Oxlease Exchange (summer 2016)

OxleasExchange.com

Summer 2016

Holbrook ward re-opens

With Welcome by Estelle Frost

Contents

Page 12 - 13

Your health Heart care Page 2

oxleas.nhs.uk

News Cancer Centre Page 4

Membership Wellbeing event Page 9

Governors Richard Diment Page 10

Staff news CQC visit Page 19

Focus on ECT Team Page 24

Welcome

By Estelle Frost

It is a great pleasure to write the welcome to this edition of Oxleas Exchange.

I am bursting with pride about the recent refurbishment and re-opening of our dementia centre of excellence, Holbrook ward in the Woodlands Unit on our Queen Mary’s Hospital site, and so jumped at this chance to raise the profile of the work we do to improve the lives of people with dementia.

Undoubtedly, dementia is one of the greatest challenges of our day, in particular for health and social care services. The foremost challenge is to increase public awareness of the risk factors and support people to improve their overall wellbeing which in turn reduces the likelihood of developing the disease.

“We aim to help our clients feel safe and contented...”

In Oxleas, we work hard in partnership with colleagues in the statutory and voluntary sectors, often with great success, to enable the thousands of people in our boroughs with dementia to live well. Our memory services and Older People Community Mental Health Teams on average work with up to 3,000 people with dementia and their families at any one time. We hear inspiring stories about the way our teams and services help people and their carers to improve their quality of life.

But sadly some people become so affected and distressed by the disease that they may need an acute mental health admission for assessment and treatment. This is where Holbrook comes in, as most people are admitted once carers, hospitals or care homes can no longer manage their care.

Our patients have not had an easy ride and we absolutely owe them the very best service and experience that we can provide. We cannot cure their disease but now we can offer high quality support services to ease the way, from our excellent memory services to our new and modern ward at Holbrook where we aim to help our clients feel safe and contented, whilst we work with them and their carers/families to understand and reduce their distress.

Some of you may have attended the conference we ran to celebrate the progress made in dementia care and to think together with partners about what still needs to be done. We will be refreshing and re-launching our dementia strategy for 2017.

In the meantime, I hope any of you who can spare the time to promote a dementia-friendly society will visit the website below. It’s an Alzheimer’s Society initiative that gives insight into what it is like to live with dementia and how to get involved.

It only takes a few minutes - I promise! dementiafriends.org.uk/register-digital-friend I hope you enjoy our latest edition of Oxleas Exchange and hope that together we can continue to improve the services we provide.

Estelle Frost Director Older People’s Mental Health Services

Contents 2

Your health

4

Queen Mary’s cancer centre opening soon

5

HeadScape update

6

Making our buildings child-friendly

8

Chronic knee pain – the way forward

9

Membership

10 Governors 14 Patient feedback 18 Staff rate trust as one of the best 22 Meet our new Chairman 24 Focus on

Now available as an online interactive magazine.

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Editorial team contact info: Email communications@oxleas.nhs.uk Call 01322 625754 Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust Communications Pinewood House Pinewood Place Dartford Kent DA2 7WG oxleas.nhs.uk

Farewell to our outgoing Chief Executive Stephen Firn A fond farewell has been said to our outgoing Chief Executive, Stephen Firn, who has retired after more than 20 years’ service with Oxleas.

Stephen announced in January that he would officially retire on 31 March. His decision followed a family illness and bereavement.

Stephen joined Oxleas in March 1996 as Director of Nursing and Quality. In 2000 he became Director of Strategy and Forensics and in 2002 he was appointed as Chief Executive and has tirelessly led the trust since then, overseeing many changes along the way.

Following his retirement from Oxleas, Stephen has accepted a part-time role with NHS England which will give him the chance to spend more time with his children.

The recruitment process for a new Chief Executive is under way and will be completed in June. Until then, Ben Travis will continue as Acting Chief Executive. This process will involve our governors, including those representing staff and service users.

He said: “It has been both a privilege and an honour to be Chief Executive of this fantastic organisation for the last 14 years. Throughout this time I have been constantly amazed and inspired by the dedication and professionalism of colleagues across our services.”

Oxleas Chair, Andy Trotter, said: “Stephen has been an outstanding Chief Executive and will be greatly missed by everyone. Ever since I have been at Oxleas, people in the trust and from other trusts and partners, have been universal in their praise for Stephen and the leadership that he has shown in his role as Chief Executive.”

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Your health matters

A year after his heart transplant Raja tells us he is now fighting fit

Following surgery in March 2015, Raja Rajendran was put in touch with Bexley Cardiac Rehabilitation Team to help manage his rehabilitation and return to health.

Physiotherapists and district nurses also had a hand in his care and recovery and Raja credits them all with turning his life around and helping him to get back to fitness.

Here, he takes us through his story.

“I had a heart transplant at Papworth Hospital and while there the physiotherapy team helped me with exercise sessions and visits to the gym. This helped me to slowly adjust to regaining my mobility and independence. Before discharge, they explained about the cardiac rehabilitation programme and referred me to the Bexley Cardiac Rehabilitation Team.

“While preparing me for discharge home, they explained the need to continue exercises at home and participate in the cardiac rehabilitation programme for post-transplant recovery.

“Oxleas gave me valuable guidance, help and support for recovery. Therapists provided me with need-based services in a professional manner. Their 2

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communication was clear and service was with a smile, which put me at ease. It has improved my life.

“Post-transplant recovery is very complicated. It needs ongoing surveillance for rejection and intensive treatment as an outpatient.

At a very crucial time, Oxleas stepped in and helped in my recovery and improved my health and wellbeing.

“I was placed on its ‘cardiac rehabilitation programme’ and given a welcome pack and a home visit from a Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist Nurse.

Her visit gave me comfort and confidence. She assessed my case, gave a demonstration on home exercises and provided me with useful information.

Sores on both my heels, which had developed during my hospital stay, were noticed and treatment arranged very

quickly. District nurses visited me at regular intervals to provide medication and this timely intervention helped me to attend the exercise sessions.

“The cardiac rehabilitation team encouraged me to attend the exercise sessions and also arranged my transport. At the start of every session, my recovery progress was reviewed and I was offered advice on how to improve my wellbeing. This motivated me to be confident and raised my hope for a good recovery. The team’s approach encouraged me to continue doing exercises at home.

“I was offered valuable advice and useful information on opportunities available for help in recovery after completion of the exercise programme. They encouraged me to join cardiac groups like ‘Ace of Hearts’, attend exercise classes taken

by BACPR qualified exercise

instructors and ‘education sessions’ organised by Oxleas.

