Anthem Spring 2015

North Tees and Hartlepool

Issue 37 Spring 2015

NHS Foundation Trust

Urging smokers to quit

Faecal transplant first page 31

pages 20-21

Hip service is just the job

page 29

Hello my name is launch day page 17

Helping those in need The specialist palliative care team made a generous donation to a local food bank instead of sending Christmas cards.

The team made the donation to the food bank at The Kings Centre in Darlington, as they wanted to help others less fortunate, who would be facing a difficult time at Christmas.

System has improved treatment of bowel diseases Macmillan therapy technician Jean Abbey

Farewell Shirley Shirley Osbaldeston, senior clinical matron for adult nursing (integrated care services), has retired after more than 30 years’ service.

Friends and colleagues celebrated with Shirley to mark the occasion and wish her well for the future.

Octagon Marketing Company Ltd specialise in gaining advertising support for magazines so Anthem is now produced, packaged, distributed and delivered at minimal cost to the trust.

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A new state of the art system is helping improve the care for patients who have issues with bowel diseases.

The high resolution anorectal manometry (HRARM) system in the colorectal unit at the University Hospital of North Tees has made it simpler to study a patient’s condition.

The trust is the first in the region to be using this system over the more conventional manometry.

Colorectal surgeon Mohamed Tabaqchali and unit manager Norma Robinson were instrumental in bringing the system to the trust.

The test is carried out on a weekly basis by consultant surgeon Manuf Kassem and healthcare assistant Angela Guest.

Manuf said: “HRARM is used to define pathophysiology of functional bowel problems, such as constipation, fecal incontinence, pre and postoperative

evaluation of anal sphincter tone, and functional anorectal pain. It provides measurements of the pressures of the anal sphincters muscles, sensations in the rectum, and the neural reflexes that are needed for bowel movement.

“It offers more information than conventional manometry. The unique quick view software programme helps to analyse HRARM studies in an efficient and easy way. Results can be calculated and marked automatically, events can be displayed on a screen automatically providing a quick overview of the study, so more information and easier analysis go perfectly together.”

The colorectal unit was founded and developed by Mohamed Tabaqchali 15 years ago. The unit works closely with medical gastroenterology and the colorectal surgical team.

The colorectal team - Manuf Kassem, Mohamed Tabaqchali, Angela Guest, Norma Robinson and physiologist Jo Barlow who carries out training

Tell us your bright ideas Staff with bright ideas which will “This was an opportunity to speak to help improve patient care were given staff about what we do, the trust’s a chance to share them recently. innovations strategy and show staff what they can achieve with their NHS Innovations North (pictured left) visited the University Hospital of North innovative ideas.”

Tees as part of an awareness roadshow The information stand also highlighted staff who have already created ideas and to gather ideas. which are now in use.

NHS Innovations North works with One of these was clinical educator NHS staff across the region to identify and protect their bright ideas which can Steven Yull was awarded third prize in the innovative technology or device be commercialised as well as being category of the Bright Ideas awards used to improve patient care.

Health innovation officer Wayne Bryant, after creating a kitbag of equipment for nursing staff working in the community. who held an information stand, said:

There’s no Good quick fix

food improves your mood What we eat can really make a difference to your mood.

Just like a car needs fuel to run efficiently, you need to feed your brain regularly with the right nutrients for it to work properly.

Dietitian Clare Harrington said: “Healthy eating shouldn’t be a chore. It is easy to find ways to eat healthy, balanced, regular meals.

You can enjoy food by finding new ways of preparing meals and eating healthy alternatives.

“Good nutrition is important for our physical and mental health. At a time when you may feel your energy levels are at their lowest, it is really important to eat regularly. Skipping meals results in low blood sugar levels, which will leave you feeling tired, irritable, unable to concentrate and very hungry.”

To feel good, there are plenty of foods which you can eat, so you are less likely to overeat and lack energy.

You can help yourself by: • starting the day with a good breakfast such as a wholegrain cereal, porridge, fruit and yoghurt or multigrain toast with a poached egg • choosing foods which are rich in

protein keep you feeling full, such as lean meat, oily fish, eggs, nuts, seeds and pulses • minimising the amount of processed foods you eat such as ready meals, cakes and biscuits, as they tend to be higher in salt and sugar • eating five portions of fruit and vegetables each day – for example a glass of unsweetened fruit juice at breakfast or some vegetable soup for lunch or simply as snacks e.g. a handful of dried or fresh fruit between meals • drinking six to eight glasses of fluid each day – this should be non-caffeinated drinks such as water, herbal teas, squash, milk; as even slight dehydration can affect your mood • limiting your alcohol intake, as drinking can disturb sleep, cause dehydration and leave you feeling anxious and depressed

Despite what many popular diets promise, there’s no quick fix when it comes to losing weight.

There is no shortage of fashionable diets which usually claim to help you shed the pounds quickly. But often they restrict you from eating certain food groups and cut out vital nutrients, vitamins and minerals that your body needs.

Dietitian Alice Runnacles said: “Losing weight should be about eating healthy. It needs to be consistent and sustainable. Making gradual changes to your eating habits will result in big differences to your weight in the long term.

“Losing weight isn’t easy. It doesn’t happen overnight and you need to plan, put in the effort and feel motivated to want to change your lifestyle. You should take a look at what you are eating, change your portion sizes to make them smaller, decrease the calories you’re drinking, choose healthy snacks and ultimately you will get to your goal.

If you think about how long it has taken to gain the weight, you need to ask yourself is it really realistic to lose the weight in a couple of weeks? You should focus on a more realistic rate of weight loss of 1 to 2lbs a week by eating healthily.

You need to look at changing your eating habits for good and not think about short term fixes. You don’t want to revert back to your old eating habits.

My advice would be to eat healthy most of the time and lose weight gradually. Of course you can have a treat every now and again. It is about making a permanent change to your lifestyle. You should think about your long term plan, and: • get into the habit of eating a good healthy breakfast such as porridge, eggs, cereal or fruit and yoghurt • eat starchy foods such as wholegrains including wholemeal bread or brown rice • eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables each day - fresh, frozen, juiced, canned and dried fruit or vegetables all count • eat lean meat, fish, eggs, nuts and pulses, which are all good sources of protein • have a balanced diet, eat smaller portions, but include protein, carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables • limit the amount of processed foods you eat • plan your meals and snacks, so you don’t go hungry and choose unhealthy foods • drink plenty of water and drink less alcohol Anthem | Spring 2015 3

Charity head shave to raise money for dogs like Super Ted Corporate services support secretary Abi Smith’s daughter Jessica was one of several brave volunteers to take part in a charity head shave in support of a close friend.

The head shave, in the George pub in Stockton, was held by Abi’s friend Josie Conlan, whose story made the national news at the end of last year.

Josie was diagnosed with breast cancer after a lump was found by her border collie dog Ted who kept sniffing it and crying. This was the only reason why Josie, who already had several benign lumps on her breasts, decided to visit her doctor as she had no reason to think it would be cancerous.

After having the tumour removed and several cycles of chemotherapy, Josie is well on her way to recovery.

Abi said: “It is an amazing story – the only reason this was found was because of Josie’s dog. Everyone is now calling him Super Ted. “Josie said she would be shaving her head and that anyone else interested was invited to join her. Jess was one of several brave people who said she would take part – I am very proud of her.

It has been a few weeks since and Jess has actually been keeping her hair quite short because she quite likes it.

“Thank you to everyone who sponsored her, we really appreciate it.”

More than £1,000 was raised for the Medical Detection Dogs charity.

Elizabeth (centre) with colleague Natalie Miller (far left) and Geraldine Croft and Jan Harley (far right)

Masquerade ball helps raise breast funds Elizabeth Carroll - who received treatment in the breast unit at the University Hospital of North Tees visited the unit recently to present staff with a cheque for more than £300.

Elizabeth’s colleagues at IntraHealth helped raise the money at a masquerade

ball in November.

She said: “I received the very best care from staff in the breast unit – it was excellent. Nurses such as Geraldine Croft – who I have previously nominated for the Hartlepool Mail Best of Health awards – went above and beyond in their care.

A great start to their career A group of healthcare apprentices are getting the best start to their career as they begin their training at the trust.

Before and after – Jess (left), Abi and Josie 4 Anthem | Issue 37

The apprentices will spend the next two years working at the trust, while they complete an Advanced Diploma in Clinical Health Care Support at Level 3, at Stockton Riverside College.

The apprenticeship scheme gives students practical, hands-on experience working as healthcare assistants while gaining a nationally recognised qualification.

The trust’s nursing resource manager and coordinator for the programme Esther Blakey said: “I would like to wish everyone the very best of luck with their training.

They will have really good support from their college tutors and from the staff.

“As a healthcare apprentice you get a great start to your career. You gain valuable experience and make a real difference to the lives of so many people who will be so grateful for everything you do for them.

“The apprenticeship programme gives you real life experience and you learn about the important values associated with nursing in the trust; including those of care with compassion.

“Apprentices play an extremely important role at the trust; supporting the nursing staff and making sure our patients get the high standards of care they deserve.

We are very proud to have seen so many people over the years either securing a job following their training within the trust and going on to further their careers.”

Conference about protecting vulnerable patients A conference about care for vulnerable adults was held at the Hartlepool College of Further Education.

The adult safeguarding team hosted Transforming Care - the Mental Capacity Act in Practice.

Speakers gave presentations in the lecture theatre, while more than 20 organisations were represented in the atrium area.

Named nurse for adult safeguarding Molly Taylor talked about the Mental Health Act, safeguarding and the Winterbourne View.

Other speakers included: Stephen Taylor, principal advisor for the Winterbourne View joint improvement programme; Jonathan Beebee, chief operations officer at Waymarks and Adam Hoare, managing director of v-connect who spoke about use of technology to support people with learning disabilities.

The day finished with presentations from Claud Regnard, consultant in palliative care medicine at St Oswald’s Hospice who spoke about the best interests and best practice of patients and then the Twisting

Ducks Theatre Company spoke about the Mental Capacity Act. Molly said: “Sharing knowledge and good practice with other health professionals is very important. It helps us to learn and to improve the care we provide to patients.”

Among those who came to the event were people involved in dementia care, police counter terrorism experts, people with learning disabilities, the domestic abuse charity Harbour, Hartlepool Borough Council and several independent businesses in the area.

Community centre fundraiser for breast unit Doreen Corner (pictured left) visited the breast unit at the University Hospital of North Tees recently to thank staff for the care she has received there and to donate funds.

Her husband Geoff (also pictured) and fellow members of the Hurworth Grange Community Centre in Darlington hold a Christmas dance every year, raising money for charity.

This time £2,300 was raised between the breast unit and the Great North Air Ambulance.

Geoff said: “The treatment my wife has had in this unit has been fantastic – the staff here are amazing.

“We wanted to give something back to them and to the unit. If this can go towards helping more patients who come for treatment then that would be a great way of giving something back.”

All funds donated to the trust are used to improve patient care. To find out more visit http://www. nth.nhs.uk/about/fundraising/ make-donation/

Thoughtful Michael fundraises again for diabetes care Nine-year-old Michael Grainge from Eaglescliffe raised money for the paediatric diabetes service for a second time.

Michael, who has type 1 diabetes, raised the money as a way of thanking the team who look after him.

He got together with his family, including his younger sister Rubie and set up a stall selling cakes and toys - raising £236.

Michael and his family, who have previously raised £172

for the trust, visited children’s diabetes lead nurse Bev Day to present her with the cheque.

The team will be using the funds towards arranging a social trip for children who have type 1 diabetes.

Bev said: “We’re so grateful to Michael – it was very thoughtful. The funds will be put towards taking children who have type 1 diabetes on a social trip, which we have found helps provide that extra support to patients and their families.”

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Good luck Molly Friends and colleagues gathered to wish specialist nurse, adult safeguarding, Molly Taylor well.

Molly, who started her career as a student nurse at the University Hospital of Hartlepool in 1980, became the trust’s first specialist nurse in adult safeguarding.

Director of nursing, patient safety and quality Cath Siddle said: “My first encounter with Molly was when she was a student nurse on ward 4. She was a memorable student and

quickly became part of team.

She was hard working, a great team player and fun, and asked questions that no one else asked as she was gaining her skills! Her legacy is clear to see; she’s set up the processes and systems we need in the trust to safeguard adults and she has done a great deal of external work locally, regionally and nationally. I just want to say a big thank you and wish her well for her new role at the Royal Free Hospital in London.”

