Heartbeat July 2018

July 2018
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals
NHS Trust
The pulse of community health, Leasowes, Rowley Regis, City and Sandwell Hospitals Issue 106
NHS celebrates 70 years Page 3-4
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3 4
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Celebrations for the 70th birthday of the NHS took place across the whole of our organisation - find out more about
these pictures on page 2
R&D in national
Star Awards 2018:
Volunteers raise
Hay fever
lupus study
The nominees
almost £500,000
machine UK first
are...
in paediatrics
Page 8
Page 14-15
Page 17
Page 20

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HELLO
In this month’s Heartbeat we have
two pages full of our wonderful
NHS 70 celebrations, whilst in the
centre spread you will find the
shortlist for this year’s Star Awards
- after what was a very challenging
judging process.
Elsewhere, there is a heartwarming
article about staff from HSBC donating
their time to transform some of our
clinical areas and an article on a UK
first treatment that is being offered by
our paediatric allergy service.
Stay updated
We send out a Communications
Bulletin via email every day and you
can now read Heartbeat articles
throughout the month on Connect.
Don't forget you can follow us on:
FROM THE CHAIR
Marking 70 years of the
NHS
It has been fantastic this month to see
and take part in so many activities and
events to celebrate the 70th anniversary
of the National Health Service. Thank
you to everyone who put on tea parties,
gave out cards to patients and took
time to share in the celebrations with
colleagues, visitors and patients. You
can read more about the activities in
this edition of Heartbeat. As well as a
time for celebration it was also a time
of reflection about the incredible value
of a universal health care service, free
at the point of need, something that on
occasion we can take for granted.
I was also struck by the photographs
unearthed at our Trust that are now on
display in local libraries that show how much
health care has changed and developed
over the last few decades. Our re-staging of
the nurse leader photograph outside Trust
HQ at Sandwell caught the attention of the
national and local media too! (See page 24
for more information). Change is something
we feel is endless in the health service and I
often hear of “change fatigue” or of people
feeling that some changes are needless. That
is, no doubt, the case in some situations.
However, I know in our organisation, that
continuous improvement is what drives so
many of us forward in continuing to enhance
our care for the benefit of our patients
and communities – who are all of course
changing in terms of their backgrounds,
circumstances, lifestyles and health needs
- not least in their increasing access to
information about their condition and their
expectations of service quality.
The innovations I see in different services as
I visit teams and departments are sometimes
small changes or ways of working that are
making a big difference to patient outcomes
or patient experience, and sometimes they
are large-scale changes that are necessary
to keep our services safe, high quality and
sustainable for the future.
Front Cover Pictures
1 Staff Side Convener, Chris Rickards and Porter,
Simon Morley with the NHS 70 birthday card
which was signed by over 500 people
2 Margaret Evitts, a patient at Rowley Regis
Hospital is handed her card by Ward Sister,
Rebecca Challis
3 Yvonne Daly, HCA on McCarthy Ward in a
vintage ambulance which visited Rowley
4 Some of our FY1 and FY2 doctors who spoke
Midland Met is one of those big changes
that we have been anticipating for well
over 10 years and we will have to wait a
bit longer for. But in the interim we remain
determined not to stand still and we are
working with local GPs and others to see
what will need to change on our sites as
a result of this further delay – this is not
change for the sake of change but what our
patients (and you, our colleagues) deserve
recognising the pressures of continuing to
stretch our acute services across two sites.
The NHS has changed dramatically in its
70 year history - its strength is its enduring
values of fairness and compassion. In our
celebrations, we must remember that
promoting these in all we do, despite
demand and funding pressures, is what
motivates our colleagues and delivers for our
patients.
Richard Samuda – Trust Chairman
Chairman, Richard Samuda
to BBC Asian Network who broadcast live from
Sandwell Hospital
5 Our Trust Board also joined in the celebrations
at their meeting in the heart of the community
at the Yemeni Community Association in
Sandwell
6 Staff Side Convener, Chris Rickards delivers the
NHS 70 birthday cake to colleagues at Leasowes
7 Colleagues enjoy the garden party at Sandwell
Hospital
2

Colleagues celebrate NHS 70 in style
Earlier this month, the NHS celebrated
its 70th birthday and hundreds of
colleagues, patients and visitors came
together to help mark the milestone.
A huge event was held at City Hospital,
which was funded by Unison and Unite,
whilst at Sandwell, there was a smaller tea
party within the Courtyard Garden. Both
had entertainment, food and stalls from
specialties across the groups.
GMB Trade Union arranged for a vintage
ambulance to visit Rowley Regis Hospital
and they also took along 200 donuts as a
treat for the team and visitors.
Sandwell party-goer Claire Roach popped in
during her break and told Heartbeat:
“There’s a wonderful atmosphere and
everyone is really enjoying themselves.
Our team really wanted to be part of the
celebrations and we’re so glad we could
come along.”
As part of the Sandwell event there was
an exhibition of old photographs and
artefacts organised by Jenny Porter, who is
a research nurse and also runs a hospital
histories group. Jenny said: “There was a
tremendous amount of interest in the old
pictures which dated back to the 1920s. It
led to many people wanting to share their
memories of working here and also being
a patient. The hospital histories group is
currently collating memories for a book
that we are producing and would welcome
people to come forward with any other old
photos or memorabilia they may have.”
Chris Rickards, Staff Side Convenor had
organised the City Hospital party, supported
by Unison. She said: “There were more than
1,000 visitors coming along throughout
the day. The atmosphere was electric and
everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
“We had a wide variety of food from
various cultures which went down really
well. Whilst the bucking broncho was a
complete hit with not just our community,
but even with some of our senior leaders
who came along after their Trust Board
meeting.
“A magician provided some great
entertainment, whilst local MP Shabana
Mahmood came along to soak up the
atmosphere.”
After the party Chris took the specially
made 70th birthday cake to Leasowes
Intermediate Care Centre, to donate it to
colleagues and patients.
Theatre Practitioner, Colleen Stirling visited
the City Hospital party along with her
colleague Kamla Devi.
Colleen said: “We’ve really enjoyed the
party, the food is lovely and it’s nice to be
recognised. The event is a great occasion
to bring our colleagues and the community
together.”
Staff Side Convenor, Chris Rickards delivers
the NHS 70 birthday cake to colleagues at
Leasowes
Staff Nurses, Schemeil Welcome and Juilet
Jackson enjoyed the party at Sandwell
Hospital
CORPORATE & GENERAL NEWS
Principal Clinical Scientist, Claire Lingard, signs
the NHS 70 birthday card
The Mayor of Sandwell, Councillor Joy Edis
looks at the old photos on display at Sandwell
Hospital
Over 1,000 people attended the celebrations at City Hospital
3

Patients join in the NHS 70 festivities
CORPORATE & GENERAL NEWS
It wasn’t just colleagues who were
celebrating – patients joined in too,
with wards and departments hosting
their own small parties, whilst each
inpatient received a birthday card
which contained a special message
from Chief Executive, Toby Lewis and
Chief Nurse, Paula Gardner – who
both also hand delivered cards to
patients on Lyndon 4 and D26.
As they received their cards, patients
were full of praise for the NHS and for
the treatment they were experiencing at
our Trust.
Patient, Glynn Davies told Heartbeat:
“I had a total hip replacement two
days ago and I should be going home
tomorrow. I cannot fault the service at all
– I already feel so much better.”
Meanwhile, Mary Rowland, a patient
at Leasowes said: “The team here is
wonderful and look after me brilliantly.
I can remember the NHS starting when
I was 13 and it was amazing to start
receiving free healthcare.”
Many people won’t remember what they
were doing when the NHS turned 70,
but Nicola Dunn and Andrew Palmer will
have a clear memory of 5 July 2018, as
at 12.06am, their daughter Anastasia
Palmer was born was City Hospital –
becoming of one of the first NHS 70
babies.
Heartbeat visited the new parents
and Nicola said: “The midwives were
fantastic and we were certainly surprised
to learn that our daughter shares the
same birthday with the NHS. It’s a special
day and we just want to say thank you
to the NHS for looking after us when we
need it.
“We also received a birthday card from the
Trust and we think it’s a very nice gesture.
We are sure Anastasia will be so happy to
read the card when she is a bit older.”
We didn’t just celebrate the past - we also
celebrated the future of the NHS. Pupils
from Ryders Green Primary School visited
our children’s wards to hand out get well
soon cards which they had made for
Chief Executive, Toby Lewis delivers a card to
patient, Sheila Bate
patients. They also told us that they were
hoping to work in the NHS when they are
older.
Eight year old, Lilly Price said: “I think
nurses and doctors are amazing – they are
always helping to make people feel better
and they always seem to be smiling.
“I really want to be a nurse when I grow up
and hopefully I will be able to celebrate the
NHS’s birthday too.”
Pupils from Ryders Green Primary School told us they are looking forward to joining the NHS when
they are older
Mary Rowland is handed a card from the
team at Leasowes – she was full of praise for
the care she was having
Staff Nurse, Mary Cox hands a card to patient,
Sahir Khan
Glynn Davies was looking forward to
going home just two days after a full hip
replacement. He was handed his card by Gary
Stewart from African Caribbean Heritage
Group, Recognize
Baby Anastasia Palmer was born at 12.06am
on 5 July – she is pictured with her parents
Nicola Dunn and Andrew Palmer
4

Unity end user training – are you
booked?
When Unity launches later this year
over 5,000 of us will use the electronic
patient record as part of our daily
work.
To ensure we are ready for this significant
change in the way we work, colleagues will
receive end user training which starts from
13 August until 26 October.
Andy Page is the Unity Training Manager,
he said: “Managers have a huge role to
play in making sure colleagues book and
attend training. We have sent all managers
a training schedule for their team which
they are supposed to verify as accurate. The
team is here to support managers through
the process, so please contact us if you are
unsure of anything.”
Chief Nurse, Paula Gardner is the Unity
executive lead for training, she added:
“I would urge managers to put in place
processes to ensure colleagues attend and
complete the training.
Some of the Unity trainers who will be
delivering end user training starting in August
“As someone who has been part of the
launch of an electronic patient record, I
cannot stress enough how important it
is for all of us to attend the appropriate
training. I would also encourage you to
engage with the support already available
to you via the Unity digital champions, the
implementers, work stream leads and the
clinical informatics team.”
Unity end user training will be delivered
by role, in 24 different courses across our
three hospital sites.
If you would like a member of the Unity
team to come to your area to assist with
the booking of your staff, please contact
swbh.informaticsbookings@nhs.net giving
availability and a contact number, and
arrangements will be made at a suitable
time for you. The team will also help with
any queries regarding the training and the
booking system.
Once training is completed, colleagues will
receive access to the Unity Play System – a
dummy version of the electronic patient
record which allows colleagues to practice
using Unity in a safe environment as we
approach go-live.
To find out more about Unity end user
training and to book, visit Connect.
Full dress rehearsal of Unity coming in
September
A run through of all activities that will
take place during go-live of Unity will
start on Monday 10 September.
This will be the full dress rehearsal (FDR) of
Unity which will identify any issues ahead
of go- live. Heartbeat caught up with
Shafiq Ullah, Unity Cutover Manager who
explained more.
“My role as cutover manager is to make
sure that we have everything in place ready
for when we cut over from the old systems
to Unity. The full dress rehearsal will review,
assess and measure both the cutover plan
and the electronic patient record both
technically and operationally prior to golive.”
A selection of operational areas across
our sites will take part in FDR activities,
replicating the steps that will be carried out
during cutover. These will include activities
like:
• Logging into Unity
• Entering patient alerts
• Allocating patients into beds
• Managing patient movements
• Entering clinical information.
Shafiq said: “FDR is an opportunity for our
operational teams supported by our digital
champions and the Unity project team,
to use Unity and prepare for the cutover.
Additionally any issues identified during
FDR will be escalated for resolution and the
plan and logistics updated and documented
for the cutover and go-live.”
The Unity dress rehearsal will ensure that
colleagues will be able to provide patient
care in their respective roles. The first
dress rehearsal of Unity took place in April
and was well received by colleagues who
commented that they appreciated the
opportunity to use Unity in a live setting.
Emma Hibbs, Team Lead, Rapid Response
Therapy Service said: “Going through the
first dress rehearsal was a good opportunity
to see Unity in action. As part of the rapid
response team, I work in the emergency
department and AMU and currently have to
access different systems to look at patient
information. It’s great to see that this will
all change when we go-live with Unity as
we will have a single point of access for all
patient records. This means the information
will be timely and accurate which is a
positive thing for our patients.”
Lis Hesk, Gynaecology Matron added:
“Having taken part in the first dress
rehearsal of Unity it made so much sense
to me and the team to follow a real patient
through the pathway from admission to
discharge. Unity ensures patient records
are maintained in a standardised way and
allows the whole team to be involved in the
care of patients.”
During FDR a number of users including
nurses/midwives, healthcare assistants and
ward clerks will work on Unity while their
colleagues will be carrying out their usual
processes on our current systems.
Those taking part in FDR will be fully briefed
beforehand. If you are taking part in FDR
it is advised that you attend Unity end user
training before 17 September. FDR will take
place on the following dates:
• 10 September – for technical activities,
with operational activities from;
- 17 September – Sandwell ED, Sandwell
inpatient wards
- 18 September – City Hospital ED, City
Hospital inpatient wards, Community
inpatient areas
- 19 September – Outpatient areas
- 20-21 September - wrap up
For more information email
swbh.trustindigital@nhs.net
5

Birmingham bank creates better
environment for patients
YOUR TRUST CHARITY
@SWBHCharity To donate
to the Your Trust Charity text
“SWBH16 £5” to 70070
A team of bankers were on hand to
transform three wards at Sandwell
Hospital – thanks to Your Trust
Charity.
Sixteen members of the audit team, from
HSBC UK in Birmingham, volunteered
their time to spruce up the play areas in
Lyndon Ground and Lyndon 1 and create
a memory wall in the reminiscence room
for dementia patients in Lyndon 4.
They spent two days revamping the
areas which will lead to enhancing the
patient experience.
Amanda Winwood, Fundraising Manager for
Your Trust Charity, said: “The charity and our
colleagues on the wards are very grateful to
HSBC for giving their time and transforming
the areas for our patients, creating a nicer
environment.
“These projects are very important for our
patients, because if they have a better
environment it helps with their rehabilitation
and their patient journey as a whole. The
finished areas are bright and colourful, whilst
also relaxing for the patients.”
On Lyndon Ground, an underwater-themed
play area was created, which boasted a
submarine, fish, dolphin and sea mural.
Whilst Lyndon 1 was given a jungle theme,
featuring pictures of monkeys, giraffes and
the ‘animal alphabet’.
Amanda added: “On Lyndon 4, we created
a reminiscence room for our older patients.
We’ve been in touch with Sandwell Council,
Sandwell Archives, and the West Bromwich
History Group who have kindly donated old
photographs of how the area used to look.
We have put these up onto the wall and
hope that they will encourage the patients to
talk about their memories.”
Sue Vanja, Administrator Manager from
HSBC, said: “We regularly have volunteering
days where we carry out work like this on
important projects. It is really great that we
get to do this as it means going into our
community and giving something back.”
Some of the audit team from HSBC who have
been transforming patient areas
The play area on Lyndon Ground has been
completely transformed
A reminiscence room has been created on
Lyndon 4 to help patients talk about their
memories
Chan gets the chop for charity
In Heartbeat last month we brought you
the story of Chan, one of our audiologists
who was raising money for our neonatal
unit through Your Trust Charity, by
cutting his hair and beard which he had
been growing for over 15 months.
On 11 July, Chan was welcomed in The
Gentleman Barbers in Brindley Place where
his friend and barber, Damian Wasniak was
waiting with clippers and cut throat razors at
the ready to tackle the growing beard and
barnet to complete Chan’s makeover.
Chan initially aimed to raise £1,000 but with
the support of family and friends managed to
double this to an amazing £2,295.
Chan’s first child, Chayten was born
prematurely and spent the first four months
of his life in the care of the neonatal team at
City hospital.
Chan said: “When Chayten was born, it was
the most stressful and worrying time of our
lives and it was our faith in God that kept us
going. It was during this time that I began
growing my hair and beard in honour of my
son.
“Now that Chayten is 15 months, I thought
what better way to mark the occasion than by
having it a shaved off for charity and donate
all of the money raised to the neonatal
department”
Since losing the locks and regaining his
youthful looks Chan continues to raise
money for Your Trust Charity and would like
to encourage colleagues who would like to
donate or help raise further funds to get in
touch.
If you would like to take on a challenge
to help raise some much needed funds
for a worthy cause, get in touch with
Your Trust Charity on ext. 4847 or email
Amanda.winwood@nhs.net.
Before and after – Chan’s haircut raised over
£2,000 for Your Trust Charity
6

