Look February 2012

Newsletter for Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

February 2012 Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, clinical lead and consultant clinical oncologist, said: “By using this technique we can target much higher doses into the prostate area while minimising side effects and damage to adjacent organs.

“We feel it is something we should offer to our patients as one of a range of treatment options for prostate cancer. Owing to more awareness and the availability of diagnostic tests, more and more young men are being diagnosed.”

Patient Andy Fawkes (centre front) with treatment team: back l to r: James Green, head of radiotherapy and medical physics; Dr Ahmed; consultant urologist Mr Richard Lodge. Front: Pat Burns, superintendent radiographer and Janet Laytham, quality assurance superintendent.

Top testimonial from first prostate treatment patient Andy Fawkes is a happy man after becoming the first patient in Southend to receive a new form of intense treatment for prostate cancer.

The super-fit 52-year-old never suspected for one moment that he had the cancer – especially after getting the all-clear from a health check – and only asked his doctor for a PSA (prostate specific antigen) test to please his mother. Andy’s father had recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer and she was naturally concerned for her son.

When it was discovered he, too, had cancer, he was offered the new treatment – HDR or high dose rate brachytherapy radiation treatment.

The treatment is available for high-risk patients where the cancer has not spread and we hope to treat at least 30 patients a year from all over Essex and beyond.

Mr Richard Lodge, consultant urologist, said: “It is really exciting and cements Southend as the only centre in the East of England region offering all possible treatment options for prostate cancer on site outside of Cambridge.”

Andy, a keen kite surfer, windsurfer and We are one of only about 10 centres in scuba diver, said: “The idea of having the UK to offer it, and the only one in needles inserted there is not something Essex. It consists of a I relished, but it was less uncomfortable short course of than you would imagine conventional and I would recommend it Everyone at the external beam to anyone. hospital was fabulous. radiotherapy “Everyone at the hospital I cannot speak highly followed by a was fabulous. I cannot single session of enough of the team speak highly enough of the brachytherapy which treated me. team which treated me. I where high-level did not feel anxious at all. doses of Iridium 192, a radioactive “I left hospital the following day, went material, are precisely targeted at the back to work almost immediately and affected area. three weeks later went kite surfing.”

It is a real team effort requiring See page 3 for another good meticulous pre-planning on the computer to ensure the needles carrying news story! the Iridium source are inserted into the exact position in the prostate.

Personal notices Welcome to: Dr Gairin Dancey, consultant medical oncologist, who joins us in her first consultant post from University College Hospital.

Gairin has fond memories of Southend from her time here as a house officer during her training and already knows a number of our oncologists.

She says: “It is quite a small specialty and a really interesting field with lots of developments and the excitement of new drugs and clinical trials. You can really see things developing and improving.”

She enjoys the continuity of care with her patients and the great amount of assistance from specialty nurses and support workers.

Outside work, she is a keen walker and often leads groups around the historical London docks area.

Alan Gurney, interim business unit director (BUD) for medicine, who joined us last month to take over the reins from Dr Grahame Tosh.

Alan started his 28-year career in the health service as a nurse in Kettering, Northamptonshire where he still lives (although he stays here most of the working week). His nursing career was mainly in general medicine although he specialised for a while in HIV/AIDS at St Mary’s, Paddington.

Alan made the move to operational management in the days of GP fundholding, so is well used to the primary/secondary care interface. He held a number of general management posts before being seconded to the Department of Health for two years where he headed the regional patients’ access team for the south east. Following that, Alan spent eight years working at the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust in Birmingham, first as divisional general manager for medicine and then as director of operations for surgery and women’s and children’s services. For

the last 14 months he has been leading some clinical strategy work at the beleaguered Mid-Staffs Trust, redesigning health services across the patch.

Alan is really looking forward to his new role in the Trust: “If things are sustainable when I leave, I will know I have done a good job,” he said. “The gauge of my success is to make myself dispensable. My focus will be on leadership, operational performance and the development of the medical business unit.”