(from left to right): Healthcare assistant Joanne Thomson, Jackie Pybus, Irene, chemotherapy nurse Rosie Livingston and staff nurse Julie Defty

Chemotherapy staff saved my life Radio Stitch opens doors to students Radio Stitch invited pupils from Egglescliffe School to work in the studio for a week.

Marcus Summerfield and Tony Beards, who manage the station, passed on their expertise to them during their visit.

At the end of the week the pupils presented their own afternoon show, which broadcast across both of the trust’s hospital sites.

To find out more about the

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trust’s own radio station visit www.radiostitch.co.uk The dedicated team of volunteers provide you with non-stop entertainment and music to make your stay in hospital more enjoyable.

Marcus said: “The pupils were enthusiastic and eager to learn everything they could about how radio works.

“The show they presented at the end of the week was very professional and well put together. It was a pleasure to work with them.”

The friends and family of a cancer patient have raised funds for the chemotherapy unit at the University Hospital of Hartlepool where she has been treated.

Irene Watson from Greatham has been treated in the unit since first being diagnosed with colon cancer more than two years ago.

Irene had an operation to remove a tumour and several cycles of chemotherapy treatment, but later another tumour near her heart was found. This tumour was inoperable but has been successfully treated with more chemotherapy as well as treatments of Avastin.

Irene’s husband Gerry and his colleagues at Adept Precision Engineering in Hartlepool raised £2,000 for the unit after holding a charity night at the Staincliffe Hotel recently.

Irene visited the unit this week with her friend Jackie Pybus (pictured) to thank staff for their care and to present the cheque.

She said: “The care I have received in this unit has been absolutely fantastic.

The treatment I have had has helped shrink the size of the tumour. I still have regular appointments at the unit for treatments of Avastin for this.

The care I have received in this unit has been absolutely fantastic.

“This is the only way I and my friends and family know how to thank the staff here for the care I have had and give something back for the help I have had. These lovely people in this unit have saved my life.

“I’d like to thank my husband and his work colleagues and business partners of the company for all of their help raising the money. Adept Precision Engineering sponsors the Adept cycle racing team and we would like to acknowledge the contributions made by Shaun Tyson his wife Nicola and other members of the team towards a successful event. It was very thoughtful and a fantastic gesture.”

The evening, which included live music and an auction and raffle, helped raise £4,000 which was split between the unit and Cancer Research UK. Chemotherapy nurse Rosie Livingston said: “We would like to thank everyone who helped Irene raise the money for the unit. This will go towards helping the patients we care for in the unit.”

Radiographer puts Indian cuisine on the menu A radiographer with a passion for cooking teamed up with chefs for the day to share the authentic taste of Indian cooking.

Ananda Logishetty, who works part time as a senior radiographer in the trust’s breast screening unit has launched a start-up online Teesside based business Ananda’s Gourmet, delivering spice packs or entire meal-kits, including spices and veg to your doorstep.

For one day only, Ananda supplied the spices and recipes to the restaurant chefs and worked with them to carefully follow the meal kit instructions to serve up the perfect Indian dishes.

Ananda said: “I love working in the NHS, but I also have a real passion for cooking.

The recipes offered by Ananda’s Gourmet are the very same handed down through generations of my family.

“My cooking is very much influenced

by Moghul cooking which has its own distinctive traditions and flavours. I spent my childhood in a big joint family where food was a central part of life and learnt to cook from the very young age of ten.

My parents are my leading inspiration, combining their passion for great flavour and their zest for providing fantastic food for guests.

Ananda with executive chef Richard Kirton

“I want to give people an unforgettable experience of Indian food, which is influenced by different regions of India. I want you to experience the taste of my kitchen in your own home.

“The meal kits contain a pre-packed box of fresh ingredients and perfectly proportioned spices with easy instructions for home cooking. The kits contain fragrant Basmati rice - all you’ll need to buy is the meat or fish. Alternatively you can just buy the spice packs. And you get them delivered to your doorstep!

“It was excellent to experience working in the kitchens with the chefs and then to see everyone enjoying the food. I like to thank everyone who helped and came along to support me.”

Head of catering Colin Chapman: “It was a fantastic opportunity for Ananda and the chefs to work together and bring something new to the restaurant. It was so popular, Ananda’s Gourmet returned back to the restaurant. We had queues coming out of the door and everyone was talking about how good the food tasted.”

You can find out more, buy your meal kits and spice packs to experience the taste of authentic home Indian cooking at www.anandasgourmet.co.uk

Do you take medicines?

Check if you are fit to drive The trust is supporting a new campaign, which has been launched to remind people taking medicines to check with their doctor or pharmacist before getting behind the wheel.

The new drug drive legislation came into force in March in England and Wales.

If you are following the advice of a healthcare professional and your driving isn’t impaired you can continue to drive as usual and aren’t at risk of arrest.

The campaign run by THINK! is encouraging people who take medicines and aren’t sure if they are safe to drive to check with their pharmacist or doctor.

The new law sets limits at very low levels for eight drugs commonly associated with illegal use such as cannabis and cocaine. There are also eight prescription drugs that are included within the new law. These are: • clonazepam • diazepam • flunitrazepam • lorazepam • oxazepam • temazepam • methadone • morphine The limits that have been set for these drugs exceed normal prescribed doses, meaning that the majority of people can drive as they normally would, so long as: • they are taking their medicine in accordance with the advice of a healthcare professional and/or as printed in the accompanying leaflet • their driving is not impaired The trust’s medicines management nurse Julie Bailey said: “Our staff will be talking to patients who are on medication about the risks. We also want to encourage patients and members of the public to speak to a healthcare professional if they are unsure about how their medicines might affect their ability to drive. They’ll be happy to give you the advice you need to stay safe.”

Anthem | Spring 2015 7

Trust teams up with local school to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes Party for tiny miracles The assisted reproduction unit at the University Hospital of Hartlepool held its annual get together with parents and their babies.

Every year the unit invites mums and dads and their little miracles to a very special Christmas party at the hospital.

Farewell to Linda Friends and colleagues gathered to bid farewell to clinical director for out of hospital services Linda Watson.

Linda (pictured here with senior clinical matron Shirley Osbaldeston and clinical care co-ordinators Debbie Griffiths and Mel Cambage) has had a long and distinguished career in the NHS. She joined the NHS in 1970 as a cadet nurse and has worked in the community in Hartlepool and Easington before becoming a senior nurse manager in the 90s. Linda reminisced over her days as a district nurse; being taught how to fold up her coat when she took it off in patient’s homes, taking her instruments home and boiling them in a pan, ready for the next day!

Linda held a number of senior roles in Hartlepool primary care 8 Anthem | Issue 37

trust and joined North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust when the trust became a combined hospital and community trust in 2008. She said that, from day one of the new arrangements, she received excellent support from the trust as she worked with her colleagues to transform community services.

Linda is well respected by colleagues, GPs and councillors and she said she was proud to be a lifer (someone who has worked nowhere else than the NHS) and she would take away many happy memories.

She said that she was a community person through and through and her career had given her many rewards, both professionally and personally.

We will all miss you Linda.

Thank you for everything you’ve done for patients in our area.

Staff from the trust’s children’s diabetes team visited Rossmere Primary School in Hartlepool to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes on World Diabetes Day. Seven year old Skye Tinkler, who is a pupil at the school was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was six years old.

Skye’s mum wanted to do some fundraising and made sugar free cakes to raise money for a good cause and also raise awareness of her daughter’s condition.

The team ran an education session for the children, where they talked about what diabetes is and how it impacts your life. The children were shown how Skye manages her condition, where they got to see what an injection pen looks like and they learned about body parts such has the pancreas and what they do.

Paediatric diabetes specialist nurse Debbie McHugh (pictured left) said: “It was a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes, while the school raised over £140 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

“It is really important for other children who are at school with Skye to understand what it is

Paediatric diabetes team with Skye Tinkler

like to have type 1 diabetes and also for them to know that they should tell a teacher if Skye becomes unwell. It was a great chance for them to learn, have fun and get involved in fundraising for a very worthwhile cause.”

The facts about type 1 diabetes

• people with type 1 diabetes are usually diagnosed when they are under 40 years old • type 1 diabetes happens when the body does not produce any insulin. This means that glucose produced in the breakdown of food stays in the blood • having type 1 diabetes isn’t anyone’s fault • if someone is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes they will need insulin injections or insulin using an insulin pump • children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes need insulin treatment for the rest of their life

Some of the symptoms to look out for • excessive thirst • going to the toilet more or bed wetting • weight loss • tiredness

Sim suite has its first baby delivered

Peter Pan calls in to neonatal It’s not every day that Peter Pan calls into the neonatal unit but the doctors and nurses got a lovely surprise when five-year-old Oliver Waller (dressed as Peter Pan), his big sister Sophie, Mum Siobhan and dad Rory called in to present a £450 cheque.

Siobhan ran the Great North Run to raise money for the unit to say thank you for the

care they took of little Oliver who was born at only 23 weeks in November 2009.

He should have been making an entrance at the end of February the next year. Oliver, who spent four months at the University Hospital of North Tees, had a good look around and told the staff he could remember his time on the unit, which is quite something for such a tiny baby.

Medical training rated among the best The medical training programme has again been rated among the best in the region, following two quality visits.

Trainees “feel valued”, are “enjoying their work” and feel comfortable asking for information and support from senior staff.

The trust had two visits in February – a joint schools visit from the Newcastle University Medical School and the Northern Foundation School and another later in the month for the Annual Deanery Quality Monitoring.

In the first visit the team spoke to foundation one and two doctors in groups then to undergraduate and foundation teams.

A summary in the report said: “It is evident that the culture in the trust results in trainees who feel valued and who are enjoying their work. Trainees describe the friendly and supportive atmosphere where they feel safe to take on new challenges and comfortable asking for help. Nobody feels there’s a stupid question. Trainees would recommend this trust to friends thinking of applying.”

The feedback from the medical school was

that “the team would wish to commend the enthusiasm, positive atmosphere and excellent quality of the undergraduate medical education” and knew colleagues who had chosen to work at the trust due to their experiences.

The report highlighted 14 positive areas and referred to the positive results in both the 2014 General Medical Council national trainee survey and the foundation school Your School, Your Say survey.

The trust was also visited by the postgraduate dean and a team from HENE (Health Education North East) for the ADQM (Annual Deanery Quality Monitoring) visit. The trust team showcased several issues including the educational governance process for junior doctors, including using simulation to learn from mistakes the programme for overseas doctors, the responsive and open culture and the support provided by the tutors.

The visiting team recognised four areas of good practice the trust had put forward in its annual Self Assessment Report (SAR) and there were no actions highlighted from this visit.

Third year medical students on rotation to women’s health have successfully delivered the first sim baby in the trust’s simulation suite.

The suite’s first baby was delivered in a real time labour delivery scenario by Rachel Sinclair, with help from fellow students from Newcastle University.

Rachel said: “The simulation suite is an excellent resource for medical education as we are provided with the opportunity to learn crucial clinical skills in a safe, risk-free environment.

“The experience has made me feel more confident in my ability to assist in real life situations on the wards.”

Education and Development Facilitator Helen Sutherland said: “The session was very successful and will now be included as part of the women’s health rotation for all students.

“Use of the simulation suite enables the students to be involved in hands on care during labour and delivery and also management of obstetric emergencies.”

The simulation suite, which is run by the resuscitation team, allows clinical staff to learn by creating specific scenarios in a safe environment.

It includes mannequins of a sim-man 3G high fidelity, a sim-baby, a pregnant woman, two babies – a full term and a premature baby and a five year old child, which are operated from a remote laptop in an adjoining room. They are helping trainee doctors, newly qualified nurses and other staff be prepared for the real thing in the trust’s simulation suite.

Anyone wanting to run a session at the suite should contact resuscitation manager Sid Pinkney.

Rachel Sinclair (left) with fellow student Rachael Coates Anthem | Spring 2015 9

Just the job for Suzanne After completing the trust’s leadership and management development programme, Suzanne Coyle-Watson realised she was ready for a new challenge.

Suzanne, who started working at the trust 14 years ago as a lab assistant in pathology, has joined the education and organisation department, after making a good impression and successfully being offered the role of nonclinical educator.

She said: “The course was fantastic. I learned so much and realised I was ready for a new challenge and could do so much more. I really enjoyed working as a lab assistant, but I knew I had skills that could be used elsewhere.

