Bedside Winter 2023

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Bedfordshire Hospitals magazine for staff. Edition twelve, Winter 2023

PAGES 10-15

A WELLBEING FOCUS PAGE 25

LONG SERVICE AWARDS

Contents & Welcome Feature event

Contents 04

2023 look back

26

Nursing Times subscription available

08

Team and individual of the month

27

Have you been offered Gifts and/or Hospitality?

10

Wellbeing focus - healthy mind

27

Your Staff Governors

12

Wellbeing focus - healthy body

28

Meet the team: Pathology

14

Wellbeing focus - healthy food

30

Breaking barriers to maternity services

16

Our Charity Update

30

Professional Midwifery Advocates

18

Redevelopment

31

KWiP service success at Bedfordshire Hospitals

20

World Prematurity Day

32

Get Winter Strong, Get Your Flu Jab

22

Trust achieves two Pastoral Care Quality Awards

33

Resus team named European Champions

23

Nursing Times award for urology

33

Carers in Bedfordshire

24

Long service awards

34

Our latest DAISY Honourees!

26

Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends thank you

35

Our latest ROSE Awardees!

23 1004

16

Take part in our Staff Travel Survey As we know, the car parks on both sites are under immense pressure and unable to cope with the demand. Our Staff Travel Survey will allow us to understand how staff travel, and how we can support with alternative sustainable options.

The results of this will help us develop a new Staff Travel Policy.

We need your input in this survey so the policy is reflective of the feedback given by staff. Scan the QR code to take part.

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Contents & Welcome

David Carter Chief Executive

Welcome from the CEO

2023 has been another amazing year for our hospitals. Thank you to everybody for your hard work and dedication and making it another special year for our Trust.

Pages 5- 8 are full of amazing achievements and has been a joy to reminiscence about all the triumphs and celebrations we have shared together.

When I look back on this year, I will definitely remember some of the challenges, not least the numerous periods of industrial action which have required immense planning, organisation and dedication in order to keep our hospitals running. It has also been a year when the Covid enquiry has got into its stride and as that considers what learning we might take for the future, I feel that in so many ways we see some of the continuing impact both in terms of the presentation of patients who come through our doors but also in the energy and morale of staff who have come through such turbulent times.

However I do feel optimistic about the progress we have made in integrating our two hospitals, mostly in small ways and burgeoning relationships rather than big changes but more than ever it feels like two hospitals, one Trust.

As we approach the end of the year we show no sign of slowing down, with our teams and individuals continuing to shine on the national and world stage. Our Urology teams won a national Nursing Times Award (Pg23), the Resus team was named European champions (Pg 33) and we were awarded with two pastoral care awards for the support we offer both Health Care Support Workers and our international recruits (Pg 22).

I feel so proud to lead an institution that is full of such skilled, hardworking individuals.

Closer to home one of the highlights of my year was saying thank you to the amazing colleagues at our long service awards in November. It was a wonderful event and it was really special to talk to you about your time working at the Trust, and the changes you have seen in the last few decades. Having 145 colleagues reach significant milestones and want to stay with a single employer for such a long time is a reminder of how truly special this organisation is, and talking to those staff on the night it

is the relationships they have with their colleagues that have made people want to stay so long.

The first two weeks of December are reserved for our staff engagement events. Supporting your health and wellbeing is a key priority, and we have shaped our winter events to have a wellbeing focus. I hope that you enjoy the activities laid on by our organisers, and can take some time away from the frontline, relax and enjoy some refreshments.

There is more support available on pages 10-15 to help keep your mind and body healthy over a busy winter period.

I hope you manage to find some time to rest up over this festive period and share some special moments with family and friends.

Once again thank you for everything that you do. It has been another demanding year that has brought some unique challenges for us to overcome.

On behalf of the board, our patients and their loved ones are I would like to say how incredibly grateful we are for everything you do.

Thank you, David BedSide Magazine 3

Feature

2023 LOOK BACK 2023 has been another amazing year for our hospitals. Over the next few pages we look back with pride on our achievements and celebrate your wonderful work. Thank you for making 2023 another special year.

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January We started the year celebrating the news that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) had rated our Trust as ‘good’ overall, particularly praising the culture we have built together to support our staff to meet the needs of our patients. The rating is particularly impressive considering it was two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, and just over two years since the merger.

Four of our marvellous midwives,Michelle Causer, Jo Duke, Sarah Lumley, and Louise Preston, were awarded NHS England’s Chief Midwife Officer’s Silver Award!

February Leila Worrall and Vanda McGibbon were named Radar Healthcare’s ‘Innovation Champions of the Year’ for 2022, for their work in implementing and embedding After Action Reviews (AARs).

Caroline Coster, who lost her hands and feet to sepsis returned to Bedford Hospital with her dog, Duke, as a therapy pet, as a way of saying thank you for her care. Therapy dogs visit both our hospitals and have been shown to help promote a sense of wellbeing among patients – as well as staff.

March In March we said farewell to our former Chair, Simon Linnett after eight and a half years. Simon steered us through some of our most challenging times and was an asset to the organisation.

After saying farewell to Simon, we welcomed Richard Sumray as our new Chair.

Richard has a wealth of experience across the health, care, justice and voluntary sectors and is committed to improving our hospitals for staff and patients.

With the rising cost of living impacting many staff, we launched our free/heavily discounted travel incentive for staff traveling on buses and trains.

April Nervecentre Electronic Patient Record (EPR) was launched at Bedford, providing clinicians with more patient information at their fingertips. The development has made a positive impact to patient experience allowing staff to make better, more effective decisions on individual care plans.

At the start of the month, the St Mary’s Day Unit (SMDU) at the L&D relocated to the old renal unit, with the new name Day Treatment Unit (DTU), to bring the service in line with Bedford. The refurbished location provides a larger space and improved environment.

We were delighted to purchase Beeden House, an important Bedford clinical building, providing certainty and continuity in our planning, as well as a significant long term financial benefit. We also signed the headlease for the Grove View Integrated Care Hub in Dunstable, a huge step towards improving integrated care in our local community.

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Feature

May

June

In May we begun treating patients with new da Vinci Xi robots, as we embraced the latest in Robotic Assisted Surgery. Unlike in many other UK hospitals, the robots are being used across a range of different specialties, treating patients with conditions ranging from bowel and renal cancer to endometriosis, gynaecology, bariatric and biliary surgery, and complex head and neck conditions. Benefits include reduced post-op pain, faster recovery, shorter hospital stay, and improved quality of life after surgery.

In June, both our EDs benefited from CT scanners installed within the departments that help centralise care for patients, and minimise the need for them to travel across the site.

We also launched the new triage service in Cygnet Wing. The dedicated area at the front of the delivery suite has a small waiting area just inside the entrance specifically designed to provide the ideal environment for expectant mothers, birthing people and their families.

A new CT scanner was delivered to the Emergency Department at Bedford Hospital thanks to funding from Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends and Bedfordshire Charitable Trust. At the L&D we received a generous donation of £750,000 by a former member of staff, Dr Dhabuwala, through Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Charity.

On 22 June, we celebrated 75 years since the MV Empire Windrush arrived in the UK. To recognise this, the BAME Staff Network shone a much-deserved light on the great Windrush Generation and their contribution to the NHS.

July

August

Summer signalled the return of our staff engagement events and once again these were a huge success with more than 4,000 members of staff attending across both sites.

We also celebrated the 75th birthday of the NHS on Wednesday 5 July, sharing the profiles of 75 teams throughout the Trust on our social media and intranet sites.

We were visited at the L&D by Councillor Javed Hussein and Carol Thomas of Luton council on 3 August to receive the bronze Modeshift accreditation for the Trust's successes in our Green Plan. Later in the month we also launched Greener Beds: an online platform and app where staff can record their sustainable actions – like travelling actively, recycling and shopping sustainably – and earn Green Points.

