Spring 2019 | issue 8
the
North West Anglia
NHS Foundation Trust
Meet our Nursing Associates Page 7 Bringing members, staff and PATIENTS the latest Trust news
Peterborough City Hospital recruits first UK patient to Cancer Trial
Message from our
Chief Executive
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Welcome to the Spring edition of Pulse magazine It has been a challenging winter for our staff this year. Like many hospitals across the country, we have seen a significant increase in the number of patients needing emergency medical care due to winter illnesses.
Boost to Children’s Services at Stamford Hospital
I would like to thank our staff across our hospitals, and the many support services that work alongside them, including our volunteers, for their dedication to duty and patient care. I would also like to thank our patients and their relatives for bearing with us when things haven’t gone as smoothly as we would have liked and patient experience has not been as good as I would want.
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We are working with our local health system partners to develop better ways for us all to care for patients needing urgent care – both inside and outside the hospital. I am hopeful that together we can be ready for the challenges of winter 2019/20. Our staff have been encouraged by the news that Hinchingbrooke Hospital has been allocated £25.5m to improve and develop services on site over the next three years. Our Estates Strategy details our future plans for all our sites. Work has already begun to set plans in motion at Hinchingbrooke, and I look forward to sharing the updates with you over the coming editions of The Pulse. You can read more about how we plan to use this funding on page 3.
Meet the Sterile Services Team
There are some more fabulous stories about our staff in this edition – their acts of kindness, professional successes and fundraising challenges. I never fail to be impressed by my colleagues – hearing about these is my favourite part of being Chief Executive.
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Finally, if you are reading this magazine by chance as you have come into hospital, why not sign up to become a member of our Foundation Trust to receive a copy every quarter – either by post or online – so you can keep up to date with what’s happening in your local hospital? Becoming a member is free and easy to do – either call our communications team on 01733 678024, email: nwangliaft. membership@nhs.net or visit our website (www.nwangliaft@nhs.uk) to complete the online application form. Chief Executive, Caroline Walker
Discover Outpatient Services in Doddington and Ely
Caroline Walker Chief Executive
Contact Us
Spring 2019 | issue 8
THE
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
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
Hinchingbrooke staff celebrate ward name change with a new tree MEET OUR NURSING ASSOCIATES BRINGING MEMBERS, STAFF AND PATIENTS THE LATEST TRUST NEWS
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NEWS
Graduation success for staff Staff celebrated their achievements at the Trust’s annual graduation ceremony, which was held at Peterborough City in January. The ceremony is for those staff who have successfully completed additional qualifications whilst carrying out their day-to-day job and is the first of three graduation events held during the year. Twenty-seven members of staff from Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke and Stamford hospitals were recognised for achieving qualifications in maternity, pharmacy, as well as an Assessor qualification. In addition, 21 new Healthcare Assistants were
presented with their care certificate. Caroline Walker, Trust Chief Executive, said, “This was my first graduation ceremony as Chief Executive and it was an honour to award staff who have undertaken additional qualifications alongside their working hours. I know how difficult that is and this just demonstrates how committed our staff are to developing their own skills in order to carry out their roles to the highest standard. “It’ll be a pleasure to attend the other graduation ceremonies later in the year and have the opportunity to once again thank our staff for their continuous hard work and dedication to our hospitals.”
Planning starts for redevelopment work on Hinchingbrooke site An exciting project to improve and develop services on the Hinchingbrooke site over the next three years has been officially kicked off by the formation of the Hinchingbrooke Hospital Site Redevelopment Group. The group consists of leaders from each of our three clinical divisions – Emergency and Medicine, Surgery and Family and Integrated Support Services, as well as senior staff members from Estates, Finance and IT. Redevelopment Group Chairman, Angus Maitland, said: “This group will take responsibility for the planning and delivery of the £25.5m capital development of the site. This includes the expansion of our urgent care services, a complete redevelopment of the main operating theatres, creating additional bed capacity and ensuring there is sufficient administrative space to support the expansion. This allocation is subject to business case approval of the plans by the Trust board and our regulators.” The Redevelopment Group will meet monthly and we look forward to bringing you updates on progress in our future editions of The Pulse magazine.
