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Spring 2021 | issue 15

THE

North West Anglia

NHS Foundation Trust

SPECIAL EDITION

ONE YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC IN OUR HOSPITALS BRINGING MEMBERS, STAFF AND PATIENTS THE LATEST TRUST NEWS

Relief as vaccination programme gets off to a great start

WELCOME FROM THE

Chief Executive Welcome to the Spring 2021 edition of The Pulse magazine. I am sure that, like me, in March 2020 when we first went into lockdown, you did not expect that 12 months later life would still involve wearing masks, keeping our distance and staying at home rather than socialising. Nor did I think that our hospital services would still be challenged in the way they currently are. However, I am proud to tell you how amazing our staff have been to adapt to such unusual circumstances – and to keep on dedicating their efforts to caring for our patients and each other, despite being tired after such a prolonged period. This issue of Pulse Magazine brings you case studies of staff who have been working on the frontline as well as support services that are vital in keeping the frontline going. I am hugely grateful for the way many staff have adapted their roles to meet our very different pressures this winter, and those who have been redeployed from their usual roles to work in our Covid-19 receiving wards. You can read some great examples of their efforts on pages 8 and 9. I am also thankful for the way our teams have kept other services running for our patients who don’t have Covid, but need care or treatment more urgently. It has been very hard for those of us who have experienced loss during the pandemic. It was devastating to lose three of our own staff members in December, and our hearts go out to their families. You can read a special tribute to these three members of our NHS family on page 3. In December, Peterborough City Hospital was chosen to be one of the first 50 vaccination hubs in the country to start the roll out of the biggest vaccination programme in the recent history of the NHS. Vaccinations began at Hinchingbrooke Hospital in mid-January, and in the first 6 weeks of running our vaccination programme our team had vaccinated 10,000 patients and staff members from across the local NHS organisations. You can read more about the amazing teamwork that has boosted our vaccination programme on pages 4 and 5. I hope you enjoy reading about how our hospitals have responded to the pandemic. I am proud of how our staff have shown such dedication and resilience in the past year. We all still need to obey the Hands Face Space guidance and stay at home wherever possible. That way, better times will be with us sooner.

Staff share their experiences of the pandemic

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Betty’s redeployment to ITU

Patients play vital role in Covid-19 research

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Caroline Walker Chief Executive Spring 2021 | issue 15

THE

NHS Foundation Trust

SPECIAL EDITION

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

Local man donates laptops to staff in need

BRINGING MEMBERS, STAFF AND PATIENTS THE LATEST TRUST NEWS

North West Anglia

ONE YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC IN OUR HOSPITALS

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IN MEMORY OF THE COLLEAGUES WE HAVE LOST Sadly, in December 2020, we lost three members of our workforce to Covid-19. All will be sadly missed by their work family as well as their loved ones.

Healthcare Assistant Bernard Meriales, known to his friends as ‘Bong’, lost his battle with Covid-19 in Addenbrookes Hospital on December 7. Bong was a popular member of the team on Ward A8 at Peterborough City Hospital. His wife Bev also works at Peterborough City Hospital. Bong’s funeral was also held on December 21 at Peterborough Crematorium. He made one final journey past

Everyone on their doorsteps with delight Banging saucepans and cheering loudly Smiling and laughing, looking on proudly People were inspired and tried to achieve their best Deep cleaning, washing hands and coverings on faces Standing 2 metres apart, making spaces A virus came in 2019 It caused chaos the world had never seen The way we shopped started to change Items limited, not as much range

Bernard Meriales

Ward Clerk Dave Kemp passed away in Addenbrookes Hospital on December 1 after contracting Covid-19 in November. Dave, who was a well-loved member of the team on the Acute Assessment Unit at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, had only 12 months earlier returned to work following a successful kidney transplant. His wife Barbara is also a staff member and works in the Maternity team at Hinchingbrooke Hospital. Colleagues were able to say their final goodbyes to Dave on December 21 when his funeral courtege was diverted to drive by the hospital on the way to Cambridge Crematorium.

Clapping to thank Heroes on a Thursday night

Captain Sir Tom Moore raised over £40m for the NHS

We would like to pay tribute to all three here. Our thoughts remain with their families and their colleagues as they face 2021 without them, but we hope they can take some comfort from knowing how well loved they were by their NHS colleagues.

Dave Kemp

A year with Covid-19

We kept in touch with people on Zoom DIY, gardening, exercising in the living room

Peterborough City Hospital as part of the funeral procession and colleagues stood outside to release white balloons in his honour.

Families kept apart when restrictions imposed

Outpatients Booking Clerk Debbie Carter passed away suddenly at home on December 27 after testing positive for Covid-19. Debbie was a bubbly, fun-loving and positive member of the Outpatients Booking Team at Peterborough City Hospital and will be hugely missed by her colleagues. Her funeral took place on January 27 and colleagues held a virtual memorial event hosted by our chaplain Helen Fyall on the same day in her memory.

