North Tees and Hartlepool
Issue 40 Winter 2016
NHS Foundation Trust
Endoscopy training centre opened page 16
Diabetic eye screening service celebrates 10 years pages 23
New patient record system brought in page 15
Cilla out of hospital in 24 hours with pacemaker operation page 25
Rebecca joins team 3 to Cambodia
Thank you Doctor Angie Foundation doctor Angie Reeve was touched to receive a hand written letter thanking her for care given to an elderly patient. Angie was sent the letter by the son of a patient being cared for in the stroke unit at the University Hospital of North Tees. The letter, sent to ‘Dear Doctor Angie’, thanked her and all staff in the unit for ‘all you are doing for my mum’. Angie, who spent more than 20 years working as a nurse before deciding to retrain, said: “I was really touched to be sent such a lovely letter. “We all work in the NHS to make a difference – receiving thanks like this makes it all even more worth it.”
Retirement Colleagues from the Leven Unit at the University Hospital of North Tees gathered to say farewell to Duncan Stewart, oral/maxillofacial associate specialist, who after over 40 years’ service is retiring from the trust. We wish him all the best for the future!
Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd specialise in gaining advertising support for magazines so Anthem is now produced, packaged, distributed and delivered at minimal cost to the trust. 2 Anthem | Issue 40
Rebecca Parker, anaesthetic registrar and junior doctor at the University Hospital of North Tees joined the third team to travel to the Battambang Referral Hospital with the charity Transform Healthcare Cambodia. Rebecca wrote and developed a training programme focussing on the recognition and treatment of the deteriorating patient in the resource poor environment. The training programme called UPSTART© included a training manual, presentations, interactive small group work, and an informal assessment. In total 60 Khmer healthcare staff and medical students at the hospital took part in the training sessions, which were delivered over two days. Rebecca said: “I was very pleased with the way the teaching programme ran. All the staff were really engaged in the sessions and the progress in both knowledge and skills was evident. We also received some really positive feedback from both the staff and hospital management. Having devoted so much time to the writing and development of the project over the last six months it was very rewarding to receive such positive feedback” The team was led by former director of nursing Sue Smith who is now director of nursing at Morecambe Bay Hospitals. When Sue was at the trust she set up the charity with medical director David Emerton and former consultant in palliative care Edwin Pugh. Sue says: “The charity were very lucky to find Rebecca. She did some amazing work in Cambodia and she should feel very proud. The whole team should. “Rebecca’s training also included teaching on sepsis. The Sepsis Trust in the UK have been in contact with us to say how impressed they’ve been with the work we’re doing. They’ve also expressed an interest in joining us on a future trip” Rebecca added: “I first got involved with the charity after my mum saw an article in the Northern Echo. UPSTART© was originally written and delivered at Galle University, Sri Lanka in 2012. I was looking for an opportunity to extend the project and Cambodia gave me the chance to do that. “For me, the highlight of the trip was finding out that staff who had attended the
training, with help from our team, were able to save a patient’s life while I was still training the remaining staff. To know that the training manual I wrote saved a life is just phenomenal. It shows that the teaching works and is understood. I enjoyed every minute of my time in Cambodia and look forward to returning next year to build on the progress made, begin advanced resuscitation training and help them develop their own in house training programme.” Transform Healthcare Cambodia is, according to The British Embassy in Cambodia, quite unique in its approach to supporting long-term, sustainable care through training staff and helping them to understand how they can use resources available to them locally. The next team from Transform Healthcare Cambodia leave in February 2016 and will be led by senior lecturer in the School of Health and Social Care at Teesside University, Graham Jones. The team also includes consultant in diabetes care Sue Jones and two fourth year medical students from Newcastle University. Rebecca and her team of instructors plan to return to Cambodia in November 2016 as part of Team 5. To find out more about Transform Healthcare Cambodia, to volunteer or make a donation, visit: www.transformhealthcarecambodia.org.uk or follow them on Facebook: www.facebook. com/transformhealthcarecambodia - You can also follow the charity’s work on Twitter www.twitter.com/THCambodia
Rebecca trains on airways, breathing and circulation
Rebecca (centre front) with the team and hospital staff
Kirsty McKay from Serenity Therapies
Promoting health and wellbeing on National Stress Awareness Day
New digital publication on the way for members! This is the last issue of our Anthem magazine in its current format. Our next issue of Anthem will be provided to its members in its new digital format and we want to take the opportunity to let you know of the changes and allow you to share your thoughts with us. Company secretary Barbara Bright said: “We currently have over 6,000 public members and we post Anthem out to 4,000 members four times a year. Keeping with current trends and changes in technology We all have a we realise part to play in publications are helping the trust now provided to their readers save money through a digital format so they can be accessed on the go or at home through smartphones, computers and tablets. The trust is always looking for ways to improve its magazine as well as reduce printing and posting costs, especially in the current financial climate the NHS is facing. However it is very important to us that we are still able to keep members up to date with news and developments from the trust.
“We appreciate not all members are able to receive Anthem through email or in a digital format so we will still provide our members with a printed copy of Anthem for those who require it.” We would also love to hear from our members’ with their views on what they would like to see in our new look magazine. Barbara said: “Currently our thoughts are to have fewer pages, shorter stories and for the few hard copies that are printed to have the magazine printed on lighter paper so it can be folded to save on postage costs.” Barbara added: “We really want to hear our members’ views. We all have a part to play in helping the trust save money, but keeping people informed is also important so please get in touch and tell us what you think”. Please e-mail or send us your views and also confirm whether you wish to receive a printed version of the Anthem magazine. Our contact details are membership@nth.nhs.uk, call 01642 383765 or write to Barbara Bright, company secretary, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospital of North Tees, Hardwick, Stockton on Tees, TS19 8PE by 12 February 2016.
To mark National Stress Awareness Day today, the trust held an event in partnership with staff side to raise awareness of stress and promote the support available to staff, aimed at encouraging good mental health and wellbeing. Staff had the opportunity to visit stands with representatives from occupational health, human resources, local improvement services team, trade union representatives and chaplains. Kirsty McKay, a qualified holistic therapist from Serenity Therapies, also provided complementary Indian head massages and reflexology to staff. Associate director of support services Ian Clough said: “In our busy lives some stress may be unavoidable and we often don’t realise how much it is affecting our health. “The trust is doing a lot to support staff. We have a fantastic occupational health and wellbeing service which provides support to our staff. “This event was a fantastic opportunity to promote some of the things people can do to ease stress, such as exercising, eating well, using relaxation techniques and focusing on the positive aspects in your life.”
Organisation development support Elaine Mirfin and organisation development practitioner Louise Samuel
Chaplains Robert Cooper and Phillip Bishop Anthem | Winter 2016 3
A quilt is a hug you can keep Volunteers from a group which makes beautiful handmade quilts paid a visit to poorly babies and children to make a donation.
Goodbye Brian Colleagues gathered to say goodbye to ultrasound manager Brian Allan, after 22 years’ service Brian is leaving us for his new post of regional ultrasound manager for the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We wish him all the best for the future!
Marjorie Cook and Irene Carter from Project Linus visited the children’s ward and the neonatal unit at the University Hospital of North Tees to donate 42 quilts. The not for profit group accept donations of quilts and blankets, then supply these to sick or disadvantaged babies and children. Marjorie, the co-ordinator for the Stockton on Tees branch of Project Linus, said: “Project Linus is a volunteer organisation, where we aim to provide a sense of security and
comfort to sick and distressed children across the UK through the provision of homemade patchwork quilts. All of our quilts are donated and lovingly made by the local residents and distributed to the local community. “It’s fantastic to know that these quilts will be given to these brave children who will really appreciate them.” Ward matron in the children’s ward Vicki Whitfield said: “We are so grateful to Project Linus for donating these beautiful blankets. We have lots of patients who spend a lot of time in the ward and who would be thrilled to be given one of these blankets to keep. For more information visit the group’s Facebook page https://www.facebook. com/LinusStockton1/
Sarah is pictured left, with her colleague Gillian Fox, healthcare assistant and deep vein thrombosis link nurse.
Deep vein thrombosis Simply the best! awareness Health care assistant Sarah Barrass from the elective care unit at the University Hospital of Hartlepool has set up a display on the ward to advise patients and visitors the importance of preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot in one of the deep veins in the body. It can cause pain and swelling in the leg and can lead to complications such as pulmonary embolism, this is when a piece of blood clot breaks off into the bloodstream and blocks one of the blood vessels in the lungs. Sarah said ‘patients who have to stay in bed after surgery are at a high risk of developing DVT, we fit them with calf pumps which assist in keeping the blood flowing while the patient is unable to move around. Once the patient is mobile again we encourage them to move around little and often to help prevent DVT’. 4 Anthem | Issue 40
Friends and colleagues wished domestic services manager Margaret Brown farewell as she retired from the trust after 41 years. Margaret, who will be missed by everyone who she has worked with, was described as always doing a remarkable job, with
energy and enthusiasm. Speaking at her retirement presentation. Margaret thanked all the amazing people she has met and worked with over the years. She said she has enjoyed every moment. Wishing you all the very best for your retirement Margaret.
The choir
Chief executive Alan Foster welcomes visitors
New look chapel provides and oasis of calm A special event was held to mark the re-opening of the newly refurbished chapel at the University Hospital of North Tees.
Those who attended were welcomed by chief executive Alan Foster, poems from Dave Russon and Mel McEvoy about life in the hospital and a display of visual images were used to support the reflection on the theme of the Tree of Life during the event. Thanks to a very substantial donation of £5000 from the League of Friends, possibilities were opened up and the newlook chapel / Oasis spirituality centre has been transformed into a calm, peaceful and welcoming environment, where everyone is welcome. Lead chaplain Lorraine Millar said: “We wanted to make the chapel/oasis spirituality centre a space accessible to everyone and a place in which everyone can feel safe and welcome.
“We are aware that all people need a space of quiet in difficult times regardless of their beliefs and through the development of the chapel/oasis spirituality centre we hope this can be achieved.” Keen photographer and Chaplain Robert Cooper added: “I have been a photographer for 10 years, so it was very encouraging to see some fantastic photographs of trees taken by members of staff, which are now on display in the chapel. We hope we have created a place that people can call their own.” Lorraine continued: “Within the centre there will be the opportunity to explore our understanding of spiritual care and a variety of activities and displays will help to facilitate this. “We want people to feel at home here. This is the beginning of a new journey. “We would also like to thank the estates and the works department and everyone who made the opening event a success.”
Nurse consultant in palliative care Mel McEvoy
The Hospital Chapel Between the wailing of ambulances arriving blue lights flashing to the black van of the undertakers collecting from the mortuary: we are prayers rising. We are many nations with or without religions all with one impulse to the best for the stranger who waits expectant in our hospital bed. This hospital is a city and the work of staff its soul but its heart is a silent place tucked away near the lifts. A place where all are welcome. Do not enter with too many words. Leave the noise outside.
Chaplaincy team with the League of Friends
In this space silence opens its arms.
Anthem | Winter 2016 5
Our perfect week If you think of a hospital as a road and patients as vehicles on the road it’s easy to see where a bottleneck in one place in a hospital affects patients in another. If patients are unable to go home at one end of the hospital, just like cars in a traffic jam, other patients can be held up in departments like accident and emergency because their way through is blocked. In October the trust held an event called the Perfect Week, designed to look at the way patients flow through the system and the things that get in the way of them having a smooth journey through the hospital. For a whole week the trust worked in what it calls major incident mode with managers from other departments drafted in to act as ward liaison officers. This role was described as being the ward’s voice, supporting the ward staff and escalating any issues which they could not deal with. The week was led by general manager for emergency care Louise Johnson, general manager for in hospital care Sue Piggott and associate This is better director for out for the patient of hospital care Julie Parkes. As and better for nurses themselves the staff. Louise and Sue know only too well how difficult it can be to keep everything working as it should in a busy hospital ward. An occupational therapist by background Julie appreciates the vital role that therapy staff have to play and, as manager of community nurses, how
A huddle on ward 37
community nursing teams can work much more closely with ward staff to make the patient journey seamless.
Helpful huddles
At the beginning of October huddles were introduced in ward areas. These quick daily meetings of doctors, nurses and support staff are designed to make sure everyone on the ward knows every patient, how they are progressing and when they are likely to be able to go home. Working this way enables patients who are ready to be discharged go home earlier in the day. Sue Piggott said: “This is better for the patient and better for the staff. If a patient is ready to go home but they need a prescription, discharge letter or someone to come and collect them they can be transferred and cared for in the discharge lounge. Previously we would have had patients ready to be discharged overlapping with new patients coming in and this does mean at some points in the day we have more patients than beds which is not good for patients or the staff looking after them. Doing things this way means we can get the bed cleaned and changed and make the best use of our beds.”
Eye opening experience for ward liaison officers
Managers from other departments had an eye opening experience when they took on the role of ward liaison officers. Divisional finance manager James Richardson was one of them. He said: “It has been a fantastic insight into how wards function. During the week I’ve been helping to discharge patients, book ambulances and speak to social services. The week highlighted some of the issues stopping patients from being discharged and where the process can be improved.”
Closer working with social care James Richardson from finance who was a ward liaison officer during the week 6 Anthem | Issue 40
During the week Hartlepool Council’s Better Care Fund (BCF) project manager Kelly Bainbridge was out and about with Sue
Sue Piggott, Kelly Bainbridge and Louise Johnson
Piggott and Louise Johnson seeing for herself how processes work. Kelly joined a huddle in the emergency assessment unit and one of the daily briefing meetings. Kelly said: “I’m new to the council and don’t have an NHS background so I come to this with no preconceptions and can ask silly questions, which is great. “From my perspective it’s really useful to be here and I’m really pleased and grateful to have been invited in for our Perfect Week. “I’ll be feeding back into the BCF group so we can improve and streamline processes. It’s very helpful to see the other side of the process; the more we know and understand about each other’s role the more we can work together to improve things for patients.”
