Bulletin Autumn 2021

staff magazine | Autumn 2021

The Active Issue

Your Work-based Work-out p12

Dream big, achieve your goals p7

Pro-tips for a winning mindset p16

Contents

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New book from LTHT staff

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Staying active – staff tips

6 Long Covid global response 7 Ellissa and Phil on setting big goals 8-9 The remarkable life of Dr Agam Jung 10 Amplifying Voices – How I discovered mine 11 Building the Leeds Way latest news 12-13 Pull out and keep: work-based exercises 4

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Staying active – staff tips

Living in the Now – My journey

14 Digital innovation at the Children’s Hospital 15 A new look for the Clarendon wing entrance 16-18 Pro-tips for a winning mindset 19 My job - Razwan Ul-Haq 20-21 Talking about the menopause

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Your Work-based Work-out

Pro-tips for a winning mindset

22-23 Farewells 24

Leeds Hospitals Charity corner

25 60 seconds with Rachel Berry Bulletin is produced quarterly by the Communications Department.

Photography by Medical Illustration Design by Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd Send your feedback, ideas and suggestions for the next edition to communications.lth@nhs.net or call exts. 64303/66494/66244.

Copy deadline is 1st December 2021 For more news on a daily basis from LTHT please follow us on social media: 19

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My job with Razwan Ul-haq

60 seconds with Rachel Berry

search for ‘Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’

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News

New book from LTHT staff puts racism under the spotlight A new anthology of stories written by Leeds hospitals’ staff was published in October, where it coincided with Black History Month.

The book, ‘Amplifying Voices, Mending Divides’, features 14 contributions from staff at LTHT and others associated with the Trust, including both BME and non-BME voices. Each story describes deeply personal experiences of racism, inequality, and discrimination through a number of mediums including personal autobiography, creative non-fiction, and poetry.

The anthology aims to capture how racism plays out in the workplace and wider society through a diverse set of voices including staff from both white and minority ethnic backgrounds.

The brainchild of Ester Jamera, Senior Project Nurse - Staff Experience and CoChair of the BME Staff Network at LTHT, the book was conceived as a response to the inequalities in healthcare laid bare by the Covid pandemic as well as the death of George Floyd in the US in 2020.

Ester said: “I am so pleased that the book is finally out. Thank you to the contributors and all who have played a

part to bring us to this point. It has been long and hard work behind the scenes but seeing the book in print brings me indescribable joy and hope. Having the book’s launch coincide with Black History Month is also very significant for me. I hope the book will act as a conversation starter in many different spaces and resources for individuals, teams and CSUs as we try to figure out what needs to be done to bring race equity to life in the organisation.”

Jenny Lewis, Director of HR and OD, said: “I’m so pleased that the powerful stories within the book are being told and shared.

Thank you to everyone who has made their contribution – it’s a really insightful and often challenging read and it’s an important part of our commitment to root out racism.

Building trust and listening to each other is so vitally important.

All members of LTHT staff are invited to sign up for a copy via the LTHT website.

Staff who pledge to set up an Amplifying Voices reading group will be given a free copy of the book as well as a discussion pack to help ask questions about the stories in the anthology. Find out more on the LTHT website by searching: Amplifying Voices LTHT.

Welcome Welcome to the Autumn issue of Bulletin!

As the nights draw in demotivation can strike hard. Colder, wetter weather and less daylight don’t do anything to help us get out and active.

With the pandemic, lockdown and our hospitals staying busy all this year, it’s been particularly difficult to find the motivation or even just the time for regular healthy activity.

But we know that exercise and keeping fit does us a whole world of good for both our minds and bodies - from burning off stress and staving off illness to helping us live longer. So what can we do?

This issue of The Bulletin magazine is dedicated to finding out the secret of motivation, goal-setting, and creating healthy habits. In this issue we’re hearing from colleagues at the Trust what they do to stay active when the weather closes in, and our Physiotherapy team share some easy exercises you can do without leaving your desk. Want to know the secrets to success? Who better to ask than the professionals! We’ve got a Bulletin exclusive featuring interviews with local sports stars including 2021 Olympic and Paralympic legends!

It’s so important we are making the time to look after ourselves as we head towards the winter. Exercise and staying active is a great way to do this – I hope you’ll find inspiration to stay motivated in this packed issue of Bulletin.

Kind regards

Julian Hartley, Chief Executive

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Feature

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Staying Active staff share their active hobbies and tips for staying motivated As the nights draw in and the weather takes a gloomier turn, it can take an extra effort to lace up those trainers or stop by the gym knowing there’s a warm home and comfort food to return to. Winter can often mean our fitness goals take a hit, so we spoke to colleagues to hear what their tips and tricks are to stay motivated…

Julie Smith, LTHT Volunteer “Although exercising is not one of my favourite pastimes I think if you make it part of your weekly routine and book ahead so you can’t chicken out, then it just becomes something you do. My usual routine is gym three times a week for about an hour. Tuesdays I swim before volunteering, which is also brilliant exercise as it involves walking around every wing of St James’s delivering newspapers to wards. We look after our son’s dog at the end of the week and she likes a good couple of hours’ walk on Fridays and Saturdays. I finish the week off on a Sunday by getting up early and doing a five-mile run. My reward at the end of this is a full cooked English breakfast.”

Lydia Kolb, Specialist Audiologist “I like to go hiking with my partner across Leeds and the Calder Valley as well as the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales. I love the outdoors and walking gets my heart pumping without it feeling like ‘hard exercise’. I have problems with my joints so certain exercise can be challenging, but I like the thought that my muscles are getting stronger the more I walk and move. Being amongst nature, even in the depths of winter, feels fresh and

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new, and having expended some pentup energy in the outdoors I always come home feeling renewed.”

Building the Leeds Way programme director Mike Bacon and Project Managers Alec Musson and Jonny Sylvester “Lockdown meant eating more and moving less initially. A number of our Building the Leeds Way team therefore decided to get active using the BBC’s ’Couch to 5K’ app. The app is brilliant and contains several celebs cheering you on, telling you when to run and when to walk, and provides some extra motivation to start running.

“We started an informal running club in work - just 30-40 minutes running during our lunch break so when the nights creep in we can keep the exercise going. If the run lasts a little longer we just add some time onto the start or end of the day and take a flexible approach as we realise how important it is both physically and mentally to stay active. Our top tip is a good pair of trainers - and some headphones to get some motivational tunes playing!”

Hayley Duffy, Personal Trainer and Health and Wellbeing coordinator “I won’t lie to you, I find winter a struggle to navigate through. In general, the combination of the short, dark days mixed with the fact I spend approximately five months of the year being a human ice cube doesn’t make for a particularly cheerful time. The battle is to find the balance between sticking to a healthy lifestyle and allowing myself some motivational treats along the way. Here are my top tips to staying motivated: 1) P lan in advance. This goes across the board from menu ideas, meal prep/ batch cooking to set workout routines and times. If it’s all there and ready to go in advance you are much more likely to stick to it rather than relying on finding the motivation to do it from scratch that day.

2) A llow for slip ups. Nobody is perfect and sometimes things just don’t go to plan. By allowing for and making peace with this potential you can help avoid the all or nothing complex, which can lead into relapse (e.g.: I forgot my lunch today so had to buy something at the shop which wasn’t healthy in the slightest so I may as well just write this entire week off).

3) B e kind to yourself. There is such a thing as healthy treats and these can be used as a motivational tactic. Quite often if I’m having a bad day I will think of something I really consider to

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be a treat that can be my reward for getting through whatever challenge it is. It can literally be something as small as doing a face mask or having a nice long bath or having a chat with a friend. Having a positive thing to look forward to can really help.”

and feeling good!

“Now the dark nights are approaching it’s time to mix up your routine. Firstly, ensure you keep to your ‘appointment’.

Don’t cancel on yourself! If you are lucky enough to work part time or flexibly try doing a short burst of activity at lunch or on your break. If you are heading to the gym, go straight from work because as soon as you get home and put those slippers on you are making things ten times harder for yourself. If none of this works around your schedule I find getting up that little bit earlier to work out does the trick. If you are not a morning person, getting up 45min earlier won’t feel any harder, I promise. Get it out of the way and I promise it will set you up for a positive day.”

