The Pulse Summer 2019

Summer 2019 | issue 9

the

North West Anglia

NHS Foundation Trust

welcome to our very first Pets as Therapy volunteers Page 3 Bringing members, staff and PATIENTS the latest Trust news

WELCOME FROM THE

Chief Executive

Play Specialist prescribes fun to young patients in A&E

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Welcome to the Summer 2019 edition of The Pulse magazine.

Our staff will tell you that life in our hospitals is always busy, but it is usually at this time of year that we can find out just how busy it has been over the past 12 months. Every April we gather information about the level of activity across our hospital services to help us plan how we might need to adapt our services for the future.

As expected, we are seeing more patients needing emergency care (just like many hospitals across the region) but it is interesting to note that this year we had slightly fewer babies born than in the previous 12 months.

Take a look on page 12 to see the story of our year in numbers.

Also in this edition you can read about some very special visitors we have welcomed to our hospitals in recent months. We were thrilled to host His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent at to officially open the Macmillan Woodlands Centre on 14 May (see page 5 for more). And we have also been pleased to welcome Zorro – our first Pets As Therapy dog, who has been very busy visiting patients, both young and not-so-young, at Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke and Stamford Hospitals. Turn to page 3 to find out more about why having a doggy helper in hospital can make such a positive difference to the recovery of some of our patients.

There are also lots of stories throughout this edition about some of our staff members and their achievements both in and out of the workplace.

From running the London Marathon, to being nominated for national awards, it never ceases to amaze me how dedicated our staff are and I am proud to highlight their efforts through this magazine.

Chief Executive, Caroline Walker

Finally, don’t forget that you can keep up to date with hospital news by becoming a member of our Foundation Trust. Becoming a member is free and easy to do – either call our communications team on 01733 678024, email: nwangliaft.membership@nhs.net or visit our website (www.nwangliaft.nhs.uk) to complete the online application form. Our members are also eligible to receive the same NHS discounts from High Street retailers that are offered to NHS staff.

Stamford Hospital bids farewell to Matron, Sue Brooks

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Valuing our Volunteers

Sharon nominated for Nursing Associate Trainee of the Year Award in the Nursing Times

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Caroline Walker Chief Executive

Contact Us The Pulse magazine is compiled by the Communications Team at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust. If you have any comments, or would like to make a suggestion about a subject you would like to read about in our magazine, please call the Communications Team on 01733 678024 or email: Nwangliaft.communications@nhs.net

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New era for acute paediatric teams at Hinchingbrooke

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A WARM welcome FOR our very first Pets as Therapy volunteers Seeing someone walking their dog around the corridors isn’t usually the norm for a hospital but you may have spotted our Pets as Therapy (PAT) dog, Zorro strolling around one Friday afternoon as he made his first visit to the Peterborough City Hospital, along with owners Paddy and John Snell.

The Trust has joined forces with the PAT charity to bring dogs into our hospitals to help provide a calming, distractive and comforting therapy to patients of all ages.

PAT work with a variety of healthcare settings and volunteers register through them to ensure they and their dogs meet the required standards.

“This is the very first hospital we’ve visited through PAT and we’ve wanted to volunteer in this way for such a long time,” says Paddy.

“We registered last year and so to finally be

Zorro visited Ward Manager Vicki Griggs and patients on John Van Geest

invited in and see the joy and comfort that Zorro brings to patients and even the staff, was actually really moving.”

Zorro is a Podenco breed, used mainly for hunting in Spain. He had quite a harrowing start to life and Paddy and John rescued him whilst living there. “You would never tell the suffering Zorro experienced,” says John.

“From the minute he came to us, he’s been nothing but amazing in his temperament.

He’s such a gentle soul, especially with our grandchildren, and we know he’s going to put smiles on lots of faces through our hospital volunteering.”

During his visit, Zorro familiarised himself with the many sights, sounds and smells of a hospital and was greeted by countless members of staff and visitors as he made his way around. Paddy and John were buddied up with an existing volunteer, April, and they took time to ensure Zorro was more than comfortable in his new surroundings. They ended their visit with a trip to ward B11, which specialises in treatment for patients who’ve suffered a stroke. Ward Manager Carole Barham, was taken aback by the impact just a few minutes petting and talking to Zorro had for patients. “We had more than one of our patients in tears – happy tears – as they fondly remembered their own pets and took sheer joy in stroking Zorro. It’s an amazing attribute to the Trust and I think patients will benefit hugely as we see more PAT dogs coming to visit.”

