Friday 28 March 2025
CHATTER BOX
Your fortnightly bulletin for SaTH colleagues and events
Major achievement for colleagues as new Emergency Department facilities go live!
A new resuscitation and majors’ area has officially opened at RSH as part of the Hospitals Transformation Programme (HTP).
Thank you to everyone who has been involved and for the adaptability shown by our Emergency Department (ED) colleagues at RSH. This first phase of HTP ED refurbishment will help us on our journey of improving urgent and emergency care experience for every patient.
You can see inside the new facility in this video.
Lead Chaplain Pat Aldred talks about what Lent means to him
“Lent is that time of year when Christians heroically give up chocolate, caffeine or social media – only to spend the next 40 days dramatically announcing how much they miss all the good stuff that they’ve given up – at least that’s my story!
“Lent, though, is inspired by Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness. It’s meant to be a time of fasting, reflection, and spiritual renewal. This time, many Christians are sharing the season of Lent with our Muslim sisters and brothers. They, too, will fast during the holy season of Ramadan which, this year, coincides with Lent.
“For many Christians, Lent is often a battle between self-discipline and the biscuit tin. But some take on extra acts of kindness or prayer, while others simply try to survive without their morning coffee. But at its heart, Lent (and Ramadan, for that matter) isn’t about suffering for suffering’s sake - it’s about resetting our focus and drawing closer to God. At the end of both Ramadan and Lent is the joy of Eid and Easter – a time to celebrate, meet with family and friends and eat all those delicious foods we’ve been missing. When the time comes, let’s celebrate together!”
Eid ‘grab and go’ bags
In recognition of Eid al-Fitr, we are providing colleagues with ‘grab and go’ breaking of the fast bags which include a drink, breakfast bar and a muffin. These will be available on a first come first served basis from the multi-faith rooms at RSH and PRH from Saturday 29 March. These bags were kindly funded by SaTH Charity.
Thank you to those who have attended NHS Staff Survey briefings so far, to hear from your leaders and managers in more detail about the results and hear about the next steps on our culture and leadership programme.
More sessions are coming up. See the schedule on the intranet. Please prioritise your attendance at these sessions.
Menopause Support Package
We are proud to launch our Menopause Education and Support package.
We will be hosting a variety of sessions hosted by experts, available to both women and men, to offer advice and support on topics such as the signs and symptoms, health and nutrition as well as menopause advocates training sessions to name but a few. Sessions vary from being held face-to-face which must be booked via the links in this document, or on held on MS Teams.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Last week we marked Neurodiversity Celebration Week which is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences.
It aims to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported, while creating more inclusive and equitable cultures that celebrate differences and empower every individual.
How are we supporting neurodiversity?
• Neurodiversity at Work Programme
Last year we launched our Neurodiversity at Work Programme, after you told us that we could do more to support colleagues with neurodivergent needs.
• DAWN
DAWN (The Disability, Ability and Wellness Network) provides a confidential, psychologically safe space for staff with a disability or long term-health condition, and allies. The network enables members to share experiences, information and best practice, offer support, and influence positive change for people with disabilities at SaTH. If you would like to join the network, or for more information, please email sath.edi@ nhs.net
• Sunflower lanyards
The hidden disabilities lanyard is a tool for people to use, to share that they have a disability or condition that we might not notice straight away. Wearing a sunflower lanyard symbolises
that there may be a need for additional support and acts as a visual prompt.
People wearing a sunflower lanyard may need help finding their way in the hospital or to an appointment, or require help communicating through use of a hearing loop or through an interpreter. The lanyards are available in our hospitals and can be collected from:
• Royal Shrewsbury Hospital - Treatment Centre
• Princess Royal Hospital - Outpatient’s Reception or Women and Children’s Reception
• The Health and Wellbeing Passport
The purpose of ‘the passport’ is to provide a documented record of your individual needs, which would allow you to function to your maximum capacity in a supportive environment, without prejudice or discrimination. The passport can be used for any member of staff who feels that they may need some additional support at work.
• Reasonable adjustments information booklet
If a colleague requires workplace adjustments due to a disability, neurodiverse or long-term condition, we have a duty to make reasonable adjustments. This may include mental health conditions, physical, sensory or neurodiverse conditions, sometimes these may be hidden disabilities.
• Masterclasses
A Leadership Masterclass, Neurodiversity - How to Support Colleagues at SaTH is available to book on LMS
Nutrition and Hydration Week
Last week we celebrated Nutrition and Hydration Week, and the Dementia and Movement Matters teams were out and about on the wards offering patients free smoothie samples and a fruit salad selection.
At RSH the smoothie trolley visited wards 37 and 24, and at PRH Wards 4, 6, 7, 11, 16 and 17.
