Welcome to the latest edition of your UHSussex staff newsletter, a round-up of the news stories from across our hospitals throughout November |
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Dear colleague
This month we shone a light on our brilliant team of radiographers, highlighted the important work of our LGBTQ+ network, and shared the fantastic efforts of our vaccination teams.
We officially opened a new welcome space, oversaw a garden transformation, and received the handover from contractors for levels 1 to 9 of the Stage 1 building at RSCH.
What’s more, we celebrated a range of fundraising efforts from staff, the successful roll-out of a winning initiative, and hitting a testing target as part of a national programme.
And lastly, a reminder that the staff survey closes at 5pm on 25 November so don’t forget to have your say!
So please grab a cuppa and take some time out to catch up on our news.
Thank you,
Communications
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It’s the final countdown for Staff Survey |
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Thanks to all the substantive and bank colleagues who have taken part so far. Our response rates are up to 41% (national average 40%). Bank staff are currently at 13% (national average is 16%). Congratulations to Corporate, Women and Children, and Cancer, who are currently the top three achieving services for participation.
If you haven’t had your say yet, don't forget to complete the survey before it closes at 5pm on Friday 25 November. Your feedback will help to shape positive improvements for staff and patients. Find out more about the ways to participate on the Staff Survey intranet pages.
Hear from some of our high-completion teams in this short video:
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Staff vaccination in full swing |
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Since we started our staff vaccinations programme in late September, our brilliant vaccinations team have administered over 6,200 Covid and 6,700 flu jabs. It’s not too late to get yours if you haven’t already, as we still have a number of clinics taking place in November. December dates will shortly be released on PathEKS.
- Wednesday 23 November: Worthing, Occupational Health, Greenacres, 9am-1pm
- Friday 25 November: SRH, Chichester Medical Education Centre, 8.30am-4pm
- Saturday 26 November: RSCH, Main Outpatients Department, 8am-12 noon
- Tue 29 Nov: PRH, based in Hurstwood Park as you enter Plumpton Ward, 8-4pm
- Wednesday 30 November: Worthing, Occupational Health, Greenacres, 9am-1pm
Don’t forget, walk-in slots continue to be available at all clinics - please bring your NHS number and assignment number. If you have accessed your vaccines in the community or are choosing to decline, please let us know by completing this form.
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Vaccinations myth busting quiz: Part one |
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Still confused about vaccinations? See our Frequently Asked Questions on the intranet or watch our short myth buster video. |
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Meet our lead pharmacist for staff vaccinations programme |
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We caught up with Vikesh Gudka, Lead Pharmacist for the UHSussex vaccination programme and Clinical Commissioning Pharmacist for NHS England/Improvement.
He shared his UHSussex career journey, how his team are helping to deliver this year's vaccine programme, and some behind the scenes secrets.
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World Radiography Day 2022 |
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On World Radiography Day (8 November), we celebrated our radiographers and their specialties, including CT, MRI, mammography, nuclear medicine, interventional radiology, and ultrasounds.
Within our Trust, we have a brilliant team of medical imaging professionals, both diagnostic and therapeutic, helping to care for our patients.
Did you know 90% of patient pathways go through diagnostic imaging? That means a radiographer will meet nearly every patient that comes through our hospitals!
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Shining a light on our transgender and non-binary workforce |
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For Transgender Awareness Week (13-19 November), Sarah O’Brien-McLean (they/them), Acute Care Nurse and Trans and Non-binary Lead, highlighted the important work of the LGBTQ+ network in supporting transgender and non-binary colleagues and patients.
Respect and inclusion are core values at UHSussex, which help create an inclusive culture that values diversity and empowers everyone to be their authentic self at work.
This includes celebrating differences and always taking the time to listen, and learn, from staff and patient experiences and perspectives.
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Impressive garden transformation supports patient rehabilitation |
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Donald Wilson Neurological Rehabilitation Centre received a remarkable makeover thanks to pupils from Seaford College who helped transform the garden as part of their Community Action Day.
The 12-bed unit now benefits from a new multi-functional space that will play a key role in each patient’s individual programme of rehabilitation, which includes medical nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and neuropsychology.
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UHSussex mum praises ‘seamless’ care colleagues at The Alex and raises vital funds |
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Paediatric audiologist, Naomi Austin, who praised the ‘seamless’ care her colleagues at The Alex gave her baby son Carey, has reached 40k of donations for a fund she set up to support research into his rare cancer.
Naomi was inspired to set up Carey’s Friends to help raise awareness of the blood cancer Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukaemia (JMML), and improve treatment knowledge and understanding when some children relapse.
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Sanctuary officially opens at Worthing |
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Chaplains from across the Trust gathered for the formal opening and dedication of The Sanctuary at Worthing Hospital, a refurbishment of our former chapel.
This welcoming space will offer sanctuary to staff, patients and visitors seeking refuge and hospitality within our hospital, irrespective of faith or religion.
David Hill, Chaplain said: “For the community of the hospital, and it is very much a community, we want this place to feel hospitable - we want it to be welcoming to all.”