My confidence level has increased because of the team’s assurance to keep in touch and provide help in managing my ongoing recovery.

“Oxleas helped me in setting a goal for the future and drawing a plan for management of my recovery. They referred me for the Exercise Referral Scheme, which I did in September. Their motivation has encouraged me to continue doing exercises at home by going for regular brisk walks.”

Raja is now a governor for our learning disabilities services.

Keep your heart healthy Poor diet, lack of exercise and smoking are the main causes of heart disease. Here are the top 10 tips from the NHS on how to keep your heart healthy.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Give up smoking Get active Manage your weight Eat more fibre Cut down on saturated fat Get your 5-a-day Cut down on salt Eat fish Drink less alcohol Read the food label

High praise for cardiac team Our cardiac team has been highlighted by the Institute of Integrated Care as an example of best practice.

The team, based at Goldie Leigh Hospital, Abbey Wood, provides rehab to people who have suffered a heart attack within the last six months.

It was the team’s collaboration with Healthwise, a GP referral scheme, that was highlighted.

The scheme provides support through a multi-disciplinary team at the Waterfront Leisure Centre in Woolwich.

Within five days of referral, a specialist cardiac nurse makes contact with the patient and discusses their options.

The patient meets a specialist cardiac nurse and an exercise specialist. The nurse discusses their recent event, carries out an examination, reviews their medications and answers any questions they may have.

The exercise specialist explains the benefits of exercise, intensities at which to exercise and conducts an exercise test.

An eight-session exercise programme is then offered to the patient, supported by Healthwise staff.

Healthwise is a GP referral scheme run by ‘Better – GLL’, the operator of the Waterfront Leisure Centre. Healthwise forms part of a multi-disciplinary team providing instructor support as part of the programme. This provides a smooth transition from the programme to followup Healthwise sessions to enable patients to remain physically active within a safe and effective environment.

The majority of patients who go through the rehab programme have never exercised regularly.

Stepping into an environment alien to them, coupled with any anxiety they may have related to their recent cardiac event, is a very daunting experience. It’s believed that holding treatment in a less formal environment makes for an easier step.

If a patient expresses an interest in continuing to exercise in a gym environment, the Community Cardiac Rehabilitation Service completes a referral form to Healthwise detailing the patient’s cardiac history. Healthwise aims to contact the individual within two weeks to arrange an initial appointment.

The collaboration between the Cardiac Rehab Team and Healthwise has shown to be invaluable. The use of the facilities and staff maintain a continuity of care.

www.nhs.uk/livewell/ healthyhearts OxleasExchange.com

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Radiotherapy machines arrive at new Cancer Centre Two state-of-the-art machines which will for the first time provide radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients in outer south east London, have been delivered to the new Cancer Centre at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup.

When the new centre opens, most patients will no longer have to travel into central London for radiotherapy and chemotherapy because Guy’s and St Thomas’ staff will provide these treatments at Queen Mary’s.

This is a significant milestone in our £30 million redevelopment of the Queen Mary’s site. The linear accelerators, which weigh in at 10 tonnes each, arrived at the Cancer Centre construction site on 4 April. It is due to open to patients this summer.

The Cancer Centre will include not only the two new linear accelerator machines for radiotherapy treatment but also chemotherapy treatment facilities and a new Dimbleby Macmillan Support Centre, an information and supportive care

service for cancer patients and their families.

Limited chemotherapy is already provided at Queen Mary’s but more patients will be able to have treatment when the new centre opens with radiotherapy available in outer south east London for the first time.

June Casson, 67, a retired civil servant from Downham, chairs the Patient Reference Group which has shaped the new Cancer Centre.

Community award for our partners Charlton Athletic Community Trust Congratulations to Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) after winning the Community Club of the Year at the Football League Awards.

CACT was recognised as the Football League club community scheme that best demonstrates success at engaging with the local community over the last year.

We have a strong partnership with CACT through our Early Intervention programme which works with people who have recently been diagnosed with 4

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psychosis. Carl Krauhaus, CACT’s Head of Disability and Mental Health, is also one of our partnership governors.

An essential part of CACT’s success is due to it’s work to improve health in Greenwich through the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s health initiatives including Greenwich Get Active, a programme to help individuals get active and feel better, Kick the Habit; free advice for people trying to stop smoking, and a Health Improvement Call Centre.

CACT was also re-commissioned to deliver the Royal Borough of Greenwich Youth Service called Young Greenwich, after being the first football charity to run a council’s youth service in 2012.

CACT also featured in other accolades including the London Healthy Charter Workplace Award, a framework that recognises and rewards employers for investing in workplace health and wellbeing, and the Football for Good

She said: “My cancer treatment 11 years ago included daily radiotherapy treatment at St Thomas’ Hospital. I was travelling up to 90 minutes each way every day for treatment. The new Cancer Centre is really needed by patients in Bexley and the surrounding areas because radiotherapy is tiring and traumatic enough without commuting into central London for treatment.”

Ben Travis, our Chief Executive added: “The new Cancer Centre is part of our plans to develop Queen Mary’s into a vibrant, modern hub for healthcare for the local community. This is one step in an exciting journey for the hospital.”

Disability Rights Award that acknowledged CACT for using football to promote the inclusion and participation of disabled adults and children.

HeadScape – helping young people identify early mental ill health HeadScape is our interactive and informative website, designed for young people, by young people.

It gives them a trusted website to use for information, to check how they feel and even take a test to find out if they need help with their emotions.

HeadScape is a free, ‘one stop’ source of self-help about a range of mental health issues and conditions for young people to browse at leisure.

Since HeadScape launched, the sites have been visited over 12,000 times. Of these, 62% are aged between 13 to 15 years.

The top 5 topics being looked up on the sites were:

CACT had previously won the Beyond Sport Sports Team of the Year in 2014 and Football League Community Club of the Year in 2013 and 2009.

Anxiety Depression Autism Spectrum Disorder Self-harm Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

CEO Jason Morgan said: “This is a fantastic achievement.

The last 12 months has seen us achieve so much and that’s down to all staff running our programmes, our partners, sponsors and patrons that invest into our work and the community that actively supports and engages with us every day.”

The site also includes information on a wide range of emotions, feelings and behaviours, including eating disorders, phobias, bullying, depression, gender and anger issues – there are more than 30 conditions in total on the site.

Uniquely, HeadScape offers young people the opportunity to independently undertake a mental health screening questionnaire, which when completed, provides individually tailored advice and information.

Depending on the results, the site can offer young people living in Bexley and Greenwich the option to self-refer directly into their local Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services.

