The community magazine from the Royal United Hospitals Bath Radio times (page 8)
Living beyond cancer (page 9)
insight ISSUE 37 SPRING 2018
NHS at 70 (page 3)
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
RoyalUnited HospitalBath
@RUHBath
Laughter is the best medicine
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inside this issue
Welcome
3 NHS 70 – your memories wanted
Welcome to the Spring edition of insight, our community magazine. Isn’t this a wonderful time of year to look forward with hope and optimism? We have great plans for 2018 – but first I’d like to reflect on the past few months and how the RUH has managed through the winter.
5 New hub to get patients home 7 Our new Spiritual Care Centre opens 14 All your Membership news
Contributors
It was the busiest and most pressured that I’ve seen in my 11 years as Chief Executive, with record numbers of patients needing our care. I’m sure you’ll join me in thanking all our staff, from the frontline teams in A&E to our small army of cleaners, who worked wonders and enabled us to maintain patient safety. I apologise to any patients who were inconvenienced for any reason, but I hope you understand that these were extraordinary circumstances beyond our control. Be assured that we will learn lessons from this experience and be ready again, as we were for winter 2017/18, for the next time. This spring and summer we’re asking for your memories to help us celebrate the anniversary of the creation of the NHS, 70 years ago. We’ll be joining in the national NHS 70 celebrations ahead of the big day on 5 July, and leading up to that we’re asking you to show your support. You’ll find some ideas on the next page. Inside insight you’ll also be able to read about progress on some of our major developments, including the new RNHRD and Therapies Centre at the front of the hospital, and the completion of our new Spiritual Care Centre (Page 7).
Helen Spurrell, Midwifery Sister Maternity virtual tours (page 10)
Fran Bryden Living beyond cancer – in her words (page 9)
And they say that laughter is the best medicine – find out why the Giggle Doctor is just what the doctor ordered on our Children’s Ward, on page 6. James Scott Chief Executive We’re always keen to hear your feedback about insight, or any aspect of our work. Please email ruh-tr.communicationteam@nhs.net
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The NHS is 70 this year - and we’re looking for your stories The NHS is turning 70 on 5 July 2018. It’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate the achievements of one of the nation’s most loved institutions, to appreciate the vital role the service plays in our lives, and to recognise and thank the extraordinary NHS staff – the everyday heroes – who are there to guide, support and care for us, day in, day out. We’re collecting stories and memorabilia from patients, workers, volunteers and the public relating to the Royal United Hospital and RNHRD.
How uniforms have changed…
• Can you remember the beginnings of the NHS? • Perhaps you came from overseas to work in the RUH? • Have you been a porter, a radiographer, a surgeon, a therapist or held any other post? We want to hear what working life was like. • How do you think treatments have changed over the years? We’d love to hear from anyone with a story or experience to tell. On the wards
Whatever your story, we’re keen to hear from you
Student nurse 1950s style
Please email us, whether you’re a local business, a school or community group,
Maternity care
for example, that wants to show your support, and let us know what you are planning to do. You could be organising a flower or shop window display, holding your own anniversary tea party, or decorating the classroom with original children’s art? Whatever your story, we’re keen to hear from you. Contact us at ruh-tr. communicationteam@nhs.net or tweet @RUHBath to get involved. There’ll be a range of national and local events taking place to mark this milestone throughout the year. Keep an eye on https://www.england. nhs.uk/nhs70 and http://www.ruh. nhs.uk/ for more details.
www.ruh.nhs.uk
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Frailty Flying Squad is RUH winner
A pioneering specialist team of doctors, nurse practitioners and therapists at the RUH Bath has been honoured for its work in helping older patients to avoid being admitted to hospital. The Frailty Flying Squad works in the RUH Emergency Department and Medical Assessment Unit and identifies older patients who, with some intensive assessment and treatment, have the opportunity to return to the community rather than being admitted to hospital. The Squad was voted Team of the Year, for demonstrating outstanding leadership and dedication, at the Trust’s 2017 New Year’s Honours Awards ceremony, held at the Assembly Rooms in Bath. Consultant Geriatrician Genevieve Robson said: “It’s recognised that sometimes hospital is not the best place to be for an older frail patient. Bedrest can lead to loss of strength and
a deterioration in health, while going home quickly to a safety net of family support can actually be much better.
otherwise be admitted are discharged
About a third of patients who would
BaNES and Wiltshire.
within 24 hours, while overall length of stay has reduced.