Welcoming our new Chief Operating Officer Graham Wilde will join our Trust board of directors as Chief Operating Officer in April 2019. Graham is currently Chief Operating Officer at James Paget University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. He succeeds Neil Doverty who left the Trust to move to Australia in November 2018. Simon Evans is currently Interim Chief Operating Officer until Graham joins us. Graham’s career in the NHS began in 2000. He has held a number of
senior NHS posts in both Acute and Commissioning organisations, including as Director of Strategy and Partnerships at North East Lincolnshire Care Trust. He took up his post at James Paget in 2015. Caroline Walker, Chief Executive, said: “Following a robust interview process, Graham was successfully appointed to the position on our Trust Board. Graham has a wealth of experience gained in the NHS and RAF. We are looking forward to working with him.”
Graham Wilde
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NEWS
Join Dementia Research today Did you know that dementia affects 850,000 people in the UK? It’s one of the biggest challenges we face today and with this figure set to double over the next 30 years, more research is needed to understand what causes the disease and how we can improve treatments. You can help by signing up to ‘Join Dementia Research’ – a service that helps people register their interest in taking part in dementia research studies and matches
them to suitable studies. Fiona Maxton, Lead Nurse for Research and Development, said: “Anyone over the age of 18 can sign up – giving everyone the chance to get involved and play an active role in improving dementia care. While the service is aimed at people with dementia and their relatives, friends and carers, some researchers need volunteers without dementia as control participants.
dementia and their families. Anyone can sign up online, just visit: joindementia. nihr.ac.uk. Alternatively, you can call either Alzheimer’s Research UK on 0300 111 5111 or Alzheimer’s society: 0300 222 1122 and they will guide you through the registration process.
Signing up is easy and will help make a real different to those affected by
Peterborough City Hospital Recruits First UK Patient to International Cancer Trial Peterborough City Hospital’s Oncology Clinical Research Team has recruited the first UK patient to an international trial that explores less invasive treatments for patients with breast cancer.
The Oncology Clinical Research Team
The hospital is one of 122 sites across the globe taking part in the FeDeriCa trial, a study that looks at a new method of delivering two cancer drugs. Dr Karen McAdam, Consultant Oncologist and Principal Investigator for the trial, said: “The drugs are currently administered separately via a drip over and may be given for up to 12 months; however, the trial investigates the effectiveness of combining the drugs and administering them together as an injection. The new combination drug is delivered over a shorter period of time, which could potentially reduce the length of time a patient is in hospital for while having
their treatment.
and this is achieved by research.”
“We are very excited to have recruited the first UK patient to the trial. We want to ensure that our patients have access to the most up-to-date and effective treatments
If you would like more information about Clinical Research at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, please contact nwangliaft.rddepartment@nhs.net.
Aromatherapy Study Day at Hinchingbrooke Hospital Midwifery staff from across the county came together at Hinchingbrooke Hospital to learn more about aromatherapy in childbirth. The study day was organised by the Royal College of Midwives
- Huntingdon Branch and facilitated by Lindsay Woodman and Jude Davis. It aimed to teach midwives, students, maternity care assistants and other healthcare professionals the skills needed to provide safe and effective aromatherapy for women in childbirth. Kimberly Morris, Royal College of Midwives Learning Rep and Research Midwife at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, said: “Aromatherapy during childbirth is thought to help women relax and release oxytocin which is essential in normal birth. The training aimed to help healthcare professionals develop their skills and knowledge to enable women in their care to experience the positive aspects of essential oils and therapeutic touch. “We had 30 healthcare professional attend the training, which combined both the art and science of Midwifery and Aromatherapy with a fresh and friendly approach to enhance the work we do for women.”
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ACHIEVEMENTS
Hinchingbrooke catering team wins Health Business Award The catering team at Hinchingbrooke has won a Health Business Award for Hospital Catering. This is the second time they’ve scooped the award after a previous win in 2016.
Alex Wicks receiving the Bruce Turner Award
Urologist Specialist Nurse receives Bruce Turner Award Urology Specialist Nurse, Alex Wicks, has received the prestigious Bruce Turner Award from the British Association of Urological Nurses (BAUN).
As part of the application, Alex had to demonstrate her commitment to progressing in the field, detailing her career aims and goals, and how the award will help her achieve them.
Alex, who works at Peterborough City Hospital, is only the third nurse to receive the award, which is the legacy of Bruce Turner, a Nurse Consultant who was passionate about urology nurse education and development. He sadly passed away in 2016.
Alex said: “I am thrilled to have received this award and be given the chance to grow in my role. The prize will help me develop further in field of urology through education, mentorship and sharing good practice, and I am looking forward to learning from other professionals.”