Zorro then made his way to Hinchingbrooke after a special request for a visit from paediatric outpatients to take him along, and he was more than happy to accommodate the fuss made of him by children, parents and staff. Parent Robert Valentine-South said his daughter was raving about the visit: We told our daughter yesterday that the PAT

Younger patients at Hinchingbrooke Hospital were thrilled to meet Zorro

dog would be coming in and she has been counting down the hours until she could meet Zorro. She even brought a dog biscuit she could give to him. I think it’s a great idea to help ease the children’s worries.”

And of course we couldn’t miss out Stamford Hospital, where Zorro met our older patients on Jon Van Geest ward and helped 95 year old Connie reminisce of her younger years and the love of her family pets. Zorro’s visits are set to become more regular as Paddy and John have kindly offered to visit as often as they can. If you are a registered Pets as Therapy volunteer or would like to know more about volunteering through the charity to visit one of our hospitals then please email Nwangliaft.communications@nhs.net and we will put you in touch with our Volunteer Team to find out more.

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Charity team transforms Woodlands Centre garden A team of charity workers have helped transform a patch of outdoor space at Hinchingbrooke Hospital into a beautiful garden for cancer patients and their relatives to enjoy.

together to create the new garden overseen by the charity’s founder Damien Whales and the members of Hinchingbrooke Hospital’s estates team.

The Malcolm Whales Foundation, which raises money to support people who have been affected by a cancer diagnosis, generously pledged £10,000 earlier this year to regenerate a garden area located next to the waiting room in the Woodlands Centre.

“It has been wonderful to see the difference that the team from The Malcolm Whales Foundation have made to the garden.”

Over the Easter period, members of the local community started working alongside a group of secondary school students from across the county to begin the transformation work. The students who volunteered their time to develop the garden are the same students who have walked the annual 40-mile Dorset Walk for the Malcolm Whales Foundation and managed to contribute to the funds required for this project. The team of volunteers worked

Thanks to their efforts, and the support of local businesses, the garden was transformed from a patchy, gravelled area into a tranquil and inviting place that the centre users can enjoy in time for the warmer weather.

Damien Whales said: “We have been supported by a local landscaping firm and other organisations who have pitched in to help. It was so exciting to see the vision for the garden becoming a reality. The youngsters’ help was invaluable, especially in the initial stages when we had to bring in our hardcore base by wheelbarrow-load!”

Lynda Hall, Lead Cancer Nurse for the Trust,

said: “It has been wonderful to see the difference that the team from The Malcolm Whales Foundation have made to the garden. The Woodlands Centre is a busy place, and the garden can be seen from the waiting room, so it is wonderful to know our patients now have somewhere lovely to look out upon while they wait.

“On behalf of the Woodlands Team and the hospital as a whole, I would like to thank Damien and his helpers for giving our garden a makeover.”

• The Malcolm Whales Foundation was founded by Damien Whales in 2009 in memory of his father who lost his fight with bowel cancer a year earlier, aged only 55.

• To fundraise for projects such as the garden renovation, the charity holds an annual event, a three-day trek which covers 40km of the Dorset coast. Participants include cancer survivors and their supporters, as well as groups of students who fundraise for the foundation throughout the year.

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Royal guest pays our Woodlands Centre team a visit His Royal Highness, The Duke of Kent, visited The Macmillan Woodlands Centre on Tuesday 14 May to meet staff and patients – and to officially declare the £2.4m extension to the building open.

The Duke toured the chemotherapy suite, and the centre’s newlyrefurbished garden, to learn more about Hinchingbrooke Hospital’s most prized facility that delivers first-class information, support and treatment for local people with cancer.

The expanded and refurbished centre includes a Macmillan Information and Support service, a spacious waiting room, several consulting rooms for increased privacy and large treatment bays. It first opened to patients in August 2017.

“It was fabulous to welcome His Royal Highness to our hospital and to showcase the great work carried out by our teams and colleagues from Macmillan.”

Hosted by Trust Chairman Rob Hughes and Medical Director Dr Kanchan Rege, the Duke was able to chat to staff and Macmillan representatives about the amazing charity push to build the Woodlands Centre. He also met two former patients who officially started the build work by putting the first spade in the ground of the site.

