Winter 2019 | issue 11
the
North West Anglia
NHS Foundation Trust
ORGAN TRANSPLANT SUCCESS FOR DAVE Page 3 Bringing members, staff and PATIENTS the latest Trust news
WELCOME FROM THE
Chief Executive
State-of-theart cancer screening equipment
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Welcome to the Winter 2019 edition of The Pulse magazine. As we head into what is likely to be a challenging time of year, there is no better time to think about how we can improve the experiences of everyone in our hospitals. We launched our Good To Outstanding programme in late October, which is centred upon making every day in our hospitals an outstanding one, for everyone. Good things happen every day in our hospitals, and by working together, making improvements where we see opportunities, we can turn a good experience into an outstanding one – whether that’s for a patient or a colleague.
Trust Diabetes Team wins national award
The programme is underpinned by five key workstreams which will focus on specific areas of activity where we know improvements are most important and will have the greatest impact. Read more about Good To Outstanding on page 5. I look forward to updating you on the improvements we make as part of this programme in future editions of The Pulse. While we are talking about being ‘outstanding’ I must highlight the achievements of our fabulous staff members who were honoured at our annual awards ceremony held in October. Turn to pages 8 and 9 to find out who won our coveted Hospital Hero titles for 2019-20, plus our other outstanding achievement awards. I’d also like to draw your attention to the story of our Acute Assessment Unit administration lead Dave Kemp who has lived with a kidney condition for 30 years and recently underwent a kidney transplant following a deterioration in his health. Dave’s story is quite remarkable. I admire his determination to keep doing his bit for our patients despite feeling poorly himself. I am also incredibly proud of his colleagues, one in particular, who put herself forward to see if she could donate a kidney to give Dave his health back. In the end, another donor kidney became available sooner, but it is still a remarkable example of how our staff live our Trust value of being Caring and Compassionate. You can find out how Dave is doing now on page 3. Finally, to return to the subject of Winter, we know there are lots of bugs about and keeping well over the Winter months can be a real challenge. But there are lots of things we can do to stop the spread of germs. This includes not visiting patients in hospital if you have been unwell yourself and keeping a well-stocked medicine cupboard to ensure you can treat any illnesses as soon as they appear. Good handwashing techniques will help to reduce the spread of germs, as will ensuring all those eligible can take up their flu vaccination to help protect them and their loved ones. Stay healthy if you can!
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Celebrating our outstanding staff at our annual awards
Stamford Hospital staff commended for supporting carers
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Caroline Walker Chief Executive
Contact Us The Pulse magazine is compiled by the Communications Team at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust. If you have any comments, or would like to make a suggestion about a subject you would like to read about in our magazine, please call the Communications Team on 01733 678024 or email: Nwangliaft.communications@nhs.net
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Meet Consultant Dr Pallav Bhatnagar
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ORGAN DONATION
Transplant success for Dave Admin Lead Dave Kemp is finally feeling like himself again after receiving a kidney transplant in March this year. 59 year old Dave has worked in the Acute Assessment Unit (AAU) at Hinchingbrooke Hospital for six years along with his wife Barbara who works in Maternity. “Thirty years ago I was diagnosed with a form of vasculitis called granulomatosis with polyangiitis,” says Dave. “It damaged my kidneys quite severely and I always knew I would be in real trouble in later life if I didn’t receive a transplant.” Dave remained well for a long period of time until 18 months ago when his kidney function started to decline rapidly and he was placed on the transplant list via the renal team at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. “I was told I would have to wait around two years,” says Dave. “I carried on working but I was very tired all the time and becoming more and more poorly.” Quite amazingly they then discovered Barbara was a match to Dave’s blood group and tissue type so they did further tests but found her kidney function to be on the lower side so it wasn’t deemed viable to go ahead with a transplant. “We were both devastated by this,” says Dave. “But then out of the blue, one of my colleagues, Pat Turner-Jackson, Staff Nurse on AAU, said to me that if Barbara was unable to give me one of her kidneys then perhaps she could give me one of hers. To say I was shocked was an understatement.” Pat underwent all of the tests to first see if she was a suitable match and everything came back positive! A date was set for the live transplant operation in April, where one of Pat’s kidneys would be removed and given to Dave. However Dave received a call in March from Addenbrooke’s transplant unit saying they had a deceased donor kidney for him. “I was asked to make a decision very quickly,” says Dave and after speaking with Pat, I decided I would take the kidney. “The operation went well and although I had a very difficult few months of recovery, the kidney is working well and there have been no signs of rejection. I feel incredibly lucky and I’m very grateful to both my donor and their family, and to Pat – who has still agreed to be my back-up in the worst case scenario!” Dave is now back to work on the Acute Assessment Unit and is being well looked after by all of his colleagues.
Support Organ Donation In the UK, around 5,000 people are in need of a kidney transplant to transform their lives, and hundreds of patients die each year waiting for a transplant due to a shortage of organ donors. The average waiting time for a kidney transplant from someone who has died is more than two and a half years. For some ethnic groups and people for whom it is difficult to find a compatible donor, the wait is even longer. To find out more about becoming a live donor please visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk. From Spring 2020, organ donation in England will move to an ‘opt out’ system. This means that all adults will be considered to have agreed to be an organ donation when they die unless they have recorded a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups. To find out more, please visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk.
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Improving our Hospitals
Breast Screening team welcomes stateof-the-art cancer screening equipment Volunteers offer hand massage service
Michelle Harris, Principal Radiographer, Jane Harris, Consultant Radiographer and Dr Bruno Millet, Consultant Radiologist, started working at the old Edith Cavell site in 1989 with the first mobile breast screening unit in the region and have seen the service build and develop to be one of the most successful in the region.
