The Leeds Teaching Hospitals
b bulletin
NHS Trust
staff magazine | August/September 2011
Practice makes perfect
contents
The Leeds Teaching Hospitals
b bulletin
NHS Trust
staff magazine | August/September 2011
Practice makes perfect
15
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Front cover: Some of the training staff who will be using the new Clinical Practice Centre. (See pages 4-5)
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Look out for this logo.
It signals where our staff have been working to improve patent safety
9 4-5 Practice makes perfect at ‘worldbeating’ new centre
15 More than 500,000 reasons to keep children’s heart surgery in Leeds
7 Professor brings new hope to India’s poor
16-17 Best of the Trust on show at Health Fair
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Anniversary hits a high note
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Top award for Trust midwife
12-13 Crusading celebrity emphasises importance of compassionate care
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PATIENT SAFETY
19 Families of sick children benefit from Eckersley House 22-23 Coaching helps Trust staff take the road to success 25 Team award for conference with a sense of tumour
Bulletin is produced by the Communications Department Editor: Suzanne Breen Photography by Medical Illustration Designed by Octagon Design and Marketing Ltd Send your ideas, suggestions or articles for the next edition of Bulletin to suzanne.breen@leedsth. nhs.uk or call 0113 2066494. Copy deadline is 2nd September.
Crafted with loving care Staff and patients on the Breast Care Unit at the LGI have worked together to create an eye-catching tapestry which now takes pride of place on the Unit. The tapestry is made up of individual sections which were intricately cross-stitched by 16 people involved with the project and then carefully joined together into a beautiful montage.
Macmillan breast care nurse, Jane Nicholson, said: “The initial concept for the art work was spring flowers which grow through adversity (snow and frost) and by doing so offer a symbol of hope. We all feel very proud to see it hanging on the Unit now.” It was unveiled at a special lunch attended by those involved with the project.
Radiotherapy celebrates 100 years The Radiotherapy Department at St James’s opened its doors to the public for one day in celebration of the centenary of Marie Curie receiving the Nobel Prize in 1911. The department, in the basement of Bexley Wing, allowed access to all areas, with a guided tour by the radiographers of facilities including the multi-million pound linear accelerator chambers, which hold some of the world’s most sophisticated cancer treatment machines. Julie Owens, Radiotherapy Manager, said: “Radiotherapy in different forms has been used for over 100 years but the public still know very little about what it involves. It has a vital role in the treatment of many types of cancer. “The open day gave us the opportunity to let people know more about its secrets in this special ‘Year of Radiotherapy’ and the vital difference it makes to thousands of patients every year.”
Creative hands: (l-r): Marie Songhurst, volunteer, Barbara Walker, patient, June Greenfield, patient, Jane Nicholson, Macmillan breast care nurse, Sue Hartup, research nurse, Susan Carr, textile artist.
Information about the history of Radiotherapy in the UK and in Leeds itself were also available for visitors.
Hundreds of hospital fundraisers tackle Jane’s 10K run Hundreds of plucky runners representing the Leeds Children’s Hospital Appeal braved the June rain to pound the city’s streets for the annual Jane Tomlinson Leeds 10K Run for All.
Children’s Hospital Appeal being one of the partner charities.
the Leeds Children’s Hospital at Leeds General Infirmary.
A cross-section of Trust staff including doctors, nurses, medical secretaries and managers joined members of the hospital fundraising team in the race, in one of the charity’s highlights of the year.
Jacquie Cross, from the Appeal, said: “This is such a brilliant event for Leeds and we are really proud to be involved with the event and carrying forward Jane’s legacy.
The event, inspired by the bravery and fundraising commitment of the late Jane Tomlinson, is now one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar, with Leeds
The proceeds of their efforts are still coming in, but thousands of pounds have already been raised to help the Appeal improve facilities and buy equipment for
“The number of people running for us this year was quite unbelievable, and I’d like to say very well done to everybody who did the race or helped out on the day.”
Pacing himself: Paediatric consultant Dr Eric Finlay gets into his stride.
Team effort: Some of the Trust staff who took part in the run.
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Gathered together: Guests from the Trust and partner organisations.
Practice makes perfect at ‘world-beating’ new centre Our impressive new Clinical Practice Centre, which was officially opened in June, puts the Trust in the vanguard of delivering modern training to ensure our staff have the right skills to deliver care to our patients. Trust Chairman, Mike Collier, carried out the opening ceremony and was joined by a host of guests including staff who are based in the facility as well as those from partner organisations - the University of Leeds, Leeds Metropolitan University, NHS Leeds, Leeds Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust and the Open University. Also represented were the Strategic Health Authority for Yorkshire and the Humber, who provided the £2.85 million to make the threestorey facility a reality. It is located in Ashley Wing, at the far side of the Thackray Medical Museum, and the building - originally dating from 1908 - has been completely gutted and refitted internally. Medical Director, Dr Peter Belfield, introducing the Chairman, admitted it was an “emotional day” to see the building totally transformed. In more recent times Ashley Wing has been home to a variety of offices, but Dr Belfield remembered
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Proud moment: Professor Patsy Stark with Trust Chairman, Mike Collier, who officially opened the new facility.
the building as the home of long-defunct elderly wards which dated back to the former workhouse infirmary. The Chairman told the audience gathered to witness a plaque unveiling that the development of the Clinical Practice Centre was “a very important strategic move for the Trust,” adding: “I often say to people the potential of Leeds Teaching Hospitals is almost unlimited, and there are so few barriers in the way of us being one of the best organisations in the country and indeed the world. “One of the essential components in this is for us to be a learning organisation, and this Centre is a huge step forward.” He went on to say that the facility would make a real difference to improving patient care. The Clinical Practice Centre brings together under one roof services which were previously scattered in pockets across the Trust and the wider city. It will offer training for existing NHS staff across Leeds, as well as the next generation of nurses, doctors and healthcare workers.
training when moving around the country. Ruth Holt, Chief Nurse commented: “The Clinical Practice Centre is an enormous step forward for academic training here in Leeds and we are tremendously proud of what has been achieved. Health practitioners at all levels can look forward to a much improved learning environment with better facilities, and for patients this will mean they are looked after by better prepared and more confident staff.” At the opening ceremony, warm tributes were paid to Professor Patsy Stark, who has been leading the project on behalf of the Trust and the University of Leeds. She has now ended her role following the opening ceremony, and the Chairman thanked her for her contribution, saying she was leaving behind a “magnificent legacy”.
Dummy run: Tutor Pamela Pearce watches Adam Grice work on a mannequin in one of the new training rooms.
Facilities in the new Centre include a simulated four-bed ward plus mocked up treatment and observation rooms, allowing staff and students to practice different procedures in realistic surroundings. The Centre is also kitted out with state-of-theart audio visual equipment and videoconferencing facilities. The centre puts Leeds at the forefront of work to modernise the training offered by university schools of medicine and the city’s NHS trusts. It will ensure trainee and qualified NHS staff are familiar with the latest techniques so there is no need to repeat
Realistic setting: The training ward on the top floor of the new Clinical Practice Centre.
