Your Hospital – Winter 2016 by i•creation

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Issue 4 Issue 3 Winter 2016 Autumn 2015

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Your

Safe & Effective

Kind & Caring

Exceeding Expectation

Hospital £38M EMERGENCY CARE CENTRE OPEN

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News from The

Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

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MERGENCY care under one roof is a reality at New Cross Hospital now the site’s new £38 million Urgent and Emergency Care Centre has opened.

The state-of-the-art three storey building was officially opened by Jane McKiernan, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust's Project Lead, with the first patients arriving shortly afterwards. The new centre, built over 18 months by contractors Kier Construction, includes an Emergency Department for accidents and emergencies, dedicated radiology and X-ray suite, a clinical decisions unit, an urgent care centre and facilities for urgent outpatient appointments. The top floor will house the acute medical unit. The building is three times the size of the Accident and Emergency Centre it replaced and is one of the biggest in the region, providing the people of Wolverhampton and surrounding areas with world class facilities in which staff can give high quality, safe care. Clinical Director of the Urgent and Emergency Care Centre Andy Morgan said: “Attendances by patients have gone up in general since day one and ambulance conveyances to the centre are up 12 per cent since we opened so we are busier. That, combined with working in a new area, has thrown up challenges. But our performance is improving and getting better all the time as we all get used to the space and our new working processes.” RWT Chief Executive David Loughton said: “We are really pleased with the new building and that it now brings together many of the services for Urgent and Emergency Care in Wolverhampton under one roof. “It’s a fantastic addition to the facilities at New Cross and will really improve the working experience of our staff and the experience for our patients. “It is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved and we now have a brilliant facility for the population of Wolverhampton and surrounding areas.”

See feature centre pages.

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Chemotherapy unit launched at Cannock – page six Use your mobile to trigger interactive bonus video content

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Trust forges ahead as huge investments boost facilities for patients By RWT Chief Executive

DAVID LOUGHTON THE impact of the long-awaited opening of our £38 million Urgent and Emergency Care Centre (UECC) cannot be underestimated. For years now our dedicated Accident and Emergency teams have battled against a tide of increasing patient numbers and pressures. Now this huge investment and new ways of looking after patients who arrive at the hospital – to make sure from the moment they come through our doors that they receive the most appropriate treatment – gives us an opportunity to make the whole urgent care process more efficient. That is good news for patients, good news for staff and good news for the hospital. It helps us give people the treatment they need without wasting resources and it removes some of the crushing pressure on our staff. Elsewhere, I’m delighted our investment in the Cannock Chase Hospital site continues, with the opening of an Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence and new chemotherapy facilities. Patients, their families, staff, residents and our stakeholders can all be proud of the progress this Trust is making in shaping the way NHS services are delivered. Research goes from strength to strength as thousands of patients help shape the treatments of the future and strengthen our position as one of the UK’s leading research centres. Our influence stretches even further, and in this issue you’ll read about a specialist from our Pathology Lab team who has been honoured for his work in Africa to beat the Ebola virus. Our Cardiac Centre has been named among the UK’s very best and junior doctors voted the Trust number one in the country for training and development. Thankfully this Winter started with mild weather but when things do turn colder the illnesses bad weather triggers can ratchet up the pressure on hospitals. Please help us if you can by stocking up on medicines, speaking to your GP or pharmacist and only coming to hospital if you absolutely have to. Your help can really make a big difference.