His Royal Highness was given some insight into the new ways patients are supported – including the focus on ‘survivorship’ which is offered to patients undergoing treatment for cancer to support them in their recovery.

He also met colleagues from the charity Macmillan Cancer Support who work closely with the Woodlands Team and have been

HRH unveils the two plaques that will be displayed in The Woodlands Centre watched by Chairman Rob Hughes

instrumental in the creation of the centre’s services. In addition, the Duke met local students who had given up part of their Easter holidays to transform the centre’s garden into a new area for patients and staff to enjoy.

Before he departed, the Duke unveiled two plaques, one to declare The Macmillan Woodlands Centre open and the other to unveil the name of the new garden area – The Malcolm Whales Garden.

Dr Kanchan Rege said: “It was fabulous to welcome His Royal Highness to our hospital and to showcase the great work carried out by our teams and colleagues from Macmillan.

It was lovely to be able to share this event with our patients – some of whom were

having their chemotherapy while the Duke was being shown around. I am sure it was a fantastic distraction for them.

“The Duke was impressed with the way the community has rallied to support the centre – not only at the build stage, but also to help transform the garden. It was a very enjoyable event for all involved.”

Gwyneth Tyler, Macmillan Head of Services in the South and East, added: “We are thrilled His Royal Highness agreed to officially open the centre. It’s a fantastic facility that offers emotional, practical and financial support to cancer patients. But it’s thanks to the continued support from people locally, who fundraise for us and donate so generously, that we were able to help fund this project.”

HRH meets patients Carol Croft and Ruth King

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Improving our services

Providing specialist midwifery to women under our care Our Trust is extremely proud to offer women high quality specialist care when choosing to have their baby in our hospitals.

“The midwifery service provided by the Rainbow Team is made up of a number of specialist midwives who are experienced in areas requiring a more complex level of care” says Karen Hedger, Named Midwife for Safeguarding.

The team covers a number of specialities including adult/ children’s safeguarding, teenage pregnancy, mental health, domestic/substance abuse, learning difficulties and female prisoners who are pregnant, providing a high level of continuity in the antenatal and postnatal period with contact in the intrapartum period wherever possible. They work across sites providing all women the opportunity to access the service.

“The Trust has provided specialist care for certain groups of women for a number of years,” says Karen. “But the need for more specific services to help particular groups of women and their families has grown significantly more recently and feedback from mothers who use the service has shown that providing specialist care in these circumstances results in a much improved experience.”

Play Specialist prescribes fun to young patients in ED Hospital can be a scary place for our younger patients and for many children visiting the Accident and Emergency Department it will be their first experience of a hospital.

However, children need not fear because Play Specialist Jackie James is now on hand with a prescription of fun for children visiting Peterborough City Hospitals’ Paediatric ED.

Play Specialist Jackie James

Jackie joined the department in January to help children feel more comfortable during their visit and ensure they have a positive experience.

“Coming into hospital is daunting for anyone but especially our younger patients,” said Jackie. “I spend time making them feel more at ease and helping them understand what is happening through play. It can be as simple as pretending to take blood from a teddy bear so they can see that there is nothing to worry about. Often once I have done this, the child is more cooperative during observations and tests.

Play is also used to distract younger patients and I always have a bottle of bubbles handy just in case I need to entertain a child while the doctor performs their examination.”

The clinical setting can make children anxious, so the department has been transformed by brightly

coloured decorations, toys and books.

Jackie said: “These small changes make all the difference to children. I love seeing them leave hospital with a proud sticker after I have helped them overcome their fear. I feel like I have made a difference to that child’s experience and hopefully they will be less afraid should they visit again.”

Sadly toys often get broken or accidentally taken home, so the department is asking for donations of second hand toys that are in good condition and can be cleaned or wiped. If you have any going spare, please contact Jackie on email: jackie.james1@nhs.net

New and Improved Respiratory Clinic at Hinchingbrooke Hospital Clinical Physiologists in new respiratory investigations clinic

Patients visiting the respiratory investigations clinic at Hinchingbrooke Hospital will now benefit from a new and improved clinic space as it relocates to a new custom-made laboratory.

The department performs basic and advanced respiratory function tests on both paediatric and adult patients and will remain in the treatment centre, moving from Poppy to Bluebell.

