ican Caribbean ervice users
Health Informatics Update HIS: new technology supports greater productivity and reduces costs
the experiences of BME service users. The report outlines six recommendations to improve services after 63% of people surveyed said that they were not treated well in hospital. One recommendation is setting up a service user panel working alongside advocacy workers to look at discrimination. Another proposal which the Maat project identified and is currently seeing progress on relates to ‘respect’, an approach that avoids the use of restraint in hospitals.
Did you know that the Trust now offers two new facilities – video conferencing and a new telephone technology known as IP telephony? We’re all under pressure to deliver more with less funding and Health Informatics has introduced these facilities to help colleagues achieve greater productivity and reduce costs.
The report was put together in participation with groups from Nottingham including Dynamite, an informal support group for African Caribbean service users of all ages facilitated by Trust staff. Dynamite provided the entertainment and venue for the presentation as well as food including Caribbean delights such as salt fish fritters, mutton and rice.
Video conferencing enables staff to join a meeting via a video link rather than travel often many miles to physically attend. This facility has been embraced by many management groups around the Trust, not only because of the money it saves in travel costs, but also because it significantly reduces the amount of time taken out of the working day travelling to
The turnout from staff within adult mental health services was disappointing, but Sue Thornton, Adult Mental Health Services General Manger, attended the presentation and was eager to invite the group back to present the report to the acute care forum along with Dynamite facilitators Sharon and Marlene.
meetings. For example, a staff member based in Nottingham is required to attend a meeting at Rampton Hospital; it takes one hour to travel there, about 15 minutes to go through security and one hour to travel back – all for a two hour meeting. The staff member is out for nearly five hours, a huge proportion of their working day. This journey would also cost the Trust around £30 in claimed travel for a member using their own vehicle. Using video conferencing would not only save the Trust the travel expense but would also give the individual three valuable hours to concentrate on their day job. Video conferencing suites are available in various meeting rooms around the Trust and some directorates
IP telephony also supports the smarter working concept. Once set up with an account colleagues can work from any Trust location, log into the phone system and calls will follow them to wherever they happen to be working on that day. This facility is currently in its infancy and offers many more benefits which could eventually see calls being automatically forwarded to mobiles from the internal extension number for staff working off site. Further information about the above can be found under Corporate IT on the HIS Intranet pages or by calling the IT Service Desk.
Highbury Hospital staff – NVQs Staff at Highbury Hospital were presented with NVQ certificates in an event on 30 June. Max Owens, Hotel Services Manager, introduced the presentations before Alison Newton, Operational Manager, presented 26 certificates.
Qualification successes Stuart Lee – BSc Congratulations to Stuart Lee, Estates and Capital Projects Officer in Facilities (Forensic Division), on successfully achieving a First in his Bachelor of Science with Honours in Building Surveying.
are investing in their own suites to support clinical team meetings.
Staff at Highbury Hospital with their NVQs
Anne Clark – MSc Congratulations to Anne Clark, Payroll and Pensions Manager, on gaining her MsC in Payroll Management from Derby University. Anne started her degree course in September 2007 and successfully managed her study time between her work and family commitments to achieve what at times she did think was going to be impossible. She has had the continued support of her husband David and her extended family along with the support of friends and colleagues at work during this time.
Anne has worked at the Trust since 1991, working within Data Input, Finance and then Payroll, initially based at Rampton and then moving to Mansfield when Nottinghamshire Healthcare was formed. Anne has worked through many changes and challenges throughout her career but the last three years certainly rank high up in her list of challenges. Friends and colleagues from within the Trust would like to wish Anne many congratulations on achieving her degree and look forward to working with her on the challenges we all must meet in the coming years.
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A special mention and congratulations to Maggie England for achieving level 4 in ‘Managing Food Safety in Catering’. Congratulations also to Pauline Haselwood, who obtained a merit for her Advanced Food Hygiene. Stuart Lee