“I got to know more staff who I’d met on the course. It really opened my eyes to how the whole of the trust works together and what goes on, not just in my own department but across the whole organisation. Everyone brings so much value and skill to their role, no matter what job they do.

“I had always had an interest in training and I was lucky enough to be able to get involved in that when I worked in the pathology labs, but when I saw the job of a non clinical educator advertised I jumped at the chance and applied.

“My role involves carrying out training and supporting departments with mandatory training requirements. I felt like I had a boost of confidence to apply for the job,

and I was delighted when I found out I had been successful. My manager was really supportive too.

“I’m constantly learning and feel like I’m developing new skills and making a difference to the work of the department.”

The training programme which is run in partnership with Teesside University is being run for staff who work in both clinical and non-clinical jobs.

Everyone brings It teaches students a range so much value and of skills over a number of skill to their role, study days before finally taking part in a poster no matter what presentation to the board of job they do. directors and senior managers.

Head of education and organisation development Gary Wright said: “We are delighted to have Suzanne on the team. She brings some excellent skills and enthusiasm to the role. I immediately saw potential in Suzanne.

“It is a real success story to see someone develop like this. The course gave Suzanne some great skills which she has applied in her new role. We are committed to developing our staff and programmes like this one prove that they really do make a difference to people’s careers.”

Hitting the right note for patients affected by dementia You wouldn’t expect to hear Frank Sinatra’s voice in a hospital ward but that’s what you might hear if you’re visiting ward 32 at the University Hospital of North Tees.

Goodbye Clint Staff on the haematology unit have wished healthcare assistant and phlebotomist Clint Ymballa a fond farewell.

Clint, who joined the trust 10 years ago has taken up a new job at the RVI in Newcastle. Ward manager Mercy Cabrega said: “Clint will be greatly missed by all of the haematology staff and patients. He was a very valued member of staff and we’re very sad to see him go. Patients absolutely loved him. We’d like to wish him the very best for the future.”

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Associate practitioners Sue Dalgleish (pictured) and Carol Brown were keen to improve the experience of their patients who are affected by dementia and researched what they could do to make it better.

Sue said: “We have a lot of patients on our orthopaedic ward who fall and fracture their hip and come in for surgery. We wanted to find something to calm our patients because staying still, especially straight after a hip replacement, is really important. We know patients can become agitated if they’re in unfamiliar surroundings, particularly when they’re in hospital.

“Carol and

I studied at university last year and we did a lot of research into dementia. In a busy ward like this we needed something simple and safe and we found that music was the answer. We bought CDs and some players with money someone had very kindly donated and staff also brought in CDs they thought patients would like.

“We’ve now got a display with information for relatives to tell them about what we’re doing and it’s making a difference to patients and their families. All the relatives have to do is ask for a CD player and choose some music from our collection.

“Christmas was lovely on the ward. Families were coming in and seeing their loved one calm and content. We’ve got a bit of everything from The Carpenters to Ray Charles and everything in between. Music unlocks memories and feels familiar. It’s amazing to see the difference it’s making.”

Sister Debbie Hall said: “I’m really proud of Sue and Carol. They’ve looked at a problem, taken an idea and really run with it. It’s making a massive difference to patients and their families and to staff because they can see the calming effect the music is having.”

Cuddle cots will help parents spend precious time with babies Two families who have suffered the loss of a stillborn baby have raised money to buy cuddle cots for the delivery unit at the University Hospital of North Tees.

Stephen and Helen Dennis from Billingham and Angela and Tinny Bennett from Peterlee met staff recently to present them with two cuddle cots they have bought for the unit.

The equipment is designed to keep a stillborn baby cool to allow parents to spend more time with their baby.

They are provided by the 4Louis charity which helps families who have suffered We wanted to do the trauma something to help of a stillbirth or neonatal other parents and death. thank the unit for For Helen Dennis and everything they her husband did in caring for Stephen the my family. memories of losing A cuddle one of their cot expected twins during labour are still very raw.

Helen gave birth to (first twin) Sophie but second twin Lucie was stillborn.

Stephen said: “I was travelling

Stephen and Helen Dennis with eight year old daughter Aimee and baby Sophie at her christening

Angela and Tinny Bennett and daughters Cara and Cerys with staff in the delivery unit in 2013

home from working offshore when I was told – it was devastating and to be honest I still haven’t come to terms with it.

“We wanted to do something to help other parents and thank the unit for everything they did in caring for my family.”

Angela and Tinny Bennett received the devastating news that they had lost their son Cameron after his heart stopped beating at 24 weeks of pregnancy.

The two, who have two daughters Cerys, six and Cara, three, have since set up Cameron’s Kisses as a way of raising money for the delivery suite and have a website www.cameronskisses.co.uk Tinny said: “During the most devastating time of our lives the staff here were very supportive and helped us through it.

“Angela and I wanted to do everything we could to raise money for the We want to help ward and have held a number other people of fundraising who are in the music nights.

“We want to same situation help other people we were in. who are in the same situation we were in.

The cuddle cots will allow parents to spend longer with their baby which can be very important.”

Ward matron Judith Lambert said: “I would like to thank both families for these kind donations – these cuddle cots will prove invaluable to the work we do in the unit.”

New role making a real difference to staff A new role which is the first of its kind in the region is making a real difference staff who have chronic health conditions.

Chronic conditions workplace advisor Jill Ness has joined the trust’s occupational, health and wellbeing team to support staff who have pain as a result of conditions such as fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, chronic pain, musculoskeletal conditions and other chronic conditions.

Jill brings a wealth of experience with her. She first joined the trust as a student nurse in 1991 and worked in orthopaedics for a short time when she qualified, before spending a few years working in theatres and many years in day case theatres. She later joined the pain team in 2003 as a specialist nurse caring for patients who had acute pain and chronic pain.

She said: “The role came about following some national guidance that was published - NICE public health guidance 19, ‘Managing long term sickness and incapacity for work’ “It is about supporting people to get back to work and supporting them to remain at work. I provide general medication advice, pain medication advice, maintain good communication with GPs, acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which helps people with chronic pain and musculoskeletal conditions.

“I also provide advice and support for staff who have sleep problems, relaxation and difficulty dealing with and accepting their condition. I have much more planned for the future.

“It is fantastic to hear from staff who tell me that treatment or support has made such a difference to them. We are totally committed to the health and wellbeing of our staff. Their health and wellbeing is so important, that’s why we encourage them to take good care of themselves and do everything we can to support them.”

Anthem | Spring 2015 11

Top award for Daniel Former project facilitator and e-learning lead Daniel Evans scooped the development champion of the year award at the North East Leadership Academy Awards.

Daniel was nominated for the work he did around talent management working with the NHS Leadership academy, where some of the work has been adopted nationally.

Daniel, who has since taken up a new role in another NHS trust doing work around talent management explained: “Talent management is about how you attract and motivate your workforce, making sure that there are development plans in place for them and developing future leaders.

“We did a pilot in our own department. There was an original tool, but we worked with this and adapted it for the trust. We developed a template to help managers.

“I was honoured to win the award.

Everyone in the categories had done some fantastic work and the competition was really tough.

“The pilot project was really valuable; I gained some fantastic experience from the people who I’d worked with and hope that this will raise the profile of talent management within the NHS.” Head of education and organisation development Gary Wright, who nominated Daniel for the award said: “I would like to congratulate Daniel on his achievement. He has developed his skills over the last couple of years and was instrumental in this recent project, which was a great success and will no doubt have a positive effect on NHS staff across the country.”

12 Anthem | Issue 37

Research midwife Anne-Marie Jones with Jonathan Sheffield OBE Chief Executive for the National Institute for Clinical Research Network, neonatal research nurse Wendy Cheadle and Jane Greenaway

Research judged among best in region Research at the trust was in the spotlight at a regional awards event.

The trust scooped two of the awards on offer at the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network North East and North Cumbria awards.

The event, Moving from Good to Great, held at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, highlighted the very best research in the region.

The trust’s reproductive health research team picked up the research team of the year award for their work. The team have significantly raised the profile of research in obstetrics and gynaecology, encouraged all members of the clinical team to be involved and have seen a dramatic rise in the amount of research being carried out.

Cardiology research nurse Julie Quigley won research practitioner of the year. She ensures patients are screened, enrolled and treated while also encouraging others including student nurses to work alongside research staff. She has also supported staff in taking part in research and has generally gone above and beyond to promote research and be available to support research trial participants.

Research and development manager Jane Greenaway said: “I submitted quite a few nominations for these awards because I know the amazing work that takes place here, it is important it is recognised. I was delighted that two of these nominations won awards – helping the trust win two of the nine awards on offer.

“It goes without saying that all research teams are working extremely hard and some

Julie Quigley with professor Stephen Robson, clinical director of Clinical Research Network: North East and North Cumbria

have had to build research activity from a very low base in recent years. This work isn’t going un-noticed and I hope that next year we have the opportunity to showcase more of our teams through these awards.

“Jonathan Sheffield, chief executive of the NIHR Clinical Research Network, was there to present the awards. It’s fantastic that we were able to showcase to him and to the NIHR that the relatively smaller trusts in networks are delivering high quality research.”

Steely Bev hopes to captain her country to glory In just three months physiotherapist Beverley Marwood went from being a rookie American football player to being selected to play for the Great Britain women’s team.

The 29-year-old, who works in wards 24, 25 and EAU, now has her sights set on the European Championships later this year.

Bev first got into playing American football after doing some physiotherapy work for a local men’s team. It was while working there that she heard the British American Football Association (BAFA) were running a women’s development scheme to get females into the sport.

She said: “At 5 ft 3in and 9 stone, it might have seemed a terrible idea, but already being a rugby player I’ve never shied away from contact sport so decided to give it a go!

“I went to a few training sessions, I am now immediately got the football bug dedicating my and have never time to building looked back. Things the Teesside escalated very quickly. After only Steelers. three months training, I was selected for the first ever Great Britain women’s team in 2013; I was also very privileged to be selected as captain and played my first international versus Sweden, which our rookie team went on to win.”

After the match, Bev decided to look into

joining a local team but couldn’t find one.

So she decided to set up her own team – Teesside Steelers.

She said: “The Teesside Steelers have now been training and playing for over a year with great success in national leagues, finishing third in the country in 2014 and having five local players including myself selected for the 2014 GB squad.

“My second selection for the Great Britain team was on a much grander scale; captaining a 40 Woman squad in the first ever 11 aside International, in which we travelled to Stockholm to face Sweden again, coming out with yet another win.

“I am now dedicating my time to building the Teesside Steelers who are currently recruiting for new players and working hard ahead of a competitive contact season.

“In addition there is the small matter of the 2015 European Championships which the Great Britain team are working towards and I hope to be a part of that team again.

“Playing such a challenging sport and being part of such an amazing team has definitely been a positive experience; not only making new friends and developing my skills but boosting my health and fitness ten fold. It is a huge but very beneficial part of my life now!”

For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/TeessideSteelers and https://twitter.com/teessteelers

Anthem | Spring 2015 13

Second clinica the trip to Cam Two members of trust staff joined the second clinical team to make the long trip to Cambodia.

Hernia operation helping to change lives and reduce complications A woman from Hartlepool is now pain free and enjoying a much better quality of life thanks to a surgical procedure she received to treat abdominal wall hernia.

Patricia Lee, 69, from Throston, had surgery to treat a ventral hernia in her abdomen which was causing her a lot of pain and discomfort.

Patricia had previously had surgery to repair a hernia, but after it returned she met with associate specialist surgeon Manuf Kassem who discussed with her about a way to repair the hernia.

She said: “I was in a lot of pain – I couldn’t even sit down in the car without being in a lot of discomfort. This – along with other health issues I have – was affecting my quality of life.

“I went He saved my to see life – there is no Mr Kassem other way of who describing it. assured me he could carry out a procedure which would significantly reduce the risk of the hernia recurring.”

A ventral hernia is operated on using a intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) technique.

14 Anthem | Issue 37

This involves fixing openings in the abdominal wall by making incision and a mesh (patch) to reinforce the wall.

Manuf Kassem has been using an approach by combining the IPOM technique with special prosthesis to achieve anatomic repair of the abdominal wall - this has resulted in an 80% reduction in recurrence rate.

He said: “Repair of ventral hernias still represent a challenge to surgeons. There is no exact protocol on how the repair should be done. Generally the recurrence rate after repair is 20-30% which is not acceptable.

