Inspire Portsmouth Spring edition

WELCOME

MEET THE INSPIRE TEAM

…..to the spring edition of Inspire magazine.

Thank you for all the amazing feedback we had for the first edition, we’re so pleased to hear people in the community have enjoyed reading the magazine and have shared ideas on future articles.

In this Spring edition, you can read all about our cute four-legged friends who spread joy and happiness to all they meet around Queen Alexandra Hospital. Our Pets As Therapy dogs help patients like 50 year old Paul, who suffered a stroke and found weekly visits from the dogs helped in his recovery. Read more about Paul’s story on Page 6.

Patients and staff will be joining the nation in May in celebrating the King’s Coronation, you can read about our plans to ensure no one misses out on the fun on Page 6.

Elsewhere, we’ve got a great article on reducing stress in your life, with tips from our Mental Health Nurse Liz. She recommends cutting down on social media time and spending more time doing things you really enjoy each day such as reading or getting some fresh air on a short walk. Turn to Page 14 for more tips.

And finally, if you have a great story to share, do please get in touch with our team! We love to hear from patients about their experiences at the hospital, please email us at communications@porthosp.nhs.uk

We hope you enjoy this latest edition of the magazine,

INSPIRE

Photography: Kerenza Beckerleg, Chloe Harris, Lily Jacobs and Helen Rimmer

Design: Hannah Woollven, original concept: Jo Hadfield

CONTACT

Email: communications@porthosp.nhs.uk

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Southwick Hill Road, Cosham, PO6 3LY.

Tel: 023 9228 6000 Web: www.porthosp.nhs.uk

SOCIALS

@PortHosp

@PHU_NHS

@portsmouth_hospitals

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Jenny Renyard

Hannah Woollven

Chloe Harris

Helen Rimmer

Millie Salkeld

Kerenza Beckerleg

Lily Jacobs

WHAT’S NEW...

A round up of the latest news from Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

NEW PROCEDURE PERFORMED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PORTSMOUTH TO HELP LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

An innovative keyhole procedure which helps lower high blood pressure has been performed at Queen Alexandra Hospital for the first time.

As part of a clinical trial, doctors at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust carried out a minimally invasive procedure on three patients with high blood pressure.

Using the ‘Medtronic Symplicity™ blood pressure procedure’ (also known as Renal Denervation), doctors insert a catheter into a patient’s leg which then delivers radio-frequency energy to specific nerves near the kidneys, which can become overactive causing high blood pressure.

The procedure works by delivering energy to the overactive nerves, which then decreases their activity. It is used in patients with difficult to control high blood pressure or where patients can’t tolerate tablets. 66 year old Christina Holland from Stamshaw in Portsmouth, was one of the first patients to receive the treatment at QA Hospital. Christina has suffered with high blood pressure for over two years leading to reoccurring heart palpitations and back pain. She is on multiple medications for other conditions and conventional blood pressure tablets and lifestyle changes were not lowering her blood pressure.

The grandmother of 15 said: “I was only in for the day and a week later my blood pressure has gone down significantly. I would highly recommend to those people who may be suffering right now with high blood pressure and who could be suitable for this to ask their doctors about it.”

The one hour procedure is currently licensed for use in over 60 countries and is in clinical trials in England.

PATIENTS PRAISE NEW SERVICE OFFERING BREAST SCREENING CLOSER TO HOME

A mammography screening service has opened at Oak Park Community Clinic in Havant as part of a programme at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust to offer patients a greater range of tests closer to home.

Pauline Broad was one of the first patients to use the new service at the clinic.

The 68-year-old from Waterlooville said: “Having attended there before, the centre is easy to find and there is plenty of parking available. The premises were spotless and made me feel very safe.

“The signage was plentiful and access to Breast Imaging was clearly visible. On arrival I was greeted by a lovely radiographer, Ruth, who put me completely at ease and explained the procedure.

“Ruth was very caring and made me feel reassured, so the whole experience was very positive and I would not hesitate to use this service again.”

Oak Park Community Clinic is a satellite clinic that is part of the Community Diagnostic Centre programme in Portsmouth and south east Hampshire, which received a share of the £350 million national investment fund in 2021 to enable a larger capacity of tests and scans to help speed up diagnoses.

