Chatterbox - 230526

Friday 26 May 2023

CHATTER BOX

Your fortnightly bulletin for SaTH colleagues and events

Golden opportunity for Tom

Inspirational Tom Tanner, a Healthcare Assistant in ED, had a date with royalty when he attended the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award ceremony in Buckingham Palace Garden.

Tom joined 20 other St John Ambulance youth volunteers for the event – he has been a volunteer with the charity since he was a small child.

He successfully achieved an assisted Gold last summer in the heatwave

in the Forest of Dean.

Tom said: “I have a physical disability and haven’t been able to follow my dream of joining the RAF as a pilot, but being in St John has helped me realise that I can do other things. I have pushed myself, especially doing my Gold DofE last year, with no one else that I knew, in the middle of nowhere, in a heatwave. I overcame the challenges of walking distances; I used my crutches and also had the use of an all-terrain wheelchair for

the longer distances.

He added, “I thoroughly enjoy working with St John under 18 volunteers, badgers and cadets and my dream is to be a children’s nurse. I have also just become the unit DofE leader. I want to prove to others that having a disability doesn’t mean you can’t do things. You can.”

National DofE Manager at St John Ambulance, Richard Salter was key in supporting Tom by finding Tom a reduced mobility expedition to complete and funding

from a DofE grant.

Tom is a Youth Leader in the Market Drayton Unit. His mum, Teresa, Lead Nurse for Safeguarding Children & Young People is the Unit Manager.

Teresa said: “We are so incredibly proud of what Tom has achieved, and for those who know us as a family know exactly how far Tom has come to achieve this award.”

Well done Tom!

Calling for runners to take part in half-marathon for SaTH Charity

SaTH Charity is thrilled to announce that it has secured charity places for the highly sought-after Lake Vyrnwy Half Marathon.

This spectacular event, which is scheduled for Sunday September 17, offers an unparalleled experience for both beginner and seasoned runners, with a route through some of the most stunning scenery in the area.

Participants can register either as individuals or as part of a team, and we are requesting that each runner raises a minimum of £100 in sponsorship, which will go directly to SaTH Charity. With over 60 funds within the charity, runners can choose to direct their sponsorship to the cause of their choice.

Julia Clarke, Director of Public Participation, said: “We are incredibly pleased to have secured these highly coveted spots for this event. We already have a number of staff members signed up, and we welcome more participants to join in for camaraderie and to support SaTH Charity’s mission of making a real difference to our patients, their families and our staff. Participants in the race will be supporting a worthy cause while experiencing the thrill of the event.”

In addition, all participants will receive a complimentary SaTH Charity t-shirt to wear during the race. If you are interested in securing a spot, please click the button below to send us an email at sath.charity@nhs. net

Father’s inspiring marathon run for SaTH Charity’s Children’s Oncology Fund

Robert Wright, a supporter of SaTH Charity’s Children’s Oncology Fund, ran the Manchester Marathon to pay tribute to his daughter Maisie.

His daughter received exceptional care on the Children’s Oncology Ward in 2018. He embarked on this feat to pay tribute to his daughter, Maisie who bravely battled cancer and received exceptional care on the Children’s Oncology Ward in 2018.

Robert said he embarked on the feat as he wanted to make a meaningful impact on the lives of other children using the service and support the amazing staff who provide the care. He said: “Their incredible work is truly exceptional, and I am determined to contribute to ensure that other

children receive the best possible treatment.”

Robert successfully completed the gruelling marathon in an impressive time of four hours and nine minutes, raising an outstanding £459 in support of the SaTH Charity.

Julia Clarke, Director of Public Participation, said: “SaTH Charity is so grateful to Robert for his support to recognise the care that Maisie received. Through his active participation in the Manchester Marathon and his remarkable fundraising achievements, Robert has become an invaluable champion for the Children’s Oncology Ward.”

If you would like to donate, Robert’s JustGiving page is available here

Challenging trek to raise research funds

Our Research and Innovation Team marked Clinical Trials Day (20 May) by embarking on a challenging expedition up Mount Snowdon.

This venture was to celebrate their commitment to research and innovation but also to raise awareness for their work and funds to advance the service they offer.

Eight dedicated colleagues - Jo Stickley, Hannah

Gibson,

Burtonsuccessfully completed the trek and collectively raised an impressive £593 in support of their cause.

and

Mandy Carnahan, Trust Lead Research Nurse, expressed her pride in the team’s achievement.

She said: “Members of the Research and Innovation team took on the challenge of climbing Snowdon to raise funds and awareness for the research studies undertaken at SaTH.”