The awards recognise and celebrate contributions made by organisations and individuals that work inside and alongside the NHS. The catering team were commended for their success in bringing benefits to the wider NHS through their dedication and expertise. Lisa Normanton, Catering Manager at Hinchingbrooke Hospital commented: “It’s a great honour to have won the award for a second time. I’m incredibly proud of the whole team who consistently put in 100% and often work unsociable hours. This award is due to their hard work and commitment. “We use locally sourced produce to make fresh and nutritious meals for patients and ensure that the Garden Restaurant provides a high quality and healthy meal. I believe that our patients’ health improves faster when they are eating well.”
Hinchingbrooke’s catering team
Treatment Centre team wins prestigious Facilities Management award Keir, the team behind the running of the Treatment Centre at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, has won a national award for their impact on customer experience. The team is made up of facilities staff from the Trust, colleagues from Kier Workplace Services and Prospect Healthcare. They submitted an entry to the British Institute of Facilities Management Awards based on the improvements made in
the running of the facility in the past 18 months. Judges were impressed with the impact the joint team has had and they were awarded the Best Impact on Customer Experience Award in a ceremony held in London. Keir started building the state of the art Treatment Centre, which is located next to the main hospital, in 2004. It was handed over to the Trust in 2005 and opened by HRH The Princess Royal.
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Stamford Focus
Boost to children’s services at Stamford Hospital Stamford Hospital will soon be offering more paediatric clinics, meaning children will now be able to attend consultant appointments closer to home.
Visitors browsed medical artefacts
Visitors step back in time at Stamford Hospital’s museum
Over 150 children will benefit as the hospital expands its paediatric services to offer a greater number of dietary, respiratory and allergy clinics. Anne Askew, Sister for Outpatient Services at Stamford Hospital, said: “This is a much needed addition to children’s services in south Lincolnshire and means our younger patients are able to receive care closer to home, rather than travelling to Peterborough City Hospital. We will also be increasing the number of general clinics
for consultant referrals that take place.” The increase in paediatric services comes as a result of the recently-completed Stamford Hospital redevelopment project, which delivered a new outpatients department with additional rooms. “As part of the redevelopment project, we spruced up our outpatient areas making them more child friendly,” said Anne. “The new area is brightly decorated to help ensure children have a positive experience when visiting the hospital. There is also a selection of toys and books available for children to play with while they are waiting for their appointment.”
Stamford Hospital’s Museum opened its doors to visitors in February, giving them the chance to step back in time and learn more about the hospital’s rich history. Having served the local community for almost two centuries, the hospital has collected a range of medical artefacts and historical documents that are currently on display in the hospital’s museum. This includes an old training dummy, syringes and medical kits, and a letter written to the hospital by Winston Churchill acknowledging its contribution after World War II. Sue Brooks, Matron and Site Manager at Stamford Hospital, said: “We are extremely proud of our history. Since opening its doors in 1828, the hospital has collected a number of items of historical significance. Some of the artefacts date right back to the opening of the hospital and there is also a collection of antiquarian medical books dating back to the 17th century. “We invited staff and visitors to learn more about the role the hospital played in key historical events such as the wars, and how healthcare has changed in the last 190 years. The event was well attended and there was something for everyone.”
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New artwork in children’s clinics Creatures of the sea now adorn the walls of the children’s clinic following a generous donation from the Friends of Stamford Hospital. The new mural aims to make children feel more comfortable in the hospital setting and was designed and painted by local artist, Lisa East from Street Arts Hire. Sue Brooks, Matron and Site Manager at Stamford Hospital said: “We picked oceanic scenes to promote a calming atmosphere. The hospital can seem a scary place, especially for our younger patients, but we hope that the mural will help them feel at ease during their visit. “We are extremely grateful to the Friends
of Stamford Hospital for their generous donation. The mural is stunning and has been admired by not only the children, but their parents too.”
A very warm welcome to our new Nursing Associates
One of our newly-qualified Nursing Associates, Jed Bates, was invited to speak at a special event to welcome Nursing Associates at the House of Commons.