Survival rates are among

BEST IN THE UK

HE internationally recognised cardiac unit at RWT has been named the sixth best in the country for surgical survival rates. New figures compiled by the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery show that the Heart and Lung Centre, based at New Cross Hospital, has a mortality rate for the specialist surgery that is below the UK average. From April 2014 to March 2015, 8,512 cardiac surgery cases were handled and the death rate was 1.6 per cent – a survival rate of 98.4 per cent – compared to the UK average of 2.98 per cent. It means RWT is in the top six of UK’s specialist heart hospitals. Expertise at the centre has also been recognised on an international platform. A video demonstrating emergency treatment for a heart attack, which was filmed at the Heart and Lung Centre, was shown at the European Congress of Cardiology held in London. An audience of 300 watched the film in the ExCel Exhibition Centre and the catheter laboratory team then took questions from the audience during a 90-minute session. It was also broadcast simultaneously to 35,000 delegates via a live conference telecast. The centre’s Clinical Director Dr Michael Norell said: “Every single staff member of our unit can be proud of our clinical outcomes and the examples that we set. Our results, together with the new techniques and innovations that we explore, have been consistently positive since we opened 10 years ago in order to serve the population of Wolverhampton, the Black Country and beyond.”

Consultant Cardiac Surgeon Steve Billing with the pioneering Da Vinci surgical system which is used to perform open heart surgery. It is one of the ground breaking initiatives which is helping New Cross Hospital’s Heart and Lung Centre achieve excellent surgical survival rates.

● The cardiothoracic surgical team has won a top hospital award for using a new auditing technique to improve clinical practice and enhance patient safety. The team scooped the Audit of the Year

award at RWT after setting up a system to view and report all chest X-rays within a short space of time on the day they are done. This has improved quality of care and also the timeliness of diagnoses.

Stem cell treatment for heart attack patient

Consultant Cardiologist Dr James Cotton in the Cardiac Catheter Suite at New Cross Hospital.

A potentially ground breaking stem cell treatment has been provided to a heart attack patient at RWT as part of a major European clinical trial – the first person outside London to take part in the study. More than 3,000 patients in 11 European countries will participate in the research, with New Cross being one of a handful of hospitals in the UK carrying out the trial. All patients taking part in the trial will have had a major heart attack treated with the emergency placement of a coronary stent to open a blocked coronary artery. Following this, half the patients in the trial have stem cells taken from their

bone marrow and re-injected into their heart. Earlier studies suggest heart function improvement with this type of treatment but this is the first trial large enough to see whether the therapy increases survival. It is hoped there will be a 25 per cent improvement. Dr James Cotton, who leads the study at RWT, said: “Wolverhampton has one of the country’s leading heart attack centres and is renowned for clinical research. This is a novel trial using stem cells to repair heart tissue. “We are now actively seeking more patients who will be put into the trial over the next year. If proved it will be a hugely exciting breakthrough.” The patient who was part of the trial has now been discharged and is said to be doing well.

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Welcome to RWT Augmented Reality (AR) 1

Download the RWT AR app from the App Store (Apple) or Google Play (Android).

Your Hospital

Point your device at the photos where you see the AR content logo pictured below – and wait for the surprise. Double tap for a full-screen. SCAN PHOTO FOR VIDEO

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Augmented reality services by

Skyway links ‘fantastic’

NEW THEATRES new look Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence is about to open at Cannock Chase Hospital after a multi million pounds revamp involving the building of two new operating theatres and a covered footbridge.

The third floor skyway links the new state-of-the-art clean-air theatres with five existing theatres and an orthopaedic suite on the same floor. Additional nursing and theatre staff are being taken on as The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust offers more elective orthopaedic procedures like hip and knee replacements. The Trust also plans to open a new four-bed Surgical High Care Unit at the centre in a few months time so a wider range of people can be treated. It means patients previously thought to be a high anaesthetic risk who had to go to New Cross for orthopaedic surgery will be able to have their procedure at Cannock instead. SCAN PHOTO Katy Thorpe, Group Manager FOR CENTRE’S for Trauma and Orthopaedics, said: “It’s been months in the building and VIDEO the third floor of Cannock Chase Hospital has changed as a result. We’re really happy. It now means we can offer more elective orthopaedic surgery to patients from Cannock, Wolverhampton and the surrounding area. “Our fantastic new theatres at Cannock will minimise the risk of cancellations and speed up the process for patients while giving them improved quality and outcomes. Everyone involved is really excited as we take orthopaedic surgery to the next level and enhance the already fantastic service that we offer.”

