Read Mark Fisher's account, Covid-19 patient's vivid account of what he saw on coronavirus hospital ward and his PPE fears for paramedic who rushed to his aid, Wales Online.

Wellbeing guides

Dear colleague, 

Today, we’re launching a new staff app – StaffConnect – to give our staff the information they need and keep us all better connected with the organisation and our colleagues.

With the unprecedented and ever-changing situation we are currently facing in relation to COVID-19, it is more important than ever that all members of staff can easily access accurate, up-to-date information pertinent to their work.

Access anywhere

Many of our staff cannot access the health board’s corporate networks or staff intranet. StaffConnect gives all staff access to the latest information on the go, wherever and whenever they need it on their smartphone, tablet and desktop devices. 

Key features

The app features:

• Newsfeed – with the latest updates about COVID-19, Len’s daily CEO Connects operational briefing, national guidance and materials, workforce information, and staff wellbeing resources.
• Communities and document libraries – giving clinical boards, directorates and departments private spaces to discuss their work and share information and resources relevant to their areas.
• Chat and group chat functionality – this allows users to communicate privately with colleagues across the organisation, but please note that patient identifiable information must not be shared. 
• Access to ESR and online bank shifts – giving access to everything you need all in one place.

Getting connected

Members of staff with NHS email addresses will shortly receive an invitation to join the app, while the remainder of staff will be able to register using their staff number, which you can find in ESR and on your latest payslip. To access the app:

1.Download ‘Staff Connect’ app for your  or  device, or visit your desktop device. 

2.Open the app and enter our unique Organisation ID: CAVUHB

3.Register with your staff number and surname. 

A short welcome video in the app shows how to navigate it and use the main features.

Please cascade this email and the attached poster through your teams to ensure that all members of staff are aware of and able to sign up to StaffConnect.

For more information or support, please email covid19cav@wales.nhs.uk.

Please can you link through to: 

http://www.cardiffandvaleuhb.wales.nhs.uk/staffconnect.

Card launched for care workers desperate for fair access to supermarkets, lead officer for social care Mark Turner quoted, Tenby Observer.

The same story appeared in the Narberth & Whitland Observer, again quoting Mark and a piece was broadcast on BBC Radio Cymru.

Protective kit supply issues in Wales must be overcome immediately, says UNISON

UNISON Wales has today (Saturday) written to the First Minster in the strongest terms about the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) across Wales. 

The letter was sent in reaction to the death yesterday of a healthcare worker and UNISON member who contracted Covid-19 after caring for infected patients. 

UNISON has received numerous reports from frontline workers about inadequate levels of PPE in hospitals and care homes across Wales.

UNISON Cymru Wales Secretary Tanya Palmer said: “Health, care and other key workers providing local services must have the supplies of gowns, eye protection, gloves, masks and sanitiser they need now. 

“This is a matter of urgency. Any supply chain issues the Welsh government is experiencing with the UK government must be overcome immediately.

“UK government ministers urging workers to be careful with their use of PPE are highly irresponsible and will lead to further deaths.

“We need to know urgently, what are the stock levels, where are they being stored and when will they be delivered. This is killing our people.”

UNISON and the Wales TUC are urging any workers with any PPE concerns to get in touch. UNISON has an online PPE alert reporting tool and the Wales TUC an online whistleblowing hotline. 

Notes to editors:

Letter sent to the First Minister:

I am saddened to have to write to you in the strongest terms about the inadequacy of supply to frontline staff of appropriate PPE.

The senior lay activists have instructed me to contact you as a matter of urgency as they are literally being inundated with very scared and anxious workers who have not received the equipment which will save their, their families and patient lives. 

This follows the first death of one of our activists in the community branch from Covid-19.

I have even seen posts on social media of medical staff having to wear goggles from the science department of the local school. Betsi Cadwaladr say they only have PPE supplies to last them until Monday. 

We need to know urgently, what are the stock levels, where are they being stored and when will they be delivered. This is killing our people.

We need an honest response now.