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Re-launch of Organ Donation Committee The LTHT Organ Donation Committee was re-launched during National Transplant Awareness week in July with a new chair person, retired consultant anaesthetist, Dr Edward Moss. The focus of the committee is to streamline the process of organ donation in Leeds and ensure that any barrier that might prevent a patient from becoming an organ donor is removed. Leeds is already one of the biggest centres nationally for organ donation. Dr Justin McKinlay, LTHT Clinical lead for organ donation, said: “Each solid organ donated helps to save the lives of patients awaiting heart, lung, or liver transplants. It also improves the lives of those waiting for kidney, pancreas and corneal transplants. “We hope that with the re-launch of the committee, more patients awaiting a life saving organ transplant will benefit from the additional numbers of patients becoming organ donors in Leeds hospitals.” Dr McKinlay, along with specialist nurses for organ donation, Cathy Jordan and Geraldine Holmes, will assist Dr Moss and the committee in this important task. They will also be joined by Dr Paul Murphy,
New team: (l-r) Dr Edward Moss, Chair of the Organ Donation Committee, Dr Justin McKinlay, LTHT Clinical lead for organ donation, Catherine Jordan and Geraldine Holmes, Specialist nurses for organ donation.
the National Clinical Lead for organ donation. Dr Murphy, a Leeds consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine, who helped draft the Organ Donation Taskforce report which has been so influential in raising organ donation within the wider NHS.
If you would like to register as an organ donor, contact 0300 123 2323, log on to: www.organdonation.nhs.uk or text SAVE to 84118.
Balloons highlight transplant awareness Organ transplant recipients and relatives of donors joined forces during Transplant Awareness Week to help raise awareness of the importance of organ donation and remember those who have donated.
the NHS Organ Donation Register to do so today. With your help and support, we can give hope to those on the waiting list.”
Specialist nurses for organ donation, Catherine Jordan and Geraldine Holmes organised balloon releases at various locations across the region, including Huddersfield, Hull, Sheffield, and York, and attracted local media to help spread the message. The Leeds event was held outside the chapel at St James’s. More than 150 balloons were released, many with dedications attached by relatives to their loved ones.
Flying high: Consultants, Dr Niaz Ahmad and Dr Richard Baker, and Catherine Jordan, Specialist nurse for organ donation, with some of the children who have received organs and their families.
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Catherine Jordan, Specialist nurse for organ donation, said: “Today is a really special day - to see the children and adults who have received organs looking so healthy and being able to lead normal lives thanks to the kindness of those who have donated is really heart-warming. “I would urge anyone thinking of joining
Special day: Balloons being released to mark Transplant Awareness Week.
High demand: Some of the hundreds of people who queued for medical attention at the Slum Doctor camp.
Professor brings new hope to India’s poor When Professor Dennis McGonagle, Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist at the Trust, was approached by long term friend Dr Vijay Bangar to travel to India to help those with no means of paying for health care, he couldn’t refuse.
a zimmer frame and looked like he had advanced hip arthritis. When I examined him it turned out he had been walking on a fractured hip for two years. We confirmed this on xray and arranged for surgery, both of which were provided by the Slum Doctor project.
Prof McGonagle was part of a team of 30 people including 15 doctors and five audiologists, who paid their own way to India in March to set up a medical camp in a small village called Phillaur, in the state of Punjab. The camp and associated charity ‘Slum Doctor’ was the brainchild of Dr Bangar whose family are from that part of India.
“The poverty is such that many patients with mild arthritis could not even afford simple pain killers. We were able to give them a month’s supply of Ibuprofen. We also listed 20 cases for joint replacement therapy at the local hospital and the patients we saw with rheumatoid arthritis we put on a long term treatment plan.”
In a three day period, the team saw and treated over 8,000 patients, and worked up to 12 hours a day. They organised 300 eye operations, 300 hearing aids were fitted, 50 general medical and gynae operations were carried out, plus around 20 hip and knee operations.
Prof McGonagle explained that the camp is invaluable because patients who need hospital care are being funded by the ‘Slum Doctor’ charity to have life changing procedures that they wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise. The charity has negotiated a fee with the Sant Sarwan Dass charitable hospital, a 200 bed facility belonging to a charity which is now working
In a country where free healthcare is not readily available to everyone, many people travelled great distances to reach the camp, some for 100km or more despite their debilitating illnesses. Professor McGonagle was there to provide consultations on rheumatic diseases and other immune problems. In just three days he saw 130 people, predominantly adults with severe joint “wear and tear” or osteoarthritis. “In the 20 years I have been practicing medicine I have never seen such advanced cases of arthritis. Many of the people I saw arrived in stretchers. One woman in her 30s was completely bent over and unable to sit upright. The only treatment she had received so far was with high doses of steroids which had created more health problems for her”, he said. “Another man struggled in to the clinic on
in partnership with Slum Doctor. “It means that instead of the camp just being a quick fix, we are treating people for the future and developing long term treatment plans,” he added. Dr Bangar, a Consultant Diabetologist and Director of Slum Doctor, said: “I am very grateful to all the volunteers who gave up their valuable time, and spent a considerable amount of money travelling to India, and paying for their own accommodation. I would also like to thank all of the volunteers in India, and the Indian charities involved, without whose input the camp would not have been possible. Prof McGonagle is planning to go back to India next year for another clinic. “It has been an amazing experience for me personally which has made me incredibly grateful for what I have, for the NHS, and the amazing facilities that we have here at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. I feel like I’m doing something useful and making a difference. “I can also see Vijay’s vision for Slum Doctor. As well as continuing with the medical camp, he is also setting up an orphanage and a school. “This year we would really have benefitted from having a physiotherapist with us and I would urge anyone who might be interested in working at the camp to contact me directly at D.G.McGonagle@leeds.ac.uk.”
Indian clinic: One of the patients seeking help from Prof McGonagle
The next camp is planned from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 March 2012. If you want to know more about the project, please visit the charity’s website www.slumdoctor.co.uk or find “slumdoctor project” on facebook. Please contact Prof McGonagle directly if you are a physiotherapist or other Leeds-based NHS employee who might be interested in travelling to India next year.
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Parents urged to be aware of symptoms of Type 1 diabetes in children Dr Fiona Campbell has joined forces with NHS Diabetes to urge parents to be aware of the signs and symptoms of Type 1 diabetes in children. Dr Campbell, a paediatric diabetes specialist, said: “Sadly we are seeing too many children admitted to hospital in diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA. DKA is a life threatening condition, and tragically children do die as a result. This condition is however preventable. “That’s why I am urging parents of children across the region to be alert to the symptoms – excessive thirst, going to the toilet very frequently, weight loss and unexplained exhaustion – so they can get their children checked out quickly.
Gamma knife centre expands team of specialists Consultant neurosurgeon Mr Tom Flannery has recently joined the clinical team at the Leeds Gamma Knife Centre based in Bexley Wing. Mr Flannery trained in gamma knife radiosurgery at one of the world’s leading centres for the treatment - the University of Pittsburgh in the United States. He will be the lead clinician for carrying out gamma knife radiosurgery on the increasing number of patients from Ireland who are taking advantage of the modern equipment and short waiting times offered in Leeds – home to one of just a handful of gamma knives operating in the UK. Chief Executive of Nova Healthcare who
manage the Centre in partnership with the Trust, Ron Gilden, said: “We are delighted to expand our team of specialists with the appointment of a consultant of Tom’s calibre. “He brings to the Leeds Gamma Knife Centre a wealth of experience gained around the world, and he will play a key role in treating those patients now being referred to us from both Northern Ireland and Eire, ensuring continuity of their care.” Mr Flannery, who is also senior lecturer in surgical oncology at Queen’s University, Belfast, said: “The Leeds centre is home to the world’s most modern gamma knife and a first-class team of clinicians. I am pleased to be given the opportunity to join it and contribute to its future success.”
