HEARTBEAT November 2020

Letters, of less than 200 words please, can be sent to the Communications Department,
Trust Headquarters, Sandwell Hospital or by email to swb–tr.SWBH–GM–Heartbeat@nhs.net
YOUR RIGHT TO BE HEARD
Form an orderly queue for the
shuttle bus
Dear Heartbeat
I don’t regularly take the shuttle bus. It must
have been a good 2-3 years since I last used
one. Today was an odd occasion because I
am currently unable to drive due to a recent
injury. I am writing because of the conduct
of passengers waiting for the shuttle bus. I
understand you may feel this is beyond your
control but please hear me out.
Today, my colleague and I went to the
shuttle bus stop at City at around 08.20. We
were 7th and 9th respectively. Just before
the shuttle arrived, a few individuals joined
the group rather late. There was no orderly
queue. The driver announced that there can
only be 10 in the bus. The newcomers pushed
their way in front of people who were there
before them, including us. We arrived late for
our QIHD because we had to take the next
bus.
One can argue that we should have
spoken up. True. In hindsight, I should have
announced to the people who joined last
to step out and make way for my colleague
and myself as we were there before them. I
normally am assertive but I was taken aback
by the behaviour especially as I was standing
there with a crutch. The driver had no way of
telling who was first in the queue so he had
no fault in this.
Some time ago, a colleague of mine, had
an altercation once when someone pushed
before her in the queue. I have been made
aware that there can be fights nearly every
day especially these days when there’s a
limit of passengers allowed per bus. It does
not make a good impression to patients and
visitors who witness this kind of behaviour
and lack of civility.
Can I please request that there be some
form of queuing system like rope barriers or
markers on the ground so that the service will
be utilised properly and with respect between
passengers.
I look forward to receiving your response to
this issue.
Dear colleague,
I am sorry to learn that you had a bad
experience when you queued for the
Trust shuttle bus. Unfortunately it is
difficult for the driver to ascertain who
is in the queue first. I have spoken to
our estates colleagues and they have
reviewed the bus stop area and have
concluded that a queuing system at
Sandwell would prove very difficult due
to space constraints.
It is unfortunate that some colleagues have
behaved in this manner, I would hope that as
this is a service exclusive to staff they would
have more respect for their colleagues.
We will put some messages in the daily
communications bulletin to reiterate the
need to respect the people who are already
waiting for the shuttle when they arrive
and wait their turn. We will support this
communication with notices at the bus stops.
Kind regards
Trish Kehoe, Head of Health Care Records
Is wearing a mask really necessary
for me in the office?
Dear Heartbeat
I’ve been working through the pandemic in my
office since March/April time and have never
needed to wear a mask. Now, it is mandatory in
offices.
Where has this come from exactly? I have been
working with the same people for the past
few months where we have a screen in place,
following strict social distancing measures and
washing our hands regularly. Isn’t this enough?
Has the virus all of a sudden changed over a
weekend or is the Trust being a bit OTT?
By the end of the day, I leave work with a
banging headache after wearing a face mask all
the time. What is the exact justification for us
wearing masks indoors in non-clinical areas with
people we have worked for months together
before this? I understand wearing it when you
can’t maintain social distancing, or you are going
to a foreign area you don’t usually work in, but
this is slightly taking the biscuit.
Dear colleague,
Thank you for your question. We are
following national infection control
guidance which has recently changed. As
a Trust we tried all other measures first,
such as social distancing as far as we could.
However, with the rising sickness levels and
increasing community cases, we felt there
was an absolute need to implement the
wearing of face masks in all areas to protect
our colleagues and patients. There have also
been cases of staff contracting COVID from
other colleagues in non-clinical areas. We
need to reduce the spread of Coronavirus
and have a duty of care to do so.
If you are in an office alone or behind a
screen alone then you do not need to wear a
mask but at any other time you do. If you are
experiencing issues then please ask your line
manager to refer you to occupational health
so there may be able to support you with
additional PPE, if required.
If you are finding that your masks are
uncomfortable or are causing you issues with
your skin, please take the time to read the
helpful guidance on Connect produced by
the tissue viability team for colleagues to
protect and treat skin from damage beneath
PPE.
Kind regards,
Mel Roberts
Acting Chief Operating Officer
Do I really need the COVID jab?
Dear Heartbeat
I have worked at the Trust for many years -
I’m not patient facing and I work outside of
main hospital building. With the whole COVID
situation, I’m wondering if a jab becomes
available, do I really need it or will I be made to
have it?
I’ve been sensible throughout this pandemic and
I’m concerned I may be pressured into having
it. I could understand if I was seeing patients’
everyday as it would be my duty to protect my
patients, but I’m not. Could you please tell me
what you anticipate will happen or be expected
of us if a COVID vaccine becomes available?
Dear colleague,
Thank you for your letter and raising an issue
which I’m sure many people have thought
about too.
To clarify, we only administer vaccines with
consent. Although colleagues would be
encouraged to seriously consider having the
COVID vaccine, not only for their protection
but for that of others, we would not pressure
anyone into having it without their consent.
The Medicines and Healthcare products
Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved
the Pfizer/BionTech COVID-19 vaccine.
We are hearing more each day about
the characteristics of the vaccine and the
prioritisation phases. We are expecting and
planning for a staff vaccination programme
and we will keep you informed of how
the roll-out of that programme will work
and when we might be able to begin staff
vaccinations.
Of course, we will share this information
when we know more. If you have any
immediate concerns when the vaccination
programme commences, please contact
occupational health for more information.
Kind regards,
Dr Masood Aga, Consultant and Specialty
Lead in Occupational Medicine
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