£2,000 donation for neonatal ward

The neonatal unit at PRH has received a generous donation of £2,000 from the parents of one of our preterm babies that was cared for on the unit for over two months.

Baby Tilly was born at 29 weeks gestation and spent the first two months of her life, including her first Christmas, on the neonatal unit.

Whilst on the unit Tilly’s parents Charley and Ed continued with their wedding plans. They tied the knot in May where Tilly was bridesmaid, and family and friends kindly raised £2,000 for the neonatal unit.

Charley and Ed said: “We wanted to say thank you to all of the neonatal team for all the care and support you gave us during our time on the unit and for getting our miracle baby home safely.”

Susie Pajak, Hayley Hughes, Sanal Jose, Tori Melvin, Julie Summers

Daysi

Pictured left to right: Shirley Teece, Ward Manager, mum Charley, dad Ed, Tilly, and Ashleigh Stevenson, Lead for Education.

Stepping out to raise money for Swan Fund

Jules Lewis, Swan End of Life Care Facilitator and Lead Nurse, is hoping to raise £1,000 for the Swan Fund by walking from Welshpool to Newtown in Mid-Wales.

In July, Jules and her friend Becks will be walking 15 miles to mark the NHS’ 75th birthday and the eighth birthday of the Swan Fund.

Jules set up the fund in 2015 after her dad sadly passed away. It raises on average £10,000 a year to support people at end of life and those important to them.

She has also organised a raffle with the first prize being a signed painting donated and painted by Roy Lilley, health writer, commentator and artist, the second prize is two bottles of Tanners wine, with many more prizes up for grabs.

To learn more and to donate, please visit the JustGiving page here

Pictured: Left - Jules and her friend Becks. Right - Jules and her Dad

Raffle

Swan Funds 8th Birthday

The Swan Funds Birthday is on the 10th of July 2023

£1 a ticket or £4 for 5 tickets

100% of the money will go to the Swan Fund to purchase Swan Model of Care resources to support people in their last hours/day of life and those people important to them.

1st Prize a signed painting donated and painted by Roy Lilley Health Writer/Commentator & Artist

2nd Prize 2 bottles of Tanners wine

And many more prizes……

One Chance to get it right, for every person, every time. Winners will be drawn on Monday the 10th of July 2023

If you would like to buy a raffle ticket, please contact Jules Lewis on extension 3464 or via email Jules.lewis@nhs.net

Multi-faith Chaplaincy Team is making a difference

Our Chaplaincy Team is busier than ever, offering vital support to patients, visitors, volunteers and staff.

The team has recently grown to nine to include chaplains from different faith backgrounds.

During 2022, the team was involved in the care of nearly 5,000 patients through prayers, blessings, baptisms, emergency weddings, support in end of life care, last rites, gatherings of remembrance, holy communion, and responding to emergency calls.

To read the full story, please click here

Making a splash to raise charity funds

Claire Heaton, a Specialist Screening Practitioner at the Shropshire Bowel Cancer Screening Centre, made a splash when she recently completed the Swimathon 5km charity swim.

She was joined by her brother Gav and son Joss for the swim. The trio took on the challenge in order to give back to the charities who have helped and supported family and friends whilst they are dealing with cancer diagnoses and the subsequent care and treatment.

The initial motivation to do the swim was in memory of a friend Catherine Murray (nee Brain) who died at the age of 49 from breast cancer in 2012.

Great work Claire! If you would like to donate or find out more about why Claire is raising money please visit her JustGiving page here

As part of Patient Experience Week, the following wards and departments have been recognised for their achievements.

Local Inpatient Survey

A local inpatient survey is undertaken throughout the year to gain feedback from patients following their discharge. The postal survey provides an opportunity to gain insight into the experience patients report at a ward level to identify areas of good practive and areas for improvement.

The area with the highest response for overall patient satisfaction during 2022 was SAU / Ward 34.

Positive Feedback

Positive feedback recieved from patients, carers and visitors can be recorded on Datix, enabling the Trust to report on compliments in addition to feedback shared through concerns and complaints. Postive feedback can sometimes be overlooked, however it is important to capture positive experiences.

The area with the highest number of compliments on Datix during 2022/23 was Ward 35.

The Friends and Family Test

The Friends and Family Test (FFT) is a national tool used to support patients in providing feedback on their care. It is important that patients are provided with an opportunity to do this to support areas acting on feedback to improve their services.

The area with the highest FFT response rate during 2022/23 was Endoscopy (PRH).

Whilst not receiving first place, special recognition was given to Day Surgery/Short Stay (RSH) who were runners up in two of the three categories.

