The Look March 2015

CAN THEY DIG IT? YES THEY CAN! SEE PAGE 5

MARCH 2015

For Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust staff and volunteers

STROKE IS FLYING HIGH AT SOUTHEND Southend Hospital is renowned for striving ahead with stroke care and prevention, a reputation it continues to build upon after being announced as just one of 13 enterprising projects to win an award and £100,000 in the NHS Innovation Challenge Prize Award.

The winners were announced on 23 February in Manchester at a prestigious awards ceremony attended by the Secretary of State for Health. Southend Hospital and the other 12 winners beat 52 shortlisted applicants who had to present their ideas in a Dragon’s Den-style pitch to a group of experts.

This is Southend Hospital’s fifth national award for clinical excellence or innovation since 2009, and provides another boost to the stroke team’s ongoing preparations for becoming the first hyper acute stroke unit (HASU) in Essex later this year.

If patients suffering a ‘mini stroke’ – or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) - receive prompt medical help, they can often avoid a more serious, disabling or even fatal stroke.

In Southend, a state-of-the-art referral process has

meant that the number of high-risk patients seen within 24 hours has soared from 17% to 96%, an improvement so striking that the system is being implemented in several neighbouring NHS Trusts.

The Southend team, frustrated at seeing patients who could have been helped if their symptoms had been spotted earlier, joined colleagues in primary care and IT services to establish the new HOT-TIA system.

Lead Stroke Consultant, Dr Paul Guyler, says that the multinational award winning redesigned TIA clinic has, most importantly, benefitted patients.

“The TIA clinic is patient-centred and able to respond to the urgency of patient need. We can see one patient or ten - 365 days a year. No longer are we restricted by what the hospital or service could provide. The GPs using the system provide patients with immediate treatment and information, backed up rapidly by the specialist clinic for a specialist opinion and urgent investigations.

Preventing a stroke is much better than trying to reverse damage from a subsequent clot in the brain.”

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02 Visit www.southend.nhs.uk | Call 01702 435555

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Stroke consultant at the hospital, Dr Devesh Sinha, explained how this revolutionary system benefitted patients. He said: “It is frustrating for any doctor to see patients suffering because early stroke warnings are not triggering a referral correctly. We hope HOT-TIA will be in the majority of UK trusts within the next five years. Patients are seen within an average of 14.5 hours in 96% of TIA referrals, compared to 17% previously. Timing is everything in stroke, especially as a TIA can be an indicator of bigger, more serious strokes.

Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS England’s Medical Director who presented the awards, said: “These are innovations that will transform the NHS. Approaches that allow services to be tailored to personal needs and expectations,that put more control in the hands of the individual, are the ones that will help us move from a stretched service treating illness to a sustainable one supporting wellness.

The prizes, now in their fifth year, are an established part of the NHS innovation calendar and I look forward to following the progress of this year’s winners.”

“It’s a massive boost to the stroke team who spearheaded this important project that it is now set to go national and helps confirm Southend Hospital’s pioneering stroke expertise.

It doesn’t just set the standard, it makes it and if the programme is rolled out nationally it will be known as Southend’s HOT-TIA, putting the town and hospital on the stroke map.”

If it is adopted across the NHS in England the scheme is set to save an estimated potential £116 million a year, furthermore the cost of a full national implementation could be offset by preventing just seven strokes a year, as well as the additional economic benefits from cutting physically debilitating effects of stroke.

Dedicated m embers of

the Stroke Te am

GRANT MEANS GREEN LIGHT FOR THE LEARNING DISABILITIES SEQUEL The hospital has received a £5,000 grant to produce two more information videos to assist patients with learning disabilities, making hospital services even more accessible.

The new as-yet-untitled videos will join the hospital’s existing and widely acclaimed Coming to Outpatients and Coming to A&E films produced to help patients with learning disabilities familiarise themselves with the hospital before they come in to have treatment, making them better able to understand what the experience will be like and in turn reassuring those who may be anxious.

The Rix Thompson Rothenberg (RTR) foundation awarded the grant because they are impressed by the hospital’s continuing approach to making sure that services for people with learning disabilities are the best possible.

