Backing your efforts with practical support

As we head into what will be another busy weekend, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all staff, on behalf of the Board of Directors, for your incredible commitment in continuing to provide compassionate care for our patients, in what are clearly exceptional circumstances. This is as pressured a time as I can recall in my many years in the NHS, and I know the strain that this places on each and every one of us.

I also wanted to update you on progress to support you and our patients by sharing some examples of what is happening right now ahead of the weekend:

• Additional and enhanced ambulance service support over this air festival weekend, with four treatment centres and further resources allocated
• Nursing and therapies colleagues from Dorset Healthcare are in our hospitals working alongside us to identify patients to progress their onwards care outside of our hospitals
• Further community beds provided by Dorset Healthcare have been earmarked to support discharges from UHD now and in the days head

Further to this:

• We continue to support the retention of open escalation beds intended for winter use, in recognition of their need
• Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) proposals from our care groups are being reviewed and prioritised for investment, which will lead to reductions in the need for overnight stays in our hospitals
• Additional staff will be joining us in the autumn. For example, an average of 16 healthcare support workers are joining us across our hospitals each month, as well as additional doctors and qualified nurses. We will also be welcoming more international nurses, and our pharmacy service is being bolstered with a significant number of new appointments.

I know that at directorate level, many other initiatives are also underway aimed at improving flow and reducing the pressure on staff. As always, if you have an idea that you think might improve patient flow or efficiency in your area, please speak to your care group manager.

There is no single solution that will create breathing space overnight, and it will take the combined efforts of those not just within our hospitals but across the wider health and social care system for progress to be sustained. However, we are expecting things to improve as these actions are taken, the new initiatives bed down, and more staff join our organisation.

I know that as University Hospitals Dorset, we will come through this tough period stronger and more resilient than ever. In the meantime, thank you again for all your hard work and dedication; I couldn't be more proud of the individuals and teams that make up this special organisation.

Debbie Fleming
Chief executive

'Long Covid' – Schwartz Round today

Today's Schwartz Round focuses on 'Long Covid – how it is affecting our staff'. The event takes place from 1-2pm and is open to all staff.

This Schwartz Round will run face to face and via Teams. All panellists and a small audience will be in the conference room at RBH and there will be an audience and Schwartz Round facilitators in the lecture theatre at Poole.

We encourage you to attend the event in person but please arrive early as seats will be limited. If numbers reach capacity, you will need to log on to the event via Teams instead.

Our winter resilience survey - results

Thank you to the more than 1,500 staff who responded to our survey about Covid-19 and flu vaccinations this winter.

We asked whether staff would be comfortable receiving both jabs at the same clinic appointment. Almost three quarters of respondents (73.2 per cent) said they would be happy, while one in five (19.5 per cent) said they would not. Just over seven per cent of staff (7.3 per cent) were unsure.

We'll use the findings from this survey to inform how these vaccinations are offered this autumn/winter - look out for further news shortly.

RBH: Baxter ForWards service commencing today

From today (3 September) Baxter ForWards will be supplying IV fluids direct to wards and departments, and will be putting away IV fluids for you.

Baxter staff will be in uniform – blue tops with the Baxter logo and UHD pharmacy ID badges and a Baxter lanyard. They will require access to the cupboards and relevant keys so they can complete the top-up.

Please note that IV fluids may look different to those we have historically kept. Braun fluids will change to the Baxter equivalent and so will look like this moving forward.

The top-up levels will be the current agreed stock level, if you need your levels increasing or decreasing please contact the pharmacy stores team in the usual way and we will action this.

Please note that the Pharmacy Stores team will continue to supply all other medicines and requests should be directed to the Pharmacy stores team in the normal way.

There are a few do's and don'ts that should be followed:

Do not remove the sliders or other equipment provided by Baxter – we will be charged for these items.

• Please keep stock in the original box, this reduces picking errors and is easier to check expiry dates. Stock will be monitored by Baxter personnel ensuring that it is rotated across the trust reducing waste.
• Expiry dates will be checked monthly.
• The plastic trays currently used in the glass fronted cabinets will be removed and stored in pharmacy the trays will be available if you need them for storage of other items but not IV fluids.
• We will have copies of the orders placed for you so we can check if you feel you are running short or require an emergency supply.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Nettie Aubry, team leader pharmacy procurement and supply services, on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or extension 4388<./p>

Ensure reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations (RIDDOR) are followed

A number of RIDDOR-related incidences have been reported recently.

All staff and patient safety incidents must be reported immediately to the manager or senior person on a shift. A LERN must also be completed as soon as possible after identification of the event, and always within two working days.

Our health and safety team should also be notified as soon as possible in the event of any staff injuries or time off work that fall into this reporting category. This is to ensure we remain within the 10-15 day timeframe of submitting the RIDDOR report externally to the HSE.

Please contact your local health and safety advisor for more support or information.

POOLE: Portable appliance testing (PAT) next week

PAT testing will start from Monday (6 September).

Our contractors, JR PAT Testing, will be on site for around six weeks. Please make all portable electrical appliances, such as extension leads, heaters and fans, available for testing.

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

Farewell to Jacqui

Jacqui Bowden, associate director of pharmacy, is retiring. Her last day is 17 September.

Covid restrictions and weather permitting, we will be holding a retirement drop-in on Friday 17 September from 1- 3pm in the pharmacy garden at RBH.

Should the weather not be on our side then we will move to the thoracic seminar room at RBH, but will have to limit numbers in the room.

Please do pop along and wish Jacqui well in her retirement after 30 years in the NHS.

RBH: Bookings open for the lakeside marquee

The marquee can now be booked for staff events of up to 30 people. There are tables and chairs available in the marquee, and it is available for booking outside the hours of 12-2.30pm.

The space is for all staff to use, so please make the most of it, while observing social distancing rules. You can view bookings and availability in the room booking system.

Pride in the NHS Week

Next week (6 – 10 September) the NHS is holding our inaugural national Pride in the NHS Week and NHS Virtual Pride.

The week will consist of five days dedicated to celebrating LGBT+ NHS colleagues with a variety of topics, speakers, chats, careers, health and more.

Keep an eye on our social media for featured events and how to get involved and see the LGBTQ+ page on the intranet for further information.

Advanced Practice Conference – submit your abstracts

Are you an advanced practitioner?

The Health Education England Advanced Practice Conference is a fantastic opportunity for advanced clinical practitioners to submit poster abstracts, share research, service developments and work in advanced practice on the national stage. This will support achievement of your advanced clinical practice research pillar.

The event will take place on 8 and 11 November, with the location to be confirmed.

Please submit your abstracts by 23 September. For more information and submission guidelines click here.

Spaces available at 'leading teams through change' workshops

Are you leading a team through change? Join one of our leadership development workshops to gain knowledge on leading through times of uncertainty and network with other leaders across UHD.

Workshop dates are available on 7 and 28 October and 17 November.

If you would like to book, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Thank you to carers

Thank you to everyone who attended the highly successful Dorset Carer's Hub picnic on 28 August.

"The picnic was a great opportunity to meet so many carers and inform them of the carer support service available at UHD," said Karen Uphill, carer support advisor.

"It was also an opportunity for carer professionals to network face to face for the first time since the start of the pandemic. We were all there to support and recognise the work of unpaid carers."

If you would like to know more on carer support or advice on referrals and future events please contact Karen on ext 8714 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Weekly Wellbeing

Don't forget to check the wellbeing offerings pagefor all of this week's events and sessions. The Strengthen Your Resilience Programme has dates available throughout September and October and offers support to staff as we emerge from this challenging time and focus on personal wellbeing and team restoration.