Together Spring 2019

together

Dedicated Therapy Service for Children We make time to care SPRING 2019

University Hospitals of Leicester

NHS Trust

to the Spring 2019 edition

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We make time to care

We are proud to be one of the only Children’s Hearts centres in the UK to have dedicated Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy support for young patients who require invasive medical procedures in the first few days of their life.

The dedicated therapy support is helping these patients to reach their developmental milestones. Read the full article on page 9.

We are incredibly sad with the loss of colleague and lifelong supporter of the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre, Amanda French, who passed away in December 2018.

Amanda’s parents, Gill and Geoff Smart, founded local charity, Heart Link. Our sincere condolences go out to all of Amanda’s family and friends. To read more about Amanda’s life and the support and dedication our Trust has received from Heart Link, please turn to pages 16 and 17.

Our newly re-named Deteriorating Adult Response Team (DART - formerly known as the Sepsis team) explain the vital service they provide for our patients and staff, and why they feel their new name is more fitting for their service. Please turn to pages 6 and 7.

John Adler Chief Executive

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University Hospitals of Leicester

Viral infections such as Norovirus (winter vomiting) and influenza (flu)

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Are you suffering from?:

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As ever there are many more stories in this issue, which I hope you enjoy reading.

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In this edition, we also find out why diabetic eye screening is so important and delve into the private life of core training lead, Ed Thurlow who has a very interesting hobby that keeps him busy when he’s not at work!

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Welcome

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Do not enter our hospital By doing so you may pass the virus on to staff and other patients.

Symptoms of an infectious illness (diarrhoea and/or vomiting, fever and/or symptoms of flu)

NO

Welcome to our hospital

Return home

Please use hand sanitiser

Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and let the illness run its course.

If you have experienced diarrhoea and/or vomiting, or flu related symptoms, please do not visit until you have fully recovered and experienced no further diarrhoea and /or vomiting for 48 hours.

when you enter and leave our patient areas to help keep infection at bay.

Please do not sit on beds.

Please only visit if absolutely necessary.

By doing this, you will help us to reduce the spread of infections even further.

If you are worried call your GP or NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

Please feel free to telephone and enquire about the patient you wished to visit.

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Fighting infections together

Life READ MORE

HOPE courses are running throughout 2019, so if you are interested please contact the Macmillan Information and Support Centre, telephone: 0116 258 6189 or email cancerinfo@uhl-tr.nhs.uk.

after cancer treatment

Aggie Kownacka, 37 who lives in Melton Mowbray was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2018. She began to think about what life would be like after her treatment finished.

Aggie said: “During my radiotherapy I started to think about what my life would be like when the treatment finished. I expressed my concerns to one of the radiographers and they reassured me that this was a normal feeling and there was support available.”

Aggie attended a six-week HOPE course. HOPE (Help Overcoming Problems Effectively) is a national programme aimed at helping people become more knowledgeable, skilled and confident in managing the physical, emotional and psychological consequences of living with cancer.

Aggie continues: “The HOPE course helped me come to terms with my new life and slowly, session after session, it reinstated my confidence.

“The first thing I learnt, thanks to HOPE, was that it’s OK not to be OK! I have learnt how to handle stress and fatigue which made a massive impact on my life.

I now incorporate meditation into my daily routine; something I never thought would work.”

Abbie Woodhouse, Macmillan Cancer pathway lead at Leicester’s Hospitals said: “The HOPE courses we have run so far in Leicester have been well received by participants and facilitators alike. Participants find that they have a lot in common with each other, even though they may have very different cancer diagnoses.”

Macmillan Cancer Support works with Look Good Feel Better UK to provide Look Good Feel Better sessions for men and women.

Each group session is led by trained volunteers and is a chance to meet others in a similar situation, as well as learning useful skills and techniques to manage the side effects of cancer treatment.

Places can be booked by contacting the Macmillan Information and Support Centre, call 0116 258 6189.

To find out more about Look Good Feel Better visit: www.lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk

READ MORE

The In focus

Team

Deteriorating Adult Response Team (DART)

We talked to Kelly Noon, lead nurse for the DART Team, to get the latest department concerns in the Kelly is the lead nurse for a special group of staff members know as DART. management and treatment of acutely unwell patients.

She has been in the role since July 2018, but part of the team since 2014. During Kelly explains: “I’m so proud to be leading her career, which has run over an a service I truly feel passionate about. amazing 15 years, Kelly has worked in a I think our team is wonderfully adaptable variety of areas, from the emergency and I’m confident they can jump any department (ED) to gynaecology, even hurdles a busy NHS trust puts in their being a transfusion specialist nurse and way. Our role is ever changing, with more community nurse practitioner. and more systems becoming electronic and we are always responding to the “On a personal level I’m a newlywed changing needs of the hospitals’ most (if eagle eyed you may have spotted the unwell patients. recent name change from Molcher), we have a wonderful little girl called “We have dramatically helped to improve Dorothea (who we are thankful the recognition and response to patients to medical advances for as with sepsis (a life-threatening condition she’s an IVF/ICSI baby), and a where your body injures its own tissues crazy, immature Labrador and organs when fighting an infection), called Woody”, explains we are working with the renal speciality Kelly. to provide a service to patients with level 2 and 3 acute kidney injuries and The DART service within Leicester’s Hospitals are also in the early stages of setting up a tracheostomy respond to any ‘ward round’ trust wide. deteriorating adult patient, “We are working across all assisting with three sites and have a ward based dedicated nurse issues and allocated to ED every emergency Kelly day. You’ll generally see us 6

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trotting around with our infamous red uniform and magic back pack.

“We’re approachable and great problem solvers; so would encourage clinical teams to give us a bleep if they think we could assist with a deteriorating or sick patient in any way.”