Kelly Pauley, Head of Respiratory Investigations, said: “The new laboratory will have two rooms, with brand new state-of-theart equipment. This means we will be able to double our activity, giving us the opportunity to potentially see twice as many patients.”

The Respiratory Investigations department has also expanded and now has eight permanent staff members working across Hinchingbrooke and Peterborough City Hospitals, and the outpatients department at Doddington Hospital.

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Stamford Hospital bids farewell to Matron, Sue Brooks

Looking ba c

k

Staff from Stamford Hospital bid goodbye to Matron and Site Manager Sue Brooks at the end of May, after 30 years of service in the NHS. Sue originally began her nursing career as a mental health nurse but transferred to general nursing after a placement on a ‘care for the elderly’ ward.

Sue played an integral role in pres erving Stamford H ospital’s rich history

She said: “I had always wanted to become a nurse as a child, but I didn’t decide to pursue a career in nursing Sue Brooks until my 30s. As part of my training I was required to undertake a placement in general nursing and absolutely loved it. I decided to transfer and never looked back.”

Once she had qualified, Sue joined the orthopaedic ward at Kettering Hospital and worked her way up to Ward Manager, before moving to Stamford and Rutland Hospital to become Matron.

“There is something special about Stamford and Rutland Hospital – I felt it as soon as I walked around on my first day,” said Sue. “It has been a privilege to spend the last 10 years of my nursing career in such a lovely place; it really does have its own soul.

Marking Nur ses Day in 20 11

“A hospital is only as good as the people who keep it running and it has been a pleasure to work with such a fantastic team. I go home every day knowing that our patients have received outstanding care. I want to thank the staff, volunteers, Friends of Stamford Hospital and all those that have supported me and the hospital during my time here.”

Over the last 10 years Sue has seen a number of changes to Stamford and Rutland Hospital, including the £2million redevelopment which saw the installation of a new MRI scanner, a new outpatients department with additional rooms for adults and children, a second ultrasound room, an improved physiotherapy gym, a new pain management department and new clinic rooms.

“There has been a real investment in the services the hospital offers and we are busier than ever,” said Sue. “Stamford is now offering more outpatient clinics, meaning patients no longer have to travel to Peterborough, and there have been significant improvements in the hospital environment.”

Jo Bennis, Chief Nurse at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust which runs Stamford and Rutland Hospital, said: “On behalf of the Trust Board, I would like to thank Sue for her hard work over the last ten years. Sue has been an excellent role model for staff and I would like to personally thank her for her drive and commitment to delivering the highest quality of care for our patients.

Celebrating NHS 70 by recreating a photo from 1948 The Redeve lopment Han dover

in 2017

“There have been a number of changes to the hospital over the years and Sue has always ensured that the local community were at the heart of these improvements, making sure service users were engaged and aware of what was happening. She will be greatly missed, but we wish her all the best in her retirement.”

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Recognising our supporters

Former patient raises £22,000 to support cancer patients Valuing our Volunteers Our Trust is lucky enough to have over 500 volunteers from local communities who kindly give up their time to come into our hospitals and support staff in providing the most positive experience for our patients and visitors.

In 2018 alone, volunteers from Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke and Stamford Hospitals donated an incredible 45,260 volunteering hours. This roughly equates to a staggering 40,000 hot drinks made for the patients, 15,000 visitors welcomed and helped at the reception desks and around 9600 buggy rides given to patients with limited mobility. These are just a few of the invaluable roles that the volunteers donate their time to.

The Trust has just celebrated National Volunteers Week from 3-7 June, which is a chance to celebrate and say thank you for the fantastic contribution our volunteers make.

“We are so immensely proud to have the volunteer group that we do,” says Barry Pridmore, Volunteers Manager. “I don’t think any of them can truly appreciate the value and the importance of the work they do. They provide vital support to our workforce and they make a real difference to our patient’s day in offering a helping hand, a listening ear or just a smiling face.”

If you would like to become a Trust volunteer then please visit our website for more details on how to get in touch and get involved.

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Former patient Lesley Kalina has raised over £22,000 to support cancer patients receiving care at Peterborough City Hospital, since being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer in 2011.

Over the years, her donations have bought reclining chairs to enable relatives to stay with their loved one while they are undergoing treatment, fridges for patient rooms, syringe drivers, drug trolleys and most recently drip stands.