“So far 65 patients have had the procedure and we have seen a huge reduction in the recurrence rate.

“I have this approach for patients with high BMI and recurrence of their hernias from previous surgery with similar results.

“For me as a surgeon it is fantastic to be able to see patients such as Patricia who have had such pain and discomfort from hernias now be enjoying a much better quality of life.”

Patricia added: “When Mr Kassem did the surgery he found a large hernia, which carried with it a huge risk of bowel obstruction and strangulation.

“He saved my life – there is no other way of describing it. I hope other patients have as wonderful an experience as I have done.”

Consultant physician and diabetes specialist Sue Jones and diabetes specialist nurse Lisa Doughty were members of the team which travelled out to Cambodia in February with the charity Transform Healthcare Cambodia. The charity has been set up to help train and educate the staff of the Battambang Referral Hospital and its 80 community clinics but also has links with another hospital in Battambang called the Handa Hospital. The next trip will be led by trust’s former director of nursing Sue Smith.

You can find out more about the charity and its work at www.transformhealthcare cambodia.org.uk or follow on facebook at Transform Healthcare Cambodia.

Sue Jones’s view

“Having worked in the Middle East and parts of the developing world I was prepared for the trip and the experience

Clean water is a huge problem and causes many ailments.

of working with people from different cultures. I found the staff of the Battambang Referral Hospital very welcoming and open to the teaching sessions the team provided. I had a very enjoyable and interesting time with the diabetes team in the hospital and was impressed to discover that real time information is submitted into the Cambodian Department of Health’s database.

The nurse who ran the hospital diabetes clinic was excellent; I got to know her quite well by the end of the week. There were a large number of patients in the clinic but it ran very well. I was also very impressed with the amount and quality of patient information on the walls about healthy eating and other health messages. From what I saw during the week the Battambang Referral Hospital is doing great things with the limited resources it has got.

“I spent a really valuable morning with Simon Stock, a general surgeon who had worked at Bishop Auckland Hospital some years ago but is now working as volunteer at the Handa Hospital in another part of Battambang.

He is also running community clinics with his wife who is nurse. Drugs are in short supply and sometimes not taken as

Consultant physician Sue Jones with Chhinh Sophal, who manages diabetes care in the hospital

al team makes mbodia People are very poor: it’s a very humbling experience.

Diabetes nurse Lisa Doughty in a community clinic

intended. However the nurses in the community clinics are eager to learn about how to take better care of their patients affected by diabetes. I am keen to return to Battambang and I would like to concentrate on supporting and educating the staff in the community clinics.

“There are great opportunities for long term relationships to be forged to enable the staff at the Battambang Hospitals and clinics to educate their colleagues and make sustainable improvements to healthcare.”

Lisa Doughty’s view

“After a long journey I arrived at Cambodia awaiting the rest of the team. Sue, her husband Mike and I had a couple of days and had a great experience at the temple of Angkor Wat - a must-see for anybody going to Cambodia, also the floating village. We then met the rest of the team and travelled to Battambang. Travelling to Battambang we saw the country, the rice fields and the villages.

People are very poor: it’s a very humbling experience.

“The Battambang Referral Hospital was our first destination.

Our input was teaching and assessing existing clinics. I talked to a diabetes specialist nurse who explained that insulin is $11 a pack which makes it inaccessible to

a lot of people - a tragedy if you have type 1 diabetes. We then linked in with surgeon Simon Stock who has devoted his retired life to helping in Handa Hospital as an orthopaedic surgeon and also going out to remote villages providing general clinics. Handa Hospital is basically a trauma hospital and used to deal with land mine injuries, but the commonest problem is now road traffic accidents and once you see the traffic problems you understand why: tuk tuks, motor bikes, bicycles, cars all coming in any direction. It’s bedlam.

“At the rural clinic people are very poor. Clean water is a huge problem and causes many ailments. Common complaints were stomach ache, worms, TB, type 2 diabetes and malnutrition.

I helped in the make shift pharmacy. Fifty people, mainly women and children, attended the clinic which ran from 8am to 11.30am.They had the opportunity to buy soap, tooth paste and tooth brushes much cheaper than the local shops.

“It was an experience which does put things into perspective.

The history of Khmer Rouge is unbelievably barbaric but the people of Cambodia are recovering slowly but surely. They have great dignity.”

Retirement fellowship forges links with Cambodia – in the shape of a cupboard!

Members of the Hartlepool NHS Retirement Fellowship have made a difference to staff in a Cambodian community clinic. When head of communications Claire Young gave a presentation to the fellowship about her experience of accompanying the first clinical team to the Battambang Referral Hospital and its community clinics with the charity Transform Healthcare Cambodia the group was keen to help.

Secretary of the group Margaret Payne said: “When Claire told us about health services in Cambodia and how the Cambodian people are trying to rebuild their services after the atrocities of the Pol Pot regime in the late 70s we wanted to do something to show our support.

“Claire told us that, on the first trip last November, consultant obstetrician Steve Wild and midwife Shirley Carter from North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and neonatal nurse Michelle Jones from South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust visited a birthing room in the Wat Tamim community clinic. They were very impressed with what they saw there and asked the midwife in charge what would help her improve the facility for labouring mothers.

“The midwife told Shirley dust blew into the delivery room during the dry season (the room has no glass in the windows, just a metal grill) and it made it hard to keep equipment clean. This seemed such a simple thing but it would make a big difference.

We donated £50 to the charity and we were delighted when Dr Daisy Taylor, who led the second team trip a few weeks ago, told us she’d been able to buy a suitable cupboard and present it to the staff.

Anthem | Spring 2015 15

Eating healthy on a budget Eating a healthy balanced diet doesn’t have to be expensive. You can find lots of cheap, nutritious foods available that you can make healthy meals from.

Dietitian Vanessa Partridge at the trust said: “With the rising cost in food bills, the importance of eating healthy can sometimes be overlooked.

“But, healthy eating doesn’t need to cost more and you should remember that following a healthy balanced diet helps to prevent diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and coronary heart disease.

One of the biggest costs is wasting food, so cutting down on what you waste could help you get back in budget.

My colleagues and I wanted to share some of our money saving tips that we follow to make sure we get value for money, while still maintaining a healthy diet.”

You can help yourself by: • Planning your meals, making a shopping list and only shopping for these items.

Don’t go shopping when you are hungry.

This will help you avoid making impulse buys that add to your shopping bill • Shopping online and use cost comparison websites, this way you can see exactly what you are spending • Buying frozen fruit and vegetables. They are often cheaper than fresh and they still count towards your five a day. You can use them when you want without them going off • Buying cheaper cuts of meat and slow cook them or buy extra if there are special offers on and keep any you are not going to use straight away in the freezer • If you have access to the internet you could look for low cost healthy recipes online • Trading brands – try the cheaper alternatives or supermarket own brands • Being aware of multi buy offers - don’t buy too much if it is going to go to waste. Keep an eye on your portion sizes and when you do make a larger portion, use the leftovers for lunch the next day and freeze portions of food in airtight containers • Cook with pulses and lentils, not only are they are low in calories and fat but they are packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals and are really cheap • Use leftover vegetables and peelings to make your own vegetable stock and store in the freezer until you need it • Cook from scratch and avoid convenience foods which are high in salt.

16 Anthem | Issue 37

Nurses turn pop stars to stop pressure ulcers Many of the district nurses turned into pop stars to raise awareness of preventing ulcers.

The nurses came up with a catchy song to help raise awareness of how pressure ulcers can be avoided – writing and performing their own version of boyband 5ive’s Keep On Moving.

The video, which sees the team dancing, reached more than 30,000 people and was shared nearly 300 times on the trust’s Facebook page.

The song, similar to the one made famous by 5ive’s Abs Breen, J Brown, Sean Conlon, Ritchie Neville and Scott Robinson, has lines including: “When the district nurse is calling, we’re gonna keep on keep on calling, to get you back on your feet.

“You’re not on your own, we’ll help you in your home, pressure sores are easy to beat.”

It then has the chorus: “Get on up, move around, give yourself a shake around.

“We know it’s not good to sit all day keep on moving is what I say.”

Making regular and frequent changes to your position is one of the most effective ways of preventing pressure ulcers.

If a pressure ulcer has already developed, regularly changing position will help to avoid putting further pressure on it, and give the wound the best chance of healing.

People who are confined to bed will need to change their position at least once every two hours.

Having a healthy balanced diet and not smoking are help prevent pressure sores.

To find out more about Stop Pressure Ulcer Day visit http://www.epuap.org/ and for information about pressure sores visit www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pressure-ulcers/ Pages/Prevention.aspx

A warm welcome to our student nurses A group of student nurses were welcomed to the trust at the start of the year.

The students, who began their studies in September at Teesside University will complete a BSc in adult or child nursing.

Senior nurse for practice placements Jean Angus said: “We’d like to wish the students the very best of luck with their careers. We’re looking forward to working with them and supporting them every step of the way.”

Hello my name is… launch day Staff joined in with a national launch day of the hello my name is… campaign.

Nurses, doctors, therapists, receptionists, porters, domestics were among staff who were out in support of the campaign, started doctor Kate Granger who has terminal cancer.

Over the last 12 months assistant The smallest director for nursing things make and professional standards Debbie the biggest Blackwood and senior difference. nurses for professional standards Claire Wong

and Louise Samuel have been working with staff across the trust around issues with the 6Cs (care, compassion, competence, communication, courage, commitment) as well as hello my name is…

Debbie said: “The campaign is simple – reminding staff to go back to basics and introduce themselves to patients properly.

Kate talks about this as “the first rung on the ladder to providing compassionate care” and sees it as the start of making a vital human connection, helping patients to relax, and building trust. Feedback from patients across the country shows how vital this is to them, saying that the smallest things make the biggest difference.

The first rung

“This campaign on the ladder is about going back to basics to providing and reminding compassionate all staff how care. important it is to introduce themselves to patients, as part of being compassionate and caring.”

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, where Dr Granger worked, is a Listening into Action (LiA) trust and its own launch of Hello my name is… was a catalyst and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust is now a member of LiA.

Anthem | Spring 2015 17

Fundraising helps to revamp room for children A group of teens from Hartlepool United Football Club Community Sports Foundation have brightened up a room for children who are waiting to go to theatre.

Dedicating my 21st birthday to fundraising Anna Munford from Shildon decided to dedicate her 21st birthday party to fundraising to say thank you to staff in the two hospitals who took care of her auntie Loraine Lye. Loraine, 63, was diagnosed with breast cancer in June and was looked after by staff in the University Hospital of North Tees’ breast unit and the Mara Unit at Bishop Auckland Hospital. Anna organised a raffle and raised an impressive £1,187.10.

The family made a surprise visit to the breast unit at the University Hospital of North

Tees to present half of the money raised; their next stop was Bishop Auckland to present them with a cheque for the other half say a big thank you to the staff there.

Loraine said: “The care I got was marvellous. I couldn’t fault it. I’m so proud of Anna and what she’s done. It’s lovely to be able to give something back for the care I received.”

Breast care nurse Claire Moody said: “It’s really lovely of Loraine, Anna and all their family and friends to think of us. We’ll use this very kind donation to help make life easier for future patients.”

The group had raised funds through various activities and wanted to do something for poorly children who are being cared for at the University Hospital of North Tees.

Hospital play specialist Christine Goodwin said: “We want to make sure that everything we do helps to make a hospital stay as comfortable as possible for our young patients.

“The room that our patients wait in before they are taken to

theatre needed brightening up so we were delighted to hear about this fundraising.

“The group have transformed the room into a calm, relaxed environment. They have provided a dvd player, films, lamps, music and they have painted the room.

“It’s important for children and young people, not only to receive excellent care, but also to be in an environment where they can feel comfortable and even have some kind of distraction from the reason why they are in hospital.

It’s these home comforts which help to do just that.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped to raise the money and create a much improved room.”

VIP treatment for dedicated staff Staff were treated to a VIP night out at the Mayor of Stockton’s charity dinner dance as thanks for the hard work and dedication they have shown in their jobs.

Claire Ogilvie, head of HR business services Tracy Minns, governor Rita Taylor, chairman Paul Garvin, Jagat Jani, Vicky Blakey, Viv Priestley, Louise Johnson, Adam Ruddock and Carolyn Olver 18 Anthem | Issue 37

Resourcing team leader Claire Ogilvie, general manager in emergency medicine Louise Johnson, acting senior clinical matron Viv Priestley, former clinical director for children’s services Jagat Jani, clinical care co-ordinator Vicky Blakey and bed managers Adam Ruddock and Carolyn Olver were all nominated by colleagues for special recognition.