Fred Heddell CBE, non-executive director of the hospital and a trustee of the RTR foundation, presented the £5,000 cheque to the hospital’s specialist nurse for

learning disability, Sarah Haines, and Shields Parliament counsellors, Claire Wannacott and Robert Norton, at a recent meeting of the hospital’s learning disabilities committee. Mr Heddell said: “Southend University Hospital has a real desire to continue to ensure patients with learning disabilities receive high quality treatment the same as every other patient.”

Sarah Haines, who has championed the need for the videos from the outset, added: “We are very grateful to receive a further donation from the RTR Foundation.

I am delighted that our learning disabilities committee have the opportunity to produce another two films and provide even more support to people with learning disabilities.”

Visit www.southend.nhs.uk | Call 01702 435555 03

NEW UNITS OPEN TO PATIENTS CLINICAL DECISION UNIT (CDU)

PAEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (PED)

The Clinical Decisions Unit (CDU) within the emergency department is now open daily between 10am and 10pm.

The CDU is located in the former AMU ward and can be entered via the corridor that leads to the emergency department waiting room.

A new self-contained area for children attending the A&E department for treatment has also now opened.

The paediatric emergency department (PED) has four dedicated paediatric bays with a separate triage room, providing a specialist area for children to be cared for in line with Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health best practice.

The CDU can be used to review emergency patients in a less clinically acute area with more attention to surroundings and patient comfort. This is used particularly for patients who are most likely to go home but may need an extended length of stay for more than 4 hours to complete their treatment or investigations. This enables the patient to be discharged safely without the need for formal admission to a ward whilst also ensuring the treatment and after care have been sorted thoroughly.

Lucy Russell, senior sister paediatrics, who will be running the department, said: “The PED means children can be cared for by the appropriate people at all times.

It maintains safety as well and children are seen very quickly in an appropriate environment.

“We will deal with everything from minor injuries such as a cut to the head to acutely unwell conditions such as breathing problems. The PED also means we can build a better relationship with Neptune Ward because we will be transferring directly from here.

“It’s really exciting and I’m hoping it’s a win-win all round: the children will be at ease and have toys to play with; the parents are happy and the nurses and doctors are happy as it will take pressure off the main A&E department.”

CDU Team Lucy Ru ssell

FUSSY EATING TIPS FOR TODDLERS Fussy eating in toddlers can be a • Ensure that two courses are offered at worrying time for parents. It can lead each meal e.g. a main and a dessert to nutritional deficiencies which can - try to avoid the phrase "If you affect growth and development. don't eat your dinner you won’t get any pudding!"

This is why the Department of Health • Do not let meals drag on. Limit them recommend that all children from to no longer than 30 minutes. six months to five years take a vitamin A, • Keeping mealtimes positive is C and D supplement, unless they essential. Remove uneaten food are taking 500ml or more of follow without comment. on formula. Here are some top dietitian • Keep portions small so that you tips to help broaden your child's diet: can give lots of praise for what they • Offer three meals and two to three have eaten. small snacks throughout the day.

• If a child won’t eat a food, try to

encourage them to smell it, or even lick it. This helps to gradually gets the child's mouth used to the new taste and over time they may start to eat it.

• Eat together if you can, social eating can be a powerful tool.

• Most importantly keep it fun Paediatric Dietitian, Katie Monk, said: “For most children this is a phase that they grow out of and over time they begin to accept a wider variety of food. If you have concerns then speak with your GP or health visitor who will be able to give you more advice.”

04 Visit www.southend.nhs.uk | Call 01702 435555

CLINICAL DIRECTORATES: WOMEN & CHILDREN’S Each month we will be profiling the new clinicallyled directorates, this month women and children’s.

• Colleen Begg, clinical director, head of midwifery and gynaecology • Alex Pimm, associate director • Wendy Pearson, head of paediatrics Working with the team is general manager, Lucy Keam-George, and clinical leads, Venkat Raman, obstetrics and gynaecology, and Naina Emcy, paediatrics.

Colleen said: “This is a unique opportunity to really influence the decisions and direction of women and children’s services. I have a very proactive and cohesive management team and look forward to working closely with them over the next year to provide strong, visible clinical leadership in all areas of women and children’s services. I believe by working in collaboration with all staff groups we can develop a service that provides the highest quality care for women and families using our services.”

demanding situations. The team are very proud of this achievement and continue to work closely with King’s College Hospital.