Volunteers at Peterborough City Hospital can now provide a free hand and forearm massage to our patients and carers after completing a Trust approved training course.
The team started the service with the limited technology of the day with one x-ray room, film screen mammography and fine needle samples as well as seven community sites, where they would rotate the mobile screening vehicles.
The hand and forearm massage focuses on light tissue massage, lasting between 10 and 20 minutes using grapeseed oils. It is very relaxing and helps to calm patients and carers during what can be a stressful time.
Over the years the team has expanded and taken full advantage of the technology available to them. Once they moved into the new City Hospital building, they transferred across to digital imaging, which was a huge leap forward as well as using more non-
Bo Turner, Volunteer Coordinator at Peterborough City Hospital, said: “The hand massage course has been very popular and we are really pleased to be able to offer this service at Peterborough City Hospital. We hope it will help patients relax and feel more comfortable during their hospital stay.” The service was rolled out by volunteers at Hinchingbrooke Hospital last year and is available to all inpatients. Please speak to the Ward Manager to arrange a session. We benefit from the support of over 500 volunteers who give up their time to work closely with our staff, patients, and visitors. If you are interested in joining our team of volunteers, visit our website: www. nwangliaft.nhs.uk/join-our-team/ourteams/volunteering/
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The Breast Screening team, at Peterborough City Hospital, is celebrating 30 years since the service was first launched in Peterborough with new cancer screening equipment.
invasive procedures and diagnostics which can find much smaller tumours. The team are now looking forward to building on this further by bringing in new state-of-the-art 3D biopsy equipment which will enable them to detect very small cancers and could potentially reduce the amount of invasive procedures. Jane Harris, said: “We are extremely fortunate that we have a team who works well together, supports each other and provides opportunities to build and develop the department. As a result we have some of the best outcomes in the region and we are incredibly proud of what we have achieved. “The most important message that we need to get across though is to make sure that patients come along for breast screening appointments. The risk of cancer increases with age so it is vital that women between the ages of 50 to 70 come to their three yearly appointment and women after that can self-refer. We can only save lives if women get themselves checked.” Jane Harris, Dr Bruno Millet and Michelle Harris
Our aim – to make every day in our hospitals an outstanding one! Life in our hospitals is always busy, but that does not mean the quality of our patients’ experience should suffer as a result. We want to ensure that every patient or visitor has an outstanding experience, when they come to hospital – and that goes for our staff and volunteers, too. To support this, we have launched the Good To Outstanding programme across all the hospital sites we run. The programme will help us deliver improvements to life in our hospitals for all. Chief Executive Caroline Walker launched the programme to staff on Monday 28 October. She said: “Good things happen every day in our hospitals, and by working together, making improvements where we see opportunities, we can turn a good experience into an outstanding one – whether that’s for a patient or a colleague. “To be outstanding at what we do is not just measured by the CQC. It’s measured by every patient as they leave an appointment or a ward after an inpatient stay. It’s also measured by us, the workforce, every day, as we reflect on the time we have spent caring for patients or supporting those staff delivering care on the front line.
The programme is underpinned by five key workstreams which will focus on specific areas of activity where we know improvements are most important and will have the greatest impact. These are: • Outstanding Health and Wellbeing • Outstanding Patient Care • Outstanding People • Outstanding Leadership • Outstanding Communications We will be prioritising development of the Outstanding Health and Wellbeing workstream for the first 12 months of the programme in response to staff feedback. Helping our staff to improve their physical and mental health and wellbeing is fundamental to the smooth running of our hospitals. If you have any feedback on how we can improve your experience in our hospitals, please email nwanglift.communications@ nhs.net
New corridor décor attracting attention at Hinchingbrooke Have you seen the new-look corridor leading from Hinchingbrooke Hospital main reception to the X-ray department? It is sporting new décor that depicts our Trust values and also showcases our Good To Outstanding programme. Why not spend a moment Executive Team with new wall art reading the comments made by patients about our services at Hinchingbrooke, that help demonstrate how our staff are living our values in all that they do. There’s no better endorsement than patient/relative feedback – so congratulations to the teams that got a mention!
IBD Patient Panel stages successful learning event Members of our Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Patient Panel recently put on a special event for patients, aimed at helping them better manage their condition. The panel, supported by staff working in the Gastroenterology departments at both Peterborough City and Hinchingbrooke Hospitals, welcomed more than 50 patients to the Learning Centre at Peterborough City Hospital for the ‘IBD at Work and at Home’ event on Saturday 5 October. This was the fifth annual patient event to be staged by the panel, which is chaired by patient John Humphries. He said: “We received great feedback from patients at the event, and fantastic support from the Trust’s clinical teams. It is especially important for patients to be able to talk to clinical experts outside of the consulting room setting. This event allows that to happen and for topics to be explored that can really help IBD patients to manage the challenges they face in everyday life.” The IBD Patient Panel is looking for additional members to join them to help make improvements to the hospital service, fundraise and stage future events. If you are an IBD patient and wish to join the panel, please email John Humphries on: pch.ibd.patientpanel@ gmail.com The Patient Panel has recently funded an anatomical torso for use in clinic with patients and has also paid for new disabled toilet signage which says: ‘not all disabilities are visible’ which will make it easier for patients with IBD to use disabled toilets in our hospital.