Dashboard
Having real time information has been one of the crucial factors in the Perfect Week. Performance analyst Simon Lee created a dashboard so that everyone involved could see clearly how many beds were available, what time patients were being discharged and how many delays there were. Sue Piggott said: “Having access to real time information was a real help. It meant we could take action and make decisions straightaway. Simon did a fantastic job and we’re very grateful to him.
Ward 27 stop for a picture after their huddle
A huddle on ward 25
Rapid response
The trust’s two rapid response teams played an important part in the week. Clinical care co-ordinator Lynn Morgan said: “Ward based staff became much more aware of what the rapid response team could offer. We were involved in the huddles on the wards and we followed patients up who had been transferred to the base wards. “We’re able to do things like continue a course of intravenous antibiotics at home. This saves bed days but more importantly allows the patient to get back to their familiar surroundings to recover; it’s what most patients want when they start to feel a bit better. “Since the Perfect Week ended we’ve actually changed the way we work. We’re still joining in huddles and we’re in the hospital a lot more, following patients up and seeing if they could go home with appropriate care and support. It’s great because we’re improving the patient experience, getting people home earlier and freeing up beds for very sick patients. “In the future we hope to have access to the electronic patient record system so we can track patients ourselves without having to ask the ward staff so they’ve got more time concentrate on patients. “All in all the Perfect Week was a very positive
experience. We all felt energised by it and the way we’re working now is better for patients and better for our teams.”
What next…
Julie Parkes
The week ended and the real work begun. Louise Johnson said: “Sue, Julie It was clear and I want to thank to see the everyone system was who worked working well. tirelessly in the lead up, during and after the Perfect Week. It was clear to see the system was working well. In the future we will not be able to bring managers from other departments onto the wards but the ward staff really appreciated having a liaison officer to support them so we are looking at how we use the resources we’ve got so we can keep the role going. “We’re taking all things we’ve learned and using them to make sure our patients have the best and smoothest experience possible and our staff have the resources and support they need as they care for patients.”
The team of ward liaison officers
Ward 41 in their team meeting
Rapid response team in Stockton (taken Thursday 10 December)
Simon Lee
The senior clinical matrons involved in the perfect week
Rapid response team Hartlepool (left to right) healthcare assistant Pam Stokes, staff nurses Gaynor Whitfield and Linda Anderson, clinical care co-ordinator Lynn Morgan and sisters Katy Ingledew and Wendy Wilson Anthem | Winter 2016 7
Dementia patient shares his story Kate retires Kate Martin, senior social worker has retired from social work practice. Kate has been a social worker for Stockton Borough Council for nearly 30 years before she was employed by our trust to work with the discharge liaison team in 2007. Kate is a highly valued member of the discharge liaison team and is going to be sorely missed by everyone. Have a happy retirement Kate!
Jane picks up top award Congratulations to professor Jane Metcalf who was awarded fellowship of the Academy of Medical Educators (AoME). A team from Medical Education attended the Developing Excellence in Medical Education Conference (DEMEC). The conference was organised jointly by COPMeD, HEE, NACT UK, NES, Wales Deanery, COGPED, AOME, ASME, GMC and MSC. Consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology Dolon Basu, who also attended the event, said: “We are all very proud of Professor Metcalf’s achievement. “The whole team was inspired by the conference, bringing back to the trust ideas and plans to improve education and inspire students and trainees. At the same conference the foundation team along with Dr Louise Nyarko presented a poster on ‘How we solved the problem of Taster uptake’.
A patient in the early stages of dementia spoke to a group of the trust’s dementia champions to talk about living with the condition. Ian Mackie and his wife Mary were invited to a tier 2 training course, held for staff who have volunteered to be dementia champions. Ian first visited his GP after experiencing periods of memory loss and was referred for an MRI scan where he was diagnosed. Ian, a former soldier and maths teacher, said: “Unlike Mary who had to cope with the changes, I didn’t feel anything to be amiss. But having my driving licence automatically rescinded (self-reliance, judgement making and decision taking) led to a period of negative introspection and isolation. In the process, I benefitted from counselling and I learned to share my feelings more and build on routine social relationships. This s a team process which now forms part of our routine weekly lives. For all involved - family, friends, loved ones and the supporting carer community - it is possible to live well with dementia. “Having positive routines in my life helps me greatly. Hobbies such as bowling, walking and bike rides, swimming, war poetry, talking to people and keeping up to date with the news helps. “Life has changed far more for my wife than it has for me - she is my carer and has to deal with the changes in me. But we are tackling it positively.” As a user-carer team, Ian and Mary are involved with several different organisations who help people with dementia. These include the Stockton LiveWell Dementia Hub Network, the Dementia Friendly
Dementia champions with Ian and Mary
Ian and Mary (centre) with dementia champions 8 Anthem | Issue 40
Railway Stations project, the Tees Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust Patient Participation Involvement ‘Ideal Study - Living Well and Enhancing Active Life Project’ Having positive as well as PPI routines in with Newcastle University my life helped Neurological and me greatly. Degenerative Disease Department and raising awareness in schools. Jane Hayllar, one of the trust’s dementia nurses, said: “Everyone was inspired by listening to Ian speak about living with dementia and from Mary about being his carer. “Thank you to both of them for coming in – it gave all of the dementia champions a lot to think about. “All staff are expected to have a good understanding of the issues faced by patients with dementia so they can recognise and support our care for these vulnerable patients.” During the session the group also watched a short film, Barbara’s Story – a story about the experiences of a dementia patient during a hospital visit. Some of the feedback given from the session included: • “ highlight of the session was speaking and listening to Mary and Ian - first hand experience” • “ Meeting Ian and Mary means I feel I can apply information to personal circumstances and for patients on the ward” • “interactive and interesting “
Keeping your relatives free from infection
Ellie (centre) with her mum Kim and Beena Kurup
Botox treatment has changed my life Ellie McCorkell is the first young patient at the trust to benefit from a new treatment using Botox to stop excess sweating. The treatment has meant 17-year-old Ellie, from Dalton Piercy, can live her life in comfort. Ellie has a condition which causes her body to sweat more than it needs to, known as hyperhidrosis. Consultant paediatrician Beena Kurup has recently started performing a procedure in From the very paediatrics at first time I the University saw an instant Hospital of Hartlepool improvement. using botulinum toxin (Botox) which is injected into the affected area to reduce the amount of sweat produced. Ellie is the first young patient to have the procedure. Ellie’s mum Kim said: “Ever since quite a young age Ellie has had issues with sweating too much – so much that it would be pouring off her. I work in the children’s unit as a physiotherapist so I already knew about this treatment and
knew it would help really help Ellie.” Ellie has a procedure under local anaesthetic which involves between 15-20 injections of Botox in both her left and right armpit. Ellie said: “I would sweat so much that I would wear several layers of clothing to try to cover it up because I was embarrassed. I would be wiping sweat from my hands on to my clothes – it made me self conscious and a bit anxious, which then made the sweating even worse. “When my mum told me about this treatment I wanted to try it. From the very first time I saw an instant improvement. I visit Dr Kurup every six to nine months for treatment, depending on when I need it. It is almost pain free under local anaesthetic meaning there is only slight discomfort and is well worth it for the results. It has helped change my life for the better and has stopped me having to worry about it.” Dr Kurup said: “This is a very straight forward treatment which can be done under local anaesthesia without much pain or discomfort. “Ellie is the first patient to have it here and she has shown what a difference it makes to a patient’s life. When people think about botox they often think about it as more of a cosmetic surgery but it is actually used for many medical treatments.”
Patients who have recently been cared for at the trust are being asked to complete a short questionnaire about hand hygiene. The simple questionnaire can be completed online on the trust’s website. Infection prevention and control nurse Emma Davies (pictured) said: “It’s really important that we receive feedback from our patients. We take infection prevention and control very seriously to make sure we are giving our patients the best possible care in the best possible environment. “We are working hard to protect patients from infection, but we also want to use this as an opportunity to remind people that there are ways they can help us too. “To help us achieve this staff, patients and visitors need to work together. Hand hygiene is the single most important way of preventing the spread of infection and if all of us work together we can continue to reduce the risk of infection. “We know that one of the most effective ways of stopping infections spreading is by cleaning our hands. We want to say to patients and visitors if you think we’ve forgotten or you haven’t seen us clean our hands before we touch you then it’s ok for you to ask. “Tackling the spread of infection is a team effort and we’d like our visitors and patients to be part of that team.” Patients can help by: • cleaning their hands before eating and after going to the toilet. • keeping their bed tables, lockers and other surfaces free of clutter so our domestic staff can clean them easily
Visitors can help by:
• cleaning their hands at the ward entrance hand wash sink or hand gel dispenser, before they come in to visit and when they leave the ward • cleaning their hands when asked to do so by ward staff • limiting the number of visitors to two at the bedside at a time • not coming to visit if they are ill themselves. This is especially important if they have had a tummy bug themselves within the last 48 hours. The survey can be completed online at www.nth.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/infectionprevention/patient-hand-hygiene-survey/
Anthem | Winter 2016 9
The end of an era for Barbara Friends and colleagues past and present came to wish Barbara Harrison well as she retired after a long career in the neonatal unit at the University Hospital of North Tees. Barbara started her nurse training in Sedgefield in 1972 and had a few short spells at other hospitals before returning home. She said: “The reason I’ve stayed so long is my colleagues are really good. They’re a really good team and were very supportive when I was ill a few years ago.” Barbara is keen on walking, keeping fit and photography and is looking forward to having more time spend on her hobbies. Holding a cake made by a colleague (but not impressed with the model of the little old lady sitting on the front of the cake!) Barbara is pictured as her friends and colleagues wave her off.
Pictured with Lorraine are (left to right) Vicky Zapalski, Angela Morgan, Sally Jackson, Sarah Clark, Joan Slowgrove, Ruth Waterman, Julie Harrison, Fiona Dawson
Midwifery assistants’ vital role A team of midwifery assistants are carrying out a vital role, supporting mums and their families through pregnancy and after their babies are born.
Louise raises vital funds in memory of her dad Quality assurance co-ordinator Louise Parkin has raised vital funds for charity in memory of her dad who passed away 25 years ago to the day. Louise took part in a sponsored head shave, in memory of her dad who passed away on 8 October 1990 at the age of just 46, to raise money for Cancer Research UK. Louise raised more than £1000 and has donated her hair to the Little Princess Trust so they can put it towards making a wig for a child with cancer. She said: “I want to thank everyone for their generosity and support, it means a lot to me personally, but the money raised will go towards a charity which is very close to my heart. I know my dad would have been really proud.”
10 Anthem | Issue 40
Antenatal and newborn screening co-ordinator Jackie Cotton, who manages the team, said: “Our midwifery assistants provide numerous services to pregnant women and their families. They support our midwives with booking women into the service as well as other day to day tasks. They also provide tours of the department and explain to mums what they can expect before and after their baby is born. They support women who want to stop smoking and they work in the hospital and in the community.” Infant feeding adviser Lorraine Spencer,
Goodbye Claire After launching the trust’s magazine Anthem, 40 issues later head of communications Claire Young has retired from the trust. Friends and colleagues said goodbye to Claire, at a presentation by chief executive Alan Foster. Claire, who is also involved in the charity Transform Healthcare Cambodia, asked that any donations towards a leaving gift be donated to the charity instead which exceeded the target of £350. Claire said: “Thank you everyone who has made my time at the trust happy, productive and unforgettable. I am overwhelmed by your kindness and generosity. “Thank you also to those who pledged a donation to Transform Healthcare
pictured with the team on a recent training day, said: “The midwifery assistants are trained to support women who choose to breast feed and they can help support women with positioning and expressing. The training session where this picture was taken was on expressing mothers’ milk and how to use the new equipment, kindly donated by the League of Friends, which we will have in the department soon. “We’re very fortunate to have this very dedicated and committed team of people who are passionate about getting breastfeeding off to a good start.” Jackie added: “Our midwifery assistants play an important part in the larger team and we’re pleased to be able to offer these services to local women.”
Cambodia. With your amazing help this will support non-medical health staff who wish to join future teams to the Battambang Referral Hospital. I am truly grateful. “It has been a privilege and a pleasure to work with people who have my utmost respect for the work they do.”
