More than 1,000 staff vaccinated in first weekend of winter clinics

More than 1,000 staff Covid-19 booster vaccines and just under 1,000 annual flu jabs were administered to staff in the first weekend of our winter-ready clinics.

The service now moves from Poole to the Royal Bournemouth this weekend as it alternates between the hospitals until 5 December.

Staff who had an appointment at Poole last weekend but were unable to keep it and want to rebook, as well as all staff yet to make an appointment, can use the online booking system. Please remember to use your Chrome browser to do this.

If you experience any problems with the booking process, or need to change your appointment, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The vaccines offer an enhanced level of protection above and beyond that derived from having the two Covid-19 vaccines earlier this year, or by having contracted Covid-19.

For more of your questions answered see the FAQ.

The NHS Staff Survey – why it matters

Staff governor and trainee clinical scientist Cameron Ingham outlines why taking part in this annual questionnaire – our first as UHD – is important.

I am one of the staff governors at UHD representing the interests of our scientific and technical staff, and allied health professionals.

I am excited to introduce our very first NHS Staff Survey as UHD, as it launches nationally for all staff across the NHS.

We know that the last year has been challenging for us all in the NHS, both professionally and personally and so I want to encourage you to take part in this year's survey and give your honest views. The survey provides us with a real opportunity to personally support our new values by being open and honest in sharing our experiences of working in UHD: sharing the positives of working at UHD alongside where we feel changes could be made.

Listening to understand is another one of our values and the results from the staff survey, I assure you, will be looked at very closely to inform local improvements – always improving where these are needed to support our staff experience.

You will receive your survey securely via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or have a paper copy delivered to you in your ward/department. Quality Health will again be administering our survey for us.

Finally, I would like to reassure you that the survey is confidential and anonymous. Final survey results are only reported in summary form and in such a way that it is impossible to identify an individual's responses.

Please look out for your personal survey and complete it as soon as you can…together we can make a positive difference to staff experience at UHD.

If you have any questions on any aspect of the NHS Staff Survey please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

October is Speak Up Month

The pandemic has highlighted that speaking up has never been more important for the benefit of colleagues and patients.

Speak Up Month in October is an opportunity to raise awareness of how much we value speaking up in our organisation.

The theme of this year's Speak Up Month is Speak Up, Listen Up, Follow Up. To make speaking up business as usual it is essential that when people speak up, they are listened to, and that learning and improvement happens as a result.

If you would like to discuss something that has been worrying or burdening you, perhaps October is your month to speak to the UHD freedom to speak up team. We can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or leave a message on 4220 or on the UHD app. Watch this space for key messages over the month.

Our freedom to speak up guardian Helen Martin explains why speaking up has never been more important in a new film - click here to watch.

Support for staff with fit testing

Ali Hayes has joined the infection prevention and control team on secondment as fit test co-ordinator. Ali will be helping ensure that as many staff as possible are fit tested, and transition from the 3M FFP3 respirator as this is no longer available to us. If this remains your FFP3 mask, please get re-tested as soon as possible.

Staff can attend regular drop-in sessions to be fit tested – full details of these can be found on the infection prevention and control section of the Poole intranet – see section 4 on this page – or can do this in their ward or department.

Did you know?

In line with new national guidance, staff who are fit tested should be competent in at least two different models, whilst it's recommended that you should alternate between types of mask to maintain skin health and be familiar with the products you expect to have available.

Mini Schwartz Round for UHD palliative care team

The next mini Schwartz Round will take place via Teams on 19 October between 2-3pm. The meeting will focus on 'when patients make choices that we find challenging' and is open to the UHD palliative care team only. If you are part of this team and would like to join the meeting please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Forest Holme) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Mac Unit) for the link.

To find out about Schwartz Rounds and how your team/department can be part of a mini round, please check the intranet.

Reflections on International Day for Older People

International Day for Older People is celebrated on 1 October each year. It is a day to acknowledge the rich contributions that older people have made to shape our society as we see it today. The life stories and memories that our older patients have to offer is one of the reasons why the nurses on older people's wards chose to focus their skills, care and compassion in older people's medicine.

The pandemic has affected our older patients greatly, sadly resulting in the loss of a number of patients to Covid. We still continue to see the consequences of Covid within our older people's wards with increased dependency and care requirements. The staff have shown great stamina, courage and dedication throughout this time as always; however, it has impacted on them all both physically and mentally. I would like to use the opportunity that International Day for Older People offers to recognise the hard work and commitment that all our staff have given throughout the pandemic whilst continuing to have older people at the center of everything they do. Many thanks to team OPS.