“A very simple urine test that takes a matter of seconds can be carried out and can instantly tell us if a child is likely to have Type 1 diabetes. The sooner we know, the sooner we can start appropriate treatment.” Type 1 diabetes can occur in any child. Often the symptoms go unrecognised and the disease undiagnosed until the child becomes critically ill with a potentially life threatening condition. Anna Morton, Director of NHS Diabetes, said: “All too often children are becoming seriously ill before they are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. That’s why we are working with our paediatric diabetes network to ensure that healthcare professionals are alert to the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes in children, and those children with the disease, no matter where they live in England, get access to the same high quality care.”
High calibre: Consultant neurosurgeon, Mr Tom Flannery.
Cracking the code The Trust is pioneering the use of a new bar code system which in its first year has saved the organisation £500,000 by cutting down on the variation in how much we pay for products. There are a currently a multitude of systems and approaches for procurement and identifying products in the NHS with some hospitals paying nearly three times as much as others for the same products. The bar code makes it easier to track and compare purchases. It also has great potential to improve patient safety and has been shown to
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reduce medication errors, the risk of wrong-site surgery and the effective tracking and tracing of surgical instruments, equipment and other devices to improve record keeping and reduce error, malfunction and contamination.
“This has led to significant efficiency savings and improved productivity.”
Graham Medwell, Information Manager in the Supplies Department said: “Since adopting the GS-1 bar codes there have been real improvements in stock
control with levels available to view in real time. This has led to significant efficiency savings and improved productivity.” Adoption and use of the system benefits both suppliers and the NHS alike. As is already the case in the retail sector, having the right bar code will become essential for suppliers who wish to operate in the UK health market. The system was introduced by the Department of Health and will now be opened to all NHS Trusts to take part. The expectation is that all products should be identifiable by or carry GS-1 bar codes by the end of 2012.
Anniversary hits a high note The atrium of Bexley Wing at St James’s was filled with the uplifting sounds of the Rock Up and Sing choir in May who were there to celebrate the first anniversary of the Leeds Cancer Research UK Centre.
One year on: Prof Peter Selby, Director of the Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, Prof Tim Bishop, Chairman of the Leeds Cancer Research UK Centre, Teri Wadsworth, retired NHS manager, Dr Peter Sneddon, Cancer Research UK’s Executive Director of Research Operations and Funding, Dr Geoff Hall, Lead Cancer Clinician, LTHT. Courtesy Yorkshire Post.
Much has been achieved in the first year of the Centre which is located in Bexley Wing and is a partnership between Cancer Research UK, the Trust and the University of Leeds. Prof Tim Bishop, the Centre Chairman, reflected on some of those successes in his address to those assembled. He remarked that a key achievement has been the co-operation between the three partner organisations to promote clinical cancer trials and well over 2,000 patients have taken part in trials over the last twelve months. A special guest at the celebration was Teri Wadsworth, a patient currently on a trial of a new breast cancer chemotherapy drug
being led by Prof Chris Twelves. The drug, Eribulin, was originally derived from a sea sponge and has proved very effective for Teri. She is hoping it can keep her cancer in check. “The trial has been absolutely brilliant and the trials unit is fantastic – I cannot praise the staff there enough,” she said.
“Guests included Centre staff and supporters as well as members of the Public and Patient Involvement in Research Group” Dr Peter Sneddon, Cancer Research UK’s Executive Director of Research Operations and Funding, Prof Peter Selby, the University of Leeds’ Director
of the Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine and Dr Geoff Hall, the Trust’s Lead Cancer Clinician also addressed the audience and joined Prof Tim Bishop and Teri Wadsworth to cut the special anniversary cake. Guests included Centre staff and supporters as well as members of the Public and Patient Involvement in Research Group, an enthusiastic group of volunteers who support many aspects of the Centre’s work, including assessing new cancer trial proposals from the patient’s perspective and attending events to raise the Centre’s profile. The Group are always seeking new members and anyone interested in joining should contact Debbie Beirne, Senior Cancer Nurse – D.A.Beirne@leeds.ac.uk.
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Trust meets CQC standards on Dignity and Nutrition The Care Quality Commission (CQC) made an unannounced visit to two wards at Chapel Allerton Hospital in April to assess how well older people were treated during their hospital stay. The review report confirmed that we are meeting all the CQC’s essential standards, which included respecting and involving people, and meeting patients’ nutritional needs. They identified some areas where minor improvements needed to be made. A report
outlining how we intend to continue to meet these standards and provide the level of care our patients expect when they are admitted to our hospitals has been provided to the CQC. The visit to Chapel Allerton was part of a targeted inspection programme of 100 acute NHS hospitals. The inspection team observed how people were being cared for, talked with those who use our services, staff, and looked at patient records. They were particularly interested in whether patients were treated with dignity and respect and if their nutritional needs were met.
The next visit could be in your area The CQC could visit our hospitals at any time to check whether we are meeting all the essential standards of quality and safety. They carry out a formal review of the Trust at least every two years, and this visit is likely to take place in August. Their main aim will be to understand the experience of patients, relatives and staff who use or work in our hospitals. What can you expect from this visit? • The visit is likely to be unannounced. • I nspectors will visit wards and clinics on all sites. •T hey will talk to patients and their relatives about their experiences of using our services. •T hey will talk to staff about their experiences of working in our hospitals.
What are the essential standards? The Care Quality Commission expects the same standards of care for our patients that you would want for your relatives:•P atients involved in their care and treatment • Respect for privacy and dignity • Listening to patients needs and concerns • Patients kept safe from harm or abuse
They also recognise the importance of our staff, and expect to see that: •A ll staff have regular appraisals so they know how well they are doing their job •A ll staff have a personal development plan •A ll staff have confidence to raise concerns about the care being provided or the way services are being run. If essential standards are not met, the CQC can issue conditions for improvement, impose fines, or even close a service down. If you want to know more about the role of the Care Quality Commission as the independent regulator for health and social care in England please go to http://www.cqc.org.uk/
Be prepared: Checking we meet essential standards is important on all wards and departments.
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There is small booklet that explains the Essential Standards of Quality and Safety for staff which can be found on the Quality pages of the intranet.
Top award for Trust midwife Trust Midwife Amanda Burleigh, and 11 colleagues from across the UK have been awarded one of Europe’s most prestigious health care and business accolades for a design that could save the lives of vulnerable babies. Amanda was the only midwife in a team composed mainly of consultant obstetricians, neonatologists, paediatricians and a design engineer. They beat off stiff competition to win the Best Innovation in Service Redesign trophy at the Medical Futures Awards ceremony in London in front of an audience of 700 doctors, scientists, politicians, business leaders and celebrities.
form of resuscitation soon after birth. It is believed that this type of immediate care is best done alongside the mother. However, the resuscitation trolleys we currently use are usually too big to be used by the mother’s bedside which means the baby has to be taken away from her to be checked, resulting in the umbilical cord being cut.”
The team worked together to design a newborn resuscitation trolley, otherwise known as the BASICS (Bedside Assessment, Stabilisation and Initial Cardiorespiratory Support) trolley.