Healthcare Support Worker Lisa Johnson, left, and Healthcare Support Assistant Jody Evans walk through the new skyway which links the orthopaedic facilities. Below left, an exterior view of the skyway and, below right, one of the new clean-air theatres.

actions. These include: ● Making sure people have the flu jab if eligible. ● Keeping warm – heating the home to at least 18 degrees Celsius (65F). ● Those feeling unwell, even if it is just a cough or a cold, should get help from their pharmacist quickly before it gets more serious. ● Always taking prescribed medicines as directed.

ANNUAL leave for most New Cross Hospital staff means a well-earned rest but for Renal Specialist Nurse Liz Grace it is a chance to spend a week in impoverished Bulgaria as a charity volunteer. The 54-year-old with 34 years’ NHS service under her belt has already been twice to help train nurses and set up a sewing project. A third trip in May could see her decorating a women’s refuge and passing on more skills to health colleagues. Liz, who volunteers through Krasif Aid, said:“Bulgaria is one of poorest members of the European Union and the conditions people live in can often be dire. “But they are amazing people in difficult situations who need as much practical and financial support as we can give them. For me it is a chance to give something back.” If you think you could support the charity or Liz in her work, contact her on annegrace@nhs.net.

Trolley dash to cut heel ulcers

Roadshow gives advice on preparing for winter RESIDENTS were given advice on how to prepare against the cold weather through a touring roadshow that visited Wolverhampton and other areas of the Black Country and Staffordshire. The Stay Well This Winter roadshow provided expert advice and support from nurses and other staff, while leaflets and posters were produced to inform the public about key preventative

Nurse works for charity in Bulgaria

The roadshow was part of the Stay Well This Winter campaign, a joint initiative by NHS England and Public Health England. It aims to help the public – in particular those with long-term conditions and those over 65 – prepare for winter and ward off common seasonal illnesses that do not require a visit to hospital. The campaign began in October with a national flu

vaccination programme for children aiming to help three million aged two to six. Adult groups most at risk were also offered the flu vaccine for free – and this included people aged 65 or over, pregnant women and those under 65 with long-term conditions. ● For further information about staying well visit nhs.org.uk/staywell

ATTENTION grabbing Tissue Viability staff staged a trolley dash to highlight the issue of pressure ulcers to heels and launch new hospital protocols. Wearing eye-catching T shirts bearing the campaign slogan Help Our Heels, they visited New Cross, West Park and Cannock Chase Hospitals to urge staff to react to risk as they championed the message that heel elevation lessens pressure. Sister Usha Sharma, Tissue Viability Clinical Nurse Specialist, said:“Immediately following the campaign launch there was a radical reduction of serious incidents including a 15 per cent reduction in heel pressure ulcers.”

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Survey findings rate acute unit the best ACUTE Medical Unit (AMU) facilities at RWT have been rated number one in the UK in a nationwide survey of trainee registrars. The unit scored highest in 14 key areas in the GMC National Survey 2014-15, including Overall Satisfaction, Clinical Supervision, Clinical Supervision (Out of Hours), Handover, Induction, Adequate Experience, Supportive Environment, Workload, Educational Supervision, Access to Educational Resources, Feedback, Local Teaching, Regional Teaching and Study Leave. The AMU is the first point of entry for patients referred to hospital as emergencies by their GP and those requiring admission from the Emergency Department. Dr Sabina Moolla, Consultant Acute Physician, said:“We have consistently been among the leaders in this annual survey but to come top out of every other Trust is a tremendous achievement.” “As well as being an accolade for the Trust and its staff, this also makes RWT more attractive to trainee registrars who want a career in the NHS.”

A member of the public accesses the home page of the new website.