Martin Duxbury, Deputy Head of Radiotherapy Paul Curotto, Waste Training Educator “Here I am pictured with my wife Mandy and our two Cane Corsso dogs Gino and Gilda. They need a fair amount of exercise just on a daily basis. But during autumn and winter we often get out onto the beaches with them and also onto the fells in the Dales and Lakes.

This is motivation alone for us to get out and see the changes that the autumn and winter bring. I think in reality it’s the dogs that exercise the humans and not the other way round.”

Claire McGarry, Health and Wellbeing Practitioner “I don’t have one particular form of activity that gets my pulse racing. The key to my success has always been variety. What I used to tell my clients when I was a personal trainer was to find something you love!

Don’t take up running if you hate how it makes you feel. I have always enjoyed anything from weight training to yoga.

I’ve currently gone back to dance class, something that was a part of my life for more than 20 years and I can’t tell you how good it feels to be back doing something that brings me joy. Mixing my activity up with walks, home work outs and dance classes keeps me motivated

“Karate/kick-boxing, playing squash, going to the gym and walking (admittedly, with pub stops!) all get my pulse rating. I’ve got to that stage now whereby not doing exercise causes frustration, so I need to keep doing it to keep well. Prior to that, I had to keep reminding myself why I needed to do it - i.e. keep fit, keep well.

“Keeping fit is a core part of keeping well and is linked closely with emotional and mental wellbeing as well as physical wellbeing. It’s good for you, invest in looking after yourself.”

Christine Blackburn Children’s Physiotherapist “During the summer I like to exercise outside if I can, whether it be cycling, jogging, walking or swimming as I love being out in nature. In the winter, I like to mix up in the gym and will try a variety of classes from body combat, HIT, to yoga to keep me motivated. I also love some loud music with a good beat to work to.

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“The most important thing about exercise or physical activity is that you enjoy it, it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you’re moving, getting out of breath and enjoying it, that way you’re more likely to keep it up.”

Suzanne Rogerson, Senior Research “If life becomes busy or stressful, the thing that helps me is exercise. I have cycled to work for many years now and also enjoy walking and cycling with family and friends. I recently successfully completed the National Three Peaks and took part in our team YCR Tour de Walkshire challenge in May. “I train with LTHT Sport Karate club twice a week and find it invaluable in allowing me to de-stress at the end of the day and to really focus on the present. It helps me to take control and to cope with a busy job. Unfortunately, we were unable to train together from March 2020 until May 2021 and since then have only been able to train outside. This is becoming increasingly difficult as the weather worsens and the evenings become darker.

“Go to a place where you feel comfortable and confident - for me it’s normally the LTHT gym and exercise with a group who can spur you on and keep you motivated.”

Megan Holmes - Play Leader “I work as a Play Leader on PICU five days a week but on week nights and weekends I am a sheep farmer! I also have two alpacas and shire horses! Having a large flock of sheep, gives me therapy after a long hard day. There’s something that brings me relaxation when I’m sat in a sheep field or getting up at 3am to help a ewe give birth. The fresh air, cold mornings and sometimes long nights help me to de-stress and keep my mind healthy.

Being a sheep farmer challenges me in a different way but supports the job that I do on PICU.”

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News

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Leeds experts pioneer global response to Long Covid The Leeds Long Covid Rehabilitation service has been recognised for extraordinary and innovative work in the Clinical Leadership Team category of the 2021 BMJ awards. This complements the team’s success in being awarded the 2021 Medipex NHS Clinical Innovation award in the longterm conditions category.

In the early stage of the pandemic, some patients in Leeds continued to struggle for months with ongoing symptoms after Covid infection. The team recognised this and established an integrated rehabilitation pathway with colleagues in Primary Care, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust alongside Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust, the University of Leeds, Leeds CCG and the City Council.

Since developing the pathway over 1000 adults with Long Covid have been treated. It is a great example of integrated care, with medical specialists from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust working with a therapy team based in Leeds Community Healthcare Trust, providing specialist assessment and

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ongoing rehabilitation in one service.

Dr Manoj Sivan, Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Leeds and Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine said: “The team created a novel scale, the COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale (C19YRS) to capture long-term COVID symptoms. The scale was developed with patients and assesses symptom severity, functional disability and overall health state. It is the first patient reported outcome measure (PROM) in literature for Long COVID. The scale is recommended by NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), it has been translated in more than 10 languages and is used globally.”

Dr Stephen Halpin, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Leeds and Consultant with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust added: “Developing the Leeds Long Covid service was a multidisciplinary team effort, made up of clinicians and a core therapy team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and dieticians. Weekly team

meetings took place with attendance from consultants in Respiratory Medicine, Rehabilitation Medicine and Cardiology with a Rehabilitation Medicine registrar.

Recent evaluation reveals 86% of patients reported an improvement in health related quality of life measures.

This demonstrates the impact this service has had in supporting people in Leeds to recover from Long Covid.”

The service has been recognised as a national benchmark and the C19YRS scale is used in most Long COVID (LC) services as the only LC specific outcome measure. The World Health Organisation has recognised the Leeds service, appointing Dr Sivan as a consultant to shape COVID-19 rehabilitation response in across 53 countries in Europe region.

The Leeds service is at the cutting edge of the evolving story of Long Covid, nationally and internationally. This work has helped shape national guidance and international policy and is highly research-active, learning and sharing how best to treat this difficult condition.

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News

Cycling through the odds – Ellissa Baskind Dr Ellissa Baskind is a Consultant Gynaecologist and works on the IVF unit at Seacroft Hospital. In December 2019 Ellissa was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia and she explains how cycling gave her a focus during treatment.

“I have had exceptional care from the haematology oncology team and I am immensely grateful for the innovative treatment that has successfully treated my leukaemia to date.

When I was first admitted to hospital I was given an exercise bike that I rode every day as a focus for my physical and mental health. At home I continued and for every admission my friend, my bike was ready for me in my room.

Unfortunately, my chemotherapy was unsuccessful and the only treatment available was a stem cell transplant from my sister, who lives in Israel. At the time, lockdown prevented travel so the Anthony Nolan charity stepped in.

every day. It made me stronger and gave me a focus and routine when I was alone for weeks.

The staff kept my water jug filled up and brought me extra towels, often popping in and cheering me on. Sometimes I was peddling away during ward rounds, connected to my chemotherapy, blood or platelets and by the end of my admission I was averaging at 10 miles a day.

I had a setback when I was re-admitted with complications of my transplant.

I lost a lot of weight and needed powerful immunosuppressants and steroids, but the bike kept me going. I fought with my head many days to get out of bed and pedal, even if it was only a mile or two. There were dark days, but the bike was always the light in my room that kept me going. I spent Christmas in

They facilitated the harvesting of my sister’s stem cells and a courier to Heathrow Airport and then St James’s Hospital. I began my #greatstemcellcyclechallenge on the day of my transplant, July 23rd 2020; a challenge to cycle the distance my cells travelled across Europe and the Middle East, from Jerusalem to Leeds . A total of 3207 miles in the following 12 months.

isolation - the staff kept my spirits up, and the bike that goes nowhere took me to a place of survival.

In January I was back working, albeit clinics from home, and in June I returned to what I love - seeing patients and back in my role as caregiver. Stronger, wiser and a deeper understanding of what it means to be a patient. Something that I hope I will carry with me throughout my future career.

I celebrated my transplant birthday by virtually climbing the volcano Haleakala – about 100 miles in six gruelling consecutive hours, up steep gradients, together with colleagues from the IVF unit who have supported me all the way.

I had cycled over my target - a total of 3327 miles!

I am so proud to have achieved my goal, as well as raising £20,000 for Anthony Nolan through the challenge! I’ve also raised awareness and got several hundred people onto the Anthony Nolan and DKMS registers to potentially help others who need a lifesaving stem cell transplant.”

I cycled every day in my room on J88, giving myself targets to cycle longer distances each day including virtual classes alongside friends. There were times when I could barely breathe my face was so swollen, but the bike in the corner of the room got me moving

Keep on running – Phil Sesemann

He ran a time of two hours, 12 minutes and 58 seconds which secures qualification for the European Championships and Commonwealth Games. He trains with his dog Kipchoge.

“I’m very fortunate to be part time.

If you are full time it’s easy to forget about your health and wellbeing and just concentrate on your work. But your

health and wellbeing needs to be as important as work, if not more so. If you set yourself an alarm for work you should also try and set yourself some goals about being active.

