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Back pain prevention

Back-Pain-400x350

Did you know that back pain is the most common cause of time off work in the United Kingdom? Affecting more than 1.1 million people in the UK each year, back pain is the second most common reason for a GP visit.

Bad posture while sitting or standing, bending awkwardly and lifting equipment incorrectly are some of the reasons why back pain can occur. Placing too much pressure on your back too often can lead to long-term back problems.

Although backache in the lower back is most common, it can be felt anywhere along your spine from your neck down to your hips. In the majority of cases, back pain will get better within 12 weeks.

If you have any concerns and are struggling to cope with the pain, see your GP who may refer you to a specialist if your back pain lasts for more than six weeks.

Treating back pain will depend on:

  • How long you have had backache.
  • How severe the back pain is.
  • Your individual needs.

Backache which lasts less than six weeks can be treated with painkillers and home treatments. Home treatments can range from having a hot bath, placing a hot water bottle on the affected area or putting an ice pack on the area affected. If you are going to use an ice pack, wrap the frozen pack in a wet cloth before applying it to the affected area as you could end up with a cold burn if you place the ice directly on your skin.

In terms of back pain prevention, Ruth Freeman, a physiotherapist at Good Hope Hospital, says: “To help maintain a good posture, make sure you stand upright and balance your weight on both feet. Whilst sitting down, your knees and hips should be level and your feet should be flat on the floor. Remember to keep your back straight as well when you sit down.

“When it comes to handling objects, you should consider whether you can manage the lift and if in doubt get help. Avoid twisting your back and keep your head up once you have the load secure.

“Exercise is a great way of preventing back pain. Walking and swimming help strengthen muscles at the back without putting any strain on it. Doing yoga can also help improve the flexibility of your back muscles.

“Changing your sleeping position can help ease back pain and if you sleep on your back, putting a pillow under your knees will enable you to maintain the normal curve of your lower back.”

For more information on preventing back pain, visit the Trust’s physiotherapy website (http://therapies.heartofengland.nhs.uk/physiotherapy

Diabetic eye screeningHeart of England NHS Foundation Trust has secured the diabetic eye screening programme for Birmingham, Solihull, the Black Country region and Wolverhampton area, covering a population of more than 160,000 patients.

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness for working age adults in Birmingham. Under the new programme, Heart of England Trust – which runs Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital and Community Services – will ensure eligible patients are screened once a year to detect any changes, ensuring those affected are treated quickly.

The Trust demonstrated its ability to offer a high-quality and cost effective service, fighting off stiff competition from a range of other private contractors. Having managed the current screening programme from 2010, the new diabetic eye screening programme will run until 2019.

Dr Margaret Clarke, clinical lead for diabetes eye screening service, said: “We will continue to provide a clinically-led, high-quality and cost effective service for patients in Birmingham, Solihull, the Black Country and Wolverhampton area. The tender bid was very much a team effort and I am thrilled that patients will continue to benefit from our knowledge and expertise.”

For more information on the Trust’s diabetes service, visit www.retinalscreening.co.uk.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, please send me a copy of the “transformation plan” the trust was required to submit to Monitor by the end of March 2014.

For more information see point 1.12 in this Monitor document: http://www.monitor-nhsft.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Heart%20of%20England%20-%20Enforcement%20Undertaking%20201213.pdf

 

Acute Pathway Transformation Plan v5

Copy of Copy of Acute Pathway Transformation Plan v6

 

1a. Does your trust’s trauma protocol include administration of tranexamic acid to bleeding trauma patients? Yes

 

1b. If yes, at what date was administration of tranexamic acid added to your trust’s trauma protocol? Feb 2011 included in trauma clinicians guide for ED staff

 

2a. In 2013, how many acute trauma patients received a blood transfusion? Currently being audited – accurate information not known at present

 

2b.  Of those, how many were treated with tranexamic acid? Currently being audited – accurate information not known at present

 

3. In how many fatalities recorded in your trust in 2013 was bleeding trauma identified as the primary cause of death? Two

 

BBCHWTN – clinicians guide

Employee expenses – Executive Directors Please provide:

 

  1. Costs incurred for the period April to December 2013   £1,009k
  2. An estimate of the full year cost for the financial year 2013/14  £1,345k

 

The costs/estimates to be based on the definitions contained within the Manual of Accounts used to prepare the entry in the ”Operating Expenses” Note to the Annual Accounts.

 

Redundancy Costs Please provide:

 

  1. Costs incurred for the period April to December 2013  £Nil
  2. An estimate of the full year cost for the financial year 2013/14 £Nil

 

The costs/estimates to be based on the definitions contained within the Manual of Accounts used to prepare the entry in the ”Operating Expenses” Note to the Annual Accounts.