Cancer has changed my perspective to life A friendship which started in a Buddhist monastery between two cancer patients from Thailand has led to money being donated to the chemotherapy unit at the University Hospital of North Tees.

Ireal Traisarnsri and Mame Goodchild met in the monastery in Northumberland and both of them battled cancer.

Ireal (pictured) was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago at the age of 27, receiving treatment back in her homeland.

Mame, who lives in Stockton, had her treatment at the chemotherapy unit at North Tees.

Ireal set up her own charity – Art For Cancer – selling artwork, t shirts, bags and postcards made by herself to help raise money and help other cancer sufferers.

Though funds raised are for three hospitals in Thailand, Ireal wanted to give something back to a cause in the region. Between them, Ireal and Mame donated £500 to the chemo unit. The two visited the unit to present ward matron Val Storey with the money, shortly before Ireal returned home.

Ireal said: “I decided to start to run this charity immediately because I did not know how long I had left. I used art as a channel for fundraising because I have a fine arts background. It has been creative and precious that I could use my own ability do something good to help people.

“After finishing the treatments, I am still required by doctors to continue with medication for another five years. Even though cancer brought me the worst nightmare in my life; it gave me

a good chance to understand the value of life. Cancer has changed my perspective to life.”

Mame said: “I met Ireal through the Buddhist monastery, we both went to in Northumberland and I used to give her a lift many times from the Metro station up to the monastery.

“Because I was the patient at the chemo unit here we thought the money could be well used here.

“I would like to thank the unit for all their help and this was a nice way of giving something back.”

Supporters can donate their artistic works to the charity and I will share all art pieces on the charity Facebook page.

Visit the Facebook page by visiting facebook.com/ART.for.

CANCERbycomeonireal and to contact Ireal email art.for.cancer@hotmail.com

Improving care for men affected by breast cancer A radiographer and surgeon from the trust have had an article on male breast cancer published in Imaging and Therapy Practice, a Society of Radiographers publication.

Radiographer Gillian Holdsworth and breast surgeon Lubna Noor noted that men affected by breast cancer were not receiving the same service as women, largely because male breast cancer is so rare it is not usually looked for.

Gillian said: “We started to audit this group of patients and we found that the outcome depended on who the patient was referred into. Often these men would come into hospital with a condition called gynaecomastia where breast tissue forms in the chest “Screening and breast cancer care for women has been standardised for many years and we have very clearly laid down standards to achieve, but we suspected this group of

men could do better in terms of getting a reliable diagnosis and appropriate treatment if the care was always consistent.”

Lubna added: “Essentially we introduced the same testing procedure used for women; ultrasound / mammogram and a biopsy and we then carried out a second audit which showed that this method was just as effective for diagnosing breast cancer in men as it is in women.

“As with any cancer the important thing is to identify it early. Breast cancer in women is no longer a taboo subject but in men it is very rare and can be a source of embarrassment, which is all the more reason to have effective systems in place to evaluate male patients with breast symptoms so the breast cancer can be picked up and

Radiographer Gillian Holdsworth with breast surgeon Lubna Noor

treated quickly and effectively.”

Clinical director for surgery Pud Bhaskar, who is also a breast surgeon, said: “This has been a very significant piece of work in what is often an overlooked area which has

certainly raised awareness across the team, enhanced and improved the care we provide and benefitted the small number of men who find they are affected by breast cancer.”

Anthem | Spring 2015 19

North of Tees lead Pat Marshall and South of Tees lead Joanna Feeney

Providing stop smoking services to the whole of Teesside There is now one single number and one point of contact for smokers in Teesside to find out about the support on offer to help them quit.

The trust’s specialist stop smoking service are providing help and support to people across Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton and Hartlepool.

The team provide stop smoking clinics at a number of convenient venues and times and there are also a number of pharmacies that can offer stop smoking treatments along with various GP practices.

North of Tees lead Pat Marshall said: “Our team of specialist advisors provide friendly and nonjudgemental help. We tailor the support to you and give you the best possible chance of quitting.”

South of Tees lead Joanna Feeney continued: “People are less likely to quit successfully if they don’t have the right support in the first place. Their best possible chance of success is through using an NHS stop smoking service. I would encourage anyone who wants to quit to come along and we will help.”

To find out how you can get help stopping smoking call 01642 383819 or visit www.nth.nhs.uk/services/ stop-smoking-service/

20 Anthem | Issue 37

Teesside smo urged to be q on No Smoki Smokers in Teesside were being urged to take the first step in giving up cigarettes for good on No Smoking Day, with help from the trust’s stop smoking team.

This year’s No Smoking Day theme was proud to be a quitter. People were encouraged to come along to our events in Stockton, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland to get support.

Stop smoking service team lead for Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland Joanna Feeney said: “No Smoking Day provides the perfect opportunity for people to join others attempting to quit on the same day.

“We began the campaign in the run up to No Smoking Day to encourage people to quit smoking and get the help and support on offer from their local stop smoking service. The events were really successful. It was fantastic to see so many people. We also used social media and encouraged people to chat to us on Twitter. People are four times The events more likely to quit were really smoking if they get help from their stop successful. smoking service.”

Stop smoking service

manager Pat Marshall added: “Everyone has their own reasons It was for wanting to fantastic to stop smoking. For some people it see so many is about making a people. lifestyle change – to be healthier or get fit, or to save money and, for others, it’s about the way their smoking affects the people close to them, such as their family and friends.

“We offer friendly and non-judgemental help to smokers at a number of stop smoking clinics held across Teesside.

We tailor the support to every individual person to give them the best possible chance of quitting.

“If people stop smoking, they will soon feel fitter, will save money, will have better skin and teeth and will reduce the risk of any serious smoking related diseases. It is a chance for smokers to make a positive change in their lives.”

To find out how you can get help stopping smoking visit www.nth.nhs. uk/services/stop-smoking-service/ or call 01642 383819.

okers quitters ing Day Heather quits the habit after more than 40 years Thornaby resident Heather Osbourne has quit smoking after more than 40 years and is now feeling healthier than ever.

Heather Osbourne, 55, who is originally from Scotland and has lived in Thornaby for 35 years had been smoking for 43 years, but a health scare last year made her think twice about the habit.

She said: “I became quite poorly last year. I’d lost around five stone and I suffered a stroke. It was at that point I realised I needed to do something about it.

“I want to be here for my family, I want to see my five grandchildren grow up and get married. Being poorly made me realise I needed to do something to improve my health. I made the decision last December to quit smoking and first visited a local pharmacy in Stockton.

“I started the new year by going along to my local stop smoking group at the High Flyers Children’s Centre in Thornaby. The support has been great. I would recommend the service to anyone who really wants to quit smoking.

“I’ve since managed to keep the weight off and not smoking is going fine. I don’t

like the smell of cigarettes. I’m starting to be able to taste food again. After years of smoking I feel much healthier.”

Specialist stop smoking advisor Rafeed Rashid said: “Quitting smoking isn’t easy and that’s why we’re here to help. People who receive help and support from us are much more likely to successfully quit and are up to four times more likely to stay smoke free.

It is never too late to give up. “People have to be in the right frame of mind when they quit smoking. Sometimes people need to give it a couple of goes, but it was clear that Heather was determined to quit right from the start.

“We hold sessions in many different locations at different times to suit everyone, to make it easy to call in during a work break or on the way home.

“After seeing an advisor and setting a quit date, clients have a one-to-one appointment with the advisor at their convenience to monitor their progress and to help them keep on track.”

To find out how you can get help stopping smoking visit www.nth.nhs. uk/services/stop-smoking-service/ or call 01642 383819.

It’s never too late to quit A heavy smoker from Thornaby has proved it’s never too late to quit smoking.

Kenny White, 62, originally from Norton, who has lived in Thornaby for over 30 years has quit smoking after 50 years.

Kenny, who works as a handyman at a care home said: “I had tried to give up smoking a number of times before, but I hadn’t been successful.

“I have done it because of my grandson, who is nearly one year old and to improve my health. I started going to the stop smoking clinic in January at the Riverbank

Centre in Thornaby every Wednesday on the way home from work.

“The nurses and advisors at the clinic have been really good. I’ve been using a nicotine replacement oral product and patches.

The staff at the clinic are fantastic. They’re really helpful and encouraging. I’d definitely recommend this clinic to anyone who really wants to quit smoking.

“I have an active job. I’m definitely starting to feel fitter. I’ve also cut down the amount I drink. It definitely isn’t easy and there have been times when I’ve felt like I’ve wanted

a cigarette, but I haven’t had one since I started going to the clinics.

“I’ve still got a way to go, but never in a million years did I think I’d get this far.”

Specialist stop smoking advisor Rafeed Rashid said: “Kenny has proved that it is never too late to quit smoking. No matter how long you have smoked for and no matter how many a day, it can really benefit your health. People need to be ready to quit smoking and like Kenny, may need to come back more than once for help and support and that’s exactly what we’re here to do.”

Anthem | Spring 2015 21

Claire’s battle with rare disorder Healthcare assistant Claire Pollard has thanked her colleagues in ward 25 for their support in helping her battle a rare condition known as non epileptic attack disorder (NEAD).

Running in memory of mum John Lewandowski, data manager and clinical educator in the critical care unit, is raising money in memory of his mum.

He said: “My mum died in November 2013 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier in the year.

Sadly the truth is that pancreatic cancer is sometimes diagnosed too late to improve survival outcome and this was the case with my mum. Barely one in five patients last a year and only around 3% last five years or more. I think we can do better and I want to be part of changing that.

“I am aiming to do around four runs per week (between 21 and 25 miles) with the aim of reaching my target of 365 miles by June. If I achieve this then I will double my mileage to achieve 730 miles before the year is out. I only started running half way through January. Each mile that I run will effectively represent a day that mum should have been with me this year had things turned out differently. This is why for me 365 miles is ‘365 days of life’.

“Every person to donate £3 or more is welcome to suggest a track which I promise I will add to my play list for when I run. You can be as nice or as cruel as you like. Whatever you choose it will remind me of your support.

Obviously I would encourage you to give as much as you feel you can but if you can only part with a pound then that’s fine.”

You can donate by visiting www.justgiving.com/John-Lewandowski or text 70070 with ‘BCLA48’ then leave a space, adding the amount you want to give.

22 Anthem | Issue 37

It was five years ago - when Claire was still working in the ward - when she first started suffering seizures, brought about after periods of stress. It remained a mystery to doctors for several months what was wrong with her.

It was after having video telemetry at James Cook University Hospital that Claire was correctly diagnosed.

She was referred to a psychologist for talking therapy and shown how coping mechanisms could help and how to find triggers.

She said: “Not knowing what was wrong with me was stressful. After I was diagnosed with NEAD it had a big impact on Not knowing my health which what was caused dramatic changes to my life. wrong with “I could no longer

me was stressful.

work on the wards and moved into office work in HR recruitment. I became quite downhearted during this period because I missed working on the wards.

“It is thanks to the amazing support I have had from Pauline Jiggins and my colleagues on the ward that I have recently been able to return to being a healthcare assistant.”

It can be difficult to tell the difference between an epileptic seizure and a nonepileptic attack, even for a specialist.

One of the ways in which a professional will tell the difference between nonepileptic attacks and epilepsy, is from an electroencephalogram (EEG). This picks up and records the electrical activity in the brain. If someone is having an epileptic seizure, an EEG will usually show abnormal electrical activity. If someone is having a non-epileptic attack, an EEG will not show abnormal electrical activity.

For more information about NEAD visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/NEADTrust/101554536567742

Claire with her son George and ward matron Pauline Jiggins

More students join unique training course The trust has welcomed its second group of students, who have begun a unique training qualification for mortuary staff.

Last year the trust became the first national training centre to provide the The Royal Society of Public Health Level 3 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology course. The course has attracted another group of more than 20 students from across the UK and Ireland.

Anatomical pathology technologists (APT) are employed in both NHS and public mortuaries and provide a wide range of services to the deceased and the bereaved.

Mortuary and bereavement service manager Michelle Lancaster, who runs the course explained: “The students gain an academically recognised qualification which will It is so important that enable them if we get all care at successful, the end of life right for to apply to complete the families at what the level 4 can be a traumatic diploma in APT all the and emotional way through time for them and to a level 6 BSc their relatives.