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NEWS
Marking Baby Loss Awareness Week Staff return from developing healthcare services in Uganda Staff from Peterborough City Hospital have recently returned from Southern Uganda where they performed life-changing surgeries at Kisiizi Hospital. Orthopaedic Consultants Jonathan Jones and Mark Latimer and Theatre Nurses Mark Robertshaw and Vicky Koupouri joined theatre staff from across the UK for a surgical camp, where they worked collaboratively with medical staff from Kisiizi Hospital to perform life-changing surgery on 20 children with disabilities. Mr Jones said: “This is the fourth year that we have visited Kisiizi hospital to provide training to the hospital staff in correcting club feet and bow legs, release burn contractures and treat osteomyelitis which is infection of the bone. The staff at the hospital are passionate about the care they deliver and have good practices in place, but they need support in developing their services, which is where we can help.” Mr Jones also took part in a British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH) overseas programme for the treatment of hand trauma, delivering teaching to 42 delegates from 22 centres in Southern Uganda. “The feedback from attendees was really positive,” said Mr Jones. “The aim of the programme was to improve the care of hand injuries and we hope to deliver more sessions in the future, including extending to other regions in Uganda.”
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The Trust marked national Baby Loss Awareness Week across both Hinchingbrooke and Peterborough City Hospitals in October, raising awareness of pregnancy loss and neonatal death in the UK. As part of the week, a Tree of Remembrance was placed in both hospitals giving families the opportunity to remember their loved one by writing their baby’s name on a wooden heart and hanging it from the tree. Carly McDonald, Bereavement Specialist Midwife at Hinchingbrooke Hospital said: “It is important to remember babies who have sadly passed away and also raise awareness of baby loss and the support that is on offer. SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Society) also provided us with information materials to sit alongside the Tree of Remembrance at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and funded Baby Loss Awareness pin badges which were
offered to staff on the Labour Ward.” Throughout the week, lights in the Women and Children’s atrium at Peterborough City Hospital and the main entrance and entrance to the Labour Ward at Hinchingbrooke Hospital were changed to blue and pink. “We would like to say a big thank you to parents who purchased the lights for Hinchingbrooke Hospital,” said Carly.
New Major Incident Training launched Our Trust is one of the first group of hospitals in the country to offer staff a newly-revised course to plan and prepare for a Major Incident, should one occur in the area. The Major Incident Medical Management and Support (HMIMMS) course incorporates important learning gained from hospitals and other emergency services during the 2017 terrorist attacks. The training is interactive and involves workshops on specific aspects of response and types of incidents also several real case scenarios. Hospitals are required to ensure their staff are trained and rehearsed so they are
prepared to manage the hospital’s response if a major incident was declared. A major incident is declared when an event or situation requires special arrangements by one or more of the emergency services. Celia Kendrick, Head of Resilience and Emergency Preparedness for the Trust, said: “We are very proud that we are one of relatively few major incident training centres in the country, but also one of the first to offer this most up to date version of the course. A major incident isn’t something people like to think about, but as a hospital it’s vital that we are prepared.” Delegates taking part in the HMIMMS tabletop exercise
Double celebrations at Hinchingbrooke Children’s Unit Children who are anxious about a visit to the outpatient clinic at Hinchingbrooke will now benefit from a special ‘Calm Room’ where they can wait for their appointment, thanks to Huntingdonshire Children’s Charity, Dreamdrops. The Calm Room provides a quiet and relaxing environment away from the busy waiting area, helping younger patients feel more comfortable as they wait to see the doctor. Funding for the structural alterations was supplied by donations from Mr and Mrs Spicer and their customers at the King of the Belgians Pub and employees at Just Digital have been fundraising to purchase the equipment for the Calm Room, which has been specially designed to distract and relax young patients. The unveiling event also coincided with the 10th anniversary of the Sensory Garden at
Lesley Carline
Mayor of Huntingdon unveiling the plaque
Hinchingbrooke, which was also brought to life by Dreamdrops. To mark the milestone, Mayor of Huntingdon, Cllr Steve McAdam, unveiled a new plaque in the garden area. Rob Hughes, Trust Chairman said: “Dreamdrops’ support for children’s services in our hospital is fantastic and we are extremely grateful for the way Anne-Marie and her army of supporters are dedicated to improving the experience of our young patients and their families.”
Bereavement Midwife recognised for care and compassion Bereavement Specialist Midwife, Lesley Carline has won the Outstanding Compassion and Support Award in UK charity, SOFT’s annual awards, following a compelling nomination from a local family. Lesley, who works at Peterborough City Hospital, was nominated by Vicky Hollis and her family after she cared for them when they lost their daughter Millie, who had Trisomy 18. Vicky said: “We went into hospital to deliver Millie and that was the first time we met Lesley. Within minutes we felt as though we had known her for years. You instantly realise that she is the most compassionate and empathetic person you will probably ever meet, and to do her job takes an incredibly special person.
Trust Diabetes Team wins national award The Trust’s Diabetes Team has been recognised in the national Quality in Care Diabetes awards programme, winning the Insulin Safety Week 2019 Excellence Award.
puzzles highlighting safety messages, a Diabetes and Insulin Pocket guide full of important information and advice, a display board competition and a mobile photo booth asking staff to make pledges.
The team, who support patients receiving care at both Hinchingbrooke and Peterborough City Hospital, were commended for their dedication to improving safety in diabetes care following the launch of a series of initiatives as part of Insulin Safety Week.
“We also launched a new insulin chart prior and used the week as an opportunity to reach out to staff and provide education and advice on using the new documentation”
Janet Collins, Lead Diabetes Specialist Nurse, said: “We are thrilled to have won the award. Our team worked hard to ensure that staff were educated on insulin safety through a number of engaging initiatives, including
The team is no stranger to achieving success and for staff from Hinchingbrooke Hospital this will be their sixth win in the Quality in Care awards since 2015.