MAJOR MILESTONE FOR NEW EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Spades were poised at the ready to cut the sod as part of the next major milestone in the development of the new Emergency Department at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

Staff involved in the Building Better Emergency Care project at Queen Alexandra Hospital were joined by Chief Executive Penny Emerit, Chair Melloney Poole, local MPs and construction partner colleagues from Integrated Health Projects (IHP) for the cutting of the sod ceremony.

Demand on urgent and emergency services has increased throughout the Portsmouth and south east Hampshire area and the facility has been planned by clinicians to help support this demand and offer an improved environment for both patients and staff.

Chief Executive Penny Emerit said: “Seeing another major milestone in our work to improve emergency care for our community is fantastic. This new facility provides a great opportunity to redesign our urgent and emergency services to further respond to the needs of our patients.”

JOINING THE NATION IN KING’S CORONATION CELEBRATIONS

NHS staff at Portsmouth’s Queen Alexandra Hospital will be making sure patients don’t miss out on celebrations as the nation gets together to mark the King’s Coronation this May.

On Saturday 6 May, King Charles will be crowned and staff at the hospital are busy working on plans to ensure patients don’t miss out on the celebratory spirit. Plans include games, activities and special bunting for wards with patients who are unable to take part in community events.

STRONGER PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ISLE OF WIGHT TRUST AND PHU

A stronger partnership between neighbouring NHS trusts will help tackle the long-standing challenges of delivering healthcare for the Isle of Wight and ensure the provision of high quality, safe, and sustainable services to all the populations they serve.

As part of the partnership, the Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust will appoint a single Chief Executive and Executive Team, with a single clinical leadership approach across the two Trusts.

Melloney Poole, Chairman at Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust said: “Our two organisations are taking the next step in our Acute Services Partnership which will bring teams from both Trusts more closely together, while remaining two separate, statutory organisations.

“Creating a single leadership team and establishing shared clinical leadership will allow us to better plan and deliver services for a combined population of 800,000 people across Portsmouth, South East Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight.”

WORK STARTS ON MULTI-MILLION POUND RENAL DIALYSIS UNIT IN FAREHAM

Works have begun on a brand new multi-million-pound Renal Dialysis Unit in Fareham.

The new 25-bed centre modular build at the Fareham Community Hospital site will begin to take shape in the next few months.

The Trust has seen an increase in need for dialysis treatment since the COVID-19 pandemic and the new centre is vital to provide further capacity for those patients.

Divisional Director for Networked Services and Consultant Nephrologist at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Natalie Borman said: ““For patients, living with kidney failure, the burden of travelling for their life-saving treatment three times a week has a big impact on quality of life for them and their families.

“This facility will treat up to 150 patients a week living in and around the area and significantly reduce travel time improving experience and health outcomes for our patients as well as reducing the environmental impact of the excess miles being travelled.”

TRUST GOES GREEN

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust and city-wide organisations have pledged their commitment to environmental sustainability by signing The Portsmouth Green Partnership Charter.

As part of the Trust’s Green Plan, the Trust joined partners from across Portsmouth to sign the new Green Charter city-wide initiative, making a public commitment to improving our environmental performance.

PHU will work alongside local partners to become more environmentally sustainable through reducing carbon emissions and operational waste, supporting local biodiversity, and empowering and supporting those living and working in Portsmouth to make greener decisions.

Read our Green Plan at: www.porthosp.nhs.uk/about-us/climate-changeand-sustainability

Stroke patient Geoff enjoys a visit from Maggie the therapy dog.

MEET THE DOGS BRINGING PAWS-ITVITY

TO PATIENTS AND STAFF AT QA

Therapy dogs at Queen Alexandra Hospital are bringing not only joy to those who meet them on site - they are also having a remarkable impact on the rehabilitation of patients.

Paul Peacock from Southsea suffered a stroke last December during an operation to remove a tumour on his abdomen.

The 50-year-old spent time in Southampton General Hospital’s intensive care unit, before being transferred to the acute stroke unit at Queen Alexandra Hospital and then onto the rehabilitation ward, where Paul was introduced to Pets As Therapy (PAT) dog Maggie.