Tanya Palmer

Regional secretary

Notes to editors:

- UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:

Tanya Palmer M: 07961 043 885 E: t.palmer@unison.co.uk 
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk

Our offer of free online training Covid-19 for our care worker members was covered by the South Wales Argus (scroll to 12.01pm in the rolling coverage) and the Morning Star. Project manager Jenny Griffin was quoted.

Please see below advice about accessing the training.

Advice from the UNISON learning team

Some people have reported trouble clicking on the link to access the Covid-19 e-learning. There are a number of different links you can use (all of which should take you to the application form):

https://tinyurl.com/cv19course

https://forms.gle/vMtTYZS5ccthVheXA

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeYsWKp6YWCazVzKmNQTaiWCox7-VWRKfQI98R2scjcvNuh8g/viewform?usp=sf_link  

If these links do not work:

Firstly, please ensure you are not using Internet Explorer – please ensure you open the link in Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.

Secondly, some users are being directed to an ‘Outlook Web App’ page when they click the link from within an email originally sent from UNISON’s system.  If this happens, please can you physically type the address https://tinyurl.com/cv19course directly into your web browser (not Internet Explorer as above), rather than clicking the link.

Testing increase welcome, but government must be careful not to overpromise, says UNISON

Commenting on the announcement by health secretary Matt Hancock today (Thursday) that the government is aiming to conduct 100,000 tests by the end of April, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: 

“Testing is key in the fight against the virus. It’s clear the UK isn’t doing enough. We can’t waste another minute.

“But the government must be realistic about what’s possible and not overpromise. Delivering over the coming weeks will be crucial to how both frontline staff and the wider public view the government’s ability to manage the crisis.

"Many NHS and care staff at home in isolation want to be tested. They're frustrated that the lack of testing kits is preventing their return to the frontline. Speed and accuracy are now of the essence.”

Note to editors:
- UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk 
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

Welsh nurse's heartfelt plea for more personal protective equipment so they can return to families 'unscathed' after pandemic, UNISON Swansea Bay Health branch's Libby Nolan video featured and regional secretary Tanya Palmer quoted, Wales Online.

Welsh heath and care workers have no access to PPE, Unison Cymru says, regional secretary Tanya Palmer quoted, Morning Star

Health workers feel 'actively discouraged' to protect themselves over PPE supply fears, references open letter from healthcare workers endorsed by UNISON, ITV Wales

For the latest facts about Corvid 19 check out

phw.nhs.wales

Unsocial hours payments

The Minister has agreed the reinstatement of the unsocial hours payments from day one for a temporary period and to enable the release of the ‘held’ back pay. 

REGIONAL HEALTH COMMITTEE  1/2020

(This is an occasional Newsletter for Branch Secretaries in Health)

News

Sick Pay (25^th March 2020)

Update for all Regional Health Committee delegates:

Due to the current situation regarding corona virus, the Health Minister has agreed to the reinstatement of the unsocial hours payments from day one for a temporary period.  The Minister has also agreed to enable the release of any ‘held’ back pay. 

We will be working with Welsh Government to update the FAQs and to arrange for release of the payments.

Student Nurse 

England have agreed guidelines for Student Nurses which were circulated last week.  We are currently awaiting confirmation of the position in Wales.

PPE

We know that there are problems about PPE and Tanya Palmer our Regional Secretary, is daily letting the Welsh Government know our concerns.  Can you let us know if your members face further problems over the next week.

Donna Hutton, 

Acting Head of Health

27 March 2020

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the COVID-19

Health and local government, including social care. (England Only)

You will know that during the COVID-19 pandemic the provision of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to workers providing public services is an extremely important issue causing concern to many members.  

UNISON has received reports of shortages of equipment across sectors, particularly in social care.

The Department of Health and Social Care has now confirmed a phone number and email address for the National Supply Disruption Service (NSDR).  The following information applies to health, local government and social care providers.