The Squad’s pioneering “We’re thrilled “Most patients would initiative has also been choose to stay at home to receive the recognised by the if they could, instead award, and proud national Emergency of being admitted to a that the work is Care Improvement ward. Our project has really benefiting Programme (ECIP) which been very successful for patients.” them and for the hospital. has meant that it is now We’re thrilled to receive hosting other teams to the award, and proud that the share best practice. work is really benefiting patients.” The local Sustainability and The key is early senior assessment Transformation Partnership (STP) has and treatment combined with timely also submitted a proposal for national discussions with families, carers and funding for similar schemes across other community support services.
Award winners – the Frailty Flying Squad 4
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Heading for home –patient Kathleen O’Sullivan with Karen Smith, Sister
Home Hub Senior Sister Tanya Harris, left, and Karen Smith
New Home Hub improves patient experience The new Home Hub at the Royal United Hospital has opened its doors and is providing a better patient experience, helping staff improve efficiency and freeing up beds for other patients who are more in need. the Hub, which has comfy seats, a The Home Hub is a discharge television, books, magazines, and hot lounge for patients who are and cold refreshments. well enough to leave hospital Karen Smith, Sister, but are waiting “Our patients are said: “The Home for transport or giving us some great, Hub is a friendly medicine to and welcoming positive feedback take home. environment for and they seem really patients who are Instead of waiting on pleased that this going home that day, the wards, the Hub area is helping with but are waiting for provides a safe and their recovery.” medicine or collection relaxing environment by family or friends for patients. or transport. Reducing the time patients “The Hub helps to take the strain away stay on the wards creates more beds from other wards at busy times by needed for people who are waiting freeing up vital beds and ensuring that in the Emergency Department (ED) or patients have everything they need to for patients coming to hospital for a continue their recovery at home. planned operation. The Hub can take up to 20 patients and is run by a dedicated team of nursing sisters, nurses and healthcare assistants. Patients can relax in
“Our patients are giving us some great, positive feedback and they seem really pleased that this area is helping with their recovery and getting them
Time for tea – patient Cliff Wadey
home or back to friends, family or carers. I absolutely love working here – it’s really nice to have the time to talk to patients.” Open from 7.30am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, the Home Hub is located at B9, on the ground floor. It is a dedicated space located within the neurology outpatients area. www.ruh.nhs.uk
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Fun and laughter - just what the doctor ordered Young patients had their day brightened up by an unconventional doctor in January. She doesn’t take temperatures, or make patients swallow horrible medicine. This doctor makes children feel better by using music, magic, storytelling – and jokes. Like this one: What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh! Dr Betty Ding Dong from Theodora’s Children’s Charity has been making sick children laugh for 18 years. She’s one of a team of Giggle Doctors who work in over 20 hospitals. Dr Ding Dong, Clare Parry-Jones out of costume, aims to make being in hospital a better experience for children. She said: “We’re called Giggle Doctors because we love to bring a giggle, but it’s not the main reason – just by being on the ward brings a real breath of fresh air. “I enjoy being a Giggle Doctor, I love that you never know what’s going to happen or who you’re going to meet.
Hospital’s a hoot for patient Evie Rose
When you come here and spend time with patients and their families it really puts life into perspective. You realise certain things you were worrying about maybe aren’t so important.” Children’s Ward Senior Sister, Mel Gittins, said: “It’s not a normal thing to
be in hospital. Play is to children what work is to adults – it’s what they do. So having somebody to provide “When you come that extra here and spend level of play and support time with patients for them, and their families and to take it really puts life their mind of into perspective.” anything that is happening from a medical or nursing point of view, is really a happy thing for them.“ Amy Rose, whose daughter Evie (pictured) was in hospital, said: “She was feeling a little bit tired before Dr Ding Dong arrived, but she’s perked up to no end since she came in. She has definitely had a lot of giggles.”
Evie and Dr Ding Dong make the TV news 6
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Dr Ding Dong was joined on our Children’s Ward by the BBC for a feature you might have seen on BBC Points West or listened to on local radio and the World Service. Thank you to patients, families, staff and Dr Ding Dong for making the filming possible.
insight – news update
Good progress on RNHRD and Therapies Centre Work is well underway on our new RNHRD and Therapies Centre at the front of the hospital. Since November, when construction company Kier moved onto the site, the ground has been cleared and important preparatory work carried out ahead of the main building project. Over the past few months the foundations have been dug and filled in and the below-ground drainage runs completed. The next stage is erecting a large tower crane on site, after which the building’s reinforced concrete superstructure will begin to rise into the air. RUH Project Manager Daniel Barnett said: “Despite some pretty challenging weather conditons over the winter, the contractors have done a fantastic job to keep on schedule and make some significant progress. From now on visitors and staff will really
see the new RNHRD and Therapies Centre begin to grow and take shape.” Read more about funding for the Centre on P.12.