Sarah Gilling, senior matron, older people's services

RBH: New Da Vinci Xi surgical robot demo day

Come along to theatre nine on the day surgery unit on Monday (11 October) to see the new Da Vinci Xi robot in action. Drop-in sessions will run throughout the day between 10am – 4pm:

• 10am-1pm and 2-4pm: session is open to all clinical users
• 1-2pm session is open to the executive team.

Come along and see what the robot can do and hear about the future robot program at UHD. There is no need to book in for a session, please just turn up to the appropriate session.

Be Active with staff exercise groups!

Be Active is a great new UHD initiative that encourages staff to get up and get moving for health and wellbeing. To help achieve this, a number of classes are now available on our sites, including pilates at Poole from this week, and yoga, circuits and pilates at RBH from next week. Full details and the most up-to-date information on classes can be found on the new Be Active section of the intranet.

The Be Active pages can also be used to let others know about your UHD fitness, wellbeing, sport or health group – you can find out more about the UHD Running Club and how to get involved on there now. If you'd like your staff group to be included email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Become deaf aware to support our patients and colleagues

It's thought that one in five adults has a hearing impairment, and that the pandemic has isolated many deaf and hard of hearing, due the fact that they have been unable to communicate effectively because they cannot lipread effectively with everyone wearing masks.

Deaf awareness e-learning is available free to all staff use this link and the access code UHDNHSFT https://wesupportdeafawareness.teachable.com/.

Further details can also be found on our staff networks intranet page and on the BEAT portal.

Analysis of clinical audit data using Microsoft Excel 2010

This workshop aims to provide staff with the skills and confidence needed to be able to use Excel 2010 for the analysis of clinical audit data. Sessions are:

• 21 October, 1-3pm – Poole
• 9 November, 1.30-3.30pm - RBH

Topics covered include:

• Methods for checking and cleaning data
• Using basic calculations and formulas
• Using pivot tables to analyse and summarise data
• Creating and formatting basic chart

Workshop places will be limited to seven and some existing basic working knowledge of Excel is useful

To book a place on the workshop, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

RBCH: change of name for alcohol service

The RBH alcohol liaison team is changing its name to the Bournemouth alcohol care and treatment service (ACTS) as it aligns more closely with the Poole alcohol care and treatment service.

There will be a joint UHD alcohol care and treatment service intranet page with separate links to the Poole and Bournemouth ACTS teams, just click on the relevant site. Please note that the RBH service remains available Monday – Friday (except bank holidays) from 8.30am-4.30pm, and is available on 0300 019 5329 or bleep 2838.

Get to know your colleagues over coffee, randomly

During Libraries Week this week - come and see us! – we're pleased to announce the return of our successful Randomised Coffee Trials. Randomised Coffee Trials are a way to meet colleagues from around the trust to share ideas or just simply get to know each other. To find out more or to sign up please contact the library at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The closing date to sign up is the 31 October. 01/10/2021

RBH: Reminder - change to recording blood glucose levels

All blood glucose levels taken for inpatients should now be recorded on eObs instead of a diabetes prescription chart. The prescription chart should only be used for recording blood glucose levels if the person is on a variable rate intravenous insulin infusion (VRIII).

Sign up for gender identity workshops

These half day interactive workshops give LGBTQ+ and gender identity awareness training to attendees, enabling them to discuss and understand the complex issues around gender. The workshops, hosted by Dr Jamie Willo (HEE Darzi Fellow, inclusion training lead at the Sussex Partnership Trust), run on 11 October and 9 December from 9.30am -12.30pm.

Click here to register.

Free staff bike maintenance for staff

Bike Fixed will be returning on 12 October at RBH and 13 October at Poole Hospital to offer you a free bike tune up.

If you suspect your bike may need replacement parts, mechanic Dave may be able to supply these but they will incur a charge. If he spots something which may need to be replaced, he'll advise you about this at the time of the service.

A limited number of appointments between 9am-3pm are available on each date. If you'd like your bike to be serviced, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Opportunity of the week - pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians

Earn and learn as a pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians(PTPT) in Dorset, and find out more about the role at a webinar on Thursday (7 October).

Pharmacy in Dorset is changing, which means pharmacy technicians are becoming more important than ever. That's why we are offering fantastic opportunities to train as a pharmacy technician in Dorset.

As a PTPT you will be paid to earn and learn at the same time. All training and qualifications will be paid for.

What an amazing time to start an excellent career in pharmacy as well as supporting the NHS and the pharmacy workforce in Dorset.

Sign up to our free webinar from 5.30-6.30pm to find out lots more about this opportunity by visiting https://bit.ly/OurDorsetPharmacyTech or

Visit our website to learn more about the opportunity: https://joinourdorset.nhs.uk/pharmacy/techs/

Your wellbeing weekly

This week sign up for Care First sessions, book your place on the free Menopause Awareness Month workshops, and stretch your body at Thriving Thursday's online sessions. Check the intranet for all these offers and more.