Claire pictured with chief executive Alan Foster and chairman Paul Garvin
Cuddle cot gives parents precious time to say goodbye A couple whose baby was stillborn have raised almost £2,000 for special cold cot equipment to help other grieving parents. Lyndsey Grainger and her husband Steven, both 31 and from Billingham, lost their baby boy, Louie, when he was born asleep in the unit in July. Among other complications, Lyndsey had a true knot in her umbilical cord – a condition that only affects one in 1,300 babies. The couple, who have a daughter Morgan, 10 and a son, Callum aged seven, were offered a Cuddle Cot - a piece of medical equipment that acts as a refrigerated cot and allows babies to stay in the room with their parents rather than be taken straight to the morgue. Lyndsey, who works at Stockton’s Babybrite studio where she provides parents-to-be with 4D scans of their unborn babies, said: “There are just no words, how can you even begin to understand a situation like that. In my work I have twice had to tell parents coming for a scan that there was no heartbeat and it was really awful. I never imagined I’d find myself in this situation - you just can’t process it – one day you’re having a baby and then the next, you’re not. “The Cuddle Cot meant we actually got to spend time with Louie, to look at him and process what had happened. Without it he would have simply been taken straight away – which doesn’t bear thinking about – the thought of him being taken away like that is horrendous.” The Cuddle Cot was donated by local charity 4Louis, which has raised funds and donated 45 units to UK hospitals in memory of the founder’s grandson, Louis, who was stillborn. Bob McGurrell, who runs the charity, says he has a list of 20 hospitals and hospices who have requested a Cuddle Cot, which cost
£1,500 each. He said: “Our main aim was originally to supply hospitals with memory boxes, touching keepsakes for grieving families, which we’ve done successfully for more than 200 hospitals and hospices across the country. We also travel the country speaking to midwives and nurses to explain how important it is to give parents choice at a very difficult time in their lives. “We began including Cuddle Cots, which weren’t around when we lost our Louis, because hospitals and hospices are now allowing bereaved parents to take their little ones home for a time if they wish. It’s a huge drain on a small family run charity and we are delighted that Lyndsey and Steve were moved by their own experience to raise such vital funds to help others.” Having raised £1,900, Lyndsey’s step mum’s employer, APM – an employment and training provider based in Middlesbrough, then stepped in with a £400 donation to the cause. Collectively APM’s staff have raised thousands of pounds for charities and community organisations as part of its Give As You Earn (GAYE) scheme. Lyndsey added: “We were so grateful for our Cuddle Cot and our time with Louie and are thankful to 4Louis and the compassion shown by staff.” Ward matron Stephanie El-Malak said: “We are so grateful to Lyndsey and Steven for raising the funds to help us buy another Cuddle Cot. “This money is being used to buy a Cuddle Cot for another trust in need of one.”
Left to right John Mason, Richard Cowan, Donna Teasdale, Philip Dean, Mark Walmsley, Chris Marshall, John Blenkinsop
Growing our mos for charity Staff in pharmacy held a competition to see who could grow the best moustache – helping raise funds for men’s health charities. Head of pharmacy Philip Dean said: “Through the competition and cake sales we were able to raise £140 which is fantastic. “I’d like to thank everyone who donated so generously and to all the staff who grew such great moustaches. “
Vital funds raised for charity Colleagues in the respiratory team at the trust have raised vital funds for charity. The team held a cake sale and a climbed up Roseberry Topping, raising £300 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society UK. Research nurse Nicky Bates said: “Many people seem to know someone with this illness. I wanted to thank everyone for their help and support.” Steven and Lyndsey with staff in the delivery unit Anthem | Winter 2016 11
After nearly quarter of a century Brian leaves to become a nurse lecturer Clinical coordinator Tom Bingham takes part in one of the exercises
Breaking down the barriers
After nearly a quarter of a century working in the University Hospital of Hartlepool Brian Stothart has left the trust to become a nurse lecturer at Teesside University. Brian, who was a charge nurse on the elective care unit, was one of an award-
A group of staff took part in an equality and diversity awareness training event at the University Hospital of North Tees. Trainer Darren Waldron (pictured) from Deafeating Barriers raised awareness with staff of the type of inequalities some service users may face when accessing health care, as well as ways in which to remove potential obstacles. The session also looked at ways in which front line staff can help improve the service they provide for patients and make them accessible for all. Staff worked together to take part in exercises to help them think about new ideas to improve the care they provide for those covered by the equality act. The course covered a variety of topics from stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination to the protected characteristics of age, race, religion, disability and sexual orientation. The training also focused on breaking down barriers and the various types of communications support that is available and that can help improve patient experience. Head of human resources Michelle Taylor said: “This training was an excellent opportunity for staff to develop their understanding and awareness of how we can adapt and improve services to make them more accessible for all service users.”
12 Anthem | Issue 40
winning team, recently commended by the Care Quality Commission for being a unit that was second to none in its recent visit. Brian said: “I love nursing and I love this team which is why I have stayed here so long. However it’s time to move on and I am very much looking forward to the challenge of being a lecturer. As well as looking after student nurses on their placements I will be teaching in the skills unit. I want to get over to student nurses that connecting with patients and a reassuring touch is as important as being technically competent. “I will miss my colleagues who are an absolute pleasure to work with. The team culture in the elective care unit is fantastic. We all have a contribution to make to patient care and we appreciate the contribution every member makes. This makes it a very happy place to be and, naturally, this reflects in the feedback we get from our patients.” Ward manager Linda Wildberg said: “We will all be very sorry when Brian leaves but we wish him well in his new job. As a lecturer he will help to train and influence a new generation of nurses who, in my opinion, could not have a better role model. Brian is competent and compassionate and an inspiration to work with.”
Highlighting deaf and blind services Staff helped highlight the services available to people with impaired hearing or vision during Deafblind Awareness Week. The trust worked with charities and support groups to run information stalls at both the University Hospital of North Tees and the University Hospital of Hartlepool. Groups involved over the course of the week included Stockton Healthwatch, Hartlepool Healthwatch, Hartlepool Families First, Action of Hearing Loss and the Guide Dogs Association. Some of the menus in the Tees restaurant were also produced in Braille for the week. Quality Assurance Nurse, Sue Leather (pictured) said “The week was an excellent opportunity to get the message out to people about the wide range of services which are available. “We are always asking for advice and direction from patients or carers affected by these issues, then made improvements based on the feedback. “I would like to thank everyone who has helped us in this work for their hard work and commitment.
Clinic refurb completed A six week project which has seen a two bed recovery room created in main outpatients has been completed.
Military leadership for staff The 201 Field Hospital reserve force held a two day leadership and problem solving event for our staff at one of their barracks in Norton.
Julie wild, Caroline Hart and Gemma Pickering
Staff were challenged to come up with solutions to different issues, including turning a non-clinical area into a hospital ward in an emergency situation.
Gemma Pickering and Laura Welsh
The room in clinic E will allow more advanced gynaecological procedures, previously carried out in theatres, to be done in outpatients so that the clinic can be used more than it was before and also freeing up theatre capacity. Newly fitted doors from the clinic room to recovery room are also helping provide an effective patient flow. The recovery area is also used by the colposcopy suite, saving clinic space in outpatients. Consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology Gillian Black said: ‘’Having a recovery room has enabled us to carry out more advanced procedures and care for patients while they are recovering. ‘’It has provided a calm setting for patients whether they are being prepped for a procedure, following a procedure or even a place to wait after taking medication to ensure they are ok to go home.’’
Moving mental health services on to the elderly care unit A new project to move staff from mental health services into the elderly frail unit has begun on ward 37, University Hospital of North Tees. The project, led by advanced nurse practitioner for Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust Gemma Pickering, will see staff from mental health services move into the elderly frail unit, a project which is funded until the end of March. Working closely with Gemma is older person’s nurse consultant Jacqui Straughan and recently The purpose appointed of this project elderly frailty nurses Caroline is for us to be Hart and based together. Julie Wild. Gemma said: “The purpose of this project is for us to be based together. This will enable us to see elderly frail patients on wards 37, emergency assessment unit, short stay unit and accident
and emergency quickly so that we can assess them sooner. This can prevent an unnecessary admission on to a hospital ward and can help to get people home safely within 72 hours. “We’ve been working closely with the staff on the wards to begin implementing this and to ensure this project fulfils its potential.’’ Ward matron Laura Welsh explained what a huge difference this project is making. She said: “The team being based on the ward, attending our huddles and having input with the patients is having a positive impact on both staff and patients. “We’re learning a lot about dementia and how to care for people with cognitive impairment; this is where patients have difficulty remembering and learning new things, concentrating or making decisions. This joint working is definitely helping us provide better care for patients. ‘’The team has been friendly, professional and available whenever we have needed their input, their presence on the ward and their contribution to the discharge process has been invaluable.”
left to right HCA Emma Howard, Staff nurse Marie Sutherland, Associate practitioner Cynthia Gibbon, Consultant Obs & Gynae Dr G Black, Senior HCA Pauline Ellis
Anthem | Winter 2016 13
Non uniform day raises funds for breast unit When business manager Francesca Magog from St Michael’s Catholic Academy in Billingham was diagnosed with breast cancer in August she thought the only way to deal with it was to take things one step at a time. Word about Francesca’s illness got round and the pupils at the academy decided they would like to raise some money for the breast unit at the University Hospital of North Tees to recognise the fantastic work they do and say thank you for her care. On a recent visit to the unit Francesca presented the cheque for £760.40 to breast care nurse Claire Moody. The amazing sum was the proceeds of a non-uniform day held right across the school. Francesca said: “As far as my treatment goes I’m taking things one step at time. I was really pleased to get here and find Claire in the unit. She’s my nurse throughout my treatment so it’s great to be able to give her this in person. “I’m finding it hard not being at school but while I’m having chemotherapy and my resistance is low, then it’s the best thing to do. I’m so grateful to the pupils at the academy and I am really pleased to be able to come and present a cheque on their behalf.” Claire said: “I think it’s great that Francesca’s diagnosis is out in the open in school. It gives young people the opportunity to talk about cancer and make it normal. “I’d like to say a really big thank you to everyone at St Michael’s Catholic Academy. I’m amazed by the amount they’ve raised. The money will be used to support patients like Francesca as they go through their treatment.”
Francesca Magog (left) with breast care nurse Claire Moody 14 Anthem | Issue 40
Left to right – lead cancer nurse Jan Harley, consultant breast surgeons Colm Hennessy and Pud Bhaskar, consultant orthopaedic surgeon and secrtary of the Socieyty of Indian Doctors (Cleveland) Rajesh Nanda with president of the Society of Indian Doctors Sushma Acquilla and her husband Dilip Acquilla, who is also an executive of the society
Jai Ho! Bollywood night raises funds for breast unit The Indian Doctors of Cleveland raised an impressive sum for two Teesside charities at their Bollywood Night in September. Nearly 500 people packed the Grand Marquee at Wynyard Hall Hotel to be entertained by Indian dancers, share delicious Indian cuisine and, in their hundreds, take to the floor for a communal, choreographed dance to Jai Ho; the Slumdog Millionaire hit which took the world by storm. Funds were raised for the breast unit at the University Hospital of North Tees and for the South Cleveland The night was so Heart Fund. successful and Through raffles enjoyable we’re and auctions under pressure an impressive £10,000 was to hold another raised to split one! between the two charities. President of the Society of Indian Doctors Dr Sushma Acquilla and her husband Dr Dilip Acquilla, who is also an executive of the society, joined consultant orthopaedic surgeon and secretary of the society Mr Rajesh Nanda to present a £5,000 cheque to clinical director of surgery Mr Pud Bhaskar, consultant surgeon Mr Colm Hennessy and lead cancer nurse Jan Harley.
Rajesh Nanda said: “The society has members who are working or who have worked at hospitals in Middlesbrough, Northallerton, Hartlepool and Stockton as well as in primary care. As a society we looked for two charities who we thought would make good use of the money raised and I was delighted to be able to present a cheque, along with the president and a fellow executive member to the breast unit.” Pud Bhaskar said: “It was a very enjoyable evening and it’s fantastic that such a sum was raised. We’ll make sure it is put to good use to support patients affected by breast cancer. Rajesh added: “The night was so successful and enjoyable we’re under pressure to hold another one!” You can find out more about the Society of Indian Doctors (Cleveland) and the charities they have supported over the years by visiting their facebook page
New patient record system brought in A new electronic patient record (EPR) system has been introduced at the trust. During the launch period a dedicated team of trainers were out and about helping staff get used to the system and deal with any teething problems. The trust was successful in bidding for £7m to replace its out-dated patient record system and for the past two years the project has been in the planning and design stage. A massive Staff have been receiving amount of training for the training has major change which is set taken place. to revolutionise the way staff work, making information previously held in paper form available on screen. Patient letters and test results are now available electronically in one place allowing easy access for clinical staff who look after patients. Director of finance ICT and support services Lynne Hodgson, who is the trust’s lead director for the project, said: “This is a major change for staff but it was absolutely essential. Our old patient administration system was near the end of its useful life and desperately
needed to be replaced. We still have thousands of paper records and getting these quickly when a patient comes in either for an outpatient appointment or as an emergency is very labour intensive. It sometimes means our health professionals don’t have the patient’s history in front of them when they need it. “As with any major change a massive amount of training has taken place but we’re still expecting there to be some teething problems as staff get used to working with the new system. It’s a bit like when people get a new computer, tablet or mobile phone at home but just on a very large scale; it takes time to get used to it.”
Lynne Hodgson in main outpatients at the University Hospital of North Tees
Clare (second from the left) pictured with (left to right) community fundraiser for Hartlepool Hospice Janice Forbes, friend Susan Harker and Hilary Sadler
Grand gesture from grateful Clare When Clare Barnfield’s husband Peter died in July after losing his battle with cancer, she decided she wanted to give something back to the people who’d cared for him and supported her. Peter, a regular of The Globe on Hartlepool’s headland, constantly teased Clare when she said she was sick of her hair. Clare said: “He would say ‘shave it off then’ so that’s what I decided to do.” Clare’s friend Susan Harker agreed to have her head shaved too and the pair lost their locks in The Globe on 3 October, Peter’s birthday. As well as sponsoring their head shave, friends also paid to touch their downy heads afterwards. As well as having their heads shaved Clare and Susan held raffles and a karaoke night. When the money came rolling in they were overwhelmed. Clare said: “We expected about £1,000 but we actually raised £4,000 which we split between Hartlepool Hospice and the Macmillan service at the trust. Clinical nurse specialist Hilary Sadler said: “I would just like to say a huge thank you to Clare and Susan. The money will go towards improving services for patients and families who face the same circumstances as Peter and Clare.”
Goodbye Sheila Sheila Croft delivers her last shift in maternity. Sheila is retiring after 42 years’ service with the trust, her colleagues wished her all the best with some lovely gifts. Good luck Sheila!