Looking to the future – our strategic vision We’re finalising our strategic plan and setting our and worked with patients, staff, partners, commissioners and direction and priorities for the next three years, representatives of the communities we serve. Together, we looking back at what we have agreed our ambition and Our vision have achieved in recent years aims for the next three years, and peering into the future. with our values continuing to act To provide the highest quality of care; delivered by an outstanding team who all live by our values What lies ahead, what are the as the foundation of everything general trends in health and we do. Left is the shared vision Our goals social care and wider society, and goals that are at the heart of what could these mean for us Recognised as our strategy – what we want to Work together Be a a listening Be an outstanding Quality as an organisation and what with our partners sustainable organisation; place to work improvement and stand for as an organisation and patient centred where staff can innovation each to strengthen our organisation that kind of organisation do we and flourish. and every day. community. is fit for the future. how we will achieve this. compassionate. want to be? We’ll continue to work in A big thank you to everyone Our values partnership on the next steps who has been involved in this Working Making a and we’ll share more information process in recent months. We’ve Everyone Together Matters Difference heard from hundreds of people with you as it becomes available.
Our new Spiritual Care Centre opens As insight went to press, final work was taking place for the opening of our brand new Spiritual Care Centre – a space for prayer and reflection. It replaces our former Chapel and will offer 24-hour access for people of all faiths or none. There are ablution and prayer spaces available, a quiet and private area for confidential and sensitive conversations, and a peaceful courtyard garden with planting, seating and sculpture. RUH Lead Chaplain Narinder Tegally said: “It is a real privilege and exciting to be in this new space. We’re looking forward to working in our modern, purpose-built centre, providing Religious and Spiritual Care to people with diverse needs from all backgrounds, cultures, all faiths and none. It’s a place where we can offer support not just to patients, but to relatives, carers and staff as well.” The new Spiritual Care Centre is located on the crossroads
of Zone C&D on the ground floor. It is part of our Fit for the Future development plan to transform our site and further improve services for patients. For more information on events and daily programme at the Spiritual Care Centre, please visit our website or email: narinder.tegally@nhs.net www.ruh.nhs.uk
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Nigel Smith - hospital radio volunteer
Bath Hospital Radio – listen up! Did you know the Royal United Hospital has its own radio station broadcasting around the wards and around the world? Run by a team of on and off air volunteers, Bath Hospital Radio broadcasts 24 hours a day online to patients, staff and visitors at the RUH.
Email studio@bathhospitalradio.org.uk
I’m interested in volunteering Email studio@bathhospitalradio.org.uk Bath Hospital Radio is a charity responsible for raising its own funds and recruiting new volunteers.
Since 1964, Bath Hospital Radio has provided a “It means a lot free invaluable service to me to be a Nigel Smith, who has helping to improve life volunteer and a been volunteering for for people in hospital and part of the hospital six years, said: “It means to aid with their recovery. community.” a lot to me to be a The station provides a volunteer and a part of variety of services such the hospital community. as request shows, local and It’s rewarding to go round the wards national news, music programmes and and have a chat to patients – music is commentaries on Bath Rugby matches. a universal language and once I say I’m How do I listen? from hospital radio and start to talk about music you see their faces light up, In the hospital which is great to see. – Hospedia channel one. Online – bathhospitalradio.org.uk/
How do I make a request? Call 01225 824151 Tweet @bathradio 8
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“I would encourage everyone to get involved. If you’ve not tuned in before – check us out! If you’re keen to help and volunteer we would love to hear from you, we have a host of roles available in
front and behind the microphone.” Listen live at bathhospitalradio.org.uk or for more info email studio@bathhospitalradio.org.uk.