Kelly also added that the team are keen educators and are rolling out an ‘audit and educate’ programme – with a new theme each month. In addition she is also working on establishing a deteriorating adult patient’s study day to train even more nurses, which will be simulation based.

Kelly finishes: “We are enthusiastic, passionate and proud of our team and we like to blow our own trumpets on social media! Make sure you check us out on Instagram and twitter.”

@DART_UHL

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Clair @Leic_hospital

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Leicestershire and Rutland

Diabetic Eye Screening Programme The Diabetic Eye Screening Programme provides annual diabetic retinal screening for over 70,000 patients in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The service is commissioned by Public Health England, and is based at the Leicester General and Glenfield Hospital.

We run clinics in GP practices, acute and community hospitals, as well as the Leicester City health and social care centres across the city and counties.

At each clinic we see an average of 30 patients daily and have capacity to run up to as many as 15 clinics per day.

Diabetic retinopathy (damage to the retina, a thin layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye) is the leading cause of sight loss in the diabetic population who are of working age.

As with many of the complications of diabetes, in the early stages diabetic retinopathy does not usually cause any noticeable symptoms, which can lead to patients not appreciating the importance of attending regular screening.

The NHS diabetic screening programme was introduced because early detection and treatment can prevent or slow the progression of the disease and help to maintain the best possible vision for patients.

The annual screening process is a 30-45 minute appointment where patients have dilation drops instilled. Digital images of each eye are then captured using a specialist retinal camera.

Once the images are captured, they are assessed and graded, then the patient is allocated to an appropriate care pathway.

Another complication of diabetic retinopathy is diabetic maculopathy. Maculopathy is when the area in the centre of the retina is affected by retinopathy and diabetic maculopathy can lead to a reduction in central vision. This area is associated with fine detail vision so it is important that it is identified and referred for treatment urgently.

If little or no disease is found, the patient will be recalled to attend for screening again in 12 months.

The above images show retinal damage. If not detected early enough, this can seriously and permanently affect your vision.

It is important to attend your annual diabetic eye screen to allow any changes to be detected early.

If necessary, you will be referred to an appropriate outpatient clinic for further investigation.

The disease process is classified in 3 stages: • Background diabetic retinopathy • Pre-proliferative diabetic retinopathy • Final most urgent stage is proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

If you are diabetic and over 12 years of age you will be eligible for annual retinal screening.

For more information or to book your screening you can contact the booking centre on 0116 258 3150.

Dedicated therapy service for children with poorly hearts

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We now have a dedicated Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physiotherapy service for the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre (EMCHC), based at Glenfield Hospital, which cares for children who are born with heart defects.

Children who are admitted to ward 30 and the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) undergo invasive treatment such as cardiac surgery or procedures, and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), which uses a heart-lung machine to oxygenate the blood outside the body providing support for the lungs.

For children born with heart defects it has been identified that early medical procedures can have an impact on a child’s neurological development, meaning a high proportion of young patients may be developmentally delayed. In these circumstances dedicated Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy input is important to provide assessment and

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treatment to support patients and their families.

Rakhee Pau, senior occupational therapist for Leicester’s Hospitals, said: “We are one of only a few children’s heart centres in the UK to have a dedicated Occupational Therapy service.

“With an increase in Physiotherapy staff and a dedicated OT service, alongside the existing Play Specialist Team, patients are receiving dedicated time to participate in therapeutic activities to help achieve their developmental milestones. These milestones can often be impacted upon due to children being unwell and in hospital for a long period of time. Children and young people on PICU and ward 30 benefit from this therapeutic input.”

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The Therapy service has been generously supported by Glenfield heart charity, Heart Link. For further information about Heart Link, please see pages 16 and 17.

Rakhee continues:

“We wish to take this opportunity to thank Heart Link who have been wonderful in supporting our service by funding equipment to help our long term patients and those that require on going rehabilitation and developmental support.”

East Midlands Congenital Heart Network SPRING 2019

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Fertile ground There are still many unknowns about why some couples can’t conceive. Jo Wooller, trainee embryologist, is looking into ‘oxidative stress’ in sperm samples. Oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body. It can damage sperm, but it’s not clear whether it has an effect on fertility treatment success. If it does, we can give patients more tailored information and may even be able to offer alternative

treatments in the future that increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.

Embryologists manage all aspects of the IVF pathway, from collecting eggs and sperm to freezing quality embryos to implant in future.

“The best bits about my job are making a difference by helping people start and grow their families, being hands-on in the laboratory - and meeting the babies we’ve helped create!”

INSIDE HEALTHCARE From processing samples in the laboratory, to testing and developing the latest medical equipment, an army of specialists work at the cutting-edge of science and technology for the benefit of our patients.

Healthcare scientists are good at: Problem-solving

Academic learning

Critical thinking

Practical skills

Attention-to-detail

Interacting with patients

Working in a team

Tools of the trade “I spent 12 to 15 years of my life working on that!” laughs Jasdip Mangat, head of clinical engineering. He is talking about his role, as part of an international team, in developing an artificial pancreas to help people with type 1 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. The innovation comprises a continuous glucose meter that is placed under the skin, which in turn signals to an insulin infusion device every 15 minutes. This enables the patient to receive the optimum amount of insulin. Jasdip is also proud of the team he leads: they ensure that patients have the right equipment for their procedure, staff know how to use it, and it works effectively.

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X-ray vision Klaudia Krzekotowska wants to help cure cancer. Since joining the Trust in 2016, the junior research physicist has worked on a number of clinical trials aiming to do just that.

Klaudia uses radiation to destroy cancer cells, reduce the risk of cancer recurring, or help relieve symptoms - a method called radiotherapy. Half of all people who have cancer are given radiotherapy at some point in their treatment. “It’s important to remember that cancer is not one disease, but more than 200 unique diseases, which require different approaches for treatment. Clinical research is one of the most important ways we can improve how we treat and manage cancer. The best part of my job is I know that the work I carry out really does help people.”