The gynaecology service provides services with specialist consultants and clinical nurse specialists. They are currently part of the cancer network and a recognised gynaecology cancer centre. They also provide a range of benign gynaecology services and over the next year the directorate will continue to strengthen its gynaecology cancer services, which is an area of excellence.

Paediatrics provides the highest quality care to children and their families, working closely with the emergency department team and continue to review and develop services around this. The directorate has a level 2 neonatal unit that ensures that babies requiring specialist care following birth are able to be nursed in Southend where possible. It works closely with the tertiary centres for those babies that require more intensive care.

Wendy believes that family focused care is at the heart of everything we strive for in paediatrics. “As head of paediatrics, I am committed to continually working to ensure safe staffing levels are achieved across paediatric services.” Wendy is heading up a recruitment drive to address the shortage of paediatric nurses, which is a problem right across the UK. As associate director Alex recognises that key priorities are ensuring that children are seen as quickly as possible and the challenge of redesigning community paediatric services to ensure the best model and care pathways are implemented. Alex added “I look forward to continuing to work with Colleen and the wider management and clinical team to continue to develop our services”.

The women and children’s directorate provides maternity, gynaecology, neonatology and paediatric services for families in Southend. Maternity provides high quality services both in hospital and home settings, delivering around 4,000 babies a year. They strive to provide the best possible maternity services locally and give women and their families informed choice. Whilst they continue to promote normality and midwife-led care, which is borne out with a higher than average homebirth rate of 5%, the directorate also provides consultant-led care for women with high-risk pregnancies.

They have developed a specialist fetal medicine centre and clinical services, which means women no longer have to travel to London for specialist care in very stressful and

eg Colleen B

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Alex Pim m

Wendy Pearson

Visit www.southend.nhs.uk | Call 01702 435555 05

TRANSFORMING GREEN SPACES INTO BLUE SPACES The Earls Hall Junior School Green Team and children from the Trust’s Ladybird Nursery lent our gardener, Tony Haggar, some helping hands recently, planting 900 bluebell bulbs in only an hour and a half.

A number of staff members came along too with their trowels and homemade cardboard kneeling pads.

This is part of the Bluebell Wood project which heralds the beginning of a programme to transform the Trusts green spaces into healing spaces; encouraging an enjoyment of nature, an awareness of the environment and seasons, and an active lifestyle.

The bulbs were planted in a patch of recently cleared scrubland at the front of the hospital grounds to transform it into a sea of blue each spring for years to come.

The Bluebell Wood is the first of a number of projects intended to improve patient experience and health outcomes through improved green spaces. Other projects include

KNEE OPS GIVE TREVOR NEW LEASE OF LIFE Trevor Harris, from Daws Heath, may be 69, but his knees are a little younger at a year old for his left knee and only six months old for his right.

He had both his knees replaced at Southend Hospital and after successful operations and recovery he decided to take them for a test drive off road in The Lake District, Cumbria.

The trip saw him and his friends walking for six days and between seven and 13 miles per day, with lots of ups and downs. Impressively, their highest peak was Crag Hill at 2,753 ft (839m) above sea level.

Trevor said: “I can’t express how happy I was with my new knees, I could keep up with my (younger) companions, and apart from a few aching muscles at times, which we all had, and a blister on my toe I had no pain at all. The knees are brilliant!

a sensory garden for children and a trim trail. Funding is currently being sought for these projects.

There will be more opportunities for staff to join in planting and general gardening throughout the coming season. Dates will be posted in the FRU. Caroline Hang Hong, who is co-ordinating the project, said: “Improving the quality of our green spaces, and involving volunteers in the process, will enrich the lives of patients, staff and the local community. Any staff member who would like to be involved in these projects should contact me on extension 8051.”

“Before the ops I was still fairly mobile but slowing down in walking and in pretty constant pain and I was always on pain relief. At times my knees would give way, and at others they would seize up.

They were getting steadily worse, with bone on bone in both knees.