Cardiologist Vineet Wadehra, one of the EPR support staff, helping a staff member in lung health Anthem | Winter 2016 15
Bikers banish their blushes to help charities Joining a group of lady bikers seemed like a pleasant pastime for theatre domestic Lynda Wennington. Lynda, who has only just taken to two wheel travel, enjoys the safety and cameraderie of the group. She said: “I’m just a learner so they always keep me in the middle of the pack to keep me safe. I really enjoy it; we’ve been all over the place this summer.” But when the Lady Bikers North East suggested losing their leathers in a naked calendar to raise funds for two charities Lynda took a little persuading. Lynda said: “Doing a naked calendar was a bit scary but we were all assured it would be very discrete. We all had our dressing gowns on til the last moment and I had my bikers’ gloves to cover me up!” The group aim to raise £10,000 to be split between the Great North Air Ambulance and Northumbria Blood Bikers. Calendars are £5 each. For more information please visit Lady Bikers North East Charity Calendar on facebook.
Lynda Wennington 16 Anthem | Issue 40
Charity fundraiser for new cancer training centre Charities Support your Bowel and Music V Cancer have helped put Hartlepool on the map for cancer detection, after jointly raising £15,000 for a new training centre at the Rutherford Morrison Unit, University Hospital of Hartlepool. The facility will allow nurses and specialist staff from around the country to visit the faculty and complete a three-day intensive endoscopy skills course. Tony Larkin, Founder of Music v Cancer, said: “To know that our weekenders and music concerts have contributed to saving lives is a great feeling. “In the past we’ve supplied valuable equipment for cancer detection to the trust, but now with this new facility we can focus on staff training and ensuring that cancer is detected at the earliest possible stages.” Colorectal consultant surgeon Anil Agarwal, Gill Trainer and Angela Lee from Support your Bowel were also delighted to contribute monies from the fund to this new venture ,kindly donated from individual patients and with a great sum raised from a musical charity evening hosted by Jacksons Wharf Hartlepool. The evening included a BBQ with face painting, cakes and a raffle. The event featured Mick Donnelly and the fabulous Musicians Unlimited big band backed up by 10 sponsored amateur guest singers and local talented artists. The training centre was opened by chief executive Alan Foster and medical director David Emerton. At the opening of the Endoscopy training unit
were consultant gastroenterologists Matt Rutter and Chris Wells, who work nationally on bowel screening programmes. Professor Rutter said: “To say I’m impressed is an understatement, this is the very latest in technology and puts Hartlepool at the forefront nationally for endoscopy training. “The new equipment and facilities will improve training at the trust, and in time, hospitals from up and down the country will hopefully send their staff here. “The equipment is so advanced that professionals can link in to live endoscopy scans to review technique and ask for medical opinions not just from national hospitals but also into Europe.” The centre came about when both Music v Cancer and Support your Bowel, decided to fund this project after their last donation of two video cystoscopies for the University Hospital of North Tees costing £37,000. Mr Anil Agarwal, said: “This centre is a dedicated training unit, which will be educating medical and nursing staff of the future and Support your Bowel are very proud to be part of this facility. “We would like to say a big thank you on behalf of all of us to the family, friends and patients who have all contributed and helped to make this possible.” Plans are already underway for Music v Cancer’s next music weekender, which will be taking place next April and a repeat of the Big Band BBQ Bash for Support your Bowel in June, with a release of CD recordings of the band and sponsored singers.
Parents set up a charity to provide comforters to other premature babies Inspired parents of twin girls who were cared for on the neonatal unit at the University Hospital of North Tees have set up a charity in honour and remembrance of their daughter Grace. Parents Charlotte and Scott Feltham from Hebburn have set up the charity Walking with Grace to support families with babies who need intensive care or high dependency incubated neonatal care; at the University Hospital of North Tees, with the gift of a Cuski Miniboo - a mini comforter which helps parents bond with their babies in incubators. Diabetic mum, Charlotte was aware pregnancy was not going to be easy, however complications over and beyond what she and Scott had anticipated led to their twin girls Grace and Bella being born nine weeks early. Charlotte had been seen by a senior fetal medicine specialist at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle to monitor both of the girls closely. Due to the complications in Charlotte’s pregnancy, she and Scott had visited the neonatal unit at the RVI, knowing their girls would require neonatal care, as they were due to be delivered by caesarean section at 34 weeks. Charlotte, 27 who works as a physiotherapist, said: “During the visit we saw that all the babies received Cuski comforters, which are NHS approved for use within a neonatal unit. Our twins should have been born at the RVI in Newcastle, but there were no intensive care cots available, when Grace decided to make an extra early arrival into the world. “I was rushed to the University Hospital of North Tees, which was the nearest hospital with available neonatal intensive care cots, and on 9 May 2015 at 7.44 and 7.45 am Grace and Bella were born at 31 weeks by emergency caesarean section. “We were warned that Grace was very poorly and there was a chance we would lose her during pregnancy, and if she was born she had a very slim chance of survival. “We desperately wanted Cuski comforters for our babies, as I had read about the benefits they brought in helping to develop bonding between mother and babies, especially those who were cared for in incubators. The girls’ maternal grandmother Angela rang the RVI neonatal unit to see if she could get the comforters from them, unfortunately that was not possible. After failing to find another local stockist Angela rang Cuski direct and explained the situation to the wonderful Judy who ensured they would be delivered the following day. “Grace and Bella immediately took to their Cuski Miniboos. I carried them with me, so that my scent was transferred to them before they were given to the girls in their incubators.
Charlotte and Scott with their daughter Bella
“As a parent, it is heart-breaking not to be able to give your new babies a cuddle when you want to and to have to just see them through an incubator. There is always that piece of perspex layer between you and your baby. “We weren’t able to have our first cuddle with Grace until she was eight days old, it was the hardest time knowing that the nurses and doctors were able to be closer to our little girl than we were. “Fortunately Bella was recovering from birth and we were able to cuddle her however this at times did make it more difficult for them as they were unable to cuddle Grace in the same way. “Due to the lack of physical contact with her parents, Grace in particular gained a great deal of comfort from her ‘boo’ as she was able to have the scent of mum with her in her incubator. “Grace was often found with Cuski over her face, how she managed to do this was always a mystery, but time and time again that was where it was found. When she was distressed the nurses would often place her boo by her face and immediately Grace would calm. “However, Grace proved she was a fighter and her fighting spirit teamed with the work of the neonatal unit consultants, doctors and nurses meant that we were able to spend precious days getting to know our little girls together. “Fortunately Bella came out of an incubator after a few days and continued to progress well; she left hospital after a six week stay on the neonatal unit at the University Hospital of North Tees. “Grace sadly passed away on the 24 June 2015 after 47 amazing days with us. There was nothing more that could be done for her. The doctors had tried everything they
could, including new and pioneering ideas to help improve her chances. “We had always said that because Grace had fought so hard before and after birth that we needed to give her the chance to decide to see if there was a light at the end of her tunnel and that we would continue to fight with her. Grace touched the hearts of many of the nurses, doctors and consultants on the ward in her 47 days with us, she was an inspiration to us all.” Scott and Charlotte knew they wanted to give something back to the unit who had cared for their little girls and supported them through everything. It seemed appropriate that the charity should be set up in Grace’s name. Walking with Grace now provides the NHS approved Cuski Mini-Boo comforters to parents and babies who required long term incubator care at the University Hospital of North Tees. Charlotte added: “We can’t thank the staff enough who provided such amazing care for our little girls. For us it was a relief that both the girls were being cared for on the same unit, as they were 45 miles away from home and every member of staff did all they could for them. The amazing care that was provided was not only for the twins but for Charlotte also as she stayed there with the girls, and for Scott when he travelled down three times a week. “Both Grace and Bella inspired staff and visitors with their amazing progress and infectious personalities. Grace touched so many hearts that Charlotte and Scott felt it was right to start the charity in the hope that in her memory she will continue to do so. It seemed a natural process that the charity should fund the Cuski Boo comforters for the unit as both Grace and Bella got so much comfort from theirs. “Everyone has been so generous, the charity has raised more than £3,000 though fundraising and the very generous support of OrangeBus which has allowed Charlotte and Scott to place the first order, receive them and commence giving the Cuskiboos to poorly babies and their parents on the unit.” Ward matron Debbie Bryan said: “We are so grateful to Charlotte and Scott, who have been extremely thoughtful to consider helping others. The charity will provide a big comfort to many parents in the future.” Find out how you can support the charity at www.walkingwithgrace.org.uk
With staff on the neonatal unit Anthem | Winter 2016 17
Allan’s bionic thanks to ground breaking surgery A Billingham man has become the bionic man after undergoing an unusual form of leg surgery. Sprightly 78-year-old Allan Campbell had a fall at home in November 2014 which resulted in him breaking his femur (thigh bone). He was admitted to the University Hospital of North Tees and had a plate put in to stabilise the bone. Following his stay in hospital he had a three week stay in Rosedale, a rehabilitation facility in Stockton. Allan explained: “While I was there my leg felt painful and I was sent for an x-ray on my birthday. They said we’ve got a present for you; you’ve broken it again!” It was back to hospital and another plate to provide more stabilisation for Allan’s thigh bone followed by several months of rehab. They say things come in threes but Allan was surprised to wake up and find he’d broken his thigh bone again! This time corrective surgery was going to have to be more radical. Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Nick
Bionic patient Allan Campbell
Cooke said: “Allan has a medical problem which means his bones don’t heal well and they break easily. Usually a plate along the femur helps to stabilise the bone but obviously not in Allan’s case so we had to take a different approach. “The femur is the largest bone in the body so needs to be very strong support a person’s weight. In the end we discussed replacing most of the femur, the knee and part of the lower leg bones. This will give Allan a very strong leg and allow him to get back to normal life.” Allan said: “I’ve got my daughters near me as well as my three grandsons and my little great grand-daughter but I don’t like to bother them. I like to go out for a pint now and again and I’d love to be able to sit comfortably and do my jigsaws.” Daughter June added: “We’re really grateful to Mr Cooke and the staff on ward 32 and 33 as well as the anaesthetic staff and consultant in elderly care Dr Chris Ward and his team. They have all been fantastic.”
Foot and ankle experts share ideas Health professionals including physiotherapists and podiatrists were treated to an interesting range of presentations at the trust’s annual foot and ankle symposium at the Hartlepool College of Further Education. Consultant radiologist Peddada Raju and consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon
Peddada Raju and Rajiv Limaye (centre) with sponsors 18 Anthem | Issue 40
Rajiv Limaye hosted the all-day event for an audience of delegates including physiotherapists and podiatrists. Rajiv Limaye started the day talking about clinical aspects of foot and ankle pathology before explaining about recent advances in surgery. Peddadu Raju spoke about radiological
aspects of foot and ankle pathology, then discussed US guided interventions. Consultant anaesthetist Suresh Shreedharan also shared his expertise about nerve blocks, while clinical research director at TRB Chemedica (UK) Alex Flanagan spoke about injection therapy evidence base in tendinopathies and soft tissue. Rajiv said: “It was another very interesting event and we are pleased that feedback from delegates was very positive – thank you to all for attending.”
Trust celebrates its
Shining Stars In a glittering event at Sedgefield’s Hardwick Hall Hotel, staff from North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust were recognised in the annual Shining Stars Awards. The 12 awards included categories from student of the year, developing excellent services, unsung hero and partnership working. Earlier this year staff were invited to nominate colleagues for theawards. They were shortlisted by a team of judges and then staff across the trust were invited to vote to choose the winners. In all 13 awards were given; one of the 12 awards – working behind the scenes – had the security team and the point of care testing team from the pathology department as joint winners. Chief executive Alan Foster said: “Our awards night was a fantastic event. It’s designed to acknowledge and reward those staff who go that extra mile and it’s lovely to be able to get together, celebrate in this way and recognise the amazing work our staff and volunteers are doing for patients. “We’re extremely grateful to our external sponsors, without whom the event would not have been possible and to everyone who was involved, in front of or behind the scenes, in making the event such a success.”
