RD&E news November/December 2011

RD&E news Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust staff newsletter

Nov/December 2011

n Pictured: Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Alasdair Dow, RD&E clinical champion for organ donation.

There has been a significant increase in the number of people from the Exeter area who have signed up to the NHS Organ Donor Register since the RD&E enlisted the campaign support of the city newspaper.

The NHS Blood & Transplant Service figures show that 6,122 people living in the Exeter area signed up as an organ donor during the March-September 2011 Echo campaign period – a significant increase on the 4,900 registrations for the same period in 2010.

Inside Care closer to home page 3 Fit For The Future Patient safety Staff health & wellbeing

4 6

9

n More on page 2

www.rdehospital.nhs.uk

2

Saving lives

n Continued from page 1

The Echo has raised awareness of the need for more donors so that more patients with chronic health conditions get the opportunity of a transplant and hope of survival. The campaign was spearheaded by RD&E cystic fibrosis patient Kirstie Mills who is now recovering from having had a life saving lung transplant.

RD&E Organ Donation Committee Chairman Mr Brian Aird said: “Our partnership with the Express and Echo has enabled us to inform and encourage the community to sign up as a donor. At the RD&E we also raised awareness among our staff with the organ donor register being attached to payslips. We hope that other major employers in the city would consider doing a similar initiative so that the momentum is kept up.”

RD&E Dental Nurse Naomi Jones signed

For more information or to sign up to join the NHS Organ Donor Register

up to the national organ donation

call

register

after

reading

about

0300 123 2323

or visit

www.organdonation.nhs.uk.

the

campaign on the Trust intranet.

Naomi, who works in the maxillofacial outpatients department at Wonford, said: “Although I have been a regular blood donor for several years and always want to help other people, registering as an organ donor was a natural step to take as I strongly believe that in the event of anything happening to me I can play my part, no matter how big or small, in potentially saving another person’s life and they get a good quality of life. I had no

pass the message on to as many people as possible and the awareness continues to grow about the organ donation and transplant programme.”

NHS Blood & Transplant organ donation specialist nurse Chris Chalker said: "With important that people sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register and tell their family their wishes. The Express and Echo has been working hard to highlight how organ peoples lives and we'd like to thank them for increasing awareness of this issue.”

m

donation helps to make a difference to

Associate Director of Midwifery and Patient Care,Tracey Reeves said: “As part of the RD&E ‘You Matter’ campaign we have raised the profile of carers and how we can support and work with them to improve patient experience in hospital. Carers are a rich source of information about the specific needs of the person they look after so we encourage colleagues to listen, respect and support carers so that together we can provide quality personalised nursing and treatment of our patients.”

arer

s

three people dying everyday it is really

The role of carers has been the focus of a campaign recently at the RD&E – with a new Trust policy and introduction of a identity card for carers so they can benefit from discounts in our cafes and restaurant and also at a glance staff know why they are on the ward outside normal visiting hours.

atte

r

decision and registering. It is important to

c

hesitation or reservations to making my

TUNE IN: The inspiring story of RD&E patient Kirstie Mills, now Mrs Tancock, will be aired in a programme called Love on the Transplant List on BBC 3 on 28 November at 9pm.

Care closer to home

3

A new initiative is being launched in East Devon to provide specialist elderly care in patient homes.

The ‘hospital ward at home’ pilot will provide care and support to patients in the comfort and familiar surroundings of their own homes in the

Woodbury,

Exmouth

and

Budleigh area, instead of being admitted in to hospital. The service will involve a Royal Devon & Exeter consultant geriatrician.

A range of health and social care partners will invest the skills of nurses, therapists

doctors, and

occupational

community

care

workers during the six month trial.

This partnership involves the RD&E, local GPs, NHS Devon and Devon County Council.

RD&E Lead consultant geriatrician Dr

“As well as the ‘hospital at home’

Anthony Hemsley said: “Patients with

pilot, the RD&E has created a short

cognitive impairment and dementia

stay rehabilitation ward (Knapp) to

respond better when their care and

provide care for up to 18 patients with

rehabilitation is provided in the

short term but intensive rehabilitation

familiar surroundings of their own

needs and their discharge from this

homes.

ward will be directly to their homes.

We intend to provide the same quality

All of this work has put the patient at

of care and consultant involvement

the heart of the development and

the patient would have received on a

delivery of the service. A similar ‘care

specialist hospital ward, prevent

closer to home’ approach introduced

unnecessary

stressful

for our stroke patients has proven to

admission to hospital and enable

be successful and we are hopeful that

prompt discharge back home.

likewise this pilot will improve patient

and

often

experience and care.”

