December 2013
It’s a time for giving No children miss out thanks to Santa appeals
Flu during Ironman raises University pregnancy ÂŁ17,500 status
Life saving sepsis bags
New mums still smoking
Santa’s little helpers
Forget-me-not family room
Stoptober success
We are a no smoking health board Please don’t smoke at any of our hospitals
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CONTENTS Dangers of flu during pregnancy - Welsh mums urged to beat flu
4-5
Ironman raises the bar to ÂŁ17,500
6-7
Cwm Taf Health Board graduates to university status
8-9
Patients across Cwm Taf receive the life-saving sepsis bag
10
New mothers reduce the amount they smoke but are not ready to quit
11
Santa’s little helpers at Cwm Taf Health Board
12 - 13
Forget-me-not family room opened on maternity ward to support grieving parents
14 -15
Stoptober success for John
16 - 17
Fast and accessible health advice on your doorstep - get to know your local pharmacist this winter
18 - 19
Santa comes early to the Emergency Care Centre at Prince Charles Hospital
20 - 21
Orthopaedic research showcased at international conference
22
For the latest information about healthcare associated infections in Cwm Taf University Health Board click here.
For the latest information about mortality data in Cwm Taf University Health Board click here. page 3
Dangers of flu during pregnancy - Welsh mums urged to beat flu Health officials have this week stressed the real dangers to
pregnant women who fail to protect themselves against the flu. A pregnant woman who contracts flu is five times more likely to have a stillborn baby or for their baby to die in the first week. They are also three times more likely to deliver prematurely, so health officials in Wales are actively promoting the free flu vaccine to help protect pregnant women against the dangers of flu to both themselves and their unborn baby. A pregnant woman who catches flu is seven times more likely to die than a nonpregnant woman with flu, but
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despite this many pregnant women didn’t have the free vaccination last year. Dr Richard Roberts, Head of the Vaccine Preventable Diseases Programme at Public Health Wales,
explains why, and how, pregnant women should protect themselves from flu: “Expectant mothers do not have the same ability as other healthy people to fight viruses such as flu, and this can be devastating for the woman and her unborn baby. “If a pregnant woman catches the flu it can cause severe complications to mum and baby: but this can all be prevented with one quick, simple vaccination”.
A number of studies have also shown that flu vaccination during pregnancy also provides a level of immunity against flu to infants in their first few months of life. Women can have the flu vaccination at any stage in their pregnancy, but the sooner the better. It is perfectly safe to breastfeed after the flu vaccination. Lots of information and data on inactivated flu vaccines has been collected from across the world and there is no indication that these vaccinations have an adverse effect on mother or baby. The annual flu vaccination programme aims to ensure that the people who need it most get free protection each year against the flu. This includes everyone aged 65 and over and people with certain long term health conditions, as well as pregnant women. This year for the first time a flu nasal spray vaccine is being offered to children who were two or three years old on 1 September and school year 7 pupils. The younger children will have the spray in their GP practice and Year 7
children will receive their nasal spray vaccine in school.
Pregnant South Wales sisters beat flu by getting their free jab together Two sisters from south Wales have opted to beat flu together as they took themselves, and their baby bumps, to the GP for their free vaccination. Sisters Kate Williams and Beth Johnson, originally from Ammanford in Carmarthenshire, wanted to protect themselves and their babies against the dangers of flu that are especially problematic for mums-to-be. Carmarthenshire sisters Kate and Beth are not willing to take any chances with flu this year. 6 months pregnant and mother of one Kate Williams, 38, said: “I decided to have the flu jab as I will be pregnant throughout the winter and definitely do not want to be hit by the flu virus for the sake of my health and my unborn baby.
the radio about the free vaccination and called my surgery to book an appointment. It was really easy and not painful. I now have the peace of mind that I and my unborn baby will be protected. I would advise all pregnant women to go and get the jab so you and your baby are protected.” Kate’s younger sister Beth Johnson, 35, is 8 months pregnant. She added: “My surgery advised me to have the flu jab as I was pregnant. Initially I didn’t realise I was eligible for the free vaccination or that I should have it, but after hearing how ill you can be with the virus and what serious consequences it can have for pregnant women and unborn babies, I had it. Now I’m happy that I will be protected and can rest easy approaching the final stages of my pregnancy.”
