Welcome to the final edition of your UHSussex staff newsletter for 2022, a round-up of the news stories from across our hospitals throughout December |
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Dear colleague
As we fast approach the end of 2022, we share a range of stories, activities and campaigns that took place throughout December.
Our amazing teams arranged Christmas treat boxes and fruit baskets to be distributed to staff, we shared holiday messages from around the world and our volunteers were welcomed back for a range of Christmas lunches and coffee mornings.
What’s more, we marked World AIDS Day, highlighted the work of Brighton and Sussex Medical School, officially opened an art gallery, and welcomed a state-of-the-art dental X-ray unit.
So please grab a cuppa and take some time out to catch up on our news.
Thank you,
Communications
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Christmas at UHSussex – our social campaign |
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Across our social media channels, we have been celebrating our fantastic staff and sharing holiday messages from around the world.
As we’ve led up to Christmas, we've been so pleased to share with you brilliant teams and departments across our sites and some of the vast nationalities that make up our fantastic Trust.
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Thanks to generous support from our charities, Love Your Hospital and BSUH Charity, we were able to offer a delicious selection of Christmas treat boxes and fruit baskets to all teams and departments.
A big thank you to our charities, and also our Health and Wellbeing team, ambassadors, catering team and volunteers who helped organise and distribute them across sites.
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Volunteer Christmas lunches |
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This was the first year since the pandemic where many of our volunteers were able to gather for a range of Christmas lunches and coffee mornings across our sites in December.
It was a great chance to shine a light on the time, dedication and support they provide to our hospitals, staff and patients. It was also a wonderful opportunity to reward some of our long standing volunteers and celebrate our young adult learners who completed over 100 hours of volunteering.
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Spread a little festive cheer |
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There is still time to share your seasons greetings via our UHSussex designed Christmas cards.
We’ve made several designs available to download and personalise to send to colleagues or people in your network.
Simply choose whether you want to send via MS Teams, email or print the card out to handwrite a message and send…remember though, sending it digitally is the greenest option!
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Young patients benefit from new dental X-ray unit at the Alex |
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Patients can now be X-rayed using a new state-of-the-art imaging system at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, kindly funded by Rockinghorse Children’s Charity and their donors.
As well as supporting all paediatric dental patients requiring imaging, this replacement machine will also be used to detect bone tumours, soft tissue damage and issues related to the head and neck.
With over 800 dental X-rays needed each year, this unit will produce high quality images needed to ensure accurate diagnosis.
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President of Royal College of Ophthalmologists opens unique hospital-based art gallery |
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A unique art gallery enjoyed by thousands of eye care patients in Sussex has been officially opened by the President of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Professor Bernard Chang.
“Chaos of Creation” is the first exhibition from Sooffee Art Gallery, an initiative borne from the passion and philosophy of ophthalmic surgeon and photographer Mr Masoud Teimory.
The stunning collection of images are displayed on the walls of the waiting areas and corridors of the our eye care units at Southlands Hospital and St Richard’s Hospital, which welcome and care for more than 100,000 patients every year.
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We celebrated innovations in HIV testing and treatment at UHSussex, pioneering research towards improving HIV care, and our drive towards becoming the first stigma-free hospital trust. |
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As part of national efforts to achieve zero new HIV transmissions by 2030, UHSussex launched a pilot initiative to screen all patients attending the RSCH A&E for HIV when having routine bloods, unless they opt out.
Since its launch in April 2022, thanks to collaborative team working from colleagues across the trust, more than 18,500 patients have been screened, and so far, one patient with undiagnosed HIV has been identified and started on effective and early treatment.
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My Dead Body: Opening doors to the innovative treatments of tomorrow |
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UHSussex clinicians Mr Saul Rajak, Professor Malcolm Johnston and Dr Micha Koenig were part of the 20-strong team from Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) carrying out the public dissection of 30-year-old Toni Crews, which is available to watch on Channel 4 on-demand.
Toni was diagnosed with a rare cancer of the tear gland in 2016. When she discovered her illness was terminal in 2020, she took the remarkable decision not just to donate her body to medical science but also to consent to it being dissected on public display – the first time anyone has ever done this.
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Pharmacy technician delivers vital drugs and exceptional care |
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When transport arrangements for delivering vital clinical trial medication were disrupted, Worthing pharmacy technician Abi Downham took responsibility for personally delivering the prescription to the patient’s home.