Designed to work on tablets, smart phones and computers, the site is simple to use and highly visual with well-designed, colourcoded emoticons to represent feelings and situations.

Around 30% of visitors are accessing the site via a mobile phone or tablet. HeadScape is in the top two listings when you search the name.

Find your HeadScape at:

headscapebexley.co.uk headscapegreenwich.co.uk

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Learning from other parts of the NHS Newham

Dagenham

Havering River Thames O2

A2

Greenwich

Queen Elizabeth II Bridge

Bexley

A20

A2 A2

Lewisham

M25

Bluewater Shopping Centre

A20

M25

A21

A20

Bromley

Kent

M25

Members may have seen coverage in the press on Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust and how it needed to improve its investigations into the deaths of people with a learning disability or mental health problem.

A21

don

This resulted in NHS England publishing an independent report with recommendations for improvements across the NHS. At Oxleas, we have reviewed our approach to make sure we are following the latest recommendations and guidance.

This has resulted in us setting up a Mortality Surveillance Group which will report to our Board Quality Committee. This group will check that the death of any of our patients is reviewed and that the appropriate level of investigation is carried out. This work will apply to all types of care we provide across mental health, learning disability and our community health services.

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Making our buildings more child-friendly

Matthew Grant from our estates team is leading the project.

He said: “We had user input on the design of the waiting room and those views were used to formulate the brief for the architects. Designers were An inspirational vision created then appointed to work on the by children will help shape waiting room and internal look the look and feel of major of the building and they held refurbishment works at workshops with children to Highpoint House in Shooters Hill. move the project forward.

Views about how both the public areas and clinics should look were gathered at workshops held by our appointed designers, Boex.

The aim of the workshops was to find a way to de-clinicalise the external façade of the building and provide a child-friendly and calming environment inside.

The sessions gave children who use our services the chance to have a creative input into the design of the building, focussing on the look of the waiting and reception areas.

All of their suggestions will now be taken forward to shape the final design. This design will then be used by us as a template for other children’s receptions and waiting rooms.

“There is a need for continuity and fluidity throughout Highpoint House to provide a reassuring journey for those who visit. The reception needs to accommodate those aged 18 and under and provide ample space for buggies and wheelchairs without feeling cluttered. It is vital we maintain the ‘homely feel’ and important that the design promotes an holistic environment to nurture children’s imaginations and build their self-confidence.

“This is a very exciting project and I am looking forward to seeing it completed.”

Completion is due in August 2016.

The new Adult Community Mental Health Service which went live in September 2015 is a boroughspecific pathway of care which offers a range of services:

Care Plus (PCP) pathway is the direct link • Primary between primary and secondary care services

and focuses on tele-triage, providing direct advice and support to GPs and directing service users to the pathway that will specifically meet their needs.

The PCP is available during GP opening hours of 9am – 8pm.

ADAPT Pathway provides focused, therapeutic • The interventions to adults who require care and treatment for anxiety, depression, affective disorders, personality disorders and trauma.

Case Management for Psychosis • Intensive pathway provides care and treatment for service users who are diagnosed with schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder.

The benefits of the new service model are:

• Improved management of referrals. capacity and demand management, • Effective especially for crisis support/earlier intervention. liaison and treatment with primary care • Improved for new patients and for those transferring on a shared care arrangement with secondary care.

increased service user and carer focus • An promoting outcome measures, self-management, recovery, and relapse prevention.

transfer and • Safe transition of

service users who no longer require secondary care to community / primary care settings.

Single Point of Access (SPA) to Children’s Services launched in Greenwich

020 8836 8621

New Adult Community Mental Health Services

If you need to contact the following departments within Children and Young People’s Services, there is now just one telephone number to call.

This number is called the Single Point of Access (SPA).

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Audiology Community Nursing Community Paediatrics Diabetes Dietitian Early Years Co-ordination Greenwich Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Integrated Neuro Developmental Team Music Therapy Occupational Therapy Physiotherapy Psychology (Autism Spectrum Disorder) Speech and Language Therapy Call: 020 8836 8621 Email: oxl-tr.childrenstherapies@nhs.net Memorial Hospital, Shooters Hill Woolwich, London SE18 3RG

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Escape from knee pain Successful programme run by our physiotherapists

They better understood pain management and enjoyed the group sessions which gave them motivation to keep going. Many had also built regular exercise into their lives.

The study showed that ESCAPE can improve function and understanding of selfmanagement by integrating education and advice with a supervised exercise programme.

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist Keerthana Rubaseyone, who led the project, said: “ESCAPE does not require specialist training or advanced equipment and is easy to replicate in other physiotherapy departments.

The classes have been running really well and helped many patients.”

A year ago, a new programme was undertaken to improve the lives of patients suffering from chronic knee pain (CKP).

The Bexley Integrated MSK (Musculoskeletal )team was commissioned by Bexley Clinical Commissioning Group to deliver ESCAPE; ‘Enabling Self-management and Coping with Arthritic Knee Pain through Exercise’.

The rehabilitation programme, held at both Queen Mary’s Hospital and Erith and District Hospital, has been developed specifically for chronic knee pain (CKP) which affects around four million people in the UK. The most common cause is osteoarthritis and around 20% of the population visit their GP each year to seek treatment for CKP, with physiotherapy being the most common treatment.

The ESCAPE programme was developed specifically for CKP 8

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which not only has knee pain as a symptom - distress, disability, anxiety, depression and reduced quality of life are all secondary symptoms to CKP. Under the MSK team, six groups of patients were invited to attend ESCAPE classes twice a week, for six weeks. Patients were over 50 and with CKP for more than six months, with confirmed or likely diagnosis of osteoarthritis and physically able to do the rehabilitation exercises.

Each class starts with a discussion around a specific topic including goal setting, drug management, healthy eating and managing flareups, followed by a 40-minute exercise circuit.

Results taken from the six groups showed that the 48 patients who completed ESCAPE all reported improvements after the course when compared to before.

What the patients said: “It made me more involved and then I can do exercises at home.

The information I received covered everything.”

“The course was brilliantly done and very positive, encouraging and well explained. Top marks to the supervisor.”

“Informative booklet and weekly session plan covered a wide spectrum coupled with interesting discussion.”

“Discussion with physio about which exercises are best for my condition and improving muscle tone was good, to make sure joint pain was not made any worse.”

“I’ve bought equipment for indoors.”

“I’m looking for a gym or fitness centre.”

“I’ve started playing golf.”

Wellbeing event a healthy success in Charlton This wellbeing event was aimed at helping and advising people with long-term conditions.

Guests went home with information and gadgets to help them maintain and improve their health and lifestyle.

