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COUNTESS MATTERS

Spring 2021

Family Support: ‘a lifeline during COVID-19’ More on page 6

03 Spotlight on Indira Esram

05 COVID-19 research at the Countess

06 Digital transformation

Cheshire’s first vaccine Page 4

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CONTENTS

08 Tony’s story

10 Countess on BBC North West Tonight

11 Rainbow

A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER…

DR SUSAN GILBY, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, REVIEWS THE PAST YEAR It’s hard to put into words how challenging the past 12 months have been, but I am immensely proud of how our community has pulled together. I have found it humbling, although not surprising, to see the overwhelming dedication, skill and compassion which our teams have shown in the toughest of circumstances, working both on site in the hospitals and in many instances from home. Sars-CoV-2 was a previously unknown virus bringing with it a new and, in some instances, deadly disease in the shape of COVID-19 at the start of 2020. The complexity of delivering safe and effective healthcare for all patients and protecting our colleagues whilst dealing with a constantly changing scenario in terms of the virus has resulted in the leadership team making sometimes hourly decisions that one would not expect to have to make in a career. We, along with the entire NHS, have learnt a great deal along the way. We recognise that we did not always get everything right, but we have captured the good and learnt from what didn’t go well. Clinicians in the Trust played a vital role leading the way in research to both better understand the virus and also test different treatments (more on page five). Their wider contribution to society deserves much recognition. During the early stages of the pandemic our swabbing centre was a beacon of ingenuity and efficiency, testing more than 20,000 key workers between April and September. This success contributed to the Trust being selected as one of the first 50 hospital vaccination hubs. We were proud to begin our vaccination programme on 8 December. Our team have since vaccinated more than 15,000 NHS colleagues, members of the public, patients and care home staff. The vaccination effort in Cheshire has expanded over recent months, with larger sites opening up, but it all started at the Countess and that is something we are very proud of (more on page 4). From the start of the pandemic, the support we have received has been heart-warming. Whether clapping on doorsteps, displaying

Susan outside the Trust posters outside the hospital or making charitable donations, I cannot overstate how much these gestures have given our teams a lift when they needed it most. The Trust was extremely hard hit during the third wave of COVID-19 earlier this year. We had the highest percentage of general and acute beds given over to the care of patients with COVID-19 in the North West. At its worst there were over 340 patients with COVID-19-related diseases in the hospital and as a result eight wards were entirely given over to treating people badly affected by this appalling disease. However, it has been heartening to see how quickly infection rates started falling in our area following the successful roll out of the vaccination coupled with the challenging latest lockdown. This is testament to the collective support and responsibility we have seen in our community throughout. As we move through 2021, we have already turned our attention to restoring our services, working with the wider healthcare system to tackle waiting lists. I am acutely aware that people are waiting unacceptably long periods of time for treatment. We are doing all we can to address this, and I am grateful for the

understanding that is being shown as we tackle this extraordinarily difficult further challenge. There is much to look forward to this year as not only will we see the launch of our new electronic patient record this summer, which will digitally transform and enhance how we deliver patient care (more on page 6), but we will also begin work on the development of our same day emergency care unit which will greatly improve the experience and outcomes for patients who need urgent treatment. Over the coming months, managing those key issues will be a significant but interesting challenge. My biggest priority, however, is supporting the wellbeing of all colleagues in the Trust. We are seeking feedback regarding reward recognition and wellbeing initiatives and will continue to expand the support offered to anyone who needs it. Only by ensuring that we have a healthy resilient team, can we provide the excellent care to which we aspire. On a personal note, I would like to thank all of our stakeholders for the messages of support and offers of help over the past 12 months. I remain proud to serve our community and to lead such a committed and skilled team.

Spotlight On… Indira Esram Indira Esram, Diabetes Specialist Nurse, has been at the Countess for over six years and is also the Trust’s Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Staff Network lead. Can you tell us a bit more about your day-to-day job? My team runs diabetes specialist clinics, providing support to patients, carers and other health professionals, including district nurses, GPs and practice nurses. As part of my role, I triage referrals for our services and liaise with community colleagues over plans of care. How do you support colleagues as the BAME Network lead? I am responsible for running the BAME Network and as part of that I’m available to support staff with any queries or concerns they might have. I bridge the gap between

“MY ROLE IS TO ENSURE WE PROVIDE A SAFE AND EQUAL WORKING SPACE FOR ALL STAFF.”

