Countess Matters June 2018

Countess matters

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June 2018

NHS70 special

The One Show at the Countess 02 Unsung Hero Award

03 Spotlight On‌ Chairman Sir Duncan Nichol

10 GDPR at the Countess

Page 7

Third-generation nurse Page 06

Contents

04 History of health care in Chester

08 & 09 Nurses’ Day

10 Appointment Reminder Service

How can you celebrate NHS70?

There are a number of ways to get involved with the many celebrations being planned both locally and nationally for the NHS’ 70th birthday on 5 July 1948.

Did you know?

Welcome

FROM YOUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE Six years ago our NHS was showcased in front of the entire world during the unforgettable opening ceremony for London 2012.

It was a celebration of the health service’s heritage and how it remains an integral part of what it means to be British.

Aneurin Bevan, founder of the NHS, once said: “The NHS will last as long as there are folk left with faith to fight for it.”

Well that ceremony showed it remains a national treasure and as the NHS celebrates its 70th birthday it is also a time to look forward with optimism at what the future will bring.

There has been a lot said about the pressures the health service is currently experiencing, but there is a strong determination to find a solution and lay the foundations for another 70 years of clinical excellence.

I hope our community will join us in marking this platinum anniversary, either by joining the Big7tea, visiting our resident historical expert Virginia Jordan in the library or just enjoying this issue of Countess Matters.

Health Secretary Aneurin Bevan launched the NHS at Park Hospital in Manchester (now known as Trafford General Hospital), bringing healthcare professionals under one umbrella organisation for the first time providing services free for all at the point of delivery.

Given the NHS’ special place in the lives of many, looking after everyone in the UK from cradle to grave since its creation, this is being reflected with huge ceremonies at Westminster Abbey and York Minster on 5 July.

Members of the public can show support for NHS charities by getting involved with the ‘Big7tea’ initiative, encouraging people to get together over a cup of tea to celebrate and raise funds for the NHS

At the Countess on the actual NHS70 anniversary Professor Terence Wardle is hosting what is set to be a special lecture looking back at the history of the health service. There is more information on this and other activities happening in the library on page 4.

Later in the year on 21 October there will also be a service at Chester Cathedral for the NHS in West Cheshire.

Did you know?

British rock ‘n roll royalty Robert Plant and Ozzy Osbourne were born in the first six months of the NHS being in place.

Unsung hero award success Helen Nowakowska, Business Performance Manager in Diagnostics and Infrastructure Division, scooped an NHS Unsung Hero Award in a glitzy ceremony in Manchester on 23 February.

Helen, who has worked for the Countess for 12 years, won The Leader of the Year Award in the Corporate Functions category, having been nominated by former Reception Co-ordinator Hayley Carey.

The Unsung Hero Awards are an

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on 5 July. There is more information on this, including ways people can support the Countess Charity on page 11.

annual event designed to recognise the invaluable contribution made by nonmedical and non-clinical staff.

“It was a lovely occasion because I never expected to win! It was a very special moment because it was Hayley who nominated me and I worked with her for many years,” Helen said. “It always means more when it comes from colleagues and the event itself was also a great opportunity to meet people from other hospitals in the same roles.”

Spotlight on…

Chairman Sir Duncan Nichol Bradford-born Sir Duncan Nichol has been associated with the NHS for more than 50 years, having worked his way up to becoming the NHS Chief Executive during a time of fundamental reform under then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Sir Duncan has been Chairman at the Countess for six years and is uniquely placed to reflect on the NHS in its 70th year and beyond…

Can you remember what first made you want to join the NHS? I was seven years old when the health service was created and two years later I contracted a serious illness. It was only some years later when I was thinking about what to do for a job that it dawned on me that if the health service hadn’t been free at the point of care when I needed it then life might have been very different. A career in the health service just felt like the right thing to do, so it took off from there and I started in 1963.

What were the high points in your career?

I spent the first 20 years in administrative roles in teaching hospitals that felt very much like islands of excellence competing on the grounds of clinical standing, not market style principles.

