The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

Well done to our Orthotics Team who is celebrating after receiving two national award nominations. Chiazoka (Mary) Ezeuzo, Clinical Orthotist for The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust – known by her middle name Mary – is one of three clinicians shortlisted for the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO) Orthotist of the Year Award 2024. And her team, the Orthotic Service Department Team, is one of two organisations shortlisted for the BAPO Best P&O Service Improvement Award of the Year 2024.

A ‘Pukka’ Driver who is one of the oldest healthcare workers at New Cross Hospital retired today at the age of 77 – and he had a send-off from Wolves royalty. Brian Davis is handing in his van keys after ferrying patients, their case notes and now their post for The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust for almost 22 years, and he received a video message from Wolves legend, vice-president and former club record goalscorer John Richards. Wolves-mad Brian, who has been a Molineux steward since 1988, previously worked for tyre factory Goodyear in Bushbury for 34 years. Richards, who is also chair of the Former Wolves Players Association, was a long-term team-mate of Brian’s all-time favourite player, captain Mike Bailey, who couldn’t attend the event, and succeeded him as club skipper in 1976. Father of three and grandfather of two from Wednesfield Brian is light-heartedly nicknamed ‘Pukka’ by his fellow Drivers and Porters after being photographed at a Wolves away game next to a sign advertising Pukka Pies. Brian, who retires on August 30, 2024, started as a Porter at RWT initially via an agency in October 2002 before becoming a permanent member of staff in June 2003. Initially he worked the corridors at New Cross Hospital before becoming the third member of a team of three transporting notes around the site in a Luton van. Brian performed this role until the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. As he was considered vulnerable, he was switched to a less public-facing role to despatch patients’ letters to their homes. He had been doing that until a fall at work last September and left him hospitalised for seven weeks. “Overall I have really enjoyed it because of the camaraderie with the patients and the staff,” said Brian, who is one of more than 50 drivers at RWT. “I’m sure I miss everyone and they will no doubt miss calling me ‘Pukka’, which is what a lot of the Porters call me!” Andy Bellingham, Facilities and Transport Manager, said: “Brian is a pleasure to work with. He’s very helpful and willing and will go above and beyond, working late and arriving early for work. “He’s always jolly and never miserable or moans. He’s great to work with.” Brian intends to return on the temporary staffing bank in the same role and continue as a stewarding manager for Wolves. During his time at Goodyear, Brian worked as an extruder runner, which involved setting up the machine to put the tread on the tyres, while leading a team of 14 and also serving as a shop steward. As one of numerous former Goodyear workers who became Porters at RWT, Brian is immensely proud of the legacy his fellow employees left. Members of the 5/344 Transport and General Workers Benevolent Fund – the ex-Goodyear workers sick pay fund – donated more than £3.4m to local causes after the Wolverhampton plant closed in December 2016. Some £500,000 went to projects at RWT. Link to full story: https://bit.ly/3MoZutd

Chief AHP’s blog – reflecting on the success of Research ABC project By Dr Ros Leslie As we celebrate the first anniversary of the successful bid for our Research ABC project, I want to highlight developments with the project team. When it began – following a successful Clinical Research Network West Midlands Improvement and Innovation Strategic Funding bid – its leader Dr Ali Aries, AHP Research Lead at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT), was relatively new to her role. This was an exciting opportunity to work with many AHPs keen on research, especially the project team and its 93 Research Champions. A year on, people still contact Ali. “The new Research Engagement And CHat (REACH) sessions are proving a great forum for multi-disciplinary research discussions and networking,” said Ali. “Holding these on the last Wednesday of every month has enabled people to ask questions and share experiences.” Louise Wallace was seconded from The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust (DGFT) Musculoskeletal (MSK) Physiotherapy team to the Research ABC team. Louise is proud of all that the team has achieved. Following the project, she has presented at the Physiotherapy Research Society Conference and at the DGFT Research Seminar and has a poster at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy conference in October 2024. She said: “Without Research ABC, I wouldn’t have had the confidence or skills to rise to these challenges. I now have half a day per week as protected research time. “I’ve set up an AHP Research Champion Group, I’m developing a MSK Critically Appraised Topic Group and Journal Club in our team and involved in establishing a Patient and Public Involvement Group.” Roanna Burgess is an AHP Consultant and MSK Service lead at Sandwell and West Birmingham (SWB) NHS Trust, and a Senior Research Fellow at Keele University. She is to start a NIHR-funded Senior Practitioner and Clinical Research Award (SPCRA) to support post-doctoral clinical academics to combine their clinical and research roles. “The project has allowed us to join forces across the Black Country to work together to improve opportunities for AHPs in research,” said Roanna. The project supported Roanna to set up SWB’s first Community of Research Practice (CoRP). This means non-medical professionals have a voice in research plans, objective setting, and strategy development. She hopes we can continue to grow AHP Research Leaders. Tina Hadley-Barrow’s portfolio role includes MSK Consultant Physiotherapist at RWT and Knowledge Mobilisation practitioner at the Keele University Impact Accelerator Unit. She was thrilled to be part of an inspirational team and felt very rewarded. Tina said: “I’m helping to plan a Keele Critically Appraised Topic (CAT) in A Day training day, funded by Research ABC. “It’s a great opportunity and I’m really looking forward to seeing AHP Black Country colleagues there.” Full blog: https://bit.ly/4dGfWBi

