Patient First - Winter 2013

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# p a t i e n t f i r s t w i n t e r 20 1 2 / 1 3

Equipment donated by local businessman p4 Antique tiles unveiled p6

‘When I woke up there was no pain and in fact, it was probably the best I had felt in years’

Read Julian’s story p8

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Here’s your winter edition of Patient first!

This quarter’s edition is packed full of news and features to keep you up to date with what has been going on within the Trust.

Read the inspiring story of Julian Abel, a heart attack patient, who now uses his own experience and recovery to help others going through similar challenges; plus, don’t miss our other patient stories, news from our hospitals, and information about how you can join our Foundation Trust membership scheme and have a direct say in what happens to your local health service and hospitals.

We hope you enjoy the winter edition of Patient First – as always, we would love to hear your feedback and stories, so please get in touch.

See you in Spring!

T he Pati ent F irst tea m

Contents

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3 Staff Star Awards

Read about the annual staff awards ceremony and find out which local celebrity supported the events

4 News from your hospitals

Find out about recent news and events across the Trust, including donations to the Kent Oncology Centre, the formal opening of the Chronic Pain Unit and a financial milestone for the League of Friends bookshop

8 Cover Feature: Think you know the symptoms of a heart attack?

Read Julian Abel’s inspiring story and find out more about the rarer symptoms of a heart attack

12 Winter Warmers

Why not try one of the League of Friends recipes, perfect for a winter’s evening

13 Search for the Pink-headed duck

Read about Maidstone Ambulance Care Assistant, Richard Thorns’ unusual ambition to rediscover the rarest bird in the world

14 Executive Team Update Contacts If you have a story to tell us, please contact us.

Communications Team: 01622 225858 Communications email: mtw-tr.communications@nhs.net

Hear from Terry Coode, Director of Corporate Affairs and find out more about our bid to become a Foundation Trust

15 Choose Well

All the information you need to ensure you get the right NHS treatment

For any general enquiries or advice, please contact our Trust switchboard or visit our website.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust switchboard: 0845 155 1000 Website: www.mtw.nhs.uk

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n November, 250 members of our staff attended the annual Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) Staff Star Awards ceremony at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood.

Special guest Cheryl Baker was on hand to help present the awards to runners-up and winners in 12 separate categories.

There were also two external awards

presented by the Kent Messenger and the Courier newspapers, to recognise Hospital Heroes, voted for by readers. £350 was raised through a charity raffle held on the night, the cheque for which was presented in January by MTW Chief Executive Glenn Douglas to the founder of local stillbirth bereavement charity ‘Abigail’s Footsteps’, David Ward,

and Cheryl Baker, who is the vicepresident and nominated the charity.

David Ward, who along with his wife, Jo, founded the charity, said: ‘A massive thank you to all the staff from MTW who bought raffle tickets and an even bigger thanks to Cheryl for nominating us to receive the donation. The money will go towards the production of a training DVD that we have commissioned.’

Right: Volunteer of the Year – Freda Groves (Meet and Greet, Maidstone), below: Team of the Year – Intensive Care Team (Maidstone), left: Employee of the Year – Heather Dias (Radiotherapist, Maidstone)

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News from Your Local businessman, Pat Gallagher, donates vital piece of equipment to Kent Oncology Centre Chief Executive Glenn Douglas, welcomed local businessman, Pat Gallagher, to the Kent Oncology Centre at Maidstone Hospital in November, to formally thank him for a brand new piece of equipment he has donated to us.

Mr Gallagher purchased an RSA microwave generator, which uses microwaves to treat and destroy tumours.

The state of the art equipment will be used in the Kent Oncology Centre to treat cancer patients from across the county and beyond.

Glenn Douglas said: “We are extremely grateful for Mr Gallagher’s support and huge generosity in paying

for this vital piece of equipment for us. It is already proving to be a huge asset to Kent Oncology Centre.”

Mr Gallagher said: “As a successful local business, I feel that Gallagher has a duty to put something back into the local community. Good healthcare is vital and as cancer touches everybody in some way, we must do all we can to help people fighting this disease. Maidstone Hospital is a major local hospital and providing this kind of help will be of real benefit to the people of Maidstone and the surrounding areas.”

Mr Gallagher visited the centre on 8 November, which was also World Radiography Day. World Radiography Day marks the anniversary of the discovery of x-rays in 1895 and is used as a key date to raise the profile of professions in radiography and the services provided.

Paintings donated to Kent Oncology Centre A former audiology patient, Sharad Bawdekar, came in to Maidstone Hospital in December to formally hand over three of his paintings to Radiotherapy Services Manager, Christine Richards.