Dr Sarah Jackson and her team have toured the hospital raising awareness of Parkinson’s disease and the importance of recognising that patients

with

this

illness

need

their

medication on time – every time.

One in three patients with Parkinson’s disease are admitted to hospital each year, of which 75% are emergencies. Their medication is complex and if people don’t get their medication at the right time, their needs will increase and they won’t be able to care for themselves. Parkinson’s UK has donated a blue folder for each ward, which will provide an essential resource for treating patients with this condition.

4

Fit For The Future

The Royal Devon & Exeter is piloting a telephone reminder service for patients in a bid to reduce the 30,000 hospital clinic appointments not attended each year.

The four RD&E specialist services trialling the telephone reminder service from 1st December 2011

Last year 1,875 patients did not attend their orthopaedic

are diabetes & endocrinology,

clinic appointments, 1,609 in

paediatrics, orthopaedics and

paediatrics, 1,528 in diabetes

gastroenterology

and 1,075 for gastroenterology.

for

their

outpatient clinics.

Patients taking part in the three-

RD&E Chief Operating Officer Elaine

month trial will receive a free

Hobson said: “We plan our staffing

automated

and use of our clinical departments

reminder – not a text – a few days

and equipment for the anticipated

before they are due to come in to

number of appointments made.

the

When a patient does not attend or

approach is not acknowledged,

cancel their appointment we don’t

someone will get in touch with the

think it is fair that someone else

patient to remind them about their

was denied the opportunity to have

appointment and give the option of

been

confirming,

seen

and

there

is

an

RD&E.

telephone

If

the

message

automated

cancelling

or

re-

unacceptable financial loss to the

arranging the date. The Trust has

NHS.”

commissioned 360CRM to provide the reminder service.

The RD&E Service Development team can:

If the pilot is successful the Trust

✔ provide

will

✔ offer a range of tools and techniques such as value stream mapping

clinical services.

coaching and training to help colleagues work through projects and changes

✔ guide you on how to plan a test of change ✔ improve understanding of demand and capacity We are part of the ‘Fit For The Future’ team and work closely with the Programme Management Office.

You can find out more on our IaN pages or call on ext 6953.

consider

adopting

the

reminder service across other

Fit For The Future

5

Local people attending a recent Members Say event hosted by the RD&E were asked for their views on a proposal to replace linen hospital night gowns, given to emergency admission patients, with a cheaper and disposable alternative.

A display with mannequins

Members had their say:

showed:

✔ 27

members

supported

the

the current linen cloth gown –

disposable cheaper alternative

which costs about £6 to buy

feeling it made sense in the

and re-launder; and each year

current financial climate and was

costs the local NHS about

‘adequate

£30,000 to replace them when

situations;’ though some likened

patients take them home and

the material to a cheap dishcloth.

the gowns are not returned

✔ 18

for

members

emergency

preferred

the

a disposable gown which only

current linen gown feeling it

costs about £1 to purchase

was

without re-laundering costs

comfortable to wear and ‘less

a much cheaper disposable

alien’ that personal nightwear.

gown which the trust would not

It was also suggested that a

consider using because they are

choice of bed wear could be

not hard wearing enough to

sold in the main concourse if

ensure privacy and dignity

patients

more

dignified

wished

to

and

wear

something else.

Nursing & Midwifery teams will be able to keep up to date with

soon. ‘The Grapevine’ will be distributed to clinical areas and will

encourage

two

way

communication. The editor is Nolwenn Luke.

2012.

This follows a successful 13week test of change on Dart, Knapp, Okement and Yeo wards of

the

Ward

Housekeeper

(formerly known as Modern Housekeeper), the Catering Assistant and a re-designed Domestic Assistant role, as part of the Fit For The Future programme. This achievement

disposable cheapest gown was a

were involved in this pilot led

non-starter

by Hazel Hedicker (pictured

part of the ‘Fit For The Future’

launched

Wonford hospital from March

event for those colleagues who

work and changes at the RD&E being

adopted across the RD&E

✔ Everyone agreed the paper thin

The feedback has been shared as

newsletter

ward support roles will be

was marked with a celebratory

the on going service re-design by reading a new bi-monthly

The piloted new non-clinical

savings programme review work. *This review does not apply to hospital gowns routinely given for elective procedures. It is for those patients who are admitted as emergencies

without

the

appropriate personal belongings for a hospital stay.

cutting the cake).