Diversity and inclusion – the golden
thread of our organisation
Diversity and inclusion have naturally
become the cornerstones of our
organisation, bringing together
colleagues from every nationality,
ethnicity, sexual orientation and
disability.
Our dedication to diversity and inclusion is
now being recognised nationally – we have
recently been awarded a silver rating by the
Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion
(ENEI) in the inaugural TIDE awards.
Only 35 awards were given out throughout
the UK with our organisation being
highlighted for how we embraced diversity,
including staff members marching in
Birmingham PRIDE, celebrations around
the Muslim religious events Iftar and Eid,
changing the recruitment process, and
launching a new transgender policy to
support patients and colleagues.
It’s the first time ENEI, which works with
the Government, has introduced the
benchmark status.
Raffaela Goodby, Director of People and
Organisation Development said: “We
are privileged to receive this national
benchmarking award, and it is testament
to the progress we have made to become
a more inclusive organisation. I would like
to thank everyone involved for their hard
work, commitment and dedication.”
Our work has also been recognised at the
Back Row: L-R: Head of Diversity and Inclusion,
Stuart Young; Charge Nurse, David Powell;
Charge Nurse, Mick Beech. Front Row L-R:
Assistant Primary Care Manager, Donna Mighty
and Trust Convener, Chris Rickards
National Diversity Awards, where we have
four nominations in the final selection process.
We are shortlisted for Diverse Company of
the Year award, whilst our LGBT and BME
staff networks, along with our Muslim
liaison group are in the staff engagement
network of the year category with Stuart
Young shortlisted in the Head of Diversity and
Inclusion category.
Stuart told Heartbeat: “We have worked
really hard to develop our culture into one
of inclusion, diversity and acceptance of
everyone, allowing each and every person to
be an individual and feel able to bring their
whole selves to work – allowing them to focus
more on the patients in our care and the
needs of our teams and departments.
“We have moved forward in leaps and
bounds in the last couple of years with
the change being led by our Board and
executive team. We have established
three staff networks, with a fourth
coming soon, who work as critical
friends to the organisation, celebrating
the positives and encouraging changes
to be made when opportunities arise.
“In the last 12 months we have
celebrated and commemorated religious
holidays, LGBT History Month, Windrush
70, Fiesta, NHS 70, Disability Awareness
Month, Black History Month and the
100 year anniversary of women getting
the vote.
“As well as our staff networks, we
have a dedicated team of Freedom to
Speak Up Guardians who encourage
colleagues to have their say and there is
our Local Interest Group that is made up
of members of the local community who
look at our equality and diversity work
streams in all of our work from a service
users perspective.”
“This is the best nursing recruitment
event I have ever been to!”
A recruitment event held at Sandwell
Hospital has been hailed a success after
more than 40 conditional job offers
were handed out on the day.
An estimated 100 visitors came to the
jobs fair, held at the education centre
on 23 June, and were left overwhelmed
with the warm welcome from our
nursing teams.
Qualified nurse Shelly Hubbard, who was
offered a job on the spot following her
successful interview, said: “When I saw the
advert for the recruitment event, I did not
hesitate in applying.
“The Trust has a great reputation, especially
when it comes to the extensive support it
offers for nurses.
“So when I came to the event, I knew
instantly that I had made the right decision.
"Everyone was so welcoming, friendly
and cheerful. I felt like I was already part
of the organisation. I think the event was
well organised and from my experience of
visiting other trusts’ recruitment events, this
is the best one.
“I’m really glad that I was able to secure
the offer and I can’t wait to join the
organisation.”
Paul Hooton, Deputy Chief Nurse, said:
“The recruitment event was very successful.
The majority of people who came on the
day were appointable and we are very
pleased they will be joining our nursing
team.
“In September, we will be welcoming
more than 50 newly qualified nurses to our
organisation.
“With the success from recent recruitment
CORPORATE & GENERAL NEWS
activities, we expect to fill up all vacancies
soon, ensuring safe staffing levels and the
best patient care possible.
“I would like to express my gratitude to
all the teams involved in making the event
successful. Every one of them went the
extra mile to make sure we recruited the
best nurses for our organisation. This is truly
a team effort.”
Some of the team involved in the recruitment
fayre
7

SWBH teams up to ‘BEAT-lupus’ with
research study
FOCUS ON R & D
Our organisation is one of 16 lupus
specialist centres in the UK which is
participating in a study called BEATlupus
with Consultant, Caroline
Gordon the principal investigator
overseeing all the patients enrolled
in the study at City Hospital.
The BEAT-lupus study is funded by
Arthritis Research UK and the sponsor
is University College London. The study
aims to recruit 50 patients from across
the sixteen lupus specialist centers across
the UK.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus also
known as SLE is an autoimmune disease
that occurs when a person’s antibodies,
produced by immune B cells, attacks
the body’s own cells by mistake. This
attack then causes inflammation, with
numerous issues such as fatigue, rashes,
hair loss, arthritis, kidney involvement
and blood disorders.
Long-term complications can include
early onset heart attacks, strokes and
kidney failure.
Unfortunately, there is currently still no cure
for SLE with existing treatment options
only able to help manage symptoms.
Rituximab is one of these treatments and
is used to treat patients with refractory
disease that has not responded to standard
immunosuppressants. Rituximab is a
biological therapy that is used to reduce
inflammation and improve the symptoms
of SLE. However, this treatment can
result in an increase in B-cell activating
factor (BAFF), which is believed to cause
L-R: Consultant, Caroline Gordon and
Research Nurse, Irene Echavez-Naguicnic are
conducting the BEAT-lupus study
inflammation after the treatment cycle is
complete.
The Beat-lupus study recruits SLE patients
that are going to be treated with
rituximab and randomises them to receive
the BAFF-inhibiting drug, belimumab,
or placebo after rituximab in order to
attain preliminary results about whether
this combination of drugs prevents the
development of anti-DNA antibodies
that will promote inflammation and to
determine if this improves the outcome
of patients compared with rituximab
treatment alone.
Irene Echavez-Naguicnic, Research Nurse
plays a vital role in the BEAT-lupus study.
She said: “As part of my role, I see
and assess the patients alongside the
investigator Caroline Gordon and help with
organising blood sample collection. The
first three treatments are every two weeks
then it is every four weeks. In addition to
this, I’m the first point of contact regarding
any patient queries they may have about
the study.”
She added: “I believe the study is a step in
the right direction in terms of research and
development and I’m quietly confident it
will be a success.”
Nurse Joy represents the West Midlands
in prestigious national award
CORPORATE & GENERAL NEWS
Senior Ward Sister, Joy Walker is
the only finalist from the West
Midlands to be competing for the
Nurse Leader of the Year title, in the
coveted Nursing Times Awards.
She was selected from hundreds of
nominations and is one of 10 finalists.
Joy, who manages D26 said: “I just
couldn’t believe my ears when I was told
about the news.
“To be shortlisted for this prestigious
award is like a dream to me. This is
definitely one of the best highlights in
my career, which I will treasure for the
rest of my life.
“This is also an important recognition for
my team. I truly believe that I wouldn’t
be able to be here without the support
of my team and the organisation. I do
often say to my colleagues that I’m only the
engine, but my colleagues are the wheels
that make the whole system work.”
Organisers of the awards have named this
year as one of the most competitive after
receiving an influx of nominations. Judges
were impressed with how Joy led her team
to become a high achieving ward, ensuring
patients consistently receive the highest
standard of care.
Joy added: “Since the news was
announced, I have been showered with
praise from colleagues, friends, and family.
Everyone has been wishing me good luck
and I just feel speechless.”
She has been recently praised for her
excellent work in implementing the
consistency of care programme which has
led to the ward winning three awards for
their outstanding performance. Joy has
also ensured that the safety plan has been
properly implemented, which ensures all
patients receive the correct checks within a
certain time from when they are admitted
to the ward. The initiative has helped
our organisation to be shortlisted for the
Patient Safety Awards 2018.
The winners will be announced at a
glittering ceremony in London on 31
October.
Ward Manager, Joy Walker has been
shortlisted for a Nursing Times award
8

Colleagues come together to
celebrate Eid
Last month, colleagues from across the
organisation joined together for our
annual Eid celebration at City Hospital
to mark the end of Ramadan.
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims
observe a strict fast every day from sunrise
to sunset and participate in spiritual
reflection, charitable giving and peace
making. At the end of Ramadan Muslims
across the globe observe a joyous three day
celebration known as Eid.
The celebration, which took place in the
Anne Gibson Board Room, was organised
by our Muslim liaison group in association
with the BME network and the our
chaplaincy team.
Hundreds of colleagues, both clinical and
non-clinical were in attendance to enjoy the
festivities with an array of Asian cuisines,
salads and fruit platters available for all.
Guests were welcomed by Chairman,
Richard Samuda and Muslim Chaplain,
AkmKamruzzaman, who conducted a short
prayer for our patients currently in the
hospital and thanked God for good health.
Dr Ali Akbar, Chair of Muslim liaison group
L-R: Akm Kamruzzaman, Chaplain; Donna
Mighty, Assistant Primary Care Manager;
Amir Ali, Head of Employee Benefits and Ann
Stevenson, Chaplain
was grateful to everyone for attending.
He said: “It was fantastic to have lots of
different people from a variety of different
cultures, backgrounds and religions unite as
one and celebrate Eid with us.
“It’s not often I get to see so many of my
colleagues from both Sandwell and City sites
together in one setting, so to be able to come
together for such a fitting occasion like Eid
was truly special.”
This is the 14th year that the Eid celebrations
have taken place and it is now an annual
CORPORATE & GENERAL NEWS
event alternated across City and
Sandwell Hospitals. Masood Hussain,
Finance Manager, who helped with the
planning was thankful to work in an
organisation that supports people from
all backgrounds and beliefs.
He said: “I would like to say a massive
thank you to the Trust for allowing us to
celebrate Eid as well as all the volunteers
on the day as without them, the event
wouldn’t have been a success.
“While Eid is a celebration, it is also
a time for reflection as it allows us to
remember how fortunate and privileged
we are, compared to others across the
world.”
Anser Khan, Security Officer and Cochair
of the BME Staff Network said:
“The purpose of the Eid event is to share
our happiness, peace and harmony
and celebrate equality and diversity
with colleagues from all the faiths and
beliefs.”
Board story: learning from our patients’
experiences
Each month at the Board meeting,
members hear from a patient or
relative who have had either a positive
or negative experience of our care.
This is sometimes in the form of a
pre-recorded video or quite often the
patient or carer attends the meeting to
share their story in person.
This month, Sue Collins attended the
meeting to share her experience as an
inpatient on Lyndon 5 during May this year
after she was diagnosed with pneumonia.
Sue told the Board: “I have nothing but
praise for the care and treatment I received
from both the doctors and the nursing staff,
however I did have a negative experience of
the ward environment.”
Sue explained that the ward was almost full
of patients, who due to their condition were
noisy and unsettled throughout the day and
night. Due to this environment, she was
unable to rest during the day and didn’t get
any sleep for four days and nights.
Sue said: “It wasn’t until the fourth day
that I was offered a comfort pack, which
included an eye mask and ear plugs. Whilst
I left the hospital medically well, I was
mentally exhausted and traumatised. I have
even found it difficult to step back onto the
hospital premises since my discharge.”
During the meeting, Chief Nurse, Paula
Gardner provided Sue and others in
attendance with an insight into how bed
allocation works, and the medical wards we
have in Sandwell Hospital and what their
specialities are.
Paula said: “We are not able to simply have
a ward for dementia patients as they are
placed on the ward which is most suitable
for the reason they have been admitted,
which very often is separate to their
dementia.”
Although we are unable to act on Sue’s
recommendation for dementia patients to
be within a single ward, Paula did state that
she thought there were aspects of Sue’s
experience that we could learn from.
She said: “It is important that we are
communicating with patients about the
type of ward they are being admitted to
and the reasons why it’s the best place
for them and I think we need to be
communicating more about the comfort
packs that are on offer to patients who may
be struggling to rest.
“I will also be talking to nurse leaders about
the importance of asking how patients are,
not just medically, but emotionally too. I
will be encouraging them ask their teams
to speak to patients about how they slept
and if there is anything we can do to help
them.”
Pictured at the July Board meeting are patient,
Sue Collins and Chief Nurse, Paula Gardner
9