During a time which Paul says was “very difficult to cope with,” dog owner and hospital volunteer Tess started visiting Paul with her PAT Dog Maggie, a 11-year-old Golden Labrador.

IT consultant Paul said: “I’m a dog lover and was missing my dog. Maggie came in and spent some time with me and helped me interact with her.

At this point my dog wasn’t allowed to visit, but Maggie was able to fulfil that function.”

Paul says Maggie encouraged him to walk and move about, as well as provide mental wellbeing support. His wife Shona said: “It was definitely on the days that Maggie or any of the dogs had visited, Paul was much more relaxed and happier.”

Often, Maggie will sit next to stroke patients like Paul, allowing them to stroke her with the arms that don’t move very well as a result of the stroke. Owner and volunteer Tess said: “Maggie goes onto the bed if they want her to and she’ll lie down and put her head on them and they’ll stroke her, sometimes with the arm that’s been affected by the stroke.”

Maggie is one of seven Pets As Therapy dogs at Queen Alexandra Hospital. Maggie works alongside other dogs, Whiskey, Louis, Millie, Snowy, Angel and Rosie, whose owners take them for regular visits to the paediatric and

stroke wards, as well as other places in the hospital where patients and staff need a little pick-me-up.

Saz Manuel, Senior Occupational Therapist, Acute Stroke Team said the PAT Dogs are vital to the rehabilitation of patients. She said: “The effects the dogs have on patients and staff is immeasurable.

“Maggie has been helping with Paul’s therapy sessions, which helps to encourage a lot of automatic movement to come back. The sensory feedback just from animals is fantastic. It also helps with anxiety as well and the frustration from the loss of movement. Maggie automatically helps relax patients, helping them feel calm, which makes the whole session a lot more successful.”

MEET OUR PAW-SOME DOGS

WOOF WOOF FACTS

Pets As Therapy (PAT) is a national charity that enhances the health and wellbeing of thousands of people in communities across the UK. Through the charity, owners and their well-tempered pets can volunteer to visit staff and patients across hospitals.

Therapy dogs can reduce stress levels for patients and bring joy, especially for those missing their own family pet back home.

Services are shown to boost the mental health of patients, visitors and hospital staff. For example, therapy dogs can offer children who may be fearful of an operation or bored in hospital a fun and comforting form of distraction, which also allows concerned parents to relax too.

There are currently seven dogs which visit Queen Alexandra Hospital each week.

The dogs not only visit patients – they also bring joy to staff, helping to improve staff productivity and bringing calmness to sometimes stressful environments.

Anyone wanting to book a Pets As Therapy dog visit must go through their ward and ask a member of staff who will contact Voluntary Services.

Therapy dog Maggie pays a special visit to former patient Paul at his home in Southsea.

CHILD’S

More than 76,000 children are treated at Queen Alexandra Hospital every year, with over 9,000 of them being admitted onto a ward – and play specialists and staff are on hand to ensure they feel less anxious about their visit or stay.

Hospitals can be daunting places for children and their families, with lots of unfamiliar faces and places and a disruption to their normal routine.

Emergency Department Play Specialist Zoe Parton said: “We recognise that having a child in hospital can be a stressful time for both the child and their family and we aim through play to help alleviate some of those fears.

“Play helps to combat anxieties as it’s something a child can relate to - it’s not only fun, but it’s how children learn and express themselves. Play helps to normalise the hospital environment and encourages their development throughout their stay, as well as helping to keep the children motivated.”

We take a look at some of the wonderful schemes at Queen Alexandra Hospital Portsmouth aimed at helping children cope with a hospital stay or visit.

Zooming into surgery

Five-year-old Isaac arrived for his surgery in style – thanks to a journey in a mini electric Porsche car.

The youngster drove down the corridors of Queen Alexandra Hospital to get to his partial tonsillectomy surgery - a procedure which only removes some of the tonsils, and typically has a much quicker recovery process than a full tonsillectomy.

One of the surgery team members said: “Children absolutely love it. It makes it different from walking down with lots of adults walking besides you, which can be quite daunting for the child.”

PLAY

Music to their ears

Young patients at Queen Alexandra Hospital get to experience the joy of music – thanks to regular visits from the music therapy charity George’s Rockstars and in-house music therapists.