Did you know?

Approximately 80 per cent of clinical decisions in the NHS involve healthcare science staff.

SCIENCE A sound mind The experiences of people with listening difficulties, particularly those who have autism, are the focus of Tammy Barker’s research. A principal clinical scientist in audiology, Tammy spends a lot of her time assessing and treating patients with hearing and balance difficulties, and working with them and their families to understand how it affects their day-to-day lives.

She said: “Listening difficulties not due to hearing loss are often associated with disorders in the way the brain functions, and the experiences of these patients can be very different to those whose hearing has physically deteriorated.” Tammy’s research will explore these particular types of listening difficulties with a view to developing tailored plans to help support this patient group in the most appropriate way.

Tried and tested As a trainee microbiologist, Paul Bird is kept busy. When not validating new laboratory equipment, he’s reporting patients’ test results to doctors on the wards. He said: “We compare the new lab equipment to that already in service. If it is quicker, more accurate, or more cost-effective to run, we recommend it replaces

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outdated systems. Test results can be processed faster, so the patient can be rapidly treated with the most appropriate antimicrobial therapy.” Paul’s passion is for research: “I love to help develop new techniques to support the diagnosis and treatment of patients.” He’s currently working on a project with the University of Leicester testing a less invasive method

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for detecting lower respiratory tract infections. He continues: “It involves patients wearing surgical masks inserted with four filtration strips which are able to “catch” bugs as they are exhaled. The filtration strips can be processed much faster than existing methods, resulting in patients receiving the correct treatment in a timelier manner.”

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INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN HEALTHCARE SCIENCE? FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE MANY EXCITING ROLES AVAILABLE IN THE NHS.

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The innovation that’s easy to swallow

Cytosponge™ is a pill-sized device containing an expandable, spherical mesh that is attached to a string.

Every year around 9,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with oesophageal cancer (cancer of the gullet or ‘foodpipe’).

Oesophageal cancer has few symptoms and so is often detected at a late stage when patients find they have difficulty swallowing their food. While anyone could be affected, severe acid reflux, smoking, drinking alcohol, and being overweight or obese are all risk factors.

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spherical mesh, which is attached to a string (pictured). The capsule dissolves in the stomach after swallowing, releasing the sponge. After five minutes have passed it is retrieved by gently pulling the string. As the sponge is pulled out it collects the cells from the lining of the gullet.

Dr Sunny Kadri is a consultant gastroenterologist at Leicester’s Hospitals.

He explains: “The Cytosponge™ is a quick and minimally invasive method compared to endoscopy. There are fewer risks because it doesn’t require an anaesthetic, so patients too ill for an endoscopy could benefit. It is also cost effective because it can be performed in an outpatients’ clinic.”

Dr Kadri was part of the team who originally developed the device at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Cancer Unit in Cambridge in 2010. He added: “It is exciting to see the impact the Cytosponge™ could have on patient care, having been involved from the very start.” @LeicResearch

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The trial - called CYTOFLOC - is a feasibility study, open in nine centres across the UK, funded by Cancer Research UK [C28958/A22173], and sponsored and managed by the University of Oxford.

If the study proves positive, the plan is to run larger clinical trials. It is hoped this will eventually become a routine screening tool delivered by nurses in GP practices.

Watch how the Cytosponge™ works LeicesterHospitalsNHS

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Medical photo created by kjpargeter - www.freepik.com

One of the treatment options for patients is chemoradiotherapy, where a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is used in an attempt to destroy the cancer.

Afterwards, they may need an endoscopy to check if there are any remaining or recurring cancer cells. A tube containing a camera is inserted down the gullet to collect some cells. The procedure can be uncomfortable; it requires sedation and needs to be performed in hospital.

We are participating in a clinical trial that is looking at an alternative approach.

Cytosponge™ is a pill-sized device containing an expandable,

CYTOFLOC TRIAL

We are a

A doctor who has just graduated from medical school and is in the first year of a two year programme which allows them to gain full registration with the GMC.

FOUNDATION YEAR 1 DOCTOR

Teaching Hospital

FOUNDATION YEAR 2 DOCTOR CORE LEVEL DOCTOR

A doctor who is usually in their second year of postgraduate medical training and is fully registered with the GMC.

Doctors working at this level have completed a two year Foundation programme (or have equivalent experience) and spend two or three years working in this grade before they embark upon higher specialty training.

CONSULTANT

A senior doctor who has overall responsibility for the care of patients in hospital. They have completed a minimum of six years training in their specialty area to gain a certificate of completion of SAS/ training (CCT) and listing ASSOCIATE on the GMC’s SPECIALISTS SPECIALIST specialist REGISTRAR register.

An experienced doctor who has gained experience in a specialty Doctors working often over many years (at least four at this level have years). They may decide to continue their completed foundation career in this role permanently or some and core training and choose to pursue more training or are continuing their have their experience recognised postgraduate training in a to become a Consultant. specialty area of medicine which can take up to eight years.

They are experienced “junior doctors” but still work under the supervision of a more senior doctor, usually a consultant.

You may also hear older terms for these doctors such as: Registrars or Specialty Registrars.

uhlclinicaleducation @UHL_ClinEd

We want our patients and staff to be able to identify what level our doctors are.

This can be done by simply looking at their lanyards...

For information about medical training contact: joanne.kirtley@uhl-tr.nhs.uk

CLINICAL EDUCATION

Sue Carr Director of Medical Education

“The Mira Her legacy will continue to improve and save the lives of others...

