Connect | e-Newsletter

Welcome to June’s edition of Connect, our monthly e-newsletter keeping you updated on news and developments from across Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust.

The past few weeks have been exciting for all of us with Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee taking place over the weekend (June 2-5), and it was great to see events and activities within our services organised by staff.

Some enjoyed a Jubilee themed BBQ, some created Jubilee themed artworks with patients, because as well as providing effective clinical interventions, giving our patients a positive experience while they are with us is also really important to their overall wellbeing.

I would also like to acknowledge the effort of our volunteers, in recognition of the 38th Annual Volunteers' Week which took place at the beginning of this month. From providing emotional support to patients, to being an Expert by Experience (EbE), our volunteers have been indispensable to our Trust in various ways and now as things are returning to normal we look forward to welcoming lots more of our volunteers back into our services and teams.

Another important occasion this month is Carers week (June 6-12), which celebrates the contribution of carers in everyday lives. We know that physical or mental illnesses affect not only the individual, but their wider family and friends too, as many take on carer responsibilities. It is so important that we work with carers and recognise the impacts our decisions have on them too. We also acknowledge many of our staff have caring responsibilities away from work, and it is really important that we recognise the pressures and demands placed upon them and do what we can to support them in their roles.

June is also Pride month, which celebrates the LGBTQ+ communities all around the world. Here at the Trust, we pride ourselves in being an inclusive and diverse organisation. We not only welcome, but also celebrate all genders, sexual orientations, and identities in our workforce. Pride month gives us a chance to embrace the range of different experiences and views within our society and thus develop a better, more comprehensive way of thinking and viewing the world.

I hope you find this newsletter useful and informative, and it provides you a glimpse into what kind of organisation we are and hope to become.

Mark Yates

Chair, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

70 years for HM The Queen- Jubilee Celebrations!

Staff and patients across Herefordshire and Worcestershire got involved in some exciting Platinum Jubilee celebrations over the bank holiday weekend. Patients were able to celebrate with themed activities and a special 4-day menu from our catering team. Other events included a barbecue and cream tea at Churchview, decorations in the MSK Physiotherapy reception at Evesham Community Hospital and artwork creation with patients at Woodland Ward and New Haven.

30 of our staff represented the Trust at a special Garden Party, hosted by the Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire at Hartlebury Castle. This was to mark the Jubilee as well as thank those who do so much for our community.

Patient Choice Award 2022

Each year, staff and teams are celebrated at our Annual Staff Awards event. The Patient Choice Award is a category within these awards which gives the public the opportunity to acknowledge those teams or members of staff who provided them with exceptional service or support. This could be anything, ranging from a positive attitude to specialised care and treatment.

The Trust is inviting nominations from all patients, service users, families, and carers for the Patient Choice Award 2022. To nominate a staff member or team, please submit your nominations using this form.

'Say Cheese' for National Smile Month

National Smile Month, which runs from 16^th May to 16^th June, aims to raise awareness of important oral health issues, with this year’s theme being ‘Everyone deserves a healthy smile’.

Staff from the Moor Street Clinic have been supporting the campaign by sharing their ‘Smiley selfies’. This ‘Smiley’ has been created to encourage people to maintain good oral hygiene, visit the dentist regularly, and smile!

Throughout the month, the Community Dental team have been focusing on raising awareness for a range of topics, including ‘The life of a smile’, ‘The cost of a smile’, ‘Nutrition’, ‘Oral health around the UK’, and ‘Mouth, mind and body’.

The team also includes members of Worcestershire Smile Squad- Registered Dental Nurses who work with young people and schools across the county to promote oral health.

The Smile Squad are encouraging everyone to get involved by sharing their ‘smiley selfie’ on social media and tagging the team on Facebook @HWHCTSmileSquad and Twitter @HWHCT_Smile.

To find out more about National Smile Month, please visit Oral health Foundation.

Veteran Aware Accreditation

Our Trust has been formally recognised as ‘Veteran Aware’ by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA).

This accreditation has been awarded following an evidence-based assessment of standards relating to the care and improvement of care for veterans, reservists, members of the armed forces, and their families.

This announcement comes ahead of Armed Forces Day (25^th June 2022), which provides an opportunity for people to show recognition and appreciation for the Armed Forces community.

Learning Disability Week

Join us for a series of themed events hosted and attended by services supporting people with a learning disability and their families. There will be information stands, presentations and workshops, plus fun games and refreshments for all to enjoy.

There is no need to register, just drop-in to the events that interest you!

Visit our website to view the full schedule of events across both counties.

Volunteers' Week

Volunteers' week (1^st -7^th June) is an annual celebration of the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering. During the pandemic, thousands of people came together to make a real difference in the lives of our patients and staff. We would like to offer our sincerest thanks to all those volunteers. 

The Trust is currently recruiting volunteers to support their community engagement and patient experience programmes, including roles in their Community Engagement Panel, Equality Advisory Group and Youth Board; a focus group made up of young people.

Find out more about volunteering opportunities at the Trust.

Carers Week

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of carers, their contribution, and the challenges they face. For 2022, the theme for carers week is make caring ‘Visible, Valued and Supported’.

The Trust has established a Carers Staff Network- available for staff who are working carers, or for those who wish to understand and support their carer colleagues. For queries relating to the network, or for support and advice, please email whcnhs.carersnetwork@nhs.net.

If you are unsure whether you or someone you know are a carer, please visit the NHS Social care and support guide to find out more. The guide also contains useful information on the support, benefits, and advice available to carers.

To find out more about Carers Week and activities and events taking place, please visit carers week website.

National Healthcare Estates and Facilities Day

Wednesday 15^th June 2022 will mark the first annual ‘National Healthcare Estates and Facilities Day”.

The day gives an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the thousands of staff working in these service professions and recognise the critical importance of E&F services in the delivery of care to our patients.

The staff are the ‘heartbeat of our hospitals’ as they provide safe and clean environments that help patients during their care and ensuring they return home safely.

Staff involved in celebrations for Estates and Facilities day will be sharing their activities and initiatives on social media using the hashtag #HealthcareEFMDay.

Pride Month 2022 

June is Pride Month - a celebration of LGBTQ+ communities. Our Trust is committed to ensuring that everyone regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, background or identity feels included and respected - whether that’s as a member of staff or as someone accessing our services.

Throughout June we will be celebrating Pride across the Trust and have organised a series of events and workshops to learn, support and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and its history. This includes our lunch and learn sessions, which are open to colleagues across the ICS;

·        Transgender in Healthcare (9^th June)

·        LGBTQ+ Microaggressions in Health (14^th June)

The Trust's LGBTQ+ Staff Network, who are enthusiastic and committed to driving change and advancing equality and diversity are set to attend Pride events across the two counties as a display of unity with the LGBTQ+ community and to ensure people feel safe and supported to access local health services.

Find out more about the Trust's Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion policy.