• Health and social care providers should order their supplies is the usual way, through usual channels.
• If the health or social care provider cannot obtain the necessary supplies, they can escalate that to the National Supply Disruption Response service (NSDR). This is a disruption resolution service and while it can provide some limited supplies, it is not an ordering line for PPE.
• The NSDR phone number is: 0800 915 9964  
• The email address is supplydisruptionservice@nhsbsa.nhs.uk (Emails will be answered within one hour)

Where UNISON is made aware of shortages of PPE, the employer should be strongly encouraged to contact the NSDR to report the shortage and request resolution.

We are seeking clarification on whether or not employees can report issues directly to the NSDR and we will update this advice as soon as we have this information.

Government advice on PPE can be found here:

NHS: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-infection-prevention-and-control 

Social care: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-residential-care-supported-living-and-home-care-guidance 

For UNISON sector specific advice on PPE, see these links:

Healthcare workers https://www.unison.org.uk/at-work/health-care/big-issues/covid-19-advice-health-workers/ 

Social care workers https://www.unison.org.uk/care-workers-your-rights/coronavirus-advice-social-care-workers/  

Local government workers: https://www.unison.org.uk/at-work/local-government/coronavirus-guidance-local-government-workers/ 

Letter signed by healthcare workers

1000 NHS workers appeal to Welsh Government for ‘urgent steps’ to tackle coronavirus, references UNISON and TUC support, Nation.Cymru

Welsh Government announcement on PPE

UNISON welcomes provision of personal protective equipment pledge from health minister to combat coronavirus, regional secretary Tanya Palmer quoted, Leader

Five more people with coronavirus die in Wales, taking nation’s total to 22, Tanya again quoted, Express and Star

• We must all abide by the lockdown rules, says UNISON

  Posted on 23 March 2020

Dear UNISON member, 

 

URGENT APPEAL TO WELSH GOVERNMENT FROM NHS WALES WORKERS

 

We are writing this email to you as a member who works within the health sector in Wales and we want to do our best to support you at this time.  

 

Last week, UNISON and the Wales TUC united with campaign group C19 Action Wales calling for urgent action for NHS Wales workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. We are calling for all our members working in the health sector in Wales to sign up to the campaign.

 

The campaign is calling to:

·         Institute mass testing and tracing or all NHS workers and their families, as well as staff such as care workers in other front line services with vulnerable groups;

·         Urgently supply adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for all NHS staff and others working with suspected cases, from Doctors, to carers and porters;

·         Introduce routine testing of all current and new inpatients;

·         Create an agreed, standardised admission route for assessment and testing of anyone presenting with respiratory/COVID-19 symptoms at all front line medical services   and specialisms, not just GPs and A&E (i.e. mental health services, paediatrics and radiography);

·         Institute an immediate ban on all non-essential hospital visiting;

·         Ensure NHS staff are being advised on safe working and are able to take rest periods to avoid burnout;

·         Immediately suspend hospital accommodation fees for staff;

·         Immediately requisition all private healthcare facilities so they may be used to treat the sick;

·         Urgently order and/or manufacture new ventilators on an industrial scale;

·         Draft healthcare workers with ICU experience into hospitals;

·         Produce an urgent strategy for staff recruitment and rapid training, passing emergency legislation if needed. 

 

UNISON is in regular discussion with Welsh Government on these issues and we will continue to campaign to ensure you are supported in the vital work you are undertaking. If you are able to, please sign up to the campaign. The more people who sign, the stronger our voice.

 

Finally, we are witnessing true public services every minute of every day during this crisis. For all you are doing - thank you. 

 

Yours sincerely, 

 

Tanya Palmer 

UNISON Cymru Wales Secretary

Assistance for healthcare workers

NHS staff describe ‘dangerous’ shortage of intensive care beds amid coronavirus outbreak, (references UNISON's backing of the letter signed by 50 healthcare workers), ITV Wales. 

Same story on Wales Online, again referencing UNISON's support for the campaign, Healthcare workers in Wales call for 'urgent steps' to support frontline NHS staff

Thursday 19 March 2020


Student nurses willing to help NHS but need proper support, says UNISON

Responding to the publication of draft guidance today (Thursday) on the use of nursing students to help the NHS cope with the Covid-19 pandemic, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:

“Never before has the NHS faced a challenge on this scale. Combating the coronavirus requires unprecedented measures.