Mr Bawdekar decided to donate some of his artwork to the Radiotherapy Department at Kent Oncology Centre because his own experience of our Trust had been so positive that he wanted to give something back.

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It was decided that his beautiful, bright, floral paintings would be particularly well placed in the Radiotherapy department, to brighten the walls in the areas where many patients wait for their appointments.

Christine Richards said: “We, and Sharad, felt that the paintings would be something nice for our patients to look at and enjoy whilst waiting for their treatment.

“The department is very grateful for his generous gift and we will be placing the paintings in two of the waiting areas.”

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Hospitals Maidstone Hospital’s League of Friends book sales reach £200,000 The League of Friends bookshop, located inside Maidstone Hospital has celebrated a financial milestone – with £200,000 having been raised.

In 2011 alone, over £22,000 was raised by the bookshop.

Books have been sold by the League of Friends two days a week since the late 1980s and all money raised is used to purchase new equipment for the hospital.

The books are all kindly donated by visitors and staff, and the League of Friends urges people to continue to donate books which are in good condition, so that they can reach their Olive Burton in the League next milestone. of Friends bookshop

League of Friends Christmas Bazaar The Maidstone Hospital League of Friends held a Christmas Bazaar in Maidstone Hospital reception during December and raised a huge £996.95 through stalls, including one selling cakes and pastries, a tombola and raffle.

As with the bookshop, all money raised will be used to improve facilities and equipment within Maidstone Hospital.

Kent Oncology Centre working with Lloyds Pharmacy to support radiotherapy patients The Kent Oncology Centre has joined forces with Lloyds Pharmacy to offer radiotherapy patients a new service.

Now when patients attend the hospital for their appointments, they will be able to purchase specialist items, such as soap, deodorant and shower gel, which are safe for radiotherapy patients to use as they do not contain any metallic ‘ingredients’.

The idea to stock the products came from a former patient, Sandra Milburn, who suggested that the system would make life easier for patients who may be facing a stressful time.

Radiotherapy Services Manager, Christine Richards said, ‘We are delighted to have established this service and I would like to thank Lloyds Pharmacy for their support in providing this.

‘Radiotherapy patients will now not have to travel to buy these products and staff will be able to advise them on the most suitable items for their particular condition.’

Chronic Pain Unit officially named at Maidstone Hospital The Chronic Pain Unit at Maidstone Hospital has been formally opened by the Mayor of Maidstone, and given a new name - The Hutchinson Suite.

It is named after the first pain consultant to work in West Kent, Dr Hamish Hutchinson.

Hamish was a much loved and respected consultant who started working with Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust in 1979. He founded the pain clinic as well as the local palliative care service and he worked for the Trust until his death in 2008.

Both of Hamish’s daughters, as well as other members of his family, came to the hospital to unveil a commemorative plaque, along with the Mayor of Maidstone, members of the Trust’s Executive Team and many other guests.

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m o re News

Sir John Stanley pays a visit to Tonbridge Cottage Hospital Tonbridge & Malling MP, Sir John Stanley and Chief Executive Glenn Douglas, visited the stroke unit based at Tonbridge Cottage Hospital in November.

Sir John was taken on a tour of the unit and had the opportunity to speak with staff and patients.

He was delighted with the unit and said, “They constituted a first-rate team, providing an excellent standard of treatment and care, as was confirmed by the patients.

“I am delighted that we have a high-quality rehabilitation unit at Tonbridge Cottage Hospital.”

Since the visit, Sir John added that he will continue to campaign for additional investment for the hospital.

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ANTIQUE TILES UNVEILED Antique tiles have been unveiled at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, which were salvaged from the old Kent and Sussex children’s ward.

They are now mounted on the wall at the entrance to the Women and Children’s Department near the main reception.

The tiles, which depict Noah’s ark, are art deco in style and attributed to Phyllis Butler, a tile designer for Carter & Co. They date back to the 1930s and were originally displayed in the Princess Elizabeth children’s ward to brighten up the environment for young patients.

Local celebrity, Cheryl Baker, and David Ward, from local charity, Abigail’s Footsteps, unveiled the tiles in a small ceremony at the hospital.

Here, they are pictured with Michael MacDonald from Antique Vault, who helped rescue and restore the tiles.

Burrswood Hospital Burrswood, located near Tunbridge Wells, offers shortterm medical care that bridges the gap between an acute hospital and the return to independent life at home.

It offers 40 en-suite bedrooms and a medical team consisting of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and counsellors. There are also beautiful, peaceful grounds, a hydrotherapy pool, tea shop and on-site chapel.

The team provides inpatient medical and nursing care for those people needing post-operative or convalescent care, counselling, physiotherapy or hydrotherapy.