Mr James Wright, consultant surgeon with a special interest in laparoscopic colorectal and pelvic floor surgery. James joined us last month and will be helping Mr Bandipalyam Praveen build up our pelvic floor services to meet a growing demand and with a view to preventing patients having to travel to London for tests.

He trained at St Mary’s, Paddington, worked here previously as Mr Mike Dworkin’s registrar and decided then that he wanted to work at Southend.

“It is a very cohesive and friendly unit with a good attitude to getting the work done. The surgical department, nursing and theatre staff have made me very welcome.”

James, who comes to us from Colchester Hospital, is married to a GP with a 20-months-old son and is a keen cyclist.

Stephanie Whitwell, deputy Ladybird Nursery manager, who joined us at the start of the new year.

Stephanie worked in nurseries across Southend before her son, Ben, was born. During her time at home with him, she has taken a degree in interior design at the University of Essex.

She is dividing her working week between hands-on activities with the nursery’s over-twos and office work.

First impressions are that the nursery is a busy place with lots of projects: “something I can get my teeth into”.

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Congratulations to: Katie Palmer, our new medical education manager, who has taken over the role from Judi Sharpe. Katie, who has worked in the medical education team for six years, is pictured here (left) at Judi’s farewell lunch with Judi and Professor John Kinnear, clinical tutor for the medical education department.

The education department ground-floor seminar room is to be named the Judi Sharpe seminar room as a tribute to all she did during her years with the Trust.

Obituaries: Yvonne Weakley, formerly surgical nursing officer here, has died in a Westcliff care home aged 82. Sister Weakley left the hospital in the late 1980s after a long and distinguished career. Former ward clerk Rita Mason, who worked with her in the 1960s said: “I remember her as a very dedicated nurse who didn’t take any prisoners regarding the care of her patients. She expected the highest ethics and standards and made sure all her nurses did their job in a compassionate manner.”

Former nurse Jackie Bailey, who was a student under Sister Weakley, said: “She was brilliant and terrifying. She had such high standards.”

Sheila Webber, former senior nursing officer, added: “I still speak to people today who remember how good she was with patients and staff. Ward sisters adored her because she could see their point of view.”

Hazel Cutler, 15.9.1941 – 2.2.2012 We are very sad to announce the death of popular volunteer Hazel Cutler. Hazel was a well-loved fixture on both the information and care cars desks, and also helped on Chalkwell ward until ill-health struck last autumn. Funeral details to be announced. Full obituary in next month's Look.

CLINICAL

Paul’s inspirational journey to recovery

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Operating department practitioner Paul Jones looks a picture of health. But only a few months ago, he was lying in critical care on a ventilator, unable to speak or move after being taken ill suddenly at work.

Paul recalls: “I was on the night shift getting ready to transfer a patient. Gradually my arms just became weak and then I could not physically lift my foot up to step into the ambulance with the patient. I just thought I was really tired.”

It is very, very lonely inside your own body.

With pins and needles in his hands, he still finished his shift and then went home to bed. When he got up, he fell to the floor with chest pains and was brought in by ambulance to A&E where he was diagnosed with GuillainBarré syndrome, a rare and serious condition in which the immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system.

After two weeks in ITU, he was transferred to the stroke unit for physio and seen regularly by the ITU outreach team.

Unbelievably, in just six months he was back at work in theatres.

“They reckoned I could have been on ITU for a year and at least two years before I was OK – maybe never. But, although I get tired, all I was left with is an itchy thumb, which is not too bad!”

By then, Paul was having difficulty breathing and was moved to Rochford ward where a registrar anaesthetist kept an eye on him all night. The following day – Good Friday last year – he was rushed to ITU, completely numb from the nose downwards.

Paul, who has worked here for 12 years, was prompted to call the comms team after reading last month’s Look article on the ITU’s success rate.

He was put on a ventilator and had a tracheostomy fitted.

Paul then developed a severe chest infection and his blood pressure shot up dangerously.