BAME colleagues and management. If staff feel unable to raise concerns directly with their managers, I am here to help make sure BAME colleagues’ voices are heard. At the Countess we refuse to accept discrimination, therefore my role is to ensure we provide a safe and equal working space where all staff can share an open and honest dialogue. What has it been like working during the pandemic? We have had to find new ways of working, with changes being implemented very quickly, whilst keeping safety as our

priority for everyone. It has been paramount on a personal level to support each other and help build resilience to get through this. Have you noticed an increase in concerns from BAME colleagues? BAME colleagues, in particular, have been anxious, following evidence showing the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on their communities. I have tried to contact all BAME staff working within the Trust to inform them about my role and explain how I can provide support and guidance.

‘Your Voice Matters’ initiative launches A new campaign called ‘Your Voice Matters’ has been encouraging Countess staff to have more say on how the Trust can improve as a place to work. This initiative, which has already seen a 12% increase in Trust staff completing the latest NHS Staff Survey, is a longterm project to strengthen engagement with employees at all levels, from ward to Board. Additional mental health support has been made available to all staff during the pandemic, while several new staff networks are also being created to provide focused support for minority groups, including LGBTQ+, neurodiversity and a women’s network.

Every member of staff has been given a ‘thank you’ pin badge and an extra day of annual leave in 2021 as small tokens of appreciation.

how valued they are and how we can make the Countess better for everyone.”

Results from an internal survey showed that improving wellbeing spaces would make a huge difference to Countess staff. Work is under way to deliver these improvements, using some of the money given to NHS Charities Together during the pandemic, alongside other initiatives by the Countess Charity (more on page 11). Fleur Flanagan, Head of Organisational Development, said: “We have seen during this pandemic just how much the NHS means to people, but we also know how difficult it has been for staff. Your Voice Matters is about reminding our teams

COUNTESS STARTS CHESHIRE’S VACCINATION DRIVE Staff at the Countess delivered Cheshire’s first COVID-19 vaccines before Christmas, with the hospital being picked as one of the first 50 vaccination hubs. In the first days of the vaccination programme, people aged over 80, NHS workers and social care staff were the first to start receiving jabs. Since then, more than 15,000 people have been inoculated by the Trust’s vaccination team, with most of them also returning for their second jabs at the Countess.

been so impressed by how everyone has adapted to everything this year.” Consultant anaesthetist Dr Santokh Singh says the COVID-19 pandemic has been unlike anything he’s experienced in his 25-year career on intensive care. After receiving his vaccine, he described how much of a relief it was for him and his colleagues to have that protection.

Mona has Cheshire’s first vaccine

“This vaccine gives us such a morale boost,” he said. “We can care for those who need us most and feel safer while doing so.”

Great grandmother Mona Thomas, 92, from Tarvin, became the first person in Cheshire to have the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on 8 December. “I am very pleased, very proud really,” Mona said. “Everybody has been so kind.” She was closely followed by Rathnam Viswanathan, 86, a retired psychologist, who said: “I have been shielding for over six months, so I’m absolutely delighted to have the vaccine, especially because my ethnicity, age and gender puts me at greater risk.”

“THIS VACCINE GIVES US SUCH A MORALE BOOST. WE CAN CARE FOR THOSE WHO NEED US MOST AND FEEL SAFER WHILE DOING SO.”

Earlier in the year, the Trust had great success with its COVID-19 Testing Centre, completing almost 20,000 swab tests from April to the end of October, and this efficiency was one of the reasons the Countess was selected to be in the first group of vaccination hubs. Amanda Woodard, Matron, who played a leading role in setting up and managing both the swabbing centre and the vaccination hub, was the first member of Trust staff to receive the vaccine and was also the one who administered Mona’s historic first jab. “I felt very proud and privileged to be both the first member of staff vaccinated and to also give the first vaccine at the Countess,” she said. “It’s been a real team effort. I’ve

A vaccination dose is prepared by programme leads Amanda Woodard and Sallie Kelsey