In January the Trust officially welcomed eight new Nursing Associates who will be working at Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke and Stamford hospitals. The role is completely new across the NHS and our Trust is one of the pilot trusts to trial this career opportunity, described as a bridge between a Healthcare Assistant and a Registered Nurse. “It was an honour to see the Nursing Associates start practicing with us,” says Helen Hutchings, Lead for Nurse Education, Recruitment and Retention. “We were thrilled to be part of a nationwide pilot and all of the members of staff who are now fully qualified in this role have worked incredibly hard to get to this position. We can’t wait to watch them flourish and become a valued part of the nursing workforce” The Nursing Associates started their
“It feels awesome to be a Nursing Associate and I can’t wait to get started. Most of my training was on A10 where I previously worked as a HCA. My ward has been absolutely amazing during my training and everyone has been super supportive.” Sharon Maywood, Nursing Associate on A10 Gastroenterology
Nursing Associate speaks at House of Commons event
Nursing Associates Jed Bates and Sharon Maywood welcomed by Netty Parker, Helen Hutchings and Shaun Fretter
apprenticeship two years ago and have been recruited to areas including the emergency department, paediatrics, Ward A10 at PCH, theatres, outpatients and cardiology. They can continue to work in any discipline until the time at which they decide to further develop and do a ‘top up’ nursing degree – which some of these employees have already decided to undertake. Having already completed a two year programme, they will continue on a further two year course made up of 22.5 hours a week as a Nursing Associate and the other 15 hours as a student. “It will be a very demanding course,” says Shaun Fretter, Pre-Registration Clinical Lead. “It requires a high level of dedication and commitment as they’re required to work and study at the same time. It does mean they can continue earning though and we hope that it encourages more people to come forward and choose a career in nursing.”
An official reception was held at the Terrace Pavilion in February to welcome newly-qualified Nursing Associates and celebrate their achievements. Over 40 representatives from each cohort were invited to attend, as well as Lords and Ladies, Ministers, MPs and representatives from Health Education England and the Royal College of Nursing. Jed, who works in Peterborough City Hospital’s Emergency Department, was one of two qualified Nursing Associates invited to give a five-minute talk on their experiences of the programme. “It was an honour to represent both the Trust and Anglia Ruskin University and share my experiences,” said Jed. “There were over 200 people at the event, so it’s safe to say I was rather nervous. However, the speeches were a big hit and I received lots of positive feedback.”
We wish them all well in their new careers and look forward to Nursing Associates becoming embedded into our workforce.
Katarina and Lotte are Nursing Associates at Hinchingbrooke Hospital
“The first day I walked into ED as a Nursing Associate it became real. You can train all you like, but when you’re in the role you think and work differently. I’m already making a difference.” Jed Bates, Nursing Associate in the Emergency Department 7
Fundraising Thanks
Breast Care Nurse climbs Mount Kilimanjaro Breast Care Nurse, Julie Gray has recently returned from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, raising over £900 for Peterborough City Hospital’s Breast Unit. Spurred on by her experiences working in the unit, Julie and four friends took on the six-day trek in support of women, and men, receiving treatment for breast cancer. “I have worked as a breast care nurse for the past two years and have seen women come out of the other end smiling, despite having gone through what is often gruelling treatment,” she said. “If my patients can come out stronger after treatment, then I think raising money to support these fantastic women is the least I can do!” “The trek itself was one of the hardest things I have done, but it was worth it. I would like to thank everyone who sponsored me. Your generosity will make a big difference to women visiting the unit and the money raised will go towards improving the patient experience.”
Thank you to our Friends Our hospitals are supported by three Friends groups which have made donations worth thousands of pounds over the past year. The Friends of Peterborough Hospital supported the hospital with donations worth more than £12,000 throughout 2018. They donated two state-of-the-art touch screen systems to the hospital’s dementia-friendly wards which offer patients a range of activities such as jigsaw puzzles, painting, a library of historic photos, and old and new films to watch. Other donations included a Veinplicity medical device to aid staff when inserting cannulas, two trolleys, children’s books for the Bereavement Care Centre and a DAB radio for Fracture and Orthopaedics. The charity has supported Peterborough’s hospitals for nearly 70 years and raise money over the course of the year. They have a permanent shop in the Main Atrium in the Hospital and provide a confectionary and newspaper trolley service to the wards and departments. There are also charity boxes for donations in the shop and WH Smiths. Susan Mahmoud, Chairman of the Friends of Peterborough Hospital, said, “Our aim is to provide additional equipment and goods which improve the experience of patients and staff in our hospital. We are always happy to receive requests and suggestions for fundraising events.” If you are interested in getting involved, please contact the Friends Shop Manager Bo Turner on 01733 673385 or email nwangliaft.peterboroughfriends@nhs.net. In the past year, the Friends in Hinchingbrooke has made donations to the hospital worth more than £17,000. This includes funding arm and hand massage training for volunteers, wheelchairs, a specialist paediatric eye refractor and crockery for the dementia ward. Patricia Butcher, Chairman of the Friends of Hinchingbrooke Hospital, said, “The aims of the
A festive thank you Thank you to everyone who supported all our December Magic activities during the festive period. We had more than 700 presents donated by the public and staff to our “Be Santa to a Senior” campaign, this meant that we could give all our inpatients aged 65 and over a gift to unwrap on Christmas day.