The job which gave me the most satisfaction was as Chief Executive at Salford, working with outstanding clinicians to shift the ‘Crown of Excellence’ from Manchester Royal to Salford. I was appointed NHS Chief Executive in 1989 and the first from within the NHS.

“With the sword still in her hand hovering over my shoulder, she said: “I’m very pleased to hear that.” It wasn’t the conversation I expected!”

What was it like taking on such an important role?

It was a lot of pressure. The Prime Minister was obviously very intimidating – she’s not calling a meeting to pat you on the back, she’s calling a meeting to ask: “What’s going on?” I was the accountable officer for the NHS which meant I had to appear regularly in front of the public accounts committee and if you think meeting Mrs Thatcher was intimidating, meeting them was just as much if not more so.

How proud are you for being involved with the NHS for so long?

There isn’t a job anywhere that has the level of reward and satisfaction of working with the kind of people we work with.

I’m very proud of my involvement and obviously proud that I was honoured for it.

pleased to hear that.” It wasn’t the conversation I expected!

How difficult do you think hospital management is now? How do you think the Countess is doing?

We’re under the kind of pressure I haven’t seen before, at our front door, in terms of the flow of patients through the hospital and in discharging patients who don’t need to be still in our care. However, I do think here at the Countess and Ellesmere Port we’re doing a great job against overwhelming odds, at the expense of trading too heavily on the good will of our staff.

What do you think the future holds for the NHS? I can’t see a health service that isn’t founded on the principle of free access to care at the point of delivery – those same ideals that first drew me towards the NHS. But we do need a re-fit around resources together with a more joined up approach bringing health and social care together, pooling expertise, experience and resources. We’re on that journey in West Cheshire and I hope we succeed for the sake of the people we serve.

What was that like?

I got my knighthood whilst I was Chief Executive and the Queen said to me “I hear your minded to close St Thomas’ Hospital” and I said: “No maam, I don’t think that’s going to happen.” And so, with the sword still in her hand hovering over my shoulder, she said: “I’m very

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LOOKING BACK AT HEALTH CARE IN CHESTER Chester is a city that boasts a famously proud past as a Roman stronghold and there are examples of it being an historic centre of medical excellence as well.

Acting Librarian Virginia Jordan has been delving into what medicine has looked like in Chester, from medical assistants riding on horseback into battle as part of Roman armies to the opening of the Countess.

“I’m fascinated by history and it’s been amazing to walk around the hospital and look at things in a different way,” she said.

“In the hospital’s Chester Royal Infirmary garden there is a stone that dates back to the midsaxon period from the Roodee that is believed to have been donated by Dr John Haygarth, who is possibly Chester’s most famous surgeon. Most people would walk past it and probably not even think about where it came from, but there is a story behind everything.”

Dr John Haygarth’s work to treat fever patients and

prevent smallpox was seen as revolutionary towards the end of the 18th century, which is why a ward at the Royal Infirmary was named after him. His name was also given to the ‘Haygarth Medal’, an award which was given out to the best student nurses at Chester Royal Infirmary.

Dr Haygarth’s legacy, which also included the introduction of the first ever fever nurses, continues to this day with the Haygarth Medal still being awarded to nurses at the Countess and the most recent extension to the hospital has also been named after him.

The Royal Infirmary eventually closed its doors in 1994, after more than a century treating the people of Chester, as services in the area were brought together at the Liverpool Road site.

Originally it was known as West

Cheshire Hospital before the name changed to the Countess of Chester Hospital following a visit from Princess Diana in 1984.

What struck Virginia during her research was how from the Victorian era, when she started to see the roots of the first systemic approach to healthcare, to now, some things never changed.

“We always say that we are proud of how the doctors, nurses and non-clinical staff work to maintain the Trust. But what caught my attention is that has happened since day one,” she said. “Everybody has always worked here to make things better, to improve things and there have been bad times and there have been good times but it’s always been a celebration of how much work people have put into the Trust to get where we are.”