Hons degree, which is something mortuary staff have never been able to do before.

“The UK is one of very few countries where it is essential to have qualified staff working in mortuaries. Our dedicated

training programme has already attracted international candidates.

“The Royal Society of Public Health along with the Modernising Scientific Careers team and the Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology have worked hard over recent years to produce a modern fit for purpose training programme for trainee APTs. The way that people want to gain this qualification just shows their professionalism and commitment to care.”

The new qualification replaces the old RSPH Certificate in APT exam - it has five theory modules and five practical modules which the students have to pass. This means that trainee APTs post mortem room skills and viewing room skills will be assessed by external assessors to ensure the students provide quality care to the deceased.

The course teaches students about: • Assisting the pathologist during postmortem examination and ensuring the reconstruction of the deceased is to an extremely high standard to enable relatives and friends to view the body of someone they love – this is especially important when people have died as a result of a sudden traumatic event as the technical skills of an APT can mean the difference between the bereaved being able to pay their last respects or being advised not to • Providing emotional and practical support to the bereaved during visiting of the deceased • Ensuring the deceased are provided dignity and care during the journey through the

mortuary We have used process the expertise of • Enabling and people from both ensuring some of the within the trust legal processes and externally. connected to a death go smoothly such as the death certification and cremation process • Maintaining compliance and working with regulatory bodies such as the Human Tissue Authority Michelle continued: “We have used the expertise of people from both within the trust and externally to make sure that programme lectures and events gives the students the best learning experience and training possible.

“We are constantly working hard at the trust to improve our mortuary services. It is so important that we get all care at the end of life right for the families at what can be a traumatic and emotional time for them and their relatives, so they are able to go away with closure and good memories of their loved ones. The work that all mortuary teams do is vital for families of those who have sadly died, that’s why we need to make sure that the care we provide is the best it possibly can be.

“I am really pleased that this programme has been so successful and will continue to be for the future.”

Anthem | Spring 2015 23

My time as a nurse will make me a better doctor After having a successful and rewarding time working as a nurse for more than 20 years, Angie Reeve made the decision later in her career to retrain as a doctor.

Congratulations Alison The trust’s senior clinical matron for critical care is celebrating after successfully achieving a prestigious nursing award.

Alison Coates has graduated with Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership and a National Leaders award ‘Leading change’, after completing the year long Mary Seacole Programme, which is run by the NHS Leadership Academy. The programme was provided through distance learning with the Open University and three workshops with the Hay Group.

Alison, who has 25 years experience as a nurse, joined the first group of the programme and is the only member of the trust to have achieved this award to date.

She said: “I was nominated by my previous employer and I was delighted when my application was successful.

I’m really proud to have achieved this award. The trust has been so supportive.

“I learned a lot about myself as a leader and I think that the programme has enhanced my leadership skills.”

“The programme was challenging, but it has been a fantastic opportunity.

The most important thing I have learned is that everyone is a leader no matter what job you do. The impact that leadership has on patient care, safety and experience should not be underestimated and as healthcare professionals we all have a role to play in this.”

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Angie’s nursing career started at Hartlepool General Hospital in 1987 and has taken her to Leeds, and even to the other side of the world in Australia.

She said: “I have always enjoyed working as a nurse and being in the NHS. I know it’s a bit unusual to have worked as a nurse for so long and then to retrain in something completely new, but after working with Mr Tabaqchali and the colorectal team as a Surgical Care Practitioner it felt like a natural progression. Being a doctor involves many of the same skills I have learned as a nurse with added responsibilities, the chance to do a bit more for patients but still give that personal touch.

“I have learned so much in my time in nursing which will help me as a doctor. I am not afraid to broach difficult subjects with patients and their families such as end of life care. Often a touch of the hand or indeed a hug when they are upset can make all the difference. I feel I am able to speak to patients about complicated conditions in language they can understand and this definitely stems from my nursing background.

“Because I have worked here for so long I also know a lot of the staff which has definitely helped during my foundation years. All the way through my training I knew I would come back as a foundation doctor as the support I have had from staff at the trust over the years has been second to none. I often feel the staff on the wards find it easy to talk to me as they are like

kindred spirits and have wished me well throughout this career change, it really has made all the difference to my time as a doctor and I am grateful for the help and guidance through this journey.

“Having worked here so many years, I knew what I was getting into when I was thinking about training to become a doctor. I knew how highly rated the teaching and overall support was at North Tees, which is why I chose to come back for my foundation years and it has been the best decision for my future career.

Lynn Hill and the team are outstanding and always go the extra mile to ensure we reach our full potential.”

During her training Angie has had support from her family, especially her husband Les and daughter Amber who is 20.

Angie has nearly completed the F2 stage of her training, which has seen her carry out work in areas including psychiatry, elderly care, paediatrics, general practice, gastroenterology and obstetrics and gynaecology.

She has been accepted onto the general practice training programme and is planning to stay local for this training and to subsequently work in the local area as a GP. The trust has been commended for and regularly receives glowing reports on the quality of its training and the support given to doctors in training.

A total of 195 junior doctor posts are offered, covering all levels of recognised training from foundation programme to core, speciality and general practice.

For more information visit the recently launched website www.nhsfindyourplace.co.uk

Thank you for completing staff survey Director of human resources and education Ann Burrell has thanked all staff who filled in the most recent staff surveys.

Bob (centre) with staff in medical physics

Bob now enjoying his retirement Consultant medical physicist Bob Ardley said goodbye to colleagues as he left the trust to enjoy his retirement.

Colleagues gathered in the Tees meeting room to wish Bob the very best.

Trust hosts travelling fellow visit Two doctors from Delhi were guests of the trust as part of their travelling fellowship. Places for the fellowships, sponsored and funded by the British Association for Surgery of the Knee (BASK), are sought after and have to be earned by interviews.

Doctors Surendra Singh Rawat and Paras Gupta visited a number of orthopaedic units across the country and arrived as guests of consultant orthopaedic surgeon Sanjeev Anand for their visit.

Sanjeev Anand explained: “Travelling fellowships are an important part of medical and surgical training. There is a selection process because the places are

The published results, which are based on how the trust has scored compared to other trusts in the country, have been released.

In comparison to other acute trusts, we have: • Fewer staff working longer hours than what they are contracted to work • Fewer staff witnessing potential harmful errors findings, near misses or incidents • Fewer staff experiencing harassment, bullying or abuse from staff • Fewer staff experiencing discrimination at work • More staff believing that trust provides equal opportunities for career progression or promotion.

Areas highlighted where we need to improve include: • Ensuring all staff are aware of the difference they can make to patients and the vital part we all play in ensuring that patients come first • Looking into the reasons why

staff feel pressure to attend work when feeling unwell • Ensuring there is a motivated and fully engaged workforce • Improve individuals understanding around health and safety training and what this relates to Ann said: “On behalf of the trust I would like to take the opportunity to thank staff who took the time to complete the staff survey during October, November and December. As we have communicated regularly, it is really important that as many people as possible take up this opportunity to inform us of what it is like to work for the trust. This provides us with invaluable information around what we do well and equally as important, what we need to do to make things better for the people the trust employs.”

From the results an action plan will be formed which will be built into a wider engagement plan.

Any comments or suggestions on how the trust could improve on any of the key findings can be sent to staffsurvey@nth.nhs.uk

sponsored and funded. As an executive member of BASK I have hosted visits and, in a reciprocal arrangement with our Indian counterparts, have organised travelling fellowships for British surgeons to travel to India.

“It is all about learning and sharing to improve and develop our practice to benefit patients. I would like to say a big thank you to my colleagues in orthopaedics who have allowed our visitors in to share their work and ideas.”

Paras Gupta said: “We have been impressed with the close working of the teams.

Everyone understands their job in theatre and this makes the process smoother and quicker.”

Anthem | Spring 2015 25

Refurbished Tatchell Centre re-opened Mayor of Stockton councillor Barbara Inman opened the Tatchell Centre at the University Hospital of North Tees.

The new centre – which was refurbished at a cost of £158,000 - brings adult physiotherapy, children’s occupational therapy and physiotherapy, orthotics and the some of the podiatry service together under one roof.

Chairman Paul Garvin and Barbara Inman cut the ribbon

Welcome to new staff A warm welcome to our new staff who provide speech and language therapy to children across County Durham and Darlington.

The new team are pictured here at their induction day with the clinical director for out of hospital services Linda Watson who has now left the trust, professional lead for children’s speech and language therapy Marian Bateson and children’s team leader Alison Thompson.

Trekking for charity Coronary heart disease specialist nurse lead Janine O’Rourke took part in a trek to the base camp part of Mount Everest.

Janine helped raise £6,450 from the trek, all of which was donated to the British Heart Foundation.

She also help raise some funds for the cardiac rehabilitation group – holding a Christmas get together and raffle and a Boxing Day dip.

Excellent feedback for basic and advanced knee arthroscopic surgery courses Two courses held in the trust recently have received excellent feedback from delegates. On two consecutive days the trust hosted a basic and advanced course on the arthroscopic surgical techniques of the knee. Twenty four delegates came from all over the region and further afield for the courses which were held at the University Hospital of North Tees.

Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Sanjeev Anand said: “We tailored these courses to meet the needs of surgeons at various stages of their training. Day one was the basic arthroscopy training with sessions on some of the common basic surgical techniques. We also talked about the importance of good post-operative care and record keeping. Day two concentrated on advanced techniques in knee surgery such as cartilage and ligament repairs and reconstructions.

26 Anthem | Issue 37

“It’s absolutely vital for knee surgeons to have this level of knowledge so they can offer the very best and most effective care for their patients.

“Our aim was to have a balance of teaching and practical sessions so that people not only learned but had the opportunity to practise the techniques. Delegates had a chance to practice techniques on anatomically correct simulated knee models, in conditions mimicking real life theatre setting. From what we’ve been told we seem to have achieved that, which is excellent.

“The orthopaedic team is keen to hold more events and the feedback has been very good in helping us to develop future courses. A big thank you should go to all the colleagues especially consultant surgeon Neil Bayliss and Jackie Bliss and Lynn Laidler in the education department who worked together to make these events a success.”

Horden raises money for new cubicles in breast unit People in Horden got together to raise £625 for the breast unit at the University Hospital of Hartlepool.

Members updated about improving care Hand and wrist and community dental services were on the agenda at the first member event of the year.

The event at the Middlefield Centre at the University Hospital of North Tees chairman Paul Garvin welcomed members and governors and introduced the speakers.

Consultant surgeon Alan Middleton began by explaining the history of hand and wrist surgery, the recommendations

Jill Kirkbride

by the British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH) over the The job of the number of team was to make consultants their patients needed dental healthy to meet the needs for at least of people five years. and told about developments in the service. Theatre nurse specialist Jill Kirkbride then described the services provided at One Life Hartlepool where patients can be assessed by the consultant or specialist nurse and those needing surgery who are otherwise healthy and do not have any complex medical problems can have it as a day case there.

Senior dental nurse Debra Williams told members about the service and explained that the job of the team was to make their patients dental healthy for at least five years and to encourage them to form good habits such as brushing and getting dental check-ups.

Oral health promotion co-ordinator Wendy McGee explained about the work of the oral health promotion department and showed some images of children with tooth decay.

The Horden Parish Council chairwoman, councillor Jean White, raised the funds at her charity night, which is held at Horden Social Welfare Centre every year in aid of different causes.

Jean presented a cheque to breast care nurse Karen Milburn at the centre recently.

Jean said: “Every year I have a charity night in my capacity as chairwoman and I choose different causes to donate the funds to each year. This year we split all the money raised between the breast unit and the British Heart Foundation.

“Locally, we know a woman who has been treated in the breast unit and we know the amazing work staff there do. We just wanted to raise as much as we could and leave it to the unit to make as best use of it as they can.”

The night included music from the ‘Hudson Sisters’, food and drinks, a raffle and a tombola.

Karen said: “On behalf of everyone in the breast unit I would like to thank the community in Horden for helping raise this money.

“In the unit we have plans to design separate cubicles for patients who are getting changed when having mammograms. This money will go a long way to helping us do this work.”

Anthem | Spring 2015 27

Three peaks challenge for unit

Think you’re having a heart attack?

Phone 999

Staff at SG Petch in Darlington raised funds for the chemotherapy day unit at the University Hospital of North Tees as well as donating a fridge, digital radio and heat pads.