Held at Charlton House in Charlton, around 170 Oxleas members attended. They browsed the 20 stalls, where they learnt about food swaps, had their BMI measured and were shown how to improve their lifestyle. Clinicians advised on reducing smoking and drinking, and exercising more.

For people interested in child wellbeing, HeadScape, our self-help website (see page 5) was demonstrated, alongside

experts giving advice on sexual health. Speech and language therapists also had a number of games to show people how they use them to work with children with communication problems.

Many of our services were showcased, letting people know that we can help with memory problems, child speech and language and dementia plus many more services in-between from cradle to grave, top to toe, inside and out.

One visitor said: “I’ve got lots of things to take home and will be keen to look at the recipe books to make some more healthy things. The stalls were very good, full of information and it was another really good event put on by Oxleas.”

Membership

All visitors were given a wellbeing kit to take home.

If you or your family would like to become a member, here’s how: Oxleas.nhs.uk/membership Telephone 0300 123 1541* Email foundation.trust@oxleas.nhs.uk By post Freepost Plus RTTR - GBLX - ASJZ Membership Office Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust Pinewood House Pinewood Place Dartford Kent DA2 7WG *Calls to this number are the same as making a local call from a landline and are usually included within your inclusive minutes if calling from a mobile.

Upcoming event The Great Get Together Saturday 25 June 2016 11am- 5.30pm Woolwich Barracks The membership team and some Oxleas services will be at The Great Get Together festival, held by the Royal Borough of Greenwich as part of Armed Forces Day. Visit our website for more membership information:

oxleas.nhs.uk/membership OxleasExchange.com

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Governors

Meet our governor:

Richard Diment

In this edition, we get to know a little bit more about Richard Diment, one of our public governors for Bexley.

He became a governor in 2012 and has since been involved with many changes within the trust.

How did you become a governor?

I originally became a member to enable me to find out more information about the trust to help me with the job I was in at that time. Oxleas was looking for new governors and having been a governor at my children’s school, I thought it would be interesting.

What did you hope to achieve as a new governor?

I hoped to become more knowledgeable about Oxleas, where it provides services, become involved and contribute to what’s going on. I’m interested in local engagement and being able to help influence decisions as a governor.

What are your particular areas of interest?

As one of the Bexley governors, I try to involve myself in anything related to the borough. One of the largest projects I was involved with was bringing Queen Mary’s Hospital under Oxleas. We needed to see if the acquisition would be viable, if Oxleas could turn it around and keep this vital facility for local people. I am pleased and proud of what has been achieved this year and what is to come.

The opening of the Holbrook dementia ward

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and the Cancer Centre due for completion in the summer, show the investment made by Oxleas and how the partnerships created to keep the hospital are working.

I also thought the recruitment campaign has been very successful, bringing in almost 100 new nurses for the trust.

A great accomplishment, mainly for patients who will have more continuity in their care from staff nurses as opposed to agency.

Tell us about the members’ focus groups.

The focus groups, held annually, give members the chance to have their say, give suggestions, hear about changes and progress and ultimately, influence decisions. The last one I went to was well-attended and I had the chance to speak with many people about their issues.

We discussed the trust’s annual targets and priorities and these discussions helped to shape the final plan that has been signed off at board level.

It will look at how changes will provide better services and better care – change is needed to move things forward but it is not always easy to do.

As a governor, I will be monitoring the progress of this plan and speaking with members in the coming months at other events.

I always try to sit with people I don’t know, circulate amongst the members and let them know that as a governor, I can take ideas and suggestions forward.

I would welcome members getting in touch if they would like me to know something that ultimately could improve how Oxleas does things.

What do you like about being a governor?

I like the opportunities it brings; to meet people, be involved and find out what’s going on at my local NHS trust. I have been on all of the training offered to governors and each time, I come away with new knowledge and ideas which I hope gives me a better insight and ability to be a governor.

As governors, we hold the non-executive directors to account, who in turn hold the Board to account, and so what we do at this level has an impact on the trust-wide decisions.

Why become a member?

You become a part of the inside of the organisation, can find out information and influence decisions. You really can make a difference.

You can contact our governors by: Emailing: governors@oxleas.nhs.uk or staffgovernors@oxleas.nhs.uk Calling: The Trust Secretary’s office on 01322 625752 Writing: Trust Secretary’s office Pinewood House Pinewood Place Dartford Kent DA2 7WG To find out more about being a governor, visit: oxleas.nhs.uk/about-us/ council-of-governors

Governors and non-executive directors enjoy tour Our Chairman, governors and non-executive directors enjoyed a tour where they found out more about the range of adult community services we provide at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup.

The tour was led by service director, Keith Soper, and the group was joined by Oxleas Chair, Andy Trotter.

First to be visited was Meadow View, our intermediate care unit, where a group of patients was enjoying games led by activity co-ordinator, Fenelly Dowsett and lead therapist, Hannah Tomkins.

People were surprised at how large the unit was, and commented on how light and welcoming it felt.

The group then visited the neuro-rehabilitation team where they found out about the wide range of services and groups provided.

The final service visited was Bexley MSK where Elaine Willett,

ESP physiotherapist gave a fantastic overview of the service, talking about how patients are triaged to ensure they get the right treatment by the right team.

This includes surgical interventions performed by King’s College Hospital as part of the integrated MSK service.

At the end of the tour, a few governors braved the cold to view the new Kidney Treatment Centre and Cancer Centre builds which they thought were impressive.

Sue Read, staff governor for Adult Community Services, said: “I was impressed with all the health professionals we met.

Their enthusiasm to do their best for the patients was obvious.

I felt very proud to be a part of the same organisation.”

Stephen Brooks, public governor for Bexley, said: “The visit was very interesting and gave us a great feel for the range of care now provided by the trust. I was impressed by the enthusiasm, knowledge and openness of staff in describing their work and the challenges they have to meet.”

Mary Stirling, carer/governor for Adult Community Services, said: “I came away with a very clear idea about services provided and I was also very impressed by the knowledge, enthusiasm and dedication of the staff.”

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Flagship dementia ward re-opens to patients after 10 month refurbishment Left to right: Ben Travis, Jazz Thind, Rachel Evans, Estelle Frost, Abimbola Fadipe and Jane Wells

The latest in dementia care is being provided to patients following an extensive refurbishment of our specialist intensive care ward.

Holbrook ward, which cares for people with advanced dementia in the Woodlands Unit at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup, welcomed patients back to the new-look ward in February.

Specialists worked with our staff to ensure a stimulating and homely environment was created for patients, carers and staff as part of the work.