“The whole team was amazing in the support they gave me. I cannot thank them – and my wife Belinda – enough for all they did.

Paul says: “All the time I was very aware of what was going on. I knew I could have a stroke from the blood pressure and the noise of the machines told me how much medication I was on. I know now it was touch and go.

“I feel fabulous. I swim a lot to get my lungs back working and have taken up model building to loosen up my fingers.”

Paul has already given a couple of talks on the patient’s perspective to ITU staff and now he and Belinda, who kept a detailed diary of his time in ITU, have been asked by the Guillain-Barre Syndrome Support Group to write an uplifting book about his rapid progress from being a quadriplegic to getting back to work.

“It was very scary being unable to breathe or communicate.

All I could do was cry. It is very, very lonely inside your own body.”

The event which spurred him to recovery was when his oneyear-old granddaughter Gabriella was allowed to come in to see him.

“It is easy to get into a real spiral of depression. I hope my experience will help others who are diagnosed.”

“I thought to myself ‘I have got to get out to see her’.”

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Night and day –

they have got the hospi Night

Once the lights go out on the wards, the visitors’ car parks are empty and a quiet settles over the hospital, they set off to stalk the corridors.

Liza Bird, a CSM on the nightshift for seven years, said: “I have even unblocked toilets before. My problem-solving skills have increased amazingly since I have been doing this job.

There is only a skeleton staff on at night and we get called for some bizarre things. We are the contact point for the whole hospital and here to help. We try to make the night shift as trouble-free as possible.”

They are the trouble shooters, the Jacks of all trades, the problem-solvers – the experienced nurses at the end of a bleep to whom the night staff turn when they need help. They are the clinical site managers.

Usually, they work in pairs but on rare occasions can be on their own – the single point of contact for the whole hospital – liaising between the night staff and the on-call managers.

Liza loves working at night – not least because it leaves her plenty of time with her 18-months-old daughter Lily. She drops her off at the Ladybird nursery at 7.30am, goes home to sleep, picks her up at 2.30pm when they are then together until Lily’s bedtime. “She doesn’t even know I have gone to work.”

The shift starts by checking the bed situation so they know what is available for the coming night’s urgent admissions.

But capacity is only one of their many responsibilities. They might just as easily be involved in getting emergency drugs from the locked drugs cupboard, helping the resus team when there’s a cardiac arrest, dealing with fire calls, moving beds from A to B, assisting the medics insert catheters or cannulas, liaising with security about suspicious characters or even helping to deliver babies – as was the case recently when a mum gave birth just inside the main doors.

Her colleague, Jean Colclough, a nurse for more than 50 years, reckons ‘general dogsbody’ or ‘gofer’ best describes the job: “The other night I was an IT engineer – fiddling with cables when all the phones were engaged.

Day

At 7am the day shift begins.

Laurel Hale explains: “It is very different, although we are still the eyes and ears of the senior managers and still here to trouble-shoot.

“The day shift is always a lot busier, because there is such an influx of patients and visitors.”

Every day the CSMs attend at least three bed meetings to collate and gather the information needed to take back to the control room, the hospital’s nerve centre where beds are allocated. They work closely with the discharge team and liaise with ward staff to persuade them to use the discharge lounge for patients on their way home, so allowing beds to become free.

Natalie Mifsud-Bonnici said: “We gather information on the bed situation five times a day. It is a constantly evolving situation.”

Laurel Hale and Natalie Mifsud-Bonnici.

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CLINICAL

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ital covered mysterious

”Our remit is to keep things running smoothly during the night hours, and to ensure the safety, comfort and wellbeing of both patients and staff; to deal with the unexpected, as well as the routine.”

For Jean, the CSM role just evolved from being a night sister and has gradually got bigger and bigger. The shift might seem long – 8.30pm to 7am – but there is never a dull moment and the time just whizzes by.

“It is like a big family at night. You have such a good rapport with the staff. Everyone is very supportive of each other. It certainly helps if you have a sense of humour – we work a lot in A&E where it can get pretty lively at times.”