New-look website is clear and concise A new-look website is helping patients, staff and members of the public access all the information they need about the Trust. Found at www.royalwolverhampton.nhs.uk it has been designed following discussions with residents to be clear, concise and have priority information and contact details readily available. It can be accessed on desktop and laptops computers as well as smart devices such as phones and tablets. Home page information includes the latest news stories affecting the Trust and links to more details about hospital sites and the walk in centre. Other sections includes a dedicated patient and public area, information for GPs and details about services provided at RWT. The Trust is seen as a pioneer of digital communication. This spring, it became the first Trust in the UK to use augmented reality technology to deliver information to staff and patients’ mobile phones. See page three for details on downloading the RWT AR App and using the technology to access interactive bonus content in this magazine.

WINTER 2016

Staff express their pride in

AMAZING FACILITIES S

ISTER Trudy Hurst has spoken of her pride at the team work that marked the launch of the new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre. A member of the New Cross team for the last two years, she said about day one: “The building and equipment is amazing and the space unprecedented. Patients commented on how immensely busy we all looked and how it was great we were all still smiling. “We adapted to new working methods and patient flows on the job without detriment to patient care. Staff from other units asked how it was going and wished us the best, giving testament to how staff at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust are proud to be part of improving services and are passionate about delivering quality patient care. “The pressure increased as the patient influx continued to grow. But the team work continued as Trust managers worked alongside porters, assisting us to transfer patients to wards. “Ambulance crews were understanding as we directed them through a new rapid assessment process. “The day was well planned but was not without its difficulties. I was however glad to be part of it. I left the unit exhausted as I am sure most of the staff did, but what an opportunity it was to be part of such an amazing team. “Over the next few months, I look forward to the ongoing changes and challenges as we

Staff nurse Lea Sanchez takes the blood pressures of patient James Yates.

SCAN PHOTO FOR CENTRE’S VIDEO

Sisters Cherry Dell, left, and Kim Stephenson access an on-ward medicine store in the Emergency Department.

Mum sings praises of impressive services JALEN Parsons was oblivious to the worry as he was whisked by ambulance from his GP in Cannock to the new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre at New Cross Hospital amid concerns he might have meningitis. But all ended well and the five-year-old was soon back home, with his mum Kelly Jones singing the praises of the health service. The 31-year-old said:“I’d taken him to the GP to get some antibiotics for his sore throat. We went in at 10.30am and the doctor spotted a rash Fiveso within 45 minutes we year-old Jalen were in Wolverhampton. Parsons with Health “I couldn’t see the rash Care Assistant but I know about Simone McGowan meningitis because my in the Emergency Department. sister Cassandra had it when

she was seven. The paramedics on the ambulance thought Jalen’s blood sugar was a bit low so they gave him something for that. “When we got to A&E we were taken straight through, no waiting around, and two nurses checked Jalen’s rash, his blood pressure and took bloods. A doctor was called, checked Jalen’s reaction to light and told us it was a viral infection and that we didn’t need antibiotics, just Calpol to get Jalen’s temperature down. “I was told we could go but to get back in touch if we had any concerns. My father-in-law picked us up to come home and I was happy. All in all it only took an hour. The service was really, really good. I was very impressed.”

Head Biomedical Scientist Alain Rolli with a winning photograph on the wall.

Special respiratory service is available A comprehensive respiratory medicine service is now being run at Cannock Chase Hospital – benefiting people and GPs. It includes three general respiratory and several sub-speciality clinics every week. The sub-speciality clinics up and running include those for sleep medicine, COPD and lung cancer. There are plans for more specialised asthma, bronchiectasis and interstitial lung disease throughout 2016. The respiratory physiology laboratory also offers a comprehensive selection of routine pulmonary function tests. These include static lung volumes, lung transfer factor testing, capillary blood gas analysis, respiratory muscle test strength assessments and six-minute walk and shuttle walk tests. Formal flight assessments are also offered for patients wishing to assess their stability to fly on a commercial airline. Patients can self-refer by contacting the laboratory directly and the test is charged privately at a cost of £85. The Trust’s Group Manager for Medicine Dean Gritton said:“All services are consultant led and well supported by a team of lung function physiologists with plans to provide respiratory clinical nurse specialists in the future. We accept referrals for all respiratory disorders and these can be made through the Choose and Book service and other existing processes such as GP referral letters.”