Ever wondered about a career as a Dietitian? 🍏🥦🥛 Dietitians are registered healthcare professionals who use up-to-date scientific research on food, health and disease – turning this into practical guidance to help people to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices. 💪 If you are interested in science, food and people – come and find out if this is the career for you at an upcoming event: Saturday 7 September 2024, 10am-12noon, Wolverhampton Medical Institute (Building 11) at New Cross Hospital, WV10 0QP. 🕘 RWT’s Dietetic Team will be joined by local universities who will provide details of available degree apprenticeships, undergraduate and postgraduate courses. 📚 There will also be the opportunity to apply to become an Apprentice Dietitian with us starting early in 2025. 👏 Register to attend: https://lnkd.in/eri896E4 ⬅️

An award-winning Wolverhampton Doctor has appeared in a national publication for her blog on innovative leadership. Dr Roopa Chopra, Clinical Lead for General Internal Medicine and Acting-up Consultant Physician at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT), has had her work published in the Royal College of Physicians’ August newsletter. In her 880-word piece headlined ‘International medical graduates: supporting the backbone of the NHS’, Dr Chopra, who is based at New Cross Hospital, reflects on her challenges settling in the UK after arriving as an International Medical Graduate (IMG) from India in 2016. Getting used to the Black Country accent – English isn’t her first language – NHS acronyms, and adapting to patient flow, care homes, nursing homes and packages of care were other challenges she encountered. Socially, Dr Chopra knew no one locally and there were no support groups in the Trust to make new friends. Now international Doctors and Nurses have buddies and WhatsApp groups so people can interact – all developed through Dr Chopra and her experiences. She says through the introduction of RWT’s Clinical Fellowship Programme (CFP) – a scheme to develop international Doctors and Nurses – she became a mentor helping other international recruits settle. Dr Chopra started her leadership path as the CFP’s Pastoral Lead, helping fellow medics and Nurses settle. She was soon appointed as Chief Clinical Fellow, and then as Chief Registrar at the Trust, a first for a locally employed doctor. “Simple things, such as finding housing, were a struggle,” wrote Dr Chopra. “Unlike Doctors, letting agents don’t work unsocial hours, and back-to-back viewings had to be completed on Saturday mornings. “Soon after my arrival, a CFP started in my Trust, giving me the opportunity to help develop a formal support process and give something back to the system. “I have been fortunate to work with like-minded and passionate people on improving the transition of IMGs into the NHS. “We have developed a variety of support services, including a buddy system, on-call inductions, IMG education sessions and portfolio pathway support services. The programme has supported IMGs to have successful careers. “My senior colleagues have been highly supportive, while helping me stay grounded. “Recently several organisations, including the NHS, General Medical Council, British Medical Association and the Medical Protection Society, came together to publish a guide to induction for IMGs recruited to the NHS.” Dr Chopra’s quote of “If I had a magic wand, I would ensure all NHS Trusts and health boards are able to support IMGs, especially as this has been clearly shown to improve performance and, in turn, patient care” has been included in the RCP’s new guidance on educational and career support for Locally Employed Doctors (LEDs) and IMGs here. Link to full story: https://bit.ly/3X43jbZ

A first ‘healthy pregnancy’ event is being held in Wolverhampton to support parents-to-be, their loved ones and families. Staff from The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) have partnered with the Wolves Foundation to host the session in the city. The event is being held on Thursday, 12 September from 6pm-8pm in the North Bank Bar, Stan Cullis Stand, Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton WV1 4QR. This will be open to everyone who is planning a pregnancy, already pregnant or are supporting someone pregnant, plus those who support parents, such as grandparents and siblings. There will be an opportunity to meet with and chat to Midwives, Health Visitors and Healthy Pregnancy Advisors. Attendees will be able to find out more about: • Antenatal classes • Hypnobirthing (deep relaxation and breathing techniques, visualisation, and self-hypnosis to encourage an easier labour) • Nutrition • Exercise in pregnancy • Baby resuscitation • Mindfulness • Vaccinations • Early days with feeding your baby and more Kate Cheshire, Head of Midwifery and Neonatal Services at RWT, said: “The teams are looking forward to meeting families and talking about keeping healthy before and throughout pregnancy, as well as maintaining family health beyond pregnancy. We are excited to join with colleagues from Wolves Foundation and Health Goals.” Emily Lear, Healthy Pregnancy Advisor at RWT, said: “We will be there to talk about nutrition and exercise and how we can support you through your pregnancy.” Jade Sutton, Senior Health Officer at the Wolves Foundation, added: “We’re proud to be hosting the first healthy pregnancy event in partnership with RWT and look forward to meeting expectant parents and those supporting them during pregnancy and birth.” Nadia Griffin, Co-ordinator for Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership in the Black Country, said: “We are looking forward to this exciting event and hope to meet many parents-to-be, grandparents, aunts and uncles-to-be. “All of the family are welcome to engage with – and feed back to – the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership.” If the evening is successful, it is hoped to hold three events each year to promote the important public health messages when planning or being pregnant. To book a place, scan the QR code on the attached flyer. Anyone wanting more information should email Amanda Costello, Specialist Midwife Public Health at RWT, at Amanda.CostelloNHS Link to full story: https://bit.ly/4g0uI7n