The CSMs are the eyes and ears of the senior managers and need to be able to liaise with all levels of staff both here and at other hospitals. They also need a good knowledge of the hospital’s protocols, policies and guidelines.

They also take families to viewings in the mortuary – but have to go in pairs in case an emergency crops up and one is called away – assist with staff shortages, take complaints and act as a sounding board for other staff.

On top of that, there are the unpredictable situations which are so much part of hospital life.

Last year, they helped deal with two fires. The CSMs are responsible for deciding whether to evacuate, if staff are needed to be pulled in to assist, ensuring the area is safe, meeting and greeting the firefighters and organising access for the fire engines.

Jean Colclough and Liza Bird.

Towards the end of the night shift, the CSMs do another recce of the hospital to find out about the day’s planned discharges.

By the time they knock off, they have clocked up quite an impressive mileage.

Jean says: “I used to take shoe size 6.5 when I started – now I am an 8. I am just glad I wasn’t sitting down doing secretarial work if that is how much you spread!”

”It is a challenging and rewarding job. You need an extensive knowledge across the entire Trust – and a lot of common sense.”

• At the moment, our CSMs all wear sisters’ uniforms – but are soon to change to a distinctive purple and black. Look out for them in a future edition.

• Altogether, we have nine CSMs covering 24/7, every day of the year. They are all highly-experienced senior nurses with a total of more than 240 years’ experience between them!

Rupert Wainwright, director of operations, said: “The clinical site manager’s role is pivotal to the ongoing smooth running of the hospital. They have a very tough job to do.”

Natalie said: “It is very difficult to say exactly what the job is.

The job description is full to bursting but still does not cover all we do – it is ongoing and never-ending. Whether it is a light bulb going out or a roof falling in, we will be contacted for it.

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CLINICAL

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Pharmacy first to access Summary Care Records There’s been a lot in the national news about Summary Care Records – the electronic record which has been brought in to provide healthcare staff with faster and easier access to essential patient information.

The pharmacy is our first department to gain access to the records, allowing staff to view a patient’s core medical data held on the GP’s database.

The record contains crucial information on current medications, allergies and sensitivities and bad reactions to medicines– all stuff which is vital to know in an emergency or when the GP practice is closed.

In time, other details may be added to the Summary Care Record but it can only be viewed outside the GP surgery with the patient’s explicit consent.

Richard Goodwin, project manager, explained: “Patient information, such as details of medications, can take a long time to receive from a GP practice. Having the SCR to view this data electronically will give the consultant or clinician up-to-date information without having to approach the patient’s GP.”

• time saving in gathering core information • less telephoning, faxing or sending letters requesting information Simon Worrall, assistant clinical lead pharmacist (pictured here, right, with Richard and senior pharmacy technician Chris Overland, front), said: “Access to the Summary Care Records has greatly improved the efficiency of the medicines reconciliation process, identifying the most accurate list of a patient’s medicines, including name, dosage, frequency and route. This will enable any discrepancies to be picked up and changes documented, thereby resulting in a complete list of medications, accurately communicated, and can only be of benefit to patients.”

The PCT has been liaising with GPs to increase the volume of Summary Care Records available and at the start of December around 70% (250,000) of all patients registered with south east Essex GPs had their own personal healthcare record, with a similar number in the south west patch.

So the advantages are:

The next department to gain instant access will be renal dialysis, with other interested departments to follow later.

• instant access to core medical data, including existing medical conditions

Anyone needing more information about SCR should contact Richard on 07768 567612.

Having a virtual baby Mums booked in to have their babies here can now acclimatise themselves to the hospital and find out what to expect by watching our new short DVD. In the past, expectant mums and their partners have been invited in to have a look round. This meant that up to 20 people at a time could turn up, which was disruptive to the smooth running of the unit and not ideal for prospective parents.

The virtual tour gives a comprehensive summary to make the whole process of giving birth as smooth and joyful as possible. It gives an explanation of the ante-natal triage and assessment areas, access, parking and drop-off points,

options for pain relief, visiting hours, post-natal area and the opportunity to have professional baby photos taken.