Dr John Haygarth

History of Medicine lecture on 5 July If you are interested in finding out more about how medicine has progressed in Chester, Professor Terence Wardle is presenting a lecture in our Education and Training Centre on the 5 July anniversary. For more information and to book a place please contact the Education and Training Centre Library by emailing: edtc.libraryservices@nhs.net

The stone from the Roodee

Virginia’s display of historical artefacts in the library

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Countess timeline 1968 – West Cheshire Hospital: It was decided that a new purposebuilt site on Liverpool Road would bring the acute services in the city together on one site

1973 – Construction begins on

the main hospital building at the Liverpool Road site

1984 – West Cheshire Hospital is

renamed the Countess of Chester Hospital by Princess Diana during a visit on 30 May

1999 – Coronary Care Unit opened on 20 October by the Duke of Westminster

2004 – The Countess of Chester

becomes an NHS Foundation Trust

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1971-72 – Phase one of services moving over to the new site saw Maternity Ward at the City Hospital transfer to what is now the Women’s and Children’s building

1983 – Several surgical departments move from the Royal Infirmary and the Emergency Department opens

Deryck served with the Irish Guards Armoured Division and received the Legion of Honour award three years ago as part of celebrations to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the campaign in Normandy.

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2003 – Health Minister Alan Milburn opens the new Jubilee Day Surgery Centre

Then French president Francois Hollande decided to give the award to a number of veterans from the D-Day landings for services during the liberation of France in 1944. Having been just 19 at the time, Deryck remembers his time as a gunner in Sherman tanks with great pride and his stories have proven popular with everybody on the Intermediate Care Unit.

2007 – West Cheshire Postgraduate Medical Centre merged into new Education and Training Centre and the Medical Library becomes a Multidisciplinary Library

“We’ve loved hearing Deryck’s stories on the ward,” Ward Manager Deborah Conwell said. “As we move further into the 21st century we will meet fewer and fewer veterans from the second world war, so I think it is great that our staff get to speak to Deryck and hear about his experiences first hand. He even brought in his medals to show everyone!”

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2015 – The hospital launches free

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2016 – CQC rates Trust as ‘Good’

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2018 – Countess features

2017 – Trust opens a new Co-ordination Centre

Chester war veteran Deryck, 92, has been regaling staff and patients at the Countess of Chester Hospital with stories from his experiences in the D-Day landings.

1993 – The remaining departments from the Chester Royal Infirmary move to the new site ahead of the Royal Infirmary closing the following year

2010 - Ellesmere Port Hospital, a rehabilitation unit with 86 beds, moves under the management of Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

wifi for patients and staff

War hero’s stories lift spirits on the ward

2014 – Duchess of Cornwall Camilla Parker-Bowles opens the Haygarth Building

on BBC during The One Show for NHS70

Deryck has been back to Normandy numerous times, recalling how great it was each time and how friendly and grateful the locals are for what he and his fellow soldiers did.

Four years after Deryck fought for Queen and country the NHS was born.

This year as everyone connected with the health service celebrates its 70th birthday there will be activities throughout the year showcasing the past, present and future of the NHS. As someone who has seen the NHS from its humble origins to the national treasure it is today, Deryck said: “Like all people I was delighted to see the introduction of the NHS. It’s something every working man has always cherished.”

Deborah added: “We’re all immensely proud to be working as part of our NHS, but hearing someone like Deryck speak and knowing how much he appreciates the service really drills home how important it is.”

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following in familiar footsteps Nursing is a family business for Jo Clinical Site Co-ordinator Jo Cobden finds it hard to pinpoint the exact moment she decided a nursing career was for her, having spent so much of her life surrounded by it.

Jo’s grandma Gladys worked for first aid shelters during the Second World War and her mother Audrey qualified as a nurse in 1949 before going on to be a sister on a children’s ward in Birkenhead. So Jo followed their example and became a thirdgeneration nurse, starting her own nurse training in Chester in 1984.

delivery of that care has been exciting.”