 

Total Employee Expenses  Please provide:

 

  1. Costs incurred for the period April to December 2013  £294,258k
  2. An estimate of the full year cost for the financial year 2013/14 £397,065k

 

The information provided should be broken down in accordance with the “Employee Expenses” subsidiary Note to the Accounts identifying the following elements;

 

  1. Salaries and Wages m9 £238,267k, full yr £321,418k
  2. Social security costs m9 £18,113k, full yr £24,248k
  3. Employer’s contributions to the NHS pension m9 £27,231k, full yr £36,503k
  4. Termination benefits m9 and full yr £nil
  5. Agency/contract staff m9 £10,647k, full yr £14,896k

The costs/estimates to be based on the definitions contained with the Manual of Accounts.

4.    Average Monthly Number of Employees (WTE basis)

Please provide the average number of employees for the period April to December 2013 for the following staff groups:

 

  1. Nursing  2923.12
  2. Bank and Agency 289.79
  3. Total for all staff within the Trust 8829.72

 

Contract 1

1.       Current Fixed Line (Voice Circuits) Provider– Main provider Cable and Wireless, minimal service from Virgin Media and BT

2.       Fixed Line- Contract Renewal Date– please provide day, month and year (month and year is also acceptable). If this is a rolling contract please provide me with the rolling date of the contract. If there is more than one supplier please split the renewal dates up into however many suppliers – Currently no renewal or contract dates applicable

3.       Fixed Line- Contract Duration– the number of years the contract is for each supplier. – 13 years

4.       Type of Lines-  Analogue

5.       Number of Lines- Please can you split the number of lines per each supplier? SIP trunks, PSN Lines, Analogue Lines

Heartlands 4 x 30 channels = 120

Solihull 2 x 30 channels = 60

Good  Hope 2 x 30 channels and 1 x15 channels = 75

Lyndon place  1 x 30 channels = 30

Birmingham Chest Clinic 1 x 10 channels = 10

Contract 2

6.       Minutes/Landline Provider– Supplier’s name (Fixed Voice not Mobiles) – Main provider Cable and Wireless, minimal service from Virgin Media and BT

7.       Minutes/Landline Contract Renewal Date– please provide day, month and year (month and year is also acceptable). If this is a rolling contract please provide me with the rolling date of the contract. – 1 year Contract end date 16th August 2015 Hu

8.       Minutes Landline Monthly Spend- Monthly average spend. An estimate or average is acceptable. – C&W average 5k, Virgin Medial £ 300

9.       Minute’s Landlines Contract Duration: the number of years the contract is with the supplier. 13 years

10.   Number of Extensions- Please state the number of telephone extensions the organisation currently has. An estimate or average is acceptable. 7175 over 8 switches / 5 sites

 Contract 3

11.   Fixed Broadband Provider– Supplier’s name – BT / Virgin

12.   Fixed Broadband Renewal Date- please provide day, month and year (month and year is also acceptable). If this is a rolling contract please provide me with the rolling date of the contract. If there is more than one supplier please split the renewal dates up into however many suppliers – this is a rolling contract

13.   Fixed Broadband Annual Average Spend- Annual average spend. An estimate or average is acceptable.- £1,200

14.   VOIP/PBX Installation Date of the organisation’s primary telephone system: – please provide day, month and year (month and year is also acceptable).

Solihull – Feb 2000

Heartlands – June 2000

Birmingham Chest Clinic – June 2000

Good Hope – March 2008

Lyndon Place – August 2009

Contract 4

15.   WAN Provider- please provide me with the main supplier(s) – BT

16.   WAN Contract Renewal Date– please provide day, month and year (month and year is also acceptable). If this is a rolling contract please provide me with the rolling date of the contract. If there is more than one supplier please split the renewal dates up into however many suppliers – Rolling Contract

17.   WAN Annual Average Spend- Annual average spend. An estimate or average is acceptable.- 256K

18.   Internal Contact: please can you send me there full contact details including contact number and email and job title. – n/a

IMPORTANT

If there is more than one supplier for some of the types of contracts information please can you split each of the contracts for each supplier that provide that service/support. For example Fixed Lines BT, Virgin Media Business

EXAMPLE

Supplier

Renewal Date Contract Duration Number of Lines
VMB

01/06/2013

1

100

BT

01/09/2013

3

600

If there is more than one contract please can you send me the main contracts?

If your organisation has a managed services contract which includes all or two out of three of the services stated above please state which of these is included with the contract. It would also be for me to if there are any other service support areas that are included within these contracts.

Managed Service Contract – Covered above

·         Contract Title

·         Supplier’s Name

·         Services Included (Contract Description)

·         Total Contract Value

·         Duration

·         Contract Expiry Date- please provide day, month and year (month and year is also acceptable)

·         Contract Date- please provide day, month and year (month and year is also acceptable)

·         Number of Extensions

·         Number of Lines

·         Minutes Landline Monthly Average Spend

·         Type of Lines

·         Fixed Broadband Average Annual Spend

·         WAN Average Annual Spend

·         Internal Contact: please can you send me there full contact details including contact number and email and job title.