The staff also have 20 years experience in treating CFS and ME. If you would like to book a stay or are interested in finding out more, please call Admissions on 01892 865988 to discuss your requirements. You can also visit the website at www.burrswood.org.uk

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Peter Hollands receives diabetes award

A good experience

A Maidstone patient, Peter Hollands has received the Alan Nabbaro Award for having lived with diabetes for over 50 years.

Peter, who was nominated for the award by Dr Jesse Kumar, has Type 1 diabetes and has been treated with insulin since 1960 and received the Diabetes UK gold medal to recognise this.

He is also part of the DAFNE course which is a structured, education programme for diabetes sufferers which is delivered by the diabetes departments on both sites. It helps to empower patients to self-manage their condition increases confidence and motivation.

Peter, who collected his award with his wife, said; “During the past fifty-two years I have attended many appointments to see consultants or members of the diabetes team, including all the nurses who have given me excellent guidance and support to keep me on the right track. To all those people I say a big thank you. I also say a very big thank you to my wife who has helped keep me on the straight and narrow!”

Sarah Hazell, a radiotherapy patient from Chatham, has been having treatment with the Trust. She contacted the team to let us know about her good experience and to pass her thanks on to the staff who treated her.

“I recently had radiotherapy at the Kent Oncology Centre, based at Maidstone Hospital and was very impressed by the organisation and by the staff.

“The day after I had seen the specialist, my radiotherapy appointments list arrived in the post - I could not believe it had been arranged so promptly.

“The ladies that book you in at the radiotherapy reception always make conversation and make everyone feel welcome. There were mornings when I felt very low and they made a difference and lifted my mood.

“Similarly, the radiographers that carried out my treatment were friendly, professional and supportive. I had expected the side effect of being tired and having sore skin, but I hadn’t expected to feel overwhelming emotion which I found difficult. The radiographers always offered me support to help me cope with this.

“On my last day of treatment, my skin became very sore and I was taken to Outpatients where I was given the advice and dressing that I needed. Once again, the situation was dealt with without causing any stress.

“The arrangement that is in place for a weekly car parking ticket at a reduced rate is another thing that reduces stress.

“I would like to offer my sincere thanks to everyone within the Trust that has supported and cared for me – they really do make a difference to the patient experience.”

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Think you know the symptoms of

A HEART ATTACK?

56-year-old Julian Abel from Maidstone was a seemingly healthy man when he was taken to hospital in 2011 with pain in his lower rib cage which he thought was either a bout of severe indigestion or a stomach ulcer. In the 24 hours that followed, Julian’s symptoms were confirmed to be something far more serious – a heart attack.

Here, we learn about his experience and how it has changed his life.

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ebruary 7th 2011 was a normal day, and I had gone to collect my wife from work. I’d had a busy day and hadn’t really eaten properly so when I started feeling unwell, I assumed that was why,” Julian said. “My wife happened to have a cereal bar so gave me that and I ate it while I waited for her to finish off for the day. The minute I had finished it, I had an awful pain in the bottom of my ribs and I started to feel hot and extremely unwell.”

Julian wondered if it was the knock-on effect of eating something quickly on an empty stomach and initially, thought the most likely cause was indigestion.

He said, “While the pain was very intense, I didn’t for a minute think it was anything serious, although I started to feel so poorly that I wondered if I would be able to walk to the car. My left arm started to feel odd and slightly numb, although, again, I didn’t really read anything into that at the time.”

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Julian managed to get to his car with his wife, and drove home, passing his GP surgery on the way. He popped in and was advised to attend hospital if he had any further episodes of pain.

On getting home, Julian felt a bit better - the pain had subsided and he took an indigestion tablet to tackle what he thought was the problem.

“While I was at home, the pain came back. It was less intense than it had been before but this time it was continuous, there were no waves of better and worse, it was just there all the time, still under my lower rib cage.

At about 9pm, we called NHS Direct for some advice. They made the decision to call an ambulance as a precautionary measure and two paramedics arrived a short while later.

“Although my symptoms were not typical of a heart attack, they put me on an ECG machine in the ambulance to monitor my heart. Nothing significant showed up but, as a precaution, I was taken to Maidstone Hospital to be checked over.”

Initially, Julian was taken into the section of A&E which treats major injury and illness, to be assessed. There seemed to be nothing to suggest that his condition was particularly severe and Julian began to wonder if it could be a stomach ulcer.

He explained, “I saw a doctor and we went through a checklist of my symptoms. The conclusion was that I was very low risk in terms of it being a heart attack. I don’t smoke or drink, I wasn’t terribly overweight and I have a pretty healthy lifestyle in general.