Children’s ward patient Riley, 12, recently enjoyed playing classic rock songs using the electric drums and guitars, alongside six year old Maisie and a small group of patients.

Riley was diagnosed with Leukaemia in late 2020 and frequently stays in the Starfish Ward. Riley’s mum Amanda said: “Riley loves being able to play and learn all the instruments. It’s nice to see even when children have to stay in hospital, it doesn’t always have to be a scary experience.”

The music sessions are a fun way to provide some normality to the children and their parents whilst spending time in hospital.

Cathy Birch, Music Therapist at Queen Alexandra Hospital, said: “When I am asked about my job, I often say how lucky I am and that I probably have one of the best jobs in the hospital!

“Spending time in hospital or living with a long-term health condition can be difficult for children and families in so many ways. Music therapy can help both children and their families explore and express their feelings without having to put them into words – and it can also be lots of fun! It’s a real privilege to be in a role which is all about helping children and families not just to cope but to live positively in the face of many challenges.”

READY TO GO

NEW DISCHARGE SCHEME HELPS GET PATIENTS HOME SAFELY

A new personalised scheme to help people leave hospital quickly and get settled at home is proving popular with patients ready to be discharged from Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth.

Patients who are ready to leave the hospital in Cosham but need extra support when they get home, can now use a Driving Miss Daisy service funded by Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

On-call drivers from the scheme pick up patients as soon as they are ready, taking them home via an adapted vehicle for wheelchairs. The driver settles the patient at home, ensuring there are essential supplies such as hot drinks, food, medications and specialist equipment.

Since its launch in mid-October last year, the Driving Miss Daisy service has so far helped Queen Alexandra Hospital prevent over 34 delayed discharges - where a patient is ready in the evening, but no ambulance service is available - and 15 failed discharges - where a patient is sent home but has to be re-admitted back to the hospital, as the driver doesn’t think the home environment is safe or ready for the patient.

92 year old Alicia, pictured on the right, was admitted to Queen Alexandra Hospital on Boxing Day after suffering from flu. She was in hospital for over two weeks and after recovering was discharged home using the Driving Miss Daisy scheme.

Alicia, from Stubbington, says the service is essential for people like her:

“My husband is at home but is deaf and unable to pick me up. This service helps me to not only get home but get me settled such as making me a hot drink and sorting out any food or medications. The people are lovely.”

The scheme is part of a number of initiatives the Trust is running to help patients recover better and more quickly in their own home. We know the longer patients stay in hospital, the greater risk of deconditioning*.

Portsmouth Hospitals Charity has funded the Settling at Home project, a service provided by the Red Cross to help patients at home after discharge. The service transports patients from hospital and offers practical support to prevent re-admission such as shopping, welfare checks and support to re-build a person’s confidence.

Cathy Lake, Deputy Divisional Nurse Director at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, said: “We’ve found a huge benefit to working alongside Driving Miss Daisy. They have specially adapted vehicles, so the patients can go home in wheelchairs. It’s really reassuring for us to have our patients going home and know that the companion drivers will settle them in, make them a cup of tea and make sure they are well before they are left.”

Melissa Mabbett, Senior Matron at the Trust, added: “We have seen a real benefit from using Driving Miss Daisy in the transportation of our patients to their homes or onward facilities. We can plan the journeys in

advance and allocate timings to best suit the ward, the patient and the patients’ families. We even have the ability to call Driving Miss Daisy at very short notice.

For more details on how to support patients to leave hospital when they are ready to be discharged, visit: Ready To Go (porthosp.nhs.uk)

TIPS TO HELP YOU LEAVE HOSPITAL WHEN YOU’RE READY

On admission, give the nursing staff contact details of any services which your loved one will need to have rearranged before discharge, for example, carers.

Arrange transport home from hospital

Make sure they have their medication and dressings, if applicable, before leaving the hospital.

Ask about outpatient appointments if relevant, making sure they know where they need to go, for example, a hospital or GP surgery. They will also need to know if they need to make the appointment.

Ask for a copy of their discharge letter.

Take clothes and shoes to the hospital.

Find out more:

April was Stress Awareness Month and while stress is unavoidable for the vast majority of us, there are many ways to help reduce and manage it.

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust’s Mental Health Nurse Liz Varughese shares some top tips for helping to reduce stress in your life.