The most wonderful sound we ever heard

Lockdown, shielding, hospitality closed We took to nature, listening to the birds

It took its toll on mental health People losing their jobs, going to poor from wealth Restricted opening times or closure forever The whole world wonders when it will get better Workers slept in tents at night, alone Protecting their residents in their bubble care homes It is very scary how many people have died Millions of deaths worldwide Anxiety, depression, apprehension and stress Everyone working hard, especially the NHS Key workers all over kept the country moving indeed Communities pulling together, helping those in need Nature reclaimed the Earth, emissions were low All because nobody had anywhere to go Uncertainty and worry have made this a very hard year But with everyone’s hard work, Thank You -

Debbie Carter

Our thanks to our chaplaincy team and emotional wellbeing service colleagues for the support they have given to Dave, Bernard and Debbie’s teams in the past few months.

A vaccine is here!!!! Written by Sandy Baudrey HR Administrator

VACCINATION PROGRAMME

Air Ambulance staff receive vaccine

Annette Parker administered the first vaccines

Staff at East Anglian Air Ambulance (AAA) have been supported by the Trust to ensure that they receive the vaccine. The Air Ambulance team has been providing vital support to hospitals across the region by transferring Covid-19 positive and critical care patients between hospitals, by land ambulance, to help manage capacity in intensive care units. EAAA Medical Director, Doctor Victor Inyang, said: “At EAAA, we’re still responding to emergencies and providing critical care 24/7 in the region, as well as supporting hospitals with critical care transfers to help manage capacity in intensive care units. As an independent charity, not all of our clinicians are employed by the NHS and therefore did not have direct access to the vaccine. Our pilots are also not on the keyworker list to be vaccinated first, and remained vulnerable working on the frontline.” Dr Kanchan Rege, Chief Medical Officer at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, added, “We are delighted to be able to support our colleagues at East Anglian Air Ambulance. The work they do is vital across our region. It therefore made perfect sense to help protect them by vaccinating crews.”

RELIEF AS VACCINATION PROGRAMME GETS OFF TO A GREAT START The news of a potential Covid-19 vaccine approval at the end of last year brought with it a huge sense of relief for our Trust, after the toughest nine months the NHS had ever experienced. Dr Kanchan Rege, Chief Medical Officer said: “We have seen some of the most severe and heart-breaking outcomes of the virus and it has taken a huge emotional and physical toll on our staff. To be able to begin administering the vaccine on one of our hospital sites made us feel very proud.” Peterborough City Hospital was named as one of the first hospital hubs in England to start vaccinating the over 80s group in December of 2020. One of the first patients in was 95 year-old Jim Truman whose daughter Val Fendley brought him to his appointment. “We were really happy to book my Dad in for his vaccine,” says Val. “He still lives independently and has managed brilliantly throughout the pandemic but this added level of protection for him means that we can rest assured he is as safe as can be. Everyone coming into the clinic was so happy to be receiving their jabs, it gave a real sense of hope after a difficult year.” We opened the Hinchingbrooke hospital vaccination clinic in the New Year which

Jim Truman, 95, was one of the first people to receive the vaccine at Peterborough City Hospital

provided greater access for our Hinchingbrooke staff to have their vaccinations. The vaccination clinics are now focusing on completing second dose appointments and it’s predicted that overall we will have vaccinated over 21,000 people. This will have gone quite a way to helping the East of England region meet the national targets and take that step closer to returning to life as we once knew it.

MEET THREE MEMBERS OF OUR VACCINATION TEAM The Trust’s vaccination team is made up of staff redeployed from a variety of departments from across the Trust. As well as this, some members have joined from across the region, as the local healthcare system works in partnership to ensure that individuals across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough receive the vaccine. Meet just three members of the team below:

Chantal Clark: Rehabilitation Adviser for the Major Trauma Signposting Partnership at Addenbrookes Hospital “In my role I support patients on a variety of welfare matters, my role is to advise and support patients on rehabilitation, community support and personal injury. “Due to the pandemic, we have seen a natural decrease in major trauma patients resulting in less demand for the service. When I saw my colleagues in the trauma team get redeployed to support the covid wards, I couldn’t sit and do nothing. I just wanted to help wherever I could, and I was given the opportunity to give two days a week volunteering at Hinchingbrooke, which is my local hospital. I have been able to support the running of the vaccination clinic, greeting staff, completing consent forms and being available for any enquiries. With the clinic now closed until we begin to administer second doses to staff, I will be supporting the main reception desk.”

