Connect Issue 3 - January & February 2020

connect

January/February 2019

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Lethal latex allergies Campaigners help educate about the potential dangers of natural rubber latex.

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Hospital At Home Group-wide ‘virtual wards’ service eases the pressure on patient flow.

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New Year, new challenge

Embracing technology

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From artificial intelligence to the robotic surgery of trailblazing surgeon Sri Kadirkamanathan (pictured), we showcase how our Group is harnessing technology and innovation to improve patient care.

Turn New Year’s resolutions into exciting fundraising adventures!

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Diversity network groups

Supporting our various communities, including BAME and LGBTQ+.

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Happy New Year Welcome to our first Connect of 2020! This issue features the latest technological advancements our Group is embracing to directly improve patient care. We also highlight the potentially fatal effects of natural rubber latex allergies and, with winter firmly upon us and our fantastic team of staff working extra hard, we look at how the Hospital At Home service is freeing up beds and boosting patient flow with the help of ‘virtual wards’.

As we look to the year ahead, we continue to make the final preparations to becoming a single trust in April. We have great ambitions for our new organisation – for

Governance

Information governance – why does it matter?

Information Governance (IG) is the way organisations process or handle information. It covers personal information – relating to patients, staff and corporate information such as financial and accounting records – and is here to protect us and our Trust from the threats that want our information for illegal purposes.

If IG isn’t followed correctly our Trust could be exposed to embarrassing questions, as well as the potential financial consequences should our data be hacked by criminal groups from around the world. This would seriously impact on both our reputation and the ability to manage our data securely.

IG also helps provide a clear pathway for staff in dealing with the many different standards and legal rules that apply to information handling, which include: the Computer Misuse Act; the Data Protection Act; the common law duties of care and confidentiality; the Human Rights Act; the Freedom of Information Act. When personal information is handled legally, securely, efficiently and effectively it helps support the delivery of the best care to our patients.

patients and for staff – and we want to get your views on what works well and what we need to improve. Look out for details of our upcoming staff roadshows.

Clinical pathway changes are also beginning to happen and will initially benefit emergency vascular and low risk orthopaedic patients. Further updates will be issued as we move towards our merge date.

Thank you too for protecting our patients by having the flu vaccination. Patients are most vulnerable during winter so if you have not yet had your jab, I would please encourage you to do so.

Enjoy this issue, thank you for all your hard work and Happy New Year.

Flu, protecting you and your patients too Well done and thank you to everyone who has had their flu jab so far.

All three sites are doing well but you can see from our stats below that we still need that extra push to get all frontline staff vaccinated as we move into the second phase of our flu campaign.

Managers, please encourage all your staff to have the flu jab. If they have any concerns please direct them to a member of the Occupational Health team.

Trust

Total %

Basildon

2,221 61

Southend

1,964 50

Mid Essex

2,148

45

Results as of 16 December 2019

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Group news

Patient care

Group clinical directors appointed

CQC inspection

Dr Billy Fashanu and Dr Sanjay Rawal have been appointed to new group clinical director posts for Mid and South Essex Hospital Group.

Consultant physiotherapist Dr Fashanu PhD is now group clinical director for therapy professions (speech and language, dietetics, physiotherapy and occupational therapy) and Dr Rawal has been appointed as group clinical lead for paediatrics.

Billy, who has worked in the NHS for 31 years (24 years at Southend Hospital), said: “This appointment is an honour for me and an opportunity to improve the profile of allied health professions (AHPs) as I oversee the system-wide clinical integration and efficiency of therapy services across the group. My vision is to have a well prepared AHP workforce to support the transformation agenda, whilst keeping the needs of our patients at the core of every service consideration.”

Sanjay has been a consultant at Basildon Hospital for nine years, including three as clinical lead for the Paediatric Assessment Unit, three as clinical lead for paediatrics and neonates and has been deputy clinical director, women and children’s medicine, for 18 months. He said: “As group clinical lead for paediatrics I will be working very closely with all of our teams across the group to make sure we standardise and align our paediatric clinical care.”