Trevor at the picturesque Maiden Moor

“My new knees will give me a much improved quality of life in the years to come. I can’t say how grateful I am to the NHS, Southend Hospital, and all the staff.”

You could say that now, thanks to his double knee operations, Trevor is in ‘peak’ fitness for his age.

Perhaps his next challenge will be Ben knee-vis?

06 Visit www.southend.nhs.uk | Call 01702 435555

KEYHOLE CANCER APPEAL GOES UP A GEAR The hard work of cyclists who took part in the Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay’s Foulness Island bike ride in August is now paying off, as the club recently presented a cheque for £20,000 to the hospital’s Keyhole Cancer Appeal.

Rotarians and those who marshalled at the event attended a reception, held at the hospital, for tea and cake and to hear keyhole surgeon Mr Mike Dworkin update on the appeal.

Mr Dworkin, who also took part in the event said: “It was lovely to be able to see Foulness Island and its wonderful scenery - it really was great fun. We are hugely grateful to everyone involved – those who helped to put on the event and also those who helped to raise this amazing sum of money.

“In its first year the appeal has raised just over £200,000 and this donation is a huge boost. The new state-of-theart laparoscopic theatre suite will dramatically change keyhole surgery here at the hospital – making a significant difference to the patients we treat.”

IMAGE CONSCIOUS Jon Findlay visited the diagnostic imaging department, greeted by general manager for diagnostic imaging Darren Taylor.

Starting in MR, Mark Johnson (superintendent radiographer) explained how the magnetic resonance machine works, including the fact that the magnetic field is always on.

There are strict safety precautions as the magnetic field is three times stronger than that used in scrapyards to pick up cars, and could cause stray metallic objects to travel across the room at 30 – 40 miles per hour!

Jon saw how magnetic resonance imaging is used as part of brachytherapy treatment, learned of new ways the team are using imaging to visualise tumours while also appreciating the dedication of the radiographers who staff the department. The team, who are all skilled physiologists,

The Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay’s president, Ivy Anderson, went on to present special guests, Kevin and Sandra Dempster, with an award for the most sponsorship raised a whopping £1,841.15.

The Keyhole Cancer Appeal will also benefit from the bike ride next year as it was chosen by the Rotarians to be joint beneficiary alongside local charity - Riding for the Disabled Association.

The bike ride will take place on Sunday 16 August 2015.

If you would like to take part or be a marshal at the event please call the hospital fundraising team on 01702 385337.

undertake a three year BSc honours degree and then train for a further six to nine months to achieve competence in CT or MR. He then met Dr Perera in the middle of his four hour stint as ‘hot radiologist’, checking referral requests for diagnostic tests and viewing images at one of the department’s £20,000 workstations. These cutting edge machines allow 3D reconstructions and rapid switches between views to aid diagnoses. After a quick and informative explanation of how to spot a stroke on a CT image, it was absolutely clear how central radiology is to patient care.

Jon was then treated to a visit to both of our CT scanners, where inpatients and outpatients are scanned to diagnose stroke, for coronary angiography (instead of having a catheter inserted) and undergo full body scans.

The technology is so advanced now that a scan takes around 12 seconds and the images can be manipulated to show scans from all angles.

NEPTUNE WARD LANDS £500 Peaceful Place in Rochford, St John’s Ambulance and the Neptune children’s ward at Southend Hospital are each receiving substantial donations from London Southend Airport Consultative Committee’s community fund.

Dates for the diary Mar SUN

29

l by strutt e Cancer Appea Help the Keyhol Pier between 10am – 4pm. nd stuff on Southe ults £5, children (under 16) r : ad es ic pr y e children unde Pre-entr ults & 1 or mor ad (2 ily m . fa R £2.50, REGISTE ERS MUST PRE16) £12. WALK 5337 or ing on 01702 38 ore info/to book is ra nd fu ct ta Con for m uthend.nhs.uk fundraising@so

“As part of the ongoing commitment to local communities of London Southend Airport in conjunction with the Airport Consultative Committee (ACC) we are delighted to be able to give each of these very worthwhile charitable organisations a cheque for £500”, said the ACC’s Les Sawyer.