VACCINE MYTHBUSTING During the COVID-19 vaccination programme there have been some questions raised about vaccines. For NHS staff, inoculations such as the annual flu jab and hepatitis B injections are fairly routine, but with the coronavirus vaccine being the largest campaign of its kind in the NHS’ history there are people less used to having regular vaccinations who have needed reassurance. With this in mind, the Trust’s social media accounts have been sharing national and local information and background to reassure people that the vaccines are safe. Indira Esram, Diabetes Specialist Nurse, discussed the speed with which the vaccines have been developed, stressing that they have undergone the same testing as any other medication, just in a more condensed time frame. “It’s important to have the vaccine because it has gone through very rigorous safety checks and clinical trials in order for the Medical Health Regulations Authority (MHRA) to approve the vaccine. It is safe, I’ve had it and I’ve been feeling fine,” she said. “For me it was very important to have the vaccine because I know my risk of getting coronavirus and being ill with it is much higher than the rest of the population.” Francesca Dutton, Nursing Assistant, was reluctant over the vaccine herself at first, but reading through the official

information about it on the MHRA website made her feel better about having it. Francesca, who hopes the vaccine programme will enable her to hold her second grandson for the first time soon, said: “I didn’t want to have the vaccine, but once I read the leaflets, I felt better about it. It’s not what people think, like I thought, that ‘if I have the vaccine, I’m going to get it’. That won’t happen. If you’ve ever had the measles injection, it’s no different to that.”

Mr Sunanda Mahapatra, General Surgeon, looked into the ingredients of the vaccine and doesn’t think there is anything that should stop anyone having it. “One of the big myths is about the animal cell line,” he said. “I can categorically say that I’ve gone through the whole literature and I have been through various vaccine studies and there is no animal cell line in either of the vaccines being used. There is nothing there that should stop anyone having the vaccine, either from a religious or a personal belief.”

Countess plays significant role in COVID-19 research Researchers at the Countess has been heavily involved in several urgent public health research studies into COVID-19 over the past 12 months. The Trust was the second highest recruiter in the North West for the SIREN study which is examining how previously having COVID-19 protects against re-infection and the effectiveness of the vaccines. More than 320 members of staff at the Countess were recruited into the study, making the Trust the 39th highest recruiter in England for this particular research, which involves participants undergoing regular swab and blood tests. Preliminary results demonstrated that previously contracting COVID-19 provides

80% protection from repeat infection for at least five months. Further results have demonstrated the real-world effectiveness of the vaccine programme and has directly informed the national roadmap to ease lockdown. The Trust is also heavily involved in the RECOVERY study, which is the largest treatment intervention trial for COVID-19. As a result of this study health professionals now know treatments such as Dexamethasone and Tocilizumab can make a difference and has saved thousands of lives globally. Other findings have shown treatments that may not be effective. The Countess has, again, been consistently among the top performers in this study in

the UK and is represented in three major publications from the trial. Countess researchers in the Intensive Care Unit are also working on the REMAP-CAP study and the GenOMICC trial, which are examining the reasons for different responses to coronavirus and treatments for the most severely ill patients. Carys Jones, Research Manager, said: “It’s been an extraordinary year. I’m very grateful that staff have worked so collaboratively in order to maximise the opportunities for our patients to access treatments and to contribute to our learning about this condition throughout the pandemic. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered. It really has made a difference.”

FAMILY SUPPORT CONNECTS PATIENTS WITH LOVED ONES Nurses at the Countess of Chester Hospital have developed a Family Support service to help patients stay in touch with loved ones. With visiting restricted under national guidelines, hospital staff recognised how important it was for patients to have regular contact with their support networks. The service, which is managed by a team of nurses, acts as a bridge for patients to the outside world via emails and phone or video calls. “Family Support has been a lifeline for so many people,” Matron Paula Edwards said. “If anyone gets in touch with us, we will do whatever we can to help. We are very proud of the Family Support service and the comfort it has been able to provide to families at such a difficult time.” The Family Support team liaises with families and colleagues around the hospital to identify patients who could benefit from the service, especially focusing on anyone unable to contact loved ones themselves. Devices such as tablets and smartphones, some of which were purchased with donations to the Countess Charity via NHS Charities Together, are then made available before being deep cleaned and returned ready to be used again. Hospital visiting was suspended nationally, apart from a few exceptional circumstances, at the end of March and the Family Support team was created at the Countess a week later. Since April