Sister Trudy Hurst at the new Urgent Care and Emergency Centre.

adapt our service to be the best it can be for the Wolverhampton community. The main reason this service will succeed is the amazing team we have here at New Cross Hospital.”

Your Hospital

Senior Radiographer Mary Motsi X-rays a patient in the new Radiology Department.

Walls ablaze with colour after photo competition NATURE-INSPIRED photography produced by competition winners has been given pride of place on the walls of the new Emergency Department at New Cross Hospital. The competition, called Inspired By Nature, named four winners and five runners up. All now have their pictures of landscapes and flowers displayed around the new Urgent Care and Emergency Centre. A total of 68 entrants submitted more than 300 images, and the winners were Jacquie Wilkes, Lindsey Bucknor, Alain Rolli and Kate Webb. Royal Wolverhampton Consultant Acute Physician Kate, who works under the surname Webb as a photographer, said:“I feel privileged that my work will be on display in the new department to help enhance the healing environment.”

Trust Arts Manager Natalie Lewis said:“We’re sure we’ve chosen some beautiful, calming images that can only benefit everyone who comes into the new department. “Research has shown that pictures of nature in hospitals had been found to promote a good patient experience by providing a calming and healing environment.” Meanwhile, the children’s waiting area now features an interactive wall mural, which has sensory panels for children to explore and five different games to play at a range of difficulty levels. Supported by charity Wolves Aid, the mural will help provide a welcome distraction to visitors as well as complement the photography and artwork displayed throughout the department.

Maureen Thompson loses her locks for charity.

Maureen braves the shave for Macmillan NEW Cross Hospital Personal Assistant Maureen Thompson braves the shave for Macmillan Cancer Support just 14 days after the death of her sister-in-law. Maureen, who works in the Nurse Education Department, raised £2,004 and her hair was donated to Little Princess Trust which makes wigs for children who have suffered hair loss. Colleagues were able to donate a further £155 to Macmillan as they staged a coffee morning at the same time. She said:“My sister-in-law was diagnosed with with an incurable brain tumour in March 2015. She did have treatment and lost some of her hair. People who are going through cancer treatment often lose their hair. Not only are they facing a very uncertain future, they also have to cope with hair loss which can be very traumatic especially for women. I had a choice, they don’t so I’m very grateful to the people who sponsored me.”

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A member of the public accesses the home page of the new website.

WINTER 2016

Staff express their pride in

AMAZING FACILITIES S

Staff nurse Lea Sanchez takes the blood pressures of patient James Yates.

SCAN PHOTO FOR CENTRE’S VIDEO

Sisters Cherry Dell, left, and Kim Stephenson access an on-ward medicine store in the Emergency Department.

Head Biomedical Scientist Alain Rolli with a winning photograph on the wall.

Sister Trudy Hurst at the new Urgent Care and Emergency Centre.

adapt our service to be the best it can be for the Wolverhampton community. The main reason this service will succeed is the amazing team we have here at New Cross Hospital.”

Your Hospital

Senior Radiographer Mary Motsi X-rays a patient in the new Radiology Department.

Maureen Thompson loses her locks for charity.

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Providing vital support after intensive care AFTERCARE support is helping ensure patients and their families get back on track after leaving the Intensive Care Unit. Those who spend more than three days on ventilation in ICU are given a diary completed by multi disciplinary team members with contributions from family, helping fill in the gaps and put their experiences into context. They are asked to complete a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder questionnaire, and are then invited for a follow-up with a lead nurse and may be referred to a clinical psychologist, who can offer a series of therapy sessions. A support group is now also up and running, giving patients and their relatives a chance to meet every three months in an informal setting to chat about their experiences. Senior Sister and Follow Up Lead Nurse Sara Lawley said: “I’m so proud of the follow-up and support we offer, patients can often begin to struggle months after leaving the unit which is why it’s important to provide a continued and thorough aftercare service.”