The newly refurbished Emergency Department at L&D opened, including a new entrance and waiting area, a dedicated paediatric area and nine new major cubicles. The bright, modern and spacious areas will make a huge difference to patient dignity and experience when attending ED and provide staff with the very best environment to care for patients.

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We were also thrilled to announce the first celebrations for our new ROSE Awards, recognising healthcare support worker excellence across the Trust.

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September September marked 10 years of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS). ERAS began at the L&D, starting off with just one member of staff and now grown into a full team of eight. The team work to get patients back to their full health as soon as possible, while aiming to reduce complications by promoting pre-operative patient education, postoperative goal setting, and strict and safe discharge criteria that must be met before going home.

On the 11th September Bedfordshire Hospitals was the first Trust in East of England to carry out a total jaw replacement surgery and our Diabetes Team at the L&D won the prestigious Rowan Hillson Inpatient Safety Award 2023 for 'best innovation to improve patient safety when discharging patients.

September was Organ Donation Week.The teams hosted awareness stalls and shared several staff and public stories around organ donation and had a really positive impact with 613 new registrations.

October Oncologist Dr Ramesh Bulusu was announced as the winner of the BAPIO award for 'Professional Excellence in Service Design and Innovation' for designing and implementing clinical pathways and guidelines for a rare cancer - gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST).

Our Diabetes Education Team were shortlisted for two categories; Excellence and Team of the Year in the DESMOND Awards Presentation.

The team were delighted to receive the Highly Commend Award for Excellence, which is given to teams who have gone “above and beyond”.

Urology and Cancer Teams were named as the winner of the Ingrid Fuchs Cancer Nursing Award at the Nursing Times Awards 2023, for the nurse-led initiative in improving the prostate cancer pathway (read more on page 23).

Finally, October closed with the Trust receiving acknowledgment from Dame Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England that our Trust has achieved two Pastoral Care Quality Awards, recognising the support and commitment we offer to both our international nurses and midwives, as well as our healthcare support workers. You can read the full story on page 30.

November Ending the year with yet more good news, Julie Taylor, Head of Recruitment and Temporary Staffing, Iwona Patterson, Recruitment and Retention Manager (Bedford) and Blenda Correya, Overseas Support Nurse, were recognised for their outstanding efforts in recruiting and supporting our international nurses and midwives at The King’s 75th Birthday Reception at Buckingham Palace.

Finally, well done to our resus team who were chosen to represent the UK at the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) Congress 2023, were named as ERC Resuscitation Champions 2023. To be selected to represent the UK is a huge achievement, but to win the competition is a testament to the incredible staff we have working at the Trust.

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Winners

Team of the month

Pathology Our Team of the Month award for August was presented to our crosssite Pathology team, who have been working extremely hard for their UKAS accreditation.

The inspection and accreditation is one of the most rigorous for any of our service lines, and they have put in an enormous amount of work in preparation for the seven-week inspection.

The Pathology department has been through tough times with the repatriation of the Bedford service from the private sector back in 2019, supporting the Trust’s efforts as a key service during COVID-19 and also the integration of the two sites teams following the merger.

Through all of this, they’ve continued to be resilient and ensured we provide the very best Pathology service.

Home Birth Team

Congratulations to the Bedford Home Birth Team who were named as Team of the Month for September.

The team have received lots of fantastic feedback from patients recently. Patients have praised them for being knowledgeable and thoroughly answering any questions or concerns they have had, putting them at ease.

The Home Birth Team have put the needs of the patient first, and done everything they can to support safe home births.

Winners

Congratulations to Sabeur and Danny who were the August and September winners of our individual of the month award.

Sabeur Gharsellaoui Healthcare Assistant (HCA) L&D Emergency Department.

Sabeur is an incredible HCA, consistently showing compassion and dedication, and living through our THRIVE values. Sabeur is attentive and consistently checks not only his patients, but also their relatives and visitors to ensure a good rapport is built. He is a role model and true asset to our organisation.

Sabeur Gharsellaoui

Danny Nasr

HCA

Management Accountant Danny was given the award for showing the Trust values on a daily basis and going the extra mile to help his colleagues.

The finance department plays a huge role in the overall success of the organisation, and Danny is an asset to the team.

Danny Nasr

Management Accountant

Individual of the month Edition Twelve, Winter 2023

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Feature

Getting good sleep is more than just trying to count sheep!

Some practical tips on how to improve your sleep, even after a difficult shift Are you struggling with your sleep? Do you find it difficult to get to sleep? Do you wake in the night or feel like you are not getting enough good quality sleep? If so, you are not alone. Almost 1 in 5 people in the UK report not getting enough sleep.

Why focus on sleep?

Sleep is essential for our wellbeing and we can take it for granted, until we start to struggle with it. Unfortunately it’s common to feel that you not getting enough sleep, particularly if you are working in busy and demanding work environments such as healthcare.

Problems can range from temporary (and very common) periods of having a few disturbed nights through to long-standing problems getting to or staying asleep for hours at a time. Sleep helps our immune and cardio-vascular systems time to rest and repair, and our minds to process what we are worried about.

Although we all vary slightly in how much sleep we need, it’s generally acknowledged that people who regularly have less than five or six hours a night are more likely to develop long term medical conditions such as diabetes, have a heart attack, or develop depression.

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What can I do to help with my sleep?

Whilst there are many causes of sleep disturbance or deprivation here is the good news….there are things that are widely agreed and evidenced to help improve the quality and quantity of your sleep. Think SLEEP… Stick to a routine - whilst it’s important to wait until you feel tired and sleepy before going to bed, try to develop regular hours for sleeping and waking and try to keep to this schedule. This may be difficult if you are working different shift times, see below for tips about this.

Leave time to ‘wind down’ before bed - we are often good at using bedtime routines to help children wind down before going to sleep but forget that adults need this too! Shift your focus away from things that are concerning you or exciting you, as our minds

need little encouragement to go over problems or worries.

Keep a thought journal by your bed and write down anything you are still thinking about – you can think about it again in the morning. Turn off phones and screens at least an hour before you plan to sleep, and keep them out of your sleep space.

Environment - create a sleep space that is cool, dark, comfortable and calming. If you can, make sure you have blinds and curtains that keep out a lot of light. Try to have things in your sleep space that feel comforting and soothing.

If you share this space with others, talk with them about how to make it a relaxing space, free of screens and light.

Everyday coping strategies – consider how helpful your current coping strategies are.

We have to mention caffeine and alcohol, as these are not your friend if you need a

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long and restorative period of sleep. Alcohol may help you relax but it can also impact on the quality of sleep you have.

Maybe consider other ways to wind down at the end of the day. Caffeine can impact on your sleep depending on when you drink it. Try and avoid caffeine at least 8 hours before bedtime. Regular exercise is good for your mind and body in so many ways, and can also help maintain good sleep.

Plan what you are going to do differently – writing down or sharing changes you might make to get better sleep can increase the chance of putting them into practice. Start small and be realistic. Making small changes can have a big impact.

What about shift working?

If you regularly work at night, getting good quality and quantity of daytime sleep is a challenge. You may need to try additional things to give cues to your mind and body that it’s time to sleep. These can start at work and include small changes to how you get home and what you do when at home; At work - Avoid caffeine up to five or six hours before going to sleep and avoid eating large meals or highly processed foods during your night-shift.

From work to home - If you can, wear sunglasses on your way home from work, but if Edition Twelve, Winter 2023

you’re driving home only do this if it’s safe.

At home - try using a ‘do not disturb’ notice on your bedroom door to remind other people in your house to help you sleep. Using eye masks and ear plugs to block out the extra light and noise that’s around in the daytime.