“That day was the hardest day of our lives, but she took the most amazing care of us, and when we thought she couldn’t do any better, she did. The past month since having Millie continues to be a very hard journey, but Lesley continues to support us. She follows up with me on a regular basis, by phone, text, email and in person. She seems to have this magic knack of knowing when I need her and just pops up to check in. She always remembers you and important details. She knows that Millie will always be a part of our family and always refers to myself, my partner, our eldest daughter Harper and our angel Millie as a family of four. She has a wealth of knowledge of all things in this area and is always on hand to help. She 100% understands the nightmare that we are going through.” SOFT UK is a support organisation for Trisomy 13/18. For more information, please visit the website: http://www.soft.org.uk/
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Staff Awards
Celebrating our outstanding
The Trust’s annual Outstanding Achievement Awards was held in October. The glitzy ceremony was an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the staff, teams and volunteers at our hospitals who go the extra mile to make a difference to patients, families, carers and their colleagues.
Caring and Compassionate: Sarah Choudhury, Lead Consultant on Ward A3 at Peterborough and Lynn Reilly and Jane Cooper, Senior Staff Nurse and Deputy Sister on Ward A15 at Peterborough (Highly Commended) and David Hopkins, Consultant Paediatrician at Peterborough (Winner)
140 guests attended on the evening. They were made up of winners of our monthly staff awards, Hospital Hero nominees and representatives from teams which had achieved outstanding CREWS assessments in the last year.
Working Positively Together: Tom Payne, Karen Peat and Michael Lyons from the Trust Choir, and Leanne Shaw and Gemma Tomson, Sepsis Specialist Nurses at Peterborough (Highly Commended) and Fast Track Prostate Service working crosssite (Winners)
The winners included: Team of the Year: Radiotherapy Team at Peterborough (Highly Commended) and Ambulatory Care Unit at Peterborough (Winner) Individual of the Year: Rachel Sinclair, Staff Nurse in Outpatients at Hinchingbrooke (Highly Commended) and Vincente Jaranilla, Staff Nurse in ED at Peterborough (Winner) Unsung Hero of the Year: Tracy Crowley, Lead Orthoptist at Hinchingbrooke (Highly Commended) and Edgardo Almiranez, Staff Nurse on Ward A2 at Peterborough (Winner) Putting Patients First: Liezl Rossouw and Kate Mitchell, Physiotherapists at Peterborough and Julia Blower, a volunteers at Peterborough and the Breast Team who work cross-site (Winners)
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Actively Respectful: Chaplain Tausif Khan who works cross-site (Highly Commended) and Anticoagulation Specialist Nurse Team at Hinchingbrooke (Winner) Improve and Develop: Helen Hutchings, Head of Recruitment and Retention and Practice and Development, who works cross-site and Simon Howard, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, who also works cross-site (Highly Commended) and Respiratory Investigations Team at Hinchingbrooke (Winner) Hospital Hero for Peterborough: Sindie Sigola (Highly Commended) and Lesley Edwards (Winner) Hospital Hero for Hinchingbrooke: Thomas Pollard (Highly Commended) and Anthony Barabas (Winner)
Hospital Hero for Stamford: Amy Fisher (Winner) Outstanding Achievement Recognition Award: Andy Mills Deputy Head of I.T (Projects) and Alec Dearden Head of Information Services (Winners) CREWS: Maternity Inpatients, Amazon Ward and the Cardiac Unit at Peterborough (Winners). Caroline Walker, Chief Executive said: “Our people give us reasons to be proud every day and our annual awards event helps us showcase some of their amazing and humbling stories. It was fantastic to be able to bring our staff together to say thank you for the great things they do for our patients.” Congratulations to everyone who was up for an award!
Unveiling our Hospital Heroes Last summer we asked members of the public to tell us about the staff and teams delivering our services who made a difference to their experience. We received more than 100 nominations for staff across our sites. We announced the winners at our staff awards ceremony. Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Anthony Barabas was named Hinchingbrooke Hospital Hero 2019 after he helped a patient regain the use of their arm following a stroke. The patient had been in a coma and after she regained consciousness she was told that she would
outstanding staff at our annual awards never move her arm again. The patient nominated Anthony because he did not give up on her, he sent her to physiotherapy and performed an operation. Three weeks later, the patient could move her fingers, and then her arm. She said that it was the first time in six years that she was able to pick up and hug her children. Thomas Pollard was a Healthcare Assistant on Cherry Tree Ward at Hinchingbrooke Hospital when he was nominated. He was highly commended for the support that he provided a family following the death of their family member. Perinatal Midwife, Lesley Edwards was named Peterborough City Hospital Hero 2019. Lesley was nominated by a new mother who had been suffering from mental health problems and anxiety over labour due to a rare health condition. Lesley supported her nominee throughout her pregnancy, she arranged meeting with other healthcare professionals to ensure that they knew about her health conditions. Lesley attended every consultant appointment and arranged a tour of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to help conquer her fears. Lesley’s nominee highlighted that she felt that Lesley had addressed her mental health illness as well as ensuring she had a positive labour, delivery and post-natal experience. Student Nurse, Sindie Sigola was highly commended by a patient who was treated on Amazon. Sindie was nominated for the care and understanding she showed the teenager and their family. The patient said that Sindie inspired them to complete their science GCSE and helped with their mental health recovery.