Most played Anything by Elvis or Frank Sinatra
The first five records played on Bath Hospital Radio in May 1964: • The Beatles – She Loves You • Roy Orbison – It’s Over • Cilla Black – You’re My World • The Rolling Stones – Not Fade Away • The Four Pennies – Juliet
Living beyond cancer – a patient’s story We’re proud that the Trust was rated highly in the latest NHS England survey of patients’ experience of cancer treatment, scoring better than the national average in areas including being directly involved in their care, finding out what’s wrong, and overall NHS care. But what’s the reality for people behind the statistics? We asked Bath teacher Fran Bryden to tell us about her personal experience of breast cancer. Although both my sons were born at the RUH I didn’t really know anything about hospitals and hadn’t really been in any when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2013. Stopping teaching and starting tests, I learnt that the first thing they ask you when you have an MRI is your favourite album on a laminated list. I chose ‘Abba Gold’ as I knew all the tracks and had been told the machine was noisy. I sang along in my head, and by the time my arm felt cold with the dye, I could picture shimmering bright blue waters, white sunshine and the ‘Mama Mia’ cast in some detail. But I couldn’t hear Pierce Brosnan which was a definite plus. Chemotherapy next. My wonderful
hairdresser B in Widcombe stayed on late the day I realised my hair was going, we did a number two and drank Prosecco. This seemed better than pulling hair out of the shower plug and hoovering it off the sofa. I wanted a wig and assumed the NHS ones would be as tragic as the glasses that school pals had dodged and kept in bags in 1970s Cambridgeshire. The cost sent me to try the RUH service. I took a more stylish friend to advise and discovered they had most of the same catalogues and got one to match what my hair had looked like. This worked really well. “At least she’s kept her hair” commented somebody to a pal who knew better. You just have to remember to put it on when you open the door at Halloween… awkward moment with the eight-year-old two doors down. The surgery was wonderful. And taxing. Small things made a huge difference.
Fran with her No.2 haircut
I don’t know who makes those lovely heart cushions or the homemade bags with long straps, but they gave a real message of care and hope. The former fit just right under your arm post op and the latter are fab, you put all your drains in them and sling a coat on top and walk round Marks and Spencer’s feeling lightly bo-ho chic. By the time I got to radiotherapy I had got used to hospital routines. You know the wheels have fallen off the waiting times when a kind nurse starts walking round offering sandwiches. In radio you meet the same people over and over. One older lady swore blind that her bingo scores had improved during treatment. When I left I bought the team a £3 Bingo Lottery ticket. It won…£3. The end of radio was the end of the hospital bit, and you want the ceiling to light up and streamers to fall from it while a marching band walks past you in salute. This did not happen. I celebrated with a pal. A phased return to work followed and I am now teaching as before. At the Christmas do a younger manager asked me if I was retiring? My retort – I’m midfifties and thought the backless number and heels were working. I reckon I’m looking pretty good for someone post cancer and with two 20-year-old sons.
Fran with NHS wig and husband Andy
But I couldn’t have made that verbal comeback without making my physical comeback to normal life – all made possible by the wonderful staff at the RUH. www.ruh.nhs.uk
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Visit our maternity services – on video Having a baby is an amazing experience – but it can also be a daunting one when it comes to preparing for your birth.
Midwifery Sister Helen Spurrell
That’s why we’ve produced some Maternity Virtual Tour films, available on the Trust website soon, to showcase our birthing centres at the RUH and in the community and the facilities they provide, including home births across BaNES, Somerset and Wiltshire. The three videos take you on a guided journey from the first scan, to care throughout pregnancy and onto the day when the big moment arrives.
The videos were the idea of Midwifery Sister Helen Spurrell.
You’ll find answers to lots of maternity questions, from choosing your place of birth and what sort of birth you’d prefer, to who’s who on the wards and to what happens when it’s time to take your precious cargo home. Baby care on the maternity ward
Advice and help only a call away
The videos were the idea of Midwifery Sister Helen Spurrell, who won backing from the Trust’s Innovation Panel. The Panel provides support and funding for projects to improve patient care and experience or to increase efficiency across the Trust. Helen said: “We’re a really
busy maternity service, delivering more than 4,500 babies a year at the RUH and at our community birthing centres. We wanted to find ways to further improve our service, making it more accessible and user-friendly and a better overall experience for women and their families.
“The virtual tour will enable all those women who don’t have the time, “The virtual tour will or the finance, or enable all those women have childcare who don’t have the time, responsibilities, to or the finance, or have gain a comprehensive insight into our service childcare responsibilities, without leaving to gain a comprehensive home. It’ll also benefit insight into our service teenage mums who without leaving home.” may be shy about attending a group tour, but who are happy to use social media.” Helen produced the videos, made by Jerey Denning of Bristol production company SWG Events, with RUH Communications Officer Tina GaisfordWaller. Tina had something of personal interest in the project – she not only appears in the films and wrote and narrated the scripts, but gave birth herself to baby Edith at the Frome Birthing Centre just before Christmas!