“It allows doctors and midwives to check for vital life signs and provide resuscitation at the mother’s bedside whilst the baby is still safely connected to its mother via the umbilical cord.”
Amanda explained why the development of the trolley is so important: “Statistics show that 10% of newborn babies need some
“Delayed cord clamping is said to be beneficial for all babies, but particularly in
the case of premature babies or those who are short of oxygen after labour. It allows doctors and midwives to check for vital life signs and provide resuscitation at the mother’s bedside whilst the baby is still safely connected to its mother via the umbilical cord. The intact cord provides the baby with an ongoing oxygen supply and maintains the baby’s blood volume.” The BASICS trolley is a small portable version of the large resuscitation units, with their own built-in oxygen supply, suction and heater. Its size means it can be used at caesarean section or forceps delivery. Amanda said: “We feel so honoured to be acknowledged in this way. Our hard work has really paid off.” The team would like to see the BASICS Trolley become standard equipment in the NHS and around the world.
Innovative approach: (l-r) Andrew Gallagher, Consultant Paediatrician (Worcester), Peter Watts, Design Engineer, Andrew Weekes, Consultant Obstetrician (Liverpool), David Hutchon, retired Obstetrician (Darlington) and Trust Midwife Amanda Burleigh. (Photo by Lenita Burman)
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Crusading celebrity emphasises importance of compassionate care Broadcaster Angela Rippon was the guest of honour at the Trust’s Annual Nursing and Midwifery Conference held at The Rose Bowl in May.
Seeing for herself: Angela Rippon with staff on Ward 34, an orthopaedic ward at the LGI.
Angela addressed the conference theme of Care with Compassion from her perspective as Vice President of The Patients’ Association as well as an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society. The latter condition is particularly close to Angela’s heart as she was the main carer for her late mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease. In a hard-hitting speech she spoke of the problems patients encounter with their care in the NHS when compassion is absent, and the devastating impact this can have on patients and their families. While lapses are relatively rare, there are still too many of them occurring, and a small number of “rogue nurses” in NHS hospitals are undermining care and the confidence of patients. Angela particularly highlighted the fact that around a third of elderly people treated in hospital have some form of dementia, and some of the consequences of this, including patients perceived as “difficult” going hungry
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or thirsty. Often they spend longer in hospital as a result and can lose their independence and dignity. “It’s only by facing the reality of how some users of the NHS see the service that we can learn and improve,” she said, pointing out that the majority of complaints The Patients Association has looked at show a lack of compassion for older patients, such as nurses saying they are “too busy” to help. Angela welcomed plans to improve the awareness of student nurses of the symptoms of dementia, and called for the profession to be given more time to care and freed from political interference. After her speech, she visited two orthopaedic wards at Leeds General Infirmary and took time to chat to patients about their care as well as talk to a range of ward staff. Back at the conference, which was opened by Chief Nurse, Ruth Holt, the Trust’s nursing and midwifery teams delivered some interesting and informative presentations. These included a role play session to outline some of the
problems encountered by bereaved relatives, how to overcome breastfeeding challenges, learning from expert patients delivering person centred care for those with dementia and an entertaining presentation with lots of prizes from the Trust’s fundraising coordinators. Adrian Knowles awarded this year’s ‘Hilda Knowles Award for Innovation and Excellence in the Care of Patients’ jointly to Chantelle Keenan and Rani Khatib from the Cardiac Rehabilitation Team, and Pauline Newsome, Clinical Educator. Chantelle and Rani identified gaps in patient knowledge about the use of Glyceryl Trinitrate (GTN) which is used to treat and prevent chest pain - a symptom of angina and other heart conditions. They have worked with patients to develop a GTN advice card which will help them remember how to use this medicine at the point of need. Pauline is implementing some practical measures on wards for older patients who need to increase their fluid intake and whose dietary intake needs to be monitored.
Top honour for fundraiser Ann Congratulations to volunteer, Ann Shelton, who has been awarded an MBE for her role in helping Yorkshire’s fight against cancer for almost half a century. In that time, Ann Shelton has helped to raise more than £1m for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal and its predecessor, the Cookridge Cancer Centre Appeal, through the promotion of the annual September Ball event.
Surprise visitor: Angela Rippon with elderly patient Edith Winifred.
Ann first became involved in fund-raising when she helped launch the Leeds Cancer Relief Committee - forerunner to Macmillan Cancer Relief - back in the 1960s. Since then she has worked as a volunteer at the former Cookridge Hospital, as well as being a key member of a number of major fund-raising committees supporting both cancer appeals. She carried on with her fundraising work, when services transferred to Bexley Wing. She said: “We are fortunate to have such a wonderful cancer centre in Leeds serving more than 2 million people from across Yorkshire. I hope this honour gives further recognition to the excellent clinical care that is provided by its wonderful team of staff.” Sheila O’ Shea, Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal Director, said: “Everyone connected with the appeal is delighted that Ann’s work has been richly rewarded in this way. The contribution she has made to our past, present and future success is enormous.
Good practice: Chantelle Keenan and Rani Khatib from the Cardiac Rehabilitation Team receive the Hilda Knowles award from Adrian Knowles.
Patient focus: Chief Nurse Ruth Holt addresses the audience.
“Her name is synonymous with fundraising to help people with cancer. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and her desire and determination to raise as much money as possible with every event she stages is an inspiration.”
Royal Honour: Fundraiser, Ann Shelton, MBE.
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Daughter’s tribute to cancer unit The 10-year-old daughter of the late Carren Watkins, who was treated for breast cancer at the Oncology Day Unit, raised over £100 to thank them for the care her mother received there. Carren had visited the Unit for treatment over a long period of time. Sadly two weeks after this picture was taken she passed away.
Her daughter, Sophie, came up with the idea of an all-day sponsored silence at school and canvassed friends and family for donations. She handed the cheque over to staff on the Unit. Senior sister, Evelyn Tatham, said: “This was a wonderful gesture from Sophie and will help future patients on the unit. We are all thinking about her at this sad time.
Outstanding result: Irene Sampson, Nursery Manager and Julie Kemp, Deputy Manager, with children at the Clarendon Nursery
Top marks for staff nursery Congratulations to all at the Clarendon staff nursery who received an ‘outstanding’ award from their governing body, Ofsted, in a recent inspection. Irene Sampson, Nursery Manager, said: “Clarendon staff team work extremely hard and it is wonderful this has been recognised by Ofsted. “The Chief Inspector at Ofsted sent her congratulations and thanks for all the work the team is doing to raise standards and improve lives. We are all very proud of this achievement.”
Happy together: Sophie and her Mum on the unit.
Famous victory for LTHT LTHT narrowly edged out rivals NHS Leeds in a twelve goal thriller to win the first Leeds NHS 5-a-side charity football cup. The event was held in aid of the Leeds Children’s Hospital, and raised over £300. Tariq’s Angels, made up of staff from the Trust’s customer service centre, blazed through the qualifying rounds to secure their place in the final against ‘Leeds Lets Change’ from NHS Leeds. The eventual result was a 7-5 win for the Angels. Out of 22 teams that entered from various parts of the NHS in Leeds, three of the last four teams were from LTHT. They included Dynamo Admin, LTHT Finance, and the eventual winners, Tariq’s Angels. It also included an all ladies team (apart from the goalkeeper), BN-FC, who knocked in an impressive 6 goals in the group matches, and a 3-3 draw in their final match. The team from Gledhow Wing Pharmacy drew their name from the wellknown BNF (British National Formulary).