The idea of the virtual tour came from Andrea Harrington, triage specialist midwife and supervisor of midwives, who worked closely with head of midwifery services, Liz Glenister.

“Thanks go to all the healthcare professionals for all their enthusiasm and time in making this a reality,” said Andrea.

A copy of the DVD will be sent to all mums booked into our unit or they can view it by accessing http://www.youtube.com/user/ SouthendHospitalNHS?feature=guide Liz said: “We have thought for a while

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that this would be an ideal way of introducing new mums to our services, giving them some familiarity with the unit, making them feel more confident and comfortable and hopefully allaying any fears.

“From the comments we have had so far, it seems that parents find it extremely helpful.”

DiaryDates Mini masterclasses 7.15pm to 8.15pm in the ground floor seminar room, education centre:

Tuesday, February 21

Knee examination – when to refer, how to investigate in primary care – is knee XRay necessary?

Speaker: Mr Tony Greer, consultant orthopaedic surgeon.

Tuesday, March 20

Helping to identify and support your patients at the end of life: tools and resources for GPs Speakers: Dr Patricia Ahlquist, consultant in palliative care and Ms Emma Willey, End of Life project manager, Thundersley clinic, Benfleet.

Friday, February 24

Quiz night 7.30pm for 8pm start at the Freight House, Bradley Way, Rochford In aid of the dementia service and Neptune ward. Tickets £6 per person – call ext 6402.

Wednesday, March 7

COPES charity evening from 7.30pm at Maxims Casino, Southend seafront £15 per ticket, including three-couse meal. Tickets available from Mike 01268 776137 or 07891 260241.

COPES is a charity and support group for women and their families living with gynaecological cancer in south Essex.

Thursday, March 8

On the move against Tuberculosis: innovate to accelerate action 9am to 4.30pm at the Holiday Inn, Brook Street, Brentwood, CM14 5NF Conference for everyone with an interest in TB. A wide range of topics will be covered by international, national and local speakers.

To book a place, contact Jan Bradley on 01268 366815. janet.bradley@sept.nhs.uk

Patient Safety Awards 2012 This year there are nine categories for entrants. Full details are available on www.patientsafetyawards.com – where you can also register and upload entries.

Green news This year, the second national Climate Week is from the March 12 to 18 when our Ladybird Nursery children will be painting pictures to depict what ‘climate’ means to them. Find out all about the week on www.climateweek.com Meanwhile, following the success of her first venture, our ecology champion Maggie Nicol is planning a second hedge planting session on Sunday February 19. Just turn up – with a spade. She is also offering to loan out her copy of 'The Age of Stupid' – the climate change film starring the late Pete Postlethwaite – to anyone who might be interested.

Still on a green note, March culminates in Earth Hour. On March 31 at 8.30pm UK time, lights will be switched off for one hour across the world. Organised by the World Wildlife Fund, further information is on www.wwf.org.uk/earthhour As Maggie says: “Come on....do something!"

Make your salary s-t-r-e-t-c-h further Daniel Nelson, director of KeyworkersDirect (pictured) is making you an offer you cannot refuse.

Daniel’s company, a free benefit scheme offering local discounts from hair salons, kitchen companies, restaurants and other businesses, is just one of the organisations which can help us all with discounts, special deals and benefits and which drew a bumper crowd of nearly 300 staff at last month’s Staff Benefits Day. Hunger pangs were kept at bay thanks to the generosity of Dosa Palace in London Road, Westcliff, which kindly provided some tasters from their menu.

All those who attended were entered into a special prize draw with a total of 32 prizes including M&S hamper, vouchers for local restaurants, Adventure Island tickets, family bowling voucher and free MOT and car checks.

You can find a full list of the perks of working here by clicking on the staff benefits link on the STAFFnet home page.

Honouring our volunteers Do you have a volunteer in your ward or department who’s been with the hospital for a long time and who does a marvellous job?