Southend Hospital and Mid Essex Hospital had their CQC core services inspections in early November. Although the final reports won’t be with us for a few months yet, the initial feedback has been positive.

The inspectors mentioned friendly and committed staff at both sites. Staff were eager to share their experiences and highlighted good practice throughout the hospitals.

Some of the positive comments from the CQC were: • Good standard of record keeping in medicine • S taff in the medical division were happy at work and proud of their achievements • Positive MDT working in maternity • G ood risk assessments and documentation in surgery • I mprovement in culture in our outpatients department with staff being focused on making improvements • M ultidisciplinary teams working well, both internally and externally, in our gynaecology department • A ll staff in ED worked well as a team to treat and care for patients.

The CQC completed their well-led inspections in December - thanks to all..

Patient care

Re-launching TeleTracking to improve patient flow Ensuring that patients are allocated to the right bed at the right time and discharges happen in a planned and timely way, is critical to the smooth running of our hospitals and, most importantly, to the safety of our patients.

TeleTracking, the innovative electronic patient flow and capacity management tool introduced to our hospitals group just over a year ago, is central to achieving that.

immediate action to address them. CapSnap pulls data from Medway at Basildon and Southend, and Lorenzo at Mid Essex, which is why it’s essential that those systems, along with TeleTracking, are kept up to date in real time.

As we start 2020, we are focusing on using TeleTracking to its maximum potential and standardise our ways of working. This will not only benefit our patients but will help us manage our bed capacity much more efficiently.

The effectiveness of TeleTracking relies on accurate information being captured and recorded in real-time across our three sites.

The new Capacity Snapshop (CapSnap) was introduced at the end of 2019 to share accurate information across our three sites and help highlight pressure areas so we can take

To achieve its full potential, and help improve patient experience and flow, we all need to use TeleTracking in the same way.

Working together as a team across our sites and control centre, we will be able to better manage admissions, treatment and discharges across our hospitals that in turn will lead to improved patient experience.

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Innovation

Robotic surgery success The pioneering work of Broomfield Hospital’s robotic surgery team was celebrated as former patients and donors gathered to watch the world-class technology in action.

Over 60 guests enjoyed a tour of an operating theatre led by consultant surgeon Sri Kadirkamanathan, who demonstrated the capabilities of the Da Vinci XI technology before a number of the guests took turns at the controls, supervised by Sri. Sri was quick to point out the advantages of the technology: “The robot can be used for many specialities: upper GI, lower GI, ENT, gynaecology, plastics and urology. It’s astonishingly precise and gives you wonderful 3D vision.

The articulation is beyond that of the best human hands as it takes away the surgeon’s tremor. It’s a stunning piece of equipment.

“Every surgeon says robotic surgery has improved outcomes for patients and reduces length of stay in hospital. We have been trailblazers for robotic surgery. Broomfield was the first hospital in the country to use robotic surgery for nonneurological and non-prostate work.”

Former patient, Megan Jiggins, 27, had surgery on her oesophagus just three weeks before this event, having been unable to eat solid food. Megan can now eat a conventional diet again. Returning to the theatre where her procedure was performed, Megan described her recovery as “amazing”.

Another of Sri’s former patients, Jamie Blackman, 34, had a gastric pacemaker fitted after being fed via a tube for two years. He said his surgery was “genuinely life-changing”.

For consultant surgeon Sri it meant so much to hear such positive responses direct from his patients. He said: “It’s so gratifying to see everyone doing so well. I’m humbled by everyone’s generosity and humbled by their praise. In five to ten years’ time I envisage that most surgery will be robotic.”

The robotic surgery appeal has now passed the £1.3m mark and is just £189,000 short of hitting the fundraising target.

Innovation

Hands-on simulation lab trains doctors in a stress-free environment

The Essex Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC) at Basildon Hospital is offering a free hands-on simulation programme for doctors across the country to practice complicated heart and lung operations.

The Essex Wet Lab Simulation Programme is one of the most comprehensive programmes in the country and gives doctors of all levels and specialities the

opportunity to perform operations using tissue from animals such as pigs and sheep.