Jane Pope: Mental Health Chaplain, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust “It feels so good to be part of the fight-back against this deadly virus. Those first few weeks, as we focused on the over 80’s I was moved to meet so many people who had barely been out of the house for nine months and were often petrified to be mixing with other people. But equal to their anxiety was their gratitude: they were so very appreciative of our efforts. “We also focused on NHS staff and all those in front-line care roles. It has been enjoyable to catch up with colleagues from previous roles across the years, but gruelling at times to hear the stories of some people’s “Covid war”. All in all, the experience has made me proud to be part of the NHS and I hope that stepping across the Great Divide that is the Peterborough City Hospital car-park – separating, as it does, our services for acute and mental health – will be something that happens more in future.”

Paige Lambert: Staff Nurse, Day Treatment Unit, Peterborough City Hospital “I was thoroughly excited to be redeployed from my role into the vaccination team. I wanted to get involved and support this project for so many reasons. “The project provided me with the chance to play my part in vaccinating the most vulnerable in our community and also colleagues from across the Trust. It also provided me with the opportunity to learn a new skill, administering vaccine. I feel extremely fortunate to have met so many inspirational people from our local community, their stories and their gratitude for the work we are doing will stick with me forever. I feel privileged to be a part of this team, we know we are just one segment of a national project, but we feel extremely proud to be playing our part in the fight against the virus.”

STAFF REFLECTIONS

Every staff member has their own story to tell about the past 12 months. Here are just six individuals or teams located across the Trust who wish to share theirs. Holly Whitaker: Physiotherapist at Peterborough City and Stamford and Rutland Hospitals Holly works across our Peterborough and Stamford Hospital sites. This year has provided her with a number of new situations that she has had to adapt to. “During the first wave I was redeployed onto the wards, helping whichever therapy team needed assistance most. Critical Care was certainly the most challenging. These patients were some of the most unwell patients I have experienced, so this raises anxiety when you are in an unfamiliar setting. Physiotherapy in Critical Care involves positioning patients, such as proning (turning a patient on their front) which takes 6 people. You can imagine with full PPE on how hot this is! “With Covid still prevalent, outpatient services switched to virtual appointments. It felt like I was learning a whole new set of skills, having to change the way I give advice to patients. On a positive note, some of our patients have thrived with virtual appointments, so I think there is a place for them moving forwards. “If there are any benefits from this pandemic, working with different therapists and MDT members from all areas would be one of them. We have worked with people we normally wouldn’t and I have learnt so much from them.”

The Chaplaincy Team The Trust’s chaplaincy team has continued to provide support to both patients, their families and staff throughout the pandemic. Providing a 24/7 service at both Hinchingbrooke and Peterborough City Hospitals. With the onset of restrictions in March 2020 the team had to change. The large team of volunteers were stood down, and chapel services and prayers suspended. The Chaplains have continued to visit patients, including Covid patients; giving a particular focus to end of life care. A particular feature has also been to provide support for relatives; this has included providing bereavement support and also providing a liaison service between relatives unable to visit their loved ones in hospital. They have also done their best to provide emotional and spiritual support for staff in what continues to be an intensely difficult time.

The Radiotherapy Team The Radiotherapy Team have been working tirelessly throughout the pandemic to ensure that cancer patients continue to receive the treatment they need. The effect of coronavirus has certainly impacted on the department, however the team has worked resolutely to ensure that their environment is safe for patients. Paula Brown, Radiotherapy Team Manager, highlights some of the protocols put in place to ensure patient safety, “We have reconfigured our waiting room, to ensure social distancing and sadly patients have had to attend appointments alone, unless there are extenuating circumstances. Patients are also temperature checked upon entry, with swabbing completed prior to their first treatment. Our patients are extremely vulnerable, so these steps were a necessity. “At work it has proven difficult to provide the same level of emotional comfort to our patients whilst wearing PPE. A reassuring smile is no longer an option. Instead the team have provided our patients with the support they would usually receive by a loved one in attendance.”

Jo Barnes, Elective Performance Manager at Hinchingbrooke Hospital There are approximately 350 people in our workforce who fulfil their roles while managing serious medical conditions. When the threat of Coronavirus first came to light, these staff members were advised to shield in order to protect themselves – as they are at greater risk of serious complications if they catch the virus. “When we had the first lockdown it was a real step into the unknown. Living alone, most of my day to day interaction is at work. It’s so easy to pop to see someone in the hospital to move a piece of work forward, but now I rely upon technology to help me track colleagues down. “My role involves managing patient waiting lists for planned care. In the first lockdown, lots of planned care was put on hold, which allowed me to work on those issues that are a priority. However, during the second lockdown, it is even busier, integrating more planned care to run alongside the emergency pathway. One of my priorities has been to develop processes so we can assure ourselves that we are keeping patients safe while they face delays to their care.”