This year’s awards finalists and winners. Developing excellent services • Podiatry services – One Life Hartlepool • Research and development team • Kath Duncan, discharge co-ordinator, ward 32 • Hospital play specialists
Shining Stars awards winners with chief execuitve Alan Foster Anthem | Winter 2016 19
Chairman Paul Garvin offcially opens the event
Jean Angus from practice placements who was presented with the working in partnership award by chief operating offcier and deputy chief executive Julie Gillon
Working in partnership • Susan Hutchinson-Brown, family nurse partnership • The local improvement system (LIS) team • Podiatry reform team • Senior nurses for practice placements
Play specialists who won the developing excellent services award with clinical director for accident and emergency Andy Simpson
David Charlton was presented with an outstanding contribution to volunteerting award by Kevin Robinson
Outstanding contribution to volunteering • David Charlton, health care worker caremaker • Brian Wing, chaplaincy volunteer Team of the year, the portering service, receive their award from chief executive Alan Foster
Team of the year • Bowel cancer screening team
• The simulation suite team
• The portering service
• Cardiology secretaries
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• Anne Kilding, retired domestic and volunteer • Janet Atkins, governor and caremaker
Diane Jones from accident and emergency who was presented with the unsung hero award by Julie Gillon
Unsung hero • Dawn Noble • Lorraine Millar, chaplaincy team
Student of the year Karabo Willis with Rita Taylor
Student of the year
• Wendy Cheadle, research nurse
• Karabo Willis, student midwife
• Gemma Forane, third year medical student
• Diane Jones, accident and emergency department
• Georgia Gilbert, third year medical student
• Abigail Thompson, final year medical student
Roger Barrett from lung health who was presented with the healthcare worker of the year award by non executive director Kevin Robinson
Healthcare worker of the year • Roger Barrett, lung health
Director of finance, ICT and support services Lynne Hodgson presents the paediatric nurse specilaists with their patient focused care award
• Jodi Pearson, ward hostess
Patient focused care
• Jackie Fletcher, critical care
• Trauma nurse practitioners
• Sue Smith, critical care
• Paediatric nurse practitioners • Vicky Salter, accident and
emergency department • Community and intermediate care therapy team (CIAT)
Working behind the scenes joint winners from the security team with senior non executive director Rita Taylor
Working behind the scenes (there were two winners in this category) • Linen services
The critcal care nursing team was presented with the dedication to quality improvement award by acting director of nursing, patient safety and quality Julie Lane
• Joanna Robinson, psychology department
Dedication to quality improvement • The nursing team, critical care
• Cardiac services team
• The security team
• Jeanette Bushnall, podiatry services team
• Nichola Jones, ward 15
• Point of care testing team
Anthem | Winter 2016 21
Learner of the year Sarah Hodgson with Andy Simpson
Learner of the year • Sarah Hodgson, education, learning and development • Lucy Gill, podiatry technician • Barbara Siddle, specialist nurse, community respiratory service • Bernadette Evans, district nursing team, Billingham health centre
Chief executive Alan Foster gives a closing speech
Our MC for the evening, director of human resources and education Ann Burrell
Head of education and organisation development is presented with the leader of the year award by Julie Lane
Leadership award • Rowena Dean, general manager, orthopaedics and surgery • Jane Greenaway, research and development manager • Fiona Hardie, physiotherapy clinical team leader • Gary Wright, head of education and organisation development
Thank you to our sponsors 22 Anthem | Issue 40
Diabetic eye screening service celebrates 10 years The diabetic eye screening service has celebrated its 10th birthday. The service, run by the Trust provides eye screening for people in Teesside and parts of County Durham who have diabetes. The team of specialists sees thousands of patients and provides screening to patients from 12 years old. Programme lead Sue Pott (pictured centre), started working for the service as a retinal screener grader when the service was set up. She said: “We have a fantastic team of specialists, which has grown over the years. “When the service was set up 10 years ago we were based in Thornaby Health Centre. We later moved to the new building at Lawson Street Health Centre. “We began with a programme manager, three screener graders, which increased to four within a few months and one administrator. We had 12,000 patients which we entered manually onto our computer system and sent out thousands of letters. “We now have a team of nine staff and we see 21,000 patients. We’ve upgrade two of our cameras and have two optical coherence tomography (OCT) machines – which produces a high quality 3D scan of the retina, one at Lawson Street and one at Peterlee Community Hospital.
“The service has gone from strength to strength as we’ve upgraded technology and continued to improve the service we provide for our patients. “It is such a vital service for people who have diabetes. Diabetes is a common cause of sight loss and you are at a higher risk of developing eye problems. “We have saved hundreds of referrals into hospital due to closer monitoring with OCT and the introduction of surveillance clinics, and have saved the eye sight of hundreds of patients through screening. That’s why we want to remind people that it is so important that people take up their screening appointments.” You can help yourself to reduce the risk of diabetic eye disease by: • always attending your screening appointments • controlling your blood sugar levels • eating healthily • stop smoking • monitoring your blood pressure • taking your medication as prescribed To find out more about the diabetes eye screening service go to http://www.nth.nhs. uk/services/diabetic-eye-screening/
Orthopaedic practitioner Jacqueline Wilson Left Dawn Hill senior healthcare assistant / assistant technician right
Orthopaedic outpatients celebrated International Casting Day, with competitions, cakes and of course, casts! Orthopaedic staff from the University Hospital of North Tees held a stall in the main concourse using a skeleton to show off some of the different styles of casts they have available. Orthopaedic practitioner Jacqueline Wilson, who works in the hospital’s plaster room, said: “We would like to thank everyone who came to the stall and helped us celebrate international casting day, and a big thanks to BSN Medical Limited who supplied us with banners, goodies, t-shirts and the prize draw for the competition.’’ The competition for guessing how many casts were fitted in the plaster room at University Hospital of North Tees in August alone this year was won by resuscitation officer Rebecca Johnson. She guessed the closest at 800, with the correct number being 803, winning herself an Ipod. The orthopaedics department at the University Hospital of Hartlepool also celebrated in their plaster room. Philip Dobson, who has worked in the plaster room as an orthopaedic practitioner for 36 years, said how much he loves his job. He said: “One of the most enjoyable parts is seeing how much things have improved over the years, from the heavy white casts that were very restricting to the much more lightweight casts we use now. The casts also come in different colours and styles, which is great for the kids.’’
Philip Dobson orthopaedic practitioner Anthem | Winter 2016 23
Our governors working for you Governor election results announced The trust has announced the results of its governor elections. The following candidates were elected: Stockton (5 to elect) Janet Atkins (re-elected) 3 years James Newton (re-elected) 3 years Mark White 3 years Kate Wilson (re-elected) 3 years Val Scollen 1 year Hartlepool (3 to elect) George Lee 3 years Alan Smith 3 years Roger Campbell 2 years Easington (1 to elect) - No Candidates
Staff (3 to elect) Manuf Kassem (re-elected) 3 years Steven Yull 3 years Gary Wright 2 years
Chairman Paul Garvin said: “Becoming a governor offers people who are already members of the trust the opportunity to be more involved in their local health service and help us to shape our plans for the future. “We have elections every year and this allows us to bring in some new governors but also keep some continuity for the council of governors.”
James Newton
Gary Wright
Val Scollen
Keeping our SPEQS on the wards Margaret Docherty was among a group of governors who were invited to the a recent Staff and Patient Experience and Quality Standards (SPEQS) inspections, which are held every month. She said: “The SPEQS inspections are very important, as they make sure the patients have the best possible care and experience, and have comfort knowing the comments that they make are taken seriously. A panel of governors and nursing staff go into different wards and clinical areas, sharing the responsibilities between them. Staff members undertake the clinical checks and Governors explore the patient care and first impressions. There are guidelines to follow whilst asking the relevant questions and during my last session I had the opportunity to talk to five patients. We encourage patients to provide feedback assuring them that their care is important, listening to the comments both positive and sometimes negative, making a note of their responses on the log sheets provided. Any negative comments are dealt with at the time. There is a feedback session after the inspections where the responses are discussed and outcomes are entered on to a database which calculates the scores for each of the headings; this provides the data for the SPEQS report which is presented to the both the board of directors and council of governor meetings. Any areas requiring action or further inspection are undertaken immediately. I felt happy and positive, knowing that patients are able to voice their concerns and relay good experiences they have had.” 24 Anthem | Issue 40
Manuf Kassem
Mark White Steven Yull
Kate Wilson
Janet Atkins
George Lee
Alan Smith
Roger Campbell
A group of our governors took a tour of the trust’s simulation suite facilities, where staff can rehearse and train for real life patient scenarios. Janet Atkins (pictured centre) said: “Myself and four other governors experienced an exceptional visit to the simulation suite at
Calling all members
the University Hospital of North Tees, which included a hospital setting and a domestic setting for community staff. “The technology available means a programme of simulation can be run for almost any circumstance which may arise, for example with babies, youths, adults, even a whole family, enabling teaching and training, and giving anyone taking part in the simulation a real experience to practise and improve their skills. Each session is run in real time and also recorded, enabling the whole team to discuss, what, if anything they could have managed differently as part of a debrief session afterwards.”
We are asking members to get in touch with us to let us know your name, email address and up to date phone number so we can keep you up to date with news. Please send your details to membership@nth.nhs.uk
Cilla delighted with pacemaker op When Cilla Bate from Owton Manor was told by doctors she would need to have a pacemaker fitted, she thought she would have to wait days in hospital for an operation. But like many patients treated in the new cardiology day unit at the University Hospital of North Tees, she was in and out of hospital within 24 hours. Cilla, 65, visited a practice nurse at her GP practice to check on long term issues she has had with rheumatoid arthritis. While there, the practice nurse carried out a pulse check on Cilla and found she had a slow heart rate, referring her the next day to cardiac investigations at the University Hospital of Hartlepool for an electrocardiogram (ECG) where an issue was found. From there she was transferred to the University Hospital of North Tees where she was assessed by a heart specialist and told she would need a pacemaker fitted. Later that day Cilla was able to have the operation under local anaesthetic in the cardiology day unit. She said: “I went along to the nurse for a routine check on issues I have had with arthritis – other than that I actually felt fine. “When she picked up that I had a slow heart rate and said I would need to be referred to North Tees, I assumed I may have to wait a few days or longer. “To be sent the same day and told I could have the operation I needed that afternoon was a real shock. Things moved so quickly it felt like a blur! “Everything was explained to me and things seemed to move very smoothly. The care I had from the staff was fantastic. No one wants to stay in hospital longer than they need to, so it was a relief to be seen and
Before the operation
the day after
in surgery
treated so soon.” Consultant cardiologist Matthew Dewhurst who carried out the procedure said: “This is an example of how healthcare between primary and secondary care should work and how we can optimise the patient journey. “Because of an astute practice nurse picking up on a slow heart rate, Cilla was seen by a heart specialist who was able to diagnose the issue. “She therefore went on to have a pacemaker implanted on the same day and left hospital the following day. “As a cardiology team, now that we have the
dedicated cath lab at UHNT we are improving patient experience and shortening time in hospital by implanting more pacemakers for those patients that need them within 24 hours of admission / presentation.” Lead cardiologist Vineet Wadehra said: “By having a dedicated catheterisation lab at the University Hospital of North Tees next to the acute wards, we are now able to respond quickly when patients need a pacemaker. “Most inpatients in our trust identified as needing a pacemaker will get treated on-site the same day or next day and go home the day after the procedure.”
Anthem | Winter 2016 25
Trust shows its support to staff innovation ideas John on TARGET with regional award Data manager/educator John Lewandowski has won regional recognition for training he has given to nurses in critical care. John has been presented with an Innovation Award from the North of England Critical Care Network for his work and has been asked to speak at the Critical Care National Education Review Forum. The course – TARGET - was originally designed as a critical care response to the generic acutely Ill management (AIM) course but has been changed to focus on more specific requirements. John said: “This intensive two day course provides staff with a safe simulated environment within which to carry out an A-E assessment and points them toward some of the more important clinical aspects of assessment, investigation and management in intensive care. “Level 1 TARGET is aimed at staff new to critical care. It involves a variety of teaching assessments and methods which are chosen carefully to reflect the varying different ways that people learn and aims also to build confidence as well as competence. A range of clinical disciplines provide faculty support on these study events and the use of the simulation man is included by the resuscitation team. The course is consistently well evaluated, above 90%. We have run 7 courses now. “The course is now an integral part of our delivery of education within Junior staff in Critical care and there are plans to address higher level courses aimed at more experienced staff. We have four more booked next year so far.” Comments include: • Enjoyed whole day. Good knowledge boost • Improved confidence in clinical practice • Made me realise I want to be a critical care nurse • Visible progression of skills acquisition • Really enjoyed it overall. Good teamwork • Loved the scenarios and tests at the end. Made me feel more confident in what I have learned. Pre reading helped • I have learned a lot from this 2 day training • Very interesting 2 days. Found information helpful. Feel I have developed more knowledge on • ECG and cardiac output 26 Anthem | Issue 40
New and innovative ideas were showcased at the trust’s first innovations awareness event, which aims to promote and create an innovations culture within the trust. The event, which attracted around 50 delegates, was opened by innovations champion and research and development clinical director, consultant neonatologist Professor Samir Gupta. He said: “Innovation is all around us. We need to keep our mind, ears and eyes open and together we can come across many new ideas that we can be proud of. “I would like to congratulate the innovations panel who have worked together to develop a trust innovations strategy over the last year. Innovation is any new concept, idea, service, process or product aimed at improving the care of our patients and the way we work. It is about what we can do to improve quality in the long term. This is a fantastic trust, where people are passionate about patient care and by investing in new ideas we can help improve that level of care.” The event was supported by NHS Innovations North, who support the trust and its staff to identify and protect their ideas and the Academic Health Science Network (AHSN), who drive wealth creation and research participation throughout the region and the UK. Speakers included were current staff members, who described their current innovative projects and user experience. Community nurses showcased their community kit bag, which was first created by community district nurses along with clinical educator Steven Yull, after it was identified that there was no standard set of equipment for nursing staff working in the community. The specialised kitbag was designed, prototyped, piloted and then rolled out across the trust early 2014, and picked up an award at NHS Innovations North annual Bright Ideas Awards back in 2013. The bag has infection control principles at its heart, is easy to keep clean and can be re-stocked
Commercial manager Tony Wilson, research and development manager Jane Greenaway, commercial and marketing assistant Katherine Gretton and Professor Samir Gupta
Clinical care coordinator Melanie Cambage, community practice teacher / district nurse Moraig Orpen and community staff nurse Gillian Hall with the kitbag
easily and appropriately. Physiotherapist Michael Butler spoke about an innovative solution for musculoskeletal physiotherapy self-referral. This has led to partnership working for the trust with a private business venture, which has been set up for a new e-health company – PhysiCall. As part of this he has helped create a smartphone app and website which will allow patients to refer themselves for physiotherapy treatment, without needing to visit their GP. The third case study featured the selfreleasing tourniquet devised by consultant David Borowski, which is now being produced with the help of an external local based manufacturing company. The device is placed on the arm much like a usual tourniquet, but will automatically releases itself after a set time period. Speakers also included Dr Nicola Wesley, innovations director for the AHSN, the trust’s research and development manager Jane Greenaway, representatives from the commercial department and the clinical support group, who spoke about the routes and support available to staff from the trust and externally. Commercial development manager Tony Wilson said: “This was a great opportunity to speak to staff about what innovation support is available internally and externally for staff members. “People are starting to bring their ideas to us. We have an innovations panel which was formed a year ago and any ideas we get are assessed through the panel to see what support is needed and how we can progress a project. We are working with staff right across the trust, in hospital and in the community and we are starting to see some really fantastic innovative ideas. “The trust’s innovations strategy is really starting to move forward now and we’re beginning to see what the trust and staff can achieve with their ideas.”