Senior clinical fellow in cardiothoracic surgery, Mr Muhammad Usman Shah (pictured, left), started the programme in January 2018, under supervision of unit training director, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon, Mr Arvind Singh. This programme has since evolved with each of the courses now accredited by The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Mr Muhammad Usman Shah said, “Bypass surgery is the most common operation that we perform in the CTC. This innovative programme is part of a series that provides in-depth teaching and a hands-on practical element that delegates can learn from in a simulated environment. The simulation takes stress out of the equation by giving doctors the chance to practice away from the operating theatre.”

With every programme offering a different focus, delegates can obtain six CPD points when they attend, which is essential for revalidation and appraisals.

For further information on upcoming programme details and dates please contact Mr Muhammad Usman Shah: Muhammad.Shah@btuh.nhs.uk

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Consultant surgeon Sri Kadirkamanathan (centre) surrounded by former patients and donors

Improving patient care

Faster results for prostate patients Patients having investigations for prostate cancer are set to benefit from speedier results thanks to new Artificial Intelligence (AI) software recently installed at Southend University Hospital.

This is the first time the new software, called Watson Elementary, has been used clinically in this way in the UK having already been installed in over 30 hospitals across Europe.

and oncologists can risk assess, manage and treat patients very accurately.”

The release of funding for the new software was approved by the National Cancer Programme Delivery Group and NHS England as a Cancer Improvement bid.

The software, developed by Watson Medical, can ‘read’ an MRI scan of the prostate and highlight potential cancerous areas with a high degree of accuracy, reducing the time needed for a consultant radiologist to report the scan. As well as providing a fast second read of all prostate scans undertaken at the hospital, the software enables doctors to outline the areas of concern allowing for improved targeting of biopsies.

The benefits of the software also extend to treatment as Dr Sidath Liyanage, consultant radiologist, explained: “Watson Elementary is a fantastic addition to our MRI reading suite – it’s just as good as the human eye. This means that the AI can read a scan and highlight any potential cancerous areas before a consultant radiologist has even looked at it, acting as a second pair of eyes.

“And that’s great when it comes to treatment because having a precise outline of the cancer means the urologists

Photo (l-r): Sidath Liyanage, consultant radiologist; MRI radiographers Aaron Webb and Katherine Woollard; Dr Susan Barley, head of medical physics, R&D, Oncology Systems Limited; Erik Agterhuis, managing director, Watson Medical; Johan Nahuis, clinical education specialist, MRI GE Healthcare.

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Patient care

‘Virtual wards’ to ease pressure The Hospital At Home service aims to ease the pressure of patient flow and improve outcomes for patients and our hospitals with the help of ‘virtual wards’.

The service has been phased in across Basildon (2016), Mid Essex (2017) and Southend (2018) hospitals, resulting in the same model across all three sites with robust teams in place to support it.

Hospital At Home sisters, Jennifer Cobern and Schilla Boateng-Tanoh, treating patient Kenneth Wellham in his home

Working closely with wards and consultants, the service pinpoints sub-acute but stable patients suitable to continue receiving their treatment in a virtual environment, normally their place of residence – home, nursing home or care home. This service acts as an extension to inpatient wards mainly for patients receiving IV anti-biotics and wound treatments who would normally stay in hospital for treatment.

Safety

Latex allergy sets off lifelong awareness campaign for Essex couple An Essex couple recently presented to senior leaders at Basildon Hospital to highlight the potentially fatal effects of natural rubber latex (NRL) allergies.

Mr and Mrs Walker (pictured) are campaigning for the removal of NRL from all products and have also appeared on TV, contributed to magazines and presented at hospitals and universities across the country.

Their awareness campaign journey was triggered twentyfive years ago when Mrs Walker was admitted to hospital for an operation and went into anaphylactic shock. Tests showed that she had suddenly become allergic to NRL. Mrs Walker said: “Over 80,000 items contain natural latex. Every day I have to avoid situations and products that could give me symptoms including hives, a swollen face, closed throat or anaphylactic shock.”