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Amanda French was born in 23 February 1974 with a heart defect. Shortly after her birth T L R I NK A a ward sister noticed Amanda was HE very blue so she was taken in an ambulance to Groby Road Hospital, LD which was replaced by Glenfield RENS CHAR Hospital in 1984.

on Amanda was a surgeon called Geoff Smart, Amanda’s father said: Mr Firmin, but he worked at the Royal “When I arrived at the hospital I had to Brompton Hospital in London. Amanda stand waiting in a corridor with another started school and although she was parent because there was nowhere else classed as fragile, she was as involved in for us to wait.” school life as she could be. It was too big Amanda was examined by the of a risk for her to go outside to play at consultant Monty Goldberg who told break times and she had to go from Geoff that she was very poorly and had classroom to classroom in a buggy, but very little chance of survival. She was operated on by surgeon Miss Slessor but she went on all the school trips.

Luckily, Mr Firmin again they were told moved to work at she would not Groby Road survive the night.

Geoff Heart Link has continued to go from Hospital when Amanda was 14. remembers: strength to strength, and has He told Geoff and “A male nurse sat funded major improvements to Gill that he may be at the side of patient care for those born able to do something Amanda’s cot the with heart defects and but it wasn’t going to entire night flicking their families be easy. her feet very gently to Amanda had a modified encourage her to breath.

Blalock-Tausig shunt. The surgery “Staff expected me to leave lasted twelve hours.

They were told Amanda there and go home, that this shunt would last 10 years at which I refused to do. I ended up the most, but it actually lasted for 30 sitting on a bed frame with no mattress years.

Gill remembers, all night. There was not even anywhere “Mr Firmin described Amanda’s where to get a hot drink.” ‘plumbing’ as being like ‘spaghetti Amanda’s mother, Gill Smart, finally got junction gone wrong!’” to see her little girl a few days later and Gill continues: “The whole team who was able to hold her for the first time. cared for Amanda were wonderful - they Amanda was in hospital for about ten called her ‘the miracle girl’ as none of weeks. them were sure just how she was still When Amanda was five, Gill and Geoff alive.” were told that the only person in the Following their experience of having country who might attempt to operate 16

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nowhere to sit or make a cup of tea, and parents sleeping in chairs, Gill and Geoff felt that something needed to be done to improve the hospital environment for parents. They arranged a meeting with other parents, which around 30 people attended, and set up a support group for parents and called it Heart Link.

Geoff explains: “The very first fundraiser we organised was a raffle, which we held in a shop we ran at the time. We raised £13, which we used to buy a kettle so parents could make themselves a hot drink without disturbing the staff.”

Heart Link has continued to go from strength to strength, and has funded major renovations and innovations to improve the hospital setting and patient care for those born with heart defects and their families, such as parent and infant rooms, a two story play area, lifesaving equipment (including ECMO), medical research and training, a helicopter pad - the list is endless. Gill adds: “If it is needed, Heart Link will always find a way to fund it.”

Heart Link has raised over £6million so far for the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre at Glenfield Hospital.

Amanda was very proud of Heart Link and the NHS who had worked so hard to care for her and so many others.

She gave much of her time to supporting both.

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acle Girl” FIND OUT MORE

Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) treatment Gill explains: “Anyone who knew Amanda knew her passion for the band, ‘Take That’ and Gary Barlow!

We could never stop Amanda doing anything she wanted to, it wouldn’t have been right to.

Amanda had to live her own life.

“When Amanda went to college, we never knew what colour her hair would be when she came home. It was pink, then blue, and sometimes purple! The day she passed her driving test, she drove all the way to Manchester to sit outside Gary Barlow’s mum’s house!”

On 14 September 2002, Amanda married Richard French, and in March 2010 they became the loving and proud parents of a daughter, Alexis.

Sadly, in December 2018 Amanda passed away at the Royal Infirmary, aged 44.

Very few of us will have the privilege of leaving the type of legacy that Amanda has. Many children are alive today because of the equipment and research funded by Heart Link.

None of that would have happened without Amanda.

Sadly, in December 2018 Amanda passed away at the Royal Infirmary, aged 44.

ECMO treatment is used when a patient has a critical condition that prevents the lungs or heart from working normally. An ECMO machine is very similar to heart and lung machines used during open-heart surgery. It is a supportive measure which uses an artificial lung (the membrane) to oxygenate the blood outside the body (extracorporeal).

In 1989, having been inspired and convinced of its merits in USA, ECMO was introduced to the UK by paediatric surgeons, Richard Firmin and Andrzej Sosnowski.

At this time, the value of ECMO was not recognised by the NHS so it was unwilling to fund the new treatment.

Mr Firmin approached Heart Link to consider fundraising for the £200,000 set up cost of this pioneering treatment.

Heart Link was convinced of its potential benefits and an appeal was launched.

Since then thousands of babies, children and adults lives have been saved by this technique.

enhancing your hospitals

Fundraising news...

Meet the Fertility Centre’s new team member Every year, Leicester Hospitals Charity’s amazing supporters donate millions of pounds to appeals that enhance the work we all do to care for our patients and their loved ones.

“The team work really hard to offer Our latest success story is a terrific the best advice, care and up-to-date bit of tech called ‘Geri’ - a brand new techniques and technology to help the embryo monitoring system already people who need us most - because that’s helping patients at the Leicester what we are all about.”

Fertility Centre!

We proudly launched the A.C.O.R.N. Appeal to benefit our Leicester “I cannot thank enough all those Fertility Centre patients in 2017. Two who supported the charity’s years and £48,000 later, we have been A.C.O.R.N Appeal and helped us able to purchase this brand-new to make this happen.” system for the team - who are already using it to increase pregnancy rates Charlene Freeman - Embryologist among patients.

It’s all thanks to a number of fantastic fundraisers for the A.C.O.R.N. Appeal.