A nurse helps a patient speak to a loved one on the phone 2020 the team facilitated more than 18,000 communications with patients. These comments show how valued Family Support has been by those that have used it: •“ The Family Support team at the Countess are amazing. They’ve just whipped up with an iPad to my mum’s ward and Skyped me so she could see me and the kids. First time I’ve seen her face since the paramedics took her in eight days ago. NHS heroes.” •“ You have all walked the extra mile for myself and my family and we all

appreciate it so much. You are all stars. Thank you.” • “Your help has definitely contributed to our mum’s progress. You went in with messages and a tablet when she had Covid. You also kept us informed, which was so appreciated. You could not have done more. You have been professional, friendly and very supportive. Thank you.” Anyone who has a friend or family member at the Countess of Chester Hospital can contact the Family Support team by emailing coch.familysupportteam@nhs.net or calling 01244363941.

epr+ set to launch this summer This summer the Countess is embarking on one of its most important digital transformations in decades, with the launch of a new electronic patient record (epr+) system, known as ‘Connecting Care’, reflecting how the system will support how we work in the future. This will replace the Trust’s current 20-year-old system, which has served the Trust well but is now showing signs of being dated and not reflecting updated patient pathways. As part of the transition to the new system, 820,000 patient records will be migrated, as well as integration to 23 third party systems and around 150 devices across seven device

types. This is an ambitious and complex programme of work. Healthcare professionals across all disciplines, including doctors, nurses, physios, pharmacists and many more, will use this new Connecting Care epr+ system to better monitor and manage patient care.

was first installed in 1999, with teams at the Countess constantly optimising it for their patients in the years since, but now the time is right to start fresh on a modern platform with new possibilities.

Patients will receive the same high-quality and compassionate care they always have, but this new digital system will streamline admin processes by giving healthcare professionals access to real-time data about their patients.

Switching over will be a significant undertaking, which is why the Trust’s digital information teams working alongside staff across the Trust have been working hard behind the scenes on this for a long time, preparing training materials and support for healthcare colleagues to get the most out of epr+ straight away.

The existing electronic patient record system

Dr Darren Kilroy, Medical Director, said: “It

VIRTUAL CLINICS: HOW COVID-19 HAS CHANGED SERVICES Switching meetings, get-togethers and appointments to virtual platforms has been something almost everybody has got used to this year. From constantly hearing or saying: ‘you’re on mute’, to enjoying the novelty of seeing faces from other bubbles, it has simultaneously been both a strange substitute and a lifesaver. For clinicians, utilising such technology became imperative to protect vulnerable patients. Reducing traffic in the hospital to only those who could not be seen or treated by other means was an immediate priority. As a result, the use of phone or video calls for outpatient appointments more than doubled between March and April last year. From February 2020 to January 2021, there were 82,694 virtual appointments, which is 29% of the total number of outpatients appointments at the Countess during that time. Most of these appointments took place on the Attend Anywhere platform, which was widely adopted across the NHS. A recent Trust survey of patients treated in this way showed that 95% were left satisfied their needs had been met, with 87% either very likely or likely to choose a video consultation again in future.

The use of virtual clinics is something the Countess and the wider NHS was already looking at before COVID-19 for some patients, with the pandemic expediting those plans and there are plans to continue using Attend Anywhere.

Rheumatology is one of the areas to make most use of virtual clinics and it is also pioneering patient-initiated follow-ups at the Countess, which aim to reduce unnecessary attendances in hospital.

Dr Theresa Barnes, Consultant Rheumatologist, said: “We soon realised that for many patients in whom examination does not significantly add to the clinical decisions, telephone and video

consultations are more than adequate, convenient for clinician and patient, quicker, more efficient and allow progress of care without putting patients at risk by bringing them out of their homes. “There remains however a relatively large number of patients, who do require clinical examination to most efficiently progress their care and therefore there will be a significant ongoing need in the future to continue offering face-to-face clinical appointments.”

is really exciting for us to be launching epr+ later this year. This will give our clinicians the ability to view real-time data as it is taken from patients. As a former Emergency Department doctor, I know just how much of a difference that can make to patients and our teams. This system also opens up other new possibilities, including integrated records with GPs and other community colleagues, meaning patients only need to tell their story once. This is something that will be at the Countess for many years to come and so it is very exciting to see how this new technology will improve care, the way we work and the experiences of our patients.”