DID YOU KNOW? Latex is a milky sap from plants such as the tropical rubber tree and contains water, sugar and proteins. Latex is used to make items including rubber gloves, shoes, tyres, balloons and condoms.

We are all exposed to NRL items every day and, for most, this isn’t a problem.

In a small minority however, or during trauma, the immune system reacts to the proteins making the patient allergic for life.

Mr and Mrs Walker have set up the Latex Allergy support group which has since merged with national body, the Anaphylactic Campaign.

Mr Walker added: “We are pleased that, because of work by support groups like ours, ambulances are NRL free and Malaysia, a major producer of latex, is looking to take out allergens at source. We also continue to work with organisations that use NRL in balloons to ask them to change to latex-free alternatives.”

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of patient flow Leading the service across all three sites is Corinne Cobb, head of integrated care. She said: “If a patient is assessed and deemed suitable for the Hospital At Home service in conjunction with their responsible consultant, we can then take them into their familiar environment and continue with their agreed treatment.

Operational lead for Hospital At Home, Kellie Hill, added: “Before a patient is accepted into the service, they must be assessed by one of our nurses who will also have a discussion with our multidisciplinary teams and the patient’s consultant.”

The service is provided by the hospitals and is seen as an extension to an inpatient stay. It’s not provided to replace any services already provided by community services. It’s also important to note that the service does not provide domiciliary care but can work alongside domiciliary care providers.

Having forged good links with medical and surgical specialities, Corinne and her team now want to build

Kellie Hill (L) and members of her team relationships with more specialities such as Acute Medical Units (AMU) and Ambulatory Care.

To contact the Hospital At Home service for further information or to refer a patient, please call between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday on: ext. 4852 (Basildon), ext. 6037 (Southend) or ext. 4449 (Mid Essex).

Innovation

New app transforms shift booking for doctors A new app is transforming the way doctors find, book and receive payment for bank shifts across the Mid and South Essex University Hospitals Group.

Developed by an innovative technology company founded by doctors, Locum’s Nest means that there is no longer a need to call, email or text to view and book a bank shift, and paper timesheets are a thing of the past. The Locum’s Nest app replaces all these activities by automating the shift booking process from start to finish.

Paul King, A&E Senior House Officer from Mid Essex, said: “Locum’s Nest is a fantastic app as it allows me to quickly see and book available shifts. It’s far more convenient completing timesheets on my phone compared to the old paper-based system.”

Locum’s Nest is one of the many changes being made to improve staffing levels, and create significant cost and time savings. It will also enable us to share our pool of doctors across the hospitals group and reduce the use of high cost agencies.

The app went live at Mid Essex in August and will be live at Basildon and Southend soon. It has already reduced our dependency on agencies, and time to coordinate rotas and chase down timesheets.

Download the app free to a phone or tablet using Apple App or Google Play Store.

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Fundraising round-up: New Year, new challenge Is your New Year’s resolution to be more active? Do you like raising money for good causes? If so, then sign up to one of the fantastic challenges our charity teams are organising this year.

The Nuclear Challenge is back on 23 May. Building on last year’s successful event, this fun-filled day is suitable for all fitness levels and isn’t as difficult as you might think… unless you don’t like getting muddy! Book before the end of January at the discount price of £45 per person.

Keen cyclist? We have places available for the Prudential RideLondon 100 on 16 August. The 100-mile course follows the 2012 Olympic road race route through central London out into the Surrey Hills before finishing down the The Mall. If 100 miles sounds too far, why not try the London to Southend Ride on 19 July - a relaxing 52-mile pedal though the picturesque Essex countryside.

If you have a good head for heights, then the Southend Tower Block Abseil on 16 May is made for you. Strap yourself in and enjoy the thrill of taking a vertical stroll down the side of the hospital.

There has never been a more exciting time to set yourself or your team an unforgettable challenge. Contact your site’s charity team and they can help you help your hospital.