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Laundry team clean up with Star of the Month award |
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St Richard’s Hospital Laundry Team’s ‘resilience and flexibility’ throughout the refurbishment of their service has seen them win October Star of the Month.
The team were nominated by Lizzie Peers, Non-executive Director, and Patrick Boyle, Deputy Chair and Non-executive Director for their efforts before, during and after the £7million refit.
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Handover of levels 1 to 9 in the 3Ts Stage 1 Building |
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On Tuesday 22 November at 5pm, levels 1 to 9 of our new building at RSCH were ‘handed over’ to the Trust, by the contractors.
This is an important milestone, while recognising there is still a huge amount of work to do to turn the building into a hospital, by spring next year.
Watch the handover video below to find out more, and look out for the all-staff briefing on Friday when we’ll be announcing the name of the new building.
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STAR Awards winner rolls out innovation to support patients to stay fit and well throughout pregnancy |
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‘Innovator of the Year’ STAR’s winner and Specialist Physiotherapist Andrea Yeboah, along with her colleague Bella d’Almeida, has successfully rolled out the winning initiative to support pregnant women and people in Sussex through their pregnancy and after birth.
The initiative came about after Andrea and Bella, Pelvic Health Physiotherapy Service Lead, completed clinical improvement scholarships, allowing them to explore their respective areas of interest; perineal tears and the effects of antenatal yoga on anxiety, stress and depression.
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Birdham Ward raises money towards quiet room |
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Birdham Ward at St Richard's Hospital raised £1667 towards refurbishing a quiet room to help support patients, relatives and staff during difficult times.
The team were inspired after attending one of the Trust's in-house training modules: Emerging Leaders Band 6 Development Programme, which is led by the Practice Development and Education Team.
The funds were raised by a fancy dress sponsored walk through Chichester, and a cake sale and raffle at St Richards Hospital.
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Dietitians host teaching event at the County |
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Colleagues hosted a Renal Diabetes Day teaching day for staff to think about healthy eating and learn about the Freestyle Libre, a glucose monitoring system designed to liberate patients from the hassles of glucose monitoring.
Along with an interactive healthy eating promotion stand that got everyone engaged and talking, all staff that attended received a CPD certificate.
There was also a prize draw with items, including vouchers, donated from local businesses.
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Sussex Network hit testing target as part of national programme to eliminate Hep C |
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The Sussex Hepatology Network at Royal Sussex County Hospital has reached a testing target set by NHS England, as part of a national project helping eliminate hepatitis C as a major health threat by 2025.
Hepatitis C is preventable, treatable, and curable for most people. If left untreated, however, the infection over time can lead to scarring on the liver (cirrhosis), liver failure or cancer.
In a bid to create a snapshot of how close we are to eliminating the virus across the country, networks were asked to test 400 people from high-risk groups over a six-week period.
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Patient First Planet First news |
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Brighton to Liverpool challenge |
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Good luck to Bethan Davies, UHSussex Stroke Consultant and Green Clinical Lead for PRH and RSCH, who is cycling from Brighton to Liverpool to raise awareness of air pollution and promote more sustainable ways of travelling.
The 447km journey will also raise money for Global Action Plan, an environmental charity which focuses on health and in particular air pollution, and Different Strokes, a UK charity which supports young stroke survivors.
Bethan is setting off from The County today (November 24) and will reach Liverpool to attend the 2022 UK Stroke Forum on November 29, where she will be speaking about stroke and climate change.
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Staff help plant trees at 3Ts |
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Staff got involved with planting trees around the new clinical building at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.
There are 20 planters on various levels of the building, where trees, shrubs and plants have been put in to create green spaces for everyone to enjoy.
Karen Geoghegan, Chief Financial Officer for UHSussex joined in the planting. She said, “Research shows us that patients, visitors and staff all get an improved sense of well-being from seeing greenery and views of nature. From the start we planned for everyone to benefit from these green spaces, and from our location close to the sea. I’m proud to be helping to make those plans real in this wonderful new building.”
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Following a call out for people to return their unwanted walking aids, over 90 items were collected at various drop off points across Brighton, including the Royal Sussex County Hospital and Hove Polyclinic.
The crutches, sticks and walking frames will be thoroughly cleaned and checked so that they can be reissued to another patient who needs them. Items which cannot be used again will be recycled, preventing them from going into landfill.
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Don’t miss – £3 gig tickets
A fantastic night of live music at The Old Market in Hove on Friday 9 December can be enjoyed with £3 tickets.
Over 20 up and coming bands will take to the stage from 7.30pm, showcasing original music and creative covers from some of the finest new talent from BIMM Brighton.
BIMM is Europe’s leading and largest music education institute, and former star students include The Kooks, James Bay and Tom Odell.
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A special festive visitor |
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This December, Buddy the elf will be popping in to visit staff across our hospitals and satellite sites, to learn more about how our teams support patient care.
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In case you missed it....
Here's our round-up of all the stories and updates across the Trust in November:
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Patient feedback highlights |
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