Stamford Hospital Hero, Amy Fisher
Peterborough City Hospital Hero, Perinatal Midwife Lesley Edwards
Physiotherapy team leader, Amy Fisher was Stamford and Rutland Hospital Hero 2019. She was nominated by the parent of a patient who was undergoing limb lengthening. Amy inspired the patient to continue with physio and inspired them to feel that anything is possible. The patient gained 8.5cm length and had a good rehabilitation. Caroline Walker, Chief Executive said: “I was very pleased to honour our Hospital Heroes. This year we received a record number of nominations from the public for staff across our hospitals. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their stories. We have seen some truly inspirational examples of staff living our values and caring for patients and their families.”
Hinchingbrooke Hospital Hero, Anthony Barabas
Thank you to our event sponsors - Multiplex, Medirest, Progress Health, Mitie, System C, GRAHAM Construction, Althea, Checkmate, Kier and Vivup. 9
STAMFORD FOCUS
Stamford TEAM commended for supporting carers Winner of the Tami’s masterpiece - Chris
Staff raise over £2400 for patients with Learning Disabilities Staff raised more than £2,400 from a fundraiser to help improve the hospital environment for patients with learning disabilities.
Staff at Stamford at Rutland Hospital have been recognised for their work in supporting upaid carers – and have received Lincolnshire Carers Quality Award for the second time. The award is presented by Lincolnshire charity, Every-one, to organisations that demonstrate the ability to identify and support carers. Caroline Wood, Matron at Stamford and Rutland Hospital, said: “We are thrilled to have received this award again. Carers are a valuable source of help and we are committed to ensuring they are identified, supported and signposted to the relevant support services.”
The Trust’s Carers Adviser, Teresa Jude, has been working closely with staff to ensure they are trained to help carers access the resources available to them. She has also embedded a number of initiatives to improve the hospital experience for carers while their relative is in hospital. She said: “We try to make the hospital experience a positive one for the carer as well as the patient. “We do this by offering extended visiting hours and providing z-beds so they can stay overnight by the patient’s bedside if they wish. We hope that these touches reduce the worry and stress a hospital stay may cause.”
Matron Caroline Wood with Carers Adviser Teresa Jude
The fundraiser was part of the Trust’s Leadership Course and saw staff from across Stamford and Rutland Hospitals, Peterborough City and Hinchingbrooke Hospitals come together to raise money for assisted call bells. Staff Nurse and avid baker, Tami Brown, who works on Greenwood Ward at Stamford Hospital, created a “designer cake”, which was raffled off, raising a staggering £335 alone. She also created a carved pumpkin cake to raffle off at the bake sale in Stamford Hospital’s reception, which went for £55. Thanks to the support of patients, visitors and staff, Stamford Hospital raised £800 for the cause. Sue Bates, Learning Disability Nurse Advisor, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Tami and everyone on the Leadership Course for their support. We are looking to purchase assisted call bells and provide communication boxes across all three hospitals sites. The call bells are larger, more colourful and easier to use, helping improve patients’ independence during their hospital stay. The call bells will not only benefit patients with learning disabilities but patients with conditions such as neuromuscular disorders or physical disabilities as well. Listening devices that will aid patients with hearing impairments will also be provided in the communication boxes.
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Choose wisely this Winter – Stamford Hospitals Minor Injuries Unit Did you know that you can seek treatment for injuries that aren’t serious or life threatening from Stamford Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit? The unit is staffed by Emergency Nurse Practitioners who can assess, diagnose and treat patients, prescribe drugs, order investigations and refer patients to other hospital services. Non-urgent injuries include: • Sprains or strains
• Broken bones • Minor head injuries • Injuries to the back, shoulder and chest • Insect and animal bites The Minor Injuries Unit on Ryhall Road in Stamford is open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. If you require urgent medical attention but it is not an emergency, please call 111 and you will be given advice on which service will be able to help you.
YOUR HEALTH
Raising Awareness of Mouth Cancer November was mouth cancer awareness month and this year’s campaign was ‘bite back at mouth cancer,’ promoting early detection, which is crucial for a higher chance of effective and less invasive treatments. On 13 November the oral and maxillofacial surgery team at Peterborough City Hospital took part in #bluewednesday where they took a blue lipped selfie in order to help spread awareness of mouth cancer. Lauren Johnson, Registered Dental Nurse at the Trust, said: “It’s assumed
Mouth Cancer – The Facts • Mouth and throat cancer is the sixth most common cancer reported worldwide and one with high mortality ratios among all malignancies and it is increasing. • Age is another factor, with people over the age of 40 more likely to be diagnosed, though more young people are now being affected than previously. • The majority of cases diagnosed are in smokers and heavy drinkers but up to 25% of cases are in people with no identifiable risk factors • Men are more than twice as likely than women to develop the disease • More people in the UK die each year of mouth cancer than of cervical and testicular cancer combined • Early detection is crucial to a higher chance of effective and less invasive treatments
that oral surgery is only about teeth, however, there is a lot more to the department. On a daily basis we see patients in our clinics that have been referred to us from their doctor or dentist with suspicious lesions that require a specialist assessment from one of our consultants. As a team we strive to prevent oral cancer through education of life style changes. Where a diagnosis is made we endeavour to organise the patient’s treatment and support them throughout with the additional guidance of relevant healthcare professionals.” • I t is recommended that a selfcheck is done once a month after teeth have been cleaned and by everyone over the age of 16 years. The self-examination takes less than two minutes and might just save your life. At each step you are looking and feeling for any lumps, red or white patches, and changes in color or texture, lingering ulcers or anything unusual. •A ny ulcer which takes longer to heal than 2-3 weeks should be checked by a GP • T he Mouth Cancer Foundation recommends that everyone over the age of 16 has a professional examination for early signs of mouth cancer, once a year, at their dentist. If you would like any further information you can visit www.dentalhealth.org/ bluewednesday
Trust staff bare their arm for flu Staff have been baring their arm in preparation for winter by being vaccinated as part of the Occupational Health team’s annual flu campaign. For the first month, 2,823 members of staff had their flu jab and the number continues to rise. As a Trust 73.2% of staff received the flu vaccine last year, which was higher than the national average of 70.3%, and we are aiming to achieve higher this year. This year we have seen an increase in the number of colleagues signing up to be peer vaccinators across our hospital sites. This enables staff to receive the flu jab from someone who works in or near their department and encourages more people to have the vaccination without having to take time out of their working day. Brian Griffiths, Occupational Health Manager, said: “The best way to prevent flu is to have the vaccination; this is available for everyone, even those who feel they are fit and healthy. It doesn’t just protect the individual it protects patients, family and friends and themselves from becoming unwell.”