Audrey didn’t push Jo towards a nursing career, but she was so happy when Jo passed her exams and became a staff nurse.

“They were very proud of me on my graduation day,” Jo said. “I remember my mum at the ceremony and it meant so much to her.”

Jo quickly found that nursing gave her a second family to be part of as she formed very close bonds with the other student nurses as they started working across Chester, including the old Royal Infirmary and City Hospital.

“It’s amazing to think about everything that has changed since my Grandma first started working as a nurse to the NHS of today.”

“Being a nurse is such a big part of my life. It’s hard to remember the moment I decided to follow in my Grandma and Mum’s footsteps,” Jo said. “With it being NHS70 this year it’s amazing to think about everything that has changed since my Grandma first started working as a nurse to the NHS of today.”

She added: “Even in my career the changes have been huge. Medical advances and technology have progressed rapidly and to play a small part in the

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Jo has worked in Chester for her entire career and has remained close friends with colleagues like Ward Manager Ali Broster who was also part of the class of July ’84.

“When we started we were all away from home for the first time and after two weeks you were on a ward,” Jo said. “We were never supernumerary.

We worked as part of the team from day one. Our shared experiences created such strong bonds which is why we are

all still close to this day.”

With her 34 years of experience as a nurse and insight as a Clinical Site Coordinator now managing patient flow throughout the hospital, she is convinced that although the profession has changed beyond almost all recognition she wouldn’t change a thing.

“I love being a nurse at the Countess because every day is still different. I would recommend nursing to anyone,” Jo said.

Angela Rippon and The One Show visit the Countess British broadcasting legend Angela Rippon led a film crew from The One Show around the hospital earlier this year as the BBC show launched their own ‘Thank You’ patient appreciation awards for NHS70.

The feature, which aired on Monday 5 March, involved interviews with several members of staff and patients discussing their care, covering areas such as Intensive Care, the Emergency Department, the Renal Unit and Maternity.

Angela particularly enjoyed meeting porter Robin Blythin as he drove the ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ food cart over the bridge, telling her how children at the hospital sometimes call him the “fat controller”!

Another highlight was Angela reuniting Ward Manager Julie Dixon and Maggie Sansby almost eight months after Julie helped to arrange Maggie’s wedding to Bill, who was a patient on her ward, in just a few days. Reflecting on the wedding day, which even had Bill’s dog Bailey as ‘dog of

honour’, was emotional for both Maggie and Julie as Angela encouraged them to hug not once, but twice.

What was especially heart-warming for the staff at the hospital was that people like Maggie and many other former patients gave up their free time to come into the hospital and take part in the filming.

This kind of support is never surprising given how generous and passionate the community of Chester can be about the Countess, but it is also never taken for granted and always appreciated.

Angela, who is a patron of the Patient Association, and the BBC team were hugely impressed by the way patients, staff and visitors made them feel so welcome across the hospital on the day.

Producer Sarah Mann said: “We had a fantastic day filming at the Countess of Chester, all the staff made us feel so welcome and we really appreciated people taking time out of their very busy days to talk to us. Thanks so much to

everyone involved.”

Programme Director for Women & Children’s services Linda Fellowes, who helped to organise the day’s filming, said: “It was a fabulous opportunity to showcase the Trust on a national scale and I was so proud to see so many people respond at such short notice to show the best of Team Countess.”

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Ice Cream Farm delivery for Che Midwives at the Countess of Chester Hospital enjoyed a special delivery of their own over the early May Bank Holiday weekend as The Ice Cream Farm donated delicious frozen treats for them to enjoy on International Day of the Midwife 2018.

Nurses’ Day at the Countess Nurses’ Day is always something everyone associated with the NHS looks forward to every year in May. It’s a chance to say thank you to the nursing teams who perform such a crucial role in the clinical management and care of patients.