“And if you are going to exercise I think it’s important that you don’t flog yourself every time - the goal is consistency, not one big run. You need to take it easy even if it means walking - because you want to be able to do it again and again and again. You’ll get faster and it will get easier and before you know it it’s less of a chore and something you really look forward to!”

Credit Stephen Gardner

Phil Sesemann, who has worked for LTHT in A&E throughout the pandemic, recently finished in an amazing seventh place at the London Marathon - all the more incredible because it was his first ever marathon.

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Feature

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Living in the Now – My journey Consultant neurologist Dr Agam Jung tells the story of how her vision for patient-centred care has grown from a remarkable life I was born in India, and in India, most parents aspired for their children to be either a doctor or an engineer at that time. I grew up in an educated family in Bokaro, which was a steel township.

At that time, new ‘steel cities’ were being built across the country in order to revolutionise India’s industrial capacity.

My father was an engineer who had trained in the USSR in the 1950s. My childhood was spent in a city full of highly educated engineers who had been schooled abroad. It was in many ways a privileged upbringing.

I attended a Jesuit school called St Xavier’s where I was taught by many different teachers, including Sister Bertha Wilcox, an English nun, and Father Macnamara, who was an Australian.

My time here was to be a formative education in many ways.

At school I was in the Students Council.

One of the projects included being in charge of fundraising to help leper colonies. Lepers were – and still are – considered an underclass and shunned by society. We fundraised to buy them tarpaulins so that whilst homeless they would have a shelter in the monsoon rains. Having lived in a relatively privileged part of society, learning about these impoverished people was eyeopening for me.

St Xavier’s was dedicated to public service as much as to the schooling of its students. Every year, in December,

the classrooms would be converted into wards and whole communities from remote rural areas would travel there to have cataracts removed, allowing them to see again. My job a was looking after these patients as they recovered from surgery. I was also head of the school’s Teaching Programme where, during afterschool hours, we taught junior students from underprivileged backgrounds by providing extra classes.

This was really part of the ethos of ‘service before self’ that I learned during these years before I went on to Medical School.

One of the turning points of my school education was during a lecture from a foreign doctor who had been working in remote tribal regions of the country. She talked about giving up her life to help others, and showed us how innovative she could be with very little, such as using pressure cookers to sanitise medical equipment. Her passion really made an impact on me.

My Medical School MGIMS Wardha, India, set up by Dr Sushila Nayyar, Mahatma Gandhi’s personal physician, was quite different to other medical schools in India and the UK. Our studentship came with obligations to the local community.

At the end of the first term, students

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would spend 15 days living in a village alongside very poor people, getting to know the families who lived there. We would then adopt four or five families, whose care we would be responsible for during the rest of our education. That meant that any malnourishment, disease or injury – even infant and maternal deaths in the community – you were answerable for. I know of no other education system like it. It really does underline the ethos of servitude and lets you live in other people’s shoes.

Living in the leprosy colony I learnt not just about medicine but about disparities, discrimination, courage, and compassion.

As a new medical graduate, I also spent three months at Dattapur Leprosy Colony during my internship which was life changing. Living in the colony, I learnt not just about medicine but about disparities, discrimination, courage, and compassion.

Besides my education, there were other formative parts of my life that were less positive. As a teenager in 1984 I

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witnessed the atrocities committed against the Sikh population in India following the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. It was a terrifying time as Sikhs were massacred by mobs throughout the country – I remember watching the army trucks rolling in to Bokaro and the flag march that followed in order to control the violence. Sikhs were sheltering in my school whilst the army moved in.

Violence was also present in my life during the Manipur insurgency, at the India-Burma border (now Myanmar).

I experienced it first-hand as a young doctor in 1994 when I was threatened by militants wielding AK47s. A friend of mine who was a police officer was killed by militants and this contributed to my decision to escape from Manipur.

Witnessing the Sikh genocide and fleeing the Manipur insurgents impressed upon me a powerful concept of life and death at an early age.

After completing my education in India I worked as a junior consultant in general medicine in the Sultanate of Oman for two years. I came to the UK in 2001, where I had to retrain in despite my previous experience. At this time, I wasn’t sure which direction I wanted to go in and drifted into Neurology. After my Neurology training, I completed a Research Fellowship in Neurological Infectious Diseases at Liverpool supported by The Guarantors of Brain.

I soon realised that I wanted to be in a role that was more clinically oriented and hands-on in helping people.

meaningful lives and get on with the business of day-to-day living. Perceptions of motor neurone disease have changed dramatically because of people like Rob Burrow and Stephen Derby. The BBC documentary Rob Burrow: My Year with MND (2020) was viewed by around 5 million people and went a long way to raising awareness about the disease. It was an absolute delight to be part of this. The film A Theory of Everything (2014) made a huge difference in changing perceptions too.

I made that decision to take the job in Neurology in Leeds because I wanted to be someone who helped people live meaningful lives, in spite of their afflictions.

What Rob Burrow has done in sharing his personal life and showing the effect of the disease in real time has made a phenomenal difference and really demonstrated the impact on daily life.

Now people come to clinic and say ‘I have Rob Burrow’s disease.’ We are seeing earlier recognition of symptoms and our caseload has nearly doubled because of this increased awareness, early referrals and early diagnosis.

When I left St Xavier’s at sixteen to go to Medical School, Sister Bertha wrote in my end of year book a quote that has stayed with me for the rest of my life. It read:

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“Between the relinquished past and the untrodden future lies the holy NOW, the dwelling place of God […] May you live fully in the Now of each moment as it comes to you. This is the secret of joy and peace.”

Through this gift, Sister Bertha was telling me something important – that we cannot know the future, and that “now” really is all we have. This has become a personal philosophy that has guided me through my life. But what I’ve only recently realised is how I have adopted this into my professional practice as well.

I made that decision to take the job in Neurology in Leeds because I wanted to be someone who helped people live meaningful lives, in spite of their afflictions. That means doing things in the now, living immersed in the now. Because no matter who we are, whether we have lived long lives or short, whether we have MND or not, none of us know when our time will come. Making the most of now is all we really have.

I have seen death all my life – from the lepers we raised money for to buy them shelter, to the genocide of the Sikhs, to the Manipur militants, and I know just how unpredictable life can be. In some ways, my role as a consultant neurologist at the Leeds Motor Neurone Centre is no different to when I was fundraising at the Jesuit school in Bokaro – it’s about making life worth living.

I joined the Leeds Neurology service and took on the Directorship of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Centre at Seacroft Hospital in 2011. At the time I inherited one part-time nurse, a few therapists, and four hours a month from a consultant in Palliative Care. Fastforward to now and there are three nurses and we have just been joined by another consultant neurologist. The centre has developed phenomenally over the past 10 years. Now our team also has a dedicated psychologist, an occupational therapist, a specialist wheelchair therapist, physiotherapists, and palliative care input of four hours a week. We are regularly able to support home visits for patients who are too unwell to come to clinic.

Although we don’t have a cure for motor neurone disease yet, I am hopeful for the future. Technology has really come on, empowering patients to lead more

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News

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Amplifying Voices - How I discovered mine We spoke to the visionary behind the new anthology Amplifying Voices, Mending Divides and found out just what it takes to make a dream become reality Ester Jamera, Senior Project Nurse - Staff Experience and Co-Chair of the BME Staff Network at LTHT, had the idea for the anthology and placed the call-out for contributions for LTHT staff. Together with a lot of hard work from people across and beyond the organisation, Ester’s vision has helped the book become what it is today.

The idea “The idea for the anthology came to me when I was writing the BME Staff Network response to the death of George Floyd in May 2020. It appeared to me that the news reports on racism that were coming through various media channels were unbelievable, shocking and new to many especially those not affected as much or at all by racism.

managers being seen as gatekeepers.

All this confirmed, if there was ever any doubt that this is the reality for many BME staff. The resilience of BME staff to rise above adversity also impressed me.

“I felt the need to highlight that racism was a daily experience for many from BME backgrounds in the community and here at LTHT. I also felt strongly that it was important to hear voices from our white colleagues because I genuinely believe to make sustainable progress on race equality all voices need to be heard and taken into account.

“From white colleagues there was also a common theme of fear of getting it wrong, which results in hesitancy to engage in inclusive conversations.

The daily struggle this has on white colleagues is also palpable and worth addressing going forward. Fear is a theme and a word that featured quite a bit in the book.