Students help raise profile THERAPY students from West Park Hospital raised the profile of their chosen profession during Occupational Therapy Week. They set up a stand to explain what they do as they also handed out literature from the British Association of Occupational Therapists. Senior Occupational Therapist Sally Tokley from the Neurological Rehabilitation Unit said:“They have all been fantastic, working really hard. They had great feedback and created a real buzz around the hospital.”

Fundraisers for charities STAFF in Outpatients One staged a number of charity events to raise £2,000 for Breast Cancer Care and the Alzheimer’s Society. They took on a sponsored walk, guessed the name of a teddy bear, weight of a cake and how many sweets were in a jar as well as holding a charity night and selling cakes in the department. The events were jointly organised by Staff Nurse Caroline Lowe and Healthcare Assistant Lacey Wood.

Patients to be treated

CLOSER TO HOME chemotherapy unit has been opened at Cannock Chase Hospital so cancer patients can be treated closer to home.

The six-chaired suite for oncology and haematology patients is integrated into the existing Rheumatology Unit SCAN PHOTO and provides assessments, active FOR UNIT’S chemotherapy, blood transfusions, aseptic VIDEO and Hickman line procedures as well as supportive therapies The weekday service is led by a team of three nurses fully qualified in the field of cytotoxic chemotherapy and two healthcare assistants. More staff are planned as the team looks after between eight to 10 adult patients a day. Sister Carrie Manifold said: “For us it’s all about making sure people from Cannock and the surrounding area get their treatment closer to home. “We want to improve patient access, satisfaction and convenience and our unit just does that. We haven’t been open long so we’re still getting established but early feedback from our patients has been very positive. Healthcare “They appreciate the comfortable, spacious Support Worker and welcoming environment. They’ve also Mark Davies, Staff commented on our approachable staff and Nurse Suzanne Bates smooth running, saying it makes their and Chemotherapy treatment much more bearable.” Sister Carrie Manifold The unit is part of a £27 million investment prepare equipment in in services at Cannock Chase Hospital over the the Chemotherapy next five years. They include the £3.5 million Unit. endoscopy suite and orthopaedic, rheumatology and dermatology services.

Qualified nurses recruited in Philippines Senior Sister Maria Tan who has worked for the Trust for more than 12 years.

A total of 223 qualified overseas nurses have been offered jobs after a six-strong team from RWT travelled to the Philippines on a vital recruitment mission. They carried out successful interview sessions in the capital Manila and also Cebu City. The Trust has to look overseas because too few nurses are graduating nationally from training and education in the UK. Potential recruits interviewed by the team have already gone through a process to make sure they meet qualification criteria to work in the NHS. They are all educated to degree level and have post-registration experience of working in hospitals. Nurses recruited during the visit are expected to start work in April or May 2016 at New Cross Hospital and West Park Hospital as well as Cannock Chase Hospital. The Trust has not recruited in the Philippines for more than 12 years but has taken advantage of a temporary lifting of immigration restrictions. Maria Tan came from the Philippines to work at New Cross Hospital in 2003. She started as a Supervised Nurse and is now a Senior Sister. She said: “When I came here I had a dream that I could make a better life for me and my family. It was daunting but it was exciting. Coming here was the best decision I ever made. “RWT offered me the opportunity to progress and I’m now a Senior Sister. All through my time here I’ve been supported by colleagues and I always remember the warmth with which me and my colleagues were received by patients and staff.”

Coming here was the best decision I ever made. MARIA TAN

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Endoscopy units gain national accreditation after inspections ENDOSCOPY units at New Cross and Cannock Chase Hospitals have been awarded nationally recognised accreditation after inspectors spent two days at both sites. A team from the Joint Advisory Group of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (JAG) concluded in its report that The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust “provides a high quality, safe and patient centred experience on both sites”. It congratulated the Trust on its integrated system, dedicated nursing staff and robust referral and scheduling. Andy Veitch, the Trust’s Clinical Lead for Endoscopy, said:“We are very proud

Staff Nurse Carla Yeomans explains the treatment to patient Lawrence Fowler at Cannock Chase endoscopy unit.