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“They, along with everyone else, summed up what the tournament was about - a fun social occasion for NHS staff to enjoy whilst playing a bit of football,” said Health and Fitness Manager and the event organiser, Rob Dimsdale. He added: “I’d like to thank all those who made the event happen. The guys at Powerleague did a fantastic job of hosting the event. The ladies from the Charitable Trustees lent their support on the night, and of course thanks to the players for taking part.” Powerleague now provide several opportunities for NHS staff to play football at their new venue near TGI Fridays in Leeds. There is an NHS 5-a-side league starting on Monday evenings. Teams can also arrange oneoff matches with teams from other departments or NHS organisations on Friday nights, and ‘NHS Turn up & Play’ will also be available on Fridays. For further details, or to access any of these activities, please contact Powerleague on 0113 2010470.
Team effort: LTHT’s predominantly female BN-FC team from Gledhow Wing Pharmacy.
More than 500,000 reasons to keep children’s heart surgery in Leeds Campaigners fighting to retain and expand the children’s heart surgery unit in Leeds have taken their campaign to the heart of Government - the steps of 10 Downing Street. Parents, young patients and staff from the unit joined a group of regional MPs to present the 500,000+ signature petition at the residence of the Prime Minister, just ahead of the formal end of a four-month public consultation which seeks to reduce the number of English children’s heart surgery centres to six or seven. Only one of four options up for consultation would see Leeds keep its children’s heart surgery service, and there has been huge concern about the implications for parents and families from this region, particularly as around 14 million people live within 2 hours’ drive of Leeds. The alternative would see them having to travel to Newcastle or Liverpool. Throughout the consultation there has been huge and vocal support for keeping the service in Leeds, with a sustained
On the doorstep: The Leeds campaigners outside 10 Downing Street.
media and political lobbying campaign and demonstrations of “parent power” right across our region. The LGI-based Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, working in partnership with Trust staff, have done a fantastic job to mobilise public opinion in support of the hospital unit. Campaigner Jon Arnold, from Methley, whose four-year-old daughter Zoe twice had her life saved by children’s heart specialists in Leeds, was among those attending the London event and described the public show of support as “phenomenal”, adding: “Half a million names is absolutely staggering. If anyone had told me back in February we would get this many names I’d have said they’d gone off their heads. It shows the mass support we have got for the unit.” The petition handover was followed two days later by a Parliamentary debate on the Safe and Sustainable review, which was secured by Pudsey MP, Stuart Andrew, who has been co-ordinating a cross-party campaign in support of keeping the facility here in Leeds. He spoke of “the great demonstration of the strength of feeling there is in Yorkshire and the real anxiety that many patients and families have about what it would mean for the Leeds unit to close.”
Weighty issue: The record-breaking petition is wheeled up Whitehall.
Staff, young patients and their families now face an anxious wait of several months before the outcome of the Safe and Sustainable consultation are published.
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Heart of the matter: (l-r) Dorothy Kitching, Acting matron, Rosemary Gray, Senior sister, and Heather Wardle, Senior sister with model hearts on the Children’s cardiology stand.
Hands on: (l-r) Jimmy Parvin, Senior physiotherapis Senior physiotherapist test their fitness levels on a
Best of the show at H
Gledhow Wing played host to t opportunity to showcase the be staff, and our growing number o
Microscopic examination: (l-r) Sam Chilka, Consultant histopathologist explains the important role his team play in identifying abnormal cells from biopsies to Gary Thirkell Infection prevention & control nurse.
Innovative approach: (l-r) FY1 doctor, Emily Morris, tries on the ‘ShieldAll’, a lead apron designed to reduce the amount of radiation patients receive when having a CT scan. She is helped by colleague Stephen Halpin, and overseen by inventor of the ‘ShieldAll’ Clinical scientist Gareth Iball.
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Staff from all parts of the Trust set up stalls to share their clinical expertise, show off their state-of-the-art equipment, and talk to those interested in finding out more about our services. Some of the teams involved included those from Histopathology, Anaesthetics, Children’s
Heartfelt: Dr Mike Blackburn, Consultant cardiolog surgery consultation.
Warm welcome: Volunteers, Pauline Flintoff and Win Williams, who greeted visitors to the event.
st, Lisa Taylor, Student nurse, and Priyanka Devendra, Wii Fit.
e Trust on Health Fair
this year’s Health Fair - an est of what we do to the public, of Foundation Trust members. Critical Care and Children’s Cardiology, Patient Experience, Infection Prevention & Control, Facilities, Medical Illustration, Pharmacy, Retail Catering, and the Health & Wellbeing team.
The Health Fair was followed by the Annual Public Meeting where the public had an opportunity to ask questions and find out about the Trust’s progress over the last year.
gist, giving a talk on the national children’s heart
Spine tingling: (l-r) Lynsey Mitton, Imaging department assistant and Michelle Allen, Radiographer, show a model vertebrae to Teresa Walker, Sister pre-assessment and Brenda Jackson, Staff nurse.
Looking forward: (l-r) Mike Stockton, Team leader from Medical Illustration performs an Optical Coherence Topography (OCT) imaging test on Tanya Shanks, Radiographer.
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Fond farewell to Irene, Linda and Daphne Staff nurse Irene Bradley (below) has retired from the Trust after 43 years service to the NHS. She started her nurse training in 1968 and worked in many different areas before transferring to the endoscopy team in June 1989. Senior sister in Endoscopy, Roseann Mullen, said: “We will always remember Irene for the kindness and support she showed to both patients and staff, and her wonderful sense of humour. “We wish her a very happy well-deserved retirement and the best life can bring to a wellloved “true endoscopy treasure”. Irene’s colleagues threw a special retirement party where she was presented with flowers and gifts.
And … Receptionist in Orthopaedic Outpatients Daphne Leng (right) is retiring after more than 30 years with the Trust. Daphne worked for 16 years in various administrative roles at Killingbeck Hospital before it closed. She then moved to ENT for a year before joining Orthopaedic Outpatients at St James’s in 1997 as a receptionist. As a young 71 year old, Daphne didn’t relish the idea of retiring and decided to carry on working. She moved with the Trauma & Orthopaedic service to the LGI before finally calling it a day this summer. Office manager for Orthopaedic Outpatients, Karen Hush, said: “Daphne was an excellent receptionist who will be missed by not just her colleagues but patients too. “I know she is looking forward to spending more time with her family and friends and on her favourite pastimes - walking and her caravan. She certainly deserves a long and happy retirement and we all wish her well.”
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And …
Day Unit at St James’s.
Senior Sister Linda Burton (above) has also retired after a long and varied career at the Trust. Like Irene, she started her nurse training in 1968. She went on to work across many of the Trust’s sites, spending time in neurosurgery, coronary care, a surgical ward, and the urology day unit before finally moving to the David Beevers
Matron, Viv Lewis, said: “Linda is the epitome of a Senior Sister - she combines care and compassion with excellent organisational and leadership skills. “Linda will be sorely missed by her friends and colleagues. We know she has many plans for her retirement and we wish her the very best.”