NHS Trust
NHS Trust
Apprentices whip up some good results
in catering survey
CORPORATE & GENERAL NEWS
A survey into catering facilities, led
by Level 3 apprentices has revealed
that colleagues and visitors are
impressed with the service.
A group of five apprentices, who
are studying for a Business and
Administration qualification, spoke to
people visiting Hallam Restaurant at
Sandwell, and Arches at City over a
10-day period to find out what they
thought about the food and customer
service.
They surveyed more than 100 people
and the results showed that people
were pleased with the new-look Hallam
Restaurant and with the food that is
served on a daily basis. Many however,
complained about the long queues
experienced at the Arches.
Stella Powell, Assessor/Coach from the
Learning and Development team, said:
“The project was a good way for our
apprentices to use their skills and it was
very realistic. It took place over a six
week period, which included time to
analyse the results.
“The overall results showed that users
of the facilities found it generally good.
These findings have been passed onto
the catering team so that they can work
on the feedback.”
She added: “The apprentices
demonstrated that they carried out
the task effectively. They found it very
interesting and they took ownership of
it.”
The results were presented to the
catering department by the apprentices,
Joe Quinlan, Hayley Johnstone, Amina
Safeer, Terri Montford and Isabella
Gianfreda.
Level 3 apprentices in business and administration, (l-r) Joe Quinlan, Hayley Johnstone, Amina
Safeer, Terri Montford and Isabella Gianfreda
Terri, who also works as an acting team
Leader in antenatal, said: “I found this
project very enjoyable and interesting,
gauging a wide variety of feedback from
staff and visitors.
“We discovered that people found the
overall service good but have pinpointed
some negatives which were brought to
the attention of the catering managers. I
definitely think that future apprentices who
will be doing their Level 3 in Business and
Administration would benefit from doing
another project like this as this has helped
me build my confidence and team working
skills.
“Hopefully we will be seeing some positive
changes within the catering department.”
David Calder, Catering Manager, said:
“The information we received from the
apprentices was brilliant and really valuable
– especially about where we needed to
improve.
“Generally, diners thought the food was of
good quality and they were impressed with
the refurbished Hallam Restaurant.
“However, as a result of the feedback
regarding long queues at the Arches, we
are now looking at ways to solve this issue
by extending the serving hatch, so that we
can place another till inside.
“This will mean more people can be served,
but also we will be able to offer a wider
range of food. The proposal is still in its
early stages, but it just shows that we are
working on those issues that were flagged
up by this important project.”
Brand new meal deals now available
Sandwell and West
Birmingham Hospitals
Sandwell and West
Birmingham Hospitals
EAT WELL
• Dine In • Takeaway • Relax
EAT WELL
• Dine In • Takeaway • Relax
BREAKFAST SPECIAL
5* BREAKFAST
DAILY STAFF SPECIALS
Protein Staff Special
Creamed Potato and 1 Vegetable Selection
£2.95
or swap to Oven Baked Chips or Roast Potatoes
£3.50
Monday – Beef Curry £2.95
Diced Beef cooked in a sauce of onions, tomatoes
and peppers to a traditional recipe
JACKET POTATO MEAL DEAL
SANDWICH MEAL DEAL
Choose from any
5 Breakfast Items
£2.50 – staff
£2.80 – visitor
Any additional item 50p
Available in
Sandwell - Hallam Restaurant
City - Boaters Café, Arches & BTC
Rowley – Coffee Pot
Vegetarian Staff Special
Creamed Potato and 1 Vegetable Selection
£2.65
or swap to Oven Baked Chips or Roast Potatoes
£3.25
Meal of the Day will be advertised daily
Available in
Sandwell - Hallam Restaurant
City - Boaters Café, Arches
Rowley – Coffee Pot
Wednesday – Lamb & Potato Curry
£2.95
Boneless lamb and potatoes cooked in a sauce of
onions, tomatoes, peppers and authentic herbs
and spices to a traditional recipe
Friday - Chicken Tikka Masala Curry
£2.95
Chicken Marinated in Tikka Spices, cooked in a
Cream Tikka Sauce to traditional recipe
Staff will receive a 15% discounts on a selection of items
Jacket Potato, Side Salad, 1 Filling and a piece of fresh fruit
£2.75
OR
Jacket Potato, Side Salad, 2 Fillings and a piece of fresh fruit
£3.25
Choose from: Baked Beans, Tuna Mayonnaise,
Grated Cheese or Coleslaw
Available in
Sandwell - Hallam Restaurant & Costa Outpatients
City - Boaters Café, Arches, BTC Costa & Maternity Costa
Rowley – Coffee Pot
Upgrade the purchase of one of our delicious Sandwiches, Baguettes or Rolls to a
MEAL DEAL
For just a £1.00 extra
Choose a Bottle of Pop or water and a Piece of Fresh Fruit
OR
For just £1.30 extra
Choose a Bottle of Pop or Water and a Bag of Baked Crisps
10

To: Joanne Wright
For doing so well in her new role
as acting ward manager on Lyndon
1, boosting staff moral and further
enhancing the best team work amongst
staff.
From: Jennifer Taylor
CORPORATE & GENERAL NEWS
Shout out is a way for colleagues to
be recognised for their excellent work,
delivering first class healthcare to our
patients.
If you believe a member of your team,
or someone from elsewhere in the
organisation deserves a mention please
visit Connect to give them a shout out.
They may have gone out of their way to
help you with something or you may have
witnessed them make a difference to a
patient or colleague.
To: Carleen Smith
Carleen is part of the catering team
in the Hallam Restaurant who are
providing a first class service to all
customers, ensuring they are not
only looked after, but advising on
all the new product range and meal
deals as well as keeping a very busy
environment clean, tidy and welcoming.
From: Steve Clarke
To: Lynda McHugh
Lynda has been a pivotal member of the
out of hours district nursing team and is
about to embark on a career change to
join the palliative care team. We would
like to thank Lynda for her help and
support and wish our friend the best in
her new role.
From: Denise Williams
To: Ward clerks on cardiology
Thank you to all our amazing ward
clerks within cardiology for all their
hard work. Never a job too small and
keep the efficient flow within our area.
From: Laura Taylor
To: Belinda Regan
I'm giving a shout out to Belinda
because she is a kind a generous person
and she will help anybody who she
thinks needs help. She is a kind and
caring colleague and just looks after
all the patients. I'm grateful to have a
wonderful colleague and friend.
From: Rachel Humphreys
To: Carole Robinson
Carol is a HCA on D47, she is hard
working, passionate, caring and kind.
She has a brilliant rapport with both
patients and staff. She is a very valued
member of the D47 nursing team.
From: Natalie Whitton
To: Lynn Etchells
Lynn helped me when one of my
patients had a problem. She was so
lovely to talk to on the phone. She
was helpful and definitely went the
extra mile. Given the pressures within
her department, SWBH should be
proud of her for unfailing kindness
and willingness to work out a solution.
Thank you so much.
From: Jane Mills
To: Farooq Mohammed
Just wanted to say how brilliant senior
information analyst Mohammed is. He is
always willing to help, spends the time
to understand what is required, treats
you with respect and delivers. Well
done and thank you so much.
From: Fiona Rotherham
To: The amazing infant feeding team
Well done for passing the baby
friendly accreditation with 'flying
colours'! Well done and very much
deserved!
From: City paediatric assessment unit
To: Handsworth and Ladywood
Community Midwifery Team
As their team manager I would like
to give a big shout out to this team
who over the last 10 months have
worked so hard to keep the service
going. Due to staff shortages and
IT systems they have gone above
and beyond to ensure the antenatal
and postnatal women are cared for.
They have had to work well beyond
their assigned hours to ensure all
essential visits have been covered.
They have worked with admiration,
determination, dedication and
patience during this difficult time.
Thank you all.
From: Dionne Mullings
To: Eileen Bonnell
Eileen and her team deal with all
the Trust mobile phones. As much as
modern technology is great when
it works, when it doesn't it can be a
nightmare. My mobile phone turned
itself off and then everything was
wiped - all my contacts- in the middle
of a weekend shift.
Eileen came to the rescue and
somehow managed to get all my
contacts and info back on my phone.
It was such a relief as you build up
your contacts over the years. She is
a star!
From: Rebecca Vivian
TTo: Gurprit Galsinh
Constantly giving 110% every day
at work, helping wards and staff of
all levels with any queries they have.
Helping the team out with queries and
just generally being a good support at
Sandwell.
From: Rebecca Vanes
To: Priory 4 Team
Thank you for making this last year such
an enjoyable placement and making me
feel so welcome.
From: Jack Rogan
To: Labour ward and neonatal team
Really accommodating and helpful
about a little baby coming from ED.
Enabled infant to spend minimum
time in ED and reunite with mother
as soon as possible. Thank you.
From: Lorna Bagshaw
11

Improving our IT infrastructure
CORPORATE & GENERAL NEWS
The last few months have been very
challenging for those of us who have
to use IT to work and access patient
information.
Heartbeat caught up with Chief
Informatics Officer, Mark Reynolds who
explained more about the issues being
faced by his team.
“Our IT infrastructure is very complicated
and runs on a network that needs
significant work to bring it up to date
so it is able to cope with the volumes
of work on the system. Over the past
few weeks we have been working with
external advisors who have given us a
clear set of actions we need to take to
improve the performance of the network
and create resilience.
“It is encouraging as the expert
recommendations already build on the
plans we have had in place internally to
help us resolve the issues. This is positive
news as it allows us the opportunity to
focus our work on getting things right
before Unity is launched later this year.
“I am confident we will start to see
an improvement in our day to day use
of IT. My team and I are very aware
that colleagues require a modern
infrastructure that works, with reliable
Wi-Fi and equipment that works.
And we are working hard to ensure
this becomes the norm across the
organisation.”
Building confidence after the
major IT incident in May
The major incident in May was caused
by a change to the system which led to a
significant breakdown to the network.
“As a result we are working more closely
with clinical colleagues and operational
teams to ensure this does not happen
again,” said Mark.
“A change process panel has been
created to ensure checks and balances
are in place for all updates and requests
for a change to our IT network. To make
it clear we are not stopping what we
were doing previously, we now just need
colleagues to follow a process in order
for their request to be considered and
acted upon.”
The change panel meets every Tuesday
and is chaired by Rachel Barlow, Chief
IT Deployment Engineers, Leon James (left) and John Marks (right) assist Healthcare Assistant, Karen
Mowatt-Shirley
Operating Officer. Decisions are taken
very quickly and outside of the meeting
there is an opportunity to have urgent
requests submitted through the informatics
duty manager, who is able to request
an emergency change to the panel (if
appropriate).
Following the May incident, the informatics
team supported by operational colleagues
carried out some walkthroughs across
Sandwell to find out what the issues were.
Informatics Service Manager, Suki Heer
explained: “Doing the walkthroughs was
very beneficial for us and the teams we
visited. Colleagues were pleased to see
us out and about and it is something we
would definitely like to continue to do in
future.
“We were quite surprised to find that
colleagues generally don’t report incidents
with the help desk so the majority of issues
we logged during the walkthroughs were
completely new incidents for us. I would
urge everyone to raise a ticket for all IT
issues no matter how small - it is the only
way we can help and resolve the issues
colleagues are having.”
The walkthroughs at Sandwell saw 136
initial tickets logged, of these 128 have
been resolved and the team are working
through the eight still outstanding. The
majority of the tickets were related to not
being able to connect to the network,
wireless application (WAP) and iPad issues.
Walkthroughs at City and Rowley Hospitals
followed in June and July and have just
been completed. The team are now
working through the issues raised.
Colleagues are urged to raise a ticket for all
IT incidents on Connect or call the helpdesk
on ext. 4050. Tickets are allocated a priority
and response time as detailed in the table
below.
Priority Response time Resolution
Critical 30 mins 4 hours
Important 1 hour 8 hours
Normal 4 hours 3 working
days
Low 5 hours 6 working
days
Service request
!
Informatics Data – Date: 20 July 2018
875
OPEN INCIDENTS
CRITICAL
ALERTS
52
6 hours 20 working
days
The graphic below shows the latest IT
performance overview at the time of
printing Heartbeat.
DAYS SINCE LAST OUTAGE:
2
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals
OLDEST INCIDENT
OUTSTANDING
December 2016
RESPONSE
TIME TO
HELPDESK
AVERAGE: 1m 11s
LONGEST: 17m
NHS Trust
12

Unity – how ready are you?
Later this year, a number of our clinical
systems will change to Unity – our new
electronic patient record that will unify
clinical records enabling consistency of
care.
It has been calculated that 5,500 of us and
counting will use Unity on a daily basis. If
you are identified as a user of Unity, it will
not be possible for you to conduct your role
without it.
Colleagues are being urged to take it upon
themselves to learn how to use Unity and
attend the training available.
All teams have access to the Unity
Readiness Checklist - a guide for you and
your department to get yourselves ready for
the new electronic patient record. This is
an exciting time for us all, and we want to
make sure we’re ready.
The checklist has different sections, which
contain a number of checks. The aim of the
checklist is for you to work through each
section, collect the checks, and show that
you are ready for Unity.
Sharon Reynolds, Informatics Matron leads
the clinical informatics team which will
play a huge role in supporting our teams in
readiness for Unity.
She said: “We are now in the readiness
stage of Unity and colleagues who took
part in the first dress rehearsal will know
that it’s a great opportunity to get us all set
for go-live. It’s important that teams use the
readiness checklist and to also seek support
from the clinical informatics team, work
stream leads and Unity implementers who
will regularly visit departments to provide
the support necessary to help teams get
ready.
“I’ve been visiting ward teams and it is
encouraging to see that many are seeing
the value of Unity and are eager to start
using it. Colleagues are looking forward
to using real time information to make
clinical decisions about the people in our
care. Unity will certainly help to facilitate
multidisciplinary working and improve
patient experience and flow.”
Getting ready for Unity should be a team
effort – the checklist is an excellent way of
engaging colleagues, stimulating discussion
about Unity and starting to address
people’s questions and concerns. It may not
be possible to complete each check straight
away – many are tied to particular phases
of the project so may not be available
immediately.
The readiness checklist is available on
Connect and teams also have a hard
copy to keep. The checklist belongs to
your department, store it somewhere
safe.
You may ask different team members
to focus on a particular area or set up
a small group to work through the
checklist. Accountability for progress
with readiness preparation and
associated reporting sits with the ward/
department manager.
Support is also available from the
Unity implementation team, a group
of colleagues assigned to each clinical
area with the purpose of supporting
the readiness effort. Working closely
with the work stream leads and the
clinical informatics team, their role is to
inform and update, as well as act as a
conduit for colleagues to raise issues of
concern.
CORPORATE & GENERAL NEWS
Unity
will be used by
over
5,500
colleagues
Keep an eye out for activities
and events to help you get
ready
Coming soon to your area -
Unity corners. Digital champions
with support from ward sisters
and matrons will be developing
Unity corners – a new space to
learn all about Unity and have an
opportunity to use the Unity Play
System (a dummy copy of the
electronic patient record that you
can safely practice on).
Look out for Unity pop up
demonstrations to learn more.
Visit the Unity favourite fairs in
September for a chance to log on
and set up your favourite areas
on the system.
Further information about Unity
or if you’d like to find out more
about training visit Connect or
email swbh.trustindigital@nhs.net.
Information is also available from
your group Unity implementer,
clinical sponsor or digital champions
in your area. The communications
bulletin has news and updates on a
regular basis.
13

