The Year of the Nurse and the Midwife
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TrustTalk Page 3 Pages 4 & 5 Page 7 Page 10 & 11 Page 13 ▶ Smoke free ▶ Digital ▶ Royal Awards - ▶ Charity ▶ Grab for staff Dragons nominate now updates your flu jab 2020 The Year of the Nurse and the Midwife Safe & Effective | Kind & Caring | Exceeding Expectation TrustTalk Winter 2020 Safe & Effective | Kind & Caring | Exceeding Expectation Welcome Welcome to the Winter edition of our staff and patient magazine – Trust Talk. Dear patients and colleagues, nursing initiatives including the nursing systems framework strategy and the clinical nursing fellowship programme. I find myself saying this every time, but what another busy year we have had. It has been challenging at times in Ann-Marie will leave the organisation in May 2020 and in different areas, but again, the will and determination of all the meantime we have started an international recruitment our staff, is truly amazing. process for a new chief nurse. We are seeing a high number of flu patients across the I would personally like to thank Ann-Marie for all that she region, in both care homes and neighbouring trusts. has done during her time with us; she will be sorely missed by myself and colleagues across the organisation. If staff haven’t already done so, it is more important than ever before for you to have your flu jab. This isn’t just to As always, I along with the rest of the Trust Board, would protect patients; this is to protect you, your family and your just like to say thank you to all our brilliant staff. We all friends. The last thing you want is to be ill yourself. appreciate the efforts that you go to make this organisation such a special place to work. It’s quick, easy, and pain free. Having the jab will dramatically reduce the chances of contracting flu. Look out in Trust Brief, I wish you all the best for 2020. your weekly email bulletin, for details on how to get your Regards jab. As we start the New Year I just wanted to let you know that Professor Ann-Marie Cannaby, Chief Nurse, is off to pastures new and therefore has resigned from her role. David Loughton CBE Ann-Marie joined us in April 2018 and has led many new Chief Executive Enjoy a chatter and natter at Chatty Café The Chatty Café scheme encourages Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of cafés, shops and public buildings to Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet designate ‘Chatter and Natter’ tables Member for Public Health and where customers and visitors who may Wellbeing, said: "Conversation, big and be on their own can sit if they want small, is important for our wellbeing to talk to other people – whether it on so many levels. Research shows that is for a few minutes while they enjoy keeping socially active and connected their drink, or for an hour of good with others helps us maintain good of company and conversation with their conversation. physical and mental health, and also cuppa." supports our thinking skills. Dozens of other local venues Any businesses, organisations or groups throughout the city, including "However, sometimes we all need a bit in Wolverhampton which would like to supermarkets, coffee shops, cafés, of help to make new connections. The become a Chatty Café and provide a community groups and New Cross Chatty Café scheme encourages venues chatter and natter table to customers Hospital, have also signed up to the to provides Chatter and Natter tables or service users can sign up by visiting scheme. For a full list, please visit to ensure that people who may be out www.thechattycafescheme.co.uk/ www.thechattycafescheme.co.uk. and about on their own can enjoy a bit join-the-scheme P 2 TrustTalk Winter 2020 RWT now smoke free for staff We are pleased to announce the support and Trust is officially smoke free for staff guidance can be – this came into play on January 1 accessed, including a quit plan and email 2020. support, by visiting www. Support for patients and visitors is currently nhs.uk/oneyou/for-your- being developed with the goal of having a body/quit-smoking/ totally smoke free Trust by October 2020. Or, if you would like to try vaping The Trust made this decision in an effort to as an alternative, why not visit vaping protect staff and patients from the health retailer Totally Wicked, who are offering damaging effects of second-hand smoke. This is 20 per cent off for all RWT staff. You can particularly important for those more vulnerable find them at Totally Wicked, 49A Chapel Ash, groups such as pregnant women and those with Wolverhampton, WV3 0UF or give them a call long-term heart or breathing conditions. on 01902 256362. It is important to us that everyone feels Still have a few queries? We have compiled supported in this change, so we are taking a a list of FAQs which we hope will ease any phased approach which includes creating an concerns you may have. Ask your manager environment that helps staff to abstain from for a copy or email smoking whilst at work. [email protected] The first part of the plan has seen us create More information around facilities a smoke free policy – a copy of this can be and support will be shared over the accessed on the policies and strategies section coming weeks! of the intranet. We are also in the process of transforming the smoking shelters into ‘quit zones’ where staff can vape − (e-cigarettes are 95 per cent less harmful than smoking according to Public Health England). For those who wish to use this as an opportunity to quit smoking altogether, free P 3 Safe & Effective | Kind & Caring | Exceeding Expectation Do you have a digital idea to transform your service? We want to hear from you. Digital Dragons The dragons are ready to turn your spark into a flame – search ‘Digital Dragons’ on the intranet or email Digital [email protected] Dragons with your idea. #digitaldragons MI_6426214_13.01.20_V1 P 4 TrustTalk Winter 2020 Have you got a cyber solution to a problem? Whether it’s an app, software, a system or device, the Digital Dragons are waiting to hear from you. Technology is moving faster than ever before - it helps us in most aspects of our lives, from the office computer to our mobile phone. We rely on it in many ways. There have been many great advancements made in the last few years which enable our staff to do the best by our patients, but we’re looking to push this even further with your help. We’re looking for the rough diamonds, the entrepreneurs and the digital enthusiasts with real, practical ideas on how to support patients and improve service efficiency. You are the experts in your area, so why not share with us your thoughts on how technology can propel us even further! It can be an original idea or an existing product not currently in use at RWT - just tell us how it can enhance our services in the best possible way. Search Digital Dragons on the intranet for more information and to submit an application. Helpful resources such as FAQs and an application process outline are available on this page. #digitaldragons P 5 Safe & Effective | Kind & Caring | Exceeding Expectation Infection prevention at RWT It is that time of year again when the winter vomiting bug is spreading around our communities, which has a big impact on our services. STOP Infection prevention is everyone’s business and responsibility so please follow the guidelines below to stop the spread of diarrhoea and vomiting to more patients. For staff info • Practice good hand hygiene between patient contact and tasks, including use of alcohol-based hand gel or Five ways to limit the spread of norovirus: hand washing with soap and • Stay at home if you are experiencing norovirus water, to reduce the risk of symptoms. Do not return to work or send children spreading infections. to school until 48 hours after symptoms have • Ensure a clean environment cleared. Also avoid visiting elderly or poorly relatives, which is so important to particularly if they are in hospital. help stop the spread of infections. It is everyone’s • Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with responsibility to help keep the environment orderly soap and warm water. Alcohol hand gels don’t kill and clean. norovirus. • We do not know which patients are carrying multi- • Use a bleach-based household cleaner or a resistant bugs. Therefore it is vital that we use combination of bleach and hot water to disinfect standard precautions for all patients. Please make sure household surfaces and commonly used objects such we screen patients as appropriate, for example, all as toilets, taps, telephones, door handles and kitchen patients must be screened for MRSA within 24 hours surfaces. of admission, and we must ask the CPE admission questions and then screen if positive answers. • If you are ill, avoid cooking and helping prepare meals for others. • Outbreaks of infections can result in temporary ward closures to manage the situation, this hugely impacts • Wash any contaminated clothing or bedding using on our ability to care for patients and continue with detergent at 60°C, and if possible wear disposable routine work. The most common causes for these gloves to handle contaminated items. closures are norovirus and flu, but also other multi- resistant bugs such as CPE. Please be vigilant for The main symptoms of norovirus are typically: potential cases and report early so as to minimise the impact where possible.