The Look, April 2019

the

LOOK

For Southend University Hospital staff & volunteers

RADIOLOGY

Four radiology trainees awarded bursaries.

Page 2

GO NUCLEAR!

Charity fundraiser to raise funds for our three Trusts.

Page 5

April 2019

GROUP NOMINATED

Hospital group nominated for two HSJ awards.

Page 7

HELPING COMBAT ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY

>

It is estimated that across the UK, 20% of all patients admitted to hospital have Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). AKI is a major cause of illness and death especially among our elderly population.

AKI is a condition where there is a rapid decline in kidney function and this means that the kidneys do not regulate fluid, electrolyte and acid base balance.

In order to improve the outcomes of patients with AKI, the hospital has recruited Linda Lio as its first dedicated AKI Nurse in September 2018.

The prevention, early recognition and correct management of AKI can prevent serious complications, such as the need for dialysis temporarily or even permanently.

AKI is predictable, avoidable and can be treated in most cases. Some of the common causes of AKI are infection, kidney stones, dehydration, low blood pressure and certain medications. Common risk factors include patients aged 75 and above, or with cardiac failure, liver failure or diabetes mellitus.

Linda said: “Acute Kidney

Follow us

facebook.com/ SouthendNHS

n Dr Gowrie Balasubramaniam and Linda Lio

Injury is a huge patient safety issue. We can prevent, predict and treat it. In the month of February, 88% of the patients with AKI had it on arrival to A&E. The good news is that we are already seeing improvements here at Southend Hospital as a result of implementing and following the AKI pathway.

“I see myself as a supportive role for all staff.

Although AKI is potentially life-threatening, with the support and teaching that the staff get, they can understand that they will be able to make a difference. Everyone

can make a difference, from HCAs, to nurses and doctors.

My job is to enable people to make that difference.

“That can be by doing a task as simple as using a urine dipstick to help alert medical staff that a patient may have something serious going on in their kidney and investigate the patient promptly. It is also important that we look out for our patients and ensure that they are well hydrated in hospital by monitoring their hydration status.”

The nursing care plans for AKI and the AKI policy can be

Instant news

We are on Twitter @SouthendNHS

found on the staff intranet.

AKI teaching sessions are offered to healthcare support workers (HCSW) and newly qualified nurses (NQN) in their induction programmes.

AKI teaching sessions are being offered at ward level as well. There will be teaching sessions to book via ilearn from April onwards for nurses and health care assistants.

Linda is also the lead for the AKI work stream at Basildon and Mid Essex, and meets regularly with the work stream members to discuss and agree on AKI pathways across the three trusts.

Latest videos

Watch us at: /SouthendHospitalNHS

FINDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF RADIOLOGISTS Four specialist trainees in radiology based at Southend University Hospital and part of the Essex, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire radiology training scheme, have been awarded bursaries to the value of £1,100.

They were awarded in recognition of academic work completed over the last few years.

The four recipients of this inaugural award were trainees Dr Anam Ali (ST3), Dr Carla Goncalves (ST4), Dr Alan Tan (ST4) and Dr Sakib Moghul (ST3).

Dr Ali and Dr Goncalves received their awards from Dr Sid Liyanage and Dr Tom Latham, co-organisers of the Southend Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR) 2b course and Southend Radiology Registrar (SPR) On-Call courses, in front of other radiology consultants who are part of the teaching faculty.

Dr Sid Liyanage, Consultant Radiologist, said: “The bursaries are testimony to the educational environment and pastoral care we provide with help and support from our radiologists, radiographers and the

medical education centre team here at the Trust.

“This money has come from a radiology education fund into which monies generated from two radiology courses, the Southend FRCR 2b course and SPR On-Call

course, go.”

The courses have generated more than £15,000 in revenue, most of which has been reinvested into improving the educational IT hardware needed to run the courses.

RECOGNISING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR FANTASTIC VOLUNTEERS Do you have a volunteer in your ward or department who does a marvellous job?

Well, now’s the time to get your nomination in for the annual Volunteer Achievement Awards, the Trust’s small way of saying thankyou.

Voluntary Services Manager, Jane O’Connell, said: “This is a great chance to recognise how great our volunteers are and to acknowledge the amazing work they do. Southend University Hospital depends on over 450 volunteers spanning 30 roles including Feeding Buddies, Care Car drivers and Dementia Befrienders.”

Eligible volunteers must have worked for the hospital for some time (usually over five 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.