Lesley, who is now cancer free, has also created care bags for patients having their first session of chemotherapy on the Haematology/Oncology Day Unit.

“The bag contains items that I would have appreciated on my first day of chemotherapy such as lip balm, tissues, sweets, a heat pack, a four leaf clover for good luck and much more,” said Lesley. “I also include a letter from myself sharing what I learned through my experience. The first day of treatment can be scary, but I hope the care bags will help people feel more comfortable.

Laura Doyle, Ward Manager on the Haematology/ Oncology Ward, said: “Lesley has a unique perspective as a former patient and really sees things from the view of the patient. Her fundraising efforts have enabled us to

Ward Manager Laura Doyle with one of the donated trolleys

purchase equipment that enhances the patient’s experience and makes their stay with us more comfortable.”

Eight year old raises over £700 for Peterborough City Hospital Eight year old, Lucas Tuck raised over £700 for Peterborough City Hospital, to thank staff who cared for his grandmother when she fell ill last year.

Lucas was so grateful to staff for saving nanna Patricia Lenton’s life, he asked his fellow pupils at Hampton school to pay £1 to dress up as emergency services staff such as doctors, nurses, policemen, and firefighters for the day.

Patricia was taken ill after an emergency hernia operation and admitted to intensive care for

2-3 weeks. The family feared the worse, but fortunately she made a full recovery.

Mum Gail said: “Overall Lucas raised £781.83 and we are just so proud of him for recognising all of the hard work that staff do and not assuming that’s what the NHS is there for.”

Consultant Mr Hardy, who accepted the donation on behalf of the Trust said: “We are very grateful to Lucas for his generosity and his hard work. The money raised will go towards improving the hospital environment for our patients and their families.”

Orthopaedic Wheelchairs donated to Hinchingbrooke Masons donate to Cardiology Department The Cardiology Department is one step closer to purchasing new cardiac imaging equipment following a generous donation from St Andrews Lodge no. 803.

The local masonic group raised £1,000 at their ladies festival and decided to donate it to cardiology after Mrs Tristram who is married the masonic president, received care in the department.

Cardiology Consultant, Rebecca Schofield said: “We are very grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Tristram for their efforts in fundraising. Their generous donation will go towards purchasing new cardiac imaging equipment, including an ultrasound machine to develop community cardiac imaging services. These new pieces of equipment will benefit our local communities in Huntingdon and the surrounding areas.”

Orthopaedic patients will benefit from specialised wheelchairs following a donation from the Friends of Hinchingbrooke Hospital, a charitable organisation that raise funds to buy equipment for the hospital.

The two new wheelchairs have knee support and sit lower than standard wheelchairs, meaning patients can have knee x-rays without having to transfer out of the chair.

Bev Balls, Patient Services Manager said: “To save space the chairs nest together when not in use, which is great in a small reception area. The easy to manoeuvre wheelchairs have arms that lift up for easier access when transferring patients to beds. This helps both the porters and helps the patients to stay more comfortable.”

“Yet again I would like to thank The Friends of Hinchingbrooke Hospital for their tireless hard work and commitment.”

St Ivo School donate books to Hinchingbrooke Hospital Staff and patients were delighted when local pupils from St Ivo School in St Ives visited Hinchingbrooke to donate books to the wards.

To say thank you for the donation, staff treated the children to a behindthe-scenes look at wards, included the Emergency Department, Critical Care, Apple Tree Ward and Holly Children’s Ward.

Students were given a tour of the plaster room in the emergency department where they were given a demonstration of the instrument that removes plaster casts.

The youngsters were also thanked by staff on the Critical Care Unit where the books will be available in the family room. They were then taken into an empty side room and were fascinated by different bed functions and equipment.

St Ivo students have supported the hospital in the past – the group of youngsters, who are part of Crosier House, visit every Christmas to bring gifts to patients undergoing chemotherapy in the Woodlands Centre.

Pat Butcher, Chair of the Friends of Hinchingbrooke Hospital with the patient services team

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Staff Achievements

Sharon nominated for Nursing Associate Trainee of the Year Award in the Nursing Times Nursing Associate Sharon Maywood has been recognised for her dedication after being nominated in the Nursing Times Awards.