We are pleased to announce we have been officially recognised as a special endometriosis centre offering complex surgery for the condition that affects around 1.5 million women across the UK. We have been given accreditation by the British Society of Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE) after the team had to prove the quality of care was up to the high standards set by the BSGE. Yasmin Walker became the first Clinical Nurse Specialist for endometriosis at RWT when she came into post 18 months ago. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue in the lining of the womb grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. It affects women of all ages. Since being in post Yasmin has introduced a weekly lifestyle clinic, a specialist endometriosis clinic where she sees new patients referred to the team, and a monthly TENS machine clinic. There is also a helpline and dedicated email address patients under the care of the Trust can contact for further support and information.

This month’s ‘Care for a Catch-up?’ episode is all about grief. ❤️🩹 We’re joined by three brilliant guests, who open up the conversation on a topic many find hard to discuss. Chace Smith shares her personal experience of loss - including how this has affected her both personally and in her career, and the different stages of grief she’s been through. Jo Daniels, Patient and Family Therapist/Counsellor, and Stacey Owen, Specialist Nurse - Bereavement, also share invaluable insights from their work supporting people who are struggling. This episode provides coping mechanisms, highlights helpful resources, and provides reassurance for anyone who needs it. Listen here: bit.ly/4fT4pQp You can find ‘Care for a Catch-up?’ wherever you get your podcasts. 🎧

Two Black Country NHS Trusts, working to improve patients’ experience across their hospital and community services, have been shortlisted for a total of seven national awards. The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) is up for four accolades in the Patient Experience Network National Awards (PENNA) 2024, while Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is in the running for three. Wolverhampton is nominated in Making Complaints Count with its entry Care at the end of life: Unlocking the learning in letters of formal complaint as well as Measuring, Reporting and Acting - Using Insight for Improvement – Analysis of End of Life Complaints. The Trust has also been shortlisted in Engaging and Championing the Public with the entry title The Holistic Opportunities Preventing Exclusion (HOPE) Project: Building a partnership between healthcare, the voluntary sector and grass root organisations and Support for Caregivers, Friends, and Family. Walsall has been nominated for Integration and Continuity of Care, Social Partnership Working to Improve the Experience (Walsall Connected) and Team of the Year (including Complaints and Patient Advice and Liaison Service) with the entry title Impactful Team Excellence. PENNA is the first and only awards programme to recognise best practice in patient experience across all facets of health and social care in the UK. Alison Dowling, Associate Director of Patient Relations at RWT said the HOPE project, a partnership between RWT and Wolverhampton Voluntary and Community Action (WVCA), was a fantastic initiative to be involved in. She said: “This is the first time we’ve partnered with a voluntary organisation in this way and we really feel as though our collaboration is making a difference to people struggling with their mental health in our communities.” The HOPE project addresses issues around the support needs of people of Wolverhampton affected by mental health due to social isolation or other factors as a long-term consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes patients, their carers and their other family and friends. The initiative facilitated recruitment, training and support of volunteers to work alongside the citywide Social Prescribing Service facilitating activities in their own community and becoming befrienders and digital buddies for those in need. Alison added: “Our work with patients and families around end-of-life to look more deeply at each stage in their journey from a complaints point of view is another important piece of work we are committed to use to drive meaningful change. “We are proud and humbled to be shortlisted for such prestigious awards and looking forward to celebrating with all other entries on the day while learning about the great work delivered by other Trusts to improve patients’ experience.” Link to full story: https://bit.ly/4cxE3Ra

Black Country mums-to-be are being asked to support a research project exploring why the uptake up for antenatal vaccinations – specifically pertussis (whooping cough), COVID-19, and seasonal flu – has been so low in the area. Ebony Owusu-Nepaul and Alice Miller, from Gateway Family Services, which facilitates Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnerships across the Black Country (Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton), have partnered with M.E.L research, a social research agency based in Birmingham, to carry out the research project. It has been commissioned by the Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB). Those who have recently been pregnant and mums-to-be are being asked to complete a short anonymous online survey to better understand the service users experience of getting vaccinated during pregnancy and how existing services can be improved. Alice Miller, Head of Operations for Gateway Family Services, said: “Vaccinations in pregnancy are important for both mum and baby but there is clearly some hesitancy, hence the low take up rates. “We want to better understand why this is and feedback from mums-to- be is key to us gaining valuable insight. “We’re hoping their thoughts, fears and experiences will help us identify the barriers to vaccination and gather best practices for how to improve vaccination rates across the Black Country for mums-to-be. “By completing this survey, you will contribute valuable information that will help shape future health initiatives and ensure better support for expectant mothers in our community.” The survey should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete and closes on Friday 6 September. To take part, click the following link to complete a short online survey https://lnkd.in/ee-xgD4t Link to full story: https://bit.ly/3AuOYh6