AND THE
NOMINEES
ARE
The Star Awards
wouldn’t be
possible without
the generosity
of our sponsors.
We need you to choose the winners in four of our categories:
• Employee of the Year
• Clinical Team of the Year (Adults)
• Clinical Team of the Year (Children)
• Non Clinical Team of the Year
Heartbeat is proud to introduce you to
the shortlisted nominees for the 2018
Star Awards.
We had over 500 nominations this year – making
the judging process more challenging than ever
before!
Ruth Wilkin, Director of Communications oversaw the
shortlisting panel, she said: “We had 545 nominations
for the Star Awards this year, which is the most amount of
nominations to date. Shortlisting is never an easy task, especially
when the nominations are of such high quality. Whilst challenging,
it was also a heart-warming task – we have lots of amazing colleagues,
doing some fantastic work and whilst congratulations go to those who
have made the shortlist, I would like to say well done to all of those who
were nominated this year, who have all received a letter from our Chief
Executive, Toby Lewis.”
Now it’s over to you!
Voting will be opening on Monday 30 July and will remain open until
Friday 31 August. You can cast your vote online by visiting Connect and via
the MyConnect smartphone app.
Vote by
Friday 31
August
r e c o g n i s i n g
o u t s ta n d i n g
c o m m i t m e n t
2018 STAR
AWARDS
n o m i n e e s
Employee of the Year
- Debbie Fretwell
matron
- Kalbinder Chohan
ward clerk
- Trish Kehoe
directorate general manager,
outpatient services
- Amreen Rehman
anticoagulant services
administrator
Clinical Team of the Year
– Adults
- Occupational Health
- Out of Hours District Nurses
- Theatres
Clinical Team of the Year
– Children
- Infant Feeding Team
- Young Parents Maternity Service
- Advanced Neonatal Nurse
Practitioners
Non-Clinical Team of
the Year
- Medical Records
- Booked Admissions Surgery
- Recruitment Campaign Team
v o t e d f o r b y y o u
Digital Leader of the Year
- Dominic LeGros
informatics nurse
- Joe O’Brien
senior clinical scientist
- Dr Nick Sherwood
clinical lead – critical care
Excellence in
Education Prize
- Apprenticeship Leadership Team
- Dr Bishwajeet Elangbam
consultant
- Sarah Murphy
head of newborn hearing screening
Excellence in Research
Prize
- Dr Kanthan Theivendran
consultant
- Physics and Nuclear Medicine Team
- Dr Sissi Ispoglou
consultant
2020 Vision Prize for
Integrated Care Pioneer
of the Year
- Alcohol Team
- Sandwell Sexual Health Services
- Lawrence Kelly
learning works centre co-ordinator
New Leader of the Year
- Heather Matthews
directorate manager for the medical
director’s office
- Natalie Whitton
matron
- Sam Beck
matron
Learner of the Year
- Ethan Motterham
apprentice
- Muhammed Qureshi
investigating manager, casework
investigations unit
- Stephanie Craig
orthopaedic practitioner
Volunteer of the Year
- Amrit Varma
- Janet Dearne
- Sapphire Service
Patient Safety Award
- Alan Dickens
advanced theatre practitioner
and Kay Stokes
speciality theatre manager
- Joanne Byrne
macmillan occupational therapist
- Safety Plan Project Team
Prize for Innovation
- Bladder Scanning Team
- Colorectal Fast Track Team
- Louise Thompson
infant feeding coordinator
Distinguished
Service Award
- Ann Stevenson
lead chaplin
- Audrey Forbes
ward service officer
- Julie Prior
staff nurse
Award for Equality and
Diversity Champion
- Donna Mighty
deputy primary care manager
- Khalil Miller
security officer
- Richard Burnell
conflict resolution trainer
Fundraiser of the Year
- Flo Burgundy-Benders
ward clerk
- Gemma Dyer
- Stroke and Neurology Therapy
Team
Quality of Care Award
- Lisa McFarlane
hca
- Warley District Nurses
- Paediatric Allergy Service
Local Primary Care Award
for the Most Valued
Service in the Trust –
nominated by GPs
- Bereavement Care Team
- Respiratory Consultants
- TB Screening Team

Putting our waste to good use
waste stock have even gone to help projects
abroad in Sri Lanka, Syria and Yemen.
CORPORATE & GENERAL NEWS
Eighteen months ago, Justin
Mitchell, Assistant Director of
Procurement, was looking for ways
to recycle products that pile up
across our Trust in tonnes. Rather
than pay for a company to collect
it and dump it in landfill, the aim
was to process the waste in an
environmentally friendly manner at
zero cost.
Justin was then introduced to Tom
O’Brien, from Trust-Reclaim Ltd who
specialises in reducing NHS disposal
costs through recycling and giving
to communities. Justin liked the idea
of squeezing out residue value from
condemned stock and adding to
people’s lives. This started an agreement
with Trust-Reclaim Ltd initially just
dealing with stock from scrap items held
in the old laundry, but since then has
grown into other projects.
Over the past year, Trust-Reclaim Ltd has
collected over 200 tonnes of waste from
our sites. By carrying out an up-cycling
Some examples of the waste recycled through
Trust-Reclaim Ltd
process which is sustainable and ethical -
the Trust has made an income of £8k in the
process.
“The process of working with a social
enterprise to recycle our waste is a no
brainer,” said Justin. “Not only are we
helping the environment, the proceeds are
going to good causes and we are also able
to make this process as an income stream
for the groups just by recycling in an ethical
way.”
Good causes that have benefitted from
our work with Trust-Reclaim Ltd include
providing furniture to homeless people
that are in the process of being rehoused,
through charities such as the ‘Ladywood
Furniture Project’ and ‘Langar Aid’. Proving
this way of working is really adding social
value at street level. Some containers, full of
Justin said: “Recycling our scrap is just the
tip of iceberg. As a large organisation we
generate 1,000s of tonnes of waste every
year. The procurement team are now working
with teams across the Trust to help them
realise the benefits that could be had by
recycling ethically.”
Tom added: “We are able to provide
recycling at zero cost as Sandwell and
West Birmingham Hospitals has given us
the opportunity to carry out a variety of
recycling work. It’s great that the Trust is
really beginning to embrace ethical recycling.
There are so many opportunities that could
help save the environment and help provide
potential employment for local communities.
Partnerships can be developed to help grow
the Trust with other social enterprises that
will help meet the organisation’s goal of
becoming truly sustainable.”
The procurement team manages the
governance and has an audit trail of all the
waste that is taken off site by Trust-Reclaim
Ltd including indemnity. Any profit made is
paid directly to the cost centre code for that
particular area.
To find out how your area can
get involved please email Justin
justin.mitchell@nhs.net
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards –
know how to follow the process
From time to time we come across
patients who may not have the
capacity to make decisions about
their care.
In order to find out if a patient has
capacity, we are required to carry out a
Deprivation of Liberty Standards (DoLS)
assessment. DoLS are an amendment to
the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA)
and were put in place as an extra
safeguard.
The MCA states that we can use
restrictions on patients if it is in their
best interest to do so because they lack
capacity to make informed decisions.
Sabina Price-Hckman is the adult
safeguarding nurse, she explained more.
“If a patient does not have capacity
we then need to ask ourselves the acid
test questions. Is the patient subject to
constant control and supervision and are
they free to leave?”
Sabina continued: “If the patient
does not have capacity, is subject to
supervision and restraints and is not free
to leave then it is likely you are depriving
them of their liberty.”
A poster with questions and answers
to assist you in the process of making
a decision has been designed by the
safeguarding team.
Always send the referral to the local
authority based on the patient’s post
code. Also send a copy to the adult
safeguarding team
SWBH-Alert-AdultSafeguarding
Ensure the dates are correct - a DoLS
starts on the day you are referring.
Complete ALL sections of the form.
A Form 10 should be completed for any
patient who is discharged, transferred or
regains capacity. The form must be sent
to the relevant local authority and to the
adult safeguarding team. If a patient
“The poster which includes a list of
restraints and restrictions that would
require a DoLS, have been delivered to
all wards,” said Sabina. “I would urge
colleagues to ensure they follow the
process carefully as mistakes on the
referral forms lead to delays in the local
authority sending out a best interest
assessor.”
Top tips to ensure the DoLS referral is processed quickly
dies whilst under a DoLS, a Form 12
must be completed following the above
process.
All forms can be found on Connect.
For further information contact the
adult safeguarding team:
• Sabina Price-Hickman
sabina.price@nhs.net
Tel: 07966625176
• Clare Cotterill
clarecotterill@nhs.net
Tel:07970244138
16

Volunteers in a league of their own
Nearly half a million pounds has been
raised by the dedicated volunteers
group League of Friends over the past
13 years, it was revealed at its recent
annual general meeting (AGM).
Chairwoman, Janet Dearn commended the
volunteers within the service for their efforts
in raising a staggering £485,994.54, before
announcing that she would be stepping
down from her position after 13 years in
the role.
Paying tribute to her colleagues, she said:
“This is my last AGM as chair as I think
someone else should take over the reins.
I want to thank everyone for all their time
and hard work as well as their friendship.
There is nothing in this world as big as the
heart of a volunteer.”
She added: “It gives me great satisfaction
to give something back to society and that
applies to most of our volunteers.
“Even though I’m stepping down as chair, I
will still continue my shift at the League of
Friends shop every Tuesday and Friday.”
Mrs Dearn started as a volunteer around 20
years ago, and became vice chair in 1998.
She took over the main job seven years
later. “It was then that we started keeping
tally of how much money we were raising,”
she explained.
Chairwoman, Janet Dearn receives flowers
from Johnny Shah, Head of Your Trust Charity
“We used to get requests for very basic
things back then, like razors, hairdryers and
TVs. But now that has certainly changed
and we are buying much bigger pieces of
equipment.”
At the start of the meeting Mrs Dearn
revealed how the League of Friends had
raised just over £45,000 in 2017/18,
funding 15 projects in total.
Equipment purchased includes reminisce
therapy software for patients treated on
the Eliza Tinsley ward at Rowley Regis
Hospital, voice amplifiers for the speech and
language therapy department and arts and
crafts material for the children’s ward.
CORPORATE AND GENERAL NEWS
“We provide such a wide range of
equipment and it is a great achievement
- none of this could have been possible
without the time and dedication from
our volunteers,” added Mrs Dearn.
“We still receive lots of thanks from the
departments, and every single penny
raised must be used for the benefit of
the patients.”
During the AGM, Johnny Shah, Head
of Your Trust Charity, presented Mrs
Dearn with a bunch of flowers and a
certificate of appreciation for the League
of Friends’ fundraising efforts over the
past year.
He said: “It’s the hard work of
volunteers, their time and sacrifice,
that helps the League of Friends fund
essential equipment needs for our
departments.
“I also want to say a personal thank you
to Janet for her own dedication and
commitment over the past 40 years,
during her time as a volunteer and as
chair.”
Seeking your views about LGBT
equality in our workplace
Colleagues are being urged to take a
few minutes to complete a survey to
gain a snap shot of how we all feel
about LGBT equality and help our
organisation make changes to improve
our inclusive culture.
The Trust became a member of Stonewall
(an organisation that campaigns for the
equality of LGBT people) almost two years
ago. As part of our membership we take
part in the Workplace Equality Index.
Heartbeat caught up with Stuart Young,
Head of Equality and Inclusion and Chair
of the LGBT Staff Network who explained
more.
“I would encourage everyone to take part
in this survey as it reflects the views of
all colleagues regardless of whether they
identify as LGBT or not. As members of
Stonewall, our aim is to rank highly on the
Stonewall Equality Index and the survey
responses will go to our overall score.
“We joined Stonewall to demonstrate our
commitment to LGBT issues. It provides a
platform to benchmark ourselves against
other organisations. We want to become
the employer of choice for people who
want to work and thrive in an inclusive
organisation.
“It is really important to the Board that all
colleagues are able to bring their whole
selves to work and feel comfortable and
confident to speak up and raise concerns.”
So what have been the benefits of being a
member of Stonewall?
“There have been many,” says Stuart.
“We have access to a dedicated advisor
who has helped us develop a transsexual
policy for colleagues and patients. We
have also had support to review the
equal opportunities policy.
“And some LGBT colleagues have
benefitted from role model training
which encourages them to be
empowered and put themselves forward
as champions for LGBT issues.”
The survey is completely anonymous
and is available online until Friday
2 November. Please take a few
minutes to give your feedback www.
stonewall.org.uk/index-survey-2019
our unique four digit code for survey
is 2089.
17

AMU team present at Birmingham
Medical Education Conference
MEDICINE & EMERGENCY
CARE
The acute medical unit (AMU) team
were invited present a piece of their
work at the Birmingham Medical
Education Conference.
The conference, which is an annual
meeting held at the school of education
at University of Birmingham is one of the
biggest events of its kind in the United
Kingdom. It is hosted jointly by Health
Education West Midlands, the Medical
School and the Professional Education
and Research Unit at the University.
The team’s presentation focussed on
the introduction of a hub nurse role to
empower the medical specialist registrar
(SpR) and was presented by Dr Dom
Goold, Cheryl Shepherd, AMU Sister and
Dr Donna Best.
Acute Medical Consultant, Dr Sarb
Clare, explained more to Heartbeat. She
said: “Essentially the medical SpR is the
workhorse of the hospital 24/7 and we
need to reprieve them of as much duties
as possible in order to maintain good
Some of the AMU nursing team who have
been implementing the hub nurse role – L-R:
Sisters, Sophia Panton, Cheryl Shepherd and
Rachel Wiles and AMU Ward Manager, Mike
Beech
patient flow.
“Due to the pressures they are under, there
is a decline in doctors wanting to get into
general and acute Medicine and it is a top
priority for the Royal College of Physicians
to address this matter.
“To address it locally, Senior Charge Nurse,
Terry Byrne created the hub nurse role who
works alongside the AMU coordinator. After
training and education, this nurse takes on
the role of taking medical referrals from
various sources, including A&E, GP surgeries
and clinics.
“This role was traditionally done by the
SpRs, which would take them away from
the frontline and see them spending hours
on the phone. The hub nurse role, has not
only alleviated this and allowed them to
spend more time with patients, but has also
empowered our nurses and created more
development opportunities for them.”
Sarb added: “It sets an example for other
units of better ways of working and we
are aiming to deploy this to Sandwell AMU
shortly.
“Credit for this must to go our amazing
Terry for leading and delivering this
project and to our nursing team who have
taken on this role with real tenacity and
professionalism.”
Cardiology quality improvement event
enhances working with GPs
Following a pilot to expand
integrated working with our GP
colleagues across a number of
specialities, and provide care closer
to home for many more patients,
we recently held a joint cardiology
quality improvement event with a
local GP provider organisation. The
resulting discussions surpassed our
expectations so much so that we
are now committed to looking at a
range of services, and not just focus
on cardiology. We will be integrating
the following teams:
Dermatology
We already have the largest community
dermatology service in the UK serving
1.5m patients across 3 CCGs – delivering
11,000 consultations per year across 11
locations in the GP provider organisation,
but we will work to integrate with
specialist services in the trust.
ENT
Aiming to provide joint GP and
Consultant multi-disciplinary team clinics
within the community setting.
Gynaecology
We already have an integrated service but,
we are aiming to be the first communitybased
gynaecology service offering day case
procedures such as hysteroscopies.
Urology
To provide the first community-based
urology service offering day case procedures
such as flexible cystoscopy.
Rheumatology
Already delivering more than 5,000
consultations per year across 13 locations,
and is the only primary care-led service
in the UK to recruit patients into clinical
research, our consultants support this
service with collocated clinics.
And of course:
Cardiology
The reason for the event. Our aim is to
provide the first technologically integrated
community service, all tests/investigations
and results are accessible across both
community and secondary care.
What this means is that consultants
will work in teams with GPs to offer an
improved service for patients with reduced
waiting times and seamless IT. Patients will
be seen quickly, with their first appointment
offered within fewer weeks of referral in
many cases, and they will be seen locally
too, as appointments will be offered
for community based locations across
Birmingham. We’re aiming for a more
efficient service delivery, as patients will
receive their consultation and investigations
within a single appointment with consultant
support and direct listing for patients
needing further care.
For more information please contact
Dottie Tipton, Primary Care Liaison
Manager on extension 4309 or by
email: dottie.tipton@nhs.net
18