Sharon, who works on Ward A10 at Peterborough City Hospital, was nominated for Trainee of the Year after successfully qualifying despite being diagnosed with cancer in her second year.

She said: “The first year went so fast and then half way through the second year I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I decided to carry on with my studies and fortunately the chemotherapy didn’t affect me too badly. I was able to work my shifts around my sessions and with the support of the ward, I qualified with my cohort.

“I may not have been successful in the awards but it was an honour to be nominated. I would like to thank everyone for their amazing help throughout the course. I couldn’t have got through it all without the support of the ward, deputy sister Tanya Sudbury and staff nurse Annie Kavanagh.”

Sharon is now in remission and she isn’t slowing down. In May she will start the course taking her to the next stage, which involves her splitting her working week between working as a Nursing Associate and doing the top-up course.

The new nursing associate role sits alongside existing nursing care support workers and fullyqualified registered nurses to deliver hands-on care for patients.

Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Ian, Daria and Jeff

First paramedic in the UK becomes ACP An Advanced Clinical Practitioner at Peterborough City Hospital has become one of the first paramedics in the UK to pass the non-medical prescribing course.

As a requirement of the course Ian did various placements in other areas such as Pharmacy, the Community and Primary Care to see how prescribing works in different areas.

Ian Sutor was a paramedic for ten years before becoming a trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner at Peterborough City Hospital in 2017.

Ian Sutor, Advanced Clinical Practitioner, said: “We got our results May 8 and I am very pleased to have passed, it’s a big milestone and really good for the profession and the fact that my other ACP colleagues passed as well was nice.

I would just like to thank the staff in ED, especially Consultants Alastair Jones and William Halford who supported me through my whole course.”

In April 2018 the law changed which allowed paramedics to take the nonprescribing course and Ian was fortunate enough to get a place on one of the first ever course at Anglia Ruskin University.

The non-medical prescribing course is a way for non-doctors to be able to prescribe any medications from the British National Formulary, within their scope of practice.

Congratulations also go to Jeff Mercer, Daria Madeira, Sharon Tengenesha and Richard Cooper who also passed their qualifications.

Research Nurse earns spot on leadership programme Lead Nurse for Research and Development, Dr Fiona Maxton is set to drive improvement in future healthcare through research, after earning a spot on the NIHR Senior nurse and Midwife Leader Programme.

Nursing Associate Sharon with a patient on Ward A10

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Fiona is one of 70 nurses and midwives selected to take part in the initiative, which was launched to coincide with the 70th birthday of the NHS. They will form new national community of clinical nurses and midwives who will promote an embedded research culture with their organisations and nationally.

“I am delighted to have been chosen to take part in the programme,” said Fiona. “As nurses and midwives, we have the opportunity to identify areas of research that will inform best practice for future healthcare and I am looking forward to working with colleagues to push the research agenda forward.

Nurses and Midwives always have great ideas about practice and guiding them towards testing these within a research programme will strengthen our evidence base.”

Staff do us proud with their marathon efforts Five members of our staff took part in the London Marathon on Sunday 28 April. Some ran to raise money for charities while others took part for the sporting satisfaction. Either way, we are incredibly proud of their achievements.

In particular, we were amazed by Stamford Hospital staff nurse Morag Roberts – now a London Marathon regular – who came 11th in her category of 75-79 year old runners.

Morag Roberts

Julie Tebb

Morag, who runs with Stamford Striders, was sponsored by friends and colleagues to raise funds for the British Red Cross. She said: “I had a great marathon and was pleased with my time. I did have a problem at one point, due to me going too quickly, so I ended up walking a lot. I also got stopped on London Bridge for a media interview which slowed me down. However, I found my final sprint to make it over the line in 6 hours 3 minutes which was the time I was aiming for. Thank you to my friends who have supported me.”

Former Chief Executive Stephen Graves, who now works part time for the Trust as an interim project lead having retired in September 2018, completed his first (and last) marathon in 4 hours 42 minutes. He said: “It was a fantastic experience. The support of the crowd and the helpers on the course was great. I was so pleased to have completed the marathon, but I won’t be doing that distance again. I will carry on running but instead aim for 10K and half-marathon runs.”

Stephen raised just over £3,500 for the Dementia Revolution charities Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK. He chose to support the charities in memory of both his father and father-in-law who suffered Steven Graves

severely with dementia during their later years.