£11,000 raised for Broomfield’s Phoenix ward Roofing suppliers AJW Distribution raised a magnificent £11,000 after choosing Broomfield Hospital’s Phoenix ward as their charity of the year.

Harrison has a rare form of life-threatening epilepsy and regularly attends Phoenix ward for treatment with specialist nurse Donna Dodd.

The fundraising was inspired by eight-year-old Harrison Hart, whose dad Shaun works at AJW’s Witham depot.

In July, ‘Team Harrison’ completed an epic 24-hour cycle challenge that saw seven cyclists hit the road for a 73.5 mile ride between the company’s Cambridgeshire and Witham depots. Members of the AJW team then jumped on a static bike and cycled through the night until 7.30am the following morning.

The company’s golf day was also a huge success with 19 teams of AJW’s suppliers and customers battling it out at the Cambridgeshire Golf Club. The event raised over £4,500.

AJW’s managing director, Alan Woods (right), presents a cheque to Phoenix ward staff

Charlotte Jefcoate, fundraising coordinator at Mid Essex Hospitals Charity, said: “We are extremely grateful for the wonderful support we’ve received from everyone at AJW – they have been amazing. The money will make a huge difference to the children and staff on Phoenix.”

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Our friends and supporters work tirelessly to help us – and each issue of connect will bring you the stories behind the donations

Southend MRI suite to get child-friendly makeover Our fundraising team at Southend is looking to raise £31,500 to make their MRI suite more childfriendly.

The aim is to use the money to create a space-themed environment which will make the MRI experience more tolerable and less daunting for our younger patients.

Patients will be able to watch an introductory video explaining what happens during an MRI scan and there will also be some 3D

interactive apps explaining what it LO G O will be like inside the scanner.

Portrait colour

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During the scan youngsters can The Basildon at 70 toolkit has even choose a movie to a strong set of brand assets watch using a periscope mirror as which allow us to create a part of the consistent ‘relax andbrand viewexperience video system’. throughout all collateral.

Jacci Dearman, lead paediatric There four versions of radiographer forexists MRI, said: “MRI the Basildon at 70 logo scans can be a daunting experience for anyone, especially for children.

• Portrait colour But with this new feature we • Portrait white out can make the experience more • Landscape colour tolerable for our younger patients.”

• Landscape white out

Basildon fundraising team scoops local hero award Landscape colour

Our Basildon fundraising team has been named as one of 70 local heroes in Basildon Council’s 70year anniversary celebrations.

Throughout 2019, Basildon Council and Eastgate Shopping Centre had been asking the public to nominate their Basildon Heroes and the Basildon fundraising team were nominated for their tireless fundraising initiatives including the hugely successful Polly Parrot Appeal.

Clair Grayston, fundraising coordinator at Basildon Hospital, explains: “Our Polly Parrot Appeal has raised over half a million pounds to help improve children’s

Polly Parrot Charity Ball In October 2019, more than 160 staff and patients attended Basildon’s Polly Parrot Charity Ball, held at Stock Brook Country Club in Billericay, which raised an incredible £9,000 for the Polly Parrot children’s services appeal, making this year’s occasion their biggest ever.

services at our hospital. Our appeal also funds Polly’s Pad, the three bedroom parent accommodation on the hospital site. We are very proud of this recognition and thank all those who took the time to nominate us.”

Clair and fellow fundraising coordinator, Dee Harris (pictured left, with Polly), attended a lavish reception at Basildon’s Towngate Theatre where all 70 heroes were honoured. Also in attendance were the Mayor of Basildon and local councillors.

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Staff wellbeing

Diversity network groups working together We have staff joining us from all over the world – of different faiths, sexualities and physical abilities – and everyone deserves to be treated equally, to feel able to be themselves at work without any fear of prejudice. This also applies to our patients and their relatives as well as our staff.

For the first time this year our three trusts joined together as Mid and South Essex University Hospitals Group to celebrate and support equality and diversity at Pride in London, marking 50 years since the birth of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Our three hospitals have made great strides over the last year in standing side-by-side in support of staff who are members of our LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning sexuality) community.