For more information about shift working, scan the QR code where you can find a session about shift working. Use code: kwblmk123 to gain access.

What about if I have a stressful day and struggle to relax?

Of course, going home after a stressful shift can also interfere with your sleep. Often our bodies go home but our minds are left at work, worrying, planning and problem-solving.

It’s important for us all to develop routines to help us to decompress and leave work worries behind. While we may have an urge to rush home, taking a few moments to end our days well can help us fully benefit from our time away from work. Here are some useful tips to help with this;

is safe and strong, and visualise putting your work into this container and closing or locking it away. Is there anything that went well today or that you’re proud of? Pay attention to and acknowledge it.

Pay attention to the transition from work to home. Are there rituals or positive habits you can try that shift your focus from work to home? – play some music, listen to a podcast, or simply notice the environment you are travelling through on your way home.

When you’re home, have some habits that help to give your mind or body signs that you have moved away from work. These might be changing your clothes, having a shower, having a hot drink or doing some exercise. Pay attention to these routines and make sure you repeat them regularly. Soon your mind and body will associate them with being in a different space that is separate from work.

For more information and advice on decompressing after a high stress shift scan the QR code.

Develop an end of shift routine that clearly separates work.

Our imaginations are very powerful – try to imagine a container, something that BedSide Magazine 11

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Wellbeing focus - healthy body: Do you sit at a desk all day?

Staying healthy at work is easier than you might think. Try building the following desk – based exercises into your working day.

Moving more throughout the day can help keep your weight at a healthy level and limit your chances of developing a number of serious illnesses. Current UK exercise guidelines recommend adults aged 19-64 take at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity each week, aiming to be active every day.

These simple stretches can help ease the aches and pains associated with sitting for long periods, but it’s important to combine them with regular physical activity.

Working on a keyboard your chest muscles can become tight and the muscles between your shoulder blades might be underused.

This stretch will help correct this muscle imbalance: • Sit forward from the back of your chair • With your thumbs pointing towards the ceiling, open your arms out to the side until you feel a stretch in the front of your chest. Ensure your shoulders are back and down • Aim to switch on the muscles between your shoulder blades by gently drawing them together. You should not feel pain or tingling in your arms • Hold the stretch for 20 seconds and repeat three times.

Long periods of sitting with your knees and hips flexed can cause the muscles at the back of your legs (hamstrings) to shorten and become tight. Address this problem with the following stretch: • Perch on the edge of your seat and stretch your right leg out in front of you • Rest your heel on the floor with your foot pointing up • Lean forward slightly from your hips and look straight ahead. You should feel a gentle stretch but no pain along the back of your right leg • Hold the stretch for 20 seconds, repeat three times and then swap legs • Hold the stretch for 20 seconds and repeat three times.

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Good posture helps keep your back, neck and other joints healthy.

Try these tips to improve your posture - especially if slouching at your desk has become a habit.

• Sit with your bottom right at the back of your seat and rest against the back of your chair for support • Rest your forearms on your desk with your elbows at a 90°angle • Relax your shoulders, don't allow them to elevate or round • Make sure both of your feet are flat on the floor, and your knees are level with your hips • Adjust your chair and use a footstool or other support if needed • Imagine there is a piece of string coming through your body and out of the top of your head to the ceiling. This prevents slumping and helps keep you upright.

Nothing beats getting away from your desk for a walk, but when that's not possible mobilise your spine and reduce feelings of stiffness in your back with this simple stretch: • Sit slightly forward in your chair and rotate your head and upper body to the right • Take your left arm and cross it over your body so that it meets your chair's right armrest. If this feels difficult, rest your left hand on the side of your right knee • Rest your right hand on the top of the back of your chair and keep your feet flat on the ground while performing this stretch • Hold this position for 20 seconds, repeat three times and then switch sides.

Press-ups are great for building fitness training into your workday.

All you need is a flat surface - it doesn't have to be the office floor: • Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Stretch out your arms and rest your palms against the wall at shoulder-height and slightly wider than shoulder-width apart • Take a couple of tiny steps back, engage your tummy muscles, and slowly bend your arms at the elbows. Keep your back and neck straight and look at the wall in front of you • Lower yourself until you are a couple of inches away from the wall, then push yourself back up to your starting position • Make sure you lead with your chest so your arms are doing the work.

• Do not allow your back to arch • Aim for three sets of ten press-ups. To make this exercise more challenging, move your legs further back.

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Wellbeing focus - healthy food: Can you eat 30+ plants a week?

Have you heard about the concept of "30 plant points"?

This is related to the idea of promoting a diverse and plantbased diet in order to support the health of our gut microbiota (or bacteria that lives in our gut). Here are some key benefits of incorporating a diverse range of plant-based foods into our diet: 1.

Training the immune system: A diverse range of gut microbes helps to train and support our immune system, as a significant portion of our immune cells reside in the gut.

2.

Boosting resilience to infection: A healthy and balanced gut microbiome can help strengthen our immune defences, making us more resistant to infections.

3.

Improving gut health: A diverse microbiome contributes to a stronger gut barrier, which is essential for preventing the leakage of harmful substances into the bloodstream.

4.

Nutrient production and hormone regulation: Gut bacteria play a role in

synthesizing certain vitamins and regulating hormone levels in our body.

5.

Gut-brain communication: There is a growing body of research suggesting that the gut microbiota can influence brain function and mental health.

6.

Balancing blood sugar and lipids: A healthy gut microbiome can help regulate blood sugar levels and improve blood lipid profiles, which can be important for preventing various diseases.

Can you do 30+ plants each week?

Eating a variety of plants each week helps to support a healthy gut.

Use the tables below to tick off the plant foods that you eat each week.

WHOLE GRAINS

VEGETABLES

Aubergine

Broccoli

Celery

Fennel

Kale

Parsnip

Spring onion

Amaranth

Asparagus

Brussel sprouts

Chard

Green beans

Potato

Sweet potato

Mushroom

Pumpkin

Courgette

Iceberg lettuce

Rocket

Tenderstem broccoli

Barley

Cabbage

Corn

Mixed lettuce

Avocado Beetroot Bell peppers

Carrot Cauliflower

Cucumber

FRESH HERBS

Jerusalem artichoke

Onion Pak choi

Tomato

Spinach

Garlic

Parsley

Almonds

Chilli

Ginger

Thyme

Cashews

Chives

Lemongrass

Rosemary

Chia seeds

Coriander

Mint

Flaxseeds

Dill

Oregano

Hazelnuts

High fibre breakfast cereals Nut butter (natural)

Pumpkin seeds

Pine nuts Pistachios Poppyseeds

Oats

Sunflower seeds

Popcorn

Tahini

Quinoa

Walnuts

Rye Sorghum

Apple

Boysenberries

Dates

Apricot

Cantaloupe

Fig

Banana

Cherries

Grapefruit

Blackberries

Custard apple

Grapes

Honey dew melon

Nectarine

Pear

Raisins

Jackfruit

Orange

Persimmon

Raspberries

Papaya

Pineapple

Strawberries

Passionfruit

Plum

Sultanas

Peach

Pomegranite

Watermelon

Kiwifruit

Guava

Mandarin

Lentils

Peas

Mango

Teff Wild rice Whole grain bread Whole grain crackers

Your goal is 30 different types –

LEGUMES

Beans

Millet

Sesame seeds

FRUITS

Blueberries

Bulgar wheat Buck wheat

NUTS & SEEDS

Basil

Brown rice

Chick peas

but that doesn’t mean you can’t eat more!

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Wellbeing focus - healthy food: Healthy recipes to try Banoffee pie This is Alison’s healthier banoffee pie. Enjoy!

Serves: 2 4

Sesame Ryvita (or similar )

2

TBSP Biscoff spread

1

Banana

• Spread the Biscoff onto the

sesame crisp bread and top with sliced banana.