Holbrook ward team and guests

Based around a 1950s remininiscence theme, the ward has a lounge, dining area, kitchen, indoor potting shed, ladies’ hair salon, launderette and activity room, all decorated with retro wallpaper to complete the feel and look of a bygone era.

The kitchen is fully-functioning and can be used by visitors to make a cup of tea or eat a meal with their loved one – helping encourage patients to use these skills and not lose them.

The lounge and dining area are made to look like a real home, with pictures on the walls, ornaments and accessories to make the areas look inviting and familiar.

Modern matron, Angela Williams, said: “We provide person-centred care, an approach developed by professor Thomas Kitwood, who has pioneered dementia care since the 1990s.

Left to right: Tunde Adigun (Physiotherapist), Helen Macklin (Senior Occupational Therapist), Andi Janko (Physiotherapist).

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“This means providing care which values the person’s sense of identity and their occupation and meets their need for attachment and comfort.

Ho lbr ook

This type of care has been shown to help people with dementia communicate and engage in dayto-day activities. To support this, our retro-styled areas provide an environment to get the best outcomes for our patients.”

Service manager, Rachel Matheson, said: “For many of our patients, they come straight from their home into hospital which is a very difficult time for them. By coming into an environment that looks and feels more like home, we hope they will feel more at ease and the transition can be made easier.”

Ou rc en tre An of ew exc wa elle y fo nce rw for ard dem oxl eas en .nh tia s.u car Our centr k e e of exce llence fo mentia care de r r d fo e e m nc e lle A nent ntia care exce w re waof y fo Our ce rward d rwar A new way fo

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Holbroo k ward ard w k o ro lb Ho oxleas.n hs.uk

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She added that one of the main improvements of the new environment relates to increased lighting levels because research indicates that as we get older we need higher levels of light.

“This enables patients not only to see as clearly as possible but also promotes healthy patterns of waking and sleeping which can often be disturbed for those with dementia,” she said.

“The themed rooms and areas provide meaningful activities and reminiscence opportunities, while the landmark objects such as the fireplace and launderette help our patients remember where they are on the ward.”

Carers who have visited the new-look ward have said it will make a big difference to both visitors and patients.

“Sometimes, he doesn’t get the chance to go out but he can here. It’s a lovely place and knowing he is here, means I don’t worry. A weight is lifted knowing he is safe and getting the care he needs.”

The development of the environment has been based on research and guidance from Bradford and Stirling Universities and The King’s Fund, all leaders in dementia-friendly design in the UK.

Debbie Simmons, whose partner Reg has been cared for at Holbrook, said: “I feel so privileged to be a part of this – it’s amazing, with such lovely finishing touches and the care is fantastic.”

Angela Sothcott’s husband Barry has also been cared for. She said: “I’ve met some other women on the ward who are in the same position as me. We have created a bit of a support network for each other and this is a lovely place to meet.”

Jane Walldeck has visited her husband Graham at the newlook ward. She said: “It’s fantastic that there is outside space here.

Kitchen and 1950s items OxleasExchange.com

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You said, we did...

How we are using your views to improve our services.

Prison and Forensic Services

Adult Mental Health Services

You said:

You said:

“You would like to be more independent and have responsibilities.”

“You wanted to spend more time with staff.”

We did:

We did:

“We introduced ‘helping hand lunch’ for client volunteers to prepare group lunches with staff supervision.”

“For two hours every day all staff engage with patients.”

Older People’s Mental Health Services

You said:

“You said it’s sometimes difficult to remember appointments.”

We did:

“We now send out text reminders two weeks and two days before appointments.”

Children & Young People’s Services

You said:

“You would like early morning appointments (young person) and a female therapist.”

We did:

“We now have appointment times to suit and a female therapist.”

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Adult Community Health Services

You said:

“Your family does not receive information on how to contact the team.”

We did:

“We are developing an information sheet with contact details, to be given out at assessment.”

Outstanding openness “I recently had to attend The Source in Greenwich for every other day injections because my surgery had no nurses to administer these as it was over the Easter holidays. The nurse at The Source, who I believe was called Bridget, was so helpful and lovely and even administered an injection when she was supposed to have left for the day. What a fantastic service and staff. Thank you all at The Source.”

King, 3 April 2016, Service: The Source “I can honestly say that I have no complaints about any aspect of the treatment, communication and helpfulness of ALL the staff I had any dealings with. Everyone seemed to go out of their way to help and make sure I understood all aspects of my treatment and I have to say, this has helped greatly. Working under difficult conditions, I have nothing but praise for all concerned. Thank you.”

Pete, 30 March 2016, Service: Musculoskeletal Adult Service “I was at the clinic and was attended to by a nurse called Kate.

She was very lovely. She was also very easy to talk to. The staff at the clinic came across as very professional, from the receptionist to the specialist nurses or doctors.”

Vanny, 24 March 2016, Service: CASH “My father was at Meadow View for just under 4 weeks up until 5 March. He and our family were very impressed with Meadow View and especially the staff and physiotherapists who were very kind, professional, patient and understanding. He was very pleased with the service and kindness given to him during his stay.

Simon, 13 March 2016, Service: Meadow View We collect patient experience feedback across our services.

This includes using: The Oxleas Patient Experience Questionnaire (OPEQ) The Friends and Family Test (FFT) Feedback forms Patient experience trackers Online surveys We listen to and investigate all complaints and suggestions, and aim to learn and improve our services as a result.

We like to hear about the experiences of patients and carers, so we can improve our services. Contact: Pauline Thomson: Email: pauline.thomson@oxleas.nhs.uk, Tel: 01322 625703

NHS Improvement has published the results of the first annual ‘Learning From Mistakes League’ and Oxleas is delighted to be ranked second out of 230 trusts nationwide for our outstanding levels of openness and transparency.

The ‘Learning From Mistakes League 2016’ launched by Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, at the NHS Global Safety Summit in March, forms part of a range of new measures to improve safety and transparency within the NHS and build a safer service for patients.

The league table draws on a range of data designed to identify levels of openness and transparency in health trusts for the first time.

It reveals 18 organisations were rated as outstanding and 102 as good. Another 110 organisations were found to have significant concerns or a poor reporting culture.

Andy Trotter, Chair of Oxleas, said: “It takes real commitment and dedication to build a culture of genuine openness in any organisation and for us to receive this national acknowledgement is a significant achievement.”

Ben Travis, Acting Chief Executive, said: “It is great to be highlighted for our commitment to openness and transparency. We value our staff and strive to foster a culture of learning and continuous development. We also recognise that in order to deliver quality services to our patients, staff must have the freedom and support to speak out.”