“I heard the adverts on
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IRONMAN
raises the bar to £17,500 THE gruelling Iron Man Wales contest has helped a father and son team raise more than £17,500 for Prince Charles Hospital. The exhausting event – a 2.4 mile sea swim, a marathon and a 112-mile bike ride – is the latest fundraiser Steven and Anthony have organised and undertaken to support the haematology department. They have raised a staggering £17,500 over the last six years – the Iron Man Wales event in Tenby earlier this year added £1,100 to their total. Anthony’s father Steven was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2007 and has been through a long period of treatment at Prince Charles Hospital and the University Hospital of Wales, in Cardiff. This has been a very difficult time for Steven and his family but it has been made bearable by the professional and caring way in which they have been treated at both hospitals.
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Steven said: “I can’t thank the nurses enough at Prince Charles Hospital as well as the consultant haematologist Dr Bashi. The support and reassurance has been amazing.
Anthony, who lives in Merthyr Tydfil, said: “I was completely exhausted but the motivation to carry on came from the fact that I wanted to continue raising money for the haematology department.
“Part of my treatment was to have a bone marrow transplant which I had in 2012. This treatment was one of the worst I had to endure. I had this at the University Hospital of Wales but again the staff were fantastic and I can’t praise them all enough.”
“The staff and consultant’s quality of care and support is excellent and of the highest quality and has had such a positive effect on my dad which in turn has reassured the family.”
As a way of giving a little back, Steven and Anthony, came up with a series of fundraising events and over the last six years with the help of friends and family and staff in the department at Prince Charles Hospital, have raised £17,500. The first £250 of every event has been generously sponsored by Sekisui Alveo. Anthony found the Tenby Ironman the most gruelling of all the fundraising events. He finished the event – a 2.4-mile swim followed by a 112-mile bike ride and 26-mile marathon – in 13 hours and 42 minutes.
Dr Waleed Bashi, consultant haematologist at Cwm Taf Health Board, said: “I am so humbled by the fact that Steven and his son Anthony keep raising funds for the department, we are extremely grateful to them. “The department, staff and more importantly the patients, have benefited from the funds they have raised.”
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Cwm Taf Health Board graduates to university status CWM Taf today (December 12) officially becomes a university health board.
vital to drive up standards and a collective drive for a better future.
The change in status follows years of close working with both Cardiff University and the newlymerged University of South Wales.
“Our university status acknowledges Cwm Taf’s commitment to investing in staff, ongoing learning, research and development as well as our strong links with the communities we work in and serve.
Health Minister Mark Drakeford first announced Cwm Taf had achieved university health board status in July 2013 during a visit to Prince Charles Hospital. Speaking at the time he said:: “The change in name reflects a real commitment to excellence in terms of partnership with higher education, the quality of services provided and overall performance. “This sends out a real message to people who live and work here that they are, in so many ways, at the front edge of the modern health service.” Allison Williams, chief executive of Cwm Taf University Health Board today said the change in status is much more than adding the word university to the name. “Research and teaching in our valleys communities is
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“University health board status cements our strong relationships with both Cardiff University and the University of South Wales, which are manifest in the numerous clinical placements, training opportunities, research activity and joint staff appointments in all areas within Cwm Taf. “We hope this will help to inspire the next generation of young people to consider a career in the NHS - on the frontline - and we will continue to use our relationship with our university partners to create those opportunities.” Plans are already
underway to work more closely with Cardiff University and the University of South Wales. The health board and its two university partners will work together to ensure excellent health care, research, innovation and education of all healthcare professionals in the region. In November, Cwm Taf held its annual
research and development conference at the University of South Wales. John
Geen, professor of clinical science at the University of South Wales and assistant director of research and development at Cwm Taf University Health Board, said: “We were delighted to hold our research and development
conference at the University of South Wales. “The standard of research submitted for the conference was
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excellent and we’re looking forward to using that to help us develop and improve our services across Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf.” Dr Chris Jones, chairman of Cwm Taf University Health Board, said:
“It is our belief that university health board status will help us in our ongoing drive to reverse the inverse care law and provide high quality response care and services for those communities with the greatest need.
One hundred and seventy patients across Cwm Taf receive the life saving sepsis bag In the UK, severe sepsis is estimated to kill 37,000 patients annually. Across Cwm Taf 1200 patients a year are hospitalised with sepsis. Sepsis is caused when the body’s response to an infection damages its own tissues and organs. It can lead to shock, multiple organ failure, and death, especially if it is not recognised early and treated promptly. Between a third and half of all sepsis patients die. It causes more deaths than prostate and breast cancer and HIV/Aids combined every year and, statistically, someone dies from sepsis every three to four seconds.