Rada Tyagunenko, Consultant Anesthetist in Critical Care at Hinchingbrooke Hospital Working in Critical Care has caused Rada to worry about transmitting the virus to her family at home. She has therefore taken precautions to protect them. “The start of 2020 was a happy moment for me and my family, with hearts full of gratitude and positivity. I had just been through a successful cancer operation and I felt full of life. I promised to myself to start making all my dreams true. “Working in Critical Care placed a fear in me for my family. I stopped hugging my daughter, just watching her from a distance. Started to sleep in a separate room, use separate tableware, all because I was terrified of infecting them. Even now I keep my distance. “As the end of 2020 drew near I realised this was not done, as a variation of the story started again. We do not have the right to give up now at the final stage when the vaccination has started. “The vaccine offers hope and one thought keeps me going – soon it will be over, and we will enjoy hugging our children and gathering with friends.”

Rahim Edrahim, Facilities Support Rahim is part of a team of four, working cross-site in the Medical Device Team, alongside the rest of Facilities. The workload of his team increased dramatically at the start of the pandemic. “My role involves Trust wide procurement of medical and non-medical equipment, management of the capital programme for medical equipment, the monitoring of the pharmacy fridge temperatures, and bed and mattress management to name but a few. “However, during the pandemic, the needs of the Trust have increased dramatically, requiring extra equipment. “A large part of my role has been to monitor the oxygen usage throughout the whole Trust, as the influx of covid patients has placed a massive pressure on the infrastructure of the hospital and it is our job to make sure our services for the patients are not disrupted. For patient safety, we are also monitoring the ambient oxygen levels in each department. “Our long list of duties continue to be fulfilled and I and my colleagues do our best to support the Trust and each department, in the most challenging period we have faced in our careers.”

REDPLOYMENT AND ITU

REDEPLOYMENT PROGRAMME FORMS A VITAL PART OF TRUST FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 The Trust cared for a third of its total number of Covid-19 patients to date in January 2021. This surge in Coronavirus patients in our hospitals meant that some staff were asked, or volunteered, to be redeployed into other areas or roles. This redeployment programme formed an integral part of the Trust’s response to the pandemic, enabling patients to receive the care they needed. Dr Kanchan Rege, Chief Medical Officer, said, “I am immensely proud to have witnessed staff stepping up to the challenge that January in particular brought. Staff went above and beyond their usual duties and worked in departments or on wards unfamiliar to them or took on completely new roles. I cannot thank them enough for the way they have supported one another through their redeployments; that support has meant that our patients have been able to receive the care they deserve.”

Consultants take on nursing redeployment roles to support wards Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons Dr Jose Blanco and Dr Gideon Heinert fulfilled redeployment shifts as nurses during the month of January. They provided assistance to ward teams during the Trust’s busiest month. Dr Gideon Heinert became an Intensive Care Unit (ITU) Nurse during his redeployment, he provided support to the nightshift nursing team, “I was well supported by the other nurses who were caring in my area. It felt that it was a productive use of my time, we are probably more suited at filling the role of ITU nurse than a junior ITU doctor role.” Dr Jose Blanco provided nursing support on an Orthopaedic ward, this enabled nursing staff on the ward to be redeployed to ITU, “Having worked a normal day, a 12-hour overnight shift, nursing in orthopaedics, was not how I had envisaged my day to end. However, I came to the conclusion that it was important to ‘practice what we preach’ and support my colleagues.”

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kanchan Rege

Richard Woods: My ITU redeployment at Peterborough City Hospital Richard started his journey with the NHS in 2002 when he joined the Trust as a general porter. At the start of 2019 he was reintroduced back into the Trust as a Perioperative Assistant. “I have been able to do shifts on the bank as a Healthcare Assistant. During the first wave of the pandemic, I was sent to the Intensive Care Unit (ITU), which was daunting, but the staff on the unit were extremely welcoming and helped me to settle into my role very quickly. “Having the experience in the first wave certainly helped me to know what to expect as I set foot onto ITU again more recently. Working as a Healthcare Assistant on ITU usually means I am not so hands on with patients, I would be doing blood gases and blood sugar readings. But due to the large number of covid patients I have had to be a lot more hands on, assisting with washing and making patients comfortable. It has been tough working through this time, however I can look back and proudly say that I have given my bit to care for patients. Seeing patients improve and leave ITU is fantastic and extremely rewarding.”

