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For this blog I want as many people as possible to show their support for a former patient doing a special charity walk this weekend – all 26 miles of it! Ian’s Walk this Sunday is helping to boost funds for Walsall Manor Hospital’s Critical Care Rehabilitation Team. Covid-19 survivor Ian Hawkins has organised it in partnership with Walsall Healthcare’s Well Wishers charity.

From cooking for the masses and celebrities, including the likes of George Michael and Raymond Blanc to overseeing the catering production facility at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Mark Farmer has seen it, done it and prepared it when it comes to food! The 56-year-old, who has been Catering Production Manager for the Trust for six years, has been involved in the food industry for more than three decades.

As we celebrate Nutrition and Hydration Week, I want to use this opportunity to highlight, promote and celebrate what we do well in the provision of nutrition and hydration and use the chance to reflect, reinforce and innovate as we strive to continuously improve. COVID-19 has certainly highlighted the importance of health and wellbeing, not only for our patients, but for staff and all individuals.

A pedestrian crossing at New Cross Hospital has undergone a colourful transformation to celebrate diversity and show support for Pride Month at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust. Rainbow colours have been added to the crossing to show the Trust’s commitment to LGBT+ staff and patients. 

Most of the coronavirus restrictions currently in place in Wolverhampton will remain in effect until at least 19 July, the Government announced last night. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it would not be possible to move to step four of the road map out of lockdown next week as hoped, and that the current measures would remain in force for a further four weeks.

As part of Carers’ Week I want to highlight the carer’s passport, which has been introduced at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) and is soon to start at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust (WHT) following a pilot scheme. NHS England’s definition of a carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend due to their disability, health condition, frailty, mental health problem, addiction or other health and care need.

A new pop-up coronavirus rapid testing site is now available at New Cross Hpsital, joining the mobile testing unit that’s also currently there. Both testing units are open to anyone who does not have symptoms of coronavirus, without appointment. The new pop up site is based in a marquee close to Outpatients and Maternity and is open 8am until 4pm daily.

Professor David Loughton CBE, Chief Executive of The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and Acting Chief Executive of Walsall Healthcare Trust, has paid his own special video tribute to the army of volunteers who have helped both organisations during the last year as we reflect on National Volunteers Week 2021. David spoke of the various projects that volunteers at both Trusts have helped staff and patients in his tribute.

On the final day of Volunteers Week, Jessica Spittle, who has been a breastfeeding peer support worker at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust for nearly nine years, tells us why she volunteers. “Following my experiences with my own children, I became passionate about helping mums on their breastfeeding journey,” she says.

“You get to put a smile on someone’s face every day and there’s nothing better than that.” So says Samanpreet Kaur, who knows exactly how important the value of volunteering is. Samanpreet is our fourth featured volunteer as part of Volunteers Week. 

Our third volunteer featured for National Volunteers Week is Karen Wortans, who was inspired to help out after being a patient herself. Karen, 52, said: “I became a volunteer because I noticed on the wards the staff were very busy and not really getting breaks."

Eve Adams has been so inspired by volunteering that she has set her heart on a career with the NHS. The 17-year-old, a full-time student at Stafford College, is our second featured volunteer as part of Volunteers Week. 

At both Walsall Healthcare Trust and The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT), we believe looking after the health and wellbeing of our staff is essential. Without staff that are well and at work, the NHS could not deliver quality and effective care to patients. Both WHT and RWT have a number of different resources to help support staff. One exciting approach we introduced at RWT in 2020 is professional advocacy.

Dhavina Chadha knows she has made an impact with her volunteering – because patients remember her name – and she’s made them cakes! “It makes me really happy, helping and giving to people,” she says. “To hear them remembering my name just puts a smile on my face because I know I’ve made an impact.”