“I got some lovely responses from colleagues expressing their interest to contribute and why, and from others who said the pain from their experience of racism was still too raw to put on a page, and didn’t feel ready to have their voice heard, while others commented how needed they thought this book was.”

The stories “When I read the submissions for the first time I was struck by the varied emotions it evoked in me. I cried, laughed aloud, felt despair and, at the same time, hope. The common themes that were highlighted by BME colleagues were second-guessing themselves, working ten times as hard to be recognised as able, challenges of accessing training and career progression opportunities and

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The process “The original idea did not change much as the project continued. Initially, I did not think of including statements the CEO and the BME Staff Network released following the death of George Floyd’s, nor excerpts from emails the Network received as a result. I then decided to include these because, they are not only powerful and give a real glimpse into the current state at LTHT about how we interact with each other as colleagues, but also give the anthology context.

“Originally I wanted to group the stories based on roles of the contributors e.g. nurses’ stories, non-clinical staff stories etc. Eventually, I decided to structure them in a way that flow nicely from one story to another and

supportive colleagues also contributed in identifying which story was best placed where in the book.

“I was not prepared at all for the time, effort and collaboration needed to pull a book together. I thought it was a matter of receiving the stories, putting them into one document, a bit of editing and job done. How wrong I was! I persisted because it was a goal I set myself and also a subject I am passionate about otherwise I would have quit half way. What I was certain about was that I wanted it to be a learning resource now and for future generations of LTHT staff. I hoped and prayed that it would get published at least for LTHT use.”

The hope “I hope, having read this book, people will feel that it was worth their time. I hope too that they will acknowledge that racism, whether experienced or perceived, has a real impact on people’s lives and as a result make a commitment to self to do something big or small to change the narrative. We can make our world a better place for all - echoing words from Stuart Haines’ story that the earth was made to be a common treasury for all, it shouldn’t be for some of us to take the best bits and keep them for ourselves.

Rather, it is for us all to share and enjoy— equally and without prejudice.”

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News

New architects appointed to design Leeds Hospitals of the Future The plan to build a new adults’ hospital and new home for Leeds Children’s Hospital has taken a major step forward with the appointment of new architects to design the buildings.

They heard from some of those clinicians and staff about what services are going into the new buildings and met some of the children who took part in our Daring Designers competition, explaining what they would like our new hospitals to look like.

The Perkins & Will team, led by Penoyre & Prasad with Schmidt Hammer Lassen, have now been appointed as the preferred bidder and will design the new hospitals.

Simon Worthington, LTHT Director of Finance and Senior Responsible Officer for the Hospitals of the Future project, said: “The competition process to appoint an architect was very strong with a number of international practices taking part which meant we received some exceptional concept designs. The Perkins and Will concept design is very exciting and will create a fantastic landmark for the hospital and the city of Leeds and we are delighted to be working with them to create the new hospitals.”

The Perkins and Will concept has a link back to the inauguration of the original Leeds General Infirmary by Prince Albert in 1869 - a key aspect which included nature in the healing process by ensuring patients got plenty of light and air.

landscape for patients and staff to enjoy.

The concept design now needs to be developed further through a robust design development process involving a range of stakeholder inputs, including staff, patients and partners whilst working within new hospital design parameters.

Important visits to the new hospitals’ site

Daylight, views, and greenery will be incorporated in the latest concept designs with their ability to help relieve stress and support recovery.

The Trust hosted two important visits to the Hospitals of the Future project – one in which Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, heard about the progress we’re making on the development of our two new hospitals – and another from Natalie Forrest, head of the government’s New Hospital programme.

The proposed designs will also improve the links to the natural environment to promote calm and restfulness throughout the hospital environment. Included in the new design will be a rooftop plaza with gardens boasting local plants and trees that will be inspired by the local

The Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care met with Trust chair, Dame Linda Pollard, and Chief Executive, Julian Hartley, when they visited the demolition site at Leeds General Infirmary which is making way for the new hospital development.

The Building the Leeds Way team also hosted a visit from key figures in the Government’s New Hospitals Programme, at their offices in Park Lane in Leeds.

Natalie Forrest, Senior Responsible Officer for the Government’s New Hospitals Programme (NHP) and her team from the Department of Health and Social Care, were given an update on the Trust’s development schemes.

After being welcomed by the Trust’s Chair, Dame Linda Pollard, and Chief Executive Julian Hartley, the NHP team had an overview of the Trust’s new Hospitals of the Future programme, the Future Pathology project and the LGI Development and Innovation Pop-up – all components of the Building the Leeds Way programme – before touring the development site.

Julian Hartley, Chief Executive of LTHT said: “It was great to see our Building the Leeds Way Programme Director, Mike Bacon, and his team outlining the considerable progress we’ve already made.

“In turn Natalie Forrest briefed us on the government’s New Hospitals Programme, part of the largest hospital-building project in a generation, and it was both fascinating and very informative to hear from those responsible for delivering the programme across the UK.” Natalie Forrest said she and her New Hospital Programme colleagues were delighted to meet with the team in Leeds. “Our shared aim is to transform the delivery of healthcare infrastructure in order to provide state-of-the-art facilities for staff and patients in Leeds,” she said. “I look forward to continuing our close work with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust as the new hospital schemes progress.”

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Your Work-based Work-out

Pull out and keep this handy guide to help yourself stay fit and flex Physiotherapist Courtney Robinson demonstrates a range of simple

Sit to stand

Active trunk rotation

Wall push-ups

1. Sit on a firmly placed chair (placed against a wall to prevent it from moving if necessary).

1. Sit tall.

1. S tand at one arm’s length from a wall.

Increase the distance to increase the difficulty of the exercise.

2. Cross your arms over your chest (you may use them for support if required).

3. With your feet slightly apart, lean forward, so your shoulders are over your feet and stand up fully.

4. Slowly return to sitting.

2. Cross your arms on your chest.

3. Slowly twist your trunk to one side.

4. Slowly return to the neutral position and repeat to the other side.

2. Place your hands on the wall.

3. B end your arms and lean your upper body forward slowly.

4. S traighten your arms and push your upper body back.

5. Keep your body in a straight line.

6. P revent your lower back from arching by lightly engaging the abdominals and by squeezing the glutes.

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xible during your working day – even whilst at a desk! LTHT e exercises and stretches you can do at any point in the day.

Strengthening triceps

Side bends

Lunge with overhead reach

1. Sit and place hands on the edge of a firmly positioned chair (place against wall if necessary).

1. Stand up straight with arms loose by you side and feet shoulderwidth apart.

1. S tand with your feet shoulder width apart.

2. Slowly lower your body in front of the chair by bending the elbows and the knees.

2. Side bend to one side. You can slide your free hand on your thigh to guide the movement.

3. Straighten your elbows by pushing up on the chair.

3. Side bend to the opposite side.

Perform the movement in a slow, controlled manner.

4. Return and repeat.

2. L unge forward with your right leg while reaching overhead with both arms.

3. R eturn to your starting position, then repeat with your left leg.

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LTHT continues sterling work on the Leeds vaccination rollout The summer and autumn have been a continued period of rapid and significant change for the vaccination programme, as it has adapted to roll out jabs to new cohorts and started delivering boosters.

Boosters are being offered to those at greater risk from Covid, including people over 50, those with underlying conditions and frontline health and care staff. Our Elland Road vaccination centre continues to play a key role in this, including providing vaccinations for the 48,000 eligible NHS and care staff across the city.

The team is also supporting the rollout of vaccinations to 12-15 year olds in schools, working with the school aged immunisation service hosted by Leeds Community Healthcare, Leeds City Council and local secondary schools and specialist education providers. This has been a major undertaking, necessitating an adaptable and flexible team, who have been ready to face new challenges daily.

The JCVI has recommended that some severely immunosuppressed patients should have a third primary vaccination, as evidence has shown that they have not tended to develop such high levels of immunity from two doses as other people. The Trust has been working with GPs to help identify these patients and the appropriate time for providing their third dose, as well as providing the vaccinations for some patients currently under consultant care.

And alongside all this, we are continuing to offer first and second doses to anyone who has not yet had these as part of the ‘evergreen’ vaccination offer! Work to encourage further uptake remains a priority and our two pop-up clinics at Woodsley and East Leeds have played an important role in increasing uptake in those communities.

New community outreach approaches will be coming into place when these close at the end of October and planning for these and the ongoing delivery of the vaccination programme for Leeds are continuing – so watch this space!

