Carers Week next week - making caring visible and valued

A carer is anyone, including a child, who looks after a family member, partner or friend. They give unpaid care to those close to them who cannot cope on their own because of illness, frailty, disability, mental health difficulties or problems with addiction.

UHD is committed to supporting carers and we want to welcome, involve and support them whilst they, or the person they care for, is in hospital.

Examples of how UHD have supported carers not only in hospital but also financially by joint working with the local carers charity, the Leonardo Trust, can be seen on pages 8 and 9 of the latest edition of Caring Matters which can be found here.

During the initial phase of Covid-19 all carer leads across the system, including acute hospitals, DHUFT, BCP and Dorset Councils, third sector partners and voluntary organisations, the CCG and NHS England, came together to ensure Dorset carers were supported during the lockdown period. Unpaid carers can meet these organisations at a virtual drop-in on Monday 7 June between 11.00am and 12.30pm.

For further information call Karen Uphill, carer support adviser, on ext 8714 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Report published following focused inspection

The Care Quality Commission has today published a report following a focused inspection looking at leadership, culture, governance, information management and learning at University Hospitals Dorset. The report was complementary about our strong safety culture and leadership across the trust, but also made recommendations about how governance can be improved.

Many of these recommendations addressed areas we were aware needed strengthening, and improvements are already underway, or have been completed. This includes the introduction of our new patient administration system (PAS), which is due to go live in the autumn, and re-tightening access to some IT systems made more readily available to some staff to support our response to Covid-19. Elsewhere, we have improved our ability to monitor patients on cancer pathways to ensure treatments are scheduled and delivered appropriately.

Inspectors also said all staff were committed to continually learning and improving services and noted significant developments in patients information systems and data security.

The inspection took place in April this year, not long after our merger at the end of 2020 and while we were still very much focussing our efforts on providing safe patient care as we responded to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Alyson O'Donnell, our chief medical officer, said: "We're grateful to the Care Quality Commission for their report, which identifies a strong leadership and safety culture, and a desire from all staff to learn and improve.

"It also highlights areas where we can do better, and we will continue our focus on all of the areas the report addresses and where improvements are needed, including developing and embedding further robust governance and oversight structures."

The report can be read here.

RBH: No hospital palliative care team cover this weekend

If there are any specialist palliative care concerns over the weekend please call the Macmillan Unit on 5470.

National Audit of Care at the End of Life (NACEL) survey live

Staff who play any part in end-of-life care are strongly encouraged to take part in the NACEL survey. Whether you work in a clinical or non-clinical role, your opinion matters.

"End of life care is everyone's responsibility, and we only have one chance to get it right," said Vanessa Barents, end of life care nurse specialist at UHD.

"We need your support and participation in the NACEL staff survey to enhance and achieve outstanding end of life care across UHD."

This year's survey also reflects on the impact of Covid-19 on end-of-life care.

RBH: click here to submit your survey
Poole: click here to submit your survey.

Last chance to get involved in Bike Week 2021

It's the last day of Bike Week, don't forget to send in your best bike commute selfie using the hashtag #DoGUHD on Twitter for the chance to win prizes.

Thank you to everyone who has taken part so far!

We are currently growing UHD's Bicycle User Group (BUG) - click here if you'd like to join.

Poole: Asbestos inspection next week

The annual asbestos inspection is starting next week. A team from Healthy Buildings International will be on site checking the condition of all asbestos containing materials.

If you have any questions contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0300 019 8460.

RBH: Return of the lakeside marquee

The trust has purchased a new marquee for all staff to use as an area to relax, away from their place of work.

The opening hours are 8am to 6pm every day. We ask for those eating to take their trays and rubbish back to the main restaurant. Please observe all social distancing guidance. We hope that all enjoy this facility.

Ensure accuracy when adding and amending GP details in eCaMIS

It is important to check both GP and practice details are correct, when adding or amending GP details in eCaMIS. Some information for merged practices and practices in close proximity is being recorded inaccurately which leads to information being sent to the wrong practice.

Farmhouse Surgery and Christchurch Medical Practice are particularly affected. Despite having the same postal address Christchurch Medical Practice (J81056) is the merged practice of Orchard, Barn, Burton and Bransgore surgeries, while Farmhouse Surgery (J81057) is not part of Christchurch Medical Practice.

Free cinema tickets for NHS staff

Poole Lighthouse has 100 free seats for selected films for UHD staff:

Moulin Rouge (9 June), Into the Woods (16 June) and Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away Thursday (8 July).

Use code NSH0621 when booking, the code is limited to two free seats per person.

Click here for more information.

Contribute to research into rehabilitation and life after stroke

Clinical Research Network Wessex is hosting a meeting on accelerating post-acute stroke research in Wessex on 15 July from 9am-12pm. Join the meeting to help frame a research strategy to accelerate post-acute stroke research across the region and be a part of local collaboration opportunities through breakout sessions.

To register your interest please click here and to join the meeting click here.

Men's health survey: going 'beyond the banter' with Light On campaign

Public Health Dorset, the NHS, Bournemouth University and a network of local businesses and charities are coming together to tackle men's mental health. The campaign team is asking men over the age of 18 to take part in a survey, discussing their feelings towards mental health, seeking support, and helping others.

Click here to access the survey.

Care first wellbeing sessions next week - all at 12pm, click the link to join:

• Monday 14, How care first can support you.
• Tuesday 15, Men's health awareness.
• Wednesday 16, How to identify if someone in the workplace is struggling with their mental health.
• Thursday 17, Ways to avoid feeling isolated while contuinuing to work from home.
• Friday 18, The possible emergence of a mental health pandemic.