Sickle cell team are first to recruit to
ground breaking study
One of our patients has become one
of the first in the world to take part in
ground breaking research into a new
wonder drug to treat sickle cell.
Currently, many patients take
hydroxycarbamide, and can experience
a number of side effects, including
discolouring of the nails and neutropenia
which means they are more vulnerable to
infections.
Liz Green, Sickle Cell and Thalassemia
(SCAT) Manager said: “This is the first
time that we have taken part in a research
project and we are extremely proud to have
become the first centre to recruit to this
worldwide study.
“We held an engagement event to speak
to our patients about the trial and the
feedback from this was very positive with
around 40 people attending.
“Our first recruit came forward in January,
with Marie-Claire coming forward soon
afterwards. We are one of four centres
involved in the UK, and the only Trust
outside of London.
“Research trials into sickle cell are quite
uncommon, so its fantastic news for our
patients that research is now being done
into this condition which is looking at
alternative treatment.”
Marie-Claire, who was born with the
condition but diagnosed when she was
aged 10, said: “I’m extremely proud to be
the second person in the world to take
part in this research and I would encourage
more people to be involved in clinical trials
as they make such a difference.
“Sickle cell is a chronic condition which
affects your day-to-day life. I feel tired most
of the time and having a social life can
sometimes be challenging.
“Over the years there have been various
treatments for patients like me, but nothing
really works effectively. That’s why when the
sickle cell team at City Hospital asked me if I
would like to take part in this study; I didn’t
hesitate in saying yes. Fortunately, I met the
criteria and was able to start it this year.”
Marie-Claire added: “My condition affects
many different aspects of my life and
sometimes even the people you live with.
My husband Cly Kofi is my strength and
support from the moment we met.
“One of the most difficult decisions we
had to make was whether we should
have a baby. We decided to go ahead and
I was closely monitored at City Hospital
throughout. I was able to deliver my baby
safely even though I had several health
complications following his birth. My son,
Jayson, is nearly two years old now and
brings so much joy to my life.”
Marie-Clare has always been a strong
advocator for clinical trials and providing
support to patients who have similar
conditions like her. She explained: “Sickle
cell is a very common condition among the
Black and Asian communities. The condition
itself prevents the body from producing
enough oxygen for the red blood cells
and people can develop crises, which can
sometimes be life threatening.”
MEDICINE & EMERGENCY
CARE
How the trial will work:
The trial is split into two groups.
Group A will be made up of patients
who do not take hydroxycarbamide.
Half will be given the new drug to
take whilst the others will take a
dummy medication, known as a
placebo.
Group B will involve patients who
take hydroxycarbamide.
Again half will be given the new
drug which they will take alongside
hydroxycarbamide.
The other half will take a placebo.
The aim will be to find out how
safe the study drug is for treating
patients and whether it has any
unwanted effects. It will also look
at how long it takes IMR-687 to
get into the patient’s bloodstream,
the length of time it stays there
and how it is broken down and
processed by the body. They will
be monitored on a regular basis to
check any adverse reactions they
may have. Both SWBH patients are
included in this group.
Marie-Claire with her husband Cly Kofi with their son Jason
19

20
Trust allergy service is first to use hay
fever busting machine
WOMEN AND CHILD HEALTH
We have become the first NHS
Trust in the UK to introduce a new
device which can help combat the
symptoms allergic rhinitis – more
commonly known as hay fever.
The Rhinolight machine, has been
loaned to our paediatric allergy service
by the Hungarian company that first
developed it.
Dr Nick Makwana first heard of the
device during a conference and was
interested to hear that it was used in
many European countries as well as
Australia, and closer to home, in Ireland
but had not been used in the UK yet.
The device is used to direct controlled
doses of uVA, uVB and visible light up
each nostril with the aim of reducing the
symptoms. It zaps the cells that cause
hay fever and reduces the chemicals that
lead to the inflammation.
It is usually administered during the
hay fever season when symptoms have
begun. The patient would undergo six
sessions over a two week period which
should lead to symptom reduction for
the rest of the summer.
Play Specialist, Beena Parmar helped
Beena Parmar, Play Specialist, with Dr Nick
Makwana and the Rhinolight Machine
raise £1,100 towards the final purchase
of the device through organising events
through her Gujarati community.
Dr Nick Makwana, Consultant Paediatrician,
said: “We are very grateful to Beena for her
fundraising efforts.
“It means that if we can demonstrate that
the device works in our young population
then we will be leading the way in treating
young patients who suffer from hay fever
and the money raised will go towards the
purchase of the Rhinolight.
“This year in particular has seen a rise in
the number of people showing symptoms
because of the heatwave across the country,
but studies have shown that this treatment
works very well in tackling hay fever, and
the patient will most likely be cured for the
rest of the season.”
Delight as we are named a birth
centre beacon site
Earlier this month, our organisation
was named as one of three beacon
sites for midwife-led birth centres
by the Midwifery Unity Network,
a leading UK initiative committed
to women having positive birth
experiences and an optimal start in
life for babies.
We have been named as a beacon site,
alongside Lancashire Teaching Hospitals
Foundation NHS Trust and Lewisham
and Greenwich NHS Trust, with the
announcement taking place at a national
conference at City University of London.
Helen Giles, Team Leader for Serenity
and Halcyon Birth Centres attended the
conference and was presented with a
certificate by the president of the Royal
College of Midwives, our very own
Consultant Midwife, Kathryn Gutteridge.
Heartbeat caught up with Helen to find
out more about this prestigious title.
Helen said: “We are privileged to care for
around 1,500 women and families for their
births in our midwife – led centres each
year which is around 28 per cent of babies
born at SWBH – the national average for
England is 14 per cent so that figure is great
for us, and our women and reflects the
commitment of our teams.
“Our facilities are some of the best in the
country. We often have visitors from all over
the country and indeed from abroad who
visit our centres and ask for guidance to
replicate our model within their own Trust.
“Our motto is your birth in our home – we
want to make it as inviting as possible
for women and create a calm, homely
environment and as less hospitalised as we
can.
“It was particularly pleasing to talk to a few
people at the event who had visited us five
years ago who came and thanked me for
helping them to increase the amount of
midwife led births they have.”
He went on to explain how the machine
works: “The probe has a special ultra-violet
light mix which is inserted into the end
of the nose and then changes the cells in
the nose which usually trigger the allergic
reaction.
“There is no pain involved which is why it is
a great treatment for children. This will also
save money for the NHS as, if the symptoms
become controlled, then there will be less
visits to the GP and less prescriptions for
medicines to help battle the symptoms of
hay fever.”
Beena, who has worked at our organisation
for 21 years, said: “Every year my temple,
BPM Krishna Mandir in Sparkbrook, has a
chosen charity which it fundraises for.
“There are many children within the
Gujarati community who suffer from
allergies and I wanted to raise more
awareness around it, so they agreed to hold
a dinner and dance in aid of our paediatrics
department.
“Dr Makwana visited the temple and told
them that the money would go towards the
Rhinolight machine.
“We raised a total of £1,100 and I am so
pleased that we were able to fund the
purchase of this machine.
“It is going to help a lot of children coming
to use our service.”
Birth centres share a number of important
characteristics. The midwives running
them want women to feel empowered
and supported to give birth using their
own resources. They also have an in-depth
knowledge of pregnant women’s physiology
and clear understanding about identifying
what is a change from normal requiring
intervention or involvement of our obstetric
team.
Kathryn, who the Midwifery Unity Network
describe as a birth centre pioneer, said:
“Birth centre midwives have confidence in
a woman’s ability to give birth. We develop
the skills and experience of midwives to
build that confidence, to listen to women
and to work closely with medical colleagues
to ensure optimal and safe care.
“I am particularly proud of our midwifeled
care within this Trust and to be able
to present Helen with the Beacon site
certificate was a real honour for me.”

Siten Roy appointed as new group
director
Orthopaedic Consultant, Siten Roy
has been appointed as the new group
director of surgical services. Heartbeat
caught up with Siten to find out more
about his new role.
“My role as group director is to deliver
our clinical and strategic aims, objectives,
obligations and the long-term vision in a
timely manner,” said Siten.
“I will be supporting frontline colleagues
and management teams to fully utilise
their expertise, experiences and enthusiasm
to further improve patient safety, quality
of care, productivity and resource
management.”
Siten has been part of surgical services for
16 years after joining as an orthopaedic
consultant in 2002. He completed a masters
in healthcare leadership at Birmingham
University and has been theatres clinical
director since 2015, whilst he is also a board
member the West Midlands Leadership
Academy.
After working with surgery staff and
managers for a few years in his role as
orthopaedic clinical director and then
Siten Roy is the new group director of surgical
services
SURGICAL SERVICES
theatres clinical director, Siten feels
privileged to now work with the executive
team. He said: “I consider this an
excellent opportunity to develop a feeling
of camaraderie and teamwork within
surgical services and also to work closely
with other divisions to support each other
in delivering safe and timely patient care.
“I would also like to put extra emphasis
on training and research and clinical trials.
“Externally I would like to work with
Sandwell and West Birmingham Clinical
Commissioning Group and the primary
care sector to increase collaborative
working.
“I will also do my best to encourage,
facilitate and talent manage leadership
qualities of all the team, both internally
through the established leadership
programme and externally through the
national and West Midlands Leadership
Academy.”
21

Fiona says goodbye after 20 years as
part of the SWBH family
PRIMARY CARE, COMMUNITIES
AND THERAPIES
Fiona Shorney retired from full
time work at the end of last month,
after serving in the combined role
as group director, group director of
operations and director of therapies
over the last few years.
Fiona, who is a physiotherapist by trade,
graduated 40 years ago in 1978 and her
first role was in Poole, Dorset, before
she moved to the midlands in 1980.
She worked for University Hospitals
Birmingham and Dudley Group NHS
Trusts before she arrived at Dudley Road
Hospital in 1998.
Fiona told Heartbeat: “I initially joined
the Trust as a short term locum, but I
have just never left!
“I started as a physio in acute medicine
on the City site and I worked my way
up the ladder to become associate
director of therapies, which then sat
within corporate nursing. Shortly after
Toby Lewis arrived as chief executive,
Sandwell community services formally
transferred in to the Trust and that’s
when the community and therapies
clinical group was first established in
October 2013.”
Fiona took on a hybrid role as clinical
group director incorporating the therapy
lead, group director of operations and
group director.
She said: “Since then, the group
has grown considerably with the
introduction of palliative care services and
in April 2017 the group’s name changed
to primary care, community and therapies
to reflect a number of community facing
medical specialties joining us. These services
included dermatology, rheumatology,
diabetes and endocrinology and the medical
infusion unit.
“We now have just under 1,000 members
of the PCCT, which is double the size of
what we had when we started!”
After so many years at our organisation,
Fiona has many memories and proud
moments, but what are the ones that really
stick in her mind?
“What a hard question!” she said.
“It has been fantastic to be involved in such
an amazing journey with the successful
integration of so many diverse community
services with acute and the creation of a
high performing clinical group which has
continued to grow and develop colleagues.
There is still much to do but I think we’ve
made a great start and I have been
fortunate to have an amazing senior team
and worked with some incredibly talented
and committed people across the whole of
PCCT and the wider organisation.
“Like most jobs, it’s not what you know but
who you know and I have been fortunate to
have built a valuable network of friends and
contacts across lots of teams and services,
it’s these people that I will miss the most!
“I think my stand-out highlights are being
involved with the outstanding rating the
CQC being awarded for end of life care in
2017 – although it is the team itself that
deserves the real credit, and being awarded
the Chairman’s award at the Star Awards
last year, it was a real honour!
So what are Fiona’s plans for her
retirement?
She said: “Well, initially I am carrying
on for two days a week in the group
director capacity until the group director of
operations post is recruited to. I will be less
operational but offer some support to the
wider leadership team and locally to Lydia
Jones (Director of Therapies) and Nicola
Taylor (Interim Group Director of Nursing)
who are both new to their roles.
“I won’t be staying long term, but I’d like
to handover to my successor properly and
support the team until it’s the right time to
step away.”
Fiona does however have a few things on
the horizon for the time she isn’t at work.
She told Heartbeat: “My husband and
I need to find a new home so I’m sure
house hunting will take up a lot of my time
initially. I’m also investigating becoming
a puppy-walker for hearing dogs so I’m
looking forward to that becoming a reality.
“It will also be really great to spend more
time with my family. I couldn’t have done
my job without their support - these jobs
are big and busy and you work some
long hours, but they have been incredibly
tolerant with me for a long time so I’m
looking forward to spending some quality
time with them.
“After that who knows?
“I plan to just take a step back for a while
and see what comes my way.”
22
Fiona is presented with flowers by Chief Operating Officer, Rachel Barlow (left) and Group Director of Nursing, Nicola Taylor (right)

Compassion in Care Award –
Debbie Watts
A senior assistant technical officer
working within the anticoagulant
service has scooped the Compassion
in Care Award for June after judges
received a glowing nomination from a
colleague.
Debbie Watts, the worthy recipient of
the award was nominated by her service
manager who was not only in awe of the
compassion Debbie has shown, but also of
the growing list of patients who are keen to
see her.
Nominating Debbie for the Award, Joanne
Malpass, Anticoagulant Service Manager
wrote: “Debbie has worked within
anticoagulant services since 1998, prior to
this she was a phlebotomist. She is a firm
favourite with patients and always has time
for them and has over the years built up a
rapport with them.
“There is not a clinic I don't go to that
patients don't ask after her. She will go out
of her way to ensure that she delivers the
best service she can for patients.”
Not only has Debbie become renowned
amongst colleagues and patients alike, she
never fails to keep the care of patients as
her absolute priority, Joanne added: “Debbie
is always the first to volunteer should a
patient need an urgent home visit or a
colleague needs support. Her sickness record
is exemplary and even after undergoing
treatment for cancer a few years ago she
couldn't wait to get back to work.
“She also has a fantastic relationship with
colleagues across the organisation. She has
worked for the Trust a long time and I am the
first to admit that I sometimes forget to thank
her for all the hard work she does. Thank you
Debs!”
If you know someone who has excelled at
consistently upholding our nine care promises,
nominate them for a Compassion in Care
Award. You can nominate colleagues from
any department who you feel have provided
compassionate care; this includes colleagues
from non-clinical services.
PATHOLOGY
You can nominate online on Connect:
https://connect2.swbh.nhs.uk/
communications/compassion-in-careawards/
Debbie Watts, Senior Assistant Technical
Officer
Advances in technology improving
service in imaging
The spotlight was turned on our
imaging group at the annual general
meeting in May.
Group Director of Imaging, Dr Sarah
Yusuf, along with Dr Bill Thomson,
Head of Physics and Nuclear Medicine,
demonstrated to guests at the AGM how
they had been able to excel thanks to
advances in technology over the years.
During their presentation, a film was
shown demonstrating how the cardiac CT
imaging service benefits patients through
a non-invasive procedure which produces
results within minutes of the scan.
Consultant Radiologist, Anthony D’Sa
spoke to Heartbeat about the treatment,
and also revealed how we will be one
of the first in the UK to use specialist
diagnostic technology which will transform
the way heart diseases are managed.
The company HeartFlow has produced the
Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) CT Analysis
and it is the first non-invasive technology to
track coronary artery disease.
It offers an in depth look inside the
narrowing of an artery and whether it is
impacting blood flow, and provides this
information, based on a standard CT scan.
Anthony said: “Our cardiac CT service
continues to grow in term of patient
numbers and we are about to implement
HeartFlow technology.
“We are one of the first in the UK to do
this. It will enable us to do something
different that is essential in making pressure
measurements within the coronary vessels.”
From the CT images, HeartFlow creates a
complete geometric and physiological model
of a patient’s unique coronary anatomy. It
also analyses the fluid flow closely.
The end result is a colour-coded map of
the coronary arteries showing the extent of
Group Director of Imaging, Sarah Yusuf presents at the AGM
IMAGING
any “narrowings” which are disrupting
blood flow. The doctor can use this to
plan treatment.
Previously, to determine blood flow, an
invasive procedure called an angiogram
had to be carried out.
The Cardiac CT Service has grown
rapidly since it first started, and now
sees around 1,500 patients a year.
23