Digital IT - working with The Children’s Hospital Colleagues from Leeds Children’s Hospital and DIT have worked together to launch a number of new digital ways of working, aiming to reduce manual effort, improve data accuracy, and ultimately improve the care provided for children and young people.

In July, the team introduced ePAWS, a new way of monitoring paediatric patients.

Paediatric Advanced Warning Score (PAWS) is an alert system which helps to identify paediatric patients at risk of deterioration, using the patient’s clinical observations to recommend a response and next steps.

Until recently, scores were calculated manually and recorded on a paper chart. The new system uses the mobile version of PPM+ to record clinical observations, calculate PAW scores, and record any related interventions. This reduces the potential for manual error, providing fast, easy access to real-time information, automating the display of results and task reminders.

The team has also introduced a new height and weight e-form in PPM+. This also replaces a paper based method, meaning clinical colleagues can use PPM+ to record and track paediatric patient’s growth, allowing them to monitor and spot any trends over time. This ensures growth charts become an integral part of the electronic health record and can be easily and quickly

Emily Plummer - Staff Nurse, Ward L40, Leeds Children’s Hospital

accessed by clinical colleagues across the organisation.

Celia McKenzie, Head of Nursing at Leeds Children’s Hospital said “ePAWS is a real step forward compared to our previous paper version. Feedback so far has been great, and it’s much easier to get an overview of patients on the unit, with less paperwork.

We’re embracing digital because it can make a real difference, helping reduce manual effort and time taken to complete paperwork, improve data accuracy, and ultimately improve the care we provide for children and young people.”

Launch of the Innovation Pop Up In September the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Innovation Pop Up was launched and introduced to delegates at the opening event of the Leeds Academic Healthcare Partnership (LAHP) Healthtech Catalyst.

The Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, gave a keynote speech and discussed the importance of innovation in healthtech and its transformational role in health and care services. At the event, attendees heard

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from the Mayor about the new Innovation Pop Up at the Trust and how it links staff, partners and industry.

Professor David Brettle, Chief Scientific Officer at the Trust said: “I was delighted to launch the Trust’s new Innovation Pop Up. It was fantastic to be part of the LAHP Healthtech Catalyst event and talk to delegates about the Innovation Pop Up at this high profile event.

I was thrilled that this exciting development at the Trust was recognised at the event by the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin. The Mayor spoke about how the Innovation Pop Up will help position Leeds City Region as the engine for health innovation.”

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A fresh look for patients arriving at Leeds Children’s Hospital Thanks to Leeds Hospitals Charity and an incredibly generous in-kind donation from construction company Balfour Beatty, the main entrance to Leeds Children’s Hospital in Clarendon Wing Reception has had a make-over!

The new space is more open, bright and colourful with a playful jungle theme to help patients and their families feel relaxed when they arrive. For the 250,000 children and young people who use this entrance every year, this donation of time, materials, expertise and resources will make a huge difference, completely transforming the arrival experience.

Starlight Children’s Foundation have also funded amazing technological innovations, including a virtual fish tank built into the reception desk and an interactive wall offering augmented reality activities for children and young people.

Work started in September and was completed in mid-October. There will be an official opening event in early November but the refreshed space has gone straight into operation and we’ve already had some great feedback from staff and patients.

Suzanne Abrahams, General Manager at Leeds Children’s Hospital said: ‘We’re very grateful to Balfour Beatty, Leeds Hospitals Charity and all project partners including local painting company Bagnalls for making this project a reality. We know the difference that an appropriate welcome can make for children and young people. Compared to our wards and clinical areas the reception area was

much less welcoming and child-friendly but now it’s one of the most inviting spaces in the Children’s Hospital. The additional technology, with thanks to Starlight Children’s Foundation, is an incredible bonus that fits in so well with our ambition offer meaningful play opportunities to all patients whilst they receive care in hospital.’

The project has been carefully planned involving all services that use Clarendon Reception, being mindful that adult services use this space as well as Children’s. The new space will be equally welcoming for adults, children and young people. Many elements of the project will be reusable for use in other areas when we move to our new home in a few years’ time.

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Pro-tips for a winning mindset Ever wondered what it takes to be a professional sports-player, or even a Paralympic or Olympic champion? Wonder no more! In this set of interviews, Bulletin speaks to four Leeds-based rising stars to learn the secrets of staying motivated and achieving your goals, no matter the odds.

When it’s cold and grey, how do you get the motivation to get out there?

Enjoy it, and exercising with friends makes it much more enjoyable.

It’s hard sometimes, but it’s my daily routine, so part of it is habit. Also, I train with a really good group of lads, and if we have agreed to meet up I don’t want to let them down by not showing up.

Away from sport, what else motivates you?

Is goal setting important to you? And do the goals vary in size and importance?

Yes. Small goals like hitting the times in the morning swim, or getting to bed on time to get my nine hours of sleep are just as important because they make the big goals more achievable. However, goals have got to be personal and controllable, e.g.: Be in the best shape possible for the Olympic Games, not: I’m going to win the Olympics, because there are too many factors outside of your control.

How do you know when to stop?

Credit: Chris Sansom

Jonny Brownlee, three-time Olympic medallist Leeds born and bred Jonny Brownlee seems to be getting better with age, continuing to beat his own records and win medals, the most recent being Gold at the Tokyo Olympics. He was more than happy to share an insight into his life and motivation with LTHT staff.

What’s your average daily training routine?

Every day is slightly different but the general stats are that I train every day.

Monday to Friday I swim first thing. Every day except Friday, I will ride and run.

Sometimes I run twice. Friday is an easy day - I just swim and gym. It amounts to about 35 hours a week.

How does training make you feel?

It makes me feel good! It’s part of my daily routine and that structure is important. It also can be tiring but most of the hours I do are easy (aerobic) with five key (hard) sessions a week. The reward of a good session or a successful race outweighs everything.

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That can be hard, and I have had some injuries when I haven’t listened to my body. Also, a good team of support staff and coaches can tell when you are looking tired, or too skinny, and you need to back off for a few days.

If you could pass on one motivational tip what would it be?

It’s still sport but the work we do with The Brownlee Foundation – introducing primary school children to triathlon - to date 32,000 kids – is something I will do more and more of as my sporting career begins to slow down. My brother Alistair and I have had, and still take, enormous pleasure from swimming, cycling and running, and we hope others will be able to have a similar positive experience.

James Simpson, Leeds Rhinos’ Wheelchair Rugby League Captain and 2021 Rugby League World Cup ambassador and England player.

James Simpson was born in Leeds and joined the army at 17. He lost both legs on a tour of Afghanistan in 2009 and has gone on to carve out a successful career in wheelchair rugby league, with his team winning pretty much every trophy going.

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completely different and challenging in a different way. It was great and a real learning process.

What about now the weather is turning colder and the nights are drawing in?

I actually find it easier to motivate myself when the weather is rubbish. I feel that if I’m getting myself up and out and I’m going the extra mile when no one else is, then I’ll feel double the rewards afterwards.

Any tips to share?

Talk us through your training During the rugby season, MarchSeptember, I train 5-6 times each week.

This is made up of two team training sessions of two hours each and 2-3 strength and conditioning sessions. When we’re off-season I train slightly less to keep in shape, but I’m currently resting my broken ribs!

What do you get out of training?

At 35 I feel fitter than I ever have, even more than when I was a soldier. It’s the knowledge you gain that makes a difference, I feel I know so much more about how to work my body, what makes me fitter, stronger and most importantly - agile. And it’s good to be able to share that knowledge with younger players.

How do you stay motivated?

My main motivator is that I want to be the best I can possibly be. With younger players coming through, I don’t just need to keep up, I need to be better than them. And I want to work hard to be at the top of my game. My military background also helps as you have to be good at telling yourself to do something.

I know for me that once I get through the door, to the gym, to a game, to anything that I might not feel like doing, I can do it.

I enjoy getting away into nature and totally switching off. It’s important to listen to your body and to rest. There isn’t much point forcing yourself to train if you really don’t feel like it. And I live by the motto that ‘Nothing is ever as bad as you think it is going to be’. I survived the worst thing that ever happened to me. We can all focus on what we can do day to day.

Courtney Winfield-Hill, Leeds Rhinos Women’s Captain Courtney Winfield-Hill is captain of the Leeds Rhinos Women team. She was an integral member of the squad that won the 2018 Challenge Cup and the League Leaders Shield in the 2018 Women’s Super League. She was named as the 2019 Telegraph Woman of Steel at the Super League end of season awards in 2019.