Sweet Crunch Ryvitas Here’s a snack idea or perhaps an accompaniment when you need a sweet fix! Try experimenting with the different Ryvita flavours and perhaps your own toppings.

Serves 1 2

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Sweet Crunch Ryvita crackers try experimenting with different flavours.

20g

Chocolate spread eg. Jim Jam’s or Nutella

10

Raspberries

• Spread the chocolate

spread onto each Ryvita cracker.

• Lay the raspberries on top

of the chocolate spread.

• You’re all set to enjoy!.

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Charity

Our Charity Update New year, new look, new you!

to lift spirits. If you or someone you know has time to give, join our fantastic volunteer teams to make a difference. Exciting new volunteer roles coming soon...

Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us throughout 2023.

Whether that was through fundraising, taking part in a challenge event, volunteering or joining us for a quiz night – you have all helped us to enhance the environment and facilities for you, our staff, patients and visitors.

Earlier this year, we asked you to help shape our vision for the future.

The feedback we received gave us the opportunity to gain a new look, so you all know who we are, and what we are here to do.

We are you your hospitals charity, and we are here to support you on both sites.

Over the coming months, you’ll be seeing more information, posters and displays, featuring our brand new logo, so you know more about our appeals and how you can get involved.

You can read further below about some of the exciting ways we are here to help you and how you can support us in 2024!

Sarah Amexheta, Head of Charity

Sarah Amexheta Head of Charity

Up for a challenge?

Make 2024 your year by jumping out of a plane, abseiling down a building or climbing a mountain - anything counts! You can do any of this whilst raising funds for Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Charity, for a department or appeal of your choice. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

• L&D: voluntaryservices@

ldh.nhs.uk ext 7357 (01582 497357)

• Bedford: voluntary.

services@bedfordhospital. nhs.uk ext. 2801 (01234 795801)

• Choose your challenge and

your fundraising area

• Contact the team • Get going

Find out more by messagingfundraising@ bedfordhospital.nhs.uk / fundraising@ldh.nhs.uk.

Volunteers are amazing!

They welcome and guide, run errands, help in clinics and wards, smile, listen and chat 16 BedSide Magazine

Does your team need an extra pair of hands to help out? Have you got ideas to add value to your service that volunteers could help with?

We’re here to work with you so please get in touch

Charity shop and trolley service at the L&D Did you know that by purchasing items from the shop or trolley service you are supporting your hospitals’ charity? All profits go back into our hospitals helping us to support you, your ward or department.

Charity

The trolley is able to visit most wards and departments on the L&D. Does your department have a need for the trolley to visit? Please let us know BHNCharityHub@ldh.nhs.uk

Making that call, has the potential to ensure your dying patient is not alone. All it takes is one phone call.

Student volunteering and work experience To enable us to facilitate and expand our student volunteering and work experience programmes across the Trust, we would love to hear from new areas looking to support our future workforce.

Blossom Project Volunteers

To hear more about how you can support these programmes, please contact Mhairi.Emery@ldh.nhs.uk

Do you often feel that an extra pair of eyes and ears would be helpful? Our Blossom Volunteers are here to offer just that.

If you have an End of Life (EOL) patient on your ward, please call 07855 169492 for L&D or dial ext. 2801 for Bedford. The volunteers can provide support and companionship for your EOL patient and their family.

Edition Twelve, Winter 2023

Support from NHS Charities Together South Central Ambulance Service: We launched two projects, Enhanced Responders, who are trained to support patients and carry out diagnostic testing before the arrival of an ambulance. The second project, “Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest” aimed to improve the outcomes of out of hospital cardiac arrest patients, by introducing an app to deploy off duty clinicians and other trained healthcare works to respond to cardiac arrests.

British Red Cross: British Red Cross launched the assisted discharge model which helped to identify blockers, such as lack of basic necessities and facilities, which could stop a patient from being discharged home.

The team also support with transportation and assessing their facilities at home to try and prevent readmission.

YMCA Milton Keynes: Two new roles were created, a Complex Needs (SHINE) Manager and a Hospital Navigator role, both of whom support young people who were more marginalised by the pandemic. They have supported numerous young people with a range of issues from mental health, substance and domestic abuse.

Bedfordshire Rural Community Charity A project, ‘You Can Do IT!’ was launched with an aim to reduce digital exclusion and social isolation in the local community. We established voluntary groups working within the local area to educate members of the public who are currently digitally excluded, supporting them to better access services and avoid isolation.

We remain incredibly grateful for the support of NHS Charities Together to help us to deliver these vital projects.

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Redevelopment

Redevelopment update Masterplan In April 23, the Trust appointed a Master Planning Team to work with them to develop the master plan for both Bedford and the L&D sites.

The aim was to create a single master plan that brings together capital planning requirements and creates an aspirational view of how the Trust envisions and needs the sites to be developed over the next 20 years, to provide modern healthcare facilities and to support the enablement of the Trust’s Clinical Strategy.

As the majority of our estate is beyond its expected useful life, our current backlog maintenance is £166m and growing. This results in compliance, capacity and resilience issues, as well as a poor environment and environmental performance.

The master plan is a 20 year aspirational vision, to provide modern healthcare buildings.

It reflects the Trust’s clinical and workforce needs for now, and in the changing future.

It provides a standardised solution, providing flexibility during design and purpose of the buildings, meaning they can be scaled up or down depending on need and/or funding availability. The plan is aligned to the Net Zero Carbon roadmap, ensuring we are playing our part to reduce carbon emissions from the site.

Both sites lack available building space, when other 18 BedSide Magazine

Proposed Bedford Hospital 2040

Trusts receive funding they can utilise spare land – we don’t have that luxury. We have to think more strategically, and plan long term. The master plan outlines how we can grow our internal footprint to modern standards, providing modern healthcare solutions: • Bedford: 63,000m2 to

89,000m2

• L&D: 61,000m2 to

134,000m2

Bedford: • The plan recognises the

impact of East West Rail if it moves ahead in the coming years. and acknowledges and retains the listed buildings which are an important feature for the community.

Phase 1a • New Energy Centre &

electrical infrastructure upgrade

• New multi storey car park to

be built on existing essential users car park

• Possible use of additional

parking facilities close to the hospital Phase 1b • Enable construction zone

currently occupied by Kings Place, by moving services

• Construction of new elective

care centre, including operating theatres and beds on land by Kings Place

Phase 2 • Emergency Care to be

provided when Cauldwell Centre is relocated

Phase 3 • Medical care block to be

built on existing Britannia House land and associated enabling for services and staff impacted

Phase 3a • Education and support

building to be provided within ward block – this will be for all support services, education, and those not providing direct patient care. The building will be decarbonised

Redevelopment

Phase 4 • Women and children’s unit

to be created on existing Emergency Department land with adjacent drop off

Phase 5 • Enhancing landscaped

areas and externals, and opportunities for expansion, whilst maintaining listed buildings

Luton and Dunstable Phase 1 • Acute services block and

new ward block which is currently underway and due to complete in 2025

Phase 2a Resolve estate issues for Facilities management services. Outpatient facilities and decant ward to be created in existing maternity block Phase 2b • Children’s, Adolescents and

Young Adults, Endoscopy and ward stock on existing space where Urology One Stop Clinic, canteen, OMFS, Diabetes and Endocrinology is relocated

Phase 3 • Ambulatory Care Centre

to be built on land where current maternity administration and neonatal temporary units are

Phase 4 • Acute/Medical Care Centre

to be built where existing cardiology centre is

Phase 5 • Emergency Centre built

Phase Y Edition Twelve, Winter 2023

Proposed L&D 2040

• ‘Staff Centre’ to be built

along Calnwood Road for displaced staff, staff engagement events, education and training.