However, the doctor I saw still wasn’t

sure about the cause of symptoms and said he would rather give me some blood tests and keep me in overnight. I agreed and was admitted to a ward.

“At about 1am, I was absolutely ravenous and asked for a sandwich.

After I had eaten it, I must have dozed off because I awoke in terrible pain. I was wheeled back down to A&E, wired up to some equipment to be monitored, and I had more blood tests. Strangely, I felt ok, other than the pain I was experiencing. I felt calm and knew I had to just go with it, I was more worried about my wife and how she would react to everything that seemed to be going on.”

When Julian’s doctor came back, he confirmed that following the tests and monitoring, it was highly likely that he had suffered a heart attack.

“Despite the fact that originally, my symptoms were not wholly typical of a heart attack, the doctor I saw trusted his instincts and kept me in hospital for further tests. Thank goodness he did, and who knows what the outcome would have been had he sent me home – I really do owe him a debt of gratitude.”

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At around 4am the morning after Julian had been taken into hospital, his wife was contacted to explain what had happened and after she arrived, Julian was taken to the Medical Assessment Unit for more tests. He was subsequently transferred to St Thomas’s Hospital in London for surgery.

He said: “Once we arrived at St Thomas’s, I was given a time of about 4pm for my operation – pretty much 24 hours after the whole thing had started.

“The surgery took about an hour and a half, during which a stent was put in to my heart and a clot was taken out. When I woke up there was no pain and in fact, it was probably the best I had felt in years. When the dinner trolley came round a short while after my op, I ate three courses – what better proof that I felt absolutely fine! I stayed in overnight and when my wife arrived the following day, I was sitting up and dressed, and clearly so very much better.”

Julian stayed at St Thomas’s for three and a half days before being allowed home to continue his recuperation.

He was enrolled on to a cardiac rehabilitation programme (phase 3 which includes structured exercise) at Maidstone Hospital.

“It’s rather strange in the weeks that follow a heart attack,” Julian said, “You suddenly realise that the changes you need to make and the things you learn set the scene not just for the next few months but for the rest of your life. When I started the cardiac rehabilitation programme, I was

sceptical. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to push myself with exercise, given what had happened to me. But actually, once I started to attend, and meet others who had experienced similar situations to my own, I really enjoyed it. It was a safe environment, supported by professionals and attended by patients with common interests – getting on with their lives and staying healthy.”

When Julian completed the phase 3 programme, he immediately enrolled on to phase 4 – which looks at how physical activity and changes in lifestyle can be maintained longterm. Julien would encourage those who are completing phase 3 to join phase 4 saying, “The group is great fun, supportive and I personally can’t thank those involved enough for their encouragement and guidance.”

He now volunteers at Maidstone Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Support Group on a Wednesday afternoon, to provide help and advice to those going through what he has been through himself.

“I’m lucky - I had a positive outcome to a negative experience. By volunteering at the group, I felt I could give something back after so many members of staff at Maidstone and St Thomas’s helped me through my heart attack and recuperation. I have found that people who come to the group are interested in the fact that I have been through something similar myself and want me to share my own experiences with them. I hope the fact that I was a patient too gives me credibility and understanding, and if I can help anyone get through what can be a very difficult period of time, then I know I have done some good.”

Trust launches new cardiology service – a first in Kent Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has recently launched a brand new service, which means some cardiology patients will no longer have to travel to London Hospitals for their treatment.

The EPS (Electrophysiological Studies and Ablation) Service is based in the Cardiac Catheter Lab at Maidstone Hospital and will be used by patients needing treatment for abnormal heart rhythms. In the past, people needing this kind of treatment would have been referred to St Thomas’s or King’s College Hospitals in London. For many patients and their families this would have been logistically difficult and stressful. The Maidstone-based service is the first of its kind in Kent.

The Trust has employed two new consultant cardiologists to establish and operate the service, Dr Laurence Nunn and Dr Dennis Caulfield. They will be assisted by Dr Mike Cooklin from St Thomas’ Hospital, who will help oversee the early stages of this brand new EPS service.

Dr Nunn said: “This new service will help many cardiology patients receive treatment that is more convenient for them, being much closer to home. Most of the cases we treat will be day cases with no need for the patient to be admitted in to hospital overnight.

“We are expecting to treat around 80 cases within the next year and as we are the first Trust in Kent to offer an EPS Service of this kind, it’s a very exciting time for us.”

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Case STUDIES Helen Illger Radiotherapy patient, Helen Illger, chose Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ahead of other hospitals, for the rest of her cancer treatment, in the hope that she would have a better experience.