The World Health Organisation defines stress as the epidemic of the 21st century. Stress has been identified to have long term devastating effects on health and can lead to type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and anxiety to name a few. While stress itself is not an illness, it can lead to physical and mental health issues if not addressed. To lead a healthy life, we need to find support networks and coping strategies to manage our stressors.

So what is stress? To answer that we need to dig a bit deeper. There are many models that explain stress. The one that is very practical and the most simple to

Personally, I am huge fan of ‘Eustress’. Eustress is a positive form of stress which has a beneficial effect on health, motivation and emotional wellbeing. It’s a driving force that encourages us to achieve and thrive. Physiologically speaking, Eustress releases feel good hormones called endorphins in our body.

‘Distress’ is the stress that negatively affects you, causing physical and mental harm. It negatively impacts our social life, finances, professional life and most importantly our relationships. Rachel Johnson, Occupational Health Manager at the Trust, said: “Remember it is not your fault, and you are not responsible for the things that happen around you.”

I think this was true for me. I am a nurse by profession and have been trained to work in environments that normally generate stress and when I would reflect on how my shift had been, I would beat up myself mentally for everything that I could have done better. We all end up doing the same. Maybe we need to be kind to ourselves if we ever plan to manage stress in our lives.

As humans we are focused on achieving more and more. We keep an eye out on what could be our next project where we can shine and thrive even before our current projects are coming to an end. We sometimes forget to pause and appreciate what we have achieved so far.

Our daily life consumes a lot of energy, it basically drains us, and we seldom recognise it. Signs like lack of sleep, loss of concentration, being angry, irritable, impatient or wound up, a sense of being over-burdened or overwhelmed are forsaken most of the time. We jump into a new job, new book, new project or basically a new day without recharging.

Self-care is not an act of selfishness, rather it plays a vital role in replenishing your very being. It enables you to take care of other aspects of your life. Fri Fon, Mental Health Nurse at the Trust, tries to practice what she preaches by focusing on self-care and selfawareness which are essential in the journey of life.

1. TAKE SOME DAILY ME TIME

Spare some time alone in the 24 hours of your day. Make sure you do things that make you happy. Daily Me Times are like small doses of heaven that you can enjoy every single day. This could be reading a book, going for a walk or simply relaxing with a hot drink.

2. ENJOY DELAYED GRATIFICATION

Choose a new hobby, sport or learning a new language. This would allow you to enjoy patience as you go along discovering new things and learning new skills.

3. DISCONNECT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

Limiting the time spent on social media is proven to reduce stress and anxiety level. I liken this to imagining you are reducing the time you spend admiring your neighbour’s garden and in return spend some time to appreciate your own garden and make this greener.

4. DO SOME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Focusing on your overall wellbeing by including some form of exercise as part of your daily schedule makes it more achievable and helpful in keeping stress at bay.

A beautiful line that stuck with me by Selina Graham, a Practice Nurse at Queen Alexandra Hospital, with whom I have the pleasure to work every day, was “To step back for five minutes when it becomes overwhelming and to take bite size portions when solving a problem.”

On a very practical note, a fellow colleague at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Joanne, advises: “I feel it is important to identify aspects of your life such as hobbies and friends that help you relax in order to relieve stress. Sometimes the more difficult part of stress management is recognising you are stressed and addressing it in time. I always advise people I talk to that there are services out there who can help if you are feeling particularly overwhelmed.”

I believe after reading this it is an uphill climb to master stress in one’s life but not an impossible one. There is a lot of help available where we could access professional help.

For more advice on dealing with stress, visit: www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/stress

LOOKING GOOD

THE CANCER INFORMATION AND SUPPORT CENTRE AT QA GETS A BRAND NEW LOOK

A much-loved Portsmouth cancer support centre has been given a makeover to help provide a more comforting space for its visitors.

The MacMillan Cancer Information and Support Centre, which usually welcomes between 50 and 70 visitors a day, offers support and information to people affected by cancer.

Staff and volunteers in the centre provide a wide range of free services including complementary therapies; counselling; hypnotherapy and financial advice. The services can be accessed by patients, carers, family members, friends or staff that are looking for information and emotional support.