Richard Woods in PPE

Redeployment onto ITU, Betty’s experience Betty came over from India to work in the UK a year ago. During that year she has been working on A2 which is a surgical, urology, ENT ward at Peterborough City Hospital and wanted to volunteer to support the hospital’s ITU. “During my first shift in ITU I was a little apprehensive. On A2 we care for patients with a variety of conditions and the majority of our patients recover and go home. I knew that ITU would be very different due to covid and that not all our patients would be going home. “I was assigned a mentor who supported me and showed me how to work all the machines that are required for caring for acutely unwell patients. “Whilst in ITU before you enter the bay of patients you must ensure that you have all the required PPE. I found that for the first week I struggled with headaches from wearing the masks, and only being able to have access to my water when I was on my break. “It can be incredibly challenging however it is rewarding. We are able to support those that needs us at this difficult time. Dr Coralie Carle

CRITICAL CARE FOCUS WITH DR CORALIE CARLE “Like everyone, Covid 19 has had a huge impact on my personal life. “The last twelve months have resulted in lots of difficult decisions in order to keep my two young children and elderly parents safe. “Working as a Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine,Covid-19 has also had a huge impact on my working life, as the last twelve months have been the most challenging of my career. “Never before have I had to look after so many critically ill patients who all have the same life-threatening disease. This is not just a disease that effects the elderly: we have seen patients in their thirties and forties who have no other medical problems.

“I feel very lucky to have a supportive network, at home and at work and I feel very proud that I have played an important part for the NHS, and our patients.” Betty is welcomed back onto Ward A2 following her redeployment to ITU

“As we did during the first wave, we have turned other ward areas into Intensive Care extension areas to cope with the increased number of patients requiring high level care. “Our Critical Care Team is being supported by re-deployed doctors, nurses and allied health professionals from other areas of the hospital. This helps us to expand our intensive care bed numbers in order to try and meet the ever-increasing demand. “Thankfully there is now an end in sight, with the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme. As more and more people are vaccinated, we will start to gain some control over the spread of this deadly virus.”

FOCUS ON MATERNITY

MY MATERNITY JOURNEY, DURING A PANDEMIC Tilly-Rose is one of a number of babies welcomed into the world by our maternity teams during this pandemic. Mum, Shantel shares her thanks with the team, for the way they dealt with her and her little girl. “I was supposed to have a planned home birth and due to not knowing my waters had gone they told me I needed to be induced, due to the pandemic I was very anxious and scared. The team helped me relax and made me feel so at ease. My daughter’s heart rate started going up and I was panicking and stressed but they made

me feel better explaining everything to me. My one-to-one midwife Nicola was absolutely amazing, I couldn’t thank her enough for everything she did for me and my baby girl! “The transitional ward team are absolutely amazing. I struggled to feed my daughter at one point and the midwife came in straight away and helped me get her to feed. I couldn’t thank them enough for their care. Everyone is doing an amazing job through this pandemic and they should be proud of themselves. Thank you midwives and the NHS.”

Alisha Boyce is a Maternity Support Worker on the Maternity Inpatients ward at Peterborough City Hospital and only joined the team 10 months ago. Here she explains what her role is and how she has been working with the maternity team to support new parents during the pandemic: “My role as a Maternity Support Worker consists of supporting the midwives in the daily care for antenatal and postnatal women and their babies, performing maternal observations and recognising when to escalate as appropriate. “I am part of a very supportive team. We understand each role and responsibilities and we distribute the workload fairly and help each other when necessary. “I am very passionate about my job. It is a career I have always wished for. I like to meet new mums and support them in their transition into motherhood. It is incredibly rewarding knowing that I have supported a woman in her new journey. “All staff have felt the pressure from working during the pandemic. Initially we were unable to have birthing partners visit the ward during the first lockdown, which understandably caused emotions to run high for the women and their families being admitted to the ward. We are also following Government guidelines by wearing more PPE, maintaining social distancing and limiting the amount of visitors onto the ward.”

Sam Minnis is a Maternity Support Worker based in the community. She has been working in the community for the last two years since transferring from Hinchingbrooke Inpatient Maternity Service after her daughter was born. “My role is to meet mothers for their booking appointments. This includes taking their bloods, doing their blood pressure and testing their urine to ensure that mum is well. Another part of my role is undergoing day five neonatal screening, which tests baby for nine rare diseases and I also weigh baby to ensure that he or she is feeding well. I also offer breastfeeding support for new mums who might be struggling where needed. “During the last year my role has changed dramatically due to midwives carrying out telephone bookings to reduce face-to-face contact where appropriate. I feel as a team we have adapted well and we have managed to still provide that essential care for new families in different ways. “The best thing I enjoy about my role is you get to meet women from all different backgrounds with lots of different talents, hobbies and interests. “The restrictions have meant a lot more families come into our clinic to prevent myself and the midwives attending lots of different households, which provides a safe clinical environment for all.”