The deadline for

2 the Look

nominations is Thursday 11 April. The winners will be honoured at a special afternoon tea being held on Thursday June 6 from 3pm at the Saxon Hall, Aviation Way, Southend.

Nomination forms are on

Staffnet or available from voluntary services department on ext. 6135. n Please email your nominations to jane. oconnell@southend.nhs.uk

April 2019

Nutrition & Hydration Week competition gives food for thought Wards and departments around the Trust took part in a fun competition, with a serious message, about improving hydration and nutrition in the areas that they worked.

Four teams entered the event, which was held in partnership with Medirest.

Hockley ward was chosen as overall winner by Director of Nursing, Denise Townsend.

She said: “It was amazing to see how much thought teams had put into some of their mini-campaigns to highlight better nutrition and hydration. They were all very creative and had a real sense of fun. The main success is that many of their ideas will have a long lasting positive impact on both patients and staff.”

Mouth-watering prizes chosen by each team included pastries, a fruit basket, free drinks and a range of chocolate bars.

Hockley ward ran the ‘super spring snack round’, complete with a decoration of flowers and grass, as well as adding pastries, cupcakes, oranges and cartons of drink to their usual snack round.

All of which were presented within their theme of spring.

There were also information boards, which included details about a healthy diet after surgery.

Clinical Medical Day Stay (CMDS) posted on their twitter page throughout the week and activities saw one of their healthcare assistants dressed up as ‘Captain Carrot’, promoting the health benefits of the orange vegetable. Staff flavoured their water with cucumber, mint, lemons

and limes as part of a 5-day water challenge, complete with leader board. Patients were also handed word searches based on nutrition and hydration week to keep them entertained whilst also educating them during their stay.

The stroke unit had signs up on the main bays on Paglesham, and some on Benfleet, highlighting the week itself asking patients and relatives what their favourite foods are and displaying them. There were also two members of staff carrying out fluid balance charts to monitor their own hydration and a Speech and Language Therapist delivered a presentation at Safe@ Southend. Fun facts and posters were also on display in the main entrance to the unit.

Princess Anne ward devised an ‘ensure round’ to run alongside their day time drug rounds. Each patient was weighed prior to the round and weighed again after nutrition week to see if the patient had gained weight. Due to the high number of patients who have dementia, but are fully

mobile, the ward also use the high calorie snacks on the daily snack round – run by our fantastic volunteers – to ensure they are offered these whilst mobilising around the ward. These snacks include crisps, chocolate bars and cakes.

Congratulations to the winners of the MARCH staff lottery: 1st prize (£616): Lynda Bartholomew (630); 2nd prize (£123.20): Lynn Jacobs (398), Susan Barter (937); 3rd prize (£61.60): Sarah Fowler (394), Julie Branigan (1035), Laura Mason (16), Jane Smith (920); 4th prize (£24.64): Heather McKenzie (908), Cheryl Harrell (1096), Samuel James (253), Jamie Stokoe (179), Julie Hartley (39).

www.southend.nhs.uk

the Look 3

CHRISTINE WILLETT TRUST RAISES £70,000 FOR SOUTHEND HOSPITAL Over the last 25 years the Christine Willett Trust has raised an amazing £70,000 for Southend Hospital, their latest fundraising seeing an impressive £20,000 raised to enhance the lives of cancer patients at the hospital.

The Trust was set up in memory of Christine Willett of Bulphan, Upminster, who sadly died of breast cancer at Southend Hospital in 1993 at the age of 44. One of her last wishes was that all her assets should be used to help other cancer patients.

Following her death, her husband Colin set up a trust and has raised funds for Essex hospitals, including Southend, ever since.

Colin Willett attended the presentation with his wife Joyce Willett and Monica Gardner and Margaret Berry, who are Secretary and Treasurer respectively of the Christine Willett Trust.

The biggest item that the £20,000 donated helped purchase was a new breast board for the Radiotherapy Department. James Green, Head of Radiotherapy, said: “We are so grateful for this donation which has enabled us to buy a state of the art breast board to help immobilise patients

who are being treated for breast cancer. This breast board provides both comfortable and reproducible immobilisation of the patient, while improving the accuracy of the treatment.”

The generous donation also ensured that the hospital could buy vital equipment to benefit oncology and haematology patients staying on Bedwell Ward.

The equipment included four new reclining chairs, three blood pressure monitors, and a new vein finder machine.

Colin Willett said: “It’s been great to see our equipment

in use. Christine would be so pleased and proud that we have continued her legacy and that even after all these years she is continuing to make a real positive difference in the lives of others who have cancer.”