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Friends is to provide a link between the hospital and the community it serves, and to raise funds to supplement the services the hospital provides. “This year our fundraising included a Strawberry Tea, annual raffle and draw, quiz night and seasonal stall. We also were supported by Gwenda Cards and the Rotary Clubs in Huntingdon.” Patients visiting Stamford Hospital have benefitted from donations made by the Friends of Stamford Hospital including pictures in the John Van Geest Ward and teaching models for the gastrointestinal clinics. Trust Chairman Rob Hughes said, “We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Friends at our hospitals. Thanks to their fundraising throughout the year, they have made donations and volunteered time which has enhanced the experience of patients and carers using our services.”
Former patient raises over £500 for hospital’s Breast Unit Former patient, Belinda Ellis recently presented the Breast Unit at Peterborough City Hospital with a donation of over £500. Belinda marked the fifth anniversary of her breast cancer diagnosis with a ‘Wear It Pink’ tea party, where friends and family were treated to tea/coffee, and a selection of baked treats for a small donation. She said: “I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2013 and was given the all clear following treatment at the hospital. Every year since then, I have raised money for breast cancer charities and this year was no exception. I wanted to do something that would benefit the women and men visiting the Breast Unit, but also raise awareness amongst my friends.
“The tea party was a big hit with guests and we raised £385 over cake and a cuppa. We also had leaflets available for guests to read, highlighting the importance of regularly checking your breasts and seeing your GP as soon as you spot something unusual.” Belinda’s husband works for HewlettPackard and the company very kindly donated £175, bringing her fundraising total to £560. Claire Hall, Breast Care Nurse Specialist, said: “We are very grateful to Belinda for her fundraising efforts. The money raised will go towards purchasing a specialist piece of x-ray equipment that will benefit patients receiving treatment in the future.”
Donating and fundraising for us If you would like to make a donation or plan a fundraising event to say thank you for care and services at one of our hospitals, there are lots of ways you can do this. Your donations and fundraising activities help us to purchase the ‘added extras’ to enhance patient care within our Trust. You can specify a ward or area that holds a special meaning, or make a general donation.
Peterborough and Stamford If you would like to make a donation, take your cash or cheque to the Cash Office in the main Atrium at Peterborough City Hospital, or the main reception desk at Stamford Hospital. You can also send it by post to Charitable Funds, North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, Peterborough City Hospital, Dept 406, Bretton Gate, Peterborough PE3 9GZ. Please make cheques payable to NWAFT (Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals Charitable Funds).