Adrian helps fight

EBOLA VIRUS F

IGHTING the deadly Ebola virus in Sierra Leone was all in a day’s work for New Cross Hospital’s Adrian Smith on his first deployment as an Army Reservist.

The 47-year-old normally works in The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust’s Department of Microbiology as a specialist Biomedical Scientist. But after joining up two years ago he is also a Corporal with 202 (Midlands) Field Hospital – part of Army Medical Services – and he spent 10 weeks working in the Kerry Town treatment unit of charity Save The Children.

Wearing appropriate personal protection equipment, Adrian also had to get used to hot and humid conditions, which made even the simplest tasks uncomfortable. He was awarded the Ebola Medal for Service in West Africa to recognise his bravery and hard work. Adrian said: “When I first arrived in the country I was excited, nervous and apprehensive about the task that lay ahead. I had confidence in my training and after processing my first positive samples, my fears were laid to rest. “As a nation, the Sierra Leone people literally risked their lives to help their fellow nationals. We didn’t get much opportunity to

to have received national recognition for the exceptional endoscopy service we provide for the populations of Wolverhampton, Cannock and beyond.” The Trust’s Chief Operating Officer Gwen Nuttall said:“Gaining JAG accreditation reflects well on the commitment and pride everyone has in delivering a high quality service.” Cannock’s newly opened £3.5 million endoscopy suite complements services offered at New Cross and provides colonoscopies, gastroscopies and flexible sigmoidoscopies for conditions like bowel cancer, colitis, stomach cancer and dyspepsia.

Biomedical Scientist Adrian Smith in his Army uniform.

meet many of them but when we did they were so friendly and happy, even through all they had to endure. “My lasting memories of the deployment are of a strong nation, totally focused on beating Ebola. I felt very privileged to have had the opportunity to work in Sierra Leone and play a small part in the fight against the Ebola virus.” New Cross Hospital Pathology Services Manager Graham Danks said: “We are extremely proud to have Adrian as a member of our Microbiology Team and pleased to see that his dedication to the healthcare of a community in crisis has been recognised.”

Hi tech preparation method ensures fresh and tasty meals

Chef Stephen Galea stacks meals prior to them being blast chilled at the Central Catering Production Unit.

THE latest in food preparation technology is helping the Central Catering Production Unit rise to the challenge of cooking and delivering more than 15,000 meals each week. Around 130 staff work within the Hotel Services Department, in roles including chefs, catering assistants, porters and ward waitresses, providing meals to patients across the Trust’s various sites as well as another large hospital in the region. Fortnightly menus offer 90 different meal choices that are prepared using a sophisticated cook-chill system. This means that all food is made from fresh ingredients in advance and then blast chilled using advanced technology to ensure food hygiene regulations are adhered to. Prior to being delivered to the wards, all meals are heated under sensitive

temperature-controlled conditions to make sure they reach at least 72 degrees Celsius. Catering Production Manager Mark Farmer said:“Using the cook-chill method is a much better way of keeping the food fresh and maintaining its quality throughout the journey to the patient. “This is much better compared to the old method when meals used to be cooked and then kept hot for long periods of time before serving. “We have great feedback from patients on a regular basis about the quality of ingredients as well as great taste and portion sizes – some have even said the meals are better than their local pub or restaurant’s food. “We also invite other members of Trust staff to tour the unit so they can see for themselves how it is all done.”

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Easy-to-access ways are on offer to help people to keep fit and healthy KEEPING fit and healthy is being made easy thanks to free personalised support sessions and community exercise groups. The Trust is working in partnership with Wolverhampton City Council and other local organisations to lay on easy-to-access initiatives aimed at people of all abilities. They include a pioneering Walking for Health scheme which is encouraging people to socialise on the move in order

to become healthier and happier. It promotes short, recreational group walks for all ages and abilities and is especially suited to those who currently do not do much walking but want to get fitter. The walks are organised by the Trust’s Healthy Lifestyle team in partnership with the local council. More than 40 different volunteer-led walks are on offer, including British Sign Language (BSL) and heritage walks, giving

people the chance to make new friends and discover the local environment. The BSL Walking for Health group is the first of its kind in the UK, enabling members of the deaf community to enjoy the benefits that physical activity can provide. Meanwhile, health trainers are on hand to give motivational support and devise personal health plans for people through a series of one-to-one consultations.