Lucy Lock, Community Fundraising Officer at Southend Hospital, said “The Christine Willett Trust has donated a staggering £70,000 worth of equipment to Southend Hospital over the years which is a very fitting number as we recently celebrated 70 years of the NHS. We are extremely grateful to the Christine

Willett Trust and their supporters for once again providing us with vital new equipment that will help us enhance the care we can provide to our patients with cancer.” n Image: l-r Rory Walford - Senior Therapeutic Radiographer, Lucy Lock - Community Fundraising Officer, Alex Cain - Advanced Practitioner Pre-treatment Radiotherapy, Colin Willett, Monica Gardner - Secretary of the Christine Willett Trust, James Green - Head of Radiotherapy and Sarah Walsh - Clinical Lead Radiotherapy.

the right patient to the right bed the first time 4 the Look

April 2019

EPIC NUCLEAR CHALLENGE FOR HOSPITAL CHARITIES IS SET TO BE A BLAST Southend, Mid Essex and Basildon hospitals are joining forces for their very first joint charity event to organise what promises to be the event of the year.

On Saturday 25 May, teams from Southend, Mid Essex and Basildon hospitals will head to Nuclear Races in Brentwood to take on what has been voted the UK’s best obstacle course.

Nuclear Races challenge all levels of fitness, ability

and ages, testing courage, determination, teamwork and physical strength. Based on permanent farmland with mud (lots of mud!), woods, rivers, lakes and fields, and did we mention the mud?

At Nuclear, trademark obstacles include a 20ft free-fall deathslide, 15-lane zip-wire into water, 120 metre permanent steel gorilla bars and four storey deep underground secret nuclear bunker.

ABSEILERS ASSEMBLE!

You can run, jump and slide your way to glory while raising money for the hospital, ward or department of your choice.

Fancy dress is encouraged and there’ll be prizes to be won.

“This promises to be a brilliant event,” said Lucy Thomas-Clayton, Associate Director of Charities and Community Engagement for the three hospitals, “The obstacle course is amazing and we’re going to have food, drink, music and

entertainment for all the family. It’s set to be a fantastic day full of memories and will be great seeing staff and public representing the three hospitals coming together as one for an action-packed fundraising adventure.

“We’ve negotiated a special discounted rate for people to take part, so if you and your team are up for some fun and like a challenge visit http://bit. ly/NuclearChallenge2019 and get involved!”

Mud isn’t your thing? Then why not take your challenge vertically and go up, up and away by tackling the 154 foot Tower Block at the Trust.

Elise Fleetwood, Events & Corporate Relations Manager for Southend Hospital Charity, said: “The event takes place on Saturday 18 May and previous years have seen the likes of Captain America, Supergirl and even Deadpool take part. Although the real heroes are those taking part to raise money for the Southend Hospital ward or department of their choice.

Last year we had almost 100 people take part and they

raised an estimated £40,000 between them.”

Spandex or wearing your pants over your trousers not your thing? Don’t worry we’ll just say you’ve come as Clark Kent or Diana Prince instead, so a superhero outfit is optional, but a super time is guaranteed for all.

Construction firm ryanandwalsh are the sponsors of the event, their support means that every penny raised by our abseilers will benefit the hospital.

Want to reach new heights?

Contact fundraising@ southend.nhs.uk for more details.

Teletracking: drop your badges

• • • •

Before a patient leaves the ward… www.southend.nhs.uk

Check to see if they are still wearing a badge Remove the badge and decontaminate Drop the badge in the box Discharge the patient from Medway

the Look 5

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY An International Women’s Day event at Southend Hospital, took place on Friday 8 March and raised a total of £238 for Southend Domestic Abuse Project.

The day featured some great inspiring NHS journey stories from staff, nutritional facts from our Dietetics Department, Encore Career presentation and Diversity Network group information. DW Fitness Gym attended and kindly gave away day passes to staff and raffled

personal training sessions.

Louise McIver, Equality Diversity and Inclusion Manager, said: “Thank you to all staff who baked cakes and donated to our raffle. The day was a success and we raised £238 for a local organisation who relies purely on donations to exist.

“This is a great illustration of celebrating equality diversity and inclusion within the Trust and supporting our local community at the same time.”

POP UP STAND FOR WORLD KIDNEY DAY The Renal Unit manned a colourful pop-up stand in the old main entrance as part of World Kidney Day on Thursday 14 March.