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RUH maternity services rated highly by women in CQC survey Video title page
A recent survey of women’s experiences of maternity services at 130 Trusts in England rated us as better than most others across a range of measures. The findings are included in the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 2017 Survey of Women’s Experience of Maternity Care. The RUH scored better than the national average in seven areas, including achieving the highest survey score possible for “When you were at home after the birth of your baby, did you have a telephone number for a midwife or midwifery team that you could contact?”
Three of the maternity team
Time for a change and a check-up
Other aspects where the Trust was rated as amongst the top performing Trusts included: ‘During your pregnancy, if you contacted a midwife, were you given the help you needed?’, ‘At the very start of your labour, did you feel that you were given appropriate advice and support when you contacted a midwife or the hospital?’ and ‘Thinking about your care during labour and birth, were you treated with respect and dignity?’ Amanda Gell, Senior Matron at the RUH, said: “It’s especially pleasing to see that women rated the Trust so highly on providing care with ‘respect and dignity’ – women tell us how much this matters and we take this very seriously, so it’s great to see our approach is working. We also recognise the important role of partners and families in helping women have a positive experience, so it’s good to see that acknowledged in our above-average rating for involving partners or others in care during labour and birth.” The Trust also made improvements across a number of measures since the 2015 survey.
At your maternity service
The 2017 Maternity Survey is part of a national survey programme run by the CQC to collect feedback on the experiences of people using a range of NHS healthcare services across the country. www.ruh.nhs.uk
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RUH patients are face of Therapies Matter campaign Our fundraising charity, The Forever Friends Appeal, has called on patients’ stories to launch its ‘Therapies Matter’ campaign to raise a minimum of £2 million towards the new RNHRD and Therapies Centre. Real life stories from patients, like Ed Jackson (pictured right) are the focus of the campaign. People of all ages and backgrounds tell their stories about how therapy aided their recovery or, for some, learnt how to manage their longterm condition. Their stories feature on the Appeal’s website and are displayed in the hospital to captivate the public’s interest in supporting the Appeal.
environments to help them to deliver at the RUH to help him walk again. the best level of care too. We need the Ed said: “As a spinal injury patient, public’s support to help raise the funds I have learned just how important needed to build this innovative and the environment is to wellbeing and therapeutic new centre.” recovery, having spent so much time Tim Hobbs, Head of lying down and staring at Fundraising, The Forever the ceiling, and unable Friends Appeal said: to leave the hospital “Therapeutic “Many patients setting. Therapeutic environments, have had their lives environments, calming surroundings completely turned calming surroundings around from having and mental and mental therapy, that’s why stimulation are stimulation it’s so important to are hugely hugely beneficial.” have this new statebeneficial. to of-the-art RNHRD
Former rugby player Ed was told that he may “We need the not walk public’s support again after help raise the funds suffering a needed to build broken neck in an accident this innovative in April 2017. and therapeutic He received new centre.” intensive physiotherapy
Therapies Matter “Staff at the RUH do an amazing job, and I believe that they should be supported by working in the right
Make a donation today: Donate £10 - text RUHB10 to 70070 Visit www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk Take part in one of our events this year, we’re currently looking for people to join our:
Walk of Life event - Saturday 12 May Join our 26.2 mile walk along the Kennet and Avon canal or walk 10km from Bradford-On-Avon to Bath. Book your place today.
Skydive – 8 July
and Therapies Centre. There are many ways that people can help us, by making a donation, fundraising or taking part in one of our events. Every pound donated, up to £1m will be doubled thanks to benefactors Andrew and Christina Brownsword.” The RNHRD and Therapies Centre will house many of the rheumatology, therapies and pain management services that are currently located at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD) and in the RUH. It will include a large hydrotherapy pool, a specialist gym and rehabilitation equipment, and a biologics treatment space to support treatment, recovery, wellbeing and the management of long-term conditions. Follow #Therapies Matter
60 seconds. 13,000ft. 125mph. Fundraise at new heights. No previous experience needed. Limited spaces available.
@ForeverFriendsA
Find out more about these events at www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk
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The Forever Friends Appeal
Membership news
Trust membership – what the data tells us We’re committed to increasing our membership and ensuring that it reflects the community we serve – so we’ve been looking at our membership and patient data in detail to see what we can learn. The breakdown makes some interesting reading, as you can see in the pie charts. The biggest age group at 31% is made up of people aged 60-74, which is also the biggest age group of patients, at 21%.
