Updated guidance - management of patients with Covid-19 to promote better flow and patient safety

New guidance is available which outlines how best to manage patients with Covid-19 in our hospitals, including those patients whose Covid-19 infection is not the primary reason for admission (known as incidental Covid).

The guidance includes updates on:

• admissions pathways
• bay and ward closures
• contact management
• good practice on wards open to admissions
• terminal cleans for ward/bay closures

The guidance can be read here or accessed via the 'IPC and Covid-19' tile on the intranet front page. It will continue to be reviewed and updated.

Wellbeing support is there for everyone

Staffing remains very pressured so a huge thank you to everyone who is working tirelessly to support our patients and colleagues. Remember that wellbeing support is available to all of us. Please take a look on our dedicated intranet pages and share the information with your teams. If you are feeling overwhelmed, please talk to your line manager, and remember that our wellbeing support services and staff networks are also available to support staff at these times.

'Goodbye, and thank you' from Debbie Fleming

In her final video update before she retires this week, Debbie Fleming OBE, our chief executive, reflects on what our trust has been through over the last two years. She also looks ahead to the future and thanks all those who have supported her during her 38 year long career in the NHS. You can watch Debbie's video here. Debbie is looking forward to saying goodbye to as many staff in person as possible this week.

Whilst it is recognised that this represents a significant change for our organisation, with both Debbie and our chair, David Moss, retiring, arrangements have been put in place to manage the transition and maintain strong leadership within the organisation. Professor Paula Shobbrook, our chief nursing officer and deputy chief executive will be acting chief executive until Siobhan Harrington takes up her post from 1 June 2022, with Philip Green, our vice chair and chair of the Audit Committee, acting as chair until the new chair takes up his/her post later in the year.

Help us improve our emergency departments

If you work in our emergency departments you can find out more about a simple way to put forward improvement suggestions, complete useful surveys or let the clinical and non-clinical management team know how you're feeling.

Our ED nursing, medical and non-clinical managers, as well as the team behind the ImproveWell app, will be on hand to talk about how to use it effectively, and how it can help improve both staff and patient experience.

Drop in to RBH emergency department on 6 April, between 9.30am-12pm to find out more, and pick up some goodies too. Details for a similar drop-in session at Poole will be confirmed shortly.

Want to know more? Contact Ellena Barnes via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or check out the ImproveWell page on the ED intranet.

RBH: No medical photographer

The medical photographer at RBH will be on annual leave this week until this week. In an emergency a camera is available from the site office.

Reduced consultant podiatrist support

There will be no consultant podiatrist for diabetes or general podiatry ward cover at Poole or RBH on 29, 30 and 31 March. On Friday (1 April) cover will be minimal, meaning only newly ulcerated or deteriorating patients with ulcers will be seen.

For clinical advice please contact the outpatients podiatry clinics on ext 4811 for RBH or ext 8077 for Poole.

Goodbye to Nicky from Team Ladybird

This week we say goodbye to Nicky Nicholas from the Ladybird breast team, who has worked for Poole Hospital for 30 years. Nicky originally worked in the breast clinics with Miss Abigail Evans and then supported research into lymphoedema. She then set up the prosthetics clinic for ladies who have had mastectomy. She has a fountain of knowledge and has used that to become the first cancer support worker in the breast team, in addition to the running of the prosthetic clinic.

She is handing her legacy over to Amanda Harris who will continue to oversee patient led follow up for our breast patients. Thank you for showing kindness and dedication to our patients and teams. Nicky is ready to embrace her retirement from work and enjoy her loving family and hobbies.

As a team we would like to thank Nicky for her hard work, resilience, dedication and commitment to the philosophy of our team.

Changes to passwords

To improve password security IT have implemented a change to the required criteria for Windows passwords, (logging onto your PC, access to Outlook, Teams). Known weak and common passwords such as 'password1' are now blocked and cannot be used. The the next time you change your password you may need to choose a stronger, more unique password.

For more information about password security please go to the informatics pages on the Poole intranet.

Final chance to give feedback for unpaid carers

If you're involved in discharge planning we need your help. When our patient arrives at home, we know their continued recovery is often in the hands of an unpaid carer.

We want to know how carers find the hospital experience and what is it like for them when their cared-for person arrives home. Working with NHS and charity partners across Dorset, we're collecting staff and carer views to feed into the development of Home First. –please share your views with this survey or scan the QR code.

New trial launching from our difficult intravenous access (DIVA) team

From 4 April we are starting a two-week trial for patients who are difficult to cannulate.

To be referred for the trial your patient must:

1. have a genuine need for IV access
2. have had two failed attempts at cannulation by a skilled professional at ward level or have no veins palpable or visible on peripheral vein assessment.

If your patient meets these criteria during the trial period, please contact the DIVA team on:

• Poole: bleep 0139
• RBH: bleep 2727 Monday-Friday 8.30am-5.30pm, or hospital at night (H@N) 'DIVA request' out of hours.

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

Cross-site clinical skills differences

Do you practise venepuncture, cannulation and/or IV therapy? Find out more about using these skills cross site at both Poole, RBH and Christchurch hospitals. To view the PDF click here, or scan the QR code.

Catch up with a cuppa

A great way to get to know people around the trust, there is still time to sign up for our Randomised Coffee Trials. A fun way to connect people at random and give them time to meet to have a coffee and talk about whatever they wish. If you would like to find out more or sign up then please contact the library at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – but be quick as the closing date is this Thursday (31 March).

Job of the week – clinical procurement manager

"I work in a fantastic team, full of knowledge and always willing to help each other - I look forward to coming to work and enjoy the team spirit in our office." - Carl Holdsworth, senior category manager, commercial services

Our commercial services team is looking for a clinical procurement manager to support clinical and medical procurement and lead the standardisation of all clinical consumables across UHD. This is an opportunity to join the team responsible for operational purchasing, sourcing and contracts, procurement system management and tender support for the Trust. You can watch this video to find out more.

The closing date for applications is 3 April click here to apply.