Dear Colleagues
Welcome to the September edition of our UHSussex staff newsletter.
There’s been lots happening, including a summer of creative wellbeing workshops, the relaunch of Star of the Month, and a host of inspiring stories of innovation and generosity.
Communications
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Critical care medic finalist for Best Doctor national award |
Intensive care doctor, Sammy Batt-Rawden, was one of three finalists shortlisted for The Sun’s #WhoCaresWins Doctor of the Year award. She was recognised for her work advocating for those inside the NHS and championing their wellbeing.
She said: “It was lovely to be nominated and I was over the moon to be able to dedicate this award nomination to my work family at Brighton ICU. They have really been through it the past few months. But despite working in the most trying of circumstances my colleagues are the most supportive team I have ever worked with. Really this recognition should have gone to them. I couldn’t be prouder to work in such an amazing team. I was also so humbled to be at the ceremony hearing about all the amazing things NHS staff are doing across the country.”
During the pandemic, amongst setting up several peer-to-peer mental health support groups and launching NHS Million, a support group now followed by over 700,000 supporters and the NHS Blue Heart campaign, Sammy has been busy re-decorating the critical care staff area at the Royal Sussex County Hospital to provide a restful space for the ICU team.
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World-first ‘amazing’ initiative |
An award-winning world-first Trust initiative, HIV testing in the community’, has helped see a 44% reduction in Brighton residents diagnosed with HIV since its launch in 2017.
‘HIV testing in the community’, which was established by UHSussex Sexual Health consultants in partnership with The Martin Fisher Foundation, uses a smart vending machine to dispense free HIV self-testing kits.
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The HIV self-tests give a result in just 15 minutes from a single drop of blood. Importantly, of those diagnosed in Brighton & Hove this year, 100% received HIV treatment within 30 days. Once on effective treatment, people living with HIV are unable to pass the infection on.
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Wellbeing workshops a huge success |
The creative wellbeing workshops were run across our four main hospital sites over eight days during July and August.
Almost 500 staff have taken part across the eight workshops, trying their hand at Cyanotype printing, enjoying refreshments with colleagues, and relaxing with a short massage. An in-house counsellor or psychotherapist was also available for a discreet chat.
The finale, which took place at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton last month, was attended by a variety of teams including imaging, pharmacy and nursing.
Everyone who joined was asked on check-in how they were feeling with many sharing that they were 'tired', 'stressed', 'busy', and 'anxious'.
However, at check out, staff comments included: 'relaxed', 'happy', 'brighter', 'excellent', and 'chilled'.
Watch highlights from the workshops at Haywards Health, Worthing, Chichester and Brighton.
Following the success of the events, work is underway to scope out how we can deliver this to our smaller sites.
We are also planning to stitch together the individual artworks to form a collaborative piece to be hung in our hospitals.
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Thank you!
Both the workshops and wellbeing webinars have been made possible thanks to funding by BSUH Charity and Love Your Hospital based on grants awarded from NHS Charities Together.
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Investing in our emergency departments |
A&E departments are being upgraded thanks to a £3.5 million investment, split across UHSussex.
At St Richard's, the renovation means staff can now enjoy a larger staff room, new toilets, larger open plan offices and a teaching seminar room and a new pantry for the housekeeping team.
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Emergency nursing assistant Sam Austin said: “The new staff room is great, it’s a lot bigger. We have a lot more fridge space, so we can all store our lunch or dinner in there. And the green plants are a lovely touch. Brightens the room up.”
There are also private rooms for patients, two new resuscitation rooms and new dedicated areas to increase capacity for an additional triage nurse. The additional equipment the department has received such as bladder scanners, fully-equipped resuscitation trolleys and monitors.
What stands out more than the new space and equipment, however, is the resilience of A&E staff, said assistant care group manager Nikki Hoar. “They have been unbelievable. They just keep going! They coped with the work being carried out during the wave of peak two and with A&E admissions at an all-time high. They deserve all of this and more.”
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A new Urgent Treatment Centre: Improving and expanding A&E at the Royal Sussex County Hospital |
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As part of the trust's investment in emergency departments, a new Urgent Treatment Centre is being built next to the ambulance drop off area at the front of A&E at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. This will help improve services for everyone who comes to the hospital’s A&E.