PATIENT STORIES

BUGSY BRINGS SMILE TO COVID WARD Sam, who has been diagnosed with a progressive neurological condition called Dystonia, was admitted to Peterborough City Hospital with Sepsis in December. Throughout her time in hospital she was accompanied by Bugsy, her assistance dog. Sam’s Dystonia causes her muscle contractions, spasms and unusual postures. “I have a rare form, which affects all four limbs, my jaw, oesophagus, bladder and bowel. It causes my fingers and thumbs to contract into the palms of my hands and my ankles to invert. I am unable to weight bear at all.” “Bugsy makes me feel so much more independent. He has given me my life back. I’m confident to go out on my own now as I have Bugsy by my side. It was confirmed that Sam had contracted Covid-19 on New Year’s Day, it meant that both her and Bugsy were transferred onto a Covid Ward, “Contracting Covid-19 was a scary experience, especially as I contracted the virus whilst already weak, the sepsis had virtually wiped out my white blood cells. I had a high temperature and awful migraines. I felt very tired, I lost my taste and ached all over. Having Bugsy with me saved me having to rely on staff doing things for me.” Staff also benefitted from Bugsy’s presence on the ward, as Senior Healthcare Assistant Natalie Bell explains, “I made time in my schedule for at least one or two walks for Bugsy in a 12hr shift. It helped me during the stressful nights, he and I enjoyed our 15 minute breaks, away from everything. As we went through the hospital it really put a smile on staff members’ faces, especially at Christmas when we were all away from our families.” Bugsy was trained by Canine Partners a registered charity who train assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities.

Bugsy and Natalie Bell

Cancer Wellbeing Service provides support to local couple David Johnson had an operation to remove a tumour in April at Peterborough City Hospital. He was referred to the Cancer Wellbeing Service where he and his wife, Amanda, access support that helps them to understand the sensitivities of dealing with palliative care.

Amanda’s sessions focused on the practicalities of how she could support David. “The sessions revolved around diet and exercise, and implementing modifications around the house to make life easier for him. I felt frustrated that I couldn’t help improve our situation, but I was reassured that I am doing the right things to support David.”

“The sessions enabled me to reset my expectations of what it is like to live with cancer.” David explains, “The team have helped me to understand my emotions and deal with them. They have assisted me to enjoy life as much as possible moving forwards.”

David summarises his journey, “It seemed that every day you switched on the news, there was negativity around cancer, my experience wasn’t negative, through every part of my journey, I was offered support and staff went out of their way to help me. It is this dedication that makes the NHS truly special.”

Mr and Mrs Johnson completing exercises provided to them by the Cancer Wellbeing Service

STAYING CONNECTED

Stay connected with loved ones in our hospitals “We know that this is a worrying time for families, especially when they aren’t able to visit their loved ones in hospital. Our visiting restrictions have been in place throughout the pandemic in order to keep our patients, their families and our staff safe from Covid-19, but we are doing everything we can to ensure family and friends can keep in touch with their loved ones during their hospital stay. “Since April, our patient experience team has delivered more than 1300 letters and photos to patients in our hospitals. “We have received lots of positive feedback from patients and their relatives about the scheme. One gentleman who wrote several letters to his elderly mother during her hospital stay said: “Thank you so much for passing on my emailed letter to my mother; although she was very sleepy and eventually succumbed to Covid-19, I believe she would have heard and been comforted by hearing from her family.”

LETTERS TO LOVED ONES Our Letters to Loved Ones initiatives helps families and friends send messages and family photos to patients staying on wards across our hospitals. These are printed and handed to patients to read and keep. Please be assured that where a patient isn’t able to read their letter, a member of staff will read it to them. Messages can be sent via email: nwangliaft. lettersforlovedones@nhs.net – please ensure your email includes the patient’s name, hospital name, the ward they are being cared for on and the bay they are in (if known). If your loved one is at either Peterborough City or Stamford and Rutland Hospitals, please address the letter to:

Letters For Loved Ones Patient Experience Team Dept. 418 Peterborough City Hospital Bretton Gate Peterborough PE3 9GZ If your loved one is at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, please address your letter to: Letters For Loved Ones Patient Experience Team C/o Head of Patient Experience Hinchingbrooke Hospital Hinchingbrooke Park Huntingdon Cambridgeshire

Video Calls with Patients Relatives can stay in touch with their loved ones via online video calls using apps such as FaceTime, WhatsApp or Skype, on personal devices. Free WiFi is available to patients and visitors using our network NHS WiFi. Once you have selected this network, you will be prompted to register by filling out an electronic form. After you have completed the form, you will be sent a text message with your username and password.

Chief Nurse, Jo Bennis

There is also a small number of iPads on the wards to facilitate calls between patients and their families, if they do not have access to a smart device. If you would like to arrange a video call via Skype, between yourself and your relative in hospital, please speak to the ward staff to arrange a time.

Updates on your loved one Sometimes our ward staff are incredibly busy caring for poorly patients and aren’t able to answer the phone. This can be frustrating for relatives ringing for updates on their loved ones. To ensure relatives receive timely updates on their loved ones, we have set up a team of staff who are working hard to provide information on the care patients are receiving. These are trained clinical staff who are unable to work on the wards during the pandemic following government guidance.