Even staff members like Donata Marshall, general manager in Gynaecology, who ran last year’s London Marathon for the appeal and raised an amazing £13,689!

Embryologist, Charlene Freeman says Fertility Centre staff are thrilled to welcome Geri to their team.

“We are now much better placed to be able to offer the best opportunities to all those we see and help them to fulfil their dreams of having a family,” says Charlene.

Thank you to everyone who’s contributed to the A.C.O.R.N. Appeal so far. We’re continuing to raise money for this valuable campaign to help support our Fertility Centre colleagues into the future!

Welcome Lisa!

It’s a new era for Leicester Hospitals Charity, as we’re thrilled to welcome the brand new director of charity, Lisa Davies, to our Trust!

Lisa knows our city very well, as she’s spent the last ten years at the University of Leicester raising vital funds for teaching, research and other projects to benefit the important work the university does. Before moving to Leicester, Lisa spent 12 years in Toronto, Canada, fundraising for hospitals, the arts, and Non-Government Organisations - so we know we’re in good hands!

“I am thrilled to be joining as director of Leicester Hospitals Charity,” says Lisa.

“I am looking forward to working with the team and our supporters, and truly excited to see what we can accomplish together in 2019.”

Get involved in 2019!

We’ve got exciting plans for our fundraising activities this year!

Whether participating in one of our big events or taking part in a fundraising challenge of your own, you could do something exciting to raise money for Leicester’s Hospitals for the benefit of our patients.

While a lot of our appeals raise money for specific areas of our hospitals - like the Breast Care Centre or Kidney Services - you could raise money for your ward,

department or area by taking part in the Walk for Wards this autumn!

If there’s anything you or your team are itching to do together that could help raise money for some of our projects or appeals in 2019, get in touch with our friendly charity team.

Contact us at LHCharity@uhl-tr.nhs.uk or call 0116 258 8709!

Save the date!

Saturday 9 June

Saturday 20 July

Leicester Hospitals Charity Butterfly Walk

NHS CUP

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Leicester’s biggest breast cancer fundraising event is back – this time at a new venue! Join us for a day of family fun as we walk around beautiful Braunstone Park and Winstanley House to raise money for the Breast Care Centre at Glenfield Hospital!

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July (date to be confirmed)

NHS Big Tea After we had such a great time celebrating 70 years of our NHS with you all last year, we’re teaming up with LPT and the University of Leicester to throw another big tea party this summer.

Stay tuned to our social media for information about how you can join in the fun!

Show off your football skills and represent Leicester’s Hospitals in the NHS CUP! Hosted at GOALS Leicester and will pitch our staff against Leicester Partnership Trust staff in a fight to determine who has the grit and determination to hoist the NHS CUP! We need teams of 5-7 players to sign up and each team must raise a minimum of £250 to be eligible to play.

Saturday 14 September

Walk for Wards Raise money for your ward, department or area by taking part in the Walk for Wards this autumn!

October (date to be confirmed)

Annual General Meeting Come along and speak to our charity team as well as the hospital staff at the heart of our fundraising campaigns.

You’ll also get to hear all about our upcoming plans and appeals over the next year!

For more information about any of these events, get in touch with us at LHCharity@uhl-tr.nhs.uk or call 0116 258 8709!

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# Inside Out

Ed Thurlow, joined Leicester’s Hospitals in September 2005, after working for the Leicester Mercury Group as a Commercial Support Manager for 10 years, which involved training and mentoring new staff.

Inside What is your role inside the Trust?

My role is to try and make the completion of training as simple and as painless as possible for staff across Leicester’s Hospitals. I would like to try and make Statutory and Mandatory training sound exciting, but that may be a step too far! My main role is to try to improve and provide support for HELM (the eLearning software our staff use for training), so that staff can care for patients more and worry about training less.

What do you enjoy most about working for Leicester’s Hospitals?

When I started work at the hospitals it was simply another job. I started off as an administrator creating paperwork and booklets for the Clinical Skills Unit. After a year or so my son was born and there were potential complications. We visited Children’s Outpatients and one of the staff was using a training booklet I had devised.

It was then it suddenly clicked no matter who you are and what you do in the hospital, you can help make the whole hospital a safer place for everyone. This moment made me rethink my attitude and determined to help make Leicester’s Hospitals the best it can be.

What do you enjoy most about historical re-enactment I love the complete immersion of re-enactment. Most of the

Out

What is your role outside of the Trust?

I am a member of the Leicester Magic Circle, but mainly I spend a dozen weekends each year doing medieval re-enactment. This involves living in a Medieval way, taking part in various activities such as refereeing Medieval Sports, staged one-on-one Pit Fights and battles involving 2000 people.

I have been doing this for about 20 years.

It started as a passing interest, but now I look after the wellbeing of newcomers. events run from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. In that time, I will use my phone twice a day to call home, but once that is done it gets thrown into the bottom of the bell tent. For the other 23 ½ hours a day there’s no phones, computers, tablets, televisions, radios or internet access. There is simply 2000 people dressed and living medieval style. All I worry about is eating, drinking, fighting and not getting my throat cut on the way to the toilets!

Do you see any links between your work at Leicester’s Hospitals and historical re-enactment?

At work and at the re-enactment events I simply try and let people get on with what they should be doing, whether it’s caring for patients or drinking Mead!

Want to feature in #InsideOut? Do you volunteer, compete in a sport, or have a skill/talent?

Share it with us and take part in #InsideOut 22

SPRING 2019

@Leic_hospital

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NHS Ed Thurlow Core Training Lead

Medieval Re-enactment E d Th u r l o w

Mead drinking medieval sports enthusiast

What are your proudest achievements?