Doctors at the trust are reminding people to phone 999 if they have serious chest pain that could be a heart attack.

The reminder comes after doctors became concerned that patients have arrived at the cardiac investigations unit at the University Hospital of Hartlepool with serious chest pain.

Staff in the unit have been able to stabilise the patient while an ambulance is called to take them to the most appropriate hospital.

However Dr Vineet Wadehra, a consultant cardiologist at the trust said: “Since 2005, patients with certain types of heart attack have been taken directly to the cardiology unit at The James Cook University Hospital for immediate emergency treatment.

“Patients experiencing other types of heart attack have been taken to accident and emergency at the University Hospital of North Tees.

This initial assessment to determine the type of heart attack must be done by the highly trained staff in the ambulance service and treatment will also be started at the scene.

“People experiencing chest pain must never drive themselves to hospital or assume going to the nearest place will give them the best outcome.

“We want people to get to the right team, first time so their chance of survival and a good recovery is maximised.

Every minute counts.”

28 Anthem | Issue 37

Dawn Marley and John Austin handing over the cheque and equipment to ward matron Val Storey

John Austin, Lisa Austin, Dawn Marley and Jon Wright successfully completed the three peaks challenge – raising £1,000.

The four put £265 towards the unit as well as buying them the new equipment. They also gave £500 to the Trinity Holistic Centre at James Cook University Hospital.

UK first takes place in Stockton The colorectal unit of University Hospital of North Tees has hosted the UK’s first ever single port laparoscopic colorectal course in its education and learning centre.

Laparoscopic (sometimes known as keyhole) surgery is normally performed through a number of incisions (cuts) in the abdomen (tummy) which allow a fibre optic camera and surgical instruments to be passed through the cuts.

This technique is performed through a single cut or hole by placing a complex device on the skin to support the instruments. The technique was introduced into the hospital by consultant surgeon Talvinder Gill. His surgical colleagues David Borowski and Dharmendra Garg are now also performing the procedure. With hundreds of procedures between them, the unit is now the UK This would not leader in this leading have been possible edge technique. without everyone’s After an operation with this technique, patients passion and experience less pain and recovery is faster. commitment.

There is a far smaller risk of infection and the patient stays

in hospital for less time.

Eight delegates from parts of the UK and as far away as Austria spent two days watching the trust’s surgeons perform the leading edge surgical technique through videoconferencing linked to the operating theatre.

The first session saw surgeon Dharmendra Garg on a video link talking through a live procedure as it was being performed. On the second day the delegates practised the technique on specially designed manikins in the trust’s new laparoscopy lab.

In welcoming the delegates chief executive Alan Foster said: “In my time here as chief executive I have always supported and encouraged our clinicians to introduce leading edge techniques which benefit patients. I am delighted to welcome you here to share in this work and I hope you can take back these techniques to benefit patients in your own areas.”

Talvinder Gill said: “On behalf of the surgical team I would like to say a very big thank you to everyone who was involved in making this event a success. Everything went very smoothly. This would not have been possible without everyone’s passion and commitment. We had excellent feedback from all the participants and we hope this event is the first of many.”

Goodbye Philip Colleagues and patients from the past and present gathered to say farewell to consultant haematologist Philip Mounter (pictured) who left the trust after 13 years.

Team spirit - everyone in the elective care unit plays a part in ensuring the patient has good experience of care

Nothing but praise from Peter Peter Tate has nothing but praise for the people in various parts of the NHS who have treated him.

The 67-year-old from Hartlepool is thankfully recovering from prostate cancer and is very grateful for the care he has had from the urology team at the University Hospital of North Tees and the radiotherapy team at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

His most recent experience has been to have his right hip replaced at the University Hospital of Hartlepool. Peter said: “Both my hips need doing because I’ve got arthritis. I had a chat in outpatients with the consultant and we agreed the right one was worse and needed doing first.”

From his pre-operative care right through to his post-operative care he says the care could not have been better. He came into hospital on 27 January, the morning of his surgery which was performed by consultant orthopaedic surgeon Siu Tang. He had a spinal anaesthetic and, unlike most patients, who listen to music during the procedure, he chose to listen to the sounds in the operating theatre.

“There was no pain. I just listened to the surgeon chopping away,” said Peter: “I was even joking with Mr Tang that I could take the bone away for the dog!”

After his operation he was taken to the dedicated elective care unit where he said the care was second to none. The hardest part, he said, was lying on his back. During a particularly difficult night he was very grateful to the

healthcare assistant who saw he was uncomfortable and arrange to have his mattress changed at two in the morning.

Peter said: “People came to see me all the time and always explained very clearly when I asked questions. The food was great as well.”

Getting back on his feet was an achievement made possible by a determined physiotherapist.

He said: “She gave me so much confidence in such a short time, it was unbelievable.”

Eight weeks on and Peter is looking forward to get back to his beloved fishing and kicking a ball around with his six year old grandson.

He concluded: “I’m following all the instructions I’ve been given to look after my new joint. I sleep with a pillow between my legs to relieve the pressure on the hip but I can sleep on either side now so that’s really helping. I haven’t come this far to spoil things now.

“I’m hoping to get my other hip done in September and I’ve got total confidence in the people who took such great care of me.

They’re fabulous.”

Hartlepool hip service is just the job for Sheila from Stockton When Sheila Wright from Stockton was informed she was to have her hip replacement in the University Hospital of Hartlepool she was quite happy.

Sheila, 73 from Fairfield, had a knee replacement in the unit six years ago and she knew the team in the dedicated surgical and orthopaedic unit would take good care of her.

“You really get the care here,” said Sheila. “The whole process is excellent from the preoperative care and assessment right through to the aftercare.

And when you’re in hospital the whole team is absolutely great.

“Everyone in the nursing, medical, therapy and support team is cheerful and they have you laughing which is what you need.”

Everything Sheila needed was put in place at home before she came into hospital by the trust’s occupational therapy and Homeward teams who also support patients when they leave hospital.

Sheila was able to take advantage of leading edge anaesthetics. She had a spinal anaesthetic (which people normally associate with maternity) and she listened to her favourite band music on her MP3 player throughout the procedure which was performed by consultant orthopaedic

surgeon Mr Nick Cooke.

Husband Bill was happy to make the 32 mile round trip knowing that Sheila was in good hands throughout her stay.

Ward manager Linda Wildberg, who is in charge of the elective care unit at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, said: “We look after patients who are otherwise quite fit and well and whose surgery is low risk. Unlike years ago when people used to spend a lot of time in bed we now know that getting people up and about and back to normal as quickly as possible is the best care for joint replacement.

“It’s very much a team effort here. Every single person in the unit has a part of play in making the experience as good as it can possibly be for the patient.

That’s what we’re all about.

Word gets around about the type of care people can expect when they come to Hartlepool.

We have people choosing to come here from far and wide.”

When asked what she would say to people from Stockton and other areas if they are offered an operation in Hartlepool, Sheila said: “You can’t beat the team at the University Hospital of Hartlepool. They bend over backwards and a bit more for patients.

“The food is lovely as well. I had a roast dinner on Sunday; it was delicious!”

Anthem | Spring 2015 29

Award of excellence for Simona

Orthopaedic outpatient nurse practitioner Simona McDonald has been presented with an award of excellence for her mentoring of student nurses from Teesside University.

Senior nurse, practice placements, Jean Angus said: “We ask students to evaluate their placement experience on line. One of the students said everyone in the department was helpful but Simona stood out and was an excellent mentor. No question was too trivial for her and she always had time to explain things.”

Ward matron Tracy Noble said: “This is the first time someone in the department has received an award of excellence. In Simona’s case it’s well deserved. She is a fantastic role model for students and an asset to our team.”

Simona said: “I was a bit shocked when this arrived but it’s lovely to be recognised for something I love so much and do every day.”

Simona with some of her colleagues from orthopaedic outpatients

iPad helping palliative care patients live at home Being told that the life you had planned for yourself is to be cut short is devastating enough.

Loss of control and independence, the transition from being able bodied to disabled only adds to the heavy burden that patients can feel when diagnosed with a life limiting illness.

To help give patients control back, Macmillan occupational therapist Helen Caudren put forward an idea for staff to use iPads to help describe to patients and their carers how equipment will look in their own homes and how to use them safely.

She said: “Most patients want to live the final part of their lives in their own home with their family, where they are comfortable and happy. “ We assess what they may need in order for them to be able to remain at home and live a normal and independent life, for as long as they are able to.

“To do this we usually have to prescribe equipment and adaptations such as wheelchairs, ramps, or adapted cutlery to help that patient.

“Often when the equipment was received, the patient feedback often was that the piece of equipment to be too big, ‘disabled looking’ or disruptive to family life.”

Helen and specialist therapy

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technician Jean Abbey (pictured) are now using the iPad to help clear up any misunderstandings and put patients at ease.

Helen said: “I thought if we could start using iPads, it would allow us to show palliative patients and their families or carers images of the equipment or adaptation we plan to prescribe for them.

“It has meant patients can make an informed choice about how it will look in their home, how it will operate and how it will improve their independence. For example, when a carer asked ‘will the wheelchair fit into my car?’ I could show them the wheelchair, how it folds to make transporting easier then discuss any further areas of concern.

“The iPad has helped fully engage patients and their family in the selection of equipment, preparing them for its arrival, reducing any emotional distress and making them feel more in control of what is happening.

“My role is to help the person affected by a life limiting illness to regain a level of independence in activities that are meaningful to them to improve their quality of life and this has helped do that.”

Faecal transplant first for trust

A Stockton man is the first patient on Teesside to have undergone a leading edge transplantation technique for a bowel disorder.

Len Barnes, 75 from Eaglescliffe, suffered from constant pain and diarrhoea as a result of the bowel infection Clostridium Difficile (CDiff). He lost his appetite and over three stones in weight; weight which he couldn’t really afford to lose. Numerous courses of antibiotics during long spells in hospital were not making a difference.

When consultant gastroenterologist Chris Wells suggested a faecal transplant, Len thought he was joking.

“I’d never heard of it before,” he said: “I thought, come on, you’re taking the mickey. Dr Wells explained that mixing healthy poo with my poo and transferring it back into my bowel mixed with warm I’d never heard of water would give it before, I thought, someone’s come on, you’re healthy bacteria taking the mickey. the chance to fight with

Consultant physician Chris Wells

Len and Debbie Barnes

my bad bacteria. He said one transplant should do it but it might need a second to fully sort out my bowel.”

The next thing was to find a donor but daughter Debbie, who’d do anything for her dad, didn’t hesitate. Fifty-two-year-old hotel general manager Debbie’s stools were tested to make sure they were suitable and free from harmful bacteria. On the day of the transplant in the endoscopy suite at the University Hospital of North Tees, Debbie’s stools were mixed in warm water and put into Len’s bowel. The procedure took about an hour.

Len said: “I had a bit of sedation but watched it all happening on the screen in the endoscopy unit. It was interesting! I knew it had worked straightaway. The next day Dr Wells said I could go home and I said hadn’t been to the toilet. He said, you will! I was almost looking forward to it!

Sure enough, when the time came I was fine and everything was back to normal.”

Chris Wells said: “Faecal transplantation doesn’t sound very appealing but it’s a very effective remedy in patients like Len who have a serious CDiff bowel infection that hasn’t responded to first and second line treatments. It’s great to see Len looking well after all the suffering he has been through.

“Transplanting faeces from one person

to another does seem a bit unusual but actually it’s using healthy gut bacteria to fight off infection. Our bowels are packed full of billions of bacteria and these play an important role in maintaining health.

Treatments, such as antibiotics, can disrupt this balance and allow bad bacteria to grow in the bowel and upset health.

This seems a sensible way to restore normal balance.

“We are pleased to be able to offer this treatment in the trust. We have seen a significant reduction in the number of CDiff cases in the trust over the past few years. Prevention is obviously preferable to cure but it is reassuring to know that we now have availability of faecal transplant treatment in the future if we need it.”

When asked what he’d say to other people offered this treatment Len said: It’s great to see Len “Go for it. looking well after all Admittedly the suffering he has it’s a bit of an out of the been through. box idea but it has changed my life.”

Anthem | Spring 2015 31

Visitors sample portions of patient food

Chief executive Alan Foster helps to serve patients their food Judges score the cakes in the staff bake off

It’s food for thought Activities were held across the trust to raise awareness about the importance of proper nutrition and hydration of patients.

Nutrition and Hydration Week began with an opportunity for hospital visitors to taste samples of patient food.