24
News in brief from around our organisation
Pulse
24
If you have a story you would like to appear
on the Pulse page, please email a photo and a
short explanation to emily.smith46@nhs.net
This amazing photograph of “Matron
Ashworth” and her team outside Trust
Headquarters in 1927 received nationwide
coverage when we re-enacted the snap
with nurses of today.
Stories featured in the Daily Mail, the
Metro, and even the Aberdeen Evening
Express, as well as the local papers, the
Birmingham Mail and the Birmingham Post.
The old photograph, along with others, was
unearthed by two domestic colleagues who
handed them to Electronic Patients Records
Trainer, Sue Woodcock.
Quick-thinking Sue, who has a keen interest
in the history of the hospital, gave them to
the communications team for safe-keeping
and the idea to re-enact the photograph
was born.
Matrons, ward managers and
sisters posed for the snap in
exactly the same place where
the 1927 picture had been
taken – but the two photographs
showed the differences the health
care service had changed over 91
years.
The building had originally been the
Nurses’ home based at Hallam Hospital,
but is now Trust Headquarters, at Sandwell
Hospital.
The photo was recreated with then Chief Nurse, Elaine Newell and
matrons, ward managers and sisters
Marton Ashworth is pictured outside with other nurses outside the
nurses home in 1927
28 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, JULY 8, 2018
We need stricter
guidelines for TV
I FIND it incredible that for years and
years comedians entertained vast
audiences without u tering a single
swear word or indulging in dirty talk.
By comparison today these
so-called fu ny men and women do
not know how to make people laugh,
other than by pe dling filth and
getting paid quite a lot of money for
their lack of talent.
Audiences, for their part, a plaud
because it is expected of them or
because they are aware of the
presence of television cameras.
If these people laugh and applaud
because they rea ly are enjoying what
they are hearing, then perhaps greater
concern should be shown.
To say that such filth offered up in
the guise of entertainment does no
harm is nonsense. Even the soaps that
are shown before the watershed on
television are now concentrating t o
much on bed-hopping.
Many of these comics have
relatives, including children, who at
some point are going to view these
performances.
If they are not disgusted and
humiliated and actually enjoy what
they s e, then surely alarm bells
should ring, because if the so-called
comics do not respect their audiences,
then you would presume that
they would respect their family, most
certainly their children.
I am aware that there is an off switch
on the television but many viewers
are elderly, disabled and housebound.
Their televisions are their main
source of entertainment.
Peddling filth is not g od entertainment,
and if there is the slightest
evidence that it has a co rupting
influence on people’s attitudes, then I
would go as far as to say that there
should be far stricter guidelines.
Barbara Dunn, Moseley
Sometimes you have
to be cruel to be kind
IN My previous le ters I have twice
said do not wo ry about today’s crime
as it is going to get worse, and with
recent events I don’t think that
anyone wi l argue with my thoughts,
but I wi l say it again anyway, do not
wo ry about today’s crime it is going
to get much worse as there is nothing
to stop it.
We will never get a government
with the guts to ignore the do-gooders
and take the drastic steps to stop it.
I cannot agree with the death
penalty because, despite the introduction
of DNA, mistakes are still
being made. There are some cases
that do not involve DNA, evidence
being wit held in order to get a
conviction.
Before shouting “hang em high”,
take a realistic l ok at what caused
crime to get worse year after year.
Back in the 30s and 40s you could
walk the streets in safety, leave your
d ors and windows open, even leave
your milk money on the doorstep for
the milkman to collect.
So what is the difference today?
Children in the old days were
taught discipline and respect by
whatever means nece sary.
What ha pened then? The dog
oders and MPs got corporal
punishment abolished, t ok away
authority from the police and
teachers, even parents are no longer
a lowed to co rec their child’s
behaviour, resulting in them running
riot and being uncontro lable, which
leads to more and more of them
turning into yobs.
I believe that there is a cure,
although I doub that it wi l ever
ha pen, but for the sake of future generations,
bring back corporal
punishment and give authority back
to the police and teachers. Teach
children respect and discipline from a
young age, a slap on the arm for
young ones and the cane for the older.
I think tha to cure today’s yobs and
criminals, prisons should go back to
being punishment and not rehabilitation,
with hard work and little play, no
choice of meals where, if you don’t
like i then you can go without, and I
think tha the birch should be part of
the punishment for any crime
involving violence.
yobs who a tack firemen and
medics know when they are caught
that they will be told they are naughty
and do not do it again.
Would they still do it if the birch
was waiting for them? Is there any
reader out there who thinks tha the
person who a tacked the defenceless
90-year-old woman in her bed should
not ge three strokes of the birch?
As a young lad I was naughty and I
had the cane time and time again at
LETTERS&NOSTALGIA
VIEWS
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H
EALTH workers have
marked the NHS’s 70th
a niversary this w ek by
recreating a remarkable
1920 staff photograph
discovered in a broom cupboard.
The original image, showing a
matron, her a sistant and nurses
wearing traditional nursing caps, was
taken at Sandwell Hospital’s headquarters
in West Bromwich in 1927.
That was back in the days when it
was known as Hallam Hospital.
Fourteen staff members at Sandwe l
and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS
Trust posed in a similar line-up outside
what was once the site’s nurses’ home.
Avnash Nanra, ward manager for
the paediatric/adolescent a se sment
unit a the trust, which runs the
hospital, featured in the re-enactment.
“The old picture is truly amazing
and shows a completely different
NOSTALGIA: the NHS at 70 .
mA THEW cOOpER
Staff Reporter
■ Matron Ashworth and Assistant Matron Harding with other staff sisters at Sandwe l Hospital’s headquarters in West Bromwich in 1927, when it was known as Ha lam Hospital, and (right) the recreated photograph showing cu rent staff members
SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, JULY 8, 2018 29
Golden Hi lock sch ol and I thank
them for it as I have never b en in a
speck of trouble since I lef there.
I think you have to be cruel to be
kind.
Ray Rushton, Ha l Green
Rubbish at reservoir
getting out of hand
I WOULD like to make a
complaint abou the
ru bish that is left in
the countryside at
Bartley Green
Reservoir.
It is an eyesore!
Why don’t people
ca l the council
about it and hopefu
ly then they will
take it away.
Sometimes the ru bish
is left on the side of the road.
Is there a chance of the police
coming to check it out before it gets
out of hand?
D Knight, Halesowen
Too easy to blame
working-cla s families
REGARDING the ongoing debate
about overweight children. Is it partly
mi dle-cla s, privileged profe sionals
who are having a go at working-class
families I wonder?
To realists England is one of the
most class-ridden countries in Europe
and anyone who has not noticed that, I
think, needs to get out more.
I do not deny that we have a serious
weight problem. Perhaps the Government
wi l now star taking it seriously?
Max No tingham, Lincoln
‘Stop and search’
appeared to work
WEST Midlands Police previously had
a robust “stop and search” policy
which a peared to work, but a
self-a pointed community
adviser forced the police
officers to scale back
the scheme.
Since then gun and
knife crime has
exploded in the city
and this coupled
with the drug use has
made Birmingham
like a wild wes town.
Fred Copley, Hodge Hi l
I want to
watch good
footba l at Vi la
I AM disa pointed that Aston Vi la
did not go back up into the Premier
League and I think that it is abou time
that they got some players in now
before the season starts.
I think tha the players le the
manager, Steve Bruce down. It is a
shambles down there. I am a pensioner
and I pay my money to go down to
the Vill and I wan to see g od
players. They le the best goalkeeper
go, Sam Johnstone. I think that Steve
Bruce is a g od manager.
Mr John Rouse, Erdington
VIEWS VIEWS
Inmates from the EU make up
just 5pc of the jail population
REGARDING the letter
from J Cross in the Sunday
Mercury on July 1, the
wording of the le ter as
published gives the
impre sion tha the 4,6 0
prisoners from the EU in UK
jails make up nearly 50 per
cent of the total prisoners.
That i simply no true. At
th end of 2017 there were
4, 0 prisoners from the
EU in British prisons, and
that is only about five per
cent of the total prison
population of 83,6 0.
To pu that into perspective,
the number of
prisoners from the EU in
British jails is only half as
many as ex-forces prisoners
cu rently in prison
(8,5 0), surely a greater
cause for concern.
If after Brexit we deport
a l the EU prisoners on their
release it wi l not be long
before the remaining 27
states of the EU start
deporting British prisoners
back here, including those
from the Costa del Crime
and the many British
prisoners in the Irish
Republic.
J De l, Northfield
This w ek we have received a
donation of £10 from Mrs D Ha ris
with “birthday memories of a dear
mom, July 4, never forgo ten”.
A gift of £5 comes “birthday
memories of my dear mother
May. Also remembering my
sister Daphne who suffered from
asthma. Both are sti l mi sed and loved very much from
Joan, Alan and family”.
Please sen donations to Give A Child Health Fund,
Sunday Mercury, Editorial Department, 8th Fl or, 60 Church
Street, Birmingham, B3 2DJ. Donations can also be made via
Virgin Money Giving. Go to w.virginmoneygiving.com
and search for The Give A Child Health Charitable Trust. To
keep updated about the fund go to www.birminghammail.
co.uk/a l-about/give-a-child-health.
W ek’s total . . .. ... . .... . . .. .£15
Year’s total .. .. .. . .. .. . £2,538.70
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■ Bartley Green Reservoir
NOSTALGIA: the NhS at 70 .
side to the healthcare service,”
she says.
“You can clearly s e how things
have changed over the years.
“I was privileged to be part of
this project and I hope that the
re-enactment wi l be l oked at in
years to come.”
Electronic patient records
systems trainer Sue W odcock
was given the picture and other
images covering the period from
1927 to 19 6 by two ward service
officers.
“I was cha ting to them about
history, and they told me about
how they had found these old
pictures in one of the br om
cupboards,” sh explains. “I was
k en to s e them and so went
along with them to have a l ok.
“I was astonished to find these
very old and interesting
photographs. I have kep them
saf ever since. When I heard that
there was going to be a huge
celebration for NHS70, I thought
these pictures would be perfect.
“It would be a great o portunity
to share them with our co leagues
and visitors.”
■ The hospital i s eking
information abou the staff shown
in the 1927 image. Anyone related
is asked to contact Anuji.evans@
nhs.net
■ Matron Ashworth and A sistant Matron Harding with other staff sisters at Sandwell Hospital’s headquarters in West Bromwich in 1927, when it was known as Ha lam Hospital, and (right) the recreated photograph showing cu rent staff members
Thursday, July 5, 2018 | METRO |
IN BRIEF
Minister apologises for
Universal Credit ga fe
AN EMBARRA SING apology has
b en i sued by the work and
pensions secretary after she was
publicly rebuked by Whitehall’s
spending watchdog.
Esther McVey said she had
‘inadvertently misled’ MPs by
claiming the National Audit
Office had ca led for the
Universal Credit benefi to be
ro led out more quickly.
It came after NAO bo s Sir Amyas
Morse criticised her interpretation
of a report it had produced.
The report said UC – a
replacement for other benefits –
should not be ro led out further
until it was clear the system could
cope with no delays for payments.
Tube ads ‘a powerful
way to deter gropers’
ADVERTS warning against sexual
hara sment on the Tube would be
a ‘powerful’ way to tackle the
problem, minister for women
Victoria Atkins has said.
She told the Women and
Equalities commi t e that
targeted ads in packed ca riages
saying ‘Please don’ think this
gives you the right to grab
someone’, would be effective.
Police recorded more than 2, 0
sexual offences on the London
Underground in the past year.
Ms Atkins also hit out at the
‘offensive’ portrayal of women in
music videos and said she was
researching the impact of online
porn on a titudes to women.
Paedophile footba l
coach gets 20 years
A PAEDOPHILE footba l coach
who worked with Newcastle
United’s youth players and
sexua ly abused boys for
three decades was jailed for
20 years yesterday.
George Ormond, 62, coached a
Newcastle youth team in the ’70s
and ’80s before moving to United
in the ’90s. On Tuesday he was
convicted of 35 indecent a saults
and one of indecency.
Judge Edward Bindlo s told
Newcastle crown cour that
Ormond used his position as
coach to ‘target boys and young
men in his care’. Some never
kicked a ba l again after being
abused, the court heard.
Ca l for bus website like
National Rail Enquiries
A WEBSITE and a p giving bus
pa sengers real-time travel
information could be available
under plans to force a l firms to
share data.
The Department for Transport
(DfT) wants bus firms to provide
information on routes, fares and
timetables, developing a site
equivalen to National Rail
Enquiries. Bus data sharing has
mostly b en limited to bi ger
cities such as London,
Birmingham and Manchester,
where the Cityma per a p helps
passengers find the best routes.
The DfT may also ca l for audio
and visual prompts on buses to
a sis the disabled and elderly.
a PERfECT PiCTURE of hEalTh... whaT a diffERENCE 90 yEaRs MakE
HEALTH workers have marked the NHS’s 70th birthday by recreating a 1920s staff photo found in a br om cupboard. The image showing a matron, her assistant
and nurses in traditional nursing caps, was taken at Sandwe l Hospital’s headquarters in West Bromwich in 1927, when it was Hallam Hospital. Ward manager
Avnash Nanra, one of 14 staff in the new picture, said: ‘The old picture is truly amazing and shows a completely different side to the health care service.’
With a little help . a song for NHS heroes
Vocal su porter: Seal on the mic
World Cup Joy: Jones and
Johnson PICTURES: BRIAN RASIC
STARS including Nile Rodgers, Seal,
Myl ene Kla s and Louisa Johnson
are proving they’re real friends to
the NHS, with a song for its 70th
a niversary.
The singers have teamed up with
health workers to record With A
Little Help From My Friends a the
legendary A bey Road studios.
Also a sisting with vocals were
Danny Jones, Beverley Knight,
Engelbert Humperdinck, R ef,
Marina and The Diamonds, Una
Healy, Alexandra Burke, Rick Astley,
Tony Hadley and UB40.
Proceeds go to NHS Charities
Together, a group of 130 g od causes.
Ge ting behind the mic for the
tribute, cla sical star Kla s said: ‘For
me the NHS is so important. My mum
came over from the Phili pines in the
’60s to be a nurse for the NHS. When
you’re brought up in that environment
you realise the power of it.’
The 40-year-old a ded: ‘I don’t
know anyone that hasn’t used the
NHS, or n eded the support of it.’
Dame Vera Ly n, 101, said: ‘I
remember my mother taking me to
the doctor and having to pay for it.
You wouldn’t go unle s you were
very i l. And those without money
couldn’t go at a l. We are so
fortunate to have the NHS.’
Meanwhile, amid the serious work,
The Voice UK’s Da ny Jones and
Louisa Johnson sti l found time to
fo low the World Cup and were
jumping for joy after England’s
victory over Colombia.
Emilia: Nurses who
cared for my dad
need our help now
by laura harding
MORE than four in five people (84 per cent) said they would be
ha py to pay more tax if it mean the NHS ‘improved a great deal’,
a cording to a survey. The NHS Confederation po l found that 75 per
cent would be willing to stump up to s e slight improvements. And
61 per cent said they would do so jus to ensure services remained
at cu rent levels.
■
GAME OF THRONES star Emilia
Clarke has spoken abou the devastating
experience of losing her ‘darling
dad’ as she praised the care he
received from nurses and ca led for
cuts to their funding to stop.
The 31-year-old, who is a Royal
College of Nursing amba sador,
detailed the expertise and compa
sion of the people caring for
her father in his last days.
Speaking at an awards ceremony
in London, she said nurses were
‘begi ning to smash the old stereotypes
and, for the firs time, performing
operations and running
doctors’ surgeries’, but they had
become ‘an easy target for cuts,
no the priority for investment’.
Clarke a ded: ‘This reality breaks
my heart, as two years ago on
July 10 I lost my darling dad. Our
experience was shaped by the care
he received. I was given the o portunity
to be involved in the intricacies
that made up a day of trying
to save his life and it showed
me with such clarity, not only the
awe-inspiring skill tha the nurses
clearly had, but the emotional intelligence
that came along with it.
‘After a panic at hearing be ls and
bu zers I didn’t understand; the
hug that came my way and the
words that accompanied it both
rea sured and comforted me.
‘I know my dad received the best
care and medical su port from our
nurses that dealt with every second
of those dark days.’
Clarke said: ‘The money the NHS
has to keep our nurses trained and
a the forefront of healthcare has
b en cut in half this year in England.
This has to stop, we have to
make a change.’
She a ded: ‘Nursing is about
more than just medicine; it’s about
engaging with another person on a
human level. Like hugging a daughter
who knows she is abou to lose
her dad.’
Pa sionate
plea: Emilia
Clarke at
the Nurse of
the Year
awards in
London
last night
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NEWS
Two major engin ering groups
have announced they are joining
forces in a bid to land a multibillion-pound
contract to built new
trains for HS2.
Bombardier Transportation and
Hitachi Rail, which collectively
employ 5,000 people in the UK,
have launched a new joint venture
to submit a bid to design, build
and deliver a fl et of trains for the
high-speed line.
The £2.75bi lion contract on
offer is for a minimum fl et of 54
units that wi l run on phase one of
HS2 betw en London Euston, Solihu
l and Birmingham.
The newly designed ro ling stock
wi l also be able to travel on the
current rail network.
The formal tendering proce s is
due to start later this year, with
contract award in late 2019.
The two companies said the joint
bid would support the Government’s
aims of boosting UK jobs,
ski ls and the British supply chain,
as we l as support its own plants
including Bombardier’s factory in
Derby.
They added that they were
already developing a new generation
of engin ers and mechanical
ski ls and the joint venture would
provide a launch pad for new
investment into education.
Hitachi and Bombardier have
previously delivered one of
Europe’s fastes trains in Italy – the
ETR 1 0 for Trenitalia.
In the UK, Hitachi maintains the
country’s only domestic high
sp ed fl et, the Cla s 395 Javelins,
which it built and introduced
ahead of the London 2012 Games.
Karen Boswe l, managing director
of Hitachi Rail, said: “HS2 will
form the backbone of Britain’s
future rail network and is a major
investment in our future prosperity.
“By joining together in partnership
with Bombardier, we wi l draw
on a huge wealth of UK experience
and the best in modern technology,
including our pion ering bu let
train experience.
“our aim is to deliver a new British
icon that wi l be recognised
around the world – a Spitfire for
the British railway.”
Richard Hunter, managing director
UK of Bombardier Transportation,
added: “HS2 is a once-in-alifetime
opportunity to transform
the nation’s transport network and
we are very excited by the chance
to play a key part in delivering it.
“By joining together in partnership
with Hitachi, we wi l combine
both company’s global high sp ed
expertise with unriva led British
experience and help generate ski ls
and prosperity acro s a number of
UK regions.”
»HS2 “green co ridor” plan, P7
Major firms in
joint bid to build
‘a Spitfire for the
British railway’
Tamlyn Jones
Political Reporter
Bombardier and Hitachi Rail aim to win
£2.75bn contract for fleet of HS2 trains
NHS staff recreate old photograph
HEALTH workers have marked the
NHS’s 70th anniversary today by
recreating a remarkable 1920s staff
photograph which was found in a
broom cupboard.
The original image, showing a
matron, her a sistant and nurses
wearing traditional nursing caps,
was taken at Sandwe l Hospital’s
headquarters in west Bromwich in
1927.
That was back in the days when it
was known as Hallam Hospital.
Fourt en staff members at
Sandwe l and west Birmingham
Hospitals NHS Trust posed in a
similar line-up outside what was once
the site’s nurses’ home.
Avnash Nanra, ward manager for
the paediatric/adolescent a sessment
unit at the trust, which runs the
hospital, featured in the re-enactment.
“The old picture is truly amazing
and shows a completely different side
to the healthcare service,” she says.
“You can clearly s e how things have
changed over the years.
The hospital is seeking information
about the staff shown in the 1927
image. Anyone related is asked to
contact Anuji.evans@nhs.net
> Matron Ashworth and assistant matron Harding with other staff
sisters at Sandwe l Hospital’s headquarters in West Bromwich in
1927, when it was known as Ha lam Hospital, and (below) the
line-up of cu rent staff
4 BIRMINGHAM MAIL THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018 @birmingham_live
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HEALTH workers have marked the
NHS’s 70th anniversary today by
recreating a remarkable 1920s staff
photograph which was discovered
in a broom cupboard.
The original image, showing a
matron, her a sistant and nurses
wearing traditional nursing caps,
was taken at Sandwe l Hospital’s
headquarters in West Bromwich in
1927.
That was back in the days when it
was known as Ha lam Hospital.
Fourt en sta f members at
Sandwe l and West Birmingham
Hospitals NHS Trust posed in a similar
line-up outside what was once
the site’s nurses’ home.
Avnash Nanra, ward manager for
the paediatric/adolescent a se s-
ment unit at the trust, which runs
the hospital, featured in the reenactment.
“The old picture is truly amazing
and shows a completely di ferent
side to the healthcare service,” she
says.
“You can clearly s e how things
have changed over the years.
“I was privileged to be part of this
project and I hope tha the re-enactment
wi l be looked at in years to
come.”
Electronic patient records systems
trainer Sue Woodcock was
given the picture and other images
covering the period from 1927 to
1966 by two ward service o ficers.
“I was cha ting to them about history,
and they told me about how
they had found these old pictures in
one of the broom cupboards,” she
explains.
“I was k en to s e them and so
went along with them to have a
look.
“I was astonished to find these
very old and interesting photographs.
I have kept them saf ever
since. When I heard that there was
going to be a huge celebration for
NHS70, I thought these pictures
would be perfect.
“It would be a great opportunity
to share them with our co leagues
and visitors.”
A l the pictures, which were found
earlier this year, wi l be on show at
Sandwe l Hospital betw en 10am
and 2pm today, during a tea party to
mark the NHS anniversary.
The hospital i s eking information
about the sta f shown in the
1927 image. Anyone related is asked
to contact Anuji.evans@nhs.net
By MATTHEW COOPER
News Reporter
THEY’RE the NHS angels.
This photo from the Birmingham
Mail archives shows nurses
mode ling new NHS uniforms in
1958.
Ten years after the NHS was
born, 20-year-old student nurse
Gene Wi liams takes centre stage.
And in another historic photo,
below, Health Minister Aneurin
Bevan tours a hospital on the day
the health service was launched in
1948.
News
The NhS aT 70
staff recreate old photo to mark milestone
Matron Ashworth and A sistant Matron
Harding with with other staff sisters
which was taken at Sandwell Hospital’s
headquarters in West Bromwich in 1927,
when it was known as Ha lam Hospital
Page 35
Daily Mail, Thursday, July 5, 2018
West Bromwich in 1927, when it
was known as Ha lam Hospital.
Back then it specialised in the
treatment of infectious disease.
The nurses from yesteryear were
lined up outside the nurses’ home,
which had just b en added to the
hospital that year. Typica ly, after
a long day’s work they had to be
back in the nurses’ home by 10pm.
Matron was in ‘loco parentis’.
Back in 1927, George V was on
the throne, Stanley Baldwin was
Prime Minister and it was a time of
great medical advances, with new
va cines for diphtheria, wh oping
cough and tuberculosis.
But nursing wa sti l in its early
years of profe sionalism. Throughou
the 19th century and into the
20th, teaching schools for nurses
were responsible for se ting their
own standards for training.
It was only after the Co lege of
Nursing (now the Royal Co lege of
Nursing) was founded in 1916 that
parliament was persuaded to
bring in regulation. Now, it is an
a l-degr e profe sion – a l student
nurses are educated at university.
Since the 1960s and 70s, the
boundary betw en the work of
doctors and nurses ha shifted,
too. Nurses began to undertake
complex clinical a se sments,
diagnosed i lne s, prescribed
treatment and designed plans of
care, which would have been
unheard of in the 1920s.
Another di ference over the last
seven decades is that health care
workers from abroad have become
increasingly vital to Britain, with
targeted overseas recruitment
starting in the 1930s. In 1949, the
RCN worked with the government
to launch campaigns to recruit
hospital sta from the Caribbean
and Europe, particularly Ireland.
It is estimated that by 1965, 35 per
cent per cent of nursing sta f in
Britain were born overseas.
Fourt en sta f at Sandwe l and
West Birmingham Hospitals NHS
Trust recently posed in a similar
line-up to that from 1927 to re-
create the photo. Among them was
ward manager Avnash Nanra. She
said: ‘The old picture is truly amazing.
You can clearly s e how things
have changed over the years.’
IN their traditional starched
caps and aprons, a group of
nurses pose with their formidable
looking matron in 1927.
Now, after the old photograph
taken at Sandwe l Hospital was discovered
in a broom cupboard, health
workers have recreated i to mark
the NHS’s 70th anniversary today.
The changing face of their profe sion is
plain to s e. Gone, for example, are the
nurses’ caps for k eping hair neatly in
place and like those used by Florence
Nightingale in the 19th century.
The caps went out of fashion in the
1 90s over fears they would a tract bacteria.
Another di ference is the present
day nurses mainly wear trousers.
And while those pictured 91 years ago
were a l women, reflecting the then
prevailing view of nursing as a ‘woman’s
job’, a man is among the ranks of their
21st century su ce sors.
The original photograph was taken at
Sandwe l Hospital’s headquarters in
Matron and her sta f before the NHS
was born but in an era of progre s
1927
today
By david Wilkes
Much more has changed than the outward appearance with nursing now a multicultural and degree-educated profe sion
DOCTORS and nurses wi l be asked for
ideas to slash waste and red tape in the
NHS, Theresa May said last night.
In a me sage to celebrate the 70th anniversary
of the health service, the Prime
Minister warned that NHS bureaucracy too
often ‘gets in the way of care’.
And she said radical reform was n eded to
cope with the twin threats of childhood
obesity and dementia among the elderly.
Mrs May spoke a she invited healthcare
profe sionals to Downing Str e to celebrate
the anniversary just w eks after she
announced plans to boost NHS spending,
funded in part by the ‘Brexit dividend’.
The Prime Minister said the health service
was working on a new ten-year plan to
ensure the money i spent wisely – and
ca led on frontline workers to submit ideas.
‘I have asked the NHS itself to draw up a
ten-year plan to make sur every penny of
the new funding is we l-spent and that leaders
are a countable for delivery,’ she said.
‘Frontline sta f like you wi l be involved in
the plan’s development, so it delivers for
patients and for the health service.
‘I know that you got into medicine and
healthcare because you want to make a difference,
you wan to help people get be ter
or manage their conditions.
‘Ye too often we see bureaucracy ge ting
in the way of care, with proce s being put
before patients. So the plan wi l highlight
what changes we could make so that you
can concentrate on pu ting patients first.’
Mrs May stre sed her support for an NHS
fr e at the point of n ed but insisted reform
was vital, adding the plan wi l also embrace
technology so the health service is fi to
face the cha lenges of the future.
Help us cut waste and boost care, PM
tells medics on NHS’s 70th birthday
By daniel Martin
Policy Editor
From starched caps to scrubs,
the changing face of nursing
Staff recreate picture from 91 years ago – at the same hospital
Denise wins a red letter day
Denise Williams, Out of Hours District
Nurses Team Leader was the lucky winner
of our Star Awards nominations prize draw.
She won a red letter day experience worth
£200, curtesy of Tusker, which she has used
to have a two night break in Liverpool.
Have a fab time Denise!
Denise pictured with her red letter day
experience gift
Colleagues attend special NHS
70 services
Four colleagues attended special NSH 70
services, which were held at Westminster
Abbey and York Minster on 5 July.
Alochol Lead Nurse, Arlene Copland,
Clinical Director for Emergency Care,
Dr Nuhu Usman, Head of Operations,
Caroline Rennals and Clinical Team Leader,
Integrated Care Service, Sandra Kennelly
were amongst the 3,000 NHS staff from
across the country who attended the
services along with representatives of
charities, councils and other key NHS
partners.
Head of Operations, Caroline Rennals
pictured outside Westminster Abbey
Pam wins take a break
Last month we featured our take a break
competition in Heartbeat for the first time.
All correct entries were put into a draw
and Community Gynae Admin Clerk, Pam
Bailey was the named selected at random.
She was delighted as we presented her
with her Love2Shop Vouchers.
Pam said: “I will be sharing these with my
colleague, Claire Francis as we did the quiz
together – we really enjoyed it and will
enjoy spending our prize!”
You can find another take a break
competition on the back page of this
month’s edition.
Pam was delighted with her prize

