Staff Bulletin 5 July 2022
Reintroduction of face masks across UHD
We have reviewed the current and predicted data around COVID-19 and in response to the increasing numbers of staff and patient illness we have taken the difficult decision to revert back to mask wearing in all areas.
We will therefore be asking our staff and visitors to wear masks in all of our buildings until further notice.
We recognise how difficult it is to make this change, but we are aiming to protect our staff and patients as much as possible.
If you are working in an office that is socially distanced and Covid-19 secure you may not need to wear a mask all of the time.
Thank you for your understanding as we become accustomed to mask wearing again.
Update on lateral flow testing
As we head into another rise in cases, it's important to continue testing yourself with lateral flow devices.
https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests
When you need to order more devices, please tick the box for being a frontline worker even if you feel you don't work in this way - it's very likely your work will mean you are in contact with staff who are front line workers and patients making their way through the trust.
Therefore the trust recommends ticking this box to ensure you are able to continue testing and protecting all of us.
Don't forget to join our all staff briefing tomorrow
Join Siobhan Harrington, our chief executive, for the next all staff briefing (6 July) either in person in the lecture theatre at Poole Hospital or on Teams at the link here at 8.30am. Please note masks will be required if you are attending in person.
Siobhan will be sharing the latest news, and introducing the next edition of our staff magazine, The Brief.
There will also be an opportunity to ask questions as well as sharing your views via Slido, an online live feedback platform.
Pension rates changing
There will be changes to the percentage contribution rate members of the NHS Pension Scheme pay from 1 October 2022. The changes will apply to all members of the scheme and will impact on the amount that members pay into the scheme each month, meaning if you are a member, your monthly take-home pay may be affected.
UHD will continue to contribute 20.6 per cent of your pensionable earnings towards your pension each month and the amount of pension you'll receive in retirement will not be affected.
Click here to see how much your contribution rate may change, and here for more information.
Well done to our sterile services teams
Our sterile services department, and our endoscopy decontamination suite has had a successful external audit. Over the two-day audit a variety of processes, procedures and documentation were looked at in detail, and full compliance was found at both sites.
This is the first audit since the merging of the Alderney and Poole sterile services departments and is a huge achievement for the team.
Explore our new IT training knowledge centre
Our IT team has set up a new training knowledge centre, which includes guides to help you with Microsoft Edge, One Drive, Single Sign On (SSO), Teams, Office 365 portal, Sharepoint, Windows 10 and Outlook web access and more.
Click here to visit the knowledge centre and find out more.
Introducing new trust-wide medical bank rates
On 1 July a new trust-wide suite of medical locum rates was put in place, agreed in partnership with the Local Negotiating Committee. This will be a phased implementation with the rates in force from 1 July and the escalation process implemented in full from 1 August. All shifts booked and confirmed prior to the 1 July will be honoured at the old rates.
This will be a phased implementation with the rates in force from 1 July and the escalation process implemented in full from 1 August. All shifts booked and confirmed prior to the 1 July will be honoured at the old rates.
Shifts should now only be advertised in alignment with the designated rates which can be found on the Locums Nest app, and other our electronic platforms.
All doctors should join Locum's Nest for access to locum shifts and to support our aim to phase out paper-based methods of recording and paying for extra-contractual activity.
Please e-mail the temporary staffing team at the temporary staffing team on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you, or your colleagues, would like to join Locums Nest. To download the Locums Nest app click here for IOS and here for android.
What support and forums will there be?
- We will be holding workshops during July for all departments to attend. These dates will be released as soon as possible, and we are hoping to provide workshops on Teams and in person.
- Locum's Nest will be joining the workshops to answer any questions you may have regarding the Locum's Nest system and to offer additional training.
If you have any questions, 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. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For technical issues on accessing Locum's Nest platform, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Temporary staffing is moving
Our temporary staffing offices are merging - the main office will now be on the Bournemouth site, with a booking team remaining at Poole.
Their digital service will be unaffected, but while we manage this multi office move, the current Poole office may be vacant for short periods of time.
Where possible while we are moving please scan your paperwork in to send to the appropriate office digitally. If this is not possible, paperwork can be sent via internal mail to RBH. Please address your envelope: Temp staffing, HR Building, RBH
If you have any questions contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ext 2183 for Poole and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ext 4219 for RBH.
Happy Birthday NHS
Today is the 73 birthday of the NHS, and the NHS could not achieve all it achieves without the skill and dedication of its people.
Operational pressures, overlaid with elective recovery and the ongoing response to Covid-19, mean supporting our colleagues to stay and stay well is more vital than ever. We want to take this opportunity to remind colleagues to keep accessing support as and when you need it, to keep yourself safe and well and encourage your colleagues to do so too.
To find out about all the support that we have on offer within UHD, and across Dorset, visit our wellbeing pages on the intranet.
Update on changes to business mileage claims process
In Friday's bulletin (1 July) we explained that mileage claims should be processed through the Easy Expense system to help us monitor the carbon impact of business travel.
To clarify, this does not affect doctors in training for excess mileage and relocation expenses – please contact medical education for information via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Need someone to talk to?
Our chaplaincy team is available to support colleagues and patients experiencing difficulties while in our hospitals.
If you would like to talk to one of our chaplains, they can be reached on ext 4221 for RBH, 2167 for Poole and 5111 for Christchurch.
Reminder: delays to hardware deliveries
We are experiencing delays to our IT hardware deliveries. If you have ordered hardware with our IT team, the team will be in touch with you when your equipment has arrived to arrange collection or delivery.
Join the conversation with #WeNurses tonight
Tonight on Twitter, the WeNurses account is running a chat, focusing on the capacity nurses have to help the needs of healthcare support workers (HCSWs).
Nurses, HCSWs and educators with all levels of experience are welcome to join the discussion at 8pm.
Find out how to join the conversation here.
Free bike maintenance next week
Bike Fixed is returning to the trust to offer us a free bike tune up,
- RBH: 13 July, 9am-4pm
- Poole: 14 July, 9am-4pm
- Christchurch: 15 July, 9am-12pm
- Yeomans House: 15 July, 1-4pm
Replacement parts may be available but will incur a charge. Advice will also be given about future repairs.
A limited number of appointments are available on each date. Book via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have specific bike questions.
Making positive change during difficult times
Join colleagues from across the ICS at 'Shift Happens' with psychologist, author, and broadcaster, Robert Holden.
Robert will discuss five ways to boost your health and wellbeing during challenging times using self-care, personal happiness, burnout prevention, work-life balance and authentic success.
Join the discussion on teams on 11 August 12-1pm.
Free tickets to staff from Poole Lighthouse
Poole Lighthouse are offering UHD staff free tickets to 'Live and Unheard: A Bit on the Side'.
The show will take place in the open-air theatre at the Lighthouse and feature a range of unsigned artists in genres ranging from country to ska.
100 free tickets are available to UHD staff on a first come first served basis.
Click here to book your tickets, and use promo code NHS4OUTSIDE when booking.
Save money on West End theatre tickets
West End Theatre Club has offered a variety of discounts to UHD staff for upcoming shows. The Theatre Club features discounts and special offers to West End musicals, plays, entertainment shows and attractions in London.