1. My family 2. Designing and implementing HELM 3. Becoming a member of the Leicester Magic Circle 4. Interviewing Simon Pegg 5. Finally, I almost killed Jonny Ball with a root vegetable on stage in front of 300 people during a Medieval Show.

Photos by Medical Illustration Turnip photo by dashu83/Freepik Hessian photo by Topntp/Freepik Bark photo by icon0/pexels

SHARE PREVIOUS ISSUES

A of volunteering at Leicester’s Hospitals In 2019 we hope that our service will continue to make a huge difference to patients, visitors and staff within our hospitals, due to the incredible commitment by our amazing volunteers.

Towards the end of 2018, our teams were very busy sorting, checking, counting and delivering over 1,700 gift bags as part of the Making Christmas Special campaign. This meant that every patient who was in our hospitals on Christmas Day received a gift to open and made their day that extra bit special.

Thank you to those who donated and helped make this happen.

To help you get a better understanding of how a volunteer supports those who use our hospitals, we would like to introduce you to David...

The Trust Values are at the heart of everything we do within volunteering.

From the initial interview, we introduce the values in the recruitment process and every day there are excellent examples of how our volunteers are putting them into practice within our hospitals.

Our volunteers are always going the extra mile for our patients and if they say they are going to do something, then you can guarantee that they will!

We are looking forward to another great year of developing and improving the ways that we involve volunteers within our hospitals.

Hello, my name is David Bamford Why did you choose to volunteer? and I am a volunteer at Leicester I wanted to be more community focused and the Royal Infirmary is fairly local to Royal Infirmary.

I am married and have twin children.

I enjoy going to north Norfolk with my family whenever we can and taking life a lot more slowly. I am a qualified football and Futsal coach, and enjoy being part of the learning process for players in the team I manage. Before I started as a volunteer I was a Technical Director in a company that supplied engineered timber products to the building industry.

the community where I live. I spent some time researching different options within the community but once I read about the five Trust Values my mind was made up.

I feel that I have been fortunate in many aspects of my life, even though there have been numerous challenges along the way. Volunteering is an opportunity to give something back to people who need more than just medical care when they visit the hospital. I feel I have something of value to offer to people through many of my life experiences.

Our Trust Values We treat people how we would like to be treated 24

SPRING 2019

We do what we say we are going to do

We focus on what matters most

@Leic_hospital

We are one team and We are we are best when we passionate and work together creative in our work

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What would you say to anyone who is thinking of volunteering?

Interested g? in Volunteerin

Call 0116 258 7221/8868/ 3955

I would say you will gain as much, if not more, than what you give. People who visit the hospital aren’t there for a grand day out.

You will be someone who can possibly help relieve their anxieties, their stress levels, their confusion and any fears they may have being in a place they would rather not be. I have met many, many people through volunteering who are not like me and these experiences have enriched my life.

“Once I read about the five Trust Values my mind was made up to become a volunteer”

What do you do as a volunteer?

As a volunteer I work two mornings a week in majors and resus in the Emergency Department (ED), and a third morning as ‘Meet and Greet’ volunteer at Windsor reception.

Working in ED primarily involves serving refreshments to patients, which at times gives me the opportunity to sit and talk to both patients and visitors. The ‘Meet and Greet’ aspect of my role involves welcoming people to the hospital and helping guide them to their appointment. I occasionally mentor new volunteers in both roles and I have also been part of an interview panel for employing people in Volunteer Services. @Leic_hospital

leicester’shospitals

What’s the best thing about volunteering in the hospital?

How do you think you make a difference to patients?

I’m part of a huge team of volunteers and we are well supported. I am also part of an even bigger healthcare team that aims to look after anyone who visits the hospital.

Another thing I love is that despite being one person amongst thousands you are still considered as an individual and valued.

Irrespective of the pressures that exist, the Trusts Values are at the forefront of the way visitors are treated in whatever capacity they visit the hospital. I have learnt so much about certain groups of people that I had never met before and I feel I have grown as a person through these experiences.

In the ED I sometimes have the opportunity and time to be able to speak to patients and visitors who may have many worries and concerns.

Often, I don’t have the answers but with some of the specific training I have received I can be a good listener. I find that sometimes people just need someone that has the time to be able to talk with and listen. I love being able to connect with patients and share stories, particularly with older people and dementia patients.

I consider it a privilege to have such FIND OUT MORE opportunities.

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SPRING 2019

25

Thank you TO OUR LIFE SAVING STAFF In January we partnered with blood cancer charity DKMS to run a special Donor Drive event at the Royal Infirmary.

Our hospital staff were invited to consider registering as a stem cell donor.

Every 20 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with a blood cancer such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Often, a blood stem cell donation represents their best chance of survival.

coming forward that we had run out of test kits by the early afternoon.

In just a few short hours we had managed to sign 150 people up to the register.

We were absolutely overwhelmed with the response we got on the day.

We had so many members of staff

We just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who came forward to register at the event.

MEENA URGENTLY NEEDS A MATCH Our donor drive was inspired by one of our patients, Meena Kumari.

Meena, originally from Leicester, was diagnosed with leukaemia last March.

She is now urgently searching for her lifesaver and is appealing for people worldwide to register as a potential blood stem cell donor with DKMS. Meena’s South Asian background makes the search to find a matching donor even harder. Only 13% of people on the stem cell register are from black, Asian or other minority backgrounds. This drastically reduces the chances of finding a suitable match. Meena’s family are keen to encourage people from these communities to come forward as a potential life saver.

be a lIFESAVER 18 26

SPRING SPRING 2019 2019

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER AS A POTENTIAL DONOR AND ARE AGED BETWEEN 17-55 YOU CAN REGISTER ONLINE FOR A HOME SWAB KIT AT WWW.DKMS.ORG.UK @Leic_hospital @Leic_hospital

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Your invitation to

Leicester’s Hospitals’

ANNUAL PUBLIC MEETING

Following the success of our NHS 70th birthday tea party last year we would like to invite you back to Devonshire Place for our 2019 Annual Public Meeting.