Angharad Macgregor, Head of Clinical Effectiveness
This month we welcome Angharad
Macgregor to the SWBH family as our
new head of clinical effectiveness, who
joins us with 17 years’ NHS experience.
Angharad studied psychology at Aston
University before joining the research
department at North Birmingham Mental
Health Trust. She later moved to South
Birmingham Mental Health Trust in a
governance role and has remained in the
field ever since. She spent 14 months as a
governance coordinator at University Hospitals
Birmingham before returning to the newly
formed Birmingham and Solihull Mental
Health Trust as head of governance.
So what does the head of clinical effectiveness
role entail?
Angharad said: “I oversee a team of five, and
we are mainly responsible for managing all of
the nationally mandated clinical audits for the
trust – of which there are currently 79.
“Most bodies have a national audit for their
area, for example stroke. We coordinate the
data collection for the audit and ensure its
submitted by the deadline. Once we receive
the results, we see what we can improve
upon to make a difference to our patients’
experience.
“The audits use a mixture of information,
which includes colleagues opinions, reported
patient outcomes and clinical practice, such as
a count of how many procedures we carried
out and if they were carried out on time
following an agreed standard.
“My role also involves overseeing mortality
and our library services.”
So what attracted Angharad to our
organisation?
“I really liked the feel of the hospitals,” she
told Heartbeat.
“Everyone is intent on delivering good quality
care, even though the infrastructure isn’t quite
what it should be.
“I am delighted to be here and I am looking
forward to seeing how we can move forward
to be dynamic and diverse within the
emerging quality improvement landscape.
“I am also looking forward to working with
the library services team. We have a fantastic
library at Sandwell Hospital and a slightly
underused one at City Hospital.
"Both are open to students and colleagues,
whilst we are also now looking to expand our
reach to patients too.
“We have a number of resources on
improving your health, such as well-being and
the team can also assist patients to search for
literature which will help them to understand
their illness more and in some cases help them
to manage it better.”
Angharad Macgregor has joined as our new
head of clinical effectiveness
Wave goodbye to…
Dave Purvis,
Theatre Orderlies Team Leader
Theatre Orderlies Team Leader, Dave
Purvis has waved goodbye to our
organisation after an incredible 37 years
of service.
His colleagues in theatres arranged a surprise
leaving party for him, which took place at
Sandwell Hospital at the end of June. The
turnout at his party showed how much he
was appreciated by his colleagues and Dave
was gobsmacked at the gifts he received
from the team.
Dave’s duties included fetching patients from
the ward to bring them to theatre for their
operations, with the patients often arriving
with a smile on their face after being in
Dave’s company.
Terry January, Deputy Lead Practitioner in
Theatres told Heartbeat more about
Dave: “He would always chat to patients as
he accompanied them to theatre; he was
really good at putting them at ease.
“He treated everyone as if they were his
family and he always had time to listen to
other people’s problems.”
After 37 years of pushing patients to and
from theatre on trolleys, you can be forgiven
for thinking Dave might be putting his feet
up during his retirement, however, he is
planning to spend more time pursuing his
two great loves, cricket and rugby.
Good luck Dave – we wish you a happy and
healthy retirement.
Colleagues arranged a surprise leaving party for Theatre Orderlies Team Leader, Dave Purvis
25