Here, she talks about her experience, and tells us why she put staff from a ward at Maidstone Hospital forward for an award…

“After I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I had a mastectomy and lymph node clearance in February 2012 in the Trust where I live. Unfortunately the surgery left me with severe nerve damage and often in a lot of pain,” Helen said, “Following this, because of where I live, I had to come to Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells to have my radiotherapy treatment at the Kent Oncology Centre and I have to say the treatment I have received there has been brilliant.”

On 16 May, following some of her radiotherapy treatment, Helen was taken ill and brought in to A&E. She was kept in overnight and subsequently, because she was in so much pain, she was admitted on to Lord North Ward – where she stayed for nine days.

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“Radiotherapy can aggravate nerve damage which, because of the existing nerve damage, I suffered a bad reaction. During the time I was an in-patient in Maidstone Hospital I was seen by Consultant Anaesthetist, Dr Kevin Fai, from the Chronic Pain Unit.

He decided to give me a thoracic epidural to try and ease the pain,” Helen explained.

The local anaesthetic used in the procedure indicated the epidural should work, and it did.

Helen was discharged from the hospital on 26 May. “I have nothing but praise for the treatment I had whilst I was in the hospital. The nurses and staff were incredibly caring – from those I saw in A&E to those who looked after me in Lord North Ward, not to mention the people I saw in the Chronic Pain Unit and in the Kent Oncology Centre.” Since she was discharged, Helen has continued to have radiotherapy and is under the care of Clinical Oncology Consultant, Gill Sadler.

Because of Helen’s experience with the Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust she decided to change breast surgeons from where she lives to Consultant Breast Surgeon, Sue Jones Helen said, “When I first saw Sue and explained the problems I had experienced, she said just four words which made all the difference. She said ‘we can sort it’ which meant more to me than anything. All the staff I have come in to contact with have been absolutely wonderful and helped me so much.”

In fact, Helen was so pleased with the treatment she received, she nominated all the staff on Lord North Ward for an

Exceptional Patient Care award, as part of the annual Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Staff Star Awards for 2012 (see page 3).

Helen said, “When I saw the awards were taking place, I thought it was really important to put forward the Lord North Ward team as they really deserve recognition for the care they provide, it’s second to none.

“I am so pleased that I came to the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust, it was absolutely the right decision and my experience has been nothing but positive.”

Toby Grove Just over a year ago, a series of eye tests revealed that 5-year-old Toby Grove was long-sighted.

Here, his Mum, Clare, tells us how those tests, and a little bit of persistence, helped turn Toby in to the happy, healthy, fun-loving little boy he is now…

“When Toby was very small, he was unbelievably clumsy,” said Clare, “It was a standing joke at his preschool that he could be in the big hall with absolutely nothing in it, and he would still find a way to fall over.

“What was strange, given his clumsiness, and what I noticed as a Mum, was his amazing attention to detail – the two traits just didn’t seem to match up.”

After discussing her observation with his pre-school, it was suggested that Clare took Toby for an eye test to see if there were any issues with his sight.

The optician they saw said there was a chance that Toby was very

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slightly long-sighted but otherwise fine and that there was no need for him to wear glasses.

Clare said, “We went away, and the clumsiness continued as did my suspicion that something wasn’t quite right. The idea of it being related to his sight seemed to make sense, so I took him to our GP for an opinion, and he referred Toby to an orthoptist – a specialist in vision.”

The orthoptist’s opinion was the same – it was possible that Toby was very slightly long-sighted. They were asked to return for another appointment in two months.

“At the second appointment, nothing had really changed but it was decided that Toby would be referred to the Ophthalmology department at our local hospital for some specific physics tests.

We were told the tests would involve the use of special eye drops to expand the pupils, to look at the exact way his eyes were working, as the eyes of children who have had issues with their eyesight can, unintentionally, fake the results of a standard eye test.” said Clare.

It was at this appointment it was established that Toby was in fact very long-sighted which would have had an effect on almost everything he did day to day, simply because he would not have been able to see properly for much of the time.

“When I was told he needed glasses, I actually cried. I was worried he would struggle to do the things that other little boys could do, like sports and the general rough and tumble games that boys tend to like to play.

“It was, however, the best thing that could have happened.

It completely changed him.

Previously, he had struggled with attention span and wouldn’t, for example, have sat down to watch a film with his older brother, Archie, for longer than a minute or two. The reality is, that was because he couldn’t see it properly so it had very little meaning to him.

“I will never forget one particular moment when we had

collected his glasses and he was walking along the pavement with me, wearing them. He suddenly pointed quite excitedly at all the things around him that he had never seen properly before.”

Toby has his eyes checked regularly and since his first pair of glasses, after initially worsening, his vision has now thankfully evened out.