6

Patient safety

All of us working in healthcare have a responsibility and duty of care to keep our patients safe.

Patients and their families place their trust and confidence in us to ensure that we all maintain high standards at all times, follow the correct protocols and good practice; and perform the right surgical or interventional procedure on the right patient, in the right place every time.

When mistakes happen they can have devastating consequences for the patient, the staff team involved; and the Trust and NHS in terms of public confidence.

At the RD&E there has been a clinicallyled review of the Trust’s Correct Site Surgery Policy (2008) which has taken into The RD&E launch of the Safe Surgery & Interventional

account national and international best

Procedures Policy included:

practice, including the World Health

n

Trust Executives and senior managers and matrons being

Organisation

hosted by colleagues in Colleagues in the eye,

National Patient Safety Agency alerts.

(WHO)

Checklist

and

orthopaedic, general and child and women’s health

n

theatres to discuss our commitment to maintaining high

The new Safe Surgery & Interventional

patient safety in theatres and on wards (Pictured

Procedures Policy is in place and we

Director of Nursing Em Wilkinson-Brice and Joint Medical

expect all staff on the wards and in

Director Dr Vaughan Lewis on a visit)

theatres

Over 70 colleagues attended a policy launch in Peninsula

procedures set out in it.

Medical School n

An information display in Oasis promoting the policy and good practice including

to

rigorously

follow

the

Patient safety

7

A key aspect of this policy is the requirement for all staff to demonstrate fundamental behaviours to keep our patients safe –

✔ To work and communicate as a team ✔ To have the courage to protect patients and colleagues by speaking out if they have any concerns regarding patient safety

✔ To receive challenge from a colleague in a positive professional manner, giving the concerns others may have due consideration We have immensely dedicated and skilled staff at the RD&E who have already made good strides in improving the ways we work and patient safety. This policy does not just apply to activity in theatres and on wards, there are also specialist interventional services such as cardiology and radiology which need to follow the protocols and procedures set out in it.

We owe it to our patients, their families and ourselves to know and follow the Safe Surgery & Interventional Procedures Policy every time.

Mr Martin Cooper Joint Medical Director

We, along with the rest of the Devon health and social care community, are seeing increased evidence of the highly infectious viral gastroenteritis bug Norovirus.

The Trust infection control service has reviewed recent Norovirus outbreaks at the RD&E since the summer and revised guidance to all staff on the prevention and management of this bug.

It is essential that all Trust staff are familiar with and follow the control measure guidance which can be viewed and downloaded from IaN. Colleagues without easy access to a computer in work should be given the guidance from their supervisors or managers.

Colleagues should note that the new guidance has a significant change concerning closure of wards when norovirus has been identified and spread has occurred to at least one other patient.

There is 90% chance that even if only one bay appears to be affected initially that the virus will spread to other bays.

Therefore, in most cases, there will be no patient admissions to that entire ward.

The anticipated benefit of this approach will be: n When planned discharges are realised there will be a reduced number of patients at risk on the ward n With fewer patients to become exposed/infected, the duration of the outbreak will be shorter with fewer bed days lost n reduced complaints from patients or their families about being admitted to an infected ward area.

This change will be closely monitored for its effectiveness in terms of infection control management and the impact on bed capacity.

www.rdehospital.nhs.uk

8

Achievements Congratulations to Clare McAdam

All RD&E staff will shortly be receiving their

and the Perinatal Mental Health

own personal Safety Passport or ‘clinical and

Team on winning the ‘Raising

safety passport’ depending on their role in the

Standards’ award for excellence in

organisation.

delivery of care and support as part of the Devon Partnership NHS Trust’s Celebrating Achievement Awards 2011.

These passports have been developed by NHS organisations across Devon with the idea that you will be able, if required, to show your current training record and competencies

The team work with women with mental health concerns

achieved to date in order to avoid duplication of

in pregnancy to promote wellness in the months leading

training. These passports are being rolled out to

up to birth so as to improve outcomes and reduce the

all NHS staff across Devon and have been

risk of further problems for these women and their new

printed by the Strategic Health Authority.

babies after they are born. The team are thought to the only one in the country specialising in providing this specialist collaborative service between mental health and maternity and are a great example of how partnership working can benefit patient care.

It is your own personal property and doesn’t replace the need for training records to be held centrally on ESR. Staff will use the passports in different

ways

depending

on

their

own

individual need e.g. if you work for more than one NHS organisation in Devon your essential

Congratulations

to

Nigel

training

records

will

be

recognised

on

Lawrence, Assistant Directorate

production of a verified passport, so you will

Manager and Lead Nurse for

only need to cover the local application as

Children,

required. The passport could be used as

on

the

successful

completion of his MSc.

evidence at your PDR / appraisal meeting.