Hinchingbrooke If you would like to make a donation, take your cash or cheque to the General Office (cashiers near the HR office). You can also send it by post to General Office (Cashiers), North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Hinchingbrooke Park, Huntingdon PE29 6NT. Please make cheques payable to NWAFT (Hinchingbrooke Hospital Charitable Funds)
Fundraising To discuss fundraising contact nwangliaft. charitablefunds2@nhs.net or call 01733 677970. You can get full details on our website at www. nwangliaft.nhs.uk/advice-support/donating-fundraising/
Belinda Ellis presenting her cheque
Volunteer donates to A9 in memory of late husband Volunteer Joy Kisby presented Ward A9 at Peterborough City Hospital with a donation of £300 in memory of her late husband John. John had dementia and was admitted to A9, which specialises in care for elderly patients, a number of times before sadly passing away in May last year. Joy was so grateful for the care John received that she asked friends and family to donate money rather than buy flowers at the funeral. Joy said: “The care John received was second to none and the nurses went beyond the call of duty during his stays on A9. On one occasion John was admitted to A&E on his birthday, but to make it special the nurses from
the ward made time to pop down and wish him happy birthday. I can’t thank them enough for the kindness and compassion they showed both of us.” Prior to falling ill, John was a volunteer and supported the Chaplaincy Team at Peterborough City Hospital for 20 years. He also helped the hospital’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service Team on the odd Friday afternoon. Alison Gray, Dementia Nurse Specialist, said: “On behalf of everyone on the ward, I would like to thank Joy for her kind donation. Her generosity will help us make further enhancements to the ward to improve the environment for our patients with Dementia”
Volunteer Joy Kisby presenting her donation to Ward A9
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Focus on Sterile Services
What is sterile services? Have you ever wondered how our hospitals make sure that all of our medical equipment is clean and ready to use? The Sterile Services Department is the vital service which is responsible for cleaning 2,500 medical instruments a day. The team ensure that all instruments that are used inside theatres or clinics are sterile and available for use. The department is very busy and often works through the night to ensure that all patients are able to have medical procedures with clean instruments. Since merging with Hinchingbrooke, the workload has doubled, and the team also sterilise items from between 40 and 50 GP practices and 20-30 local podiatrists. The dirty instruments are delivered and collected throughout the day in special colour-coded containers. They are taken to the Inspection and Dirty Utility area where each set is checked very carefully against a printed list, any particularly dirty items are hand washed separately and replaced in the container. They begin by going through a pre-wash, which disinfects the instruments and takes 45 minutes. The pre-wash machines lead through into the Inspection and Assembly area, which is a specially pressurised room with filters and settle plates to measure dust particles.
Fun facts: If the pressure in the Inspection and Assembly area drops, an alarm sounds in the office and everything in that room is covered in a barrier wrap or returned to the dirty area for re-cleaning. Some codes are so tiny on the instruments that staff have to use magnifying lights.
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Once the trays are disinfected, the instruments are checked against the bar code on the printed list and all items are checked by code for cleanliness, such as putting it up to the light to check inside. The containers are passed for cleanliness, scanned again, and sealed with a green plastic tag that will break if the container has been tampered with. They also have a pink steam indicator on it that turns brown when it’s been through the sterilisation machine.
where all the air is sucked out of the chamber before steam is pumped in at a temperature of 134-138C repeatedly until the chamber reaches this temperature, it then holds the temperature for 3.5 minutes, this process is repeated for the 45 minute cycle. The trolley of instruments is pushed into one side of the autoclave chamber, and comes out on the other side with a printout of statistics, including maximum and minimum temperature as evidence that the container meets the standards.
All disinfected and checked instruments next go into the steam sterilisers called autoclaves. This uses a pulse mechanism,
The trolleys of containers are then left in the cooling area before being stored or put straight on a trolley to go back into the hospital.
LONDON MARATHON
Taking on the London Marathon
Two of our colleagues are in their final stages of training to take part in the London Marathon on 28 April 2019. Here, we profile our runners and find out why they have chosen to participate in such a challenging but rewarding event.
Former Chief Executive Stephen tackles new challenges! Our former Chief Executive Stephen Graves, who retired from the NHS at the end of September 2018, has been using some of his new-found spare time to train for his first marathon. Stephen (61) entered the London Marathon ahead of his retirement and pledged to raise money for the Dementia Revolution charities Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK. Stephen said: “Both my father and father-in-law suffered severely with dementia during their later years. To see them reduced from the men they once were was so sad, yet they maintained their spirits and their love of life and family until the disease made communication impossible. “The work that the dementia charities are doing to understand the disease and develop new treatments is remarkable, and a testament to the generous giving of so many people and organisations.” Stephen said he was spurred on to try to complete a marathon after watching the phenomenal effort of so many people in last year’s marathon, which included our current Trust Chief Executive Caroline Walker. He said: “Having watched the marathon live and needing a focus in my retirement, drove me to take on the marathon challenge. However, when I received the training plan I realised that I was going to have to train to be fit enough to follow the plan! It was hard to return to some level of fitness having been away from sport and regular exercise for more than 20 years. “But I have been training hard in the gym and with outdoor running sessions. I have now completed two half marathon runs and I am on course to run the longer distances through March to ensure I’m ready to tackle the full 26.2 miles in April.”