The free smoothie samples and fruit salad selection were donated by the Catering team and were a big hit with our patients, some even going on to purchase a full size one.
It was great to see so many patients visiting the smoothie trolley and the team received a lot of positive feedback. Patients enjoyed the refreshing taste of the smoothies and enjoyed the chopped fruit salad option as opposed to a whole piece of fruit.
Mr and Mrs Rowley who have been married for over 60 years really enjoyed the smoothies (pictured left).
Where possible the team encouraged and supported patients to mobilise to the trolley so they could see what we had on offer, which also encouraged walking around the ward.
The team promoted the importance of eating well and drinking well whilst in hospital and also gave out some Think Delirium cards. Some of the patients had never had a smoothie before and said it was nice to try something different.
There was a patient who was end of life and on ‘Taste for Pleasure’, who tried a passionfruit and mango smoothie. It was lovely to see him enjoying the whole taster pot and placing it back on the bedside table when he had finished.
Mr Thomas, a patient on Ward 24, said: “This has made my day, such a change. I love the fruit ready sliced, and as it’s so warm here, it was refreshing.”
Thank you to Catering for supplying the smoothies and fruit selection.
National Supported Internship Day
National Supported Internship Day is a national celebration of supported internships in the UK. It was created and launched in 2023 by DFN Project SEARCH.
Held annually on 27 March, the aim of National Supported Internship Day is to raise awareness of supported internships.
DFN Project SEARCH is a national charity dedicated to transforming employment opportunities for young people with a learning disability, or autism, or both. Working in partnership with over 200 organisations across the UK, they bring together local education providers, local authorities, and supported employment partners to create meaningful career pathways.
Backed by data and driven by people, they have already supported over 2,000 young people, with an average of 63% securing permanent, paid roles. Their ambition is simple: to create a more inclusive workforce where talent is recognised, opportunities are accessible, and aspirations become achievements.
We have partnered with Enable, DFN Project Search Telford College and Shrewsbury Colleges Group to offer young people with learning disabilities and autism the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and paid employment in areas such as catering, housekeeping, League of Friends, ward clerks and other administrative roles at RSH, and roles in the post room, ward 5, catering and the discharge lounge at PRH.
According to DFN, the project has demonstrated that young people with learning disabilities and autism can enrich the workforce, bring incredible skills and talent, and encourage greater diversity.
To date, the programme in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin has achieved an average employment rate of 60%, compared to the national average of 6% for people with learning disabilities and autism. Here at SaTH, we are looking for departments who
will be willing to support an intern as part of this exciting programme. Interns will be on a 12-week placement from 10am-3:30pm, Monday - Friday (during term time only).
They will require a ‘mentor/buddy’ to be assigned to them, who will orientate them to the department, show them tasks which the intern will do and where necessary support them to learn the skills required for the task. We also have access to a job coach who will be able to work alongside the intern to teach them the task if additional support is required. At the end of the 12 weeks, the intern will then rotate to a new area to gain different skills.
We hope that you will consider hosting an intern within your team, should you have any questions or queries regarding the internship programme, please do not hesitate to contact Tom George (tom. george@nhs.net) Tracy Newbold (t.newbold@ nhs.net) or Sian Owen (sian.owen11@nhs.net)
Liam Binding
Liam is currently on his second rotation, currently working within the Comms Team at RSH.
Liam says: “I upload news articles on PUNCH, filling out the excel spreadsheets, creating and editing videos and posters for the team. Also I fill out the picture library excel spreadsheet and making sure pictures are numbered correctly.
“The best part about working in Comms is being part a team because the team are friendly and very knowledgeable about the task they are explaining.”
AHPs encouraged to get greener
It is Greener AHP Week from Monday 31 March to Friday 4 April and we are encouraging Allied Health Professions to take part in a bid to tackle climate change.
The NHS is responsible for 5% of all UK emissions. Every aspect of healthcare delivery, from the production and disposal of equipment used, to the energy used in the settings we work in, to the travel for our patients and staff, contributes to carbon emissions.
By addressing these areas, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint and move towards a more sustainable healthcare system.
AHPs can help to reduce the environmental impact of our services and deliver sustainable healthcare.
The ‘Allied Health Professions strategy for England: AHPs Deliver’ emphasises integrating net zero practices into all AHP work.
We are asking AHP teams to get involved with Greener AHP Week this year. You can find the full programme of events here.
Sleep out in aid of homeless military veterans
Good luck to colleagues will swap their warm beds for sleeping bags this weekend as part of ‘The Great Tommy Sleep Out’ in aid of homeless military veterans.