“It will also help us to recruit, retain and continue to invest in staff - our staff are at the heart of everything we do and want to do.
Speaking at Cwm Taf Health Board’s research and development conference today, Dr Tamas Szakmany, consultant in intensive care and anaesthesia at Cwm Taf, said: “Sepsis is a huge killer which isn’t recognised so we have set about on an improvement programme across our hospitals.
“University health board status is a credit to the hard work of all staff right across the organisation.”
“We have designed and distributed ‘sepsis bags’ to all wards, with equipment to deliver the ‘sepsis six’.
“It will enable us to build effective community links to tackle poor health and deprivation.
“Our sepsis response bags
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ensure all the medicines and equipment needed to start treatment of sepsis are readily available in one place. It’s not rocket science.” Over an 18 month period since the project began 170 patients across Cwm Taf have now received the life saving ‘sepsis six’ using the sepsis bags. Sepsis is classed as a medical emergency but quickly identifying the often subtle symptoms and treating the patient with antibiotics and fluids can halve the risk of death. The symptoms of sepsis include a raised temperature, increased pulse and breathing rate. Dr Szakmany went on to say: “It’s great to see that the sepsis bags are now widespread across our hospitals.” “The introduction of the bags has resulted in a significant clinical improvement to our patients conditions. I hope to see others learning from this and rolling out the ‘sepsis bags’ within other acute hospitals across Wales”.
New mothers reduce the amount they smoke but are not ready to quit. Recent
research shows that while the majority of new mothers across the Cwm Taf area reduce the amount they smoke, they are not ready to quit all together.
The research was undertaken by Dr Mark Williams, Reader at University of South Wales in collaboration with Cwm Taf Health Board’s maternity services and is helping to explain the reasons why smoking cessation during pregnancy is not as successful as it could be. The data obtained by Dr Williams could help change the smoking cessation service provision for these mothers. A larger study - Models for Access to Maternal Smoking Cessation Support (or MAMSS) is also underway. Funded by Cwm Taf Health Board and developed with Public Health Wales the research is actively recruiting and due to finish in April, 2014. These are just some of the examples of the research activity which will be shared at Cwm Taf Health Board’s Research and Development conference next week. The conference will take place on 26, November and will be hosted by the University of South Wales. page 11
Santa’s little helpers at Cwm Taf Health Board CHILDREN living in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf will enjoy a merry Christmas this year after staff at Cwm Taf Health Board donated more than £1,300 to buy presents for them as part of the annual Santa Appeal. Gifts have been bought for 52 toddlers, children and teenagers living in the two local authority areas with the donations from people working in departments across the health board. The presents include
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baby’s clothes, interactive toys, dolls, gift cards for older teens and chocolates. A Santa Appeal is held every year by Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf councils to make sure that no child misses
out on Christmas. People are asked to contact a hotline and are given the name and age of a child they can buy a present for. Darrell Clarke, (pictured) head of children and young people service redesign at Cwm Taf Health Board, who helped to organise the donations, said: “When we heard about the Santa Appeal we wanted to get involved and support our local communities.
“This is the time of the year for giving and we’re really pleased to be able to give
something to children who may otherwise not have had anything this Christmas.” Gwenan Roberts, head of organisational development at Cwm Taf Health Board, who also coordinated the appeal, added: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the response and donations we’ve had from staff across the health board – pledges came flooding in from the moment we started collecting for the Santa Appeal. “We’ve been able to buy gifts for so many children thanks to the generosity of staff working for the health board.” Councillor Brent Carter, cabinet member for community services at Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, said: “Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council children’s services runs a Santa
Appeal each year to provide gifts for some of the most vulnerable children and young people the council supports. “The council very much appreciates the contribution staff in Cwm Taf Health Board have made to the appeal this year.” And Councillor Annette Davies, Rhondda Cynon Taf’s cabinet member for children’s social services, said: “Thank you to staff at Cwm Taf Health Board and indeed to everyone who has contributed to the Santa Appeal this year. “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of local people and businesses who support the annual appeal, buying gifts to ensure no child misses out on Christmas.”
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Forget-me-not family room opened on maternity ward to support grieving parents A SPECIAL family room has been opened on the maternity ward at Royal Glamorgan Hospital, in Llantrisant, to help support grieving parents.