If you hadn’t been a sportsperson, what would you have done?

A sports coach.

When it’s cold and grey, how do you get the motivation to get out there?

I struggle! Indoor training, and more gym focus helps. Keep an end goal in mind.

Is goal setting important to you? And do the goals vary in size and importance?

I don’t enjoy typical goal setting. Doing my daily best is more important than long-term goals.

What does it feel like to hit those goals?

Do you just keep adding more?

It’s the sense of achievement. It gives me the motivation to do better again. But some days just getting it done is enough.

How do you know when to stop?

Your body will tell you. For me, it’s usually a matter of fatigue from lack of sleep and I know an excessive session isn’t the right thing. A good night’s sleep is sometimes just as important.

What’s your average daily training routine?

Any motivational tips?

One session (60-120 mins) most days.

Away from sport, what else motivates you?

How does training/working out/keeping fit make you feel?

Purposeful.

I always just ask myself: “Why not?!”

Learning. In many different spaces. I just love learning new skills.

How did you keep going during lockdown?

Working with a team, in general, makes a big difference to my motivation, and we have a great team and good community at Leeds Rhinos. During the pandemic we took part in Zoom training sessions, where each session was run by a different member of the team. Because the game is open to men and women of all disabilities, it meant each session was

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that it’s easier to just wear a lycra and have a hot shower afterwards. But I am from the North so can handle the cold!

Is goal setting important to you?

And do the goals vary in size and importance?

Absolutely. I have always been a very goal-oriented person. I find that if you have a large goal that you are working towards then it’s easier to make decisions and to pursue opportunities as you know what you are trying to achieve. I also like to set myself half-yearly goals in December and June, this can include things like learn a language, hit a certain score in a rowing test or visit a new country. I like looking back and seeing what I have or haven’t achieved.

What does it feel like to hit those goals? Do you just keep adding more?

Credit: British Rowing

Ellen Buttrick, Paralympic Rowing Champion Ellen Buttrick competes in Mixed Coxed Four rowing. She is a two-time World Rowing Champion, a world record holder, and a Gold-winning British Paralympian at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020.

What did it feel like becoming a Paralympic Champion?

Incredible. I think a month later it is only just sinking in. Becoming Paralympic Champion feels so special compared to a World or European Champion title because you can feel the support of the entire country around you. It’s pretty incredible to represent a country that holds disability sport in such high regard. It was whilst watching the 2012 Paralympics that I was inspired to pursue my sport and I like the idea that through our success we can inspire so many others to reach for a goal. Our boat has a very long legacy of success, this year’s win was the 11th year in a row unbeaten, and it is this legacy that we train to protect.

Can you tell us what your training routine is like?

I train six days a week with a day off on a Sunday to recover. A usual training day includes 2-3 sessions with at least one session on the water. We supplement our training with pilates sessions too and I like to add in yoga

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in my own time. A few times a year we go on international training camps.

These last about two weeks and our training gets more intense whilst we’re on them as we are able to recover more effectively when we are away from normal day-to-day life.

If you hadn’t been a sportsperson, what would you have done?

Before I joined the GB Rowing Team I was working for the Refugee Council in Leeds. After graduating with a Geography degree from Northumbria University it has been my ambition to work for a large charity. I think I would have also travelled abroad and maybe worked overseas for a few years.

Hopefully I can still do this once I retire from rowing. I have just begun studying for a masters in Gender, Policy and Inequalities and I am finding it really interesting. I hope that I’ll be able to apply what I learn to my future career.

When it’s cold and miserable, what motivates you to get out there?

Strangely I never really need to be motivated to go out on the water. I work best when I have a routine and training is just a habit now. Ever since I started rowing at my club we were always taught that you row in all weathers. If your competition could be doing a training session then you should be too. This is an outdoor sport so we are prepared with waterproofs when we need them, although I find

I’m not strict on my goals - if I no longer want to achieve them I wouldn’t force myself to. My friends laugh at me for this, but I always ask them and myself: “Is this bringing you joy?” and if the answer is “No” too many times in a row then, in my opinion, why keep doing it? A lot of the things in life that we can’t control can be difficult or make us unhappy so I like the things that I have control over to be positive.

How do you know when to stop?

In performance sport, the thing that usually makes you stop is your body. Injuries are very prominent when you are pushing your body so hard. The longer you train though the better you get at understanding your own body and what it can or cannot handle. I think this is similar in work for me. Sometimes you can get overwhelmed by having so much to do and perhaps only be able to do everything at 60%. If you understand how much you can handle then you can balance it better, perhaps say no to things that you don’t really need to be doing and finish everything with 100% of your capabilities.

If you could pass on a motivational tip to a member of our staff, what would it be?

Try not to focus on the negatives in a situation and instead focus on the opportunities it may bring. This might be difficult at first but it makes the given situation so much easier. As athletes we are taught to control the controllables. I cannot control what my competition, the weather or even my crewmates are doing but I can control my actions and responses.

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My Job

Razwan Ul-haq What else have you done in your career so far?

I came in to Nursing later in life- prior to my Nursing Career I worked as a Senior recruiter for FTSE 250 companies. I left that role to pursue a career in Nursing because I wanted to use my skills and talents to make a true difference to people in need.

What’s the best thing about your job?

I have a real passion for caring for patients who are critically ill that require timely management in a resus environment. This environment keeps me focused which enables me to make sound operational decisions.

Razwan is a Senior Charge Nurse at St James’s Emergency Department and has worked at LTHT for seven years.

Summarise the main aspects of your role?

To deliver safe care in an acute setting which is highly pressurised and ever evolving. I have a duty of care to my staff ensuring their wellbeing is maintained. I have a responsibility to be a role model and a point of reference to the whole team. Being credible and displaying resilience is key to my role. Working collaboratively with a vast Multidisciplinary Team in order to achieve good patient care and good clinical outcomes is vital.

What is the one thing you would change at LTHT to help you do your job better?

Looking at the strains and pressures we are currently working under due to the COVID-19 Pandemic I feel we could do more to empower the staff in order to build a more robust, agile and flexible workforce. We are now working in an endemic which requires a proactive response.

What’s your best advice to a new starter at the Trust?

Come with an open mind- do not have preconceptions. Your true education and journey will start on the job. Just enjoy your role, get competent and the rest will come.

New state-of-of-the-art Motor Neurone Disease care centre to be named after rugby star Rob Burrow A purpose-built care centre of excellence for those living in and around the Leeds area is the latest fundraising appeal from Leeds Hospitals Charity, as a campaign has been launched to raise £5 million to build The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease, spearheaded by the Leeds Rhinos player Rob Burrow and his family.

Rob has been courageously sharing his story of motor neurone disease with the public since he was diagnosed in 2019, and he has raised the profile of the condition beyond all expectations.

Dr Agam Jung, Consultant Neurologist who leads the MND team at Seacroft Hospital, said:

“We want to provide a safe haven for our patients and their families - a peaceful environment that reiterates to them that they have the best possible care, helping them ‘live in the now’, a serene place that instils hope and courage.”

There are currently around 80 people like Rob being treated for MND in Leeds,

double the number of people the service supported 10 years ago when Dr Jung first took over the service. Originally built in the early 20th century, the current home of the MND service is now showing its age. Significantly, the technology relating to the care needs of people with MND has moved on, whilst the building remains the same. The current MND centre is located on a busy multi-purpose ward, not able to be adapted to suit the equipment and facilities for those who are physically impaired.

You can donate to the appeal and find out more through Leeds Hospitals Charity’s website https://www. leedshospitalscharity.org.uk/pages/ category/mnd-centre-appeal

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M-powered: Time to talk about the Menopause The menopause is becoming less and less of a taboo subject thanks in part to the ongoing conversations, books, podcasts and documentaries of high profile women, such as BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin and broadcaster Davina McCall. As a nation, we’re getting more comfortable talking about the menopause and it’s about time.

National statistics estimate that there are around 13 million women in the UK who are currently peri-menopausal (the period before the body enters menopause) or menopausal. This is equal to one third of the entire UK female population. There are currently 3.5 million women over the age of 50 in the workplace and around 75-80% of women of menopausal age are in employment, which on average is 45-55 years old.

You might not be aware that three quarters of employees at Leeds Teaching Hospitals are women, and of that number, over half of those women are estimated to be transitioning or already living with the menopause.