Phase W • Existing space where

pathology and surgical wards are, to be decarbonised and enhanced

Phase Y • Opportunity to create a

Cancer Centre on land in St Mary’s car park

Additional: If there is a requirement to increase parking capacity, and this is dependent on changes to service provision, and introduction of sustainable travel, then an extension to the breast screening staff multistorey car park provides the only current opportunity for expansion.

opportunity • Stakeholder engagement

across multiple organisations

Work completed and ongoing in 2023: Bedford • Delivery and installation

of a CT scanner within the Emergency Department

• Completion of electrical

substation

• Contractor appointed to

commence community diagnostic centre at Gilbert Hitchcock House

L&D • Topping out ceremony held

for acute services block and new ward block

• Opening of new main

entrance, ED entrance and waiting area, dedicated paediatric area and nine new major cubicles.

As mentioned, these plans are aspirational, dependent on funding as and when it is available. Our next steps focus on:

• Delivery and installation

• Developing the Estates

• Completion of Energy

Backlog Strategy, and dovetail the Decarbonisation Strategy

• Ensuring we are ready whilst

of a CT scanner within the Emergency Department Centre building and landscape - connecting to the whole hospital is now underway

balancing clinical need and

BedSide Magazine 19

Feature

World Prematurity Day 17 November 2023 1 in 7 babies who are born require support from the Neonatal team. Our colleagues at the L&D and Bedford Hospital are dedicated to providing specialist support to these babies born prematurely or who are born and become unwell, as well as providing support to their parents.

We shone a spotlight on some of our wonderful colleagues, who shared what their role is in NICU and what they enjoy the most.

Faye Tott

Family Integrated Care CoOrdinator.

Faye joined NICU at the L&D in October 2007 as a Nursery Nurse.

Since then she has worked her way up and is now a cross-site Family Integrated Care CoOrdinator.

“I thrive and work well under pressure, so I was drawn to the idea of dedicating my career to challenging work that I can be proud of as I improve the lives of others. Nursing within a Neonatal Unit was a clear-cut path for me to embark on.

“Following my niece requiring Neonatal Care at the L&D in 2020, I can relate with the families as I’ve been on the “other side”. I understand how worrisome NICU can feel, yet I’ve also witnessed how strong 20 BedSide Magazine

and resilient these babies can be.

“Unfortunately, not all parents get to bring their premature babies home, so together we need to continue to raise awareness of prematurity: to support parents and families at such a difficult time. In many ways, I am the voice of the smallest and sickest patients who don’t have one of their own.”

Vera Grkinic Junior Sister

Vera joined the Trust as Student Adult Nurse in 2003 and qualified in 2006. She then joined Bedford Neonatal Unit in 2012.

“I decided to join the Neonatal

Team after working on the Maternity Unit as a Nurse and looking after mothers and babies on transitional care.

I most enjoy working closely with the family, being part of the multidisciplinary team and nursing them through their neonatal journey.”

Jess Vitellaro

Neonatal Research Nurse Jess has worked at the Trust since 2018.

“During my time at university, I had a placement on a neonatal unit and it was during this placement that I was certain I wanted to work as a neonatal intensive care nurse.

“One of my favourite parts about the job is getting to work

Feature

with parents. I am able to see a parent’s bond with their babies, see parent’s gain confidence, and see them having their first cuddles with their baby. On the research side, I really enjoy working on multiple different research trials and seeing how positively research benefits the neonatal unit.

“World Prematurity Day is a day to celebrate all our premature babies. It is also a day to raise awareness of premature birth and work with partners around to world to prevent it.”

Rachel Stamp

Neonatal Physiotherapist Rachel sees patients on the neonatal unit and in outpatients.

She has worked in this role at the L&D since 2005.

“Neonatal Physiotherapy is a very diverse role with an opportunity to utilise a wide range of specialist skills. It is also great working as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team in an area. It is an area that is constantly evolving so there is always something new to learn!

“I am very lucky doing a job that I love. I enjoy being able to work with families and babies and love being part of their Edition Twelve, Winter 2023

neonatal journey on the unit and in their outpatient follow up appointments.”

Danielle Bostock

Specialist Neonatal Physiotherapist Danielle has been in this role at the L&D since June 2022.

“I have always been passionate about early years development and early intervention. Supporting parents to nurture and promote their babies development right from the very start on the neonatal unit is a joy and a privilege.

“I most enjoy being able to work with babies and families on the neonatal unit right the way through until they are two years old. It is the best job in the world!

“World Prematurity Day is an important day to raise awareness of the impacts of prematurity and highlight the support that is available to babies, their families and staff.”

Kiran Kalra

I have a special interest in sensory development and the impact of the sensory environment on the everyday life for baby and families. I really value supporting families to help their baby’s and their own sensory system, and their baby’s neurodevelopment at the very beginning, as the longer term benefits are invaluable.

“World Prematurity Day is really important to raise the awareness of premature birth and the impact that it can have on families. For some families, they face challenges being at the hospital with their baby, such as their own health, childcare or travel. It is essential that they know that they are supported and not alone and we will ensure that we find ways to meet their baby’s and parental needs.”

On the day…

The Neonatal Teams on both sites held cake sales which raised an incredible £966.24, decorated the units and wore all things purple to celebrate!

Specialist Neonatal Occupational Therapist (OT).

“I feel passionate about the positive impact Occupational Therapy can have for families and their baby’s along their neonatal journey.

BedSide Magazine 21

News

Trust achieves two Pastoral Care Quality Awards Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has achieved two Pastoral Care Quality Awards from NHS England, recognising the support and commitment offered to both international nurses and midwives, and healthcare support workers (HCSWs).

The Trust took part in the pilot NHS Pastoral Care Quality Award for Support Workers and achieved silver. The award is in recognition of the Trusts’ commitment to HCSWs and to retaining and supporting staff at every stage of recruitment and beyond.

HCSWs are offered one-to-one pastoral catch ups early on in their career with the Trust. If the HCSW wishes to progress in a registered profession, they are signposted to the Apprenticeships team. Each induction cohort has access to their peers and staff who are able to refer them to additional sources of support if required, including Peer Listeners, Mental Health First Aiders,

or Freedom to Speak up Guardians.

Following an induction, HCSWs are provided with a development programme for their first year. The Trust supports individuals to complete their care certificate (if required), the Bedside Emergency Assessment course, enrol onto the Achieving Care Excellence (ACE) programme and attend a disabilities awareness day.

Anne Keteling, HCSW, said: “I feel very supported in the Trust, not just by my manager but also by my colleagues, doctors and education team.

“There have been a lot of development opportunities for me including different training, my functional skills and my nursing associate course.

“I love the work I do and take a lot of pleasure and joy in taking care of my patients, and having fun with my colleagues.”

The NHS Pastoral Care

Quality Award for International Nurses and Midwives was awarded in recognition of the work being carried out to ensure international colleagues receive enhanced and tailored pastoral care as they start their NHS journey.

International nurses and midwives are looked after by dedicated Overseas Recruitment Coordinators.

They help to guide new starters through each step, from pre-employment checks to working at the hospitals.

Overseas staff have a large support network and are given extensive training and guidance to help them settle in. This includes a welcome breakfast to meet other new arrivals, an appointment to register for a UK bank account and a tour of the local area.

Salomi Johnson, staff nurse, said: “Before my journey with the Trust began I was really worried, but from the interview to right now I am getting the best from the best people – they are completely supportive and growth oriented. The training for OSCE is really valuable for us.”

Liz Lees, Chief Nurse, added: “Both these awards are a testament to the fantastic staff who work tirelessly to ensure the newly appointed members of our nursing and midwifery workforce are made to feel supported and welcome when they join us. I am extremely proud of these awards.”