“It’s so important for parents to get their children’s eyesight tested if they suspect there could be a problem. It’s far harder for a problem to be corrected in an

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Quiz Geography

Q. Q. What is the population, to the

What is the capital of Iceland?

nearest 10,000, of Lapland?

History

Q.

Who was the first person to reach the North Pole?

Q. When did the image of Father Christmas, as we know him today, first appear?

Literature

Q.

Who wrote the play: ‘The Winter’s Tale’?

Q. Finish the title of this Ken Follett novel – ‘Winter of the _____’?

Food

Q.

older child, and as there are no standard eye checks for children in this country, the onus really is on parents and carers,” Clare said.

“But I now realise from Toby’s experience that it really isn’t a big thing these days – the choice of glasses available for children is amazing - he loves his football glasses, and, now that his eyes have stablised, we even have prescription swimming and sports glasses on order.

“There is absolutely nothing Toby can’t do that any other child of his age can. I am so pleased that we persisted and sought further help for Toby – finally being diagnosed and having the correct glasses has made a world of difference to all of our lives.”

Does the first evidence of ice cream being produced in a basic form and eaten go back to the Persian Empire or the Roman Empire?

Q.

On average, to the nearest million, how many Christmas puddings are consumed in the UK each year?

Entertainment

Q. What is the longest running Christmas number 1?

Q.

In which film is Kevin McCallister the main character?

Sport

Q.

When and where was the first Winter Olympics held?

Q. What is the name of Torvill and

Dean’s famous routine, which was performed at the 1984 Olympics?

(Answers to be published in Spring edition)

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Winter Warmers…

Roman Pan Fried Lamb

Try these mouth-watering winter recipes from our very own Maidstone Hospital League of Friends Cook Book…

1 tbsp oil 15g/½oz butter 600g/1lb 5oz lamb, shoulder or leg (cut in 2.5cm chunks) 2 garlic cloves, peeled 3 sprigs thyme (stalks removed) 6 canned anchovy fillets 150ml/¼ pint red wine 150ml lamb or vegetable stock 1 tsp sugar 50g black olives, pitted and halved 2 tbsp chopped parsley to garnish Mashed potatoes to serve Heat oil and butter in a large frying pan, add the lamb and cook for 5 minutes stirring until meat is browned all over.

Grind together garlic, thyme, and anchovies into a smooth paste.

Add the wine and lamb or vegetable stock to the frying pan and stir in the garlic and anchovy paste together with the sugar.

Bring the mixture to the boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes or until the lamb is tender.

For the last 10 minutes of cooking time remove the lid to allow the sauce to reduce slightly.

Stir the olives into the sauce and mix to combine. Transfer the lamb and sauce to a serving dish and garnish. Serve with creamy mashed potatoes.

More than just medicines…

Hearty Hogmanay Tart 8oz/225g shortcrust pastry 4 tbsp/60ml marmalade 2oz/50g butter (softened) 1 egg (lightly beaten) 2oz/50g cake crumbs 1 tsp ground cinnamon 2oz/50g ground almonds 4oz/100g raisins 1 clementine (sliced) Cloves, to decorate Roll out pastry and place in a lightly greased 8” (20cm) flan dish.

Spread the marmalade on top.

Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add the egg, cake crumbs, cinnamon and ground almonds and mix well. Fold in the raisins and spoon in to the pastry case.

Bake the tart at 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6 for 20 to 25 minutes until the topping turns golden. Decorate with clementine slices and cloves and serve warm with double cream or crème fraiche.

The Maidstone Hospital League of Friends Cook Book is available from The League of Friends Shop near the main entrance of Maidstone Hospital and is priced at £5.

Pharmacy

visit our hospital pharmacies Our Hospital Pharmacies have a range of medicines, for adults and children, for you to buy to help relieve the symptoms of common ailments, such as headaches, colds, hay fever and heart burn.

Maidstone Pharmacy, which can be found down the main corridor running from Reception to the rear of the Hospital, beyond the Oast café and on the right hand side, also stocks commonly used eye drops such as Hypromellose and a range of compliance devices such last issue’s quick fire quiz Answers

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as tablet cutters, crushers and eye drop delivery aids.

Tunbridge Wells Pharmacy is situated on Level 0, between Costa Coffee and the entrance to the Women and Children’s department – as well as medicines, it also specifically stocks other useful items including products for babies and new mums, and a selection of daily living aids, such as reaching devices.

All proceeds made from pharmacy sales are reinvested in to Trust services.