From 2pm - 4pm We will be running a Health and Information Fair.

Why not come along and meet staff and researchers from your local hospitals.

4.30pm - 6.30pm

Save the Date!

Come and meet some of the many staff that make Leicester’s Hospitals special.

THURSDAY 4th JULY

Annual Public Meeting with a chance to put your questions to our senior management team.

VENUE: Devonshire Place, 78 London Road, Leicester LE2 0RA

r’s e t s e c Lei Medicine talks

Come along to our FREE Marvellous Medicine talks this autumn. 6pm - 7.30pm, Clinical Education Centre, Leicester General Hospital.

25 April

Stroke Awareness Speaker: TBC When it comes to stroke, every minute counts. Would you know what to do if you suspected someone was having a stroke? If not, can you afford to miss this talk?

16 May

Mental Health

The benefits of good mental health in a busy world Dr Fabida Noushad Life is busy; are you looking after yourself?

This talk will give you ideas to introduce simple things to your day to day life that can make a big difference to your wellbeing. We will also be looking at some of the more common mental health conditions.

4 June

Eyes - What to look out for?

Dr Antonella Berry-Brincat, Consultant Ophthalmologist This talk will give a brief overview of the most common eye conditions including cataract, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. Learn how to identify these conditions, when to seek help and how to prevent and control treatable eye conditions.

Contact Us!

TO VIEW OUR MARVELLOUS MEDICINE TALKS CALENDAR, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE

For more information on any of these talks please contact the Patient and Public Involvement/Membership Team on 0116 258 8592 or email MembershipDesk@uhl-tr.nhs.uk Photos: smear background by zivile_z/Freepik, stroke image by Kjpargeter/Freepik, mental health image by YesMan.Pro/pexels, eye image by Tookapic/pexels

BETTER MO TH CARE for a better patient experience Oral health is an important part of general health and wellbeing.

It allows people to eat, speak, smile and socialise without discomfort or embarrassment.

5 Your lips should be moist

Top tips!

1

6 Use moisturising mouth gels to help keep your mouth and lips moist if dry

You know your mouth better than anyone – if you notice a change speak with your care provider

7

Your teeth and gums should be clean

2

3

If you suffer with a dry mouth, avoid toothpastes containing Sodium Laurel Sulphate (SLS), as this can worsen dryness or cause soreness

8

4

Your inner cheeks and tongue should be pink, moist with saliva and look healthy

Your teeth should not be broken or bleed when you brush

9

Use a small headed toothbrush, which helps getting hard to reach areas

10

Avoid rinsing out your mouth after brushing for 30 minutes; this gives fluoride the time to work

The Mouth Care Matters (MCM) team within Leicester’s Hospitals aims to create more responsive and personalised care for our patients.

The team deliver better clinical outcomes, bringing increased awareness of the importance of good mouth care, and how it can impact on general health and quality of life.

The MCM team have just finished their pilot for wards, where they provided face to face training for staff, and they continue to support difficult cases, increasing knowledge and awareness around our hospitals.

If you would like more information contact us on MouthCareMatters@uhl-tr.nhs.uk

Image designed by Freepik.com

Watch out for infections such as thrush, which is a white coating that can be scraped off, leaving the tissues looking red underneath

OCTAGON DE S IG N & M ARKE TI NG LTD

DESIGN PRINT SUPPORT

We Listen, We Act, We Support RHS24 Care is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). We provide personalised care that suits your individual requirements. We provide the following services:

To advertise in this publication please call the sales team on 01302 714528 Hawks Nest Cottage, Great North Road, Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN10 6AB 01302 714528 | www.octagon.org.uk | info@octagon.org.uk

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust endorse any of the products or services.

Every possible care has been taken to ensure that the information given in this publication is accurate.

Whilst the publisher would be grateful to learn of any errors, it cannot accept any liability over and above the cost of the advertisement for loss there by caused. No reproduction by any method whatsoever of any part of this publication is permitted without written consent of the copyright owners.

Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd. ©2019. Hawks Nest Cottage, Great North Road, Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN10 6AB. Tel: 01302 714528

• Supported Living, • Carer Holiday Cover • Companionship/Social Activities • Housekeeping and Domestic services • Domiciliary Care • Clinical environments For enquiries and consultation please contact us on:

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Leicester Office 8B Briton Street, Leicester, LE3 0AA Tel: 01163195972 Mob: 07960019170

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Email: info@RHS24.com • Web: www.rhs24.com

the UNION in HEALTH Leicestershire Health Service Branch

Your Health and Professional Union Whilst you are caring for others Unite will stand up for YOU

OUR AIM

To get you the best terms and conditions of service and provide advice, information, guidance, support and representation on all work related matters.

Unite Legal and Affiliated Benefits As a member of Unite you have access to a great range of benefits and services.

• Unite Legal Services • Unite Life Insurance • Unite Mortgages • Unite Prepaid Debit Card

• Unite Home Insurance • Unite Motor Insurance • Unite Benevolent Fund • Unite PPI Reclaims

• Unite Personal Financial Review • Driver Care • Unite Credit Union Service • Workplace Representation

• Free Will writing service • Free shopping vouchers for introducing new members

IT’S VERY EASY TO BECOME A MEMBER

Join online www.unitetheunion.org www.unitetheunion.org/how-we-help/memberoffers/memberbenefits/membergetmember For details of your local Workplace Representative please contact the Leicestershire Unite office on 0116 253 2020

Out

is the official magazine of the University Hospitals of Leicester.