“Making sure the health service has as many staff as possible is paramount.

“Many student nurses want to make their skills available at this time of exceptional need. But in a way that’s as safe as possible for them and patients.

“Under these changes, final-year student nurses can offer to support the NHS on paid placements and join a special section of the nursing register.

“But they must be able to return to learning and complete more supported clinical placements, if needed, once the crisis is over.

“The long-term future of the NHS must also be protected. That means not rushing anyone into becoming a fully qualified registered nurse.”

​Notes to editors:

- UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk

Coronavirus Guidance and Advice from the UHB

Recruitment/Engagement Event

All Recrutment/Engagement events have been suspended for the forseeable future!

You can still join online or by asking your local rep.

Our new branch app is now available for i phone and android devices. 

Scan the QR code below to download.

App created by

• Find out more

Friday 6 December 2019
For immediate release

Mission to see a GP is no laughing matter, says UNISON

The stress and anxiety of trying to get a GP appointment is at the heart of a new short film from UNISON.

Join the queue takes a tongue-in-cheek look at a situation that’s all too familiar – frantically trying to contact the surgery the moment the lines open.

As a clock counts down and the tension builds, a family is poised over landlines, mobile phones and online booking systems trying to be among the lucky few to get an appointment.

With their young daughter feeling ill and the clock finally striking 8am, there’s a brief moment of hope as the call connects. Moments later, crushing disappointment fills the room as a recorded message tells them they’re number 57 in the queue.

Although the film is humorous, it does touch on a truth that for many getting a GP appointment is increasingly difficult.

Almost a decade of funding cuts to the health service are to blame, says UNISON.

The video is launched as the UK prepares to vote in a general election with the future of the NHS in the balance.

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Nine years of Tory cuts have ravaged the NHS, with decisions made in Westminster affecting families’ daily lives across the country.

"Hospitals with ambulances stacked up outside have huge staff vacancies and hard-working employees are frazzled trying to fill the gaps, while patients face long waiting times in A&E when they can’t get a GP appointment. Everyone who works for and uses the NHS can see how the government has squeezed our health service. 

"When walking into polling stations next week, people should think about the NHS and the improvements that are desperately needed.” 

Notes to editors:
- The film is available on YouTube.
- UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors. 

Media contacts:
Garfield Myrie T: 0207 121 5546 M: 07432 741565 E: g.myrie@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

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If we don’t have your correct contact details you will miss out on membership offers, announcements or information about voting ballots that may be held.

The new UK living wage

NHS pay agreement in England and Wales falls short

The new UK living wage was announced by the Living Wage Foundation this week.

It will be £9.30 across the UK and £10.75 in London. Employers registered as Living Wage employers have until May 2020 to implement the changes.

The Foundation Living Wage is distinct from the legal minimum wages which are £8.21 for workers aged 25 or over with lower rates for younger workers and apprentices.

Both Labour and the Conservatives have announced minimum wage policies ahead of the general election. The Conservative pledge is to reach a minimum wage of £10.50 by 2024 for workers aged 21 or over. Labour’s pledge is for £10 for all workers, regardless of age in 2020.

In 2018 NHS unions led by UNISON broke the Conservative government’s hated public sector pay cap with a three-year pay deal that won the living wage for over 100,000 NHS staff – the largest group of workers to ever win that in one go. The pay deals in England, Wales and Scotland gave rises of £2,000-£2,600 for the lowest paid NHS staff, which at the time took them above the Living Wage rate.

However, the new Living Wage rate means the NHS pay agreement in England and Wales falls short, as the lowest rate for Band 1 and 2 will be £9.21 from April 2020. The lowest rate in Scotland will be £9.45. Staff in Northern Ireland are still fighting for the full pay deal.

Work is underway to prepare for when the current deals end in 2021. Going into the next pay round measures to continue bearing down on low pay and ensure that the NHS exceeds the Living Wage will be a high priority for us.

We continue to campaign for the NHS pay deal for all health workers.

What have unions ever done for us?