“Our Cancer Information and Support Centre has been well-loved by the people of Portsmouth and surrounding areas for many years, unfortunately it was starting to look tired and in need of a refresh. Thankfully we had received a very generous gift in the will of one of

our oncology patients that enabled this to happen to a beautiful standard,” said Emma Brown, Centre Manager.

Portsmouth Hospitals Charity supported the refurbishment by funding new equipment and soft furnishings across the centre. The update follows a recent inspection where recommendations were made to improve the space for patients.

“The new layout allows us to accommodate more visitors, provide more privacy to those accessing our services and create a more homely experience. Our staff and volunteers are very eager to support those that walk through our doors again in our brand-new setting,” added Emma.

Head of Portsmouth Hospitals Charity, Kate Sandys said: “This centre is incredibly important within the hospital and local community. We’re glad the charity was able to play its part in improving the space for patients and other visitors.

“We’re incredibly grateful for all the

donations the charity received and wanted to highlight the generous gift in a patient’s will that made this possible. This refurbishment is a perfect example on the lasting effect gifts in wills can make, both now and for patients in the future.”

HELPING TO MAKE QA

DEMENTIA FRIENDLY

How dementia specialist nurses are helping patients and their families

When hospital administrator Lynda Golding looked for advice on supporting her elderly mum with dementia – she reached out to Queen Alexandra Hospital’s Admiral Nurse and says she can’t thank her enough.

Lynda’s mum Joan was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2022 and required specialist care whilst she was in hospital, as well as ongoing care and support at home.

Due to her work at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Lynda was able to shadow the hospital’s Admiral Nurse Sarah Munday to find out more about her mum’s condition and how she could care for her.

Admiral Nurses are specialist Dementia Nurses who are trained, supported and developed by the charity Dementia UK. They provide specialist support for patients experiencing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, as well as for their families and caregivers.

Sarah Munday was appointed in February 2022 as the Trust’s very first Admiral Nurse and her role is to help support patients and their families, provide education to staff and boost dementia awareness across the hospital.

With Sarah’s advice and expertise, Lynda was able to help in the smaller aspects of her mum’s care such as assisting her to drink and moistening her mouth. This enabled Lynda to remain a part of her mum’s care as she learnt how to deal emotionally and physically with the condition.

Lynda said: “Sarah was an absolute

inspiration to me. Thanks to her understanding approach, not only to verbally advise me but to demonstrate things to me, she gave me the confidence to improve my relationship with my mum, Joan.”

Former dinner lady Joan, originally from Southampton, loved to knit for the community and regularly donated items to the neonatal unit at her local hospital, as well as for the church fair. She was mum to only child Lynda and ‘surrogate nan’ to lots of local children.

She was diagnosed with postural hypertension after a fall in 2021 and spent time in a care home. She was later admitted to hospital after displaying challenging behaviour and the care home could no longer meet her needs. It was whilst in hospital she was diagnosed with Vascular and Lewy body Dementia.

Lynda’s mother passed away in December 2022 and although at the time of this interview, it was still a very recent experience, Lynda was eager to share her story.

She said: “I had nowhere to turn at first and I am sure that there are many others in the same situation. When your loved one is in hospital and they have dementia it’s a scary and confusing time. Even though Mum’s journey was a rough and emotional one for us all, having Sarah helped me knowing I had someone to turn to.

“We should have more Admiral

Nurses like Sarah! Not only for our patients but for the families going through this in their personal lives. I cannot shout enough about how wonderful Sarah and her team are.”

Sarah, who recently won the ‘Inspirational Admiral Nurse and Role Model Award’ in the Admiral Nurses Award 2022, said: “Living with dementia can be a hard and lonely experience and an admission into hospital is an extra stress on top of this, not only for the patient, but for their loved ones as well.

“I hope my work as a specialist dementia nurse can help families confront these challenges with confidence.”

For more information on the work of Sarah Munday and her team, visit: www. porthosp.nhs.uk/departments/dementiaservices.htm

PHU Admiral Nurse, Sarah Munday

GIVING BACK

TAXI DRIVER THANKS HOSPITAL THROUGH VOLUNTEERING

A taxi driver from Cosham is encouraging others to consider volunteering at the hospital which saved his life.

