Heartbeat March 2020

Gynaecology celebrates first birthday!
WOMEN AND CHILD HEALTH
Our Sandwell based gynaecology
team celebrated their first birthday in
February.
The celebration represented a year since
the department moved from Alpha Suite
to clinic 6A which is a part of the main
outpatients’ area at Sandwell Hospital. The
gynaecology unit specialise is addressing,
correcting and easing any gynaecological
issues our female patients experience.
For some of our patient's gynaecological
issues can have a catastrophic effect on
their daily life. With this in mind, the team
help patients to rectify these complex
issues.
“Thanks to the move we have been
able to increase our capacity. It is an
exciting time for further growth. We
are working hard to modernise one
service, in particular, to offer a one-stop
clinical experience for women with postmenopausal
bleeding,” said Tiffany Jones,
Sister.
In addition, the gynaecology team have
also been able to commit to achieving
faster treatment times for women that
receive an endometrial (womb lining)
cancer diagnosis.
Charlotte Gordan, HCA in gynaecology kindly
made the first birthday cake
The special birthday event was attended by
colleagues who work within gynaecology,
including Dr Abha Sinha, Consultant
Gynaecologist and Obstetrician, CD. Dr Sinha
believes the success of the move has been
down to all the colleagues who work within
the team. Tiffany has proven instrumental to
the department, as have her core team made
up of Vanessa Wright, Sara Greenaway, Jean
Whitehouse, Tracey Law, Jenny Oliver, Charlotte
Gordon, Donna Francis, Julie Hill and Cynthia
Daly.
The team also benefits from being supported
in times of pressure by Paula Bryan and her
team from gynaecology outpatients’ in the
Birmingham Treatment Centre. She said, “I
have to express my huge admiration for Tiffany
for her leadership skills, as well as her clinical
and interpersonal skills in leading an amazing
team. She has worked incredibly hard over
the past 12 months to get the unit staffed
with the best HCA team. She’s also trained
and supported them to develop into band 3-4
roles.”
Raffaela Goodby, Director of People and
Organisation Development has been a patient
and has participated in multiple board visits
to the department. A real advocate of the
team and the work they do, she said, “Not
many patients can say that their gynaecology
visits are like visiting a spa. I can say that my
experience as a patient and as a colleague has
been zen from start to finish!
“Tiffany and the team calmly and simply
explain very intimate procedures and give you
assurance and honesty at a very worrying
time. When I had treatment last year to
have pre-cancerous cells removed, the team
explained what was happening and I didn’t
feel embarrassed or ill at ease once. That’s an
achievement considering the intimacy of the
situation."
She added, “I want to offer my thanks to
the team for all they do for patients, and for
having that person-centred approach I know
they offer to each patient. Thank you for
being so open about women’s reproductive
health, for openly talking about the
importance of smear tests, and for looking
after the gynaecological health of Sandwell
and West Birmingham with such composure.”
Baby Gibson first to benefit from
patient generosity
Two-day-old, Kade Gibson was
keen to show off his latest knitwear
thanks to the kindness of former
patient, Julita Dirsaite.
Julita was in our maternity department
two and a half years ago and after the
fantastic care she received whilst at the
Trust, she made the decision she wanted
to give back to the nurses and midwives
at the hospital.
Being an enthusiastic knitter and the
drive to help others, Julita decided she
wanted to knit clothes for one of our
most vulnerable group of patients and
those just starting out in life, premature
babies. Items included tiny knitted
converse boots, ballerina shoes, flower
blankets and bonnets. As well as knitting
for the little babies, she also knitted
a few accessories for our midwives
including pen pots to store stationary as
Baby Kady Gibson shows off his new knitted
gear
gifts for their continued hard work in the
department.
Claire Cushing, M2 Ward Manager is one of
many colleagues to get a gift from Julita and
believes the donations from her will really
help our patients.
She said: “We were overwhelmed with
the donations from Julita and very much
appreciate them all in our department. All
the clothes, booties and blankets that have
been knitted will really benefit the babies in
maternity and their parents.”
Amanda Winwood, Fundraising Manager at
Your Trust Charity facilitated the knitwear for
maternity and echoes Claire’s views.
She said: “Unfortunately we have many
mums who struggle to get hold of clothing
for their premature babies, but by having
our community support us in making such
beautiful gifts and giving their time allows
us to support our patients in the very early
days. Julita’s gifts tie in perfectly with it being
Year of the Nurse and Midwife 2020, and
showing how appreciated they are.”
Angela Jane Gibson, mum of Kade Gibson
was thankful for the donation and said, “It
was really kind of the charity and hospital
to provide Kade with a set of knitwear and
booties when he was born.”
She added: “I must say a massive thank you
to both as well as a special thanks to Julita
for knitting them.”
26