Who should have the flu jab? • People over aged 65 • Pregnant women • Those with a weakened immune system or long term health condition and people they are in regular contact with • People living in a care family • Those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, or who are main carers • Health and social care staff in direct contact with patients/service users
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE Bereavement Garden transformed in memory of Alfie Four year old Charlie and his family recently donated some very special items to the Bereavement Garden at Hinchingbrooke Hospital. They also decorated the garden with plants, pots, lanterns and ornaments in memory of Alfie. Charlie’s twin brother Alfie sadly passed away due to complications when they both had surgery while they were is the womb, after they developed twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.
Friends, family and colleagues raise more than £7,500 Friends, family and colleagues of Ambulatory Nurse Practitioner, Tracy Pratt have rallied together to raise more than £7,500 for Peterborough’s Haematology/Oncology Ward, Breast Unit and Robert Horrell Macmillan Centre, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Tracy, who works in the Ambulatory Care Unit at Peterborough City Hospital, was diagnosed in 2018 and has since had surgery to remove the lump, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She said: “Friends and family have been, fantastic holding various events to help raise money for the two departments. Overall we have raised a total of £7807.60 and I am very grateful to everyone for their support.” Among the fundraisers were:
• The Ambulatory Care Unit held a bake sale in the atrium while colleague Paula cycled 100 miles on a static bike. They were joined by colleague Gail who shaved her hair off. The team also held a sponsored walk around Ferry Meadows, raising in total £2,641.05 for the Haematology/ Oncology Ward • Tracy’s 17 year old daughter Maisie raised £1,003 for the Robert Horrell Macmillan Centre with a charity Bingo Night. • Tracy’s son Harry, aged 20, raised £3,982.65 for the Breast Unit by shaving his head. • Aaron, a young boy, on Tracy’s husband’s football team also shaved his head, raising £470 for the breast unit.
Charlie, who has just started school, is a massive Ghost Busters fan and loves nothing more than helping out with the vegetable patch at home. He used his green fingered skills to plant new shrubs in the special garden. Charlie and Alfie’s mum Amy said: “We wouldn’t have Charlie if Alfie had not passed away, so he is always considered as Charlie’s treasured twin and we are making a legacy for him to be proud of. “We also provided some personalised memory sticks, which enable families to view and print treasured photos as many times as they wish.”
Son Harry presents cheque to staff at the Breast Unit
Daughter Maisie raised money for the Robert Horrell Macmillan Centre
Tracy and Colleagues from ACU present their
Aaron braved the shave for
check to Haematology/Oncology Ward
the Breast Unit
Woodlands Centre garden mural creates relaxing scene for patients The Woodlands Centre at Hinchingbrooke Hospital now has a serene wall mural, which completes the garden project recently undertaken by the Malcolm Whales Foundation. The mural depicts a woodland scene and was created by champion graffiti artist, Si Mitchell who spent the day working on the blank canvas. Green-fingered Charlie helps transform garden
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Lynda Hall, Woodlands Centre Manager, said: “We are so pleased with the overall look of our garden. It is such a tranquil place for our patients and staff to sit and relax and is a lovely view,
even on those rainy days. “Si Mitchell and The Malcolm Whales Project have done an amazing job and we are incredibly grateful for their time and dedication on this project.”