Well done to all teams across the Trust striving to deliver good experiences of care to patients accessing services within the hospital every day, thank you!

Thank our volunteers as part of National Volunteers’ Week 2023 (1-7 June). Click here to say a personal thank you to our volunteers which we will share with them during Volunteers’ week.

Volunteers’ Week 2023: Celebrate and Inspire

Our Trust will join thousands of charities and voluntary organisations recognising the contribution volunteers make across the UK during Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June).

With this year’s theme of ‘Celebrate and Inspire’ we hope to encourage people to be the change that we want to see and get involved in volunteering in whatever way works for them.

The contribution of volunteers is often unseen, visible only through the incredible impact of their volunteering, so taking the time during Volunteers’ Week to celebrate their efforts and all they contribute to our local communities, the voluntary sector and society as a whole has never been more important.

This Volunteers’ Week, we will be celebrating our 353 volunteers across social media; staff and visitors

are being encouraged to send a thank you message which will be shown at the annual recognition event, an afternoon tea taking place on Wednesday 7 June.

Julia Clarke, Director for Public Participation said: “Volunteers are the heart and soul of hospitals, offering their time and compassion to uplift patients and support staff. Volunteers’ Week is a chance to celebrate and recognise the invaluable contribution volunteers make, expressing profound gratitude for the impact they have on the lives of others.”

There are over 30 different types of volunteer roles at SaTH and this currently includes a brand new programme called ‘Volunteer to Career’ which supports a direct route in to work in the healthcare sector. We’re inviting individuals interested in Volunteering to get in touch.

Amisha Venkatesh

Where do you volunteer?

Currently, I volunteer as a Patient Support Volunteer in the Frailty Ward in RSH. Previously I volunteered as a ward-based volunteer in the Urology Ward.

How long have you volunteered for?

I started volunteering in March 2022. Volunteering for me has been such an interesting journey, and I really wanted to continue it!

Why are you volunteering?

At the beginning, I thought that volunteering would be a great way to support our community,

especially due to the pressure the NHS was under after COVID. It not only provided me with work experience but was also a very rewarding experience.

What do you like the most?

As a Patient Activity Support Volunteer, I regularly speak to patients who have comorbidities, one of which may be dementia. The hospital environment can be really unnerving for some patients and I have loved learning about different illnesses and how best I can communicate with these patients to help them feel more comfortable and at ease.

Judi and John Anderson

Where do you volunteer?

Judi works in Phlebotomy and John in the Discharge Lounge. We both cover in A&E when we need to too.

How long have you volunteered for?

We have spent most of our lives volunteering including Samaritans, Citizens Advice, Mind, Cats Protection and PRH League of Friends Coffee Shop and Ward Trolley. So after being a hospital ‘customer’ it was a natural progression to apply to volunteer at PRH.

Why are you volunteering?

We enjoy meeting and interacting with people

Paul Baskerville

Where do you volunteer?

so if we can also help and support them that’s a double whammy.

What do you like the most?

Watching the reaction of patients and visitors after we have helped relieving them from anxiety and stress. It’s also nice to be appreciated, someone recently said: “It always runs very smoothly when you are here – it would have been chaos without you.” Even though many patients and staff are in stressful situations it’s surprising how many smiles and laughs we have, especially with John’s sense of humour!

I work Wednesday mornings as a Response Volunteer in the main ward block. A lady called Rebecca helped me along, showing me the ropes.

How long have you volunteered for?

I joined the team around February 2021.

Why are you volunteering?

I was not in a good place after my heart attack back in January 2020, which meant I lost my job, along with my confidence.

What do you like the most?

It not only helps me, but it allows me to help others, to me that’s a win-win. I thoroughly enjoy my Wednesday morning, it’s my way of giving back to the brilliant people who kept me alive. Long may it continue.

Event to raise breast cancer awareness

An event called ‘Breast Cancer Awareness: Breaking the Silence’ was held to encourage engagement with minority ethnic groups.

It was organised by the Seldom Heard Voices Forum, which was founded by Blossom Lake, a SaTH Breast Surgeon and National Institute for Health Research Scholar.

Blossom said: “As part of my research into improving outcomes from breast cancer and understanding patients’ views, I found a lack of engagement within minority ethnic groups.

“This led to the development of this group to encourage engagement within minority ethnic groups and allow seldom heard voices to be heard. The group is a collaboration of community leaders from the Afro-Caribbean, Nigerian and Chinese community, University of Keele Race Ambassador Champion, carers of or those who have had cancer and team members from our Trust Research Department.”

She added: “As a result of this work, a resounding theme was expressed that those who have breast cancer or care for them, were experiencing stigma within their communities and it was preventing them telling family members.”