Emma Colley, an Emergency Care Technician, and Sarah Millington, a Healthcare Assistant (HCA), who both work in the Emergency Department at PRH will be joined by others to sleep out on the Wrekin this Saturday 29 March.
There is still time to donate to the group’s JustGiving page
Colleagues don their high-vis and hard hats
Integrated Health Projects (IHP) –the contractors for the multi-million pound investment in hospital services – have taken colleagues behind the scenes at the construction site at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH).
Colleagues learnt more about the building process and what the expected milestones are for construction of the new four-storey healthcare facilities at RSH.
Throughout detailed computer generated modelling, IHP were able to show the different areas within the new space and how it will connect to the existing building. They then headed out to the construction site to see the great progress being made.
Thank you to IHP and colleagues who attended this session.
Orthodontic symposium success
On Friday 21 March, Leonie Seager, Consultant Orthodontist, and Rebekah Tudor, Service Improvement Business Partner, were invited to present as keynote speakers at the British Orthodontic Society Consultant Orthodontists Group Symposium in Nottingham.
The talk was titled “Waste not want not: Identifying and implementing improvement tools within secondary care orthodontic services.”
In the presentation they talked about various improvement projects including how to improve clinic utilisation, implement Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU) and implementing ideas to reduce the waiting time for MDT treatment within the service.
They also highlighted key improvement tools which have been used successfully within these projects so that delegates could return to their own trusts and units with ideas of how to use these tools when making improvements in their services.
Arti Hindocha, Consultant Orthodontist and Symposium Lead, said: “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks for the excellent Keynote lecture at the COG Symposium. The insights, expertise, and engaging presentation were truly appreciated by all attendees and contributed significantly to the success of the event. The talk was both informative and inspiring, and it was a pleasure to see clinicians and colleagues from the Improvement hub working together.”
Andy ‘braves the shave’ for Macmillan
Andy Scott, who has been an ENT Consultant at SaTH for over 20 years, braved the shave to raise money for Macmillan last week.
Andy decided to shave his head, not only to raise money and awareness for the Macmillan Cancer Support charity, but also in solidarity with his wife Julia.
Julia, who also works at SaTH as a Sonographer, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma last August and is losing her hair due to chemotherapy treatment.
You can find Andy’s fundraising page here
Happy retirement to June and Julie
Julie Griffin and June Harris, who both work as domestics in the Lingen Davies Centre are retiring at the end of March after a collective 54 years’ service between them.
Thank you to both for their dedicated service. They will be missed by patients and colleagues.
SaTH Research & Innovation Conference
+01952 641222 ext 5764 Contact
sath.research@nhs.net
Child exploitation (CE) is a form of criminal or sexual abuse that involves the manipulation and/or coercion of young people under the age of 18 into criminal or sexual activity, sometimes in exchange for things such as money, gifts, accommodation, affection or status.
Easter Egg Prize Draw
Look out for Easter egg shaped entry forms around the hospital , or collect from Shrewsbury or Telford Health Libraries
Hand in your entry at either library and be entered into a prize draw to win a big chocolate Easter egg!
Entries must be in by Monday 14 April
Will you be the lucky winner? One entry per person
Learn British Sign Language
STAFF LOTTERY
This
month’s winners...
1st £550
Sarah Whitehead, Postnatal Ward 2nd £275
Fani Stamou, ITU/HDU 2nd £275
Sophie Rawlings-Jones, Communications 3rd £125
Andy Haynes, Radiology 3rd £125
Sarah Perks, Orthodontics & Maxillofacial 4th £100
Jamie Henry, Corporate Nursing 4th £100
Karen Swain, Clinical Audit 5th £50
Lee Wyatt, Estates 5th £50
Lucie Price, Renal Unit 5th £50
Penny Watson, Palliative & EOLC Team 5th £50
Kellyanne Bilton, Information Governance 5th £50
Kathy George, Adult Safeguarding
JOIN THE STAFF LOTTERY AND BE IN WITH A CHANCE TO WIN
12 CASH PRIZES EVERY MONTH!
Tickets only £1
Payment will be deducted from your salary; winnings are paid into your salary the following month.
Why join our staff lottery?
50% of profits are given out in prizes and the other 50% is adding to our Small Changes Make a Big Difference Fund which is all spent on items for staff.
The SaTH Small Things Make a Big Difference Fund aims to improve the working environment and amenities for all employees.
Click here to download the T&C’s and enter the staff lottery
I visited the hospital recently for a scan in your main X-ray department. I didn’t quite catch the name of the radiologist but it was something along the lines of Lela.
I have to say I was quite nervous but she immediately put me at ease and I can’t thank her enough for that. I’ve had many scans prior to this one, but she stands out from the crowd as an absolute winner.