Staff, donning World Kidney Day t-shirts, took both patients’ and staff blood glucose and blood pressure and saw 120 people on the day. The aim was to promote healthy kidneys and the prevention of kidney problems.

Kidneys are essential to our health. Although anyone can develop kidney disease, there are a few things that can increase your risk – diabetes,

high blood pressure, heart disease or a family history of

heart disease.

You can help to improve

your kidney health by keeping fit and active, monitor your blood pressure, don’t smoke, eat healthily and keep your weight in check and keep well hydrated.

Lis McNally, Renal Unit Manager, said: “Many people who we tested needed to go to their own GP or practice nurse for a checkup. Many kidney problems can be prevented with early diagnosis and treatment, so it was good to bring awareness to those we saw and spread the word to their friends and family. I’m very proud of my team and colleagues.”

STORY EMPORIUM VISIT CHILDREN’S WARD FOR WORLD BOOK DAY Ten wriggly adventurous bookworms made their way into the hospital’s Ladybird Nursery and Neptune Ward to spur little one’s imaginations.

With the support of the Education Centre Library and Jacqson Diego Story Emporium, children in hospital took part in this wellestablished activity.

This year, story teller Hannah Brailsford, brought along puppets to tell Ten Little Bookworms by Mike Brownlow and Simon Rickerty.

The story takes readers into adventures throughout history and various scenarios where worms meet jungle animals and aliens. Children, parents and nurses took part and enjoyed the activity.

Children in both departments also received a voucher to exchange for a book.

Emma Fox from the Neptune Play Team said: “Neptune Ward enjoyed celebrating world book day.

All staff dressed up as part of 101 Dalmatians for the event

6 the Look

and parents helped children to make their own puppet worm.

“The event gave the children the opportunity to engage in an activity in the playroom whilst being in hospital. All children were also very excited to receive their own books to take home with them."

Jacqueline from Jacqson Diego Story Emporium said: "I really enjoy our visits to the hospital for World Book Day and hope we continue the tradition next year."

Bertha Calles Cartas, Assistant Librarian concluded: “As an Education Centre Library, we aim to support literacy and inclusion where possible; hence, we are proud to be part of this national event to support literacy among children in the hospital ward, who otherwise would have missed this activity. As a clinical library, we support all hospital staff with their information requirements.

This includes non-clinical staff, from managers to volunteers across the Trust.”

April 2019

Double HSJ Value Award nominations for our hospital group Our hospital group has been nominated for two Health Service Journal (HSJ) Value Awards. Our Operational Excellence in Radiology Programme is aimed at combining the resources and talent across our departments so as one team, working together we can be more effective and provide better patient care.

The HSJ Value Awards has shortlisted the programme in the Improving the Value

of Diagnostic Services and the Clinical Support Services categories.

The programme is an example of good practice between our three radiology departments. The individual projects were already underway within the individual sites, but it was collaborative working between Southend, Mid Essex and Basildon hospitals, in partnership with Boston Consulting Group for

quantitative and project support, which made them spread and show benefit at the system level. Now this improved service is available to 1.2 million people across Mid & South Essex.

This programme saw the NHS and private sector consultancy working together to support mutual learning, continuous improvement and team development.

As a result we’ve seen an increase of patients being

scanned in core hours and the need for extra scans reduced during peak hours.

This increases savings to over £1 million for the Mid and South Essex University hospital group.

Well done to all involved as the overall project impact on patients and the Trusts is huge.

All finalists will find out if they have won a HSJ Value Award on Thursday 23 May 2019.

Hospital helps deliver new sexual health service

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Public Health Directorate launched a new sexual health service on

Monday 1 April. This new service, delivered by the hospital and Provide, a social enterprise, sees the teams work closely together, in the same building, delivering a seamless service for patients.

Located at Thamesgate House, the service will deliver improved sexual health services to the residents of Southend, including contraceptive advice and the diagnosis and treatment for sexually transmitted infections

(STIs). The service offers both appointments for a range of contraceptive and sexual health needs and walk-in access for urgent and priority needs. The service will shortly introduce online access to services and the innovative eC-Card app which allows young people quick and discreet access to supplies of condoms.

The service can be contacted via the Intelligence Centre which functions as a first point of contact and

ensures people are triaged to ensure that their need is identified, prioritised and dealt with appropriately.

The intelligence centre can be reached on 0300 303 2693 or by emailing provide. southendsexualhealth service@nhs.net and is open 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 8am – 1pm on Saturdays.

The Terrence Higgins Trust are also continuing to provide HIV prevention and sexual health outreach services at the centre.