At the Countess the senior nursing team marked the occasion by decorating the main reception and corridor with balloons, bunting and a stand giving visitors a chance to write down what they love about nursing. With comments such as “they are caring”, “they make you feel safe” and “compassionate” it was a perfect celebration of what is one of the most trusted and valued staff groups in the NHS. Nurses at the hospital were also given the chance to complete a quiz for the chance to win a spa day at the nearby Mollington Banastre Hotel & Spa, while the senior nursing team – led by Director of Nursing and Quality Alison Kelly – visited all the wards to hand out cupcakes and other sweets to give nurses a small token of appreciation for all they do.

In a blog about Nurses’ Day Alison highlighted that a simple thank you, or any kind of recognition can go a long way, highlighting how easy it can be for nurses working long shifts in tough circumstances to lose sight of how valued they are by patients, relatives and colleagues alike.

“When you are on a busy ward, theatre or clinic every day the routine of providing consistent, high quality care provides very little time for reflection,” she wrote. “That’s why it’s important on occasions like Nurses’ Day – and International Day of the Midwife – that we all take at least a moment to celebrate our contribution to the community we serve.”

As the NHS celebrates its 70th year Nurses’ Day was also an opportunity to reflect on how far nursing has progressed as a career in that time – now covering a wide variety of roles including registered nurses, matrons, clinical site co-ordinators, nursing assistants, nursing practitioners, advanced nursing practitioners and clinical nurse specialists.

“Our work has always been at the forefront of the NHS and it always will be,” Alison added. “When you become a nurse, you are not only starting out on a promising career, you are joining one of the most trusted professions in the world. It is a job where no two days are the same and the possibilities for development are endless.”

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Midwife Amy Oppermann contacted the family-run confectionary to see if they were interested in supporting the maternity unit, but she was amazed by the response as they offered to give more than 30 free tubs of ice cream to be shared between staff.

“This is such a lovely gesture and it gave all of us a huge lift on International Day of the Midwife,” Amy said. “We’re already lucky enough to be doing one of the best jobs in the world, but knowing we have such strong support from our local community just makes it even better.”

International Day of the Midwife is an annual global celebration of all the work midwifery teams do to support expectant families throughout pregnancy, during labour and beyond.

It has been running since the early 1990s and this year’s celebration took place on Saturday 5 May.

Quiet room opens in A new quiet room has opened in the Spiritual Care Centre, providing a closed off area with increased privacy for patients, staff and visitors.

The room, which has been funded by money donated from the annual Trees of Life ceremony, has been designed for anyone in the hospital who needs a quiet space to reflect, seek advice or simply

m’s special ester midwives Ice Cream Farm Managing Director Jonathan Fell was keen to show his appreciation after his own experiences with the midwifery team at the Countess.

“Both of my children were born at the Countess and the dedication, compassion and professionalism shown by the midwives left a big impression on me and my family,” Jonathan said. “They all do an amazing job and when the opportunity came to give something back I was delighted to do so. I hope the teams at the hospital enjoyed their refreshing ice cream on what turned out to be a very hot weekend!”

End PJ Paralysis Nurses and therapists at the Countess are backing a campaign to ‘End PJ Paralysis’, encouraging patients in hospital to get dressed and start moving whenever possible.

The initiative has been created to change the culture of patients automatically spending long periods in their hospital beds in pyjamas when there is no medical reason to.

Spiritual Care Centre have a cup of tea.

As part of the improvements to the chapel a new fixed glass divide with double doors also provides increased privacy from the often noisy main corridor.

John Kingsley, Head of Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Services, said: “The Spiritual Care Centre is here for everyone and we’re very proud to be able to offer a quiet space like this. I can’t thank the Countess Charity enough for all their support with this project and the generous donations that made it all possible.”

Director of Corporate and Legal Services Stephen Cross added: “Following our recent CQC inspection we surveyed people who use the Spiritual Care Centre, with many of them requesting facilities to increase privacy and dignity. I hope having this place for quiet reflection and contemplation makes a massive difference to patients, staff and visitors at the hospital.”