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Tweets Dear Stephen, best wishes for the future from the Governors of Oxleas. You have been a leader of the highest calibre. Thank you. @raymondsheehy

Jane, a huge thank you for giving me back my life, I will always be grateful for taking the time. @TheSexDoctorUK

Two #radiotherapy machines have been delivered to the new Cancer Centre at #QMHSidcup. @oxleasNHS

Great to see our Board Advisor Colleen Harris in the Top 100 BAME Leaders in Business 2016. @oxleasNHS

So proud to share an office with @gemma_murkin, employee of the quarter. @OxBugBuster

Follow us on Twitter @oxleasNHS

‘It’s good to complain’ an event for people with a learning disability The Learning Disability Service User Experience Group hosted another successful event ‘It’s good to complain’, for people with learning disabilities.

More than 25 service users attended the event, some with their family and carers, held at Bromley Youth Music Trust in April.

Helen White, team manager for Bromley welcomed everyone to the event and introduced Raja Rajendran who is our new Learning Disability governor (see page 2). Raja responded by saying he was really happy to be a governor and was keen to share the views of people with learning disabilities and make a difference to their lives.

The event started off with a presentation given by our Patient and Liaison Services (PALS), who explained what they do. They then asked the audience how they would make a complaint if they were not happy with Oxleas. It was a good forum to get feedback from the audience.

Comments were: “I’d tell my family or my carer” “I’d speak to my advocate” “I’d speak to PALS” This was then followed by a role play ‘Not a good doctor’s appointment’ which was acted out by members of the Can you understand it? team. The audience was asked for feedback on what went wrong.

“The person at reception was rude” “The doctor used difficult words” “The doctor wouldn’t write in the black book” “The doctor should be sacked!”

“Entertaining as well as being interactive!”

This led nicely onto a presentation given by ResearchNet, a service user-led group which focuses on improving services for people with learning disabilities. The group presented their ‘top tips on how to support someone with a learning disability’ which included:

to me, not my carer or • Talk worker, ask me what is wrong out how I communicate • Find – read my black book and my hospital passport

to me nicely and politely, • Talk be friendly Themes suggested for the next event included: ‘Help me to speak up for myself’ ‘Help me to know my rights’.

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Innovative prison work wins award Innovation and commitment were recognised with the presentation of a national award to the London Pathways Partnership (LPP) in 2015.

address mental health issues, but also promote personal and life skills and help to create a more positive, supportive and accessible social environment.

We’re a part of the LPP consortium, along with East London NHS Foundation Trust; South London & Maudsley and Barnet, Enfield & Haringey, chaired by Nikki Jeffcote, consultant psychologist in our Forensic and Prisons directorate.

In partnership with a third sector organisation, LPP hires a café space one evening a week, so users can socialise in a supportive place, learn skills like art and cooking, share a meal and attend workshops on topics including managing money and housing advice.

Regular work-related activities including gardening, painting and decorating, catering and mechanics are all facilitated in a way that supports service users’ participation.

LPP works with people who have severe and enduring psychological difficulties that are linked to serious offending histories. Working in partnership with probation and prison colleagues, LPP provides services across London and in Brixton, Swaleside and Aylesbury prisons, to people who are at high risk of causing harm to others as well as themselves.

Nikki said: “LPP’s service users are disadvantaged in multiple ways – through their mental health difficulties, their offence histories and their high level of social exclusion. It’s often very difficult for them to access the opportunities, resources and social support that would help them to live safer and more satisfying lives.

Many employment and even education opportunities are closed to them because of their offending.”

LPP has developed innovative ways of working that not only

LPP’s work was recognised at the last National Positive Practice Awards, winning the Mental Health and Criminal Justice category and was highly commended in the Specialist Services category.

LPP team with their award

Since then, LPP’s partnerships with a supported work project and a volunteer befriending scheme, have continued to flourish alongside newer ventures.

Greenwich prisons update It has been both an exciting and challenging first year for our Greenwich prison services.

Since April 2015, we have been responsible for delivering health services within the Greenwich cluster of prisons. Staff have been working hard to establish positive relationships with key stakeholders such as commissioners, prison governors and their senior management teams.

In addition to primary care and mental health services, we have a range of sub-contractors who provide specialist services such as substance misuse, sexual health, optometry, dentistry, through-the-gate and IAPT services.

We also provide a social care service, commissioned by the Royal Borough of Greenwich, across the cluster following revised statutory arrangements and the new Care Act 2015.

Clinical governance We have developed clinical governance arrangements across the cluster to ensure our services remain safe, are clinically effective and result in a positive experience by offenders. A quality board oversees this work and seeks assurance from three workstreams - Patient Safety, Clinical Effectiveness and Patient Experience groups. Our Patient Safety Group monitors all serious and untoward incidents and the outcomes of clinical reviews and investigations.

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Oxleas ranked highest NHS trust in equality index The Stonewall Workplace Equality Index has been released and we’re the highest ranked NHS trust in England – at 32.

We strive to achieve equality at Oxleas and this is embedded in our culture.

This is a jump of 20 places since we were last listed two years ago.

Christine Rivers, our Head of Equality and Human Rights, said: “We’re delighted to be ranked the top NHS trust in England in the Stonewall index 2016.

There were 13 health and social care organisations in the top 100 (public and private sector).

“We have been focusing on LGBT equality over the last four years and have improved our position from 221 in 2012, to 32 in 2016.

In addition to ranking at 32, our LGBT Network was also highly commended.

“We strive to achieve equality at Oxleas and this is embedded in our culture. Our LGBT and straight ally networks are very pro-active in raising the profile of LGBT staff and service users across the trust.

The Workplace Equality index is Britain’s leading tool for employers to measure their efforts to tackle discrimination and create inclusive workplaces for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) employees.

Since 2005, more than 750 major employers have taken part in the Index using Stonewall’s criteria as a model for good practice.

This year, a record 415 entered the index, hoping to be ranked amongst the best for supporting LGBT in the workplace.

Christine Rivers

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The 2016 index has taken a first step in becoming transgender inclusive, with the addition of gender identity criteria.

“We have an LGBT network and an active LGBT Executive, which has developed LGBT champions across the trust. Members of our straight ally network organised our Pride event last year.

“In the last year, we have regularly consulted with our LGBT service users in conjunction with the Metro, a local equalities charity, specialising in LGBT and with them, we have built a training package and delivered this to other NHS trusts, including an e-learning tool for staff.”

Staff rate trust as one of the best The annual NHS national staff survey took place between September and November 2015 and we were highlighted as one of the best trusts to work for.