About 50 people attended the event at the

Ramada Hotel in Telford, which was the first on breaking the silence on this stigma and the group hopes to hold further events within different communities.

Coronation Fun

Colleagues, patients and visitors joined in the celebrations for the Coronation.

Our array of photographs show royal-themed bingo, balloon tennis, a cuppa and cake as part of Coronation fun in Ward 32’s Activity Room and also decorations and fun at the Children and Young Person’s Unit at RSH.

Wellman Clinic

ICS Wellman Clinics are provided by the Occupational Health Team at Shropshire Community NHS Trust and provide an opportunity for staff to have weight/ BMI, cholesterol, blood pressure checks along with a discussion regarding any other physical health queries or concerns you might have.

The Wellmen’s Clinics are on Tuesday 6, Tuesday 13 and Friday 30 June.

These clinics are completely confidential providing a chance for you to raise and discuss any health concerns you might have with the aim of supporting your overall physical and mental health and wellbeing.

You can self-refer by e-mail to shropcom.hwb@nhs.net

Making friends in the sunshine outside

RSH

Here’s a picture to brighten up your day.

Karen Thompson, Quality Governance Officer, sent in this photograph of her lovely grandson who was waiting for his brother to have an appointment at RSH.

Cycle shelters reminder and Dr Bike at RSH

Bike week starts on Monday 5 June with national events taking place during the week and we would like to remind colleagues about our secure cycle shelters.

We have secure cycle shelters at both RSH and PRH sites. Staff are asked a couple of security questions, before codes are given.

You will also be asked:

• Type of bike i.e hybrid, commuter, racer, mountain, folding, ebike, colour and brand

• Where you intend cycling from - postcode or district (Gains park / Hadley)

• Contact details i.e department, email (NHS email preferred) and internal phone number

• RSH or PRH

Please send your replies back to sath.greenertravels@ nhs.net.

Dr Bike returns to RSH on Tuesday 13 June between 8am and 12noon, giving you an opportunity to get your bicycle checked over. The event is open to both commuter and leisure cyclists. Dr Bike will give a competitive quote before any repairs are carried out. Dr Bike will be located at the main cycle shelter, located behind Catering stores on the RSH site.

Staff Psychology Service

The Staff Psychology Service was launched on 1st March 2023 and is commissioned to provide a range of evidence based psychological support and interventions to staff, to enable them to manage the emotional impact of working in the NHS

The fundamental aim of the Staff Psychology Service is to meet the psychological needs of staff, increase psychological awareness across the organisation and to support the Moving to Good workstreams.

How we can help:

• Individual support for staff

• Support for teams

• Critical incident debriefing

• Embedding psychological thinking across the organisation

How to contact us:

You can contact the team directly or ask a manager to contact us on your behalf by emailing us at sath. staffpsychology@nhs.net

A member of the team will contact you by email, or by telephone if you prefer, to arrange a time for an initial conversation.

This will usually take place on Teams but we can also arrange to meet in person.

Individual support for staff:

Our team are available to provide psychological support to staff who are struggling with the psychological and emotional impact of their work.

Our service is confidential. That means that no information will be shared outside our conversations with you without your consent. The only exception is regarding concerns about your safety or the safety of others.

Should a manager make contact with us on your behalf we will email to acknowledge that the request has been received and that a member of the team will make contact but will not share any further information.

If in doubt please get in touch. We welcome any conversations to explore whether psychological support would be helpful for you.

STAFF LOTTERY

This month ’s winners

1st £400

Annette Taylor, Medical Secretary

2nd £200 Clair Chalkley, Theatres PRH

2nd £200

Mandy Anderson, Endoscopy

3rd £100

Donna Moxon, Medicine Management

3rd £100 Emma Griffiths, Emergency Department

50% of profits are given out in prizes and the other 50% is adding to our Small Changes Make a Big Difference Fund which is all spent on items for staff.

The SaTH Small Things Make a Big Difference Fund aims to improve the working environment and amenities for all employees.

I would like to say a big thank to a lovely nurse called Gemma who organised my husband’s care and also the young FY1 who discussed results and examined him.

I know we weren’t easy at the end as my husband became very tired and was in a lot of discomfort. Both were extremely professional, kind, efficient and patient under extremely difficult circumstances - it was very busy.

Gemma is what I call a proper nurse. She was kind, caring and compassionate. Having nursed for 43 years I set myself high standards and it was so lovely to meet another nurse that cares.

Thank you both. I really do hope you pass this on to them just to let them know we really appreciated their care and kindness.