Director of Nursing and Quality Alison Kelly said: “When people come to hospital they can naturally slip into ‘patient mode’ and even those who are mobile can end up staying in their beds. We want to help people get back to normality as soon as possible by getting up, dressed and experiencing the confidence boost that comes along with that.”

Why is this an issue?

• Seven days of bed rest results in 10% of muscle loss • A 50% increase in walking while in hospital is associated with a 6% shorter length of stay

A Chester grandfather who recently spent time in hospital after a fall perfectly summed up the spirit behind End PJ Paralysis by making sure he got dressed every day.

Colin Massey, who was recently discharged in time to celebrate his 80th birthday, said: “It’s as refreshing to get up and get out of your pyjamas as it is to get up and have a wash. It freshens you up and makes you feel better.”

As part of the campaign patients and their families are being asked to bring in clothes to the hospital as an alternative to hospital gowns or pyjamas. Officially the national campaign is running through to 26 June, but at the Countess the hope is it will continue indefinitely given the benefits that can be seen for patient recoveries.

Occupational Therapist Lucy Ogden said: “The lift Colin feels from getting dressed is exactly why it is so important to support the End PJ Paralysis campaign. Getting patients to wear their own clothes and mobilise as soon as it is safe to do so makes it easier for us to assess how their recovery is going. These might seem like simple tasks, but starting to do these basic daily routines again can be a significant step towards being able to go home from hospital sooner.”

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New regulation increases protection of personal date A new EU regulation has come into effect that updates the way organisations handle people’s personal information.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) employers in both the public and private sectors have more responsibility to ensure personal data is protected and necessary, with the risk of significant penalties for non-compliance.

For NHS Trusts like the Countess, which already have stringent practices in place for access to medical records, the main considerations will centre on areas such as recruitment, fundraising, research and membership with people being asked to ‘opt in’ for their details to be kept on file.

Information covered by GDPR covers anything that can directly or indirectly identify individuals, including a name, photo, email address, social media posts, bank details or medical history.

Director of Legal and Corporate Services Stephen Cross, who is taking on the role of Data Protection Officer for the Trust as part of the new regulation, said: “This new legislation updates a directive from more than 20 years ago, during which time the internet has transformed both our daily lives and the personal data we share. GDPR is necessary to bring organisations up to speed with that changed landscape.

“In the NHS we are fortunate that we already have measures in place to protect sensitive information on a large scale so for us we just have to extend that into a few new areas.”

New appointment reminder service A new appointment reminder service is now operating at the Countess of Chester Hospital, giving patients seven days advanced warning prior to their appointments.

concerned when appointments go unused and with this advanced warning system it gives us the chance to book other patients in if circumstances change, improving the efficiency of the service for everyone.”

Everyone attending clinics will receive a text reminder to a mobile or an automated call to their landline a week before they are due to come to hospital.

With this new system it is important that patients’ contact details at the hospital are kept up to date so people are asked to update their information if necessary the next time they have a GP or hospital appointment. They can also select whether they would rather receive the reminders on a mobile, landline or opt out altogether.

Patients will be given the option to confirm, rebook or cancel the appointment if it is no longer needed. This new seven-day window gives the appointments and admin teams at the hospital an opportunity to reallocate empty appointments in the event of a cancellation, potentially reducing waiting times for some patients.

This new service is in addition to the traditional letters which patients will continue to receive in the first instance when they are assigned an appointment.

The previous text reminder system was only a one-way process that did not give patients the chance to either rebook or cancel their appointments. Everyone who confirms or does not reply to the original message will also receive a second reminder of the appointment two days before.

On average the Countess loses 800 new and 2,000 follow-up appointments a month to patients who do not attend. With every new appointment costing an average of £160 and follow-ups costing an average of £78, that means missed appointments at the hospital can cost up to £284,000 a month.