Director of Nursing & Patient

If you are moving NHS organisations in Devon,

Care, Em Wilkinson-Brice said:

you will be able to show through the

“Nigel is one of those people who

recruitment process that you are up to date

will never shout about his own successes and so it is with

with essential learning / relevant competencies

absolute pleasure that I am ‘exposing’ his achievement

and won’t need to repeat it again on arrival in

of gaining distinction in a Masters in Integrated Health

the new organisation.

from Plymouth University. Many congratulations Nigel!”

Various methods are being used to get the

Nigel said: “I had a brilliant time over the four years

passports out to everyone and you should be in

completing the MSc, and appreciate the support my

receipt of your copy shortly. If your passport

managers, colleagues, and the Trust gave me in

doesn’t arrive with you in the next few weeks

completing the programme. The amount of commitment

or

required was a challenge, but was made worthwhile by

Alison

the sense of achievement when I achieved the award.”

Alison.copp@rdeft.nhs.uk

you

would Copp

on

like ext

it

sooner 3001

or

contact email:

Improving patient care

9

The RD&E Joint Pain Management & Physiotherapy Unit was officially opened at the Heavitree site by Trust Chairman Angela Ballatti, who described the relocated outpatient services as ‘a first class environment to be proud of.’

The new unit was designed to improve access for patients who often need to attend appointments for both services and provide a more joined-up approach to their care with improved communication between the teams.

There are four Pain Management clinic rooms within the unit and a dedicated procedure room where patients have injections and other surgical procedures to help reduce and manage their pain. The Pain Management service delivers around 3,700 outpatient appointments and 800 day case procedures a year, as well as running regular pain management programmes and information sessions.

The Physiotherapy unit features a large

Massage & Wellbeing Centre

treatment area with treatment bays, as well as a gym and astro-turf area for the rehabilitation of patients attending the 15,000 appointments offered there a year.

The additional patient and staff education areas have also allowed treatments to be

Reiki Acupuncture Homeopathy Body Stress Release Cranio Sacral Therapy Deep Tissue Massage

Rosie Claire Jackie Hugh Brad Joanne

07814 529674 07711 323796 07779 012725 07941 612419 07967 972707 07771 227462

developed further.

Rupert Broomby, Consultant in Anaesthesia

10% discount for all NHS employees

and Pain Management, said: “The new unit has been a great improvement, both for staff in terms of a single dedicated place of work with enhanced liaison between teams, but more importantly, providing patients with improved facilities that are easier to access, and which allow us to offer improved treatments and therapies.”

18 Gandy St Exeter EX4 EX 3LS Tel: 01392 258855 www.massageandwellbeing.co.uk enquiries@massageandwellbeing.co.uk www.rdehospital.nhs.uk

10 Staff health & wellbeing

Uniform Issues & Sewing Room Need a new or replacement nursing or medical staff uniform? Download a Uniform Issue form from our pages on IaN and when authorised by your manager, send it to the Sewing Room and we will despatch the items to your ward or department.

Dry Cleaning Shop Trust staff receive a discount on the professional quality dry cleaning, washing and pressing service provided in-house. We can do suits, trousers, dresses, skirts, ball gowns, wedding dresses and household items like curtains and furniture covers. Sorry we do not provide an ironing service.

Our shop is at the front of the Laundry building. Dry cleaning prices are on IaN. Check the garment labels first and if in doubt give Janet a shout on ext 3076

Help join the fight against Flu by taking part in the Seasonal Immunisation programme for RD&E staff. The vaccination is especially aimed at front line staff and those most at risk, although anyone is eligible to receive the jab.

Vaccination sessions are taking place around the Trust, or with Peer Vaccinators in clinical directorates. Look out for latest dates and clinic locations on posters and on IaN. Common myths

✔ Healthy people don’t get seasonal flu – FALSE! – Anyone can pick up the virus

✔ The

side effects of the vaccination are bad – FALSE! – Side effects are mainly mild or non-existent

✔ The

flu jab isn’t safe – FALSE! – The risk of having a serious reaction is less than one in a million

✔ The flu jab can give you the flu – FALSE! – It is impossible to get flu from the jab as it does not contain live viruses. The mild symptoms you may experience are just your body’s immune system responding to what it thinks is flu This illness is preventable. By getting the vaccination you will not only be protecting yourself, but also your families, your patients and the services you provide.