Geography • What is the capital of Tunisia? - Tunis • Where were the 2000 Olympics? - Sydney History • How many children did Queen Victoria and Prince Albert have? - 9 • What year was the Battle of Hastings? - 1066 Literature • Who are, arguably, the two main characters in ‘Great Expectations’ by Charles Dickens? - Pip/Miss Havisham • Who wrote ‘The Da Vinci Code’? - Dan Brown Food • What is the main ingredient of guacamole? - Avocado • Circa which year was the first fish and chip shop opened in England? - Circa 1863 Entertainment • Which actress was married to Tom Cruise from 1990 to 2001? - Nicole Kidman • How many British number ones did Frank Sinatra have? - 2 Sport • Who has got the most caps for England in football? - Peter Shilton • Who is Britain’s most decorated Olympian? - Bradley Wiggins

www.mtw.nhs.uk/patientfirst

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Search for the

Pink-headed duck Maidstone Ambulance Care Assistant, Richard Thorns, juggles his role with an unusual ambition – attempting to rediscover the rarest bird in the world.

Here, Richard shares the story of his trips to Burma, in the hope of catching a glimpse of the ‘Holy Grail’ of birds, the Pink-headed duck, unseen in the wild since 1935.

Richard that he had personally seen both a male and female Pink-headed duck. Unfortunately, again there was no sighting for Richard but he was determined to return for a third time.

The trip Richard made in February this year was a difficult one, as there was considerable unrest in the Kachin State, around Bhamo. Technically, foreign visitors were prevented from travelling upriver, but Richard and his guide did so

“Burma is changing and I have been saving for a long time for this trip and although I know I could spend the money on many other things, Burma has hooked me now and, outside of work, nothing is more important to me than rediscovering the Pink-headed duck.”

Richard added, “I’m very grateful to work in a team which is prepared to be so flexible and supportive of my plans.

“I have been saving all year for this

regardless. After much searching, they found a suitable lake, established a hide and floated the decoy duck.

There seemed to be a lot of promise but word was spreading locally of the trip and Richard was concerned that Sein Win could face serious repercussions, such as three years in jail, if they were caught, so they returned to the village. Richard went on to explore lake Ku-le where the second to last Pink-headed duck was shot in 1910.

Richard said, “I think that even if the Pink-headed duck once lived in the last of the Bhamo wetlands, surely little hope now remains, as there’s just too much farming encroachment going on.”

Richard applied for permission to visit a remote area called Kalay on the border with India’s Manipur State.

trip and know that I could have spent the money on many other things, but Burma has hooked me now and outside of work, nothing is more important to me than discovering the Pink-headed duck.”

Famous Ornithologist Bill Oddie kindly wrote a personal message to Richard, to wish him luck in his endeavours: “A strange and yet alluring ambition!

The nearest I have got to Burma is pointing over the border in north Thailand as, let’s face it, until recently it has been pretty much closed. So I can appreciate that your expeditions have been not only about rediscovering a duck, but also a whole country. If you do resurrect the species, I can imagine it, and you, may well be deified as symbols of The New Burma - it could definitely happen. The very best of luck. Be safe and be careful, and please wish ‘The Duck’ all the best from me.”

F

ifteen years ago Richard came across a book detailing three case histories of extinct birds. Unlike the Dodo and the Great Auk, there appeared to be doubts as to whether or not India’s Pink-headed duck was indeed extinct.

Richard found it difficult to forget what he had read and was keen to travel abroad to begin his search, however, personal circumstances prevented him from doing so and it wasn’t until 2009 that Richard was able to fly to Burma.

Upon his arrival in Bhamo, Richard hired a local guide, called Sein Win and they travelled to a large wetland area where there had been reported sightings of the illusive duck. After four days, there had been sightings of other waterfowl, unfortunately the Pink-headed duck hadn’t made an appearance and questions were being asked by immigration officials, so Richard and Sein Win were forced to return to Bhamo.

Richard returned to Burma in 2011, where his search continued. This time, he was told by locals of numerous sightings of the duck, including by a Dutch man who had visited the region four times before finally seeing a Pink-headed duck in flight. Similarly, a farmer informed

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patient first

Executive Team U pd at e Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is calling on patients and the public to join a new membership scheme - and have a greater say in the future of your local hospitals.

We are recruiting a massive 10,000 public members over the next year and a half as part of our drive to become a Foundation Trust (FT) in 2014.

Members will be able to vote in, and stand for, elections to a new governing body called the Governors Council, which will be made up of patients, local public, Trust staff and other key stakeholders. The Governors Council will guide the Trust’s strategic direction and hold the Trust Board to account.

The patient and public membership

Terry Coode, Director of Corporate Affairs scheme is an important step in our journey to become a Foundation Trust FTs are autonomous organisations and with the ability to self-govern comes the all important involvement of local people in the future development of local health services.

Although elections for the governing body are more than a year away, new members will have an early influence on the future development of our hospitals.

