building on our patients' experiences

This week (26-30 April) is Experience of Care week, and you can hear from some of our patients about what matters to them in a new podcast from our patient experience team. Click here to list to it.

NHS England is also offering some free webinars for staff which aim to celebrate the work that is happening across health and social care to keep improving experiences of care for patients, families, carers and staff. Find out more here.

Maintaining work/life balance and mindfulness – free sessions

Our Dorset offers a range of wellness and wellbeing resources, including two events this week. Balancing wellbeing with work pressures takes place tomorrow (28 April), while a guide to mindfulness is on Thursday (29 April). These sessions and many more can be accessed on this link.

South West NHS military challenge goes virtual

Due to Covid-19, this year's South West Military Challenge will now be a virtual test of skills, stamina and senses of humour! We have been invited to enter a team of between 8-14 staff for the virtual challenge, which will include a wide variety of team tasks and takes place over the weekend of the 19-20 June. The challenge will be conducted over Zoom and the team will assemble in a COVID secure meeting room (venue to be confirmed) to participate. If you would like to participate or find out more, call or email Nick Williams, portering services manager at RBH, via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ext 4157. Both Poole and RBCH have performed well in the past in this challenge in their own rights – what can we achieve as Team UHD?

Cycling to work is like riding a bike

In support of our green travel plan, Cycling UK is offering staff a free cycling webinar on Friday (30 April) from 12-12.45pm. It's aimed at staff who haven't cycled to work before, and covers topics including the benefits, suggested kit, safety and security. For more information and to register your place, click here.

This week's Care first webinars

Care first, our employee assistance programme provider, hosts a regular series of short webinars. All run between 12-12.30pm. Just click the link at this time to join on the day of your session of choice.

• Tuesday (27 April), Exercising at your desk. Click here to join
• Thursday (29 April), Stress awareness. Click here to join
• Friday (30 April), Re-introducing social interaction. Click here to join