In 2018 NHS unions led by UNISON broke the Conservative government’s hated public sector pay cap with a three-year pay deal that won the living wage for over 100,000 NHS staff – the largest group of workers to ever win that in one go. The pay deals in England, Wales and Scotland gave rises of £2,000-£2,600 for the lowest paid NHS staff, which at the time took them above the Living Wage rate.

Cardiff and Vale UHB to offer free nextbike membership to its staff

Friday, 8 November 2019

 

Cardiff and Vale UHB has been a keen champion of Cardiff’s bicycle sharing scheme, nextbike, since its launch in May 2018. 

 

Now, the health board is taking the next step in its partnership with nextbike by offering its staff free membership to the scheme thanks to part-funding from UNISON’s Cardiff and Vale Health Branch.

 

The mission of Cardiff and Vale UHB is simple: “caring for people, keeping people well.” It means that the UHB considers it to be its responsibility to not only treat people when they’re ill but also do everything it can to help people stay as healthy as they can for as long as possible.

 

This ambition extends to its staff and the UHB, strives to ensure that staff are looked after and empowered to make healthy choices wherever possible. A variety of projects, from the Employee Well-being Service to ensuring that healthy options are available in the hospital restaurants, are constantly being developed to help staff be as healthy as they can.

 

 

Staff members at Cardiff and Vale UHB are not immune from the wider determinants of health that affect the rest of our population and issues such as air pollution and sedentary lifestyles are key amongst them.

 

By working with nextbike, the UHB can address both of these issues by encouraging staff to travel actively to and from work, which will in turn reduce the total amount of emissions that it, and its staff, produces.

 

In April 2019, Cardiff and Vale UHB was one of fourteen public sector organisations in Cardiff to sign the Healthy Travel Charter and offering its staff free membership to nextbike is just one of a number of actions that will be taken to promote active travel and reduce emissions.

 

The health board is able to offer 1,500 members of staff free membership thanks to the generosity of UNISON’s Cardiff and Vale Health Branch, who provided half the funding, while the UHB provided the other half.

 

Memberships will be offered to staff in gradual tranches, on a first-come-first-serve basis. The first cohort of 130 memberships will be available soon as a pilot, in order to ensure that the process for staff to use the scheme is smooth and without any barriers.

 

Abigail Harris, Executive Director of Strategic Planning at Cardiff and Vale UHB, said, “This is a significant step towards a more sustainable future for the UHB. By encouraging our staff to cycle to and from work, and to meetings on different sites during the day, we’re working to reduce the amount of congestion and air pollution on our hospital sites as well as keeping our staff active and healthy.”

 

“I would like to sincerely thank UNISON for their generous contribution and to the UHB’s Capital, Estates and Facilities Team for securing nextbike stations at our University Hospital of Wales and Woodland House sites.”

 

Stuart Egan, Lead Health And Safety Representative (Trade Unions) for Cardiff and Vale UHB,  said, “The Cardiff & Vale Health Branch are proud to have provided half of the funding for this project to ensure that staff members are supported to make healthy choices such as cycling to work. I look forward to seeing many more of the UHB’s staff members cycling to work in the near future but I would encourage them to be safe and wear a helmet and high visibility gear, especially when riding on the roads.”

 

Sam Coldham, nextbike Business Development Manager, said: "We're always keen to speak with organisations large and small to see how working with nextbike could benefit their workforce, so we're delighted to be partnering with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board to deliver this scheme.

 

"The Health Board has been a vocal nextbike supporter since the scheme launched, so it's great that so many of its workforce will be able to enjoy nextbike membership for free. By cycling instead of taking the car, staff will not only improve their personal health but will also help with the important challenges of reducing carbon emissions and congestion across the city."

 

Staff can apply for free nextbike membership here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CavuhbNextbike

 

Teams are encourgaed to print this poster and display in staff areas so that all staff can access the scheme.

 

The 'Save Barry Hospital Ward' petition is live on the Welsh Government website. Please take a moment to sign and join our campaign to defend the Hospital ward."

 

https://www.assembly.wales/en/gethome/e-petitions/Pages/petitiondetail.aspx?PetitionID=1601