Well, now’s the time to get your nomination in for the annual Hospital Honours awards, the Trust’s small way of saying thank-you.

Eligible volunteers must have worked for the hospital for some time (usually over 10 years) and have provided outstanding service via fundraising, voluntary service or any other exceptional contribution to the work of the hospital.

There are two categories, individuals or group. Nominations can be submitted by hospital staff, volunteers or members of the public.

Deadline for nominations is Wednesday February 29. The winners will be honoured at a reception being held on Saturday May 26 in the education centre from 3pm, followed by the volunteers’ annual reception.

Nomination forms are on STAFFnet or available from the voluntary services department on ext. 6135.

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There's no place like Home (from Hospital) A new service partly manned by volunteers has been launched at the hospital which could see re-admission rates fall among older people.

The hospital’s discharge team is working with specially selected volunteers from the WRVS, such as Hazel Grayston, pictured here, as part of a new The team attend to a patient: l to r: discharge Home from Hospital service. co-ordinator Bev Bambury; Hazel Grayston, Volunteers accompany WRVS volunteer; newly discharged patient hospital staff to the homes Bill; Anne Bourne and Sue Irving, activities for of patients who are being daily living advisors. discharged from hospital.

While a nurse checks the patient’s medication, Hazel’s remit is to make patients feel literally ‘at home’ – which can be anything from a cuppa and a chat, to doing a bit of shopping and making sure the heating is on and the lights work.

It’s hoped that the input from WRVS volunteers will go some way towards ensuring patients cope better within their own homes, avoiding readmission to hospital … which costs an eye-watering £400 a day.

And Sandra Steeples, patient admission and discharge manager, is hoping that the presence of this new WRVS team will also encourage ward staff to discharge patients under their care.

“Ward staff need to be more proactive and to plan ahead when they come to discharge,” says Sandra. “But if they know we have these volunteers ready, willing and able to help as an extra pair of hands, we hope they will act more quickly.”

For discharge co-ordinator Bev Bambury and her step-down team of two activities for daily living advisers Anne Bourne and Sue Irving, as well as a physiotherapist, having volunteers on board will be ‘an absolute godsend’.

“It will mean the team should be free to see more patients,” she added.

For while staff from social care can provide the basics, they are not funded to provide the less pressing needs, such as listening and popping out to the corner shop to get a packet of sweets.

Other duties include the picking up of prescriptions, emptying the fridge if the patient was taken into hospital suddenly, and checking for hazards such as trailing wires and hazards like slippery mats or rugs and feeding this issue back to the discharge team.

Bev is quick to stress that volunteers will not be expected to be unpaid social workers, nor provide intimate personal care. “And we work as a team; they won’t be on their own.”

We need your help Do you know someone who is practically-minded and wants to make a difference to the lives of older people who could join the WRVS/Southend Hospital Home from Hospital scheme?

If so, please contact WRVS co-ordinator Louise Powell on louise.powell@wrvs.org.uk or call her on 07786 635182.

Food for thought The ongoing drive to recruit more Feeding Buddies – volunteers who encourage patients with little appetite to eat at mealtimes – continued at an awareness morning in the outpatients department last month to mark Nutrition Awareness Week.

An information stand highlighting the need for good nutrition, backed up by helpers to ensure patients eat, was manned by Feeding Buddies Sarah Monilaws and Mick Crane, along with Ross Little from the dietetics department and Lynn Coley, who is helping to spearhead the drive for better nutrition within the hospital.

Do you know anyone who might be interested in becoming a Feeding Buddy? If so, please ring Chris Miller or Jane O’Connell at voluntary services on ext 6135 or ring volunteers@southend.nhs.uk

As part of the Trust’s equality and diversity policy, the communications department is committed to ensuring this publication meets the needs of all our staff. If anyone would find it helpful to receive The Look in an alternative format, eg large print or audio please email the communications department.

If you have an item that you would like to see published in The Look, contact Pat Stone on ext: 5048 or by email. Deadline for

March – Friday, February 17.