 

 

1. How many babies were diagnosed with issues of ankylossia (tongue-tie) in 2013?

 

2. Of the babies diagnosed with issues of ankylossia (tongue-tie) in 2013, how many had a surgical procedure carried out by NHS surgeons to resolve these specific issues and how long did they wait for the procedure following diagnosis?

 

3. What was the mean age of babies with such issues when the ankylossia (tongue-tie) procedure was performed?

 

FOI3027

If you have an agreement for publishing or advertising on patient information in your emergency department, please provide the following:
– what company(s) is the agreement with?[]  The Trust has a Contract with Freeclaim Services Limited (‘Freeclaim’), a company of Solicitors with Solicitors Regulation Authority Number 469926
– what benefits or income does the Trust/department receive? [] #

The Trust receives specially printed and Trust branded patient information leaflets. The majority of these leaflets contain disease/injury/condition specific information which is provided to attendees at Trust A&E departments, the leaflets provide information to patients about the way they should handle and monitor the aliment they have suffered after visiting A&E for treatment. Other leaflets provide useful information about the Hospital’s and the A&E department more generally. The Trust considers this a benefit because it would ordinarily pay for the printing of stationary products from its own reserves. The Trust also receives a rebate from Freeclaim. The upper limit of this rebate is £112,815 per annum.
– what is final end date of the agreement. The maximum duration of the initial period is June 2015. There is an option to extend the contract for an additional year.
– is the end date subject to prior notice by you or the company and what notice is needed. Has any notice been given? The end of the initial period is fixed unless extended (see above).
– what company(s) is advertising on the patient information. Freeclaim.
If you have an agreement for publishing or advertising on patient information screens in your emergency department, please provide the following:  N/A
– what company(s) is the agreement with?
– what benefits or income does the Trust/department receive?
– what is final end date of the agreement
– is the end date subject to prior notice by you or the company and what notice is needed. Has any notice been given?
– what companies are advertising on the screens.

If you have an agreement for publishing or advertising on posters in your emergency department, please provide the following:  N/A
– what company(s) is the agreement with?
– what benefits or income does the Trust/department receive?
– what is final end date of the agreement
– is the end date subject to prior notice by you or the company and what notice is needed. Has any notice been given?
– what company(s) is advertising on the posters.

Do you have an agreement for publishing or advertising on OPD appointment cards and/or Fracture clinic cards?
– what company(s) is the agreement with? Calco
– what benefits or income does the Trust/department receive? None
– what is final end date of the agreement? Rolling contract
– is the end date subject to prior notice by you or the company and what notice is needed. Has any notice been given? Minimum of 3 years notice per contract and no notice has been served
– what company(s) is advertising on the cards.

  • Solihull – Coley & Tilley Solicitors
  • GHH – Specsavers & Field Overill Solicitors
  • BHH – Bell Lax Solicitors

 

 

I would to make the following FOI request as part of social research project, concerning private patients treated by the Trust. Could you a) provide the total income (or projected income) received by the Trust in 2013/14 from treating private patients, and b) also give the number of private patients treated in the years 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14?

 

PP 11/12   648 patients

PP 12/13   624 patients

PP 13/14   525 patients,

 

Income for 13/14 – £628k

The response to your query is detailed below:

 

1. How many people have presented to your trust’s facilities with injuries/scars/wounds believed to be associated with FGM or female circumcision‎ in the past five years.

In the last five years we have seen the following number of FGM cases:

·         2009-232

·         2010-317

·         2011-316

·         2012-288

·         2013-349

 

2. Please say how many presented at each of your trust’s facilities.

The majority of the women will have been seen at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital HH as the FGM clinic is based there, women have also been seen at Solihull Hospital and Good Hope Hospital. The Specialist Midwife for FGM will assess and identify what type of FGM they have. They will then be given a care plan according to their needs.

 

3. Please provide as much information as you possibly can about each case but without risking the identification of the people involved – ie if you feel you can provide an age range of the people who presented to your trust but not the specific ages of each person, please provide do so, please give as much information as you are able to about when they presented at your trust’s facilities.

Although we hold information on ages, treatment, referral, etc we are unable to provide this. We estimate that compliance with your request would exceed the appropriate costs limit under section 12 of the Freedom of information Act 2000. This is currently £450 and relates to the cost of obtaining the information required from each patient’s medical records.  

 

4. Please also state if the trust made any other agencies aware of such injuries and if so, which parties and name them eg referrals were made to West Midlands Police.

We have a record of one referral to social services made in the case of a patient under the age of 18.

 

5. Were the women born in the UK or elsewhere? If you feel you can, please state with country in each case?

We do not collect nationality for all patients, however we can tell you that the majority of patients are from Somalia.

 

6. Is it believed these women had FGM while in the UK or elsewhere?

None of the FGM we have seen have been carried out in the UK.

 

 

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