Christmas is Coming! It’s that wonderful time of the year where we turn our thoughts to all things festive! Here at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust our 2019 Christmas campaign is focused on ‘giving back’ – to our patients, local communities, staff and volunteers. “Christmas is always widely celebrated in our hospitals,” says Chief Nurse, Jo Bennis. “No one wants to have to stay in hospital at this time of year and it can be really difficult for some of our patients. Being caring and compassionate is at the heart of everything we do, so we try to lighten the atmosphere and bring a little joy to our wards. It’s also a time that our staff are often dealing with immense winter pressures so it’s great to be able to involve them in our Christmas campaign and show our appreciation for their hard work and dedication.” There are a number of elements to the ‘Give Back this Christmas’ campaign, some of which have already been launched, including the extremely popular Christmas card appeal that lots of local schools took part in last year. Schools can collect Christmas card designs and send them in to be delivered to
all patients during the month of December. A random draw will take place to select a school close to each of our main hospitals to come in and hand deliver their creations. We are also running the ‘A Hamper from Santa’ campaign in support of those using foodbanks this winter. We’re asking departments across the Trust to fill hampers with food items that will then be donated to food banks that are local to Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke and Stamford and Rutland Hospitals. Alongside that we will also have giving trees at Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke Hospital that will allow staff and visitors to donate to underprivileged children. We have staff pot luck festive feasts planned, choir services, a special ‘puppy therapy’ visit from our Pets as Therapy dogs, volunteer Christmas lunches, as well as a whole host of other plans to spread festive cheer. If you would like to enquire about donating to any of our hospitals for Christmas then please email: nwangliaft.communications@nhs.net
Play in hospital week October was national Play in Hospital week and the Play Team on Amazon Children’s Ward put on The Greatest Show for our younger patients. It was a week filled with entertainment, laughter and fun for all. Nicola Wright, Senior Play Specialist, said: “We were blown away by the performances from the Peterborough Regional College, it was the highlight of the week and exceeded all our expectations. It was a fantastic surprise for staff and patients on the ward and really brightened up their day, I think the majority of us shed happy and emotional tears but it was also filled with lots of smiles and laughter. Seeing what a difference it made to our patients and families was incredible, we can’t thank the staff and students involved in this enough.” The Trust would like to say another big thank you to: • Paul and Freddie from the Charity POD • Gemma Towson, staff nurse on Amazon who provided face painting • Papa Luigi who donated pizzas for the patients and families on the ward • Monique Bolton from Emcee Productions who did craft activities • Dean Cartwright from Bathroom Solutions LTD who donated McDonalds for patients • Rebecca Westwood and her PAT dog Grace • Sarah Rowe from Peterborough Regional College who came wither dance students to perform two songs from The Greatest Showman These individuals and companies played a big part in making Play in Hospital week a big success so thank you once again.
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Staff Spotlight
Apprentices: Where are they now? Meet patient research ambassador Donald Smithers Research is vital to ensuring that our patients have access to the most up-todate and effective treatments. That’s why we have recruited seven patient research ambassadors - volunteers who specialise in promoting research across our hospitals. Among our patient research ambassadors is Donald Smithers who began volunteering with the Trust after his wife was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Since then, he has joined the research and development team to help spread the word about research.
Peterborough City Hospital offer a number of apprenticeship opportunities for young people aged 16-18. Throughout the years the hospital has seen a number of successful apprentices go onto permanent roles within various departments/wards. Nikki Davis, Widening Participation Officer, said: “Our apprenticeship scheme has been a great success, with 81% of our young apprentices successfully completing the programme and 71% successfully obtaining a substantive position within the Trust once they have finished.” We asked some of our previous apprentices how they benefitted from the scheme and what their plans for the future are.
He said: “My wife received what I can only describe as superb care when she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and volunteering seemed to be a good way of replaying the debt that I felt we owed to the NHS.”
Emily Gill – Healthcare Assistant on B14
“As a Patient Research Ambassador I have the opportunity to speak to patients about the fantastic work the NHS is doing to not only improve medicines, but to find new and innovative treatments, which could make certain illnesses and diseases obsolete.” It is not just about people receiving care now. Donald has also delivered talks to a number of external organisations such as the Women’s Institute, highlighting the role research plays in healthcare. “We will all receive care from the NHS at some point during our lives, so it is important that we capture everyone’s attention,” said Donald. “The choice to participate always remains in the hand of the listener, but I know that by attending these talks we are opening their minds to the possibility of research and all that it has to offer to future patients.” If you would like to find out more about research, please visit our website or you can follow the team on Twitter: @NWAngliaRes
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The apprenticeship team were supportive and a big help throughout the whole experience. I got the opportunity to work with staff of all ages and walks of life, while training and receiving first-hand experience of hospitals life.
Ellie Miles – Ward Clerk on Amazon Ward “After struggling in school, I decided that I needed to be in a working environment, gaining practical skills and the apprenticeship allowed me to do that while working towards a formal qualification. Not only did the apprenticeship open my eyes to what actually goes on in a hospital but I learned new skills and my confidence grew massively. When I started I still wasn’t sure what I wanted in terms of a career, but now I have completed my apprenticeship and have been on the Amazon Children’s Ward as a ward clerk for a year now!
“My apprenticeship has benefited me more than words can say. I am so grateful that I was able to take part in such an amazing role that has shaped who I have become today. It has given me skills that I have utilised throughout my career, from giving patient care and working alongside my colleagues in busy environments. When I left school, I did not know what I wanted to be or do, but on starting my apprenticeship, I realised this is what I want to do for the rest of my working life. “My goal is to become an adult nurse supporting elderly patients. Eventually, I would love to be able to lead the apprenticeship programmes that the NHS has to offer and encourage people to join our amazing organisation. I would love to give back to something I feel so grateful and passionate for.” All of our apprenticeships are advertised on: www.apprenticeships.gov.uk
Focus on Healthcare Assistants Molly Wesley – Healthcare Assistant on Apple Tree Ward at Hinchingbrooke Hospital “I joined the team on Apple Tree ward in January last year as a Healthcare Assistant. I had started a Health and Social care qualification at college, but left to complete the same course at Hinchingbrooke Hospital when I found out I could finish it in three months instead of two years at college and gain a huge amount of experience in the process.