Members will also be kept regularly updated with news on what’s happening within the Trust and in addition, members benefit from great NHS discounts on high street brands currently only available to NHS staff.

If you are interested in joining, you can also register to be a member online on our website www.mtw.nhs.uk

Te rry

HOSPITAL RADIO– a Friend at Your Bedside Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is proud to have two award winning Hospital Radio stations serving the patients in our hospitals with a local and unique mix of music and information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Both are small independent charities, which are entirely run by volunteers.

Although hospital radio is a muchloved institution, many people often don’t realise it is available in our modern hospitals, and that it provides a very personal entertainment experience.

Several studies have shown how having a song played and your name mentioned on the radio has a great “feel good factor” which could even help to aid recovery.

Hospital Radio Maidstone has been running since 1963 and has two channels dedicated to playing the music from the 40’s, right through to

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www.mtw.nhs.uk/patientfirst

the present day. On Channel 1 of the bedside radio you can hear Energy and on Channel 3 you can hear Choice.

Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells has been running since 1961 and can be heard on Channel 705 of the freeview televisions in the Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury and on Channel Zero on the televisions in the Tonbridge Cottage Hospital. Friends, relatives, out patients and staff can also listen to the majority of shows from Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells via the “listen live” button on their website www.hrtw.org.uk Throughout the week each radio service has volunteers visiting the wards to collect requests. However if you can’t wait to see a ward visitor or if you know someone in the hospitals you can make a request by contacting the Maidstone team on 01622 224747 or visiting their website at www.hrm.org.uk. To contact the team at Tunbridge Wells ring 01892 528528 or make a request via their website at www.hrtw.org.uk If, having listened to Hospital Radio,

you would like to get involved as a volunteer the teams are always looking for additional people, so please contact them on the websites shown above.

They can make arrangements for you to see the studios and be trained as a member of their team. The two charities are also always looking to raise funds to keep the services running, so if you’re involved in a local business and would like to support your local Hospital Radio service please contact the relevant team to discuss sponsorship and fundraising opportunities.

patient first

Choose well…

Get the right NHS treatment. If you’re not sure what’s best, phone before you go.

Self-care

injuries units

NHS Direct

Edenbridge Hospital

Medical advice 24/7 www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

Tel: 01732 863164

Mill Hill, Edenbridge, TN8 5DA

0845 4647

Open 8.30am to 8pm, 365 days a year

Emotional support

X-ray available from Monday to Friday 9am to 2.30pm

Mental Health Matters helpline Confidential emotional support 0800 107 0160

Sevenoaks Hospital Hospital Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 3PG Tel:01732 470200

GP and dentist

Open 8am to 8pm, 365 days a year

GP out of hours

X-ray available from Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Call 03000 242424

Crowborough War Memorial Hospital

Dentist

Southview Road, Crowborough, TN6 1HB

Contact your dentist directly, or if you have no dentist you can call: 0808 238 9797 Evening and weekends Dentaline 01634 890300

Tel: 01892 603602

Pharmacy

find out who, visit www.nhs.uk

To find out where your nearest pharmacy is, text ‘Pharmacy’ to 64746

Emergency Care Centres and Accident

Late night and Sunday pharmacies

and Emergency

Maidstone Morrisons Pharmacy, Sutton Road – 01622 661750 Sainsbury’s Pharmacy, Quarry Wood, Aylesford – 01622 790223 Tesco Pharmacy, Lunsford Park, Larkfield – 01622 701449

For critical or life threatening emergencies, call 999 or

Sevenoaks Sainsbury’s, Otford Road – 01732 469198

Tel: 0845 155 1000

Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells Boots, Calverley Road – 01892 526486 Sainsbury’s, Linden Park Road – 01892 532569Minor

Open 8am to 8pm, 365 days a year Some GP practices also offer a minor injury service. To

go to your nearest Accident and Emergency, open 24 hours a day.

Maidstone Hospital, Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9QQ

Tunbridge Wells Hospital, Tonbridge Road, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 4QJ Tel: 0845 155 1000

STAY WARM AND HEALTHY THIS WINTER Here are some practical steps that you can take to help keep you warm and healthy throughout the winter months.

• Food is a vital source of energy, which helps to keep your body warm. Try to make sure that you have hot meals and drinks regularly throughout the day and keep active in the home if you can.

• Look after yourself and check on older neighbours or relatives to make sure they are safe, warm and well. Layer your clothing to stay warm and wear shoes with a good grip if you need to go outside.

• If you need to travel, check your local and national weather forecast and keep up to date with the latest warnings.

• Create your own emergency kit to keep in your car – it could include: a blanket, food, drink, torch, ice scraper, jump leads, map and any medication you need to take regularly.

winter 2012 / 13

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