Professor Samir Gupta (right with chief executive Alan Foster and Professor Pali Hungin, dean of the school of medicine, pharmacy and health at Durham University’s Stockton campus who was a guest at the conference dinner
Beware of antibiotic resistance The faculty which organised the conference
NeoCard 2015 - Sixth Neonatal Cardiology conference attracts interest from across the world A conference on the care of sick and tiny babies has once again helped to strengthen Teesside on the international map. Speakers and delegates from all parts of the UK, Europe, USA and Australia gathered in Teesside at NeoCard 2015, the sixth neonatal cardiology and haemodynamics (blood flow) conference. Professor Samir Gupta, who is a consultant neonatologist at the University Hospital of North Tees and the director of research and development at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is the sixth conference we have held on this subject and, every year, the conference gets better and better. “This is helping us locally and many experts in neonatal heart and blood flow care across the world ensure we are at the leading edge to give tiny and sick babies the very best chance of survival and a good outcome. “We were fortunate to attract Nick Evans who is a professor of neonatology in Sydney as one of our speakers who is the founder of flow assessment techniques using ultrasound in the newborn. We also had speakers from across the country and Europe. “When thinking about where one might find leading edge information about the hearts and blood flow of tiny and sick babies, one might think there’s a need to travel abroad. However, this conference is now in its sixth year and is very definitely on the international map as a source of information for this very specialist aspect of neonatal care. This is the only annual conference worldwide on this topic. “I am very grateful to my co-organisers from the region and my colleagues in the unit for their support and to the faculty and the conference team at The James Cook University Hospital who helped organise and run the event. These events don’t happen on their own and their hard work has paid
Samir with consultant neonatologist Nick Evans take questions from the floor at the conference
off in giving us once again an absolutely tremendous event.”
Baby-OSCAR trial
One of the sessions at the conference gave Samir the opportunity to update colleagues about the Baby-OSCAR trial. Samir is chief investigator in a national trial to find out whether ibuprofen helps the duct (or tube) in a premature baby’s heart to close. In full term babies the duct, which is open when the baby is in the womb, almost always closes naturally soon after birth. However in premature babies the duct does not close naturally and this can cause blood to flow in the wrong direction in the heart. Samir said: “We’re delighted to have recruited the first baby for the trial. I am excited by this research because it promises to answer a question which has not been answered adequately in any previous research. It could revolutionise care for premature babies, help us save more lives and improve outcomes for these very tiny and vulnerable patients. “I am very proud of our team in the neonatal unit and other tertiary neonatal units across UK who are dedicated, not only to caring for tiny and sick babies, but also to carrying out research to further our knowledge so we can always offer the very latest and leading edge treatments to babies.”
To mark World Antibiotic Awareness Week, the trust was highlighting the need for people to use antibiotics responsibly. Antimicrobial pharmacist Becky Alexander (pictured, left, with colleagues) and her colleagues spent the week speaking to staff, patients and members of the public. Part of her role is to make sure antibiotics are being prescribed correctly on the wards. She said: “Antibiotics are a precious resource and should be preserved. They should be used to treat bacterial infections, only when prescribed by a certified health professional. “Antibiotics should never be shared and the full course of treatment should be completed – not saved for the future. “The body can be left susceptible to infections if they are prescribed unnecessarily because bugs can become resistant. “Many common illnesses such as a cold or the flu can be treated by medicine you can get over the counter.” “The World Health Organisation has started a campaign – Antibiotics: Handle with Care – which encourages health organisations to help raise awareness of this issue.” The spread of resistant bacteria in hospitals or community healthcare settings is a major issue for patient safety: • Infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria increase levels of disease and death, as well as the length of time people stay in hospitals. • Inappropriate use of antibiotics may increasingly cause patients to become colonised or infected with resistant bacteria. • Few new antibiotics are being developed. As resistance in bacteria grows, it will become more difficult to treat infection, and this affects patient care.
Anthem | December 2014 27
New sim suite for community staff With its sofa, pictures on the wall, coffee table and newspapers, this looks like your average person’s front living room. The room is actually the latest exciting addition to the trust’s simulation suite facilities. The new room is being used for the training of community nurses, allowing them to practice different scenarios when visiting patients in their homes. The room, based in Everley House at the University Hospital of North Tees, contains a resident sim man and sim boy. Resuscitation manager Syd Pinkney, who leads training sessions for staff, said: “Our community staff work across the area visiting patients at their homes – they don’t work on the wards. This room is an ideal setting for them to practice different scenarios when they go on a patient visit, in
Governors watch a sim baby being delivered by midwives and then visited the new community room
a controlled environment.” The trust already has a simulation room in the south wing at the University Hospital of North Tees, used for the training of medical trainees and newly qualified nurses as well as other staff. The suite contains a whole family of simulation models (patients) who are controlled remotely from a laptop by the team in an environment which resembles a hospital ward. Syd said: “It’s all about patient safety and we’re delighted that we can offer this leading edge training, to improve people’s skills and make them more confident to deal with difficult situations and ultimately benefit patients. Not every NHS trust has a simulation suite so we feel very fortunate to be able to offer this in-house training for staff.”
Winter can be seriously bad for our health and a challenging time for the NHS, particularly urgent and emergency care services. The trust supported the joint national initiative from NHS England and Public Health England called Stay Well This Winter, which was launched in October to help people aged 65 or over, those with long-term health conditions, pregnant women and parents of children aged two, three and four and in school years one and two stay well The campaign this winter. is so important The Stay Well This Winter to protect campaign was not about preventing those that need ourselves and urgent care from going to our patients. hospital, but aimed to help those that are most vulnerable to falling seriously ill with winter ailments avoid needing hospital treatment by providing simple advice to protect them. Meanwhile, the trust began its annual round of flu vaccinations as it began its flu campaign to get as many staff vaccinated against seasonal flu this winter. The occupational health and wellbeing team, together with even more ward vaccinators than in previous years, provided convenient clinics and visits to wards to offer the vaccination to all staff and volunteers. Head of occupational health and wellbeing at the trust Jude Cooper said: “We are encouraging staff to protect themselves, their family and their patients against flu by having the vaccination. “Flu can be serious and even fatal, even for normally fit and well people, so that’s why the campaign is so important to protect ourselves and our patients.” 28 Anthem | Issue 40
Chief executive Alan Foster has his flu jab
Good luck Ellen Ellen Ward said a sad goodbye to her friends in orthopaedic outpatients retiring exactly 40 years to the day since starting her career as a nurse.
Andrew and Kirsten answer questions for Radio Stitch
Speech and language therapy staff speak to members of the public at an information stand in the main concourse at the University Hospital of North Tees
Speech therapists have transformed my stammer A clergyman in Hartlepool who has a stammer has explained how speech and language therapists have helped transform his speech. Andrew Craig, a reverend at Stranton and Burbank Church in Hartlepool, has been treated by the speech and language therapy team over the last few years. Andrew has been working with Kirsten Liddle, a speech and language therapist clinical lead in fluency at the trust. As part of International Stammering Awareness Day, Andrew talked about how the team can help. He said: “The speech and language therapists are wonderful people who will help someone like me get the help they need. “When I got into my 40s a friend suggested to me that speech therapy had come on a long way and I should try it. I was referred by my GP and saw a lovely speech therapist called Kirsten. “She did video sessions with me, helped me to analyse my stammer, taught me how to deal with my blocking - over a period of three to four years it transformed the stammer and even though it is still there now, it is not noticeable. “I still see her now every six months, we talk about how things are going and discuss what helps and she reminds me about my techniques. Seeing Kirsten is the best thing I have ever done for my speech. “Strangely, my stammer has never been an issue when I am doing my work, reading a sermon. It can be more difficult for me when I get in a situation where I have anxiety and stress or when I’m trying to say something more spontaneous. What is helpful is when people are relaxed, patient, and as normal as possible with you. “People like Kirsten have a huge amount of experience and can help you. They help you to look at your body language and your wider communication skills as well as the technical
stuff for your stammer which helps.” Kirsten said: “There are a lot of myths about stammering which are not true. Stammering has nothing to do with intelligence or personality type - people who stammer are no different to anyone else in either respect. “Stammering can run in families and someone who stammers may have someone else in the family who stammers. We know that a vulnerability to stammering can be passed on in your genes. “New research shows that the way that a person’s brain is wired up is slightly different for someone who stammers. I say this because some people have a perception that people who stammer could speak fluently if they tried harder. “The more we find out the more we realise it is exactly the same as any physical issue. “We all talk better when we are relaxed the more relaxed you are the easier it is to get your thoughts across but the reason the stammer is there is not because the person is inherently nervous or shy. “Good therapy is about a partnership - the therapist and the client or family bringing their knowledge together and coming up with something which works for that individual. Successful therapy is about achieving whatever outcome that person wants to achieve. “There is a real risk that if you push your agenda too hard – like achieving complete fluency - this can have a negative impact on the person’s self-esteem and well-being which is not what we want. “Speech therapy is here to support people of any age (adults and children) to reduce the impact of the stammering and enable them to live the life they want to live.” To find out more about the speech and language therapy service visit http://www.nth.nhs.uk/services/speechlanguage-therapy/
Ellen started her nurse training on 23 October 1975 and went on to work across the country including Essex, Somerset and at the RVI in Newcastle before moving to the trust 11 years ago. Ellen had a lunch party today with colleagues at the University Hospital of Hartlepool. She will soon be emigrating with her husband from her home in Horden to start a new life in Crete. Nurse practitioner Karen Tait said: “Ellen is extremely well respected by everyone here as being a fantastic nurse who has always been passionate about patient care. We are really going to miss her.”
Raising funds for breast care Congratulations to staff in psychology who each paid £1 to wear pink for the day to show their support for breast cancer.
Anthem | Wunter 2016 29
Liz leaves after six decades in nursing Staff nurse Liz Redden said a sad goodbye to colleagues in the day case unit at the University Hospital of Hartlepool after a career spanning six decades. Liz started her career as a cadet nurse at St Hilda’s in 1969 and began her nurse training in 1971, qualifying in 1974 and having her first post in ENT/plastics and surgery at St Hilda’s. She then went to work in Lincolnshire in 1983 for a year and returned in 1984 to Hartlepool general working in orthopaedic theatres. Liz continued her career in Hartlepool general and moved several times to medicine in 1988, surgery in 1990 where she developed her role as the sister in charge. She spent her final years working in orthopaedics in 2011 and finally ending her journey in 2014 within the access lounge/day case unit at Hartlepool.
James steels himself for a career change James Atkinson has swapped the steelworks for the radio studio as he bounces back from the sudden closure of SSI and the loss of his job. Just a few weeks ago 24-year-old James from Stockton was working as an electrical engineer at the Redcar steelworks. But after the shock announcement that the plant was to shut he took the decision to make a dramatic career change, turning his back on engineering and instead re-training in broadcast journalism. James is now volunteering three days a week at the trust’s in house station, Radio Stitch, bringing his new breakfast show to patients, staff and visitors across the trust’s two hospital sites at the University Hospital of North Tees and University Hospital of Hartlepool. He said: “It took a while to sink it – the closure was a complete shock and it is still hard to believe it has happened because it was such devastating news for so many
workers and their families. “Looking at the industry as a whole, it is really hard right now so I started looking into a different career path. I saw a few different things at careers fairs and made the decision to see if I could pursue radio journalism. “I am now working a day a week at BBC Tees and three days a week at Radio Stitch, and am enrolled on a broadcast media course. To put a show or a news piece together and to hear the end result on the radio is a real buzz. “I definitely plan on sticking around at Radio Stitch for some time. It’s a fantastic place to work, everyone is really friendly here – the volunteers involved and the hospital staff. “It has been a tough time for thousands of people including myself, but finding this opportunity has really helped me.” Radio Stitch manager Tony Beards said: “It’s been a pleasure to have James join our team of presenters. He’s been a real asset to the station and I am sure he will go far in his new career.”
Famous brothers inspired me Congratulations to do charity triathlon to graduates Critical care ward matron Sonya Wilkinson, organisation development lead Janet Varga and organisation development practitioner Louise Samuel who have completed their masters MSc in service improvement at Teesside University.
30 Anthem | Issue 40
Macmillan nurse Vanessa Cox raised £750 for charity after being inspired to take part in her first ever triathlon event by Olympic greats Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee.
Vanessa looked after the brothers’ mum Grace Brownlee, who lived in Hartlepool, before she passed away. She had wanted to do something to help raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support so when she heard the brothers were hosting a triathlon challenge in Leeds she signed up. Vanessa trained hard for months before to prepare for the race, which involved a swim for 750m, cycle for 20km and run for 5km. She added: “The Brownlee brothers are heroes of mine, so it was an absolute pleasure to be able to meet them in person on the day of the event. “I’ve seen what good the money does. It
makes a big difference to people’s lives. “That’s why I’ve chosen to do it for Macmillan, because I see first-hand what a difference it makes to people living with cancer, and their families. “My training went really well and I was really pleased how I did on the day. It’s three disciplines, so I had to train quite a lot to get better in all of them.”