The Trust’s Health and Wellbeing team has been leading a campaign to get us better educated and more familiar with the menopause. With regular drop-in support sessions and additional focus groups for line managers, menopause doesn’t just affect those going through it, it has an impact on all those working and living around them. It is crucial that as a system a culture is created that supports and encourages our workforce to talk about the menopause and the impact that it has.

What is the Menopause?

• Menopause is a natural part of female ageing, and when menstruation stops.

This is usually between the ages of 45 and 55, although it can occur up to mid-60’s.

Common menopausal symptoms Common symptoms include: • hot flushes – short, sudden feelings of heat, usually in the face, neck and chest, which can make your skin red and sweaty • night sweats – hot flushes that occur at night • difficulty sleeping – this may make you feel tired and irritable during the day • a reduced sex drive (libido) • problems with memory and concentration • vaginal dryness and pain, itching or discomfort during sex • headaches • mood changes, such as low mood or anxiety • palpitations – heartbeats that suddenly become more noticeable

• Peri-menopause is the transition period prior to the menopause. During this time women can experience symptoms in line with fluctuating hormones.

• joint stiffness, aches and pains

• Post-menopause relates to the time after menopause has occurred. This is when a woman has not had a period for twelve consecutive months.

The menopause can also increase your risk of developing certain other problems, such as weak bones (osteoporosis).

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• reduced muscle mass • recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)

The Menopause Workout The menopause brings about a whole host of changes within our bodies; some of them a lot more obvious than others.

But there are physiological changes that occur deep within that can be easily bypassed when trying to address the countless other issues that present themselves with much more vigour.

The sudden hormonal shift that occurs during menopause can bring about a number of uncomfortable side effects and if hot flashes and lethargy fall into that remit for you, it is extremely understandable that exercise if not the highest task on your agenda; it is, however a very important weapon in your arsenal to help combat some of the risks associated with a drop of hormone production in women.

We all know that after that initial battle to get started, the endorphins kick in, stress levels are reduced and a more relaxed state is achieved afterwards, leading to better sleep patterns and mental wellbeing.

Did you know that exercise can also play a massive role in reducing the risk of bone density related injury? During menopause, our bodies drastically reduce the production of the hormone oestrogen which alongside calcium and vitamin D plays a key role in the maintenance of bone density in women.

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On average, women can lose up to 10% of their total bone density following the menopause and so it is vital that we try and protect that as best we can.

A diet rich in vitamin D and calcium is one way to help keep things on track, but by incorporating weight bearing exercise into your daily routine, you can also help protect yourself from the risk of menopause related osteoporosis. Swimming, jogging and brisk walking are all excellent ways of boosting your physical activity and helping reduce these risks but weight-bearing exercises have been proven to offer significant benefits to women who are experiencing, or have experienced the menopause.

Purple Punch The healthy smoothie that packs a punch!

Recipe: 50g beetroot (you can buy packs of this pre-prepared to make it even easier) 25g kale (raw) 125ml oat milk 65g frozen blueberries 15g prunes 1tbsp fortified flaxseed 50g ice (depending on texture) Chuck it all in a blender and blitz for 1-2 minutes depending on how you like the texture.

This will provide approximately: 204 kcals / 4.8g protein / 33.5g carbs, of which 19.6g sugars, 7.4g fibre / 7.3g fat, of which 0.7g saturated (0g cholesterol & trans fats)

Key benefits: This is a fantastic all-rounder smoothie to get your digestive system going, lift you up and fill you with some really good vitamins. Benefits include; -A source of fibre to relieve the feeling of a sluggish digestion, bloating and constipation which can be associated with the menopause.

-R ich in omega 3 & 6 to promote heart health and improve mood.

- F laxseed, a source of phytoestrogen which over time can help to ease hot flushes.

- Zinc to help with sleep patterns.

-B eetroot is nitrate rich and promotes oxygen flow and utilisation within the body.

-B lueberries are excellent antioxidants that help combat the effect of freeradicals within the body and promote a healthy immune system.

-T he kale and oat milk provide vitamin D and calcium, which are crucial for bone health. As oestrogen declines in the body it can cause bone density to decrease, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.

Get yourself informed http://www.menopausedoctor.co.uk www.mpoweredwomen.net/real-life/ menopause-me-louise-minchin/ https://www.womens-health-concern.org/ help-and-advice/factsheets/ https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/ menopause-and-workplace Twitter - @mymenopausedr Instagram - menopause_doctor

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Tell us what you think about how we communicate The Trust’s Communications Team is looking at how staff across the organisation hear about Trust/ department news - exploring what works well, and what could be changed, to better support colleagues.

We know that different people access their news and updates in different ways, and we want to make sure we’re doing all we can to support as wide a mix of colleagues as possible.

The Covid-19 pandemic has most likely had an impact too - there may have been changes to how you access information or would like to access information. This is key reason why we’re revisiting our internal communications set-up now.

This survey is open for all members of LTHT staff to feed back, anonymously, about your current thoughts on our internal communications offering. Knowing what works for you, what you want to know about and how you access information will help to make the overall experience better for you.

We are listening to what you say and where we need to take action to change or develop internal communications channels, we will.

To access the survey please scan the QR code on your smartphone or visit https://bit.ly/3neKukt (this will take you to Google Forms – we’ve shortened the link).

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Farewell

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Mushtaq Ahmed Dr Mushtaq Ahmed, Manager Genetic Counsellor, has retired after 29 years of working at the genetic counselling service. Dr Ahmed stated that he thoroughly enjoyed his work and support from his past and present colleagues and the Trust.

Dr Mushtaq Ahmed has dedicated his career to Clinical Genetics and Genomic Medicine. He has been one of the pioneers of transcultural genetic counselling service in the UK and has helped to set up genetic counselling services in Pakistan and the Middle East.

Dr Mushtaq Ahmed has played a key role in engaging and recruiting British Pakistani families in genomic research projects. The findings of these projects have significantly contributed to patient care and genomic knowledge. This work has led LTHT

to be at the forefront of Clinical Genetics and Genomic Medicine both nationally and internationally.

Dr Jennifer Campbell, Head of Yorkshire Regional Genetics Service at LTHT, Dr Saghira Malik Sharif, Ms Kath Ashcroft and Ms Rachel Belk and the team has arranged a special farewell event in September to appreciate Mushtaq’s hard work, clinical care to his patients and the huge contribution in enhancing the inclusion of diverse populations in genomics. and contribution Mushtaq has many fond memories of his work at LTHT and has said that he intends to carry on with his voluntary role with the Advonet Group where a wide range of advocacy services are offered to people from diverse backgrounds, facing a range of challenges, in the Leeds area. Mushtaq is looking forward to long walks, reading and last but not least watching cricket.

Helen Johnston Helen one of our amazing midwives has retired. Helen started her nursing career in 1984 and worked from 1987 at the LGI. She began her career as a midwife in 1981 and has been part of our antenatal family for many years.

Helen was a fantastic midwife and student mentor, she now has time to enjoy her passion for travelling (Covidpermitting) and if not has lots of time to do jigsaws, learn the harmonica and meet up with her friends!

Helen’s colleagues said: ‘We’ll miss you and wish you all the best for a well deserved ‘you time’ lots of love from your maternity family.

A fond farewell to our long-serving staff 22

www.leedsth.nhs.uk |

Farewell

A fond farewell to our long-serving staff Heather Bradley

Sue Ward

Simon Knight

Heather Bradley joined the NHS in 1991, the same year that St James’s and LGI merged. Heather is a technically astute engineer and has worked her way up in the technical support area becoming a specialist in many systems and services until she became a Service Delivery Manager. An invaluable member of DIT, Heather has supported, trained and advised most members of DIT at some point and has been involved in a multitude of projects and improvements over the years.

Sue Ward started her career at the Trust in July 1981 working in Pathology Reception (now Ground Floor Reception at St James’s) covering Histology, Cytology, Micro, Blood Bank, Haematology and Chemistry.

Heather has a number of nicknames including the “Trust Oracle” due to her knowledge of people, and IT. She is a trusted member of DIT with an army of friends across the Trust due to her personality which leads into another nickname as “Auntie Heather”.

Sue remained in Pathology but worked for Cytology bringing in the new recall process for cervical smears.