SERVICE DEVELOPMENTS

PATIENTS PLAY VITAL ROLE IN COVID-19 RESEARCH Patients and staff across our hospitals have played a vital role in supporting research into Covid-19 over the last year. More than 600 patients from our hospitals have taken part in covid-19 studies to help researchers gain a better understanding of the virus and how to treat it effectively. One of the trials taking place at the Trust is the national Recovery (The Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy) Trial, which is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and UK Research and Innovation, and led by the University of Oxford. This looks at the most effective treatments for the virus. Respiratory Consultant, Dr Jakki Faccenda, said: “The initial findings have been promising. The

study has already shown that dexamethasone and tocilizumab, drugs used in other conditions to reduce inflammation, significantly reduced risk of death for hospitalised patients with severe covid-19. We are already implementing this as standard during our treatment of this virus now and we are learning more as the months progress.” Staff have also played an integral role in research by taking part in SIREN – a study into whether past Covid-19 infection provides immunity from future infection with the same virus. 219 members of staff from across all of our hospital sites are taking part in the year-long study, which involves undergoing regular covid-19 tests and blood tests to look for antibodies.

Covid-19 research team

Trust trials new digital appointment management system The Trust has partnered with DrDoctor to trial a new digital appointment management system, designed to make it easier for patients to manage their outpatient appointment. Patients under the care of the Gastroenterology Team will now be able to access an online patient portal where they can view important information about their appointment. Once online patients can: • View and download their appointment letters • View location information, including google

maps and floor plans •V iew important clinic information, this may include leaflets and videos •A dd their appointment to their personal calendar They will also receive a text message reminding them of the date and time of their upcoming appointment. The system is currently being trialled in Gastroenterology and we hope to roll it out across all specialties in the Trust in the near future.

Outpatient appointments go virtual Covid-19 thrives on social contact, therefore reducing the footfall in hospitals has been an essential component to the Trust’s response. There have been restrictions imposed on visiting throughout the pandemic and patients have been receiving advice and support at home, via video consultations. Between the end of March and the middle of December 2020, the Trust had completed 5600 video consultations, amounting to over 1800 hours of virtual face-to-face time. There are huge benefits to providing these virtual consultations over video instead of over the telephone. Video consultations enable clinician and patient a greater ability to engage and react with one another. Dr Emilia Wawrzkowicz, Consultant Paediatrician for the Trust said: “In the first wave of the pandemic the ability to conduct video consultations for the paediatric patients ensured we were able to continue delivering our services. Many families were frightened to attend hospital but welcomed the contact through video consulting. The adolescent patients really enjoyed using the platform. It also meant that multiple family members could attend an appointment when restrictions were in place for numbers attending faceto-face. Moving forward it will continue to support the clinic service but I still enjoy seeing patients face-toface.”

NEWS

LOCAL MAN DONATES LAPTOPS TO STAFF IN NEED A local Helpston man has put his 32 years of IT experience to good use by helping hospital staff in need, by providing their children with laptops.

Prem Gyani runs a Tuk Tuk Wedding Car Experience, but as many wedding plans were put on hold and his business reduced, Prem decided to use his previous experience in IT to help. He put out a public appeal for people to donate their unused old laptops to him, so that he could then upgrade them and make them available as Chromebooks for children. So far Prem has donated over 240 laptops to people in need in the local Cambridgeshire area, using his Tuk Tuk called Tara for deliveries, but he has received over 800 requests for help. He said: “So many families have been put into a position where they need a laptop or more than one laptop to be able to home school and work from home simultaneously. Many families just don’t have the access to these facilities, while others have spare laptops gathering dust. I’m pleased I have been able to assist in some way to do my

bit during this difficult time and if I can put a smile on people’s faces with my Tuk Tuk deliveries then even better.”

Prem has donated 18 laptops to staff, which has been hugely appreciated by staff.

Some of those impacted have been staff working at Peterborough City, Stamford and Hinchingbrooke Hospitals and so far

To find out more go to weddingtuktuk.com/ donate-laptop or register your need here weddingtuktuk.com/need

Improving our hospitals for patients with Dementia Hospital stays can be difficult for patients with dementia, who are often confused by the unfamiliar clinical environment. To improve their hospital experience, Dementia Specialist Nurse Alison Gray is working with ward staff to introduce dementia-friendly initiatives. Rummage boxes, also known as distraction boxes, have now been placed on every ward across Hinchingbrooke, Peterborough City, and Stamford and Rutland Hospitals. These are containers filled with items that help patients with dementia communicate, interact with activities to support their wellbeing and reminisce. Alison said: “Patients with dementia can often be agitated, anxious or simply bored during their hospitals stay, but engaging them in an activity can help relax and make

This initiative is just one of the many ways the Trust is improving wards for patients with dementia.

the patient feel more comfortable and relaxed. The rummage boxes contain a selection of games such as playing cards, dominos, draughts and puzzle books. These are great tools to help occupy patients, especially during the pandemic when they aren’t able to have visitors. It also includes wipe-able communication boards to help patients and staff interact with each other. ”

“We have recently introduced blue crockery which is now available on every ward at Hinchingbrooke Hospital to help patients eat well and stay hydrated during their hospital stay,” said Alison. “Patients with dementia often have difficulty with their sight and perception, which can negatively impact their food intake. However research has shown that using blue cups and plates can help patients see their food and drink more clearly, improving their nutritional and fluid intake.” Blue crockery has already been introduced at Peterborough City and Stamford and Rutland Hospitals. This is available through the ward hostess’.