Families of sick children benefit from Eckersley House When a child is diagnosed with a serious or life threatening illness they often have to be transferred to a specialist facility like the Leeds Children’s Hospital at the LGI. For some families this means travelling far from home to be close to their sick child. It can mean their lives are thrown into complete turmoil. Eckersley House - opposite Clarendon Wing at the LGI - offers a ‘Home from Home’ for families who find themselves in this situation. Run by The Sick Children’s Trust, it is a place where families can stay to be near their loved ones, helping to alleviate the emotional and financial strains of being away from home. It is open 365 days a year and has 22 family bedrooms (four with en-suite), eight bathrooms, three fully equipped kitchen/ communal dining areas, three well-stocked playrooms, three shared living rooms and full laundry facilities. A self contained flat is also available for families whose sick child is recovering from a liver transplant. There are direct telephone lines to hospital wards in all bedrooms. Jane McHale has been House Manager at Eckersley House for five years. She said: “Most families who use our services are initially in shock as their child has been newly diagnosed with a major illness, but you can see the relief on their faces when we explain that both Mum and Dad along with siblings can stay together at the house for as long as they need it. “We are always here for them with a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. Families build a bond with us and we feel honoured that they can relax in our presence and
Helping hands: Sheila Keenaghan, House Keeper, Jane McHale, House Manager, Caroline McClusky, Assistant Manager.
we can help them feel secure. It’s the little things that can mean the most, such as being able to cook a family meal, spending time together watching the family’s favourite TV programme, playing a board game or just being able to do their own laundry. Things you take for granted at home.” The Smith family has a high regard for Eckersley House and how it helped them at a distressing time when their two-year-old son Josh was undergoing treatment for a congenital heart defect. Jo, Josh’s mum, said: “Having nearly lost Josh five times during his treatments, it is absolutely critical that we are here at all times. I couldn’t even imagine not being
able to hold his hand when he needed me at any point, and thanks to The Sick Children’s Trust I could be there for him day or night. “In fact staying there helped give the whole family a sense of normality. Josh’s older siblings could come to stay and we would sit down together around the table and eat a home cooked meal.” The Robinson family also stayed in Eckersley House when their son Luke was undergoing treatment for heart problems. Adele, Luke’s mum, said: “We stayed there for four weeks and feel it greatly improved both Luke’s and the rest of the family’s quality of life. The ability for our other son Leo, who is only two and a half years old, to spend time with his brother helped the family to bond significantly. It was clear that frequent faceto-face time helped to stop the considerable worry and confusion expected from a sibling in this unusual situation. “It was also very helpful to spend time with other families in the communal areas at the house, as many were going through very similar situations. Just being able to chat with other parents and hear their experiences removed any feelings of isolation.” The Sick Children’s Trust do not receive any government funding and rely totally on the kind donations of supporters to raise the £1million needed every year to keep their houses across the UK open. To find out more about the work they do visit
Grateful family: Baby Luke Robinson with his parents and sibling Leo.
www.sickchildrenstrust.org
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Dialysis patients benefit from modern new unit Huddersfield kidney dialysis patients are now receiving their treatment in a brand new £1.5 million unit at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, funded by the Trust. The former doctors’ quarters have been converted into a modern, purpose-designed facility with up to 14 stations, with four dedicated renal disabled parking spaces. The main clinical area is now in a bright, open environment with a variety of colour themes and new curtains and patient TVs, funded by the British Kidney Patient Association. The unit replaces the facility formerly located on the St Luke’s Hospital site. It will eventually treat up to 56 patients who need haemodialysis. One of the benefits for dialysis patients is that now they have both their out-patient appointments, on non-treatment days, at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, alongside their haemodialysis treatment. The new unit is also closer to the pathology laboratories for blood test results. Bev Craggs, Matron for Renal Services at the Trust, said: “We are very proud of this new purpose-designed unit for our patients in the Huddersfield area. For treatments such as this it is very important to be able to offer modern surroundings for our patients who spend several hours a week in our care.” Dr Elizabeth Garthwaite, Consultant Nephrologist added: “Renal patients spend a long time on dialysis so providing a facility as close to people’s homes as possible is a key part of our strategy. We are delighted to have worked with Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust to create this state-of-the-art new facility on their Huddersfield Royal Infirmary site. “As well as providing a more modern and comfortable environment for local renal patients, the new unit will have the potential for additional capacity built in. We hope this means some Kirklees patients who currently travel to Leeds for dialysis will be able to transfer to the new unit, in due course.”
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Proud team: (l-r) Jason Dunne, Web developer, Abimbola Olusoga, Antimicrobial Pharmacist, Dr Jon Sandoe, Consultant Microbiologist, Philip Howard, Consultant Pharmacist.
Trust team wins European award A team from the Trust has won a European award for a web-based tool it has developed to help improve antibiotic use and reduce healthcare associated infections. The Leeds Health Pathways antimicrobial resource was chosen out of 450 entries at the European Association of Hospital Pharmacy conference and is already gaining interest from peer organisations. The resource is part of a set of processes, known as Antimicrobial Stewardship, which if followed has been shown to improve antibiotic prescribing. It includes guidelines, policies, an educational package, restricted antibiotics, calculators, audit and feedback tools. It was masterminded by Dr Jon Sandoe, Consultant Microbiologist, and Katy Warburton, Leeds Health Pathways (LHP) Manager with help from Philip Howard, Consultant Pharmacist, Abimbola Olusoga, Pharmacist, and Jason Dunne, LHP Web developer. Philip Howard, Consultant Antimicrobial
PATIENT SAFETY
Pharmacist, said: “The LHP Antimicrobial Resource is one of the real successes in our battle against healthcare associated infections over the last 3 years. “The most used parts are the treatment guidelines. They get over 8000 hits per month - more than all other guidelines put together. The reason for this is that is has been developed in a way that allows users to easily develop evidence-based infection treatment pathways with support from microbiology and pharmacy, and then get agreement by addressing any comments on peer review. “So far there have been about 100 guidelines developed, including primary care and prophylaxis guidelines,” he added. The team are currently working with Leeds University to market the resource following requests from other organisations to buy the tool. The resource can be found on the Leeds Health Pathways website which supports both primary and secondary care nww.lhp.leedsth.nhs.uk.
Dental Institute gets multi-millionpound refurbishment Dental students training in Leeds now have access to some of the best facilities in the world thanks to the completion of a £9.5 million refurbishment of the Leeds Dental Institute. The newly-transformed facilities were officially opened by young patient, Saara Hussain, who has had extensive dental treatment at the Institute as part of the care she is receiving at the LGI for a heart problem. The Trust and the University of Leeds bid for the investment three years ago so that the number of undergraduates studying dentistry could be expanded, and to give dental students in Leeds access to up-to-date, worldclass facilities. The refurbishment includes a new entrance
and reception, 120 new dental chairs, a new x-ray department and 24 new surgeries. Around 96 undergraduate dentists can now be trained per year, which is up from 65 before the refurbishment. Some of the other students studying there include those training to be dental hygienists and dental nurses, plus 60 postgraduates. Dr Margaret Kellett, Director of Leeds Dental Institute, commented: “Thanks to this very significant investment we have transformed the building and provided a state-of-the-art facility where more dental students will be able to receive top quality
training in a modern environment. “Our new curriculum and our dental mannequin unit have been hailed as the most innovative and advanced in Europe. The changes have been very well received by students and staff and we are already making a big difference to dental training in the region.” The transformation of dental undergraduate training in Leeds is in response to an initiative by the Department of Health and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, begun in 2005, to expand training of dental undergraduates to address a national shortage of NHS dentists.