Staff member Julie ready to run for special charity Julie Tebb, Informatics Training and Support Officer at Peterborough City Hospital, is running the marathon for Hypopara UK to raise funds and awareness of parathyroid conditions. Julie said, “I was diagnosed with Primary Hyperparathyroid disease in early 2018. This is a little known condition which causes too much calcium to be produced by the tiny parathyroid glands in your neck. This causes tiredness, anxiety, memory issues, as well as too much calcium which can lead to an increased risk of kidney stones and renal failure. I had surgery to correct it in October, which meant I could refocus on my running. I hope I can raise lots of money by running the London Marathon to support research, awareness and support of the condition.” You can support Julie by visiting her page on MyDonate: https://mydonate.bt.com/ fundraisers/julietebb1
To support Stephen’s marathon fundraising effort, visit his JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/stephen-graves-marathon
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Supporting Patients
New volunteers in Peterborough’s Emergency Department Peterborough City Hospital’s Emergency Department recently recruited volunteers to fill non-clinical roles and help support the busy team. The volunteers provide, talk to patients and their families, help to fill out questionnaires and offer a friendly face for reassurance and information. Volunteer Georgia said: “The Emergency Department is a very dynamic unit and the staff are absolutely amazing. Anything we can do to help we will. It’s hard to choose the most rewarding part but knowing I can be there for staff and patients in any capacity is a great feeling.” Volunteers donated 45,260 volunteering hours in 2018 across our hospitals The new volunteers have said that they feel valued and that their roles enable the rest of the team to focus on their clinical duties. This includes Hannah, who said, “It’s a rewarding feeling knowing that you are helping patients who need emergency care and attention. We support the Healthcare Assistants, Nurses, Doctors and Consultants. Taking time to talk to patients and offering refreshments takes one less thing away from the clinical team.”
Discover outpatient services in Doddington and Ely Did you know that we run hospital services in Doddington and Ely? Both sites offer a range of specialist outpatient clinics delivered by doctors and consultants from Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke hospitals and Ely has visiting consultants from Addenbrooke’s Hospital. You can request to have your appointment at these sites through your GP practice. Both locations have low waiting times and free parking. The clinics are all supported by a team of professional nursing staff with a range of clinical skills. The hospitals
also offer a variety of diagnostic tests including electrocardiograms (ECG), 24hr ECG recordings, bladder scans, hearing tests, minor skin surgery and retinal photography. Both sites also have Minor Injury Units. These units are a better alternative to attending A&E if you have a minor injury like a sprain, suspected broken bone or minor burn. They can assess and treat a range of minor injuries and they have x-ray facilities available every day.
Volunteer Julia added: “I always look forward to coming and volunteering. It’s probably one of my favourite times of the week.”
Join our Patient Experience Group Our Patient Experience Group is looking for new public members to help improve services and care for patients and carers. The group works on a range of projects to promote patient engagement and make improvements to the care we provide. This has included reducing night time noise, cleaning audits and helping with the PLACE (patient led assessment of the care environment) initiative.
New volunteers in Peterborough’s Emergency Department
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serves. It is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about hospital services, have your say, represent a particular community or group, and help shape patient experience.”
The group is looking for people who are able to represent different groups within the local community and highlight their experiences of the Trust’s care.
Maria Finch, Head of Patient Experience, said “The group plays an important role in helping us to identify ways that our hospitals can improve the services which we provide to the community. They have helped us to make small and big changes that have improved the care and experience that we can offer people. Ensuring that our group represents the community means that we can continue to do this effectively.”
Deputy Chair Geoff Pimlett said “We are now looking for new members to join our group and to reflect the diverse population that the Trust
If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Maria Finch at mariafinch1@nhs.net or 01480 416416.
STAFF SUCCESSES
A different way to get fit in 2019 Many of us will have committed to hitting the gym or taking an exercise class to be fitter this year, but Hinchingbrooke Hospital volunteer Lance Ewington is offering our staff an alternative way to improve their fitness – by taking up karate!
in Huntingdonshire in his spare time and teaches traditional motivational Japanese Karate to people of all ages and abilities. Lance visits Japan regularly where he trains with Japanese karate masters in an effort to pass on traditional Japanese karate training to his students.
Lance, who has volunteered at Hinchingbrooke for the past three years, is a Chief Instructor at the local Tadashi Shotokan Karate Kyokai (TSKK) association
He said: “The lessons are suitable for all and provide so many benefits to health and wellbeing. As well as being a very effective method of self-defence, karate can also help increase energy levels and improve focus, confidence, self-esteem, self-discipline, coordination, flexibility and strength, as well as increase fitness. “We operate an open-door policy to training, individuals can pay as they go if they wish. I would love to welcome some colleagues from our hospitals, or some of our patients and visitors, to join me in our classes and reap the benefits of karate. It has certainly worked for me! Our instructors are experienced and are fully insured, first aid trained and hold enhanced DBS.”