Business Performance Manager Diagnostics and Infrastructure Division Helen Nowakowska said: “It is such a waste to all

New Fruit and Veg stall outside main entrance Sue Hodkinson, Executive Director of People and Organisational Development, was delighted to welcome our new fruit and veg traders outside the hospital.

They will be outside main reception on Mondays and Fridays selling high quality produce that has been sourced locally where possible.

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Celebrate the 70th birthday of the NHS on 5th July 2018 with a Big7tea!

We think more tea is drunk at The Countess than anywhere else in Chester!

With our patients, staff and visitors we drink over 25 thousand cups of tea or coffee a week!

The NHS Big7tea is a chance for people up and down the country to come together and celebrate 70 years of the NHS. And what better way to do this than with a cup of tea? Tea brings us all together. It breaks down social boundaries and, like the NHS and NHS charities, is a symbol of comfort and community.

Lesley Woodhead, Head of Fundraising at The Countess says: “To help us celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the NHS we are inviting you to have tea (and cake!) with friends, neighbours or work colleagues and make a donation in celebration to The Countess Charity.

“Already we have great support from organisations large and small. Already committing to supporting their local hospital are - Ellis & Co, Medicash, Sanctuary Care, Hillyer McKeown, Chrysalis Recruitment, Puddle Ducks, Waterbabies, Hays Travel, Botanist, Olive Tree Brasserie, Townhouse, 1539, The Chester Grosvenor, Goodwins, Asda, St David’s Hotel, Woodfall School and many Girl Guides, Brownies and Cubs.

“Tea parties large or small during 2018 will help us raise money to support your local hospital and join in the celebrations.

“At some point in our lives we all need the NHS – let’s celebrate what we have and say thank you for care given to ourselves or our friends and family.”

• 2 chairs for the Critical Care Unit to allow patients to sit out of bed

Can you get your group involved?

• Refurbishment of Poppy Lounge at Ellesmere Port for patients and families

Please message us on Facebook - The Countess Charity, email emma.boylan1@ nhs.net or visit www.nhsbig7tea.co.uk for fundraising support and a fundraising pack or call in to our office in the main reception at The Countess.

Recent purchases from donations include -

• 4 Lollypop privacy signs for Outpatient Departments

• 10 Nebulisers for the Cardio Respiratory Vascular Unit • A Garden and therapy equipment for the Stroke Ward • Christmas presents for inpatients

• An Ultrasound Scanner for the Breast Unit • 2 Kidney Dialysis Machines • For the Human Milk Bank – a pasteuriser, freezers and a defrost fridge

STOP PRESS

Very special Big7tea!

We have a very special Big7tea planned at a great location on Tuesday 17th July.

Tickets £10. Please call the office on 01244 366240 or email angie.lopez@nhs.net

On the big day!

On 5 July we will be welcoming musicians funded by ‘Music in Hospitals’ to perform on wards 50 and 51 and in the main reception.

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Governors’ News

APPRENTICE AWARDS Governor Peter Folwell was struck by how far apprenticeships have come after attending an awards ceremony for the current crop of young stars making an impression at the Countess.

With nine apprentices from both clinical and office areas being recognised, it got Peter thinking about the wide variety of options

now available to school leavers.

“When I started as an apprentice toolmaker in the mid-sixties the only type of apprenticeships available were in engineering,” he said. “The range of opportunities that exist today were unheard of then.”

The basic principles of Peter’s apprenticeship

are still consistent today though, with a mix of classroom-based learning and on-the-job experience, and he thinks it’s a great foundation for a strong career having progressed to being a production engineer, factory manager and eventually a management consultant himself.

“Looking back it all started with the apprenticeship,” he said. “It provided me with a solid foundation that was a good mixture of practical on-the-job training and continuing education.”

Peter added: “It was amazing to meet the apprentice award winners at the Countess, seeing the optimism they have as they take their first steps on a rewarding career. I wish them all the best for the future.”

Governor Ward Rounds Governors are starting regular visits of the wards around the hospital, speaking to staff, patients and visitors about their experiences.

Look out for further coverage of this in the next issue.

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