World class: Dr Margaret Kellett, Director of Leeds Dental Institute and young patient, Saara Hussain, are pictured with some of the new training facilities.
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Rosie Horsman - Clinical Educator Surgery LGI
Donna Johnstone - Research & Innovation Manager
Vee Mapunde - CLRN Industry Manager
Coaching helps Trust staff Twelve staff from across the Trust have successfully completed an intensive sixmonth ‘coach’ training programme giving them the skills to support those involved in Managing for Success projects.
said: “Coaching has an important part to play in building leadership capacity and capability. By strengthening our in-house coaching capacity and delivering training to staff from across the Trust, we can provide our leaders with bespoke development to deliver services for the future.”
All twelve volunteered themselves for the training and were subjected to a rigorous selection process. They were drawn from a wide range of roles to fully reflect the diversity and talent of LTHT staff and included nurses, allied health professionals, managers, and consultants.
“Before I experienced coaching I’m pretty sure looking back that I wasn’t expecting to get very much from it.
Each coach, with the support of their manager, has agreed to invest 50 hours of their time helping to support service development happening as part of the Trust’s major improvement programme, Managing for Success. Anthony Owens from the Organisational Development team who ran the programme
Stephen Shepley - Directorate Accountant Finance
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The training combines classroom learning, intensive skills practice and practical coaching practice. Each participant was required to undertake real life coaching over the course of their training. Taught modules focused on essential coaching skills and practices, followed by modules with specific emphasis on challenges facing health services such as coaching through change
Nick Tanna - Clinical Supervisor (Genetics)
and transition, coaching for performance, and coaching for wellbeing. The Trust already has a small number of experienced coaches who have been providing coaching services as well as helping shape and deliver ‘Coaching for Success’. One senior nurse described her experience of being coached: “Before I experienced coaching I’m pretty sure looking back that I wasn’t expecting to get very much from it. I’d been on the usual leadership type courses and was pretty convinced it wasn’t going to add anything more than they had. However, I was in a new job and unhappy with my performance so after a chance conversation about coaching with a colleague who couldn’t praise it highly enough, I went along on the off chance that it might just help. “What I never expected to experience was enlightenment - I had real light bulb moments!
Richard Bishop - Consultant Histopathologist
Andi Fox-Hiley - Education Development Manager, Medical Education
Penny McSorley - Matron
Helen Hardy - Perioperative Practitioner - Theatres
f take the road to success Coaching shifted my thinking and because it did, it challenged the assumptions that I held and pushed me to work in ways that were new to me. I found that I was able to use my skills to achieve what I wanted to. I didn’t need to go somewhere else to learn anything new - it was in me all along. I also found a way to respond to what my job demanded whilst remaining true to what I was and so was able to move forward playing to my strengths. “This probably all sounds like I love hugging trees, but coaching is anything but that. It wasn’t counselling and I wasn’t patronised, I felt respected as an individual and an equal. The experience was performance-focussed, professional and hard work. Extremely hard work! “I now have huge respect for coaching as a real way of making a difference in challenging behaviours and supporting development. It did more for me than half a dozen leadership
Andy Cassels-Brown - Consultant Ophthalmologist
courses ever have.” Anthony Owens added: “Our investment in coaching reflects trends in the wider NHS and other sectors who found traditional training approaches were not enough in helping leaders take on and sustain significant change.”
“Coaching is a great way of developing your potential and helping you to perform better.” “Managing for Success offers staff an opportunity to contribute in new and different ways to create a better organisation. The challenges are great and coaching provides the support for people to challenge themselves and their colleagues to see further and reach higher and to realise their potential through achievement.” Ruth Holt, Chief Nurse, said: “Coaching is a
Fiona Simons - Nurse Teacher, Nursing Directorate
great way of developing your potential and helping you to perform better in your role or through a specific piece of work. “It should be challenging and sometimes can feel uncomfortable but it is by putting ourselves in a position where we feel both challenged and supported to take on that challenge that we and the service we lead moves forward. Coaching is a great way to do this.” To access coaching services please contact any of the coaches pictured or contact Organisational Learning’s Business Support Team via Groupwise (BST) tel 67242 Rebecca Jenkins, Senior Human Resources Advisor, Kelly Zanetti, Directorate Accountant Finance, Brenda Clarkson, Radiography Education Co-ordinator, and Suzy Hansford, Interpreting Services Manager, were not photographed but are also coaches and can be contacted.
Julia Roper - Quality Improvement Manager
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Elvis night boosts our cancer charities More than 700 people attended an Elvis-themed charity night in support of the Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal at St James’s, and the Breast Care Unit at Leeds General Infirmary. The evening, hosted at the Leeds Irish Centre, was a huge success with over £7,000 raised by the generous guests. The event organiser, retired Leeds businessman Peter Smith, who himself has beaten throat cancer, laid on the concert in honour of two family members who both died from breast cancer, and another family member who has recently been diagnosed with the disease. It was also held to thank the doctors and nurses who helped in the successful treatment of Peter, which included a revolutionary operation. Guests parted with as much as £300 each for a range of sporting memorabilia including a Pele football shirt, an autographed Andrew Flintoff cricket bat and a signed Rangers football shirt. Topping the bill was well-known Elvis Presley entertainer, Tony Skingle. Peter said: “I would like to thank everyone who made the night such a successful fundraiser for two most worthy causes.
Generous donations: (l-r): Amy Jeffrey, Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal, Jayne Ryan, Breast Care Unit, Peter Smith, event organiser and Sheila O’ Shea, Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal.
“It was about raising fun as much as raising funds and all the entertainers played their part. We had people travel over from all parts of the county.” A total of £4,079 was raised for the
Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal and a donation of £3,000 was made to the Breast Care Fund at LGI, to help its latest fundraising campaign to buy a new £70,000 radiography system.
Charity funding for renal key worker post Thanks to the generous support of BKPA - the British Kidney Patients Association - Anna Hemens has taken up the post of Young Persons Key Worker for the Renal Transition Service at St James’s.
Anna’s job is to improve the quality of transition for young people with kidney disease from paediatric to adult care recognising that there is a significant unmet need for young people in adult renal services and those undergoing transfer and that this need would be most likely met by the appointment of a key worker. The Renal Transition Service in Leeds - made up of members of the multidisciplinary team from both children’s and adult renal services - applied to the BKPA for funding for a Young Persons Key Worker post in 2010. Anna started work in June on a part-time basis for initially a one-year fixed contract The BKPA is a registered charity working to improve the quality of life for adults and children with chronic kidney disease. Rosemary Macri, their Chief Executive, visited St James’s for a short ceremony and plaque unveiling to mark the support the charity have provided. This was held in the Ann Lewins Centre
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Generous support: Rosemary Macri from BKPA with Dr Andrew Mooney, Dr Maggie Fitzpatrick and newly-appointed key worker Anna Hemens.
when Rosemary met Anna and members of the renal transition MDT, who acknowledged the generous and much needed contribution from the BKPA and the importance of such a post for good quality transition. Consultant Renal Physician, Dr Andrew Mooney, said: “Being diagnosed with kidney disease affects many areas of a young person’s life, and it is often these
broader aspects of the illness that patients need support with, rather than just the medical treatment. “I am delighted that we have been able to appoint Anna as a youth key worker to help these patients as a result of the generous funding of the BKPA. I am certain this will improve the outlook for young people with kidney disease in Yorkshire in the future.”