For Julie Tebb, Informatics Training and Support Officer at Peterborough City Hospital, this year’s marathon was a challenge she was not sure she could tackle – as last year she was struck down with a little-known condition which required surgery.

Julie has been a runner for many years, but her form was badly hit by extreme fatigue. In early 2018 Julie was diagnosed with Primary Hyperparathyroid disease in early 2018. This Tracy Crowley

condition causes too much calcium to be produced by the tiny parathyroid glands in your neck, resulting in tiredness, anxiety, memory issues, as well as too much calcium, which can lead to an increased risk of kidney stones and renal failure.

She underwent surgery to correct it in October 2018 and started her marathon training once she recovered. Julie ran to the charity Hypopara UK –which funds research into parathyroid conditions. She said: “I had a fantastic time. For me, after being unwell and having surgery, taking part in the London Marathon was about having a good time rather than getting a good time!

“I finished in 5 hours 38 minutes and have raised just over £600. I was running for everyone who has been on the same journey as me. Six months ago I was struggling to run five miles, so this was a great achievement for me. I ran with a Sweep glove puppet and all the children lining the route were stopping me to do a high five!”

We would also like to congratulate Tracy Crowley, Head Orthoptist at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, who completed the marathon in 3 hours 43 minutes – a personal best for her, and David Ward, Emergency and Medicine Consultant at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, who was our fastest staff member to finish – completing it in 3hrs 13 minutes.

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NEWS

Our year in numbers Our hospitals are always busy places – but it’s fascinating to discover just how many patients are cared for every day across the hospitals we run.

For example, between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019, our outpatient departments at our hospitals in Peterborough, Hinchingbrooke, Stamford, Doddington and the Princess of Wales Hospital in Ely saw a total of

647,547

patients in new and follow-up appointments.

This is a 2.5% increase on last year’s figure of 631,514 appointments.

We also saw more patients requiring urgent care in our Emergency Departments at Peterborough City and Hinchingbrooke Hospitals, plus our Minor Injuries Unit at Stamford Hospital. This year our emergency teams cared for

160,649

patients compared with 149,055 the previous year – an increase of 7%.

The number of day case procedures performed this year was

53,102

which is about the same as the previous year’s total of 53,352. In addition, our operating theatre teams performed 10,727 operations, which is a little short of the 11,182 operations undertaken the previous year.

One slight drop in activity was the number of babies welcomed into the world at Peterborough City and Hinchingbrooke Hospitals. This year

6,720

babies were delivered – which is a 9% decrease compared with the 7,349 babies the previous year.

Our Information Services team analyses the activity of specific service areas of the hospital to help us understand whether there may be an increase or decrease in the demand for services, for example.

This is important information to help us determine how we shape our services for the future.

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Dedicated beds on Women’s Health WARD help expansion of services A new bed space known as the ‘Butterfly Suite’ has opened up on the Women’s Health ward at Peterborough City Hospital for women who are having treatment for medical miscarriages or Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) up to and including 15+6 weeks.

“There will be a bed in a private area on Women’s Health that will be used for women who are better located away from a busy maternity unit,” says Laura Rutherford, Lead Nurse in Emergency Gynaecology. “Providing this facility

is key to providing the right level of compassion and care required in these circumstances. The aim is to make it a more homely, less clinical environment where women can be looked after in the most appropriate clinical setting.”

Having the Butterfly Suite area means that the TOP service as a whole can be reviewed and offer treatment for women up to and including 15+6 weeks.

Currently women over 13 weeks are referred out of area through the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS).

Learn more about cardiac health at our Peterborough Beats Together event Did you know that 90% of premature deaths from heart disease in Peterborough can be prevented? Simple lifestyle changes and just being aware of the signs could significantly reduce your chances of heart failure.

Come along to our Peterborough Beats Together event, run by the Cardiology Department, on Saturday 28 September, 9am-12noon at Ferry Meadows to find out more.

Join staff for a day of fun-filled activities including a Guinness World Record Attempt to create the world’s

largest human image of a beating heart at 10.30am.

There will also be the opportunity to have a free health check and get information on how to spot the signs of heart disease, exercise and diet, and support groups for those with cardiac conditions.

Families are invited and for those with younger children, there will be a treasure hunt as they learn how to keep their heart healthy.

More information can be found on our website.