FOCUS ON STAFF

Meet Kennedy, Biomedical Scientist at Peterborough City Hospital “As I don’t see patients in a face-to-face capacity I wasn’t sure how the pandemic would affect me and my role until being in the midst of the first wave. Those patients within the hospital who were covid-19 positive needed frequent blood tests; which meant the blood samples I was handling were a known infection risk. “There was never an option to not test these, and so the risk of contracting Covid-19 instead had to be minimised by the introduction of protocols involving wearing increased levels of PPE and performing all manual work where samples had to be opened in a specialised fumigation cabinet, to limit any aerosols created in order to keep us safe. “There are still scenarios in the laboratory where it is not possible for such open-top work to be carried out in a fumigation cabinet (usually due to the required equipment being large and immobile) and in these situations those deemed at increased risk of Covid-19 are not permitted to carry out the work. As one of the individuals deemed at least risk, a lot of this work is carried out by myself and others in a similar situation; however, as the risk of transmission is small and the fact my PPE is designed to protect me I have not been overly worried.”

Meet Pallav, Clinical Lead (ED) at Hinchingbrooke Hospital “15 years ago, my role was fast paced, complex and unpredictable in nature and I felt that really worked well with my temperament. Fast forward 15 years and the nature of the role remains the same and I am still enjoying it every day. “As an Emergency Department consultant my role is to make sure every patient during my shift gets excellent care. Another aspect is to make sure that the staff feel supported and they learn something new every day. Seeing colleagues develop and progress is one of the most fulfilling parts of the job. “Covid-19 has brought home important aspects of work as well as life. I appreciate people I work with a lot more. I appreciate their commitment and sense of duty. People have risked their lives in providing care and they continue to do so. I appreciate the value of positive relationships with oneself, family and colleagues a lot more and it has made me a lot more humble and a reflective person.

Looking to move into the NHS?

“Unfortunately my role does see you deal with loss and this is the worst thing by far about the role. The support we as a team and the Trust offers, is hugely important to help staff deal with these difficult circumstances. I am glad that we are a team that supports and looks out for each other.”

We have a whole host of clinical and non-clinical you can apply for to become a member of Team North West Anglia. Simply go to our website to see what role you can take on as part of our Trust: www.nwangliaft.nhs.uk

MEMBERSHIP

Provide feedback via text message North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust’s Patient Experience Team have launched an alternative option for patients to provide feedback. From January 2021 patients accessing either Peterborough City Hospital or Hinchinghbrooke Hospital Emergency Departments, will be able to leave their feedback via text message. The SMS Text Message option is an alternative to the current postcard method, which asks patients to leave feedback about their experience of care at the Trust. This project has been devised over a long period of time as part of co-production with the Trust’s IT, Information Services, Information Governance and Patient Experience Teams, supported by the Friends and Family Test provider, Healthcare Communications. This new feedback option for patients to provide real-time feedback will assist the Trust in harnessing valuable patient feedback which is up to date and current, it will consequently help to identify areas for improvement and also to celebrate success. Patients will automatically receive a text message after visiting the Emergency Department asking for a rating of 1 to 6 (good to poor); feedback is anonymous, replies to the SMS text message are free and there is an option for patients to text STOP if they do not wish to receive further texts. If proven to be successful it is hoped that this option can be rolled out to other service areas in the future.

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 are on Twitter, Facebook and even Instagram! Twitter @NWAngliaFT @PboroCityHosp @HinchHospital @Stamford_Hosp

DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE 7789 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE MEMBERS OF OUR FOUNDATION TRUST? This means that they can play a part in the way our hospitals are run. They can give us their views on how we can make our services better for you, your family and the community in which you and they live. At the moment, while we are in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, it is a little more challenging for our members to stay connected, but we are doing our best to keep them updated with copies of our quarterly magazine and email updates. We are looking ahead to a time when we can resume our members’ meetings. It will be great to bring clinical staff together with our members over a cup of tea to discuss how we are working to improve care and treatment in certain specialties. In the past we have had successful members’ meetings on the subjects of managing diabetes, hip and knee replacements and emergency care. If there’s a particular service area or

condition that you would like to know more about, please let us know and we will add it to our list of topics to look at in 2021. To submit your idea please email our membership department on: nwangliaft. membership@nhs.net

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