Volunteer Lance supports staff fitness
• Stukeley Meadows School on Mondays from 7pm to 8pm - Adults session (13 years plus only) • One Leisure Huntingdon on Fridays from 5pm to 6pm - Family session (All ages 6 to 75 Years)
Lessons are held at:
• Little Stukeley Village Hall on Saturdays from 10am to 11am - Family session (All ages 6 to 75 Years)
• S tukeley Meadows School on Mondays from 6pm to 7pm - Family session (All ages 6 to 75 Years)
For more info: Call 07901206369 / 07530402674 Email: senseikarate@yahoo.com
Hinchingbrooke staff celebrate ward name change with a new tree Staff at Hinchingbrooke Hospital took part in a tree planting ceremony to mark the renaming of their ward. Wards at the hospital are named after trees in the adjacent Hinchingbrooke Park, so when Juniper Ward was renamed Bay Tree Ward the team worked with the park rangers to organise the tree planting. Friends and family members joined the ward staff to plant the bay tree. The tree was donated by Barbara Woodbine who was one of Hinchingbrooke Hospital’s longest serving nurses, before retiring, and still continues to
work the occasional shift on Bay Tree Ward. Ward Manager, Christine Burdett said: “We were delighted to be able to mark the ward changes with this tree planting. It was great to have so many people join us to celebrate. We’re incredibly grateful to Barbara for donating the bay tree and we’re looking forward to watching it grow and flourish.” Bay Tree Ward was one of two wards renamed in last September following a reconfiguration process to enable all the acute surgical patients to be managed on one ward.
Staff plant Bay Tree at Hinchingbrooke Park
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Membership
Become a member Becoming a member of our Trust means you can give us your views on how we can make our services better for you, your family and the community in which you live. As a Foundation Trust member you can also: • Apply to stand for election as a Trust Governor • Vote in our Governor elections
Join us at our next Members’ Meeting Our next Members’ Meeting is at Peterborough City Hospital on Wednesday 20 March 2019, starting at 6pm in the Learning Centre (level 4, Core A) where you can meet our Chief Executive, Caroline Walker, and put your questions to her. We look forward to meeting you there! Refreshments will be provided. If you are planning to attend please call our membership team in advance on 01733 678024 to register your place.
• Attend events and meetings •R eceive a free copy of The Pulse magazine – either through the post or online •G et involved in specific focus and feedback groups As we work on the redevelopment of parts of Hinchingbrooke Hospital (see more details on page 3), we will seek members’ views on proposed improvements. As a Foundation Trust member you are also entitled to register with NHS Discounts, to take advantage of the same benefits that are offered to NHS staff. Just log on and register at www.healthservicediscounts.com to receive a range of discounts from participating high street stores and restaurants. To sign up as a member, we have a new portal, designed especially for you. Just log on to: https://secure.membra.co.uk/ memberportal/NorthWestAnglia Register your name and create a password, then you can be in charge of the information we hold for you. You can use the portal to change or update
You can also come to our Board of Directors meetings Our board meets in public every month – giving you the chance to hear how your local hospital is run. The meetings are rotated around our hospitals to ensure local residents have the opportunity to attend without having to travel too far. Why not join us for one of our upcoming meetings? • Tuesday 26 March, 1.30pm – 5pm, Board Room, Level 4, Core A, Peterborough City Hospital, PE3 9GZ • Tuesday 30 April, 1.30pm – 5pm, Meeting Hall, Stamford Hospital, PE9 1UA • Wednesday 29 May, 1.30pm – 5pm, Board Room, Level 4, Core A, Peterborough City Hospital, PE3 9GZ • Tuesday 25 June, 1.30pm – 5pm, Partnership Suite, Hinchingbrooke Hospital, PE29 6NT the information that we have for you – for example, change a postal or email address, check what format you would like to receive The Pulse, or even delete your file altogether (although we would hope that you don’t).
Join us on social media Did you know that you can keep up to date with the latest news from your local hospital through following our social media accounts? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and even Instagram! @NWAngliaFT @PboroCityHosp @HinchHospital @Stamford_Hosp
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