She was nominated by Lead Clinical Trials Pharmacist, Jamie Richardson, for her ‘diligence, initiative and responsibility,’ and received her certifcate and prize by Chief Pharmacist Michael Cross.
Jamie added: “Some of our older, more frail cancer-trial patients have their medicines delivered to their home. Strict trial protocol rules mean there is often a small time-frame from when the prescription is issued to when the next dose is due.
“Abi took ownership of the situation, ensured the medicines were dispensed and then delivered them personally.”
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Last chance to submit your Star of the Month nominations |
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Star of the Month nominations will closes at the end of December to prepare for our annual Patient First STARS Award.
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Armed Forces Community Christmas Raffle – get your tickets |
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Our Armed Forces network are selling their last remaining tickets for their Community Christmas raffle which is raising funds for the Armed Forces Commemorative garden at Southlands Hospital.
On offer, are the following prizes:
- First prize – 43 inch smart Toshiba smart TV
- Second prize – 43 inch TCL Roku smart TV
- Runner up prizes – 40 luxury hampers
- Best individual seller prize – Ted Baker coffret plus red satin evening bag
- Best supporter prize – Christmas hamper
- Best selling department – mulled wine and nibbles
You can purchase your tickets from:
- Romulo, Freshfields site
- Lou Mansell in Endoscopy, Royal Sussex County Hospital
- Darren Clemson in Elliot House
- Jess Peters, St Richard's and Worthing Hospitals
- Lou McPherson, Sussex Eye Hospital
- Coco and Micki, Lower Ground Floor, St Mary’s Hall
The draw will take place today (Friday 23 December.)
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The Royal Sussex Theatre teams invited St Richard's, Worthing and the Princess Royal Hospital theatre staff to its third Laparoscopic Study Day.
Our dynamic team of Gynaecologists and Digestive Disease Laparoscopic surgeons provided an insight into their world and the skills required to perform this type of surgery safely. Industry added an extra level by providing the skills workshops for the masterclasses in the afternoon.
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Patient First Planet First news |
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As part of our commitment to support staff switch to greener transport alternatives, we introduced Electrical Vehicle Charge Points (EVCP) across our sites this month.
Providing facilities such as EVCP, that enable staff to make these changes, is just one of our green travel initiatives to help us reach Net Zero Carbon by 2040.
There are 10 charging points at Worthing Hospital, eight at St Richard’s Hospital and 18 across Royal Sussex County Hospital. St Mary’s Hall and PRH charging points will come on line in the new year, date to be confirmed.
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Gloves off and thinking hats on – invite to creative workshops |
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We need our colleagues to help us reduce the unnecessary use of gloves, safely, through sharing your insights and ideas at a one-hour long creative workshop.
The virtual sessions will be run by Bethan Davies, Green Consultant and Green Clinical Lead, and Martin Still, Infection Prevention and Control Matron, and will cover appropriate vs inappropriate use of gloves, as well as their issues and impact.
The main purpose is to have a lively and collaborative discussion that will inform pilot projects we can roll-out across the Trust.
Launch workshops, open to all staff, can be attended by emailing uhsussex.green@nhs.net to receive a Teams joining link.
- 10 January, 1-2pm, via Teams
- 13 January, 1-2pm, via Teams
A follow-up workshop will be scheduled 1-2 months afterwards.
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The Trust charities – Love Your Hospital and BSUH Charity – would like to wish all UHSussex staff and volunteers a very happy holiday season, and all the best for the New Year. We would also like to say a special thank you to everyone who will be working across the festive period to care for patients and their loved ones. |
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Christmas Day staff lunches |
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Thanks to kind donations to Love Your Hospital and BSUH Charity, complimentary Christmas roast lunches will be available again this year to all staff across UHSussex sites, on Christmas Day, Sunday 25 December. Visit the Christmas page on the staff intranet to see the full menus and for catering updates. The charities are also pleased to fund free mince pies on Christmas Day for all inpatients across UHSussex.
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12 Days of Christmas giveaway |
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To recognise the 365 days of the year that our staff provide outstanding and exceptional care across our hospitals, Love Your Hospital and BSUH Charity are funding a giveaway of £30 shopping evouchers to lucky winners. 10 members of staff were randomly selected every day for 12 days – winners were selected at random from the ESR staffing list across all sites and include substantive and Bank staff. Congratulations to all the winners, who were contacted directly with details of how to claim their voucher. |
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In case you missed it....
Here's our round-up of all the stories and updates across the Trust in December:
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Patient feedback highlights |
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