LGBTQ+ is one of a number of network groups that we have launched at Basildon and Mid Essex during 2019 – alongside the Armed Forces (and their families), BAME (Black Asian and minority ethnicity), disability and faith and belief groups. This replicates the network groups already in place at Southend, with the exception of the Armed Forces group.

Rob Brunger, head of inclusion and engagement, said: “We always encourage anyone who is thinking about coming along to take that step, get involved and make their voices heard, for agendas they feel passionate about. Together we can all make a difference, providing a safe, inclusive working environment for all.”

The goal of our diversity networks is to help coordinate any actions coming from the groups, being helpful and responsive as well as providing a clear voice and assurance to the senior leadership team that our group is upholding their commitment to meeting the various equality, diversity and inclusion action plans and ultimately, equality delivery standards.

Patient care

Therapy assistant plays music to aid stroke recovery Recovering stroke patients at Basildon Hospital are being helped by weekly music therapy sessions therapy assistant and musician, John Edwards, (pictured).

Singer and guitarist John has worked at the Trust for 25 years and now sings and plays guitar for patients on Osler, Lionel Cosin, Kingswood and Lister wards.

Researchers claim that listening to music in the early stages after a stroke can improve a patient’s recovery. Listening for just a couple of hours a day could help patients recover from brain damage and improve mental functioning and mood.

But it’s not just stroke patients that

can benefit from music, as John explains: “A dementia patient attended one of my sessions. She was very reserved and constantly looked down at her hands, but when I began playing her fingers started tapping and she lifted her head to see where the music was coming from.

“It was very heart-warming to see; her daughter was so surprised and pleased she began to cry.”

Lead nurse and matron for stroke, Beth Smyth, said: “John is a valued member of the team and patients look forward to his weekly music therapy sessions as it helps boost their morale.”

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Patient care

Patient care

Hospital Radio Chelmsford turns 55!

Broomfield’s maternity bereavement team scoops national award

The multi award-winning Hospital Radio Chelmsford celebrated its 55th birthday with an epic 55-hour live broadcast from their studio in the West Wing of Broomfield Hospital.

Broomfield’s maternity bereavement team of midwife Tabitha Stuthridge and support worker Lindsay Oliver have won a Judges’ Award at the inaugural NHS Elect Patient Experience and Quality Improvement Awards.

The team broadcast over two consecutive nights with the help of former DJs and played an hour of music from every year since their launch in 1964.

Nick Fogden, the station’s communications officer, said: “It was great fun for the team. Our volunteers don’t always get to meet each other so it was brilliant to bring everyone together.”

Hospital Radio began life broadcasting from the nurses’ day room at the Chelmsford and Essex Hospital, which was also where former Radio 1 DJ Mike Smith and current BBC News presenter Chris Rogers first took to the airwaves. Pictured (l-r): Paul Morrish, Tony Knight and Nick Fogden.

Tabitha and Lindsay were praised at the ceremony in London for demonstrating leadership and compassion for patients and inspiring their colleagues. Their nomination was described as ‘moving’ and ‘made unforgettable reading’. Winner Tabitha said: “We were really proud to win and it was such an inspirational day.

The award recognises the changes we’ve made and the impact that’s had on our ladies.”

Ros Bullen-Bell, Broomfield’s head of midwifery and gynaecology, said: “Tabitha and her team have transformed our bereavement services. It’s a very prestigious award – one of only two judges’ awards for the whole of the UK. Our Blossom Suite is a wonderful place for women to be cared for and we get such positive feedback about the team’s dedication.”

Innovation

Retention pilot scheme reaps award A new staff retention scheme was recently recognised with an NHSI National Retention Award for Best Support to Those Approaching Retirement.

The Flexible Retirement and Encore Career Programme was piloted at Southend and is being rolled out across the group. It includes newly developed flexible working guidelines, retention skills training for managers, retire and return guidelines and pension and financial planning workshops for all nurses approaching retirement.

The project was led by Stephanie Wilson, head of engagement and retention, Julie Coleman and her team in Practice Development, Karen Hussey, HR business partner, and Joanne Colby from Recruitment (now retention & engagement advisor).