22 BedSide Magazine

Feature

Nursing Times award for improving prostate cancer pathway Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been named as the winner of the Ingrid Fuchs Cancer Nursing Award at the Nursing Times Awards 2023.

The award was given for the nurse-led initiative in improving the prostate cancer pathway.

Jenny Arnold, Prostate Cancer Nurse Specialist at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, spent two years collecting data on patients with prostate cancer who were being monitored on active surveillance, and found that many were not being followed up correctly.

From the data, she worked with Mr Barrass, Urology Cancer Lead Consultant, to design a new evidence-based protocol, introducing a nurseled and consultant-led followup clinic.

Edition Twelve, Winter 2023

The new model ensures patients are followed up in a more stratified way and are seen by either Jenny, Mr Barrass or Mr Punshakran, Oncology Consultant, improving their continuity of care. Using the new protocol, several men have been upgraded and gone on to have radical treatment, which should improve their outcome.

Jenny said: “I am so proud of how wonderful and supportive my team have been and this award shows that with a great team, change can happen.

Change in services can have its challenges, but putting the patient first and having a vision is very important.

“I hope by winning this award it will inspire other nurses that if they see something that needs to change in patient care, they shouldn’t be scared to speak

up and push for what they believe in.”

The judges were “blown away with the tenacity and resilience that accompanied the nursing leadership of Jenny who has transformed the follow-up prostate cancer pathway”.

Liz Lees, Chief Nurse, said: “This is an outstanding nursing-led initiative to improve the prostate cancer pathway and I am so proud of the Urology and Cancer teams who have worked hard to introduce this.

“It will have a hugely positive impact on patient outcomes and we have already received great feedback that patients feel well supported and are able to better understand their diagnosis.”

BedSide Magazine 23

Long service awards

Celebrating 4,500 years of Dedication In November we came together to celebrate 154 colleagues who have collectively given over 4,500 years of dedication to our organisation, including one member of staff who has clocked up an incredible half century of service At our first combined long service awards as a merged organisation we awarded those colleagues who have worked at our Trust for an Heather Waller incredible 25, 30 and 40 years with a specially receiving her designed pin badge and award certificate. They 50 years service gathered for a gala evening at Woburn Safari Park and were joined by David Carter, chief executive, Richard Sumray, chair, and Fiona MacDonald, director of culture and OD. The longest-serving member of staff in attendance was senior radiographer Heather Waller, who picked up an award for an outstanding 50 years’ service.

On behalf of, your peers, colleagues, the Trust board and the local community, we would like to thank you for your service and loyalty to our organisation. You have all played a massive role in shaping Bedfordshire Hospitals as it is today and we’re incredibly grateful for your service.

Kit Bynoe, Pek Hinson, Sharon Turner Newell, Karen Billington, Christine Khan, and Sandra Alexander recieving their 40 years service

24 BedSide Magazine

Mary Dingley, Hemlata Mistry,Sue Taylor, Elese Miller, Jane Dove recieving their 40 years service

Margaret Spalding, Giovanna Healy, Pam Murphy, Marion Bugler, Maria Giacobbe and Ian Roy Walker recieving their 40 years service

Christine Bath, Vidia Sandhu, Margaret Malcolm, Susan Luscombe, Cathryn Omahony and Sheela Pattni receiving their 30 years service.

Sarah Perry, Christine Liburd, Malcolm Griffiths, Dr. Laila Yanny, Monica Barnard, and Donna Major receiving their 30 years service.

Carol Castaldo, Mr. GM Nayak, Vanessa Addy, Mr. Asher Alam, Rosa Lombardi and Rhoda Peart receiving their 30 years service.

Lisa Winterbourne, Sue Steveni, Helen Judkins, and Carmel Synan-Jones receiving their 30 years service.

Beverley Steere, Kirsty Barnes, Denise Kilby, Caroline Sale, Ruth Power receiving their 30 years service.

Beverley Runchman, Sally Hacking ,Dr. Mark Patten, Ms. Katie Bradley, Jennie Turner and Moya New receiving their 25 years service.

Carol Banerji, Sadie King, Alesandro Telford, and Lisa Carey receiving their 25 years service.

Lyn Plumb, Annunziata Cimmino, Sunita Nahar, Kamaljit Mattu, Maritza Calardo, Kamla Suman receiving their 25 years service.

Deborah Chapman, Guiseppina Stokes, Marilyn Flanagan, Anne Wingrove and Patricia O’Brien receiving their 25 years service.

Debbie Clough, Lorinda Wells, Nicola Swan, Miriam Taylor and Jennifer Greenwood, receiving their 25 years service.

Deborah Freenan, Lynda Warner, Deborah Addison, Vasanti (Suzy) Adacen, Georgina McCarry and Amanda Roberts receiving their 25 years service.

Ruth Jenkins, Sandra Sale, Anita Gipson, Louise Young and Sarah Siew N. Chase receiving their 25 years service.

Edition Twelve, Winter 2023

BedSide Magazine 25

News

Thank you event held for Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends The Trust held a thank you event for Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends on Friday 13 October, following the successful launch of our robotic assisted surgery programme at Bedford Hospital, which was possible thanks to the incredible £900,000 raised by the Charity.

This huge sum enabled the Trust to buy a da Vinci robot which has been up and running on the Bedford site since 17 April, treating patients undergoing colorectal, gynaecology and urology procedures.

One of our first robotic surgery patients at the control console

We were also delighted to welcome some of the patients who have already benefitted from the new technology, as well as key clinical staff involved with the programme, including consultants, theatre, nursing and support staff, and our colleagues at Intuitive – the suppliers of the robot.

Our guests took a trip to the operating theatre to learn more about the robot, and sit down at the console and have a go at controling the robot.

A big thank you to everyone who made this event such a success.

The same technology is also now up and running at Luton & Dunstable University Hospital.

As of 8 November,157 patients had undergone surgery with the da Vinci robots across both sites.

Nursing Times subscription available: Resources for the Nursing Profession The Nursing Times magazine has published articles for over 100 years. That is 100 years of helping nurses to improve their practice, 100 years of keeping staff up to date with policy and practice, and 100 years of advice on support and career development.

The Trust has organisational-wide access to the Nursing Times, meaning all staff (regardless of discipline) can use the online learning units, read news and opinion articles, and study from a vast pool of knowledge.

26 BedSide Magazine

News

Have you been offered Gifts and/or Hospitality?

Staff should not accept gifts or hospitality – from families, service users, suppliers or contractors - that may affect, or be seen to affect, their professional judgement.

All staff should familiarise themselves with ‘Conflict of Interest and Declaration of Interest Policy’ (Including Gifts, Hospitality, Sponsorship and Fit and Proper Persons).

Gifts that are valued over £50 should be treated with

caution and only be accepted if donated on behalf of the Trust Charitable Funds, and not in a personal capacity. These should be declared by staff.

Hospitality must only be accepted when there is a legitimate business reason and it is proportionate to the nature and purpose of the event, and should be declared if valued between £25 and £75. Anything over the value of £75 should be refused unless

(in exceptional circumstances) senior approval is given.

How to declare?

You can access ESR at home or at work from the web browser by visiting http:// my.esr.nhs.uk, or download the MyESR app.

More information is available on the intranet. If you have a question email: DeclarationofInterest@bedsft. nhs.uk

Your Staff Governors Governors are your voice. They are accountable to you! If you would like to get in contact with any of our governors, please send them an email. More information is on the intranet.