Mica Day, a Community Fundraiser for Southend Hospital, said: “The money will go towards providing sensory equipment in the Neptune ward which will entertain and engage children with learning disabilities. We’re massively investing in that, so this donation is very much welcomed and we are all very grateful.”

May

Southen 01 Charity Sd Hospital Grand Q pring Venue: S uiz axon Ha ll, A So FRI

uthendviation W ay, Time: 6.4 on-Sea 5pm for Tickets: a 7pm s £1 ta *Include 0pp / Teams of rt 8-10 req s Chicke n and C hips in b uired asket su To book pper* :P or email lease call: 0170 : fundra ising@s 2 385337 outhend .nhs.uk May SAT

16 X-ray was the next stop, visiting each of the four x-ray rooms, which deal with patients from within the hospital, from GP referrals and A&E emergencies. Most of the x-rays appear directly on the high-resolution screens, but the department does use some reusable x-ray cassettes, including those that taken on the hospital’s three portable x-ray machines.

Finally it was through to the cath-lab to view an angiogram with consultant John Davies, who explained the procedure and the roles of the different staff involved, including nurses, radiographers and cardiac physiologists.

It was a great place to end the tour, as Jon was involved in the business case for the lab at Southend while working at Basildon Hospital, and was present at the official opening of the unit.

alk Great Pier WRotary hosted by the -on-Sea Club of Leigh ing your

Tackle the Tower Charity Abseil

Raise money for your favourite ward/department/ appeal of choice by conquering the 154ft descent of Southend Hospital’s tower…the only way is down!

Time: am or pm slots available Venue: Southend Hospital tower block £100 Cost: £39 (non-refundable) and minimum sponsorship of sing@ fundrai or 385337 01702 on team Contact: Fundraising southend.nhs.uk for more information/to book

EVERY THIRD THURS DAY

The local Health ReNational Fellowshi tirement p

The Fellow sh have work ip welcomes new m embers wh ed or have o be NHS. Mee tings are h en associated with the eld on the the month third at Eastwood 2.30pm in the Len F Thursday of bury Lane, orge Centr South e, by expert sp eakers and end. It features talk music, ram s also organ bli ise Interested? ng groups and day tr s bowls, ip Contact 01 702 47583 s.

2.

Farewell to Phlebotomist Cathie Glen left at the end of February after 22 years’ service, 11 in sterile services and 11 in phlebotomy.

Congratulat ions to Cathie Glen

Senior Sister Allison Phelps who worked on Dowsett ward (acute medical unit 2) and left in December 2014.

After taking a break to spend time with her family in Shoeburyness, she has started work at the Spire Allison P h elps Wellesley Hospital in Southend. Her hard work is greatly appreciated and she will be sadly missed by all her colleagues and patients on AMU2.

T h an k s t o

HCA and SUFC superfan Ray Johnstone who enjoyed his Southend United shirt-themed 60th birthday cake with colleagues on Shopland ward and none other than Southend United Manager Phil Brown, pictured here lifting the cup (of tea).

Ray Johnstone

Ray, who saw his first Shrimpers match during the 1968/69 season, said: “It was a really nice surprise and I had no idea he was coming, my friends at work certainly kept it a very close secret.”

Suzanne Elliott used to work in x-ray ultra sound and was an x-ray helper. She said: “I have now changed my department but would like to say a big thank you to the lovely helpers who were such a great support while I was there for two years. They were so very kind, are a lovely group of people and go beyond their duty to help a people out.”

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

OVARIAN CANCER MONTH

March is Prostate Cancer Awareness month and there is loads of information and support available at prostatecanceruk.org including live chats and diet and exercise.

March is Ovarian Cancer Month. Did you know 7,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year in the UK?

Southend University Hospital also runs a support group called ‘Cadgers’ on the last Thursday of every month (6pm - 8pm). The group meets in the Education Centre located to the rear of the main hospital. The group has 30-40 regular attendees and speakers every month.

Tea and coffee is also included. For more information please call Terry Catt on 01268 754179

With only three percent of women very confident at spotting a symptom of ovarian cancer, there is an urgent need to raise awareness. The Target Ovarian Cancer website has a wealth of information including symptoms checklist and information about how you can get involved in fundraising activities.

Visit www.targetovariancancer.org.uk