OPEL 4 across sites continues

We remain in an internal capacity incident and OPEL 4 across our sites – please check for updates and information on how you can support colleagues here in the bulletin and in separate operational updates, issued as required.

Join our all staff briefing tomorrow

Find out more about a range of key issues from our chief executive, Debbie Fleming, at tomorrow's all staff briefing from 12-1pm.

Topics covered will include operational performance and winter pressures, an update on mandatory vaccinations, latest news on staff wellbeing initiatives and more. Join the meeting on Teams here.

Debbie and our executive team will be on hand to answer your questions. If you would like to ask any questions in advance, please email communications@uhd.nhs.uk.

Ask Aly this Thursday

Join us at 12pm on 10 February for Ask Aly, hosted by our chief medical officer, Professor Alyson O'Donnell. It's a great opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns or share your views.

You can join the meeting here and if you'd like to send any questions in advance, pop them through to communications@uhd.nhs.uk and we can ask on your behalf.

RBH: Delay to some portering requests

Due to staff shortages, porter services are currently prioritising responses.

This may regrettably lead to a delay for some requests and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Our next hot food trial for night shift staff is next week

Hot food for our night shift staff will be available next week (14-18 February) in our second trial.

Food trucks be on our Poole and RBH sites, with a delivery service available to Christchurch, and the use of the trucks will help us better understand the demand for hot meals for our overnight staff across the week. We learned a lot from our first trial and following your feedback will be offering healthier meal choices from new vendors.

These trials are a result of the work of our culture champions and will help us make decisions on how we can provide a sustainable long-term offer for all of our overnight staff.

Reminder: mandatory vaccination requirement update

The requirement for unvaccinated staff to have their first dose of the two-part Covid-19 vaccine by 3 February and the second before 1 April no longer applies.

Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and our patients from the virus, and we continue to offer vaccinations for staff. Full details on how to book yours can be found on the occupational health pages of the intranet. Vaccinations for inpatients also continue to be offered.

The Government's decision is subject to Parliamentary process and will require further consultation and a vote to be passed into legislation – in the meantime NHS England is advising NHS trusts not to apply the mandatory vaccination requirement, which was made law earlier this year.

Meet the office of the CMO

The office of the chief medical officer (CMO) are clinical leaders who work across UHD to support our staff and our patients.

Professor Alyson O'Donnell is our CMO, with Dr Ruth Williamson and Dr Matt Thomas her deputies. The chief medical office team also comprises our care group medical directors, and our two associate medical directors.

If you would like to know more about the team and its structure, and how they support us, you can find the Chief Medical Officer page on the intranet under 'C' on the A-Z.

Do you work with radiation for more than one employer?

If you work with ionising radiation for another employer in addition to UHD, please could you send your friendly radiation protection adviser Kat Dixon an email on kat.dixon@uhd.nhs.uk.

This will ensure that your total radiation doses are properly recorded and kept on file.

RBH: Second tower crane arriving this weekend

This weekend (12 and 13 February), weather permitting, a second tower crane will be erected on site. Both cranes are essential for the next steps of the construction of our BEACH building.

There will be some large vehicles arriving and leaving the site, however the operation is not expected to cause any significant traffic disruption and our helicopter team has been briefed.

RBH: No homeless care team this Thursday and Friday

There will be no homeless care team running on the 10 and 11 of February.

Please email hospitalhousingadviceteam@bcpcouncil.gov.uk for advice, we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

RBH: Extra facilities for our patient's loved ones at the Village Gym

We've teamed up with the Village Gym, opposite RBH, to provide free passes to visitors of patients who are receiving end of life care. The pass allows friends, family and visitors of patients to use the showering and changing facilities at the gym, including fresh towels.

As the gym is located across the road, the convenience allows visitors to never be far away from their loved ones while also taking care of themselves.

This service is unlimited for relatives of patients receiving end of life care. Find out more about the passes by speaking to the palliative care team on ext 6021.

National Apprenticeship Week 2022

It's National Apprenticeship Week and we're celebrating some of the fantastic apprentices who work clinically and non clinically, learning in our hospitals, enhancing their careers and supporting our trust. Keep an eye on our social media, and in this month's edition of The Brief to find out more about them.

We currently have lots of apprenticeship opportunities for staff in clinical and non-clinical roles.If you want to join the 300 apprentices currently working at UHD check out the intranet pages or email apprenticeships@uhd.nhs.uk.

LGBT+ History Month – poetry session with the LGBT poet laureate Trudy Howson

The LGBTQ+ staff network is delighted to welcome the LGBT poet laureate Trudy Howson to host a poetry session 'An LGBT+ Life: How it was, How it is' for our staff and staff in the wider ICS during LGBT history month.

The session with Trudy will run on 17 February from 1.30-.2.30pm on Teams. Click here to join.

If you would like to know more about our LGBTQ+ network, you can join this week's network meeting on Teams on Thursday (10 February). The meeting is open to all and is a brilliant opportunity to meet your colleagues, ask questions and influence progress. Click here to join at 4.30pm.

Cultural awareness workshop

Join a cultural awareness workshop addressing the history and the cultural needs of the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities, and explore ways to improve the experience for both colleagues and patients from these communities.

The interactive workshop delivered by the Margaret Clitherow Trust is on 24 March from 9am-1pm, and all staff are welcome.

Click here to book a space.

Free staff bike maintenance next week

Bike Fixed will be returning next week to offer you a free bike tune up and will be on site at RBH on Tuesday (15 February), Poole on Wednesday (16 February).

If you suspect your bike may need replacement parts, Bike Fixed may be able to supply these, but they will incur a charge. If something is spotted which may need to be replaced, you will be advised about this at the time of the service.

A limited number of appointments between 9am-3pm are available on each day.

If you'd like your bike to be serviced, please email elliot.prescott@uhd.nhs.uk.