49% of staff approached, responded to the survey and when compared with similar organisations, the results show that we were above average in 21 of the 32 areas.

Our staff engagement score, which covers whether employees would recommend Oxleas as a place to work or receive treatment, has increased since 2014 and looks to be one of the best in the country.

Ben Travis, Acting Chief Executive, said: “I would like to personally thank all those who took the time to respond to the survey and for their positive feedback. Given the organisational change

and financial pressures we are facing, staff continue to deliver excellent care on a daily basis.

It’s this dedication that ensures we maintain our place as one of the best performing trusts in the country.”

Some additional highlights where we particularly stood out in comparison to similar trusts were: would recommend us • Staff as a place to work or receive treatment

have effective team • We working use patient/service user • We feedback effectively are fair and effective • There procedures for reporting errors, near misses and incidents

are satisfied with the • Staff quality of work and patient

care they are able to deliver

Alongside the highlights, the survey also identified areas we need to improve and each service has its own action plan to achieve these improvements.

Our visit from the Care Quality Commission In April we had our inspection from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The CQC is an independent regulator of health and social care in England which monitors, inspects and regulates services to make sure they meet quality and safety standards. They then publish what they find, including performance ratings to help people choose care. We will find out the results of the inspection in July.

Our CQC inspection took place from 25-29 April and involved around 90 inspectors visiting our services, speaking to patients, carers and staff, to assess the level of care we provide.

Ben Travis, Acting Chief Executive, said: “The CQC team said they really enjoyed meeting staff and learning more about our services. They made special mention of how caring and welcoming they found Oxleas staff.”

Our Chairman, Andy Trotter, added: “The lead inspector emphasised the willingness of our staff to go the extra mile to look after patients. She also highlighted how open and helpful everyone was during the inspection.”

If you or someone you know would like to work for us, please check the latest vacancies on our website.

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Our head of voluntary services has been awarded for work with victims of domestic abuse An award has been won by our head of volunteering service for her work with victims of domestic abuse. Japleen Kaur received an award from the City of David Church as a Community Champion in Greenwich.

She was honoured for her work with Safe-Arms, an organisation that helps women who have suffered domestic violence or abuse in the past and are now on their pathway to recovery.

News in brief Staff from our Forensic and Prison Services delivered a successful speech at the National Gastrointestinal Nursing Conference in London, on ‘Managing GI conditions in the prison service’. The presentation included how every patient with a long-term condition is reviewed, how nurses are trained and how they manage and overcome the challenges of conditions such as Crohn’s, lactose intolerance, IBS, hepatitis and alcohol dependence.

Changes to our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Greenwich have been showcased at an event for professionals at our newly-refurbished Market Street premises in Woolwich. People learnt more about the changes and how they will continue to improve our children’s services.

Volunteers under the guidance of Safe-Arms’ director Liz Kingsley, have been delivering pampering sessions on our wards at Meadow View, Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

Japleen said: “We need to continue building our links and partnerships with community organisations as we are striving to achieve a common goal which is to ensure that our service users’ needs are met. Sometimes, this is going beyond receiving the right medication or treatment and is more about what it takes to make them feel valued and cared for.”

If you are a service user or carer interested in joining the scheme, you can apply by filling out an application of interest. You can tell your care co-ordinator you are interested or contact the volunteering services team directly via: 020 8301 9487 volunteeringservices@oxleas.nhs.uk

Market Street

Our annual event to showcase our continued improvement attracted its biggest audience yet when it was held late last year. Guests to the fifth Quality Improvement Showcase included staff, service users, their carers, governors and commissioners. The aim of the day is to bring together best practice from around the trust in each of the three boroughs – Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich to share with colleagues and show our service users and partners.

A campaign to recruit a new children’s nurse in Eltham included input from young people during the interview. A nurse was needed to work with The Looked After Children (LAC) service and after making it to interview, the panel included one of the children they would later be working with. The nurse is now in post and feedback has been positive.

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Japleen Kaur with her volunteering award

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Spotlight on our Chairman Andy Trotter Andy Trotter became our new Chairman after calling time on a 45-year career in policing. The son of a nurse, with health and public service in his blood, we asked Andy about his impressions of Oxleas since taking up the post in November.

Everywhere I’ve gone in Oxleas, I’ve been impressed with the staff and met some really great people.

After leaving his post as Chief Constable of British Transport Police, where he oversaw many changes, Andy imagined his retirement would be learning to sail, spending time with his family and slowing down. But hearing about the opportunity at Oxleas changed all of that.

“After retiring from BTP, I took on some consultancy work, but decided I missed public service, being with people, making a difference and working in partnership. I’d looked into chairman posts already and none I had found appealed to me, but then I found the Oxleas role.”

Andy spent two months alongside outgoing chairman, Dave Mellish, to enable him to find his way around the organisation, meet people and understand the NHS. “Dave was here for 14 years and has a wealth of wisdom and experience as well as being a really good man.

“Everywhere I’ve gone in Oxleas, I’ve been impressed with the staff and met some really great people. They’re professional, full of energy and want to give excellent service.

“The buildings are clean, smart and tidy and having seen the comprehensive nature of the care packages put together by our dedicated staff, I would have no hesitation in any one of my family being cared for by Oxleas.

“There is an ethos of continual learning – people are responsible for their own learning and personal development. The executive team is very strong and we are in good hands.

“I’m sad not to have the opportunity to work alongside Stephen Firn. He has been an exceptional Chief Executive and is highly regarded within Oxleas and across the NHS. That said, Ben Travis is doing a great job as acting CEO and we hope to be able to appoint for the substantive post quite soon.”

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Andy has visited many of our sites and met lots of people, and over the coming months will get out even more, as well as re-visit places he wants to find out more about.

“I’ve always believed that you find out the most crucial information during the ‘by the way’ conversations. That bit at the end when people tell you, face to face, something you need to know. Only by getting out to sites and meeting staff will I get this and I’m happy to keep seeing our work first-hand.”

Taking Dave’s work forward will be no small task, but Andy already has plans in place to do just that.

“We have had a strategy day to look at our future plans, threats, financial pressures and how to react to them. Underpinning all of these pressures is the need to continue to deliver high quality care to our patients.”

Another area he will look at is how to continue to make Oxleas as efficient as possible, to continue Dave’s work to improve the trust, making the best use of our time and resources. One of these is meeting structures – extending the use of technology, to continue to reduce time spent travelling to meetings and increasing the time spent providing front-line services.

“This is an organisation where people talk to each other – they communicate and work well and we don’t want to stop that but we do need to look at how we can be more efficient and the use of technology has a key role to play.”

