|
Issue 47
|
Thursday, 21 December
|
|
|
As we approach the festive season, I wanted to reflect on 2023.
So much has happened this year. From the incredibly warm welcome I received on joining the team in February, to meeting two of you who have each given 50 years of dedicated service to the NHS, and celebrating with the recipients of our regular ‘Putting You First’ awards throughout the year.
 With the big day still a few days away, our award-winning catering staff at West Suffolk Hospital spread festive cheer over two days of serving up delicious Christmas dinner to more than 350 hungry colleagues.
 Colleagues gathered at the Mildenhall Hub last week to wish Heather Male well on her retirement from our community services. Heather, clinical team leader with the Mildenhall and Brandon integrated neighbourhood team, notched up a total of 27 years’ NHS service, and worked with community health services in Suffolk since 2007.
 |
|
Liza Asti, professional lead for speech and language therapy (SALT), writes: “Janet Woulds, our lovely speech and language therapy assistant, is retiring today (21 December). Janet joined the trust in 2003 and started her NHS career as a physio assistant in orthopaedics. |
|
|
 |
|
The Trust’s data collection team have been awarded the gold medal in the National Joint Registry (NJR) Quality Data Provider Awards 2023. |
 |
|
The Trust’s virtual ward has been operational since 28 November 2022. This innovative service has grown and developed over the past year, helping more than 600 patients return home from hospital sooner or avoid having to come to hospital altogether. |
 |
|
Members of the clinical education team at the Trust have been awarded the National Preceptorship Gold Interim Quality Mark Award, recognising their work in supporting newly-registered nurses, midwives and allied health professionals (AHPs). |
|
|
 Wow how is it December already? We don’t know about you, but it feels like the year has flown by. It’s been a great one, though, for My WiSH and we have had some amazing things happen.
 Chief executive Dr Ewen Cameron donned beard and red robe today to visit some of our youngest patients on the Rainbow Ward at West Suffolk Hospital, and handed out gifts.
Thanks to generous donations and the support of staff, My WiSH charity has been able to ensure that every patient who will be in our hospitals over Christmas will receive a present.
Ewen said: “It is a great pleasure to visit our Rainbow Ward patients and hand out some presents, and I’d like to express my thanks to all the people whose donations have enabled our Trust charity provided these gifts. We know these youngsters would rather not be in hospital over Christmas, and want to do anything we can to make their stay a little happier.
“My WiSH charity does so much to enhance the experience of our patients every day of the year, and today’s ‘Santa’ visit is just one example of the great work they do.”
|
|
|
As a reminder of the terrific support we get from our volunteers all year round, volunteer coordinator Michelle Boor has shared these photographs of just a few of them: Sue, Paul and Wendy on the WSH information desk, and also Thelma with the team on King Suite at Glastonbury Court.
 Emily Baker, consultant clinical psychologist and lead of the Trust’s staff support and wellbeing team, reminds us all how important it is to acknowledge that this season can be a challenging – as well as a happy – time.
|
|
 “Nothing About Us, Without Us”
For Disability History Month (16 November to 16 December), our Disability Staff Network, looked at the past, present and future lives of people with disabilities. Events included an open event in the education centre, and network co-chair, Ceiridwen Fowles, addressed the Board meeting on 1 December.
 Greetings from the chaplaincy
Rufin Emmanuel, lead chaplain, writes: “It was lovely to see all those who attended the carol service last week, we hope everyone enjoyed the short time out of their busy days to join the chaplaincy team in celebrating Christmas.
|
 Christmas and New Year vaccination clinics
There will be flu and COVID-19 booster vaccination clinics today (21 December) and tomorrow at Birch House, at the West Suffolk Hospital, from 11am to 3pm. The clinic will then close until Tuesday, 2 January.
 Support with finding answers
Do you need to get things done but constantly run out of time? Is the pressure of work stopping you from asking questions and finding answers? The Library’s FIRST4Help sessions can help you to save time, make better decisions and get things done.
|
|
 As a result of feedback received via the national NHS staff survey, the Trust’s newly formed organisational development and learning team, has been reviewing the Trust’s non-medical appraisal process. Set to launch in January 2024, a new process has been piloted with colleagues across the Trust, with the aim of ensuring meaningful conversations around setting objectives, goals, and ambitions for the future.
|
|
 Sharing the stop the pressure message
This year’s Stop the Pressure campaign was last month, and had the important message that “Every CONTACT Counts”. The Tissue Viability team visited all our community teams and inpatient wards, raising the “Stop the Pressure” profile and providing education as needed. Thank you to everyone who invested their time to support the week.
Training courses
There will be further information about training programmes and courses in the next issue of Green Sheet, but here are two taking place before our next edition:
Foundation to quality improvement (QI) training – Tuesday, 9 January from 10am to 11am on Microsoft Teams. To book use this link: QI training booking link
Psychological safety in teams (NHS Elect) – Tuesday, 9 January from 2.30pm to 3.30pm – on Microsoft Teams. Register now using this link: Psychological safety in teams webinar
|
 Development opportunity for colleagues from ethnic minority background
The East of England Ethnic Minority Nurses and AHP Leadership Development Programme provides bespoke training for black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) staff to access skills and opportunities to develop future careers, and address the lack of diversity in senior roles.
Business administration – Level 3 apprenticeship
This is an ideal opportunity for those in administrative roles who wish to progress and develop their skills, including colleagues moving to a more senior role and/or taking on additional responsibility; or those in their first administration role.
The programme is delivered over 15 months. To learn more, there is an information session on Tuesday, 16 January 2024 from 12pm to 1pm via Teams, to register your interest or find out more please contact apprenticeships@wsh.nhs.uk
The application form can be found on Totara, via the Learning Hub > Apprenticeships.
Closing date for applications is Friday, 26 January 2024.
|
|
|
Your colleagues in the communications team wish you a very merry Christmas and a delightful new year. We're grateful for the fantastic content you've shared with us this year and eagerly anticipate showcasing more of your achievements in 2024.
Please note, the next edition of Green Sheet will be published on Thursday, 11 January, 2024. Please ensure you submit your content to communications@wsh.nhs.uk by Thursday, 4 January 2024, at 5.00pm.
 View The Evergreen Sheet in your browser.
|
|
|
|
|