‘I COULDN’T LIFT A BOTTLE OF WATER – NOW I’M CLIMBING MOUNTAINS’ Tony Cotgreave shares his story of being a patient in intensive care with COVID-19 and his recovery since All Tony Cotgreave thought he wanted for his 55th birthday was to be left alone.

Tony at the top of Moel Famau

After spending around six weeks in intensive care with COVID-19, he was tired. Learning to walk again had been a slow and painful process – a few weeks earlier he struggled to lift a bottle of water. That’s why he asked Katie Pudge, his main physio at the Countess, to give him his birthday off. To his surprise, staff on the unit had prepared balloons, a homemade chocolate birthday cake and a hospital apron filled with handwritten well-wishes. Then, at 10.30am, like clockwork, Katie appeared. “We’re going to get up and walk around the bed today,” Katie said. “But if you do it, I’ve got another surprise for you.” The missing four weeks Six weeks earlier Tony had arrived at the Countess by ambulance after experiencing significant breathing problems.

“THE NURSES, PHYSIOS, CONSULTANTS, DOCTORS AND EVERYONE WERE ALL UNBELIEVABLE. THANK YOU.”

Despite being on the lookout for the main symptoms of COVID-19 as discussed widely in the media, it was only when his chest became incredibly tight that he realised something was seriously wrong, so he called 999.

Tony can’t remember much from the next four weeks as his condition worsened quickly. After testing positive for COVID-19, he also developed pneumonia, kidney failure and sepsis as well as having a blood clot on his lungs. A tracheostomy was helping him breathe as he drifted in and out of consciousness. One of the few things he does remember

from this period is a night when he woke up distressed. A nurse from the unit sat with him, holding his hand to comfort him. Tony can’t remember who this was, it could have been anyone on the unit, but their kindness and how it soothed him during that moment of panic is something he will never forget. A wish granted Gingerly, Tony followed Katie’s instructions and made his way around the bed. Slowly, but surely this was getting easier. He was inwardly delighted with his progress, although he was absolutely exhausted by the time he settled back into bed.

“You did amazingly then Tony. It’s time for that surprise: Happy birthday from everyone at Chester FC,” Katie said. Katie held up her phone to reveal a personalised message from a number of Chester FC players and coaches wishing him happy birthday. Tony, an avid Chester fan, was lost for words. The team on the unit had used a few contacts at the club to call in the special favour and it’s something Tony will treasure forever, not only for the footballing connections, but also the thought and effort behind it. Pushing new boundaries A few days after turning 55, the father of two was finally able to leave hospital. Staff on the unit lined the corridors and clapped to say farewell as he made his way

ICUsteps Chester Zooms into focus ICUsteps Chester has successfully translated many of its activities to online platforms during the pandemic. The charity, which launched in 2016, gives former intensive care patients and their loved ones an opportunity to socialise with people who have been through a similar experience and continue receiving support. Tony at home off the unit to be reunited with his family. The retail manager was then met by all his neighbours, who lined the street to applaud him again as he returned to his house for the first time in almost two months. After such an ordeal, recognising how lucky he was, Tony was determined to keep working hard and getting stronger. Via ICUsteps Chester he accessed regular exercise classes, alongside his remote hospital rehab, hitting target after target until he was recently able to complete a nine mile hike up Moel Famau in North Wales. He will never forget what the team on ICU did for him and he appeared on BBC

Morning Live earlier this year to praise those who had looked after him so well: “I can’t thank them enough, I wouldn’t be here without them, I love them to bits to be honest. The nurses, physios, consultants, doctors and everyone were all unbelievable. Thank you.” Katie Pudge, physiotherapist, who enjoyed a virtual reunion with Tony on the BBC daytime programme, said: “It is fantastic to see how well Tony is doing. He was one of our most poorly patients during the first wave, but he’s worked really hard. I was touched that he wanted to say thank you to us through the BBC. It was something I’ll never forget.”