Tragically, her newborn daughter died just two days after she was born while she was living in England. The hospital where her daughter was born had such a The Forget-Me-Not room bereavement room. has been funded by the “I think it’s essential,” she Cardiff and Newport branch said. “I remember when of the charity Sands and this happened to me; the will give parents a quiet, hospital I was at had a private space away from room like this and I don’t the busy maternity ward. know how I would have It has also been fitted with coped if it didn’t because a special cold cot allowing you don’t want to see families to spend precious people’s joy and happiness time with their baby after when you’re going through death. such a traumatic time. The family room, which will cater for families and women who suffer a late miscarriage or have a stillbirth, will be officially opened at a ceremony on December 4. Midwife Laura Cook (pictured right), who helped to plan the ForgetMe-Not room at Royal Glamorgan Hospital with her colleague Christine Davies, knows firsthand how having such a private place can help mothers who have just been told their baby has died.
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“It’s really important that you can have somewhere you can go to be by yourself. “It allows the family time to come to terms with what has happened and to build everlasting memories. “As a unit we are continuing to develop the service we offer as we recognise that at a time of great sadness families remember every moment. We need to create important memories, which
will be helped by this area and the use of our memory boxes.” The Forget-Me-Not room, which is now open, is equipped with a double bed and an en suite shower room for couples and families to spend time together in the hours following their baby’s death. HeatherJane Coombs, who was one of the founders of Cardiff and Newport Sands in 2006, said: “It’s been a wonderful opportunity to work in partnership with Royal Glamorgan Hospital to provide this much- needed room, cold cot and memory boxes, as we know from personal experience that these small things mean such a huge amount to our parents. “It’s with grateful thanks to our parents and fundraisers for the donations they have given for us to be able to do this as we would be nothing without them.”
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Stoptober success for John GIVING up was something John Waldron never thought about until he caught his 15-year-old son Cory smoking. The 34-year-old who works in the ICT department had smoked 20 cigarettes a day for more than 18 years. But earlier this year John found cigarettes on his 15 year old son and was devastated. He couldn’t believe that his son had picked up his bad habit and started smoking. In a hope that his son would agree, John offered him a challenge: “If you promise to give up smoking I’ll give up as well.” His son agreed. Knowing it would be an extremely difficult challenge for him as well as his son, John willing to try anything to stop him smoking before he was well and truly hooked. John saw the Stoptober campaign at work and thought it was an ideal opportunity to get help and support. So, on October 4, after getting advice from the health and wellbeing team and
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receiving the Stoptober packs for support, he started his challenge. Eight weeks on and John is well on the road to success and more to his delight his son has also stopped smoking. John, who has two children, said: “I feel much healthier since giving up smoking. Food is much more tasty and the home environment is much healthier for me and my family. I also have an eight-year-old daughter hopefully with me not smoking around her she won’t pick up the habit when she’s older. “I’ve had excellent support from my wife and family so that’s helped me along the way. However, I still find it very difficult when I’m out socially. But I’m looking forward to a healthier future with my family and also more money in my pocket as it’s much cheaper chewing gum than smoking.” If you would like support to give up smoking contact www.stopsmokingwales. com
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Fast and accessible health advice on your doorstep - get to know your local pharmacist this winter As the winter sets in your local pharmacist can provide quick and easy health advice without the need for an appointment. Pharmacists can give advice and support on a number of common ailments. As experts in medicines, pharmacists can be relied upon to give you professional advice, so
choose well this winter, visit your local pharmacist. What you need to know about your local pharmacist: • Pharmacies are open for you. Most are open at weekends and after normal working hours • Almost all pharma-
cies have private consulting rooms, you can if you wish, discuss your ailment with a pharmacist confidentially • Pharmacists can signpost you to other health services and can refer you directly without the need to see your GP • Pharmacists are able to help with the treatment of all kinds of ailments from colds to diarrhoea, back pain to hay fever, thrush to acne Brian Hawkins, chief pharmacist at Cwm Taf Health Board, said: “Pharmacists are experts on all kinds of aliments and medicines and pride themselves on being able to give professional health advice quickly without the need for an appointment. “Most pharmacies now have private consulting rooms were you can discuss your illness confidentially. They are able to refer you onwards to other services. They can also give you support to give up smoking or confidential access to emergency contraception. Choose well this winter, use your local pharmacy.” In October, the Choose Pharmacy scheme – also known as the common ailments scheme was launched. The scheme is being piloted in pharmacies
