A big well done to our pharmacy colleagues and their patient focus group who have been recognised for ‘Excellence in Hospital Pharmacy Practice’ as part of the 2018 Clinical Pharmacy Congress Awards. The Clinical Pharmacy Congress, who look to celebrate success stories within the pharmacy profession, have shortlisted Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Pharmacy team following its patient involvement in the development of pharmacy services. Read more here https://bit.ly/2HGy965

This week sees a final push from Discharge Planning Co-ordinator Donna Burns as she and husband Kevin prepare to run the 2018 London Marathon on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support. Donna, who has worked for Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust since 1998, will hit the ground running on April 22 for the eighth time; raising money for those who have been, and are currently affected by cancer. Read Donna's story and donate here https://bit.ly/2Hw3HLO

We're ready for the challenge! Today sees the start of the national #endPJparalysis campaign and here's our staff donning their pyjamas to kick things off. So patients at Walsall Manor Hospital will be encouraged to get out of bed, get dressed in their own clothes and move around – the best medicine for a speedier recovery. And we need their relatives and friends to help us by making sure their loved ones have clothes they can wear. Get involved https://bit.ly/2qE5nbG

Hundreds of our community nurses are now using mobile technology as an £800,000 investment continues to gather pace. All seven of Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s locality teams - North, South 1, South 2, West 1, West 2, East 1, East 2 – are live with 160 clinicians using tablets to access and input clinical information. The administrative support staff , Clinical Leads and Service Management for each team are using the desktop version of the new Totalmobile system. The rest of the teams within Phase 1 Community Services will be live by the end of May. Read more here https://bit.ly/2JOzaqN

Congratulations to Community Children’s Nursing Team Leader Jola Forys who was among 350 nurses invited last month to Buckingham Palace to celebrate 70 years of the NHS. The event, which saw Prince Charles acknowledge a variety of frontline nurses, included one of our own attending on behalf of the Queen’s Nursing Institute; awarded the title of ‘Queen’s Nurse’ in 2008, this formally recognised Jola's commitment and passion to delivering high quality care to children in the community. Read more here https://bit.ly/2EIfNM4

Bowel Cancer affects around 130 people a year in Walsall; with more than 80 of those having major surgery. Yet its symptoms typically make people feel too embarrassed to talk about it. Nurse Consultant Elaine Swan said: “Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the UK, and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in women. Someone dies from bowel cancer every 30 minutes in the UK.” Pop along to Walsall Manor Hospital's main atrium today and speak to our team who are raising awareness of the condition and selling some tasty treats - so head down there now before the treats are all gone! https://bit.ly/2HjlWUE

We're #WalsallandProud to be involved in the national #endPJparalysis challenge. Our super staff are pledging to do all they can to get patients up, dressed and moving - the best medicine for recovery. But we need YOU to do your bit too! If you're visiting a loved one please make sure they've got clothes to wear bit.ly/2GYn7Wc

Patient Safety teams for Medicine and Surgery with Walsall Healthcare have been shortlisted for a national award which recognises services that have gone above and beyond in delivering safe care for patients. The role of Patient Safety is to help monitor risk, to support with incident reporting and to facilitate investigations where necessary; all with an end goal of supporting colleagues to learn from incidents that will prevent them from happening again. Read more https://bit.ly/2GYn7Wc

Congratulations to Walsall Healthcare colleagues who, after pitching at a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style event, have won £25,000 to support staff training in ‘Human Factors’. Sharon Hadley, Lead Midwife for Normality, explained: “Human Factors involves pausing and assessing what’s going on in an emergency situation and seeking different perspectives in order to support decision making; it’s something that they use in the military and aviation to determine how behaviour affects performance.” Read more here https://bit.ly/2HgPORy

Brett is only trying to help but... "I’ve gone out with my family for a meal or some other social event and have been sat there with scratches all over my arm. Or I’ve had days where the shouting or insults have been more or less continuous." Brett is a Clinical Support Worker in our Emergency Department and he's #someonesson who doesn't come to work to be subjected to violence and aggression. Please treat our staff with respect https://bit.ly/2GCYeC8

It's a tricky topic but it doesn't do your health any good to keep quiet about it. This Bowel Cancer Awareness Month come and have a chat to our staff https://bit.ly/2H0RAGm