When Steve met Steve Non executive director Steve Hall spent the day with specialist services manager Steve Pett, as he continues his tour of different services across the trust. Steve took Steve around Durham, Stockton and Hartlepool, giving him a whistle stop tour of facilities and staff. Here’s what Steve made of his day… • At Maiden Castle sports centre in Durham Steve (pictured, bottom) took a tour of the facilities, finding out about the trust’s new physiotherapy service there. He spoke to clinical team leader Fiona Hardie and physiotherapist Ryan Pearson, who was holding a clinic there. Steve said: “It was fantastic to see the world It was fantastic class sporting to see the world facilities provided by Durham class sporting University as facilities provided well as being able to see how by Durham our physios have University. become an integral part of the client team. This demonstrates in action the trust’s drive to reach out and build partnerships in the community and widen business opportunities.” • Steve met with physiotherapist Michael Butler (pictured, below), who showed him a mobile phone app he has developed (Physicall) where people can self-refer for an appointment. Steve said: “This is an exciting innovative solution to freeing up the access pathway and must be better for patients, GPs, physio provision and sets the standard for cutting
Silent Night sing-a-long
edge electronic self referral access tools.” • Retinal screening at One Life. Steve said: “What a fantastically important life impact prevention service .Early detection literally saving the sight of people who suffer from diabetes. It was impressive, not only for the technical innovation but also the passion of the staff delivering the service.” • Observing podiatry surgery at One Life (pictured, above). He said: “Amazing timely outcomes for patients, a great patient centred friendly expert team working together to the benefit of patients. An impressive range of services and care delivered closer to home in the community from live theatres in one life Hartlepool. • Audiology at One Life. “I was delighted to observe patients receiving service from our dedicated team. Top class facilities the envy of the region if not the country was the proud boast of the team lead. Fantastic that this level of facility is available locally at One Life for the benefit of local communities.” Steve: “May I take this opportunity to sincerely thank you and all the staff who took time to make me so welcome on our visits today. I was both proud and impressed with the quality and variety of services and equally impressed with the infectious enthusiasm the staff demonstrated not only to me but to clients, patients and other colleagues. I would like to thank everyone I met for their hard-work, commitment, innovation and professionalism.” Steve Pett added: “It was a pleasure to spend the day with Steve, giving him a glimpse of the huge amount our staff do.
Thank you to Mike McGrother from the Wild Cats of Kilkenny and to staff, patients and every one else who took part in the group sing-a-along of Silent Night in the spiritual centre/ chapel at the University Hospital of North Tees. The performance was recorded for the Positive Stockton Project and can be viewed at www.facebook.com/ themostwonderfulbank
More recognition for trust’s course Deputy clinical effectiveness manager John Blenkinsopp (pictured) has been working with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, training the British National Formulary (BNF) editors how to critically appraise clinical evidence. John has recently run a number of lectures and workshops in London on appraising good quality evidence. John has been running four critical appraisal courses for the British Medical Association, some cancer charities and a number of NHS trusts in the country for many years. He explained: “Critical appraisal is about looking at published clinical research to help us decide whether the outcomes quoted are valid and applicable to practice. “This work not only means that we are influencing how national organisations review clinical evidence, it is generating a welcome income to the trust and is continuing to get our name known nationally for excellence in evidence-based practice and patient safety.” Associate director of nursing, quality and patient experience Barbara Carr said: “John’s work is continuing to be recognised and is making a big impact at the trust and across the country. We are very proud of him and his achievements.” Anthem | Winter 2016 31
Thanks for caring for my mum A woman whose mum suffered a fatal asthma attack has raised funds for lung health at the University Hospital of North Tees as a way of thanking staff who cared for her.
Highlighting hand hygiene The infection prevention and control team were out across the trust again for Hand Hygiene Week raising awareness among staff, patients and visitors. The project was part of the World Health Organisation global hand hygiene campaign which is called Save Lives: Clean Your Hands. Here pictured are infection nurses Gill Roberts and Wendy Watts.
Top awards for apprentices Talented young NHS estates apprentices from across the region were recognised for their efforts at the annual Northern and Yorkshire NHS Assessment Centre’s estates apprenticeship programme awards. All apprentices were presented with certificates, including several from the trust, at the event at the Radisson Blu hotel by Durham’s riverside which was sponsored by IHEEM and Hefma. Regional training and development manager Eileen Bayles said: “These young men are among the best young apprentices in the region. I have no doubt at all that they will go on to have a major role in keeping our NHS buildings, all the water, electrical and heating systems, joinery – and all of the complex medical equipment found in the modern hospital – well maintained and safe for patients and the staff providing care. “ 32 Anthem | Issue 40
Nasreen Younis (pictured, below, with lung health staff) visited staff in the unit to show her gratitude for the care they gave to her mum Rehana, who sadly died while on holiday in Pakistan at the age of 68. She was able to raise £970 for the unit by selling off many of her much loved toy chicks she had spent years collecting when she was younger. She said: “Not one day goes by without me thinking of her or missing her. She left a void in our lives which can never be filled. But what we can do is keep her memory alive and do positive The asthma things to nurses taught benefit us and my mum others, which is a lot, including what she the correct would have techniques for wanted. “I started using her pumps collecting soft and so on. toy chicks in my mid-20s, started as a bit of a joke. I got them at birthdays, easter and other special occasions, so my collection continued to grow, I even named a few! “My mum was a charitable person, always giving to charity here and in Pakistan, so
I wanted to do something positive in her memory. I felt the chicks deserved to be given to good homes and to be enjoyed and loved by others, hence the raffle. “My mum’s asthma had got progressively worse the last few years of her life, resulting in one serious admission to the ICU department at North Tees. This was an awful time. “The care given to her by the staff there and on the respiratory ward was invaluable. Following this we were supported by the asthma nurses who would frequently visit my mum at home. “The asthma nurses taught us and my mum a lot, including the correct techniques for using her pumps and so on. We learnt so much in a short space of time, it really helped. I hope the money raised in this raffle will go towards the asthma unit at the hospital for them to continue providing their support to the community.” Many of Nasreen’s mum’s side of the family have suffered with asthma, including her mum’s mum and sister who also passed away as a result of it. She said: “I think people underestimate how dangerous it can be. “I hope those with asthma, or who have close family members with it learn more about it and see how they can help those affected.” Asthma specialist nurse Catherine Hodge said: “Nasreen’s mum Rehana was a lovely lady who we got to know very well during her illness. It is really lovely of Nasreen to fundraise for our service in her memory. “It’s very impressive that more than £970 has been raised. Nasreen and her family can be assured this generous donation will be put to good use to help patients.”
Awards for TOP staff The first staff to be recognised with the Trust Outcome and Performance Team (TOP) Award were presented with the award by trust outcome performance lead, professor Jane Metcalf. Staff involved in arranging the trial
Ward 31 sister Diane Garside using the monitor
Patient monitors could be used across all wards Patient monitors which let nurses and doctors know if a patient’s condition has changed no matter where they are on a ward are being trialled on two wards at the University Hospital of North Tees. The state of the art EarlySense monitors, distributed by BES Healthcare, are positioned under a patient bed mattress and can measure a patient’s heart and breathing rate and any movement. When a patient’s condition deteriorates an alert is sent to their allocated nurses through a bleep and also to the central monitor at the nurses’ station. The monitors are being trialled in two wards at the University Hospital of North Tees, ward 32 a surgical ward and ward 42 an elderly care ward. Steve Heavisides, ward matron in the 23 bed surgical observation unit, said: “Our staff are very busy and it isn’t always possible to be at a patient’s bedside. “The monitor means a nurse can be anywhere in the ward and will know immediately if a patient’s condition
Macmillan clinical end of life to co-ordinator Liz Goddard This award will (pictured, right) was be presented to the first staff staff who have member to be gone above recognised, and beyond in followed by their work. pneumonia specialist nurse Annamarie Buckton and consultant physician Katie Elmer who were jointly awarded. The new award will be given to staff who are recognised for their valuable contribution towards the improvement of care and the reduction in mortality rates. Jane said: “This award will be presented to staff who have gone above and beyond in their work towards improvement of care for our patients and to the reduction in mortality rates. “Liz, Annamarie and Katie have all made an exceptional contribution to this and are very deserving of this award – congratulations to them all.” This award will be presented to a member of staff each month by the Trust Outcome and Performance Team (TOP).
has changed. “It has made a real difference to the care we can give to patients, particularly during the night where we have seen real improvements in care.” Research and development manager Jane Greenaway said: “We are very proud to be the first NHS trust in the UK to pilot this innovative new device, however the company has extensively tested the monitors in America and several countries in Europe. “This will be used clinically as routine care then we will run a research project for six months to look at the impact it has on patient outcomes such as deteriorations, admissions to intensive care unit, falls and pressure ulcers. “It is thanks to collaborative work from staff across the trust - particularly from IT, estates and clinical engineering – that this project has come to fruition. Over the next year the data from the trial will be analysed before a decision is made as to whether we continue to use the devices or roll them out to other wards. Anthem | Winter 2016 33
Queen’s nurses honoured District nurses Moraig Orpen (pictured left) and Debbie Royal (right) have been recognised with Queen’s Nurse Awards for their commitment to caring for patients in the community.
You’re my angels, says Linda A Hartlepool woman has expressed her appreciation to the surgical teams at the University Hospital of Hartlepool and the University Hospital of North Tees. Linda Tibble, who recently moved to the area from Liverpool, was troubled with a number of surgical problems which left her feeling tired, uncomfortable and in pain. She was referred to consultant surgeon David Borowski in September and he prepared her for a difficult procedure, a large incision in her abdomen and the possibility of radical bowel surgery. Mother of three Linda was admitted to the access lounge at the University Hospital of North Tees on Monday 2 November and had her surgery later that day. Waking up from the procedure Linda was told things had gone well; all of her longstanding bowel and abdominal problems had been addressed and this had all been done through laparoscopic (key hole) surgery. Linda said: “I can’t thank the teams at both hospitals enough. They’ve been brilliant and they really are my angels. The surgical problems I’ve had for many years have been fixed and I’m looking forward to just getting on with normal life.” 34 Anthem | Issue 40
Both went to a prestigious ceremony in London to be presented with awards for commitment to nursing and for work mentoring junior nurses. Moraig, who is based at Billingham Health Centre, has worked as a nurse for more than 30 years and has been a district nurse over the last six years as well as training junior staff. She said: “It was an amazing day and a privilege to attend. “If I had been given a crystal ball on the 4 October 1982 to look ahead I would not have believed what is now my career. On that day I arrived as a very excited and frightened 18 year old pupil nurse.” Since then Moraig has become a hugely experienced nurse who also mentors more junior staff – Debbie was even her first student! She added: “As a community staff nurse I was fortunate to work alongside many nurses each with their own different leadership and clinical skills. I was given the opportunity to develop my clinical skills and deliver passionate, compassionate complex care to patients within their own homes often being their advocate to ensure they are safe, supporting those at the end of their life and giving their families the support to maintain their care at home. “My passion to ensure our staff were up to date with all aspects of managing patients
with chronic health care needs and long term conditions has also led to the development of junior staff and my role as a mentor. “My desire to influence changes within current healthcare practice and education has been supported by the trust who have allowed me to be a part of NHS England work over the future of education and training of nurses and healthcare assistants, which has influenced new training developments.” Debbie, who is based in the Masefield Road health centre, has been a nurse more than 20 years and mentors nurses. She said: “It was an honour to be invited to such a fantastic event. “I am committed to delivering the best quality of care at all times to our patients. The care I deliver includes a wide range of care, for example palliative care or supporting patients with long term conditions. I also teach patients, families and carers to be as independent as possible and educate them how to care for themselves and empowering them. “I support the team and have the respect from the team and I value each and every member I work with. Also, within my role I work alongside Teesside University, interviewing for student nurses, and providing them with mentors. I have a special interest in teaching and I take pleasure from working with students.” Chief executive Alan Foster said: “It makes me very proud to know we have members of staff like yourself who are truly committed to caring for patients in the community and whose efforts are being recognised with such a prestigious award.”
Join the cancer patient and carer group
Paediatric care on the agenda The latest advances in paediatric care were discussed at the trust’s fourth hot topics in paediatrics symposium at Middlesbrough Football Club. The event focused on numerous specialties regularly seen in day to day clinical paediatric practice, aimed at consultants, paediatricians, GPs, specialist trainees, advanced nurse practitioners and senior nursing staff. Course director, consultant paediatrician Anil Tuladhar, said: “All of the speakers gave extremely interesting and informative presentations. “They are experts in their fields and I know that people who came left the event having
learned a great deal and all of the feedback received was excellent.” Topics included: childhood headache; quality improvements programmes in asthma; childhood obesity; challenges in palliative care; acquired brain injuries and medical management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Speakers visited from specialist children’s hospitals including the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Leeds General Infirmary, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow.
If you have been affected by cancer either as a patient or carer and would like to help shape and improve cancer services then why not consider joining the trust’s Cancer Patient and Carer Group. The group is made up of cancer patients and carers as well as a variety of NHS staff from the hospitals and community. The group was only formed last year but has already worked on a number of projects including: • The development of a patient information leaflet explaining what a cancer Treatment Summary is which has been adopted by the Regional Cancer Network • Advising on the wording in communications with patients on a number of service changes. • Raising patient concerns regarding changes to the Haematology Service with the Chief Executive of the Trust. • Liaison with the Clinical Commissioning Group on the provision of a Cancer Information Centre. • Extensive discussions with the Trust on changes to car parking charges. Jan Harley, Cancer Lead Nurse said “Although the Cancer Patient and Carer Group is relatively new, the Group is highly valued within the Trust and has already been involved in some important work to enhance patient experience and it would be great to see more people get involved within the Group”. The Group meets four times a year. Anyone who is interested in supporting the Group can contact either cancer lead nurse Jan Harley Cancer Lead Nurse on jan.harley@nth.nhs.uk or service improvement lead Barbara Lloyd on Barbara.lloyd@nth.nhs.uk or phone 01642 624104.