Here are some illustrations of the makeup of the Trust’s public membership and patient usage by age and gender:
Breakdown of membership by age 9%
24%
12%
15%
31%
Key:
More women, 56%, used our services than men while 83% of our public members and 70% of patients are white British. As part of the membership application process, people are asked to provide demographic data so the Trust can ensure its membership reflects the communities it serves. We regularly review the available data to ensure that membership is as inclusive as possible.
22-29
Breakdown of patients by age
30-39
75+ 21%
40-49
22-29 11%
50-59 60-74 75+
In 2017 Trust membership increased, with the number of public members rising from 10,851 to 11,764, while patient numbers increased by 475, from 190,954 to 191,429.
9%
60-74 26%
30-39 13% 40-49 13%
50-59 16%
Breakdown of patients by gender
Male 44%
Female 56%
The Membership and Outreach Working Group has started looking at ways of increasing Trust membership even more and this work will continue in 2018/19.
Summary of the membership RUH membership remains broadly representative of the local population. The Trust will aim to increase the numbers of members who are aged 22-29 and will focus on attracting members from Asian and Black backgrounds. 14
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Help us grow!
We’re always looking for new members and this time we’re throwing the gauntlet down to you – to help us grow. Please talk to your friends, your neighbours, fellow members of any local groups you belong to and tell them all about the benefits of being a member of the Trust. Got them hooked? They can sign up by calling the Membership Office on 01225 821262 or by filling out our secure online form: https://secure.membra.co.uk/RoyalBathApplicationForm/
Dates for your Diary 2018 Council of Governors The Council of Governors comprises 21 members, including Public Governors, Staff Governors and Stakeholder Governors. Their role is to represent their members, providing the link between the Trust and the local community, to ensure that the views of local people are heard and fed back to the Board of Directors.
Council of Governors Meetings • Council of Governors Meeting and Trust Board Meeting - 7 June at RUH Bath, RUH Boardroom, Oasis Centre, 2pm-6pm • Council of Governors Meeting - 5 September at RUH Bath, RUH Boardroom, Oasis Centre, 09:30am-2pm
•C ouncil of Governors Meeting 5 December at RUH Bath, RUH Boardroom, Oasis Centre, 2pm-6pm If any members would like to attend any of the above meetings to observe, please contact the Membership Office on 01225 821262 or via email at ruhmembership@nhs.net
RUH Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting will be held towards the end of September – full details will be confirmed. Watch out for updates on our website www.ruh.nhs.uk and in the summer edition of insight magazine.
Caring for You Both 6-7.30pm at the Post Graduate Medical Centre (B20), RUH.
Age Related Macular Degeneration – Wednesday 21 March 2018 21st Century Lifestyle – Thursday 24 May 2018 Places must be booked in advance, so please contact the Membership Office. Non-members are more than welcome – we can sign you up on the night. Following a successful Caring for You programme of events throughout 2017, we are currently planning the Caring for You programme for 2018. As well as using the feedback from the events held over the last year, in January we sent an online survey to just over 7000 members who have told us what they would like to know more about. Thank you to all members who took part – the results will be featured in the summer edition of insight.
Introducing – Andrew Simkins, newly-elected Public Governor of Rest of England and Wales I’m delighted to have been elected and I look forward to attending my first Board Meeting in March. Thank you to all those members that voted for me, without necessarily knowing much about me. So as way of introduction, I am a former soldier. In 1973 I was commissioned into the Royal Artillery and served four years in Malta, before completing an Army Pilots’ Course. Three years later I transferred to the Army Air Corps and went on to command aviation units at squadron and regimental level. I married Jane in 1980 and we have lived, and brought up two children, in England, Northern Ireland, Germany and Alabama, USA. Additionally I have spent 9 months in Bosnia-Herzegovina and a year in Afghanistan. We eventually settled in Westbury, Wiltshire before buying a house near Chard, Somerset nearly four years ago. As our children and grandchildren live in Wiltshire we retain close links to the county. After military service I ran the Museum of Army Flying at Middle Wallop, Hampshire. I now focus my attention on family and various charitable and voluntary responsibilities. Having been a
mountaineer I now hill walk! Both my family and I have experienced the outstanding clinical care undertaken at RUH. I therefore felt an obligation to support the Foundation Trust in this small way. I have always found the RUH to be very friendly and clinically excellent; it maintains a highly complex operation during times of demographic change. If I have a specific interest it is in the research, diagnosis and treatment of Lupus. It is early days but I am starting to grasp that the Trust fulfills its responsibilities not just within the four county Clinical Commissioning Groups but much further afield. I therefore look forward to my tenure, as the Rest of England and Wales Governor, and hope I can act as a link between the Trust and its wider constituency.