Team award for conference with a sense of tumour Sue Morgan, Teenage Cancer Trust Nurse Consultant, and her team have won a European award for their work to improve the lives of teenage and young adult cancer patients. Sue will travel to Stockholm in September to pick up the European Oncology Nursing Society’s Excellence in Patient Education Award 2011 for her project called “Find your Sense of Tumour”. This is an annual international conference for young people with cancer.
“I can’t put in words how brilliant this weekend was!” Each year the Excellence in Patient Education Award honours individual nurses or organisations that have excelled in enlightening cancer patients about the disease and its treatment. The judging panel said that it was an “excellent innovative project aimed at the young cancer patient and survivors”.
The conference - the first of its kind in the world - is an opportunity for young people to have some fun and meet other cancer patients. Those attending can bring a friend if they wish, or they come with a group. No parents are allowed, although they can watch on the internet if they so wish.
‘Thank you so much, I had an absolutely amazing time and met some amazing people’ Sue explained: “It is all about educating young people who have had, or are having treatment for, cancer. They can be in any stage of the illness aged 14 - 24 years, and up to 5 years
“It’s great to be surrounded by people who know how you feel and can relate to. I also learnt a lot more about myself than I ever did through psychologists.”
off treatment. They are invited from main centres as well as patients who have never been treated on a unit with other young people. “There is a series of lectures from professionals and other young people and written information is given to them at the conference. The entire event is recorded and edited by young people with cancer and then transmitted live over the internet to an International audience and also made into small films and put onto a website.”
‘I had amazing, awesome and precious moments there”. Up to 500 delegates from across the UK and Ireland attend the conference, with others joining in from Sweden and one year from far afield as Australia. Comments from young people attending the last event are included on this page.
‘Absolutely the best weekend of my life’
Inspiration: Sue Morgan (front, centre) at the conference.
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60 seconds Consultant Urological Surgeon, Neil Harris, has worked at the Trust since 2008. Bulletin went to find out about his life in and out of work. In the office…
Q.
What does your typical day at work involve?
It involves three broad categories of work involving treatment of patients with both general urological complaints and complex pelvic floor and functional bladder disorders. My work is split between the operating theatre, outpatient clinics and other specialist clinical activity, for example, urodynamics. There is also the obligatory (and tedious!) administration that is an essential part of running a busy clinical practice.
The limited resources in the NHS, particularly on the administrative and support side, which can limit our ability to manage patients in the most efficient and timely way.
Q.
What’s your best advice to a new starter at the Trust?
I’ll have to think about that one!!
Q.
What are the behaviours that are most important to you?
How did you get to be Consultant Urologist at LTHT?
Q.
Having a passion for one’s work.
I was a medical student and house officer in Leeds, following which I spent some time in the Army, serving as Regimental Medical Officer to The Light Dragoons.
Q.
I then completed my surgical and urological training in various parts of the UK, with a short period of training in the USA. The job at LTHT was advertised and I decided to apply for it, as it fulfilled many of the criteria I was looking for and allowed me to develop the female and functional urology service in Leeds.
Q.
What’s the best thing about your job?
Improving the quality of life of patients with “difficult bladders”, particularly those who have had problems for a long time.
Q.
And there must be something about your work that really frustrates you…
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And out of hours… What do you do to wind down and relax after a hard day at work? My wife bought me a piano for my 40th birthday earlier this year. I try to play and although I am appalling, I find it strangely relaxing.
Q.
If you could go anywhere this weekend, where would you go? Somewhere that involved a mixture of messing about with the kids, a luxury country hotel and fine dining – usually an impossible combination!
Q.
You’re sitting down to your favourite meal, what’s on the menu? It’s got to be Chateaubriand steak with French beans.
Q.
If you won the national lottery, what would you do? I certainly wouldn’t give up my work, but would probably go part time!!
Q.
What did you want to be when you were growing up? Many things!
Q.
What is your favourite film?
There are many, but one of my favourite contemporary films is Behind Enemy Lines. This is loosely based on a true story from the Bosnian conflict, where I served in 1996/7, whilst in the Army.
Q.
Tell us something we don’t know about you…
I prefer to keep some things secret! If you have an interesting news story for Bulletin, or if you or one of your colleagues would like to feature in a future 60 Seconds, please contact Practice makes perfect Suzanne Breen in the Communications team on ext 66494 or email suzanne.breen@leedsth.nhs.uk. The Leeds Teaching Hospitals
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Working together to make Britain a great place to grow old
Evenings
WRVS delivers practical services to help older people get more out of life, maintain their independence and play a part in their local community. Due to the changing needs of older people WRVS is developing a fully managed, hospital support service to help people attend appointments or get organised for a stay in hospital. While in hospital, our volunteers will visit to make sure they have what they need and to provide company when family and friends can’t visit. Then on returning home we will provide ongoing support to ensure they settle back in as quickly as possible.
Last year through our Home from Hospital service, our team of amazing volunteers helped over 1,000 people feel confident about returning home from hospital, often earlier than might otherwise have been possible, knowing they would be supported by regular visits from people in their local community. For further Information please call 0845 601 4670 or visit wrvs.org.uk
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The Leeds Teaching Hospitals 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 The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust endorse any of the products or services.
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1 Lowther Avenue,Garforth, Leeds LS25 1EP Web: www.springfieldhealthcaregroup.com Email: info@springfieldhealthcaregroup.com Telephone: 0113 286 3415 Fax: 0113 287 0267
www.springfieldhealthcaregroup.com
Providing a NEW INNOVATIVE APPROACH to care
• Located in Garforth, East Leeds, close to the M1 link • Specialising in residential and dementia care • Short term / respite care - personalised budgets welcome • Outcomes are the key focus to our care plans • Extensive and stimulating activities programme • Private minibus for residents outings • Fully inspected by the Care Quality Commission
For a brochure or to arrange a personal viewing of the carehome please call
07718 160 786
Springfield Homecare Services Ltd
Our well established domiciliary care company providing care in your own home. We can provide a flexible approach to your care whether you have your own private budget or have council funding options. We can provide a service ranging from 10 minute pop-ins to 24 hour cover, shopping, domestic duties, to getting up and putting to bed and personal care.
For further information call 0113
287 6789
Springfield Court
Situated in the grounds of Springfield Carehome, these self-contained 1 bedroom apartments allow the privacy and independence you may want, with the security of knowing care staff are only a call away should you need them. Springfield Court offers the opportunity to access community life, activities and events within the Carehome environment, with the independence of returning to your own home at the end of the day.
For further information call 0113
Definitive Training
385 3081
For all your Care Training Needs call 0113
385 3066
2 Fusion Court, Aberford Road, Garforth, Leeds LS25 2GH Web: www.springfieldhealthcaregroup.com • Email: info@springfieldhealthcaregroup.com Telephone: 0113 287 6789 • Fax: 0113 385 3061 032
www.leedsth.nhs.uk
Designed & published by Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd, Britannic Chambers, 8a Carlton Road, Worksop, Notts. S80 1PH Tel: 01909 478822
Springfield has recently undergone a major refurbishment providing 67 single and 2 double en suite rooms. This incorporates a new specialist purpose built 33 bed dementia unit which opened early 2010. The carehome provides a unique environment and has wide walkways, with feature walls which provide a stimulating and colourful environment. Furniture has been designed especially with the dementia resident in mind.