Communications Department Level 2, Windsor Building Leicester Royal Infirmary Leicester, LE1 5WW

& About 30 years of service Hazel Baines, health care assistant, has achieved 30 years of service for the NeuroRehabilitation Unit at the General!

A visit from the President of Malta In January we welcomed the President of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca. She met with the four Maltese consultant trainees currently working with us. In 2014 we set up a memorandum of understanding with the Mater Dei hospital in Malta. This partnership allows Maltese trainees to gain more specialist training in a teaching hospital setting. Since 2014 we have had 16 trainees and we currently have 4 working with us. At the end of their time with us they return to their post in Malta.

An amazing job every day Our Specialist Palliative Care Team is the provider of palliative and end-of-life care for the local community.

They won the Palliative Carer Award in the Leicester Mercury Carer of the Year Awards 2018. The team receive more than 250 inpatient referrals each month and make around 11,000 inpatient contacts per year.

They also provide clinical support to patients on wards, in outpatient clinics and teaching and developing the growing needs of the community.

Dr Rosie Bronnert, consultant in palliative medicine and head of service said: “We have a very important role in providing both palliative and end of life care for our local community.

“We are extremely proud of the whole team of doctors, nurses and administrative team and the amazing job they do every day.”

Celebr ating ou r Comms Stars!

In 2018 the Communications Team launched a comms star reward for staff who share their good news and interesting stories. Our most recent ‘comms stars’ include:

John Prothe ro e...

ONCOLOGY CHARGE NURSE John shared his story about why he chose a career in nursing. His story was featured in the Leicester Mercury and on BBC Radio Leicester.

John said: “In 1997 I developed cancer. While I was undergoing treatment I found the staff were truly inspiring - I qualified as a nurse in 2005.

“I enjoy the day to day challenges and being creative about how these are dealt with, most of all I enjoy looking after our patients and ensuring we give them the best experience we can.”

LAU RA LOMAS...

On the cover: The Dedicated Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Service for Children’s Hearts

CONTACT together is written

and edited by: Ros Moore Communications Officer communications@uhl-tr.nhs.uk 0116 258 8624 Contributors include: Kim Salt, Jake Toon, Rachael Dowling, Tiffany Jones, Rob Knowles, Karl Mayes, Hannah Rooney

SUBMISSIONS together is a great way to

share your news & success.

Please contact the Communications Team to discuss.

DELIVERY If you think your area is receiving too few or too many copies of together please email: communications@uhl-tr.nhs.uk

THANKS...

WARD SISTER

Laura took over the NHS UK twitter account for a week in November 2018.

Laura’s first tweet was: “#HelloMyNameIs Laura and I’m a ward sister @Leic_hospital. This week I’m going to introduce you to my role, my team, and why the role of the ward sister can really influence good patient care and staff development.

Find out more here” She tweeted live insights from Contact: her job throughout the communications@uhl-tr.nhs.uk week and tell us what it is that she was you’re working on. fantastic!

We want to hear from you!

We’ll do the work and you can become a star!

To the Leicester Mercury for letting us use some of their photographs.

Design & photography by: UHL Medical Illustration 0116 258 5904 Printed by: Octagon

Calling All Staff!

If you’re ‘Out & About’ doing something interesting we’d love to hear from you.

Send your photos & a brief summary to:

communications@ uhl-tr.nhs.uk and we’ll pick a few to include in the next edition.

Hope against cancer is Leicestershire and Rutland’s local cancer research charity. We have brought cutting-edge research to our area and made clinical trials available to local people.

Since 2003 we have raised ÂŁ6m and funded over 60 research projects tackling many forms of cancer. We are helping more local people survive cancer by funding innovative research that leads to improved treatments.

The Hope Foundation for Cancer Research The Lodge, 208 Knighton Road, Leicester LE2 3TT

To make a donation, please visit www.hopeagainstcancer.org.uk

E: enquiries@hopeagainstcancer.org.uk T: 0116 270 0101 Registered Charity No.1091480 | Company No. 4397137

222 Medical Squadron 254 Medical Regiment We are a Reserve Medical Squadron, responsible for maintaining the health of service personnel in both peace and on Operations throughout the world.

As a paid Reservist we will develop skills highly sought after in civilian life, including leadership, management, selfconfidence and personal development.

Why Join? Get paid to train, gain qualifications, travel overseas and improve your fitness, meeting challenges both as an individual and as part of a team.

Training Tuesday Evenings 1930-2130 and at weekends Leicester and Derby

For more information contact 0116 275 9680 or email Brenna.partridge270@mod.gov.uk Medical officers, Combat Medical Technicians, Paramedics, Drivers, HR, Chefs, Registered Nurses, Mental Health Nurses, Pharmacy, Physiotherapists.

WIN

CINEMA / ART / CAFÉ BAR

WIN 4 TICKETS TO LEICESTER’S PHOENIX CINEMA

ABOUT US Phoenix is Leicester’s friendly independent cinema and art centre. In two modern cinema screens, they show everything from Hollywood blockbusters to indie classics you won’t find elsewhere in the city.

The Café Bar serves up freshly-cooked seasonal dishes and a wide variety of drinks, making it an ideal place to enjoy an evening with a difference.

Come holiday time, there’s always something for families to enjoy – the latest films, fun workshops and film courses. A regularly changing art programme presents work by local and international artists.

Phoenix is a charity, open to all.

LOCATION Phoenix is located in Leicester’s city centre, within the Cultural Quarter, just a 10 minute walk from the train station.

4 Midland Street Leicester LE1 1TG

www.phoenix.org.uk

COMPETITION To enter: What object did Ed Thurlow throw at Jonny Ball on stage?

Send your answer, name and contact details to: competitions@uhl-tr.nhs.uk Closing date is Friday 31 May 2019

Last edition’s winner: Donna Bentley-Carr