To contact our Governors call: 01225 826288 or email: ruhmembership@nhs.net www.ruh.nhs.uk
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Art at the Staff & Volunteer Exhibition – the People’s Vote
The Landscape Collective (LCUK) Exhibition runs from: 26th January – 19th April 2018 in the Central Gallery This prestigious exhibition showcases a very large number of landscape collective works by a group of UK based photographers.
Wera Hobhouse MP (left) presenting the People’s Vote to winner Matron Amanda Gell with her artwork ‘Hare’ and runner-up Karen Road, RUH Social Worker with her artwork Lansdown Hill, Bath, and RUH Commercial Director Jocelyn Foster (right)
Art praise for creative RUH staff The hidden talents of RUH staff and volunteers were praised by Bath Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse when she announced the winners of the hospital’s staff and volunteer art exhibition. Staff members from a range of departments including Maternity, Estates, Pathology, Therapies and ward volunteers took part and exhibited in media such as photography, painting and mixed media.
Hare by Matron, Amanda Gell 16
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The group includes a recent winner of LPOTY (Landscape Photographer of the Year) and many are Fellows of the Royal Photographic Society. Most Members have had work published, one has 16 books to his name. As a group many are in demand for workshops and lectures and exhibit widely both at home and overseas. A third of the sale price on all artwork sold is donated to the RUH Arts Fund charity, which goes directly into maintaining and continuing the broad range of award winning arts projects on offer at the hospital. Donations of artwork can also be made to wards and outpatient areas.
Lansdown Hill, Bath by Karen Road
Since the Exhibition opened in midOctober 2017, patients, visitors and staff have been voting for their favourite artwork. Over 150 votes were cast, and the winner was revealed to be Matron, Amanda Gell with her artwork ‘Hare’. Amanda won a meal out for two, kindly provided by Ian and Christa Taylor, owners of The Abbey Hotel in Bath. The runner-up was RUH social worker Karen Road with her artwork ‘Lansdown Hill, Bath’. Karen won a £50 framing voucher to use in Meltone Gallery, with thanks to Colin and team. Special thanks to Wera Hobhouse for presenting the prizes, The Abbey Hotel and the RUH Forever Friends Appeal for supporting the People’s Vote.
The Punchbowl by Andrew Wheatley
Saltburn Pier by Eva Worobiec
of the RUH Beautiful Peacock (made by a patient on the Children’s Ward)
Artsparks Artist in Residence Mary Chamberlain has been working with patients and their families on the Children’s Ward. She has been demonstrating how to stretch canvases using linen, and patients have also been working on cotton duck canvas which shows off the images particularly well.
Stitch in Time A number of materials are used within Stitch in Time workshops and clay was introduced to patients on Combe Ward recently. Artist in Residence Edwina Bridgeman and volunteer Ida encouraged patients to make handprints. At first it was quiet with the patients absorbed in their work, but as the morning progressed the room became noisier with lots of laughter. These workshops encourage social interaction, telling of stories and group conversation and often patients stay and have lunch together after the session. Artist Edwina said: “I was struck by the encouraging attitude of the patients.
Very quickly they became a group and helped each other.”
New Spiritual Care Centre Art at the Heart have led the interior design and commissioning of artworks for the new Spiritual Care Centre. It features a beautiful stained glass window by designer-maker Sally Pollitzer. Sally is a painter as well as a maker of stained glass windows and landscape is often reflected in her glass designs, however abstract they may appear. Sky, hills and sunlight are
Stained Glass by Sally Pollitzer
represented with colour. Two stained glass works from the old chapel have also been moved in to the new centre.
This year the children have been looking A patient’s brother at ‘MY Big with his captain underpants storybook Planet Earth’ that he created during as the main an Artsparks workshop theme and focusing each month on elements in creation. For January, the focus was on birds, and they’ve also looked at peacocks and pheasants using paper and collage, and owls and swans using mixed media, canvas and air drying clay. Mary said: “It has been brilliant working with the children using different materials and beginning a new year with an exploration of the beauty of our world.”