Tony when he was in ICU

“We began looking at virtual platforms when the first lockdown happened, but we soon realised just how useful it could be for us,” Miles Negus-Fancey, ICUsteps Chester Chair, said. “Many of us were shielding so it made sense from that perspective, but we also found that people who wouldn’t have been able to attend previously join us online. It has helped so many of us to maintain social contact with other people this year.” The charity, which is independent of the Countess, helps with nursing induction programmes at the Trust and has fundraised for new equipment, such as communication aides for patients and a physio trolley. Debbie Graham, Associate Director of Nursing, who is a Trustee of ICUsteps Chester, said: “ICUsteps Chester is a fantastic initiative that also gives so much back to the hospital. Intensive care has been talked about a lot during COVID-19, but all patients who spend time in ICU are there because they are critically ill. Many of them deal with the consequences of that for a long time afterwards, which is why groups like ICUsteps Chester make such a difference.” Find out more about ICUsteps Chester by visiting www.icustepschester.org or emailing info.icustepschester@gmail.com.

Katie helped Tony build his strength

FRIENDS AND FAMILY FEEDBACK “You are all doing the most incredible job in the most challenging times and have been for nearly one year. Where would we be without all of the dedicated NHS staff caring for our friends and loved ones.”

“I received excellent care as a terminally ill patient coming in for an operation who was rather nervous the staff put me at ease. I would like to praise all of the staff not just medical for all of their hard work”

Countess on BBC North West Tonight In January 2021 the Trust was under intense pressure, with very high numbers of COVID-19 patients across the hospital. During this period, BBC North West Tonight were granted access to intensive care, a ward, the vaccination centre and the co-ordination centre to help viewers understand just how tough that time was for everyone at the Countess.

International recruitment boost Twenty international nurses from African countries joined the Countess in September 2020, providing a welcome boost to wards and departments across the hospital ahead of the winter months. Many of them were arriving in the UK for the first time, but Chester as a city and the Countess community made a strong impression. Ivy Mbaika Mwiwa, who is looking to advance her career in cardiology, said: “Chester is a beautiful place and that has made it easier. Leaving home has been hard but my family know I have come here to develop and progress my career. They are so proud.”

“The team on ward 54 are just outstanding. They say humour is the best medicine. - the team have a real talent for delivering exceptional, professional care in a joy filled manner.”

National consultant appointments Two consultants at the Countess have been recognised by being appointed into national roles. Mr Janardhan Rao, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, has been appointed the Chair of the Main Orthopaedic Exam for the three Royal Colleges and the Irish Surgical College. Mr Dale Vimalachandran, Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon, has been appointed NIHR CRN National Specialty Lead for Cancer (Surgery). Congratulations to them both on these fantastic achievements.

Medical Records hits one million Medical Records scanned their one millionth record on 5 October 2020 – just under eight years after the first one was processed on 26 November 2012. Nichola Poole, Head of Records Management and Reception Services, said: “I am extremely proud to work with this team who always give 100%.”

Chester’s singing doctors Three intensive care doctors from the Countess teamed up with colleagues from across the UK to launch a Christmas chart battle. Consultant intensivists Dr Kate Tizard, Dr Lyndsay Cheater and Dr Beccy Gale joined the virtual ICU Liberty Singers’ choir in recording an adapted version of The Police’s 1980s hit ‘Every breath you take’. The song missed out on the festive number one, but it was played in ICUs up and down the country on Christmas Day in a show of solidarity.

PUT A HEART IN THE RAINBOW FOR KEY WORKERS The Countess Charity’s latest fundraising initiative is The Rainbow, in partnership with the British Ironwork Centre. A large structure will be built in the shape of a rainbow to commemorate and remember all key workers who worked so hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sculpture, comprising of thousands of multi-coloured hearts, will be displayed on site. Lesley Woodhead, Head of Fundraising, said: “We have all loved seeing the rainbows on display in windows, on roundabouts and on t-shirts so we thought it would be a great fundraising idea to create something that will last. “Our good friends at Medicash are sponsoring the structure and we are inviting everyone to buy one or more of the thousands of hearts we need in the colour of their choice. “We have had great support from our community, NHS staff, patients, local companies and schools. Everyone is welcome to sponsor a heart in The Rainbow.” Funds raised by this project will go towards our Blue Skies Balcony Appeal which will build an outside space in the form of a balcony for ICU. Sue Weir, Chief Executive of Medicash, said: “Medicash has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the Countess and is