Consultant Focus: Dr Pallav Bhatnagar No two days are the same in the Emergency Department (ED) at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and as the Clinical Lead, Dr Pallav Bhatnagar knows how quickly everything can change. “Each day brings a different challenge and it is my job to make sure that we work and grow together as a team so that we are prepared as much as possible to meet those challenges. “A typical day starts at 8am when we have a team huddle to catch up with what has happened during the night and what challenges we may face later that day. We assess our preparedness for the first peak of ambulances at 10am by creating as much space as possible. “It can all change rapidly if someone comes in needing immediate care. It is an intense job and requires you to think on your feet, which is what I enjoy most about my role. 15 years ago, it was the fast pace, complexity and unpredictable nature that I felt worked really well with my temperament and I am still enjoying
it every day. “While it is a cliché, working in an ED really helps you make a difference to someone’s life. I work with a great team, within the department as well as across the hospital. Everyone seems to know everyone else and cares for others abilities and limitations. People are fantastic at coming together in the moments of crises.” “Another aspect I enjoy about my job is seeing our junior staff, both medical and nursing, grow and develop into top class professionals.”
“I started doing regular shifts around the hospital, which gave me the opportunity to work on different wards and I really liked the atmosphere on Apple Tree Ward. When a vacancy became available I applied and everyone has been so welcoming. “We are always busy on the ward, so there are lots of opportunities to learn and progress. You need to be confident and have patience when talking to patients and their families as it is an incredibly emotional time for them. “My aim is to continue to gain as much healthcare experience as possible and continue training to become a Paramedic Technician.”
Jordi Human – Healthcare Assistant on Apple Tree Ward at Hinchingbrooke Hospital “I started working at Hinchingbrooke in November last year after working at a care home. I knew Molly, so when I applied for the HCA post on Apple Tree Ward it was really nice to be able to work together. “The atmosphere on the ward is like one big family and they are really supportive. Everyone pulls together and helps each other out, especially during those particularly difficult times such as when a patient is on end of life care. “Most of our patients are on rehab, so they come onto the ward very unwell and you help and support them until they are ready to leave, which is very rewarding. You feel like you are making a difference to their lives.” This is just one of the roles at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust and if you are interested in working with us why not take a look at our website, which has our latest job opportunities at www.nwangliaft.nhs.uk
Jordi and Molly
“The worst thing by far is when you lose someone. Especially if a young life is lost. It is a very difficult part of the job and hard to come to terms with why that had to happen. I am glad that we are a team that supports and looks out for each other.” “I have a lovely family at home and they help me keep the perspective that is essential with a highly pressured role. My hour-long drive home helps me process my thoughts and unwind so I am ready for them.”
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Membership
Current and former NHS staff are invited to join the National Health Service Retirement Fellowship, a supportive community for NHS and social care staff and their partners. The organisation was founded by Irene James OBE, an ex-nurse in 1978, after she highlighted that the NHS was the largest employer in the Western World. Now there are approximately 150 branches with a membership approaching 10,000 members. The Peterborough branch meet on the last Wednesday of the month at St Andrews Church Hall, Netherton from 2.30pm to 4pm.They have a programme of speakers covering many themes, social afternoons and organise trips out to local places of interest. You don’t have to be retired to join, and annual subscription per member is £25.00 per year. For further information please contact Vice Chair, Trevor Caunt on 01733 705681.
Meet our new Lead Governor The Rev Kevin Burdett has been elected as our new Lead Governor on our Trust Council of Governors. Kevin is a retired church minister from Godmanchester and was elected to our Council of Governors on 1 July 2018 to represent members using Hinchingbrooke Hospital. He will support our Trust Chairman Rob Hughes in leading the Council of Governors and ensure our Governors carry out their duties effectively. His role sees him liaise regularly with our Chairman on matters relating to the role of governors in representing the views of our Foundation Trust members, governor development and the performance of the board. The Lead Governor also chairs the appointment of NonExecutive Directors and Terms of Service Committee. Kevin said: “I’ve been involved in a number of aspects of leadership over the years, including full time Christian ministry and chairing a number of committees both regional and national. When the vacancy for Lead Governor arose, my first thought was: ‘I could probably do that’. I believe that a desire to serve others is important in leadership. “Despite being relatively new to the Governor role, I have very quickly learned how our governors are effective in questioning the non-executive directors on many aspects of hospital management with a view to improving efficiency and patient experience. Local experience can be invaluable in that. Governors also have the opportunity to see how things work in the departments and wards through regular walkabouts when they can provide valuable feedback.
“I find it fascinating to see how a hospital trust is run and to have the opportunity to have a voice on behalf of the public. It has also enabled me to meet many interesting and hard-working people – both staff and volunteers.” Thank you to Governor Sue Prior who stepped down from the Lead Governor role in September.
Save the Date: Members’ Meetings for 2020 As a Foundation Trust, we stage regular meetings for our members to help them get more involved in their local hospital. These meetings are not just for members, they are open to members of the public, too. We have enjoyed some interesting learning sessions with members in 2019 – most recently, our award-winning Diabetes team gave a presentation to members on the management of Diabetes and how you might be able to avoid it in the first place. Meetings are free to attend and always come with refreshments! In 2020 we will be staging members’ meetings at all three of our main North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust endorse any of the products or services.
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hospital sites. Please note that topics for these meetings are yet to be confirmed, but we will ensure they are fully publicised in advance of the event. •W ednesday 26 February 2020, 6pm-7.30pm, Peterborough City Hospital • Wednesday 13 May 2020, 6pm-7.30pm, Stamford Hospital • Tuesday 1 December 2020, 6pm-7.30pm, Hinchingbrooke Hospital We will also stage our Annual Public Meeting on Tuesday 22 September 2020, 6pm-7.30pm, at Stamford Hospital.
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Autumn 2019 | issue 10
North West Anglia
THE
NHS Foundation Trust
Meet ouR New YouNg VoluNteeR cooRdiNatoR Page 7
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PATIENTS THE LATEST TRUST NEWS BRINGING MEMBERS, STAFF AND
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