Heartbeat October 2019

Survival corner helps McCarthy ward
through Unity go-live
PRIMARY CARE, COMMUNITIES
AND THERAPIES
Going live with Unity involved
plenty of late nights and long shifts
for colleagues across the Trust. Many
teams took different approaches to
ensuring that morale and motivation
never wavered during this period.
Their efforts paid off.
McCarthy ward at Rowley Regis Hospital
went to the trouble of creating a Unity
survival corner – a place for people to go if
they were feeling stressed or unsure what
to do. It was kept well-stocked with snacks
and helpful information.
“We thought if we put everything in
there – all the information like the quick
reference guides and the leaflets – that
would be helpful. Particularly for family
and relatives, so they can find out what
Unity’s about,” explained senior sister Lady
Ann Ordona on Sunday 22 September, the day
when Sandwell and the community sites went
live.
“I think the corner reassures the staff as well. If
you want a bit of a breather, sit down for two
minutes and have a snack. I think the more you
pressure yourself to find solutions the harder
it becomes. You feel the negativity and start
thinking that you can’t do it. But if you sit
down there, have a quick break and think ‘We
can do this’, then that’s much better.”
This positive attitude contributed to a successful
go-live. Lady Ann was proud of her team and
thankful for the support they’d received. “It
was a bit hectic but we’re happy. We’re familiar
with the system but there are still parts where
we need to refresh our knowledge. The quick
reference guides are very good and we had
the floorwalkers who can remind us how to do
certain things,” she said.
“All the managers have been here since first
thing in the morning and as a PCCT group
we’re helping and supporting each other.
The feeling of having support around you –
physically and emotionally – boosts you up.
You share the same feelings and you think ‘We
can make it.’ If the acute and the main spine
can do it, we can do it.”
After overcoming some initial teething
problems, and spending some time
reacquainting themselves with Unity,
colleagues on McCarthy ward began to feel
some of the benefits of using the system.
They’re confident that even more will come
with time too.
“We’re definitely noticing some advantages,”
said staff nurse Beth Hill. “Ordering
medications is so much easier. It’s just a couple
of clicks. It’s also good that if anyone makes
any changes you can all see them.”
Lisa Slater, HCA, added: “I’m getting used to
the system now and I’m finding it easier. I’m
getting quicker each day. The support’s been
absolutely brilliant. If we’ve needed anything
the Unity team have helped us straightaway.”
Colleagues ready themselves for Unity by visiting the Unity survival corner on McCarthy ward
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