Key Bedford Luton Cross site Belinda Chik

Nursing & Midwifery

Leon Fisher

Admin, Clerical, Managers, Ancillary, Maintenance

Sharon Sundersingh Nursing & Midwifery

Selva Loganathan Prof & Technical

Hina Zafar

Mr Dimpu Bhagawati

Admin, Clerical, Managers, Ancillary, Maintenance

Sabu Kakkassery

Terrence Haynes-Smith

Nursing & Midwifery

Prof & Technical

Edition Twelve, Winter 2023

Medical & Dental

Julie Siddique

Admin, Clerical, Managers, Ancillary, Maintenance

Noreen Byrne Volunteers

Ravi Mahay

Admin, Clerical, Managers, Ancillary, Maintenance

Dr Lakshmi Coates Medical & Dental

BedSide Magazine 27

Feature

Meet the team: Pathology In this month's edition of Bedside we meet our August team of the month and learn more about their unique successes and challenges. From being the first merged service in the Trust to the most assessed department in the organisation. We spoke to Kevin Nulty, General Manager for Pathology, to find out more about this vital service.

How many members of staff do you have?

We have more than 300 members of staff.

What is your main objective?

Our main objective is to provide pathology services across all clinical areas of the Trust.

What’s the best thing about being part of your department?

The best thing about being part of the Pathology team is the professionalism and enthusiasm that each member of staff brings to their role.

There’s a number of different

teams within the department and they all work extremely well together to achieve what they need to.

We recently had a UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) assessment within Pathology and we managed to get accreditation for the entire service, which is a huge achievement. We have also had a Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) assessment and we passed that. The only way we could achieve all of this is by having good leadership and trust in each other. We trust that we have the capability to deliver within each of our teams.

What key things have you delivered in the past?

Pathology was the first merged service within the Trust. We worked in partnership with IT to merge the services across both sites. This was a huge task as we had to merge computer systems and harmonise processes. We did this during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was an extremely busy time for all.

We are currently working on the delivery of digital histopathology. This will enable the sharing of images across sites. It was also allow for a second opinion from other histopathology services, such as those from Cambridge University Hospital.

Feature

What are some of the current areas of focus?

We are currently working on harmonising blood science services, with the aim of moving all GP services to the Luton site.

We are also looking to provide a more efficient histopathology service to aid the new cancer diagnosis targets and pathways.

Which of our values or behaviours best describes your department?

Pathology demonstrates all of the Trust values, however teamwork is vital in our department.

Staff have to support each other in shared tasks on a daily basis. Teamwork has played a huge part in everything we have achieved, especially as we have also been under

a significant change of management during our recent accreditations. We always aim to deliver the best service possible with the resources that we have and keep the impact on the service to a minimum.

Tell us something we might not know about your department Pathology is the most assessed service in the whole of the organisation. Each of the accrediting bodies, such as UKAS, visit the department to see what we are doing.

We are one of only one of four or five sites in the whole of England who have a Point of Care Testing (POCT) accreditation.

We were proud to be named as Team of the Month in August 2023 for all the hard work we had put into the UKAS accreditation, being resilient and providing the best possible pathology service.

What affect has the merger had on your team?

From the merger we have learnt that what you set out to do, isn’t always the end result.

We are a holistic service to all clinical service lines in the Trust and the wider community.

So we end up having to work with so many different partners to deliver the service they want.

This can sometimes mean that the end product isn’t what you visualised at the beginning.

We are also still providing POCT services throughout the Trust, including for respiratory viruses.

BedSide Magazine 29

Feature

Breaking barriers to maternity services

Through collaborative working between Bedfordshire Hospitals, the Luton & Dunstable Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP) and BLMK healthcare professionals, we strive to break the barriers which block pregnant women and birthing people accessing our services in Luton.

On Monday 30 October 2023, the Roma Women’s Workshop in Luton supported by Luton Roma Trust, kickstarted a series of workshops which will cover pre-conception, pelvic health, mental health, sexual health and more!

A range of professionals were invited to attend the session and give a short presentation to the group with a trusted

individual from the community group translating throughout.

The speakers were: Dr Maria Mouyis, Consultant Obstetric Physician and Rheumatologist; Dr Sanhita Chakrabarti, Obstetrician; Chrissie Edley, Perinatal Pelvic Health Physiotherapy Lead; Caroline Forder, Perinatal Mental Health Midwife; Kelsie Holdstock-Clarke, Sexual Exploitation Outreach Lead Throughout the session, Patient Experience Midwife Kelly Nicklin-Crookes ran a mini health check clinic where basics could be checked blood glucose levels, blood pressure and urinalysis. Kelly also provided support on accessing their GP.

The MVP reached out to Barnfield College who facilitated two childcare students running a crèche for the children. In future, where possible, the students running the crèche will speak the language of the service users and their children.

Thank you to our speakers, Trust colleagues, students, Emma Ponsonby, Chair of the Luton & Dunstable MVP and Crina Morteanu from Luton Roma Trust for her support, hard work and translation services!

These workshops have been designed to build trust between the hospital and the diverse community groups we serve.

Professional Midwifery Advocates make big impact The Professional Midwifery Advocate (PMA) Leads, Tina McCann (L&D) and Keely Franklin (Bedford Hospital) attended the National Professional Midwifery Conference to promote Bedfordshire Hospitals and the fantastic work of the PMA Team.

Tina and Keely represented the East of England (EoE) Region with a ‘Feast from the East’ and promoted the PMA 30 BedSide Magazine

Booklet created for staff.

Following the launch at the Trust earlier this year, the booklet was adapted with support from the Regional Lead PMA, Hayley Summerfield, into a generic version for all regions and NHS Trusts to use. This was then launched in July 2023 to the East of England PMA Teams to distribute within their units.

Members of the overall PMA

team attended the East of England PMA Away Day. Tina and Keely presented on behalf of the EoE PMA Support Group and the Trust received many positive comments regarding our wonderful Internationally Educated Midwives (IEM) and the PMA Booklet.

Rosemond Appiagyei, our first Internationally Educated Midwife to become a newly qualified PMA, was also introduced!

Feature

KWiP service success at Bedfordshire Hospitals The Keeping Well in Pregnancy (KWiP) service launched earlier this year, to provide a bespoke service to provide specialist support to our pregnant service users attempting to quit smoking by time of delivery.

The service offers behavioural support which explores potential triggers and how to

overcome them by controlling your cravings, alongside Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).

The programme runs for 12 weeks with a view to have a successful quit attempt and to be 28 days smoke free from their set quit date. Desta, the KWiP Team Lead alongside Advisors Karen, Amaria and Becky, based at both the L&D and Bedford Hospital, continue to look after the service users in the background for the

duration of their pregnancy up until 28 days postnatal. This is to ensure they are able to maintain their non-smoker status and have a smoke free home to create a healthy environment for their newborn and family.

To date, the team has supported 26 women to successfully quit smoking, with a further 8 that have delivered smoke free babies.

Meet the team Desta Wright-Brown, KWiP Team Lead “I’m so excited to be working with the new team. They have settled into their roles really quickly and are doing a fabulous job supporting our service users. Their contributions to developing our ever evolving service has been refreshing.”

Karen Dear, Advisor “Moving to the role of Maternity Stop Smoking Advisor from Orchard Maternity Ward Clerk has given me the opportunity to work towards positively affecting pregnancy outcomes.

We are building a great team that will deliver a great service, so lots of good things to come!”

Edition Twelve, Winter 2023

Amaria Afzal “I feel very fortunate to be working with such amazing work colleagues who have helped me settle in well, also being able to help pregnant women and birthing people reframe their approach to their smoking behaviour is one of the most challenging but rewarding aspects of my job which I love.”

Becky Dobson “The best part of my job is being able to build a relationship with our service us ers, so that we can support them to remain smoke free in their pregnancy and beyond.”

BedSide Magazine 31

Feature

Get Winter Strong, Get Your Flu Jab It’s important for all healthcare staff to get their annual flu jab to protect themselves, their patients and their loved ones from the flu virus.