New era for Acute Paediatric teams at Hinchingbrooke Hospital James in Children Outpatients waiting area

Nurse Liz Gabriolek on the Special Care Baby Unit

Hinchingbrooke Hospital welcomed 100 new staff members in April as the management of paediatric services on the Hinchingbrooke Hospital site transferred from Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust to North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust.

Teams working in the Children’s Unit and the Special Care Baby Unit are now part of the Trust’s wider Children’s Services Team, which also runs services on the Peterborough City Hospital and Stamford Hospital sites.

Staff on Holly Ward

Dr David Woolf, Clinical Director of the Family and Integrated Support Services Division of the Trust, said: “I am delighted to officially welcome our new colleagues and look forward to working more closely with them. I want to reassure our patients that they will continue to receive the same high quality service from the same highly-skilled clinicians. By bringing the management of services under the one Trust we can ensure the staff will benefit from the training and development opportunities that come with being part of a larger team.

“Thanks to an additional £1m investment from our commissioners in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, we will be able to strengthen the paediatric teams further with some additional recruitment at Hinchingbrooke over the coming months.”

New mural brightens up emergency x-ray room Patients needing an emergency x-ray at Peterborough City Hospital can now enjoy scenes from Certaldo in Tuscany as they undergo their scan, as part of an initiative to help patients feel more comfortable during their visit.

Radiographer Team Lead Irena Glover with Susan and Bo from the Friends of Peterborough Hospitals

A green meadow featuring rows of poppies adorns the main wall in the x-ray room thanks to the generosity of the Friends of Peterborough Hospitals, who funded the artwork.

Irena Glover, Radiographer Team Lead, said: “Hospital can be a daunting place for patients, especially for those coming in as an emergency. However, research shows that having images on the walls not only calms patients with dementia, but also helps anxious adult and paediatric patients feel at ease.”

“We would like to say a big thank you to the Friends for their generosity. The mural has significantly brightened up the room and we received lots of positive feedback.”

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Membership

Become a member Our next members’ event is our Annual Public Meeting which will take place at Peterborough City Hospital on Wednesday 18 September 2019, starting at 6pm. All members are welcome, as well as any non-members from the public.

The meeting will look back at how the hospital performed during 2018/19 and staff achievements, with a special presentation from our Pain Department. There will also be the opportunity to put your questions to As a Foundation Trust member you can also: • Apply to stand for election as a Trust Governor • Vote in our Governor elections • Attend events and meetings • Receive a free copy of The Pulse magazine – either through the post or online • Get involved in specific focus and feedback groups

our Executive Directors. Further details will be available nearer the time.

Becoming a member of our Trust means that you can give us your views on how we can make our services better for you, your family and the community in which you live.

As the redevelopment of parts of Hinchingbrooke Hospital progresses, thanks to the £25.5M capital from the Department of Health, we will seek members’ views on proposed improvements.

Members of the Trust can also register with NHS Discounts to take advantage of the same benefits that are offered to NHS staff like discounts from participating high street stores and restaurants.

To sign up as a member, you can find our members’ area on our website, or try out our new portal, designed especially for you. Whether you are registering, or a current member, you can log on to https:// secure.membra.co.uk/memberportal/

NorthWestAnglia. Just register your name and create a password, and then you can be in charge of the information we hold for you, such as change a postal or email address, or look at the preferences we have on your file.

You can also come to our Public Board of Directors meetings, which meet every month – giving you the chance to hear what is happening in your local hospital. These meetings are rotated around our hospitals to ensure local residents have the opportunity to attend without having to travel too far.

Meeting dates are advertised on our website: www.nwangliaft.nhs.uk.

Save the Date: Tuesday 19 November 2019 The last members meeting of the year will be held on Tuesday 19 November at Hinchingbrooke Hospital. The topic of the meeting is yet to be decided and further details will be available closer to the time.

Join us on social media Did you know that you can keep up to date with the latest news from your local hospital through following our social media accounts? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and even Instagram! @NWAngliaFT @PboroCityHosp @HinchHospital @Stamford_Hosp

Peterborough City Hospital

NWAngliaFT

North West Anglia NHS FT

Hinchingbrooke Hospital Stamford & Rutland Hospital

We also advertise our latest vacancies on social media, so make sure you are following these accounts if you are interested in working for us: Twitter: @NWAFT_jobs

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North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust’s Recruitment

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