From stopping smoking to increasing physical activity, the sessions focus on hitting achievable goals by providing practical advice, support and encouragement as well as signposting to local services and facilities such as gyms or fitness events. For more information or to book a free appointment, email rwh-tr.healthylifestyle@nhs.net or call freephone 0800 073 4242 or 01902 444246.

Unicef award for being

BABY FRIENDLY H

EALTH visitors and children’s centres in Wolverhampton have joined New Cross Hospital’s maternity unit in being granted the prestigious Baby Friendly Award.

It is awarded by Unicef and the World Health Organisation as part of its initiative to promote breastfeeding and improve care for new mums. The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust was first given the award in 2011 for its commitment to breastfeeding as the healthiest way to feed a baby. Now colleagues from services run by Wolverhampton City Council have also been recognised. Councillor Sandra Samuels, the council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “I am delighted that our health visiting service and children’s centres have demonstrated the excellent work they do to help new mums breastfeed and achieved the highest level award in the process. “Breastfeeding protects babies against a wide range of serious illnesses and respiratory infections in infancy as well as asthma, cardiovascular disease and diabetes in later life. “We also know that breastfeeding reduces a mother’s risk of some cancers while, just as importantly, it is also cheaper and less hassle than bottle feeding. “However a mother chooses to feed her baby, whether that’s breastfeeding or bottle feeding, she can be sure that organisations in Wolverhampton are there to support her to form a strong, loving relationship with her newborn child.”

AWARD WINNING BABY CARE: new mum Kelly Farnell with her son Harrison and Health Visitor Support Workers Debbie Arrowsmith, centre, and Cheryl McDermott at New Cross Hospital’s maternity unit.

SCAN PHOTO FOR UNIT’S VIDEO

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT)

Cannock Chase Hospital (CCH)

Telephone 01902 307999, or visit our website at www.royalwolverhampton.nhs.uk to send general enquiries, enquire about appointment changes, contact our Patient Information Centre or to tell the Trust about your experience of services. Contact West Park Hospital on 01902 444000.

Telephone 01543 572757, or visit our website at www.royalwolverhampton.nhs.uk and click on the Cannock Chase Hospital button for additional information about how to get to CCH, special bus services, car parking and the CCH Outpatient Department.

New tests give better chance of early diagnosis WOLVERHAMPTON’S screening centre is the first in the country to fully roll out new screening tests that improve early diagnosis of bowel cancer. All men and women aged 55 are being invited by post to attend the one-off procedure which uses a flexible tube to look inside the large bowel. The 10-minute procedures, called a flexible sigmoidoscopy, helps prevent bowel cancer at its earliest stages by detecting and removing small growths called polyps that could become cancerous in the future. In 2013, the RWT, in partnership with the Dudley Group of Hospitals, was chosen as one of six pilot sites to implement Bowel Scope Screening in England. The Screening Centre is now the first site in the country to offer the new test to the whole of its population – covering Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall and South Staffordshire. Consultant Gastroenterologist and Director of Bowel Cancer Screening Dr Andrew Veitch said:“We are very proud to be the first screening centre in the country to offer this cancer preventing service to our complete population.” One Wolverhampton resident has spoken about how the screening turned out to be a lifesaver. Julie Corrigan, of Eastfield, Wolverhampton, said: “I had no symptoms whatsoever and no inkling that anything might be amiss, but pre-cancerous polyps were found and removed during the procedure, which is precisely what it is intended for. “Basically, accepting the invitation to bowel cancer screening saved my life. I would urge everyone who receives an offer of an appointment to take it up – don’t hesitate – no one should die of embarrassment.”