Stephanie Wilson said: “The programme provided an opportunity for us to engage with our older staff and to break down barriers and misunderstandings. In the UK, as the national retirement age increases, our staff will work longer before they are eligible to retire.

(L-R): Julie Coleman, head of practice development; Stephanie Wilson, head of engagement, retention & recognition; Joanne Colby, retention & engagement advisor

“With children still at home and parents living longer and needing care, our staff need the security and choice to extend their careers with us for as long as they wish. It isn’t just about returning to a current role either, there are opportunities to retrain and enjoy a new career in their current trust, or across the group.”

To find out more, contact stay@southend.nhs.uk

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Dr Arawwawala is both chief clinical information officer and consultant in anaesthesia and burns (intensive care) at Mid Essex Hospital Services.

Dilshan grew up in Essex and studied in Manchester. He worked as a registrar at Imperial in London but wanted to move back to the area.

Therefore he cold called the local hospitals to ask if they had any roles for consultants and scored them all on their future potential. Thankfully, Mid Essex came out on top!

What do you enjoy about your role?

As a clinician, I love the interaction with my team and colleagues. I love patient contact, especially when patients say ‘thank you’ at the end – it means a lot. From the digital point of view, I enjoy the opportunity to make some really long-lasting changes that will benefit everyone, most importantly, our patients and citizens in the local area. We can really make a big difference.

What do you find challenging about your role?

The challenge is to balance my roles.

To deliver digital transformation, it’s important I keep one foot on the

clinical floor as I need to understand how it feels to work in those areas.

We also have three organisations that have different levels of digital maturity, and different ways of working.

Then you have the digital agenda versus the STP agenda versus the service and transformation agenda, so different interests can grind against each other.

What are you most proud of?

The best piece of work I’ve done recently is around VTE risk assessments. We’d released a digital way of recording VTEs but still had the paper system, and running parallel systems was a really bad idea. It took a huge amount of effort to get the digital solution everywhere, to get everyone using it and agreement on one way of doing it. We’ve gone from 60% to 93% compliance, so we’re almost at the national target.

It proved that collaboration can really make things work.

Tell us something people wouldn’t know about you.

I have an aquarium at home and keep tropical fish. I’m also a really keen runner. I’ve run two marathons and try to run 30 to 40km a week.

I also cycle a lot and ski to quite a high level.

What advice would you give your younger self?

The younger me was perhaps a little bit naïve. Once you jump on the medical conveyor belt you don’t jump off until you’re a consultant. You spend a lot of your hours – whether that’s working or socially – with the same group of people. If you network with a wider community you pick up things from other industries you could bring in here. I’d tell the younger me to make the effort to get out there, network with people, talk to people, and learn to really value yourself.

Every day we get messages of support on social media from our patients, their relatives and friends. We are always grateful for the respect and gratitude shown to our staff. Thank you for letting us know how you feel.

Southend Every member of staff is a hero.

From the cleaners to the surgeons and consultants - you deal with people when they are at their lowest and sometimes worst. Well done to all! John Window

Thank you to everyone on Phoenix ward for looking after my granddaughter and daughter. You’ve all shown fantastic care and support for Lucy particularly over the past year.

Basildon My mum was taken into Basildon Hospital last Sunday where her treatment up until her passing was excellent. I cannot fault in any way the commitment of the staff and the treatment she received. Leo

Mid-Essex It’s a comfort to know you’re all there while I’m so far away and unable to visit. Nursing legends! Rhian

Mid Essex After a fall my 90-year-old grandmother attended A&E. We had a fantastic service from receptionists, nurses, doctors and radiographers. We were in and out within an hour and a half. Special thanks to nurses Richard and Jackie and the lovely plaster nurse - you really made my grandmother feel at ease. Nikki Wood

Connect is published by Mid and South Essex University Hospitals Group. ©2020. If you have any ideas for stories, contact your local communications team.

Staff spotlight Dr Dilshan Arawwawala