NHS Special - Buy a Jerez table with these 6 chairs and ONLY PAY FOR 5

Lounge | Dining | Bedroom m | Kitchen Kitchen Only 15 minutes from Exeter down the A38 5% Discount for all NHS Staff. NHS ID Card must be provided For more information call

01626 830707 Heathfield, Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot, TQ12 6RY

www.prestigefurniture.co.uk

Staff health & wellbeing 11

The RD&E Improving Working Lives Lottery Committee invite colleagues to take part in The Christmas Cake Decorating Competition & The Grand Christmas Super Draw 2011 Both annual festive activities will take place on Friday 16 December in Oasis restaurant at Wonford.

Cake Decorating Competition

Grand Christmas Super Draw

The competition is open to all members of staff to

Before the draw children from First Steps nursery

display a one-tier Christmas cake in either Royal

will sing to get us in the festive spirit.

Icing or sugar paste. The cake will not be tasted.

The first draw prize will be an estimated

Cakes can be either traditional or novelty and

£3000* with further prizes of £600, £300 and

prizes will be awarded for first, second and third

six prizes of £100.

place winners. Judging starts at 9.30am with winners announced after the Grand Christmas Super Draw at 10.30am.

For further details and an entry form please contact Marie Taylor on ext 4551 or via marie.taylor2@rdeft.nhs.uk We would welcome your entries as soon as

To be in with a chance to win, you must have joined the Lottery by 9 December. See our IaN page for how to join. * the lottery figure is an estimate based on previous figures and numbers of participants, final jackpot figure will be announced prior to the lottery draw.

possible but the final date for entering is Monday 12th December.

www.rdehospital.nhs.uk

12 Other news

The Peninsula Clinical Research Facility at the RD&E is currently recruiting volunteers into the Exeter 10000 project. The project aims to improve the diagnosis and treatment for common conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Over the last two years 4,000 people have kindly volunteered. Over the next three years we need to recruit a further 6,000.

Anyone over 18 years of age, whatever your health condition, can take part.

Neonatal Unit matron Louise Ratterbury had as much fun as former patients on an art workshop with Exeter Healthcare Arts and local artist Catherine Cartwright. The unique art work was created by youngsters aged from six months to 15 years old and will brighten up for unit for parents and staff.

Being involved couldn’t be easier we simply need you to attend a 30 minute appointment when we will take blood pressure, height, weight, hip and waist measurements; answer some health questions and provide a blood/urine sample.

Half of your blood sample is used for routine health checks, such as cholesterol and diabetes screening and the other half is stored anonymously to be used for medical research.

If you wish, the results of your blood tests can be sent to you and your GP. To make an appointment, call 01392 406769 weekdays, 8.30am – 4pm. More information about the project is available at www.peninsulacrf.org/node/155

Colleagues from the RD&E respiratory team, as well as representatives from the British Lung Foundation and BLF Breathe Easy East Devon, helped raise awareness about Pulmonary Fibrosis, by creating the first ever Fibrosis Day in October with an information display in the Oasis restaurant and leaflet advice.

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disease which currently has no known cause or cure. It generally affects people in middle age (usually aged 50+) and is becoming increasingly common, especially among men.

The ‘Antibiotic Stewardship’ team toured the Trust on Friday 18 November raising awareness about the serious issue of responsible antibiotic prescribing.

The number of infections due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria is growing globally and is related to the overuse of antibiotics and inappropriate prescribing. It is essential that all antibiotic prescribers and dispensers consider both their clinical responsibility to provide optimal patient care and a public health responsibility to minimise the emergence and spread of resistant organisms.

The team has produced a safety briefing for staff, which is on IaN.

The pilot for the dedicated hospital park and ride bus service to include the RD&E Heavitree site has been reviewed.

There was a modest take up of the bus service to this additional stop which unfortunately cannot be financially sustained so the PR3 bus service run to Heavitree will cease on 30 December 2011. The service will continue after 30 December to operate from the Digby site to Wonford hospital.

The timetable from 02 January 2012 can be found on IaN. If you have any questions or queries please contact the Car Parking department on rh8.carparking@nhs.net

The RD&E maternity service, birth and neonatal units have been assessed for UNICEF Baby Friendly Accreditation and passed with excellent results.

Four external assessors spoke to 90 women about the information and support they received about feeding their babies. Further training will be held over the coming months to address five remaining criteria to be met. The Infant Feeding Co-ordinators would like to thank everyone for their hard work and commitment to ensuring women get high quality care and support on this issue.