Flu is an unpredictable virus and last year we saw a rebound in flu levels, with increased flu hospitalisations. Both the flu and COVID-19 viruses will be in circulation at the same time this winter and catching both increases the risk of serious illness.

As there is currently ample capacity and accessibility within the community to get the COVID-19 booster vaccination than there is within the Trust, we are encouraging staff to book an appointment to get their COVID-19 booster vaccination at a venue closer to their homes. You can book by downloading the NHS App, online: http://www.nhs.uk/bookcovid or by calling 119. There may also be walk-in vaccination clinics available in your area.

Find your nearest COVID-19 vaccination walk-in site at www. nhs.uk/covid-walk-in.

It’s important to remember that being healthy doesn’t reduce your risk of getting flu or passing it on. You can have flu without any symptoms and pass it on to family, friends, colleagues and patients, many of whom may be at increased risk from flu.

Getting your vaccine is straight forward and while some people may experience some mild 32 BedSide Magazine

Bimal Rai, Orthopedic Junior Clinical Fellow recieving the flu vaccine

short lived side effects, they will keep you protected and if you do run into the flu, your symptoms will be milder and you will recover faster, cutting your risk of being seriously unwell.

How to get your flu jab Book your appointment via your email invitation from Vaccination Track.

Didn’t get an email invite to book? Then please email: FluVaccinations@bedsft.nhs.uk and a member of the team will assist.

Part of a large team?

No problem! We have roving vaccinators who can come to departments with large numbers of staff for your added convenience! Please email: FluVaccinations@bedsft.nhs.uk

and a member of the team will arrange.

Did you know…

By having your flu jab, not only are you doing your best to protect yourself, your patients and your family from flu, but once you have had the vaccine or advised us (with evidence) that you have had it elsewhere, as an added incentive, we will enter you into a prize draw where you could win £250! (Subject to tax and NI) It’s true! 12 colleagues have already each won a £250 prize.

Full information is available on the intranets under Staff Hub / Winter Vaccinations.

Feature

Resus team named European Champions Our Resus team, who were chosen to represent the UK at the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) Congress, have been named as 2023 ERC Resuscitation Champions.

The preliminary rounds took place on 2 and 3 November in Barcelona, where 17 teams from Europe and the UAE competed for a place in the final.

Teams were given a scenario and assessed by three judges who presented the clinical scene, circulated during the scenario and monitored the

quality of teamwork.

Teams were scored on the adherence to the current ERC Guidelines according to the four-point scoring system and on the quality of CPR as measured by the manikin. In the final, they participated in a paediatric scenario.

Amy Brewster, Lead Resuscitation Practitioner at the L&D, said: “When it was announced that the UK team were the European Resuscitation Champions 2023, we were so happy and proud!”

The team were congratulated on the way they collaborated as a team and their excellent communication skills.

Amy continued: “I am so proud of the team and that our hard work, knowledge, expertise and skills have been recognised and celebrated, not just for our team but also for Bedfordshire Hospitals.

We see our colleagues demonstrating these qualities on a daily basis.”

Carers in Bedfordshire Do you look after a family member or friend who cannot manage without you?

We know that people who care for a family member or friend often put their own wellbeing last. They may not even see themselves as a carer, and so miss out on support available to them, which could positively impact the whole family.

Having a loved one in hospital can be stressful for both the carer and the person they care for. As a charity, established in the hospital for over 10 years, we understand hospital processes including discharge and continuing care.

Our team can provide information, advice, practical Edition Twelve, Winter 2023

and emotional support, as well as liaise with hospital staff if you have questions about your loved one's treatment, or about discharge planning.

Did you know 1 in 3 NHS staff have a caring role outside of work? We are here to support you too!

Support for all carers is available via Carers in Bedfordshire. If you, or the person you care for, live in Bedford Borough or Central Bedfordshire we can guide you to ongoing carer support including: Wellbeing, Employment and Benefits advice, as well as opportunities to meet with other carers at groups and events.

Our Bedford Hospital Carers Hub is open weekdays from 9:30-4:30 and offers a dedicated staff drop-in session every Friday from 11:30-1:30pm; no appointment needed. You can find us opposite the multi-faith room on the Britannia Road corridor.

At Luton & Dunstable University Hospital, you can access support weekdays over the phone via our dedicated hospital support line and can also request a meeting by appointment.

Contact us: 07772231230; carershub@carersinbeds. org.uk; www. carersinbeds.org.uk

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Our latest DAISY Honourees!

We have two more DAISY honourees to celebrate. We are always looking to recognise outstanding staff, so if a nurse or midwife has made a difference to your day or your stay, nominate them today!

Laura Kelly (Bedford)

Glory Raghaviah (L&D)

Laura Kelly, from the Oncology team at Bedford, received this award by consistently demonstrating empathy, calmness, and genuine interest in an elderly patient, appreciated by both the patient and his daughter.

Glory Raghaviah, Registered Nurse at the L&D, was nominated by an extremely grateful patient for the compassion and kindness she provided.

“My father is 96 years old and recently visited Bedford Hospital several times.

He sees Laura who makes the visits and treatments as easy and pleasant as possible with her friendly and professional manner.

He has several medical conditions, which she always takes an interest in, never rushes our appointments, and takes the time to speak with an older gentleman with compassion and genuine interest.

“She is very informative and answers questions slowly and clearly, involving my father in his treatment. We recognise that all staff are very busy and under immense pressure, but this is never apparent at appointments with Laura and my father feels reassured and calm with his visits. “Laura is a dedicated, caring, smart, and friendly member of the NHS team.”

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“I have been receiving treatment in the Urology department which has been amazing. The day I walked into Urology I was feeling so despondent with people as I felt no one would help me. Glory was standing there with a smile which radiated, calmed me down and immediately helped me.

“I have spent a lot of time in hospitals as my dear mother was blind and in my opinion it is the first important thing to be friendly and courteous, but how wonderful to show such compassion and kindness. Believe me not everyone has it. I have gone on to have further treatment arranged by Glory and I have seen her with other patients and her continued care. “Glory is an absolute ambassador for this amazing and remarkable hospital. We, as patients who live in the area, are so privileged to have such an asset. I myself am so grateful and I speak for so many.”

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Our latest ROSE Awardees!

Since the last quarter, we have had three more ROSE winners to celebrate. We are always taking nominations for staff, so if you encounter a Health Care Support Workers that showcases kindness, compassion, and care, nominate them today!

Brandon Garlick - Winner (Bedford) Brandon Garlick, a Paediatric Mental Health Support Worker, has been nominated by patients and staff.

“He provided support for a young person who had operation anxiety around meeting post op milestones. Brandon assisted in providing relaxation and breathing techniques in a way that supported a young child. After this intervention the child was able to complete all post op goals and was discharged home.”

“Brandon always provides support and care and focuses on the wellbeing and holistic needs of all patient; is passionate, interested and enthusiastic.; and, conscientious, works hard in his role, and is always smiling.”

Sophie Lavin - Winner (L&D) Well done to our latest L&D ROSE winner, Sophie Lavin from Ward 32.Sophie was nominated by a patient who she helped relax while they were experiencing unbearable pain and anxiety, while also reassuring their partner.

“She sat with me for 45 minutes past her shift until I was in less pain, more comfortable and had calmed down. She helped me feel comfortable and explained all the things I had concerns about.”

Mareen Akhtar - Winner (L&D) Mareen Akhtar (Nursery Nurse) is our October winner of the ROSE Award! Her (multiple) nominations show she is an empathetic, hardworking member of the team who looks out for both patients and her colleagues, well done Mareen.

“Mareen has a heart of gold who always puts the needs of the children first. She ensures that all the children on the ward have age appropriate toys and games and continually checks on them.”

Edition Twelve, Winter 2023

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