The new centre will focus on the care of patients who probably will not need to stay in hospital. It will increase capacity in A&E for these patients and allow for better patient flow through all parts of the department. This new centre follows on from the opening of 9 extra cubicles in the main body of A&E to care for patients who are more critically injured or unwell.
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Luke swaps hospital for Birmingham Airport to help Afghan refugees |
Usually, when Dr Luke Tester has a couple of days free from the shifts and stresses of A&E at the Royal Sussex County Hospital you will find him out and about with friends, maybe practising the piano, or, more recently, finishing his Post Graduation Certificate in Medical Education. |
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Last week, two days off were spent a little differently as he swapped a hospital in Brighton and caring for the sick and ill of Sussex, for an airport in Birmingham, welcoming desperate and frightened refugees as they arrived in the Midlands having fled their homes in Afghanistan.
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Welcoming two new managing directors |
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Two new board members started with the trust this month, both taking on managing director roles within the new executive team structure. |
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Kate Slemeck and Dr Andy Heeps will lead operational management for the trust for Brighton and Hove and West Sussex respectively, in addition to other executive responsibilities.
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New this month
Click on images for more information
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Weekend of fundraising fun |
The weekend of 11 to 12 September was jam-packed with sporting challenges, as a host of UHSussex staff and local people participated in events to raise money for BSUH Charity.
First up, on 11 September was the BSUH Charity abseil event. An intrepid group of eighteen ‘jumpers’ took on the big leap with an abseil 450 ft. down Brighton’s iconic British Airways i360. Sixteen members of the group were from the maternity team at The Royal Sussex County Hospital.
Then on the Sunday, it was the rescheduled Brighton Marathon event. Six runners took part in the 10k race and eleven runners took on the marathon, to raise funds for the charity. It was a wonderful day with the BSUH Charity cheer station being one of the loudest on the course!
Interim director of charities, Steve Crump, said: “What a wonderful weekend! Over the last eighteen months, all of our major charity fundraising events have been put on hold or cancelled and this has had a huge impact on our fundraising capabilities.
"So we were over the moon to be returning with our first event at the British Airways i360 and back at The Brighton Marathon. We are so grateful to these wonderful fundraisers - your resilience, bravery and stamina are to be commended!”
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Staff march at Goodwood Revival ‘Victory’ parade |
Staff were invited to take part in a very special parade on Sunday 19 September at Goodwood Revival to celebrate and recognise the contribution of local key workers and service people.
The Victory parade recreated the celebrations that took place 75 years ago to commemorate the end of the Second World War and give thanks to the service people and civilians who contributed to the war effort.
Andrea Field, neonatal nursery nurse at St Richard’s said: “I’ve never been to Revival before and being part of the parade made it all the more memorable. It was quite emotional to see people in the crowd standing and clapping for us. It made me feel very appreciated and proud of my colleagues across the whole NHS.”
The parade party stopped on the Pit Straight as the Duke of Richmond addressed the crowds. Delivering a speech honouring key workers, he thanked them for their “dedication and tireless efforts” over the last 18 months.
Jenny Gilmore, specialist biomedical scientist at xxxxxxx, said: “It was incredibly kind to be selected to attend this amazing event. I loved the atmosphere and seeing people dressed in their vintage finery. It was moving to be flying the flag for the NHS, especially after the challenging time myself and my fellow colleagues have been through.”
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Steve Crump said: “A huge thanks to Goodwood for gifting Love Your Hospital with 75 pairs of tickets for staff and their loved ones to join in this poignant parade. Also, to our Divisional Directors for helping to select staff to join us. It’s a wonderful recognition of the hard work and dedication of staff across all our hospitals and a proud moment for all involved.” |
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Book your Covid-19 booster vaccination now |
Covid-19 boosters are now available for all staff. For information, including how to book, please read our intranet news story.
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Virtual conference for Allied Health Professionals |
The first ever system-wide virtual conference for Allied Health Professionals (AHPs), or those thinking about becoming one, will take place on Friday 8 October 2021.
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Development opportunity for managers |
The Apprenticeship Team will be holding an information session on 6 October 11:30am-12:30pm via Microsoft Teams for managers interested in a two-year L6 chartered management degree apprenticeship. Read more on our intranet.
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The next all staff briefing is Thursday 14 October |
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