excited about our next project with them – The Medicash Rainbow. The Rainbow is a symbol of hope and something that everyone can get involved with. It’s a simple way of giving back. Now, more than ever, we all appreciate our health and the work that everyone at the Countess does to support us.” Clive Knowles, Chairman, British Ironwork Centre, said: “This is a design that is so of the moment, with the country in crisis and the NHS protecting every one of us from the virus. We are honoured and delighted to undertake this project for the Countess of Chester and will ensure it’s beautiful.” Each heart can be sponsored for a minimum of £10, with everyone who buys heart being sent a favour to keep in their purse or pocket of the colour they choose: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo or violet. Lesley added: “We hope to complete the Rainbow in the summer of 2021. If you can’t choose one colour – choose more!” Ways to put a heart in The Rainbow You can pay online or via cheque. Cheques should be made payable to The Countess Charity and posted to: The Countess Charity Countess of Chester Hospital Liverpool Road Chester CH2 1UL Pay online at: https://www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/putaheartinourrainbow2020

Dr Simon Ridler holds up his heart for The Rainbow

Blue Skies Balcony Appeal update Fundraising continues for a new balcony area to be built next to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The Blue Skies Balcony Appeal is raising £500,000 to create this openair extension, which will be used for rehabilitation and therapy, giving patients some welcome fresh air and a break from being on the unit. The therapeutic benefits of being outdoors are proven to not only be calming for patients, but also foster improved clinical outcomes – such as reducing pain medication and shortening hospital stays. Dr Simon Ridler, the Consultant leading the project, said: “The ability to get our patients outside, however briefly, and expose them to natural light will go a long way towards improving their outcomes and their experience of critical care. Having this facility will make it much easier and safer to transfer patients outside and will potentially allow several patients to use the facility each day. It will put us in the avant-garde of intensive care units in our region.” ICU has historically been a very isolated and private unit due to safety and infection control. It is now believed that the clinical risks of taking a patient outside are no greater than moving their treatment to another part of the hospital, with the required life support and patient consent. Lesley Woodhead, Head of Fundraising, said: “Thank you to everyone who has given their support to this appeal so far. Taking patients outside and giving them an experience of what they have been missing is a simple but powerful way of providing these benefits.”

GOVERNORS’ NEWS

WE CAN’T WAIT TO GET BACK TO ‘NORMAL’ Lead Governor Peter Folwell looks back at the year of COVID-19 The Council of Governors has remained active throughout the pandemic, albeit working in very different ways, to continue representing members and the population served by the Trust. When the difficulties posed by coronavirus became clear, it had significant implications for the governors, given most of us are retired and therefore in the more vulnerable age groups. We were desperate to continue our work as much as possible, but we also recognised that one of the best ways we could support the hospital and our amazing healthcare teams was to step back and avoid adding to their burden at such a crucial time. With this in mind, as the hospital shifted to a pandemic response footing, regular group meetings and discussions were streamlined considerably, but we remain part of all those deemed crucial enough to continue. With visiting no longer permitted, it was no longer possible for the governors to have a physical presence in the hospital. This meant

that, unfortunately, our Gov Rounds had to be suspended. Of all the things we do, nothing is better than us actually getting out into different areas and speaking to people. However, it would have been inappropriate for that to continue while patients couldn’t see their loved ones and also to keep everyone as safe as possible. Despite those changes, the governors have still had a very full calendar. We have been adjusting to the world of virtual meetings like everyone else, but we have been actively involved in the recruitment of new non-executive directors and the drafting of the Trust’s new constitution. Our first-ever virtual Annual Members’ Meeting was a huge success in October. A total of eight new governors joined our ranks, while three existing governors we re-elected for another three years – you can view our full team on the graphic below. Welcome and congratulations to all those who were successful. Thank you to everyone who voted in that election process. One surprising benefit of the past year has been that we have held more informal sessions online than we ever would normally. These getting-

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to-know-you sessions with the non-executive directors have been both fun and informative. I am convinced that they will make us a stronger unit as we work with the hospital’s management in 2021 and beyond. I just hope we can get back out into the wards and departments soon. I can’t wait to see familiar faces again and we have something very important to say: “Thank you.”

Michael Hemmerdinger Unfortunately, I have some sad news to share. Former Lead Governor Michael Hemmerdinger has recently passed away. Michael joined the Trust as a Governor in 2004 and was Lead Governor for 12 years. Many of you will have known the enthusiasm and dedication he brought to the role and the Trust was lucky to count him as a member of the team. On behalf of the Council of Governors, our deepest condolences are with his family.

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