Darren Jenkinson wanted to give back to Queen Alexandra Hospital (QA) after suffering a series of serious health setbacks which almost cost him his life.

The 59 year old, who was a taxi driver for 27 years before giving work up due to ill health, is now a Patient Research Ambassador (PRA), helping researchers and clinicians with new projects, ensuring work reflects how patients feel about their care.

More than 200 different studies are currently being run across QA in a wide range of areas such as respiratory, oncology, gastroenterology and orthopaedics.

The teams behind the research studies include nurses, clinicians, allied health professionals, researchers, project managers and volunteers, like Darren. They all work together to make sure that the project will have good outcomes for patient care and includes how patients feel about their condition.

Darren said: “I didn’t know a thing about being a research ambassador or what that meant to begin with. A research nurse thought I would like it and she was right! I wanted to give back to the hospital that had saved my life and I found out about a whole world of research going on at QA .

“When I first started, I was worried that I wouldn’t fit in or have anything to contribute. I’m not from a medical background, I know about medical issues, having experienced a lot recently but I had been a taxi driver for most of my life, what could I say that would help? But I was very

wrong indeed!

“It turns out that not having the medical knowledge like the doctors and researchers is what helps the most. I bring that different perspective to the meetings and discussions and I think that the more people we can get from different backgrounds and ethnic groups would really benefit the research which is carried out at the Trust.”

Darren, who had always been very fit – regularly playing football and circuit training at the gym three times a week - first started having health problems in 2007. He had planned to do a parachute jump but had to have a full medical test first and this revealed he had high blood pressure.

Further tests at QA showed he had chronic kidney disease and in 2013, Darren suffered more health problems when he started getting pains in his hips and swollen ankles. After many weeks of tests and hospital visits, he was diagnosed with bilateral avascular necrosis of the hip – a disease which means the blood supply had stopped going to the hips and they had effectively died.

Darren explained: “The doctors at QA told me if I had left it another 12 hours, sepsis would have set in and with all my other problems, they doubt I would have survived. I thank the hospital for saving my life.”

After recovering from a hip replacement operation in 2015, Darren suffered a stroke and developed anaemia. He was then put on peritoneal dialysis, a procedure which replaces the functions of the kidneys when they stop working properly. Darren has a catheter which delivers a cleansing liquid

to fill his abdomen and has to drain and fill a bag four times a day – meaning he has to spend a lot of time at home.

He says volunteering has helped him with his mental health, after having to spend so much time in and out of hospital: “I felt very isolated with all my health problems and not being able to work. When a research nurse at the renal unit suggested I volunteered at the hospital, I thought I would give it a go. It has really helped me to contribute back to the hospital which has done so much for me, but also improved my mental health to be involved in something rather than just being stuck indoors.

“I would encourage others to get involved – just do it, you will not regret it. Do as much or as little as you want, when you want. You will meet a lot of new people all looking to help. It was probably one of the best decisions I have made. The more people involved with the group will only help us reflect the wider community that QA serves.”

Darren hopes he will be well enough soon to go on the kidney transplant list and eventually be able to go back to work. He plans to continue his volunteering as a Patient Research Ambassador.

There are two volunteer Patient Research Ambassador teams at QA of (PRAs), an adult’s group and a student’s group. If you want to know more about joining the Patient Research Ambassadors group, or request a talk at your school, college or community group, please contact Sharon Court at: sharon.court@porthosp.nhs.uk

I wanted to give back to the hospital that saved my life.

MEET ONE OF OUR INTERNATIONAL NURSES

ASHIN JACOB

Ashin has been working at QA for four years after moving to the UK from her home in Delhi, India. She works as a Senior Professional Educator in the hospital’s Learning and Development team, training nurses from overseas. We caught up with Ashin to find out what she loves about her role and working at the hospital.

TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR ROLE AT QA...

I have been working in the Trust for more than four years since I came to the UK. I was originally recruited as a nurse in the surgical ward at QA and then within less than a year I joined the Learning and Development team.

HAS THERE BEEN ANYTHING HARD ABOUT MOVING TO ANOTHER COUNTRY?

It was hard having to start all over again without the support of family close by.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING OUTSIDE OF WORK?

Spending time with my family and friends.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE BOOK?

Any book which is a crime thriller, no particular author, anything that says crime