Chief Nurse blog - August

It has been another month of immense pride in our colleagues and teams; their achievements and most importantly, the impact they are having on those we serve.

A real highlight has been the recognition of our renal services. Runcorn Road Dialysis Unit achieved an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and our Castle Vale Renal Unit received a rating of ‘Good’. I was thrilled to see the hard work and compassion of our teams recognised, with inspectors commending leaders and colleagues for putting patients at the heart of their care, treating them with warmth, kindness, and cultural sensitivity.

Jonathan Brotherton, our Chief Executive, and I had the privilege of visiting both units to congratulate the teams in person. There were many happy tears, and it was wonderful to spend time with colleagues and patients alike.

I reflected with Jonathan on how the NHS Long Term Plan speaks about shifting care from acute to community settings; something we have been doing for years in dialysis, with one of our community units dating as far back as 1997. It is a reminder that we already have so much to be proud of in bringing care closer to home, and the importance of continuing this work for every patient we serve.

Another highlight was our recent celebration day for clinical nurse specialists in gynaecology, paediatric and neonatal services. Clinical nurse specialists provide expert care and advice across highly specialised areas of nursing, often supporting patients and families at very vulnerable times.

During the event, they shared insights into their roles, which span from supporting early pregnancy loss and teenage pregnancy to providing home phototherapy and respiratory care for babies in the community. It was inspiring to pause and reflect on the diverse and rewarding career pathways in nursing and the depth of their impact. 

I also recently visited Solihull Hospital’s surgical wards, where the elective surgical hub has now been up and running for several months. I was struck by the enthusiasm of the teams for what they have achieved to date, the number of patients they have seen and for what they hope to achieve next.  

One ward demonstrated the new patient tracker, an electronic system that allows colleagues to follow a patient’s journey from admission, through to theatre and back to the ward. Instead of colleagues needing to pick up the phone to discuss moving patients between departments, it is now done through a simple system. This is a brilliant example of how we can improve communication across our teams and use technology to enable more time for patient care.

Listening and learning has been a key theme for me this month. As we approach the second anniversary of our Wise Council, I have been reflecting on what we have achieved so far and how we can continue to build upon that momentum. The Wise Council was set up in November 2023 and offers every colleague the opportunity to be a part of shaping how it feels to work at UHB. In less than two years, they have helped to shape our behavioural framework, five-year strategy, flexible working policy, training for leaders, and more. They have also shared views on topics such as appraisals, car parking, sustainable travel, onboarding and sexual safety in the workplace, to name just a few.

I am very proud of what has been achieved so far and encourage anyone who has not yet been involved to consider taking part. The more voices we have shaping our Trust, the stronger we will be. You can find more information on the Wise Council and how to join on our intranet.

On the same theme, I had the pleasure of chairing our Patient Experience Group this month. I always look forward to this meeting as it brings together the work of each hospital’s patient experience group and the public and patient involvement forums. It is always a joy to see how each site is working to implement the feedback and lived experiences of our patients, families and carers to shape improvements in care. 

Across the Trust, we gather feedback in many different ways and formats, from patients, relatives, carers and colleagues. However, to make meaningful change, it is important to not just collect feedback but truly listen and do something with what you have heard.

A quote that stands out to me is from Ernest Hemingway: ‘I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.’  We have to make sure that we are not ‘most people’; we need to be those who both listen and act.

Equally as important is the impression we make on our patients, families and carers from the very first moment. That is why we have been refocusing on our uniforms, dress code and professional standards. Clean, neat uniforms not only help to reduce the risk of carrying germs, but they also represent who we are as healthcare professionals.

I always think about what my mum would say, if someone came to her in a scruffy uniform and didn’t look well presented. We must do everything we can to protect our patients while they are in our care, and to ensure the impressions we leave are a true reflection of the pride we take in our profession.

That sense of pride was reinforced to me recently when I had the privilege of meeting a group of nurses who trained together at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital 45 years ago. They reunited on site and shared photographs and stories of their student days before visiting the heritage building to see what had changed. It was a lovely moment of reflection.

I’d like to end on an inspiring note. Recently, we said farewell to a remarkable colleague Delores Lane, who retired after an extraordinary 57 years of service. Delores spent much of her career in Rheumatology and worked across Solihull and Good Hope hospitals, having trained originally at East Birmingham Hospital, now Heartlands Hospital. Her dedication is an inspiration to us all and a powerful example of a lifelong commitment to patient care.

From celebrating excellence in our services and the expertise of our specialist nurses, to embracing innovation and amplifying patient voices, this month has been a reminder of the extraordinary impact of our teams. The legacy of care, dedication and compassion that runs through our nursing, midwifery and allied health professional communities is something I feel profoundly proud to be part of.

Until next time,

M