Letters, of less than 200 words please, can be sent to the Communications Department,
Trust Headquarters, Sandwell Hospital or by email to swb-tr.SWBH-GM-Heartbeat@nhs.net
YOUR RIGHT TO BE HEARD
Dear Heartbeat,
We have been suffering the prolonged heat
conditions on AMU A over many months as
we have no opening windows and rely on
a ‘trickle’ vent system. The vents are thick
with dust probably riddled with bacteria.
At any point of the 24hr day 32 patients
being cared for and excess of 25 staff,
working in a stuffy uncomfortable
environment, the fans blowing around the
same recycled air, bays and G of 10 patient
beds are no better as that ventilation is
turned off completely!
The problem is nobody will clean the vents
whilst there are patients in the area the
deep clean requires closing a bay. In honesty
it is a job that involves estates and ward
services in addition to their daily schedules.
Can I ask what is the solution? Do we need
to swab for bacterial growth to get action?
Environment audits persistently picking
up the problem yet there is no workable
solution and certainly not comfortable
viewing when you see the large clumps of
dust falling.
I look forward to working towards a
solution that makes the environment better
for patients/ staff and visitors.
Dear colleague,
The emergency services building at
Sandwell uses an air conditioning
system to provide cool air without
needing to open windows. I recognise
that these vents need regular
maintenance to ensure they work
effectively and my team are planning,
in conjunction with the senior sister,
the best time to do this and other
maintenance required to improve the
environment for staff and patients.
Kind regards,
Alan Kenny, Director of Estates and
New Hospital Project
Dear Heartbeat,
Why is it that people can apply for jobs
without the qualifications and get it over
those who have the qualification and don’t
get the chance to gain experience in the job
they’ve applied for due to the department
wanting to keep their current (bank/agency
staff)?
How are we meant to develop in this trust?
Dear colleague,
I was disappointed to read about how
you feel in relation to job offers in
this Trust. We have made considerable
progress with our staffside colleagues
on improving the equality and inclusion
of our recruitment in the past 18
months. I would encourage you to raise
your concerns with your line manager
and have an open conversation with
them about your desire to progress and
gain experience and build your career.
I hope that your recent performance
development review (PDR) allowed you
the opportunity to do this and you were
able to build a development plan that
recognises your career ambitions and
potential.
If this has not been the case please
feel free to talk to me directly, the
HR business partner for your group
or someone else within your group
management team.
Best wishes
Raffaela Goodby, Director of People and
OD
Dear Heartbeat,
I have worked for the NHS long enough to
come to the realisation that there are no
new ideas, only snazzy rebrands of things
that have been tried before.
The proposed smoking ban that the Trust’s
current despotic leader has put forward
is yet another one of those rehashed
proposals, our previous chief exec tried to
do this and it ended with a shame faced
climb down – why?
It’s because you cannot legally stop staff
going off site when they are on an unpaid
break.
Staff just ended up lighting up on the
footpath just outside trust property (this
included many managers) and there was
nothing the trust could actually do about
it, we ended up with furious residents that
were inundated with discarded cigarette
butts all over the place.
I understand and totally agree with the
push to encourage a healthy life style and
as a tax payer I loathe smoking for the
burden it places on the NHS.
As a lifelong non-smoker, I find it kind of
ironic that I feel compelled to argue for
a person’s right to smoke as I personally
find it a pointless disgusting habit, and I
have spent years badgering my friends and
relatives to quit.
At one point I was the only one in my
whole extended family that didn’t smoke
now none of them do.
But this has to be done through
encouragement and support and not blunt
force or threats and fines.
In reality it is income inequality that is
widely believed to the THE single biggest
cause of health disparity around the country
as a whole.
Within the Sandwell and West Birmingham
area considered to be one of the most
deprived areas of the country maybe our
highly paid CEO should be putting his
efforts into helping to solve this underlying
root cause.
But hey – what do I know, I’m just a lowly
minion buried by the ever expanding
mountain of managers riding the NHS gravy
train.
Dear colleague,
Thanks for the abuse and slight self-pity
– we have fewer managers then five
years ago and they do a decent job.
If we get past all that and move onto
the substantive points you raise, which
are important, I would suggest that
the Trust has gone beyond many, but
not yet done enough, to try and tackle
inequality. You are right that that drives
the health impact, and work like our
apprentice programmes, and Healthcare
Overseas Professionals, is testimony
to a commitment to try and do more.
Our Integrated Care System across SWB
aims to invest more in housing and
employment, if necessary investing less
in sickness services.
On smoking you are completely right
that many attempts have been made.
After consulting widely, including
through Hot Topics as was, and our
public health committees, the full
Board reached the conclusion I reported
on NHS 70 day. On July 5 2019 we
will move to our new no smoking, or
perhaps put better, our anti-smoking
position. This will include lots of support
offers around NRT, revised policies on
issues like breaks and uniform, and
a clear arrangement for the fines we
will regretfully levy for breaches. At
the same time the local authority are
thinking through what by laws might
be applied in local roads. I agree with
you that this has to be real. It will take
action by many and in many ways to
make it so. But the case to do so is very
clear.
Best wishes
Toby Lewis, Chief Executive
26

Toby writes about…going for Good
TobyLewis_SWBH
TOBY’S LAST WORD
In 2017 the CQC visited some Trust services.
That, combined with their bigger 2014 visit,
produced a situation where about 70 per
cent of our services are rated as good or
outstanding. And the whole Trust is rated
Outstanding for the caring domain. The
exceptions lie in the emergency pathway
from A&E, through our medical wards, and
into our community wards. Whatever we
think about the CQC method, or specific parts
of the inspection process, that feels right. I do
not agree that wards at Rowley Regis were
inadequate last year, and for sure they are
not today, but as a Board we share the view,
and colleagues share the view, that acute
adult care is our biggest pressure point – in
2017 our services were not good. But this is
not a last word about the need for one site
at Midland Met, nor about rising demand as
our patients age. In fact, it’s an article about
uplifting success. In 2018 we are getting close
to, or perhaps even are at Good. Working
in emergency medicine is not easy, but our
teams’ success is making it worthwhile.
As Heartbeat goes to print almost 100 colleagues,
from all professions and grades, took shelter
from the heat in the education centre – our £2m
investment in learning and teamwork – to review
progress with consistency of care. After almost
eighteen months hard work, imagined before the
CQC inspection, but very much on the button
for the findings it gave us, work across our teams
is showing sustained results. How do I know?
Read on: Each Wednesday I am reviewing data
that shows shift by shift (typically three shifts a
day) how we look after our patients. In medicine
and community services not only do we have the
Trust-wide Safety Plan data, we also have the peer
challenge data from nursing handover. That shows
measures for care issues like fluid balance, care
rounding, falls assessments and so on. And the
data is encouraging. Every single area is above 98
per cent with most now regularly at 100 per cent.
The auditors are in, at our request, to check the
data is real and consistent. That there is no risk of
gaming.
But data only takes us so far. The voices of those
providing the services confirm the message. So
we are doing surveys and focus groups, like the
listening into action event, and there is a clear
theme. IT resilience is still a problem. Joint working
into social care is not yet right. Staffing is much,
much better but not yet always right. But care
documentation is transformed. Multi professional
working too. This week we specifically reviewed
the “push-pull” and consultant of the week
(COW) project. These aim to get senior clinical
time onto our wards every day, giving our patients
and nursing teams, consistency of view. This is not
NHS-routine. This is a specific investment to drive
up quality, not just quality of care but the quality
of how we support carers with advice. And the
quality of training we can offer all professions
based on the expertise of our consultant staff in
elderly care, gastroenterology, respiratory medicine
and cardiology. Soon we will bring neurology
into the fold. Let’s be clear some patients we
admit or retain to hospital should be looked after
elsewhere. But most need our care and are the
most acutely unwell patients. COW is all about
getting them the very best care. If you couple that
with our big investment this year in critical care
and our overwhelming focus on Sepsis, it should
be crystal clear that this Trust is absolutely focused
on safety and on quality. New hospitals and IT
systems are enablers, balancing the books oils
the engine, but this is what matter motivates and
matters.
Listening into action has a deep tradition at
the Trust and it is one we are building on. Over
recent years we have given rise to projects like the
casework investigations unit. Improvement work
now in patient transport relies on this involvement.
But consistency of care is a shining example of
us using this approach over a long term period
to develop, implement, adapt and evaluate real
change. If you read this and wonder whether
it is true, go and have a look. Volunteer for our
Almost 100 colleagues from medicine and
emergency care and primary care, communities
and therapies attended the latest listening into
action event
The MDT team from Lyndon 4
internal inspections team. Get in touch with
a matron in PCCT or in medicine. My point is
that the change must be real and sustained.
But what was immensely encouraging, what
should be a cause for pride, I believe, is the
way in which colleagues across medicine have
risen to the challenge set down by the CQC,
set down by the Board which itself alerted
the CQC to our concerns, and which is now
being met shift by shift. The session in the
sunshine which started this article ended with
a big list of “more to dos.” Inspiring ideas and
commitments from teams in every ward and
area – and when we meet again at Christmas,
I am expecting confidently that the teams
that are making consistency of care a reality in
our medical and community wards will have
delivered the next stage in their journey –
beyond good and towards outstanding.
Five big changes through
Consistency of Care:
1 We are working to get the right
patient into the right bed and
stop outlying. In July 2018 we are
“inside” our bed base for the first
time since 2015.
2 Care documentation has to pass ten
safety checks made on every single
shift, with corrections made at the
time.
3 Falls and infection rates, already
better than elsewhere, are getting
even better.
4 Every single discharge from hospital
to community is rated by receiving
staff for safety – and over 95 per
cent are green rated.
5 Each general medical ward has a
consultant working on that ward
five days a week, in-reaching
into acute medicine, providing
continuity of care.
We believe that changes 4 and 5 are
unique to SWBH
L-R: Group Director, Chetan Varma; Director of Operations, Michelle Harris; Group Director of
Nursing, Claire Hubbard; Craig Simpson, Deputy DGM Admitted Care, Craig Simpson and Chief
Executive, Toby Lewis
27

Events Diary August 2018
EVENT DATE TIME VENUE
Public Trust Board 2 9.30am–12.30pm
SWB TeamTalk 29
11am
1pm
1pm
Conference Room, Education Centre,
Sandwell Hospital
Committee Room, Rowley Regis Hospital
Education Centre, Sandwell Hospital
Hayward Lecture, City Hospital
July 2018 staff lottery results
1st £187.25
Tracy Sullivan
2nd £112.30
Julie Evans
3rd £74.90
Lawrence Barker
Don’t forget that the Trust Charity lottery costs just £1
a month and anyone who works for the Trust can join.
Payment is deducted from your wages each month. To
take part email amanda.winwood@nhs.net.
In this month's He
1
3
In this month's Heartbeat
8
5 6
8
11
13
1
Take a break:
2
3 4
11
5 6
In this month's Heartbeat
In this month's Heartbeat
1
10
14
Test your knowledge of the news in this month's Heartbeat by completing the
crossword below. You can e-mail 8 your answers to swbh.comms@nhs.net and all
13
correct answers will be put into a draw to win vouchers - good luck!
3 4
11
9
5 6
10 Who was 12 the matron in our 1927 photo?
7
Across
4 Which bank helped to transform areas in our hospitals this
month?
8 Who has been appointed as the new clinical director of
surgical services?
11 Who delivered a NHS 70 birthday card to Sheila Bate?
12 What was the name of our first NHS 70 baby?
13 When will the full dress rehersal of Unity start?
14 Who is leading the BEAT-lupus study?
13
2
10
14
9
12
7
Across
4 Which bank helped to transform areas in our hospitals this
month?
8 Who has been appointed as the new clinical director of
surgical services?
10 Who was the matron in our 1927 photo?
11 Who delivered a NHS 70 birthday card to Sheila Bate?
12 What was the name of our first NHS 70 baby?
13 When will the full dress rehersal of Unity start?
14 Who is leading the BEAT-lupus study?
Down
1 What was the name of the patient who spoke at this month's
Board meeting?
2 What is the name of the new treatment offered in
paediatrics?
3 Which school visited Sandwell Hospital on 5 July?
5 What is the name of the new role introduced in AMU?
6 Who is the winner of this month's compassion in care
award?
7 What is the name of the company helping us to recyle?
9 We have been awarded a silver rating by who?
10
14
9
12
Down
1 What was
Board meetin
2 What is the
paediatrics?
3 Which sch
5 What is the
6 Who is the
award?
7 What is the
9 We have b
nk helped to transform areas in our hospitals this
been appointed as the new clinical director of
vices?
s the matron in our 1927 photo?
Down
1 What was the name of the patient who spoke at this month's
Board meeting?
2 What is the name of the new treatment offered in
paediatrics?
3 Which school visited Sandwell Hospital on 5 July?