Sue then returned to Pathology Records as a Supervisor. In 1994 Sue moved to Haematology to establish the MLA service (now BSW) and including introduction of Telepath. In 2009 when Blood Sciences was formed, Sue became the Office Manager at St James’s. Sue has been an integral part of Pathology and she will be sorely missed.

After 30 years of service to Leeds Hospitals and beyond, Mr Simon Knight, consultant plastic, reconstructive and hand surgeon, has decided to retire.

He was enticed away from Canniesburn Hospital, Glasgow, where he had been appointed as consultant, to Leeds in 1992 with the prospect of developing what has become a powerhouse of plastic and hand surgery in Britain and across the world. Working with similar minded colleagues in the department, he forged the future for hand surgery and microsurgery across Yorkshire, this includes the development of the hand surgery unit, which has occupied several physical locations in Leeds hospitals but continues to deliver the highest level of care for patients.

She is now retiring after 30 years and will be missed by all her friends and colleagues across the trust.

Heather and her family are moving to Northumberland to settle down and enjoy life.

On behalf of LTHT and DIT her colleagues thank Heather for all her hard work and commitment over the past 30 years, and wish her good luck for the future.

Sue and her husband Dave plan to travel and her colleagues wish them a fantastic, long and happy retirement.

Sylvia Abraham Sylvia Abraham has retired from her voluntary role after volunteering for the Trust for 60 years.

Sylvia joined the Friends of St James’s as a volunteer when she was 21 years old.

Back then she was responsible for giving out visitor cards and then progressed to serving tea and coffee, before eventually moving onto wards in the Lincoln wing where she provided drinks on the ward for patients and visitors.

Simon has held senior national positions within his professional society, the British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH), has lectured widely and has treated thousands of trauma and elective patients along with colleagues throughout the Trust in his lifetime of consultant service in Leeds.

His greatest legacy and one of which he should be particularly proud of is that to his trainees. He offers a beautiful triad of experience, clear thinking and an ability to inspire. Several generations of plastic surgery trainees, some of whom are now consultant colleagues, have benefitted from this and remember his advice.

Of course, Simon will be missed as a person, a colleague and a doctor, and his colleagues all wish him well.

However, he has on-boarded to the LTHT Bank, so maybe he won’t always be far away.

Sylvia joined the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Cancer Centre when it opened in 2000. She has worked on the reception desk being the first point of contact for visitors and telephone enquiries. She has attended every Friday afternoon since joining and very seldom missed a shift.

Julian Hartley, Chief Executive, said: “Thank you, Sylvia, for all you have given over the years – We wish you a very happy and fulfilling retirement!”

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News

| www.leedsth.nhs.uk

Leeds Hospitals Charity news New lottery for Leeds Hospitals staff September saw the charity launch its new lottery, with its first draw on bonfire night!

Donations fund vital equipment for vulnerable babies Thanks to donations, earlier this year Leeds Hospitals Charity provided over £20,000 to fund three Transcutaneous Carbon Dioxide monitors, three digital sensors and mounts for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Leeds Children’s Hospital.

This equipment allows staff to continuously monitor carbon dioxide levels in babies with respiratory problems from 28 weeks old to help protect brain development and give them the best possible care and treatment.

The charity’s trail blazing weekly Leeds lottery, lifts-off on Friday 5th November with one lucky winner guaranteed to scoop a £1,000 jackpot. It’s a great way to support the Trust, your colleagues’, and our patients too, as every ticket sold raises much needed funds for the charitable work within the Trust.

Richard Simmonite, Head of Lottery said, “It costs £2 per entry and each draw awards 7 great cash prizes, as the player numbers increase, so will the prize fund, and more importantly the amount of money raised for the Trust. We are so excited to launch this new unrestricted income stream for the charity. A lottery is a great way to engage with the public and develop long-term donor relationships.”

Each entry costs £2 and you can join today by visiting www.leedslottery.org

Despite being paralysed from the chest down, Matilda was determined to clock up 22,000 ‘steps’ in her wheelchair by her 10th birthday for our #StepForYourNHS.

Leeds Hospitals Charity, in partnership with Leeds City Council, is creating a fantastic new greenspace for the people of Leeds to enjoy: The People’s Woodland.

Thanks to support from the people of Leeds, the charity can do even more to support patients, families and staff across the eight NHS sites here in Leeds.

Find out more and sponsor a tree here www.leedshospitalscharity.org.uk/woodland

Thanks to her fundraising efforts, Matilda raised whopping £1,000 for Leeds Children’s Hospital, even selflessly donating £105 of her birthday money to help poorly children and their families!

Memory making kits for families Thanks to donations, Leeds Hospitals Charity has provided funding for memory making kits to be used in the mortuary at Leeds Teaching Hospitals.

Sam Oakes, Nurse Specialist, is part of the mortuary team who works with families going through bereavement.

Sam said the funding would be used for a garden area outside the Chapel of Rest, and to provide families with lasting memories of their loved ones.

“Sadly, here at the mortuary we deal

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Matilda’s steps challenge!

A huge congratulations to Matilda, just one of our many inspirational fundraisers who supported her local NHS hospitals during the pandemic.

The People’s Woodland

We are inviting the local community to sponsor a tree within the Woodland and raise vital funds for our local NHS. Supporters can make a one-off donation, or you can fundraise with friends and family to raise as much as they can for a special tree in The People’s Woodland.

with the death of children as well as adults, which means we often liaise with parents who’ve lost a baby or children who may have lost a sibling.

These memory kits help us to provide small tokens to the families – from a lock of hair to a footprint or photograph – that they can treasure forever. We’re incredibly grateful for this charity grant as this is not something that would usually be paid for by NHS funding.

www.leedsth.nhs.uk |

60 seconds

60 seconds Rachel Berry

What do you do to wind down and relax after a hard week at work?

I have 3 children (age 10, and 5 yr old twins); we go out on adventures to parks, Gruffalo hunting in the local woods, watch films under blankets, just spend time together as a family.

What is your ideal holiday destination and why?

Anywhere I don’t have to cook!

Some-where with a beach or pool, and lots to entertain. Here or abroad, I’m not fussy!

Rachel is Deputy Diagnostic Lead for the Hearing and Balance Service and has worked at the Trust for 18 years.

What is your favourite food?

Chinese - I worked in a Chinese restaurant after leaving school so got to try everything!

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I’ve always wanted to go into Healthcare, at college I was interesting in Speech Therapy, then changed to Nursing, finally becoming an Audiologist.

What is your favourite film?

The Day After Tomorrow

Tell us something we don’t know about you …

I love reading but my genre is Zombie or Apocalypse fiction.

It’s about the what if, no gas/ electricity, no internet, no petrol! How would we adapt and survive.

Cardiology team provide almost 500 free heart checks at event in Leeds City Centre The LTHT cardiology team offered free heart checks to the public from a pop up bus in the city to mark Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week.

Almost 500 people had a stethoscope check on the day, with 25 people having a heart problem detected, enabling them to be referred for further investigations into heart valve disease which could contribute to saving their lives.

The team were based near Kirkgate Market on a blue Medtronic ‘Your Heart Matters’ branded bus.

Hundreds of people took the opportunity to have a heart

and Heart Valve Voice, the UK’s dedicated heart valve disease charity, to empower patients to access healthcare and raise public awareness of these heart valve conditions.

rhythm and stethoscope check which can detect heart valve disease.

The team included consultants, senior trainees, physiologists and specialist nurses who all care for patients with heart valve disease at Leeds General

Infirmary. On the day, anyone who was diagnosed with a heart murmur or irregular pulse was given a letter to share with their GP for further investigations.

The team collaborated with Medtronic, a medical devices manufacturer,

Dr Chris Malkin, Consultant Cardiologist said: “The event was a real success and the team were incredibly busy all day, providing education and raising awareness that a simple stethoscope check could identify important heart disease. Our trained cardiologists performed cardiac auscultation and gave immediate feedback to members of the public, which could have helped to save many lives.”

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Ever thought about Fostering?

We need people in your area to help us look after vulnerable children and young people.

If you consider yourself to be a warm and caring individual with the dedication that it takes to be a Foster Carer, we would love to hear from you.

“Deciding to Foster was a big decision but most rewarding thing I have ever done. If you are thinking about it, go for it.”

Elizabeth, Foster Carer

Contact us today for more information

01924 802176 www.thecft.org.uk

or text FOSTERING + YOUR TOWN to 80818 Registered Charity no. 208607

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