Eye TV Ophthalmology registrar Khayam Naderi was interviewed as part of a new video for the East of England Ophthalmology Trainee website, with closed filming taking place at the hospital’s Eye Unit recently.

Khayam said: “I was one of the two selected trainees in the Deanery to take part in the videos to briefly talk about my training experiences in the region, which will feature on the website later in the year.”

GET IN TOUCH: www.southend.nhs.uk

communications@southend.nhs.uk

the Look 7

> STAFF NOTICES WELCOME TO...

Emma Chaplin Associate Director of Nursing for Cancer Emma has studied and worked in cancer services for 21 years. For the last three years, Emma was Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse and Teenager and Young Adults Lead Cancer Nurse at Basildon University Hospital. She completed her training at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and within her clinical nursing career Emma gained a broad range of experience within surgical oncology, medical oncology, administering chemotherapy, through to supporting end of life. Previously, Emma worked at Southend University Hospital as the Gynaecology Oncology CNS for 12 years, acting as a key member of the multidisciplinary team, providing specialist care to women and their families. Emma said: “This new role provides a great opportunity for me to lead the cancer team, build on excellence and dedicate time to design, plan and action.

Delivering the local and national objectives for excellent cancer care across mid and south Essex.” > WELCOME TO… Bertha Calles Cartas Assistant Librarian (Clinical and Outreach, Education Centre Bertha is a qualified librarian and has worked in libraries for over four years, although she has never previously worked in a medical environment.

She was looking for an opportunity where she could make a difference in people’s lives. Of her role, Bertha said: “My day-to-day job involves engaging with clinical and non-clinical staff to provide information for their decision making. What I love the most is that I can show my passion about working together to improve everyone’s practices no matter what they do in the Trust. Given my personality and my intellectual curiosity, I find it fascinating listening to people and trying to identify how we can help staff to save time by finding the best information and make it accessible for them.” > GOODBYE TO… Adrian ‘Reg’ Lane Host, Main Outpatients Reg, a familiar face from the hospital’s Main Outpatients department, has retired after 30 years’ service. Reg is known throughout the hospital due to the nature of his role which has seen him rush a pregnant lady to maternity just as her waters broke; direct patients to various departments; and accompany grieving relatives to the Chapel of Rest.

With retirement, Reg is looking forward to waking up and having the freedom to do what he wants to do without the responsibility his job entails. Reg said: “Of course, I’m going to miss it hugely but I decided to go when I was happy.”

8 the Look

CLOSER LOOK DANIELLE HAUPT Outreach Nurse Tell us about yourself?

I have worked at Southend since 2006, starting newlyqualified in A&E. I furthered my career in Critical Care in 2013 and am finally loving my dream job as one of the Outreach team. In my spare time I enjoy rock climbing, travelling the world and playing the saxophone.

What does your job involve?

Using our knowledge and expertise we identify patients who may benefit from higher levels of care. We are alerted to the sickest patients and those at risk of deterioration in a number of ways: telephone calls, bleeps, nervecentre, direct patient/relative referrals and follow-up visits of those discharged from ITU/HDU. We support ward staff to provide the specialised care required by sharing our knowledge and skills. Sometimes patients are just too unwell to be cared for in their current ward, therefore we facilitate safe transfers.

We attend all emergency calls as part of the cardiac arrest team. We are supported by the Critical Care medical team, however there is only ever one Outreach nurse per shift so prioritisation is of utmost importance. Not all patients benefit from higher levels of care. As a team, we aim to facilitate compassionate end-of-life care.

What are the best bits about your job?

Every day I make a difference to patients when they need it most; quite literally in life or death situations. It is a hugely supportive role and I enjoy assisting staff to provide the very best care they can. The roles keeps me on my toes and we get to use our brains constantly, drawing on the wealth of knowledge we have gained and are constantly improving.

Our manager, Rhona, always supports and trusts us to pursue any ideas we want to take forward. We are lucky to be in a position that enables us to influence any area of care where we see fit; to innovate current practice and drive things forward. This is hugely rewarding.

I love working in Southend Hospital; it’s amazing the number of times staff say a friendly hello and smile. ‘Smile and the world smiles with you’ is a favourite saying of mine.

What work achievements are you most proud of?

Achieving a first-class honours degree in Acute Care.

Eventually, I’d love to gain funding to complete my MSc programme to become an Advanced Nurse Practitioner.

More recently, I have launched our team’s first newsletter and am revamping our We’re Listening Service so patients and relatives can contact us directly.

April 2019