The following day non clinical staff volunteered to work on the wards to serve patients their lunch. This was an extension of the trust’s ‘mealtime companions’ scheme launched last year which has seen many non ward based staff volunteer regularly to help meal services on the wards.

Later in the week staff served patients drinks and cakes at their bedsides as part of a worldwide afternoon tea. The week then ended with a staff cake baking competition.

Head of catering Colin Chapman said: “There is evidence that poor nutrition and hydration can harm patients’ health and wellbeing and reduce or prevent their ability to recover. Poor and inconsistent practice in nutrition and hydration care can also lead to serious and avoidable harm.

“The week is all about raising awareness around the need for good nutrition and

hydration and recognising we all have a role to play in improving the health and well-being of those in our care.

“Every year the week is growing in popularity. It’s proving to be a fantastic way of showing people what we are doing here and how important what they eat and drink is to their health.

The week was part of a campaign of joint action by the Hospital Caterers Association, National Association of Care Catering and NHS England to improve awareness of good nutrition and hydration for patients in health and social care.

Save a life – spot sepsis Each year in the UK, around 100,000 people are admitted to hospital with sepsis and around 37,000 people will die as a result of the condition. More people in the UK die from sepsis every year than die of bowel cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer put together.

Sepsis is a common and potentially life-threatening condition triggered by

Thinking sepsis saves lives.

32 Anthem | Issue 37

an infection where the body’s immune system goes into overdrive. It sets off a series of reactions including widespread inflammation, swelling and blood clotting.

This can lead to a significant decrease in blood pressure, which can mean the blood supply to vital organs such as the brain, heart and kidneys is reduced. If it’s not treated quickly, sepsis can eventually lead to multiple organ failure and death.

Early symptoms of sepsis usually develop quickly and can include: • a high temperature (fever) • chills and shivering • a fast heartbeat • fast breathing In some cases, symptoms of more severe sepsis or septic shock (when your blood pressure drops to a dangerously low level) develop soon after. These can include: • feeling dizzy or faint • confusion or disorientation • nausea and vomiting • diarrhoea • cold, clammy and pale or mottled skin Sepsis is a clinical emergency, requires immediate attention and merits same sense of urgency as other medical emergencies such as stroke and heart attacks).

Consultant anaesthetist and intensivist

It’s vitally important that we recognise and treat sepsis as soon as possible.

Farooq Brohi, who is the trust lead for sepsis, said: “It’s vitally important that we as health professionals recognise and treat sepsis as soon as possible. It’s also important for the public to recognise the signs because time is everything.

“The trust’s sepsis group has held stalls and other information sessions during the week to keep sepsis awareness high among health professionals and the public.

“Two thirds of people who get sepsis survive because the illness is recognised and treated quickly. We’re asking people to think sepsis.

“Health professionals have clearly laid down procedures to follow if sepsis is suspected.

If members of the public suspect it in a friend or loved one, it’s vital to seek medical attention straightaway.

“Thinking sepsis saves lives.”

You can find out more about sepsis at: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Bloodpoisoning/Pages/Introduction.aspx http://www.sepsistrust.org/external_ link/survivesepsis-org/ http://www.rcem.ac.uk/Shop-Floor/ Clinical%20Standards/Sepsis

Stroke donation in memory of Charlie Members of the Hartlepool Indoor Bowls Club raised funds for the stroke unit in memory of one of its former presidents.

It was 11 years ago when Sandra Hindmarch rushed husband Charlie to the University Hospital of Hartlepool after he suffered a sudden stroke.

Following the stroke, Charlie spent 22 days in the unit before sadly passing away.

Sandra, who is 66, who is the current club president, said: “It was a huge shock to me and to everyone who knew Charlie.

“We hadn’t been married long and we had so much to look forward to. He was only 59, in good health and it was totally unexpected. It still gets me very upset now thinking about it.

“When he was taken to Hartlepool hospital we were told he wouldn’t survive longer than 48 hours – he actually went on to be in there for 22 days, receiving treatment.

“We were so pleased with the care he received while he was unit – I wanted to do something to show my thanks to them.”

Every year the club holds a raffle

and bowls competition, donating the funds to a chosen charity.

This year the event helped raise £433 for the unit.

Sandra added: “This money will go towards improving the care for patients who have suffered a stroke. That really helps me feel as if we have made a

difference. I would like to thank all of the people who helped us raise this money.”

Consultant geriatrician Helen Skinner said: “We would like to thank Sandra and everyone at the club who helped raise these funds for stroke services at the trust.

I would like to thank all of the people who helped us raise this money.

“This will be used in buying an iPad with applications for speech and language therapy to increase the amount of speech and language therapy that patients receive.”

Sandra presents Helen Skinner with the cheque

Lawrence joins hand and wrist service A warm welcome to consultant orthopaedic surgeon Lawrence Ajekigbe who has joined consultants Alan Middleton and Marteinn Magnusson to further develop and expand the hand and wrist service.

It’s very much a team effort, with consultants working closely with therapists, nurses and extended scope practitioners, healthcare assistants and theatre staff as well as administrative support to provide a service in Peterlee, Hartlepool and Stockton. The service provides care and treatment for patients, with carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger and as well as removal of cysts. There is also a hand trauma clinic and theatre sessions for patients with injured hands or fingers. Clinical director of orthopaedics Chris Tulloch said: “We’re delighted to have Lawrence join the team.

We’re now able to offer a wider range of hand and wrist care and treatment at more locations making the service more convenient for patients.”

Anthem | Spring 2015 33

Let’s Dance for charity Two members of staff got their dancing shoes on for charity.

Chaplain Dave Russon and occupational therapist Nina Bedding took part in Let’s Dance, a Strictly Come Dancing style event at Hartlepool Borough Hall.

Dave danced with his wife Madeline while Nina danced with her husband Sacha.

All funds raised were donated to the Hartlepool branch of the NSPCC.

Member events

Members’

noticeboard

ting Council of goveofrnourormesmbmerseewho help shape ce The governors are the voi lic are mbers and the general pub Me st. tru the the future of r times fou d meetings which are hel welcome to observe the at 9am at y Jul is on Thursday 16 a year. The next meeting . tion ther Educa Hartlepool College of Fur

ds you! . We want e e n t s u tr r u Yo w members to recruit ne e truly

us so that we ar Please help d that membership r ou se ea we serve an cr to in community e cal th lo r of ei e th tiv volved with representa in e m co nd be can and frie s more people e your family ag ur co en e as gn them up hospital. Ple ember and si m a as t to include us don’t forget to join the tr t bu , rm fo ched rms to using the atta completed fo lease return P Wing, ! th ils or ta N de your e, 4th floor ic ff t, O p hi rs undation Trus The Membe pool NHS Fo tle ar .

H E d 8P an 19 North Tees on Tees, TS d, Stockton aged Hardwick Roa om anyone like to hear fr ial ly al nt ci te pe po es of We would a number ve ha e n w ca u old as with. Yo 16-25 years d be involved , ul uk co s. ey nh th h. opportunities g us on membership@nt k .u hs .n tin th ac .n ng at www join by cont yi pl ap , 20 3839 calling 01642

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust endorse any of the products or services.

34 Anthem | Issue 37

Members and anyone who is interested are invited to attend the next event on 25 July, 9.30-11.30am, at the University Hospital of North Tees.

The events are free, but you need to book a place. For more details please contact the membership office.

Board of directors meetin gs

The board of directors me et around six times a year. Members of the pub lic and staff are welcome to observe the meetings.

This is your chance to see how the board operate s and gain first hand knowledge on the trust’s latest developments.

Spaces to attend the me etings are limited so please contact the private office on 01642 383563 in advanc e to secure your place. The next board of directors meeting is on Thursday 28 May at 1pm in the University Hospital of North Tees boa rdroom.

Membership cards

The membership card entitles members to staff rates at any of the Wilbers Coffee Shop outlets at the University Hospi tal of North Tees or Hartlepo ol, as well as access to NHS discou nts. To obtain your membership card, please contact the me mbership office on 01642 383920 or membership@nth.nhs.u k.

Every possible care has been taken to ensure that the information given in this publication is accurate. Whilst the publisher would be grateful to learn of any errors, it cannot accept any liability over and above the cost of the advertisement for loss there by caused.

Octagon Marketing Company Ltd has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does Octagon Marketing Company Ltd endorse any of the products or services. No reproduction by any method whatsoever of any part of this publication is permitted without prior written consent of the copyright owners.

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North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

Join us!

As a member of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust you will join thousands of other like minded people who support our work.

It’s free to join and you can be involved as little or as much as you like.

Membership reply form

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About you (please tick as appropriate)

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• To become a member you need to be over 16 years

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You will have the opportunity to: • help improve your local services

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I apply to be a member of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust. I agree to be bound by the rules of such an organisation. I consent to the processing of my personal information for the purposes of my membership by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.

• j ust offer your support to the trust and its services You will have instant access to NHS Discounts once you’re registered and the chance to be entered into a prize draw. If you ask for a membership card you can take advantage of reduced rates in any of our Wilbers coffee outlets.

Our membership office is always pleased to hear from people who may be interested in becoming a member of the trust.

Anyone who is over the age of 16 can become a member by: •c ontacting the membership office on 01642 383765

Signature

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• emailing membership@nth.nhs.uk •c ompleting the online application form at www.nth.nhs.uk/ joinustoday If you have a QR app you can click here to apply on line.

Or alternatively please fill in this membership application form and send it to the membership office.

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Would you like us to keep in touch with you by email

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Please return to: Membership Office, University Hospital of North Tees, Hardwick, Stockton on Tees TS19 8PE Email: membership@nth.nhs.uk Call: 01642 383765 Online: www.nth.nhs.uk The data you supply will be used only to contact you about the trust, membership or other related issues and will be stored in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Full details available on request.

Anthem | Spring 2015 35

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Hill Care group of homes in the North East are backing a fundraising campaign to raise money for the NSPCC. Anne Waddicor is a 75 year old lady who lives in Yorkshire and only last year had a hip replacement operation; she is walking 22 miles on the 22nd April to raise as much money as possible for the NSPCC. Anne has completed several fundraising walks for this charity over the years and wanted to go the extra mile or 22 miles to both challenge herself as well as raising money for our future generations.

Hill Care homes one of which is Queens Meadow based in Hartlepool along with The Gables in Middlesbrough and the 3 Homes in Stockton namely Mandale House, The Beeches and Ingleby are all behind Anne’s campaign to raise money for such a worthwhile charity. Please look out for fundraising events in your local home.

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To donate to Anne’s fundraising please go to ‘Just Giving’ and search for liz-jones16 to donate.

If you have any questions or would like to know more information please contact Liz Jones on 07989 527046.

36 Anthem | Issue 37

OCTAGON M A R K E T I NG COM PA N Y LT D

Anthem | Spring 2015 37

Come and red house visit school open morning Saturday 9th MAY 201 5 10am-1pm .

OUR EARLY YEARS MAKE SUCH A DIFFERENCE TO THE PERSON WE GROW UP TO BE.

A

t Red House School we keep the whole journey in mind. Our experience shows that a well-rounded education, filled with cocurricular activities, leads to so much more than academic success. Children discover the confidence to grasp the opportunities that life will present beyond the classroom.

Of course academic success matters and our record backs that up; we are ranked the No. 1 CoEducational Independent School in England without a 6th form in the latest Sunday Times Parent Power League Tables, but at Red House we believe that exam results are not the sole indicator of a child’s capabilities. That is why we create a positive and supportive environment where children are nurtured to achieve their full potential, not only academically, but in all aspects of school life. Indeed, we know that academic improvement often stems from the self-belief found in sport, music, theatre or travel.

38 Anthem | Issue 37

Our school ethos is built around giving children a complete education: physical, intellectual and emotional development gained from a wide range of experiences within a broad and balanced curriculum.

Teachers are given the time to care for every child so that their individual talents emerge and develop. By retaining smaller classes, children feel more secure about contributing.

Red House School has a unique family atmosphere.

We encourage parents to become involved in their child’s education, weaving a close-knit community among teachers, children and parents, so that the best results are achieved.

The best way to experience life at Red House is to visit the school. Our next Open Morning is Saturday 9th May 2015 10 am – 1 pm.

For further information contact Mrs Claire Bellerby, Head of Admissions, on 01642 553370 or email claire.bellerby@redhouseschool.co.uk

Anthem | Spring 2015 39

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