Keeping warm The trust joined a national campaign to raise awareness of the importance of patients staying warm before and after having an operation. The perioperative period is the time surrounding a patient’s surgical procedure and is a time when patients have an increased chance of getting hypothermia.
Anthem | Winter 2016 35
Care award for new mum Sam While on maternity leave looking after her baby boy Flynn, Sam Phillips who works in the surgery/urology ward has been working hard to complete a Care Certificate. Deputy director of nursing Julie Lane (pictured, left) and nursing resource manager Esther English (right, with Flynn!) met Sam last week to congratulate her. The Care Certificate is a nationally recognised workbook for healthcare assistants developed by the Skills for care, Health Education England and Skills for Health.
Stop the pressure The trust’s tissue viability nurses marked world wide Stop the Pressure Day by raising awareness of pressure ulcer prevention to staff, patients and visitors.
Quality accounts market place
Chris Russell, Andy Brown and Vicky Goff organised and manned display stands in four locations across both hospital and
community areas across the patch. The stands included information about pressure ulcers, prevention and treatment. There was also an opportunity for everyone to make pledges on how they would reduce pressure ulcers along with a quiz and a game for staff to participate in.
The trust’s annual market place event was held to present the quality accounts to the public. Staff from areas including dementia care, end of life care and research and development held stands over the course of the day.
The great A and E bake off The staff in the A and E department at the University hospital of North Tees took to the kitchen in a bid to raise some money by holding a bake off. The staff gathered to show off their bakes with a selection of biscuits, scones and of course cake! They raised a fantastic £1000 on the day which contributed to funds being raised for A and E sister Diane Jones. Sadly Diane was diagnosed with liver cancer and the first stage of her treatment is not available on the NHS costing £9000. Healthcare assistant in the department James Sullivan set up a fundraising page for Diane which amazingly has already raised over the £10000 target. If you would 36 Anthem | Issue 40
like to contribute to this please go to www.gofundme.com/dianejones. Thank you to all staff who took part in the bake off and anyone who has already donated to this much deserved cause.
Scanner being used for heart treatment Heart scans are now being carried out on the recently opened state of the art scanner at the University Hospital of North Tees. The advanced 3T Magnetom Skyra MRI scanner was opened in the summer as part of a £1.6million investment by the trust and Alliance Medical. Since then a whole range of MRI imaging has been carried out, but only recently has the scanner been used for the treatment of cardiac patients. Consultant cardiologist, Dr Nic Child: “This MRI scanner has in-built cardiac imaging capability which allows us to carry out cardiac MRI examinations to help diagnose and treat more patients in the local area. “It means patients needing these scans have access to high quality cardiac MRI at a hospital closer to home rather than having to travel further to get this treatment. “We have been able to set up this service due to collaboration with cardiology colleagues at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, so we would like to thank
them for that.” The 3.0T scanner includes an increased Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) capability to produce high resolution images, which allows clinicians to perform key cardiac examinations and quickly diagnose conditions such as ischaemic heart disease, cardiomyopathies, valvular heart disease and inflammatory diseases of the myocardium and pericardium. The equipment is playing an instrumental role in helping to reduce waiting times for both cardiac and non-cardiac scans and help meet local demand for scans.
Case study:
Alex Wainwright (pictured), 50, from Sedgefield, was one of the first patients to use the new service. Alex has an inherited condition known as Fabry’s disease, caused by abnormal amounts of a particular fatty substance being deposited in blood vessels, due to the lack of an enzyme and which have led to various health issues including a fast heart rate. She said: “This condition is quite rare, so much so that I have received most of my treatment from outside of the region from a specialist hospital in Manchester. In the past I have been for scans at hospitals in the North East but this new service at North Tees has been really beneficial. It is very close to where I live and I was really pleased with the fantastic quality of treatment I had from Dr Child and his colleagues, I am very grateful. “I was only diagnosed with this condition in 2008 – I am suffering with kidney and heart problems. At its worst, my heart rate was 150-200 beats a minute. We have since found out that my two daughters also have the condition. The progression of my condition is being slowed down thanks to the treatment I have received.”
Wards score top marks after SPEQS visits Wards and departments awarded 100% by a standards panel were thanked with flowers and a certificate. Every month a panel of staff and patients rates each area at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust. Staff and Patient Experience and Quality Standards panel (SPEQS) are held in different areas in hospital and community settings every month, to look at issues including cleanliness of equipment, including commodes, compliance with ‘bare below the elbows’ and first impressions of the environment.
Superheroes visit poorly children Superheroes and princesses put on a special show for children in the chapel at the University Hospital of North Tees, before then visiting poorly patients at their bedside in the children’s ward. Thank you to Make My Day Events who organised the performance. Anthem | Winter 2016 37
Shoulder anthroscopy course gets excellent feedback Orthopaedic trainees and junior nursing staff attended a basic shoulder anthroscopy course organised by orthopaedic consultants Richard Jeavons and Neil Bayliss. The course taught delegates more about patient positioning and equipment setup, creating appropriate arthroscopic portals and performing a comprehensive diagnostic shoulder arthroscopy. It also included information about applying the principles and practice of performing a subacromial decompression and identifying common pathology treated with shoulder arthroscopy. Feedback from trainees said the course was “hands on”, “very informative and enjoyable” and that there was “plenty of opportunity to practice on models and try things over and over again”.
Telemedicine in the stroke unit Telemedicine being used in the stroke unit at the University Hospital of North Tees is allowing doctors to remotely assess patients and view scans from their own homes.
The videoconferencing screens mean consultants based in the unit can assess patients and their scan as soon as they are produced, no matter where they are. A nurse in the unit can use the camera on the device, meaning the patient can be assessed by a stroke consultant from home. Consultant Mobile health can view the scans in the can help us same way that improve the care they would if we give patients. the patient was sitting in the room
next door. It means diagnosis and course of treatment can be decided on immediately – leading to faster treatment for the patient. Consultant physician Ijaz Anwar said: “Using telemedicine means a consultant can assess patients and view their scans as soon as it is carried out. “It means we can make a diagnosis and decide on a course of treatment immediately, in many cases. It will not only help speed up treatment but will also improve our scanning time out of hours. “We have been using this system since early December and staff in the unit are still learning more about how we can use the system effectively, but it has already shown immediate benefits to patient care.” “Mobile health can help us improve the care we give patients and help ease pressure on stroke team.”
Glowing student feedback for orthopaedic outpatients Congratulations to orthopaedic outpatients at the University Hospital of Hartlepool who were awarded with a certificate as an excellent practice placement by student nurses at Teesside University. Feedback by student nurses included: - “Orthopaedic outpatients were by far the best supportive and working team I have experienced through my nurse training so far” 38 Anthem | Issue 40
- “I was supervised by a fantastic matron and sister as well as supportive team members. It was a pleasure to work with them.” - “Staff training exceptional” - “Patient centred approach and I witnessed numerous time (make every contact count). Amazing work from very dedicated staff.” Senior sister Karen Tait: “We are delighted to receive such positive
feedback. It is always a pleasure to have the student nurses with us and staff enjoy the opportunity to help the next generation learn new skills and broaden their knowledge.”
Second annual conference for experts in diabetes foot care One hundred health professionals from all over the region with an interest in diabetes foot care met for their second annual regional conference in Durham. The meeting which was the second annual symposium of the Northern Diabetes Footcare Network whose members share good practice aiming to take the best possible care of people’s feet who are affected by diabetes. Chair of the network is consultant physician Rahul Nayar, a specialist in diabetes care at City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust. He said: “Last year’s conference was our first and it was a resounding success. It was an opportunity to look at all aspects of this specialist area. “We know people with diabetes are at risk of circulation problems which can result in foot ulcers and, sometimes, amputations
Trust staff who attended Rahul Nayar addresses delegates
of the toes and, more seriously, the whole foot or limb. Members of the network from all over the region are working together to reduce amputations. It’s all about people with diabetes being aware of changes in their legs or feet, regular monitoring and early intervention if problems are detected to avoid amputation. “We also know that, while amputation addresses the immediate problem, the long term outlook for people who have had amputation is not good. Not only do patients have mobility issues but they are also more likely to be ill or die from heart or circulatory disease in the five years after amputation. We want to address this and improve outcomes for patients. “The event was excellent. I would like to thank all of the speakers and the delegates for making it another successful event. ”
Commendation for Susan Clinical specialist speech and language therapist Susan Stewart was highly commended at a glittering awards ceremony in London as part of her role working in County Durham’s Youth Offending Service. Susan and her colleague, practice improvement officer at County Durham Sarah Caden, were singled out at the Shine a Light Awards for effectively responding to young people with speech, language and communication needs. The awards are a national scheme organised by Pearson, in partnership with The Communication Trust, to celebrate innovative work and excellent practice in supporting children and young people’s communication development. National research has found that between 60 and 90 per cent of young people in the youth justice system have speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) problems. This prompted County Durham to look at how it could identify such needs at an earlier stage. The service now has speech and language therapist Susan and staff have learnt to identify warning signs and how they can refer people for further support. The interview process when young people first come into contact with the service has also become less formal and more interactive, enabling staff to spot speech, language and communication requirements. Susan and Sarah said: “We are delighted to be highly commended for the SLCN Innovation Award for our ClearCut Communication Screen Resources. “Supporting young people’s communication needs makes the youth justice system fairer and more meaningful for young people who offend and victims. Anthem | Winter 2016 39
Members’
Board of directors meetin gs
noticeboard
rnors meetingshape Council of gove help ce of our members who
The governors are the voi lic are mbers and the general pub the future of the trust. Me times r fou d hel are meetings which welcome to observe the 5 at 201 ry rua Feb 4 ay is on Thursd a year. The next meeting e, cliff lf Club, Yarm Road, Eagles 9.30am at Eaglescliffe Go mbership Q. Please contact the me 0D Stockton on Tees, TS16 ndance. team to confirm your atte
nts Membedraneyovneewho is interested arenuinarviy.tedThe Ja Members an Saturday 30 next event on to book a place. For to attend the ed ee, but you ne e membership office. events are fr t th ac nt co se ea pl more details
Your trust needs you!
Please help us to recruit new members. We want to increase our members hip so that we are truly representative of the com munity we serve and tha t more people can become involv ed with their local hospita l. Please encourage your fam ily and friends to join the trust as a member and sign the m up using the attached form, but don’t forget to includ e your details! Please retu rn completed forms to The Membership Office, 4th floor North Wing, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, Hardwick Road, Sto ckton on Tees, TS19 8PE . We would especially like to hear from anyone age d 16-25 years old as we have a num ber of potential opportuniti es they could be involved wit h. You can join by contac ting us on membership@nth.n hs.uk, calling 01642 383920 , applying at www.nth.nhs. uk
The board of directors me et around six times a yea r. Members of the public and staff are welcome to observe the meetings. Thi s is your chance to see how the board operates and gai n first hand knowledge on the trust’s latest developm ents. 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 28 Januar y at 1pm in the boardroom at the University Hospital of North Tees.
rds Membersp cahrdipentitcleas members
The membershi ers Coffee any of the Wilb to staff rates at ospital of H ity rs the Unive Shop outlets at ell as access artlepool, as w North Tees or H tain your discounts. To ob to health service the t ac nt co rd, please membership ca 20 or 39 38 2 64 01 fice on membership of nth.nhs.uk. membership@
Double fundraising boost for Neoangels The Neoangels charity – set up by a couple who had twin babies at the trust – has received a double donation boost. Kirsty Lowther visited the neonatal unit with her twin babies Noah and Ava and her mum Lynne to hand in a cheque for an amazing £2,751 after holding a fundraising night at Sedgefield Cricket Club. Kirsty has set up a registered charity, Neoangels, to help parents
with babies who are being cared for in the neonatal unit for long periods of time, just as Noah and Ava were when they were born three months early. Meanwhile, one of the trust’s non clinical educators Suzanne CoyleWatson also donated nearly £250 to the charity after holding a fundraiser at home.
Kirsty Lowther hands her cheque into the neonatal unit, while Kirsty Lowther also visited the unit 40 Anthem | Issue 40
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. You will have the opportunity to: • help improve your local services
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Anthem | Winter 2016 41
Staff get the FINEST training from Helena A well known speaker in interprofessional education and collaborative practice ran a workshop for staff – ahead of an exciting new pilot set to take place in two wards at the University Hospital of North Tees next year. The trust’s Faculty of Interprofessional Education and Staff Training (FINEST) team invited Helena Lowe from CAIPE (Centre for the Advancement of Interprofessional Education) to hold a one day workshop for staff involved in the training ward pilot. The FINEST team will be applying what they learned to help run a pilot in medicine (wards 26 and 27) next year –
helping students from different professional backgrounds such as student doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists learn together and learn from each other in the clinical area with
the aim to improve teamwork and communication. FINEST project lead Helen Sutherland said: “Helena Lowe is a very well known and respected speaker in field of interprofessional education
so we were very lucky to get the opportunity to spend the day listening and learning from her. “Helena explained more about the key definitions and values around interprofessional education, as well as setting up group activities with scenarios and possible challenges which may come up. “Everything the team learned on the day will be applied when we start the trial soon. This will be an exciting opportunity for staff and students in medicine to work more closely together and share good practices with each other and ultimately will mean we are providing better care to our patients.”
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