Patient working with volunteer Ida in a clay workshop
Bronze sculpture by Chris Buck titled ‘In your arms’
There is a stunning cast bronze sculpture by artist Chris Buck titled ‘In your arms’ that sits in the brand new courtyard space. Chris studied in Cornwall and he is inspired by the St. Ives abstract artists, and is a Member of the Penwith Society of Arts founded by Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson. He produces sculpture in both wood and stone, but it is in bronze that he finds the greatest satisfaction, combining natural forms and industrial precision to achieve individual pieces of strength and beauty. www.ruh.nhs.uk
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www.friendsoftheruh.org.uk | 01225 824046 | ruh-tr.volunteers@nhs.net
The Friends of the RUH is a voluntary organisation which provides amenities and comforts for patients and relatives which could not otherwise be provided by the NHS. They also organise volunteers to work across the hospital, fundraise, and run a café and shop that are open 7 days a week.
Collect free donations every time you shop the easyfundraising way! Sign up to easyfundraising and collect free donations for the Friends of the RUH every time you shop via easyfundraising.org.uk. At no extra cost, easyfundraising take a small percentage from your purchase, which they turn into a donation and give it to a good cause. You can register and support us at: easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/friendsoftheruh
Cheers to our student volunteers! Did you know? With your help last year we managed to fund the following projects… • New wheelchairs for the Atrium. • Dementia project. • Refurbishment of Urology day room. •M ore than 3,000 emergency toiletry packs given to patients. • Digital signage. • Waiting area chairs for A&E. • Curtains for maternity ward. •G ardens and hanging baskets throughout the hospital site. •C hristmas decorations for the hospital and presents for patients in hospital over the festive period. •A rt at the Heart of the RUH to brighten the corridors.
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In February, we celebrated National Student Volunteering Week where we said a massive thank you to our student volunteers.
support our volunteers so they can contribute throughout the hospital. Volunteer Services Manager, Samantha Nolan said: “We love having students here. They add a refreshing, vibrant approach and some extra hands“We love on support to our staff. having Our patients and their families really enjoy the students interaction with them, here.” especially some of our older patients.”
Volunteering is a great way for students to improve their communication, listening skills and it helps with confidence building. It’s a great addition to a CV and gives real experience in a busy hospital environment to those who may be considering a career in the medical profession. We work hard to recruit and
Interested in volunteering with us? You can learn more about student volunteering and our other opportunities at www.friendsoftheruh.org.uk
Thanks &thoughts We love to hear from patients and their families. Every year we receive an incredible amount of thank you letters and feedback. Here’s a selection of recent thanks and thoughts, which we thought you’d enjoy reading. Posted on Facebook
“To all the amazing staff” Members of the Straker family with Jan Witt, In Memory & Legacy Officer, The Forever Friends Appeal
Helen Straker Charity raises £36,000 for the Forever Friends Appeal Congratulations and a huge thank you to the Helen Straker Charity, who last year raised a massive £72,000 in aid of two charities.
Well done to all involved, it’s a great achievement. We are proud to have raised £72,000 in funds for Helen’s two chosen charities this year as her aim in life was to help others and it is very satisfying to be able to continue her legacy as she would have wished.”
The RUH’s Forever Friends Appeal and Dorothy House Hospice Care both received £36,000 each as they were the favourite charities of “My thanks to all Helen Straker, an active the companies, fundraiser who sadly individuals and lost her brave fight sponsors who against cancer in 2013.
supported the this year.”
Her husband, charity Gordon Straker, who has continued Helen’s impressive fundraising efforts said: “My thanks to all the companies, individuals and sponsors who supported the charity this year.
In just three years the Helen Straker Charity has raised £150,000 for the RUH’s new Cancer Centre making them Principal Family Partners of The Forever Friends Appeal.
For information about the Helen Straker Charity please contact Gordon Straker on: 01380 720 371.
www.twitter.com/RUHBath
A very, very big THANK YOU to all the amazing staff of ACE Ward at Bath ROYAL UNITED HOSPITAL #RUH who looked after my 99.5 year old father so wonderfully. He had pneumonia, was away from his home in Shropshire and was to say the least, a worried man. Home now and recovering well, thank you for all your hard work against ridiculous odds. Thank you NHS Posted on the RUH’s NHS Choice Reviews page: www.nhs.uk
“Fantastic team in gastroenterology” I have been under the care of my doctor and specialist nurses, for almost 10 years. During that time, I have found them all to be very professional and kind and caring. They are always ‘on the ball’ and have kept me informed all the time. They are a credit to the NHS - I always feel that I’m in very safe hands with them. Thank you for everything.
www.facebook.com/RoyalUnitedHospitalBath
You can also leave feedback on the NHS Choices website. Visit www.nhs.uk and search for Royal United Hospital Bath. www.ruh.nhs.uk
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