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across the Cynon Valley area. Patients living in the Cynon Valley, suffering from a range of common ailments are able to receive free advice and treatment from their pharmacist instead of making an appointment to see their GP. Pharmacists involved in the Choose Pharmacy pilot will assess and treat patients suffering from a range of conditions, including hay fever, threadworm, conjunctivitis, head lice, sore throats, constipation and indigestion. Pharmacists will supply medicines from an agreed list, give advice, or refer to the GP if necessary. Medicines will be given free of charge removing the payment barrier which can prevent patients choosing to see a pharmacist instead of their GP. To find your local pharmacist go to http:// w w w. c h o o s e w e l l w a l e s . org.uk/pharmacist
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Santa comes early to the Emergency Care Centre at Prince Charles Hospital A LETTER to supermarket giant Tesco has paid dividends for the youngest patients at Prince Charles Hospital’s Emergency Care Centre. Thanks to Natalie Swales, a paediatric nurse in the department, children who have suffered an injury or accident now have £200 of new toys to play with when they come into hospital. It was Natalie’s idea to write to Tesco to ask if the supermarket would be kind enough to donate toys to the emergency care centre because its current stock had been so well used they were starting to look a little worn. To Natalie’s surprise, a call from Ceri Randell, community champion for the Merthyr Tydfil store confirmed Tesco would be delighted to donate toys to the centre - just in time for Christmas. Diane Wood, community champion at Tesco’s neighbouring Aberdare store said: “It is so satisfying to know that the community benefits from the service we provide. I love my job page 20
– it’s so rewarding.” And Ceri, community champion for the Merthyr store, added: “When I received Natalie’s letter I was only too pleased to speak to Diane to make a joint donation from both stores. I agree with Diane, the role is so rewarding. “The community benefits from Tesco donations all year round, not just Christmas.” Pictured from left to right are: Diane Wood, community champion (Aberdare), Ceri Thomas, paediatric nurse, Natalie Swales, paediatric nurse and Ceri Randell, community champion (Merthyr Tydfil). A signed Ospreys rugby ball was also donated by Tesco, which the staff at the emergency care centre will raffle at their Christmas party. The staff at the emergency care centre will be joining Santa and his elves on December 19 in his grotto in the foyer of Prince Charles Hospital to sell cakes to raise funds for the centre.
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Orthopaedic work at Prince Charles Hospital showcased at international conference A PRESENTATION by an orthopaedic surgeon at Cwm Taf Health Board has
been selected as one of the best oral papers at an international conference. Dr Kodali Prasad took eight presentations – two oral and six posters – by staff at Prince Charles Hospital, in Merthyr Tydfil, to the World Orthopaedic Congress held in Hyderabad, India last month. One of the presentations entitled Floating shoulder: osteosynthesis of clavicle – was pre-selected as one of the best papers at the 34th Société Internationale de Chirurgie Orthopédique et de Traumatologie (SICOT). Dr Prasad, who is based
Prison for woman who attacked nurses and police officer A PATIENT who assaulted two nurses when she attended the Royal Glamorgan Hospital’s A&E department has been jailed for eight weeks. Helen Samuel, from Pritchard Street, Treharris, in Merthyr Tydfil, also admitted offences of criminal damage, racially aggravated public disorder and assaulting a police page 22
at Prince Charles Hospital, said: “I would like to thank my co-authors, colleagues, family and close friends who made these presentations to the conference possible. “I’m very pleased to be able contribute to the positive image of Prince Charles Hospital around the world and it’s a great honour to play a small part in promoting the image of Wales, the UK and India. “This was an important opportunity to contribute to the progress of trauma and orthopaedic surgery and to the momentum of creative impetus for future achievement.”
officer when she appeared before Pontypridd Magistrates’ Court on November 22.
“We will take action against anyone who abuses those who are there to help them.”
The attacks at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, in Llantrisant, occurred on October 15 as the two nurses were attempting to care for the 45-year-old woman.
More than 170 people have been prosecuted or warned about abusive behaviour towards NHS staff in Cwm Taf in the first six months of 2013.
Dave Lewis, Cwm Taf Health Board’s violence and aggression case manager, said: “We operate a strict zero tolerance approach to all violent, aggressive and threatening behaviour towards our staff and other patients being treated in our hospitals, clinics and surgeries.
And a new memorandum of understanding has been signed between the four police forces in Wales, the Crown Prosecution Service and NHS Wales. This will strengthen the zero tolerance approach to violence and aggression towards NHS staff.
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