In a career spanning so many years Andy has been involved in policing major disorder, murder investigations, as well as Royal and State events.

“It has been a privilege to be involved in so many things from the shocking incidents such as the IRA bombings, the Ladbroke Grove train crash, and the 7/7 bombings, to the joyous events such as the Queen’s Jubilee, and the 2012 Olympics.”

Andy went to the London School of Economics as a mature student and played rugby for them.

He was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for, amongst other things, his leadership of the Safer Streets robbery campaign, and the OBE for his role in the response to the 7/7 bombings.

Fond farewell to Anne Oxleas has said a fond farewell to a familiar face who retired from our Board of Directors at the end of April.

Non-executive director Anne Taylor has given many dedicated years of service to the trust.

She has had a particular focus on staff while on the Board and has acted as our Senior Independent Director.

Anne joined the Board after a career which included senior appointments at Marks & Spencer and a secondment to the British Brain and Spine Foundation. She has served on our audit and remuneration committees and worked closely with governors on our Membership Committee and Governors’ Standards Committee. Anne is also a member of the Mental Health Act Managers’ Group.

Our Chairman, Andy Trotter said: “Anne has made an outstanding contribution to Oxleas for many years and her wealth of experience will be greatly missed. She has given a great deal of her time in support of the trust and been a great source of guidance to me as she was to Dave Mellish before me. Thank you Anne for everything you have done.”

Stepping into Anne’s shoes will be Jo Stimpson, who has been a board advisor since November last year. Jo is a law graduate and chartered accountant with a wealth of financial and board level experience from her role as finance director of South East Water. She is also a school governor and a member of the Audit Committee at Ravensbourne. As part of her role, Jo will chair our Risk and Business Committees.

Jo said: “I am delighted to be joining the Board and am looking forward to continuing the work of Oxleas as we strive to improve the lives of our patients and their carers.”

Non-executive director Steve James is now our Senior Independent Director. Prior to his appointment, Steve spent eight years working as a non-executive director for NHS Greenwich.

He said: “Anne will be a very hard act to follow - she was very well respected and trusted. I hope to follow in her footsteps to ensure the trust retains the openness that it is known for.”

Find out more about our directors: oxleas.nhs.uk/about-us/board-of-directors OxleasExchange.com

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Focus on

In each edition of your Oxleas Exchange we will be taking a more in-depth look at the work of one of our teams. This time we meet the ECT (Electro-Convulsive Therapy) Team.

Electro-Convulsive Therapy Team Accredited with the highest rating of ‘excellent’ by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

ECT (Electro-Convulsive Therapy) is an invaluable therapeutic tool for the treatment of severe depression.

Dr Rafael Euba, Clinical Lead

Jeck Ding, ECT Manager

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Despite its somewhat difficult social image, ECT has evolved over the years into a highly sophisticated treatment. It was recognised as the most effective medical intervention for depression in a very large meta-analysis commissioned by the Department of Health.

ECT is recommended by NICE, mainly for the treatment of severe depression. It is particularly effective in the presence of psychosis, or severe psychomotor changes.

Several studies carried out in the US have also shown that ECT shortens hospital stays, which is better for patients and saves money.

This treatment is regulated by a dedicated accreditation body in the Royal College of Psychiatrists (ECTAS) and is now a mandatory component in the portfolio of psychiatry trainees in the UK. Our ECT services are run from the Woodlands Unit at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup by Clinical Lead, Rafael Euba and ECT Manager, Jeck Ding.

Dr Rafael Euba, said: “There is nothing dramatic or oldfashioned about ECT. The atmosphere in our ECT clinic is relaxed and friendly and the technology we use is modern and safe. The treatment itself is very quick and totally painless.

“ECT is normally given to patients who are suffering intensely and who therefore need to be treated quickly, so it is important that we continue to have a local and readily accessible ECT service in Oxleas.”

Why is ECT used?

Most people who have ECT are suffering from depression.

Although there are tablets for this, some patients do not respond to medication and for others, it takes a long time.

ECT is often used for these patients – in some cases it can be life-saving. In fact, ECT is used to treat severe depression, and the more severe the depression, the more likely it is to help. It is also faster than tablets.

How does ECT work?

During ECT a small electric current is sent to the brain.

This current produces a controlled seizure which affects the entire brain, including the centres which control thinking, mood, appetite and sleep.

Repeated treatments alter chemical messages in the brain and bring them back to normal.

How well does ECT work?

9 out of 10 depressed patients who receive ECT in our clinic, who as a rule tend to be severely ill, respond well. They become more optimistic and many recover their ability to work and lead a productive life.

Are there any serious risks from ECT? ECT is among the safest medical treatments given under general anaesthesia and carries a comparable level of risk as having anaesthesia for dental treatment.

Further £20 million invested in hospital site We will spend a further £21.9m to improve services at Queen Mary’s Hospital.

The investment was approved by the Board of Directors for the next stage of development at the Sidcup site and builds on work already underway.

The money will be spent on Phase 1 of B Block and work is expected to be complete in early summer next year.

On the ground floor, a new entrance and reception area will be developed as well as an out-patients’ area that will be used by adult learning disability patients. In addition there will be an Urgent Care Centre, dispensary and phlebotomy services.

On the first floor will be outpatients and women’s services, Musculoskeletal (MSK) therapies and cardiology services.

Work which has already taken place on site as part of the investment includes major

infrastructure improvements, a flagship Cancer Treatment Centre due to open in the summer (see page 4), a Children’s Development Centre, also due to open in the summer and a Kidney Treatment Centre, due to open in early 2017. In addition, Meadow View, our intermediate care ward opened to patients in December 2014 and Holbrook, our specialist dementia ward was redeveloped and opened in March 2016.

Construction company, Galliford Try, has been awarded the contract for the works.

Ben Travis, Acting Chief Executive, said: “This is another exciting step forward in us achieving our vision to see Queen Mary’s Hospital developed into a vibrant centre which can provide vital local health services for local communities.”

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Front cover Left: Linda Burgess (HCA) Right: Sharna Weber (Ward Clerk)

For information on our services, health issues and ways to keep healthy, go to oxleas.nhs.uk Useful contact information Patient Advice and Liaison Service If you require information, support or advice, please contact us on: Freephone 0800 917 7159 (landlines only, mobiles will be charged) Email pals@oxleas.nhs.uk Trust membership To become a member of Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, contact us on: Telephone 0300 123 1541 Email foundation.trust@oxleas.nhs.uk or, join online: www.oxleas.nhs.uk/membership Careers For the latest information on our vacancies please visit: oxleas.nhs.uk/workforus

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