The magazine for Members
Summer 2016 2 Welcome 4 Cancer Care Centre Official Opening 6 Centenarian Has Sight Restored 8 Bringing a Sparkle to Rainbow Ward 10 New Directors 12 Charnley Legacy Lives On 14 Premiere at WWL 16 Pioneering Nurse Awarded MBE 18 NHS Fraud 20 Events 26 Clinical Trials 28 More Award Success 30 Recognising Our Volunteers 32 The Role of Our Governors 36 Donation to Rainbow Ward 37 Welcome Distraction for Children 38 Recruitment Day Success
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Welcome
Welcome to the latest edition of Members magazine. This issue comes out at a time when the NHS features extensively in news coverage, mainly in terms of problems of performance and funding. It is true to say that we are in the sixth year of public sector austerity and this has inevitably had its effect. I am pleased to say though, that WWL is generally holding up well and performing better than many other NHS Trusts. One of the most well-known measures is the government target that 95% of patients should be treated and moved out of the A&E department within 4 hours. For the whole of 2015-16 we managed to average 95.1% and were thus the only Trust in the North West and one of just nine nationally to achieve the target. Pressures have increased further in 2016-17 but we remain the top performing Trust in Greater Manchester. We also continue to meet all of the other government waiting time targets for cancer consultation within 2 weeks, diagnostic tests within 6 weeks and surgical procedures within 18 weeks. We also keenly measure the quality of what we do through a range of statistics including hospital acquired infection rates, pressure ulcers and falls in hospital.
Two other important measures are what our patients and staff think of us and in each case there is an annual survey showing whether we are getting better or worse and compares us to other hospitals. The most recent patient survey in July 2015 stated 86% of patients rated us as 7 out of 10 or better. We improved significantly on eight out of 62 questions compared to the previous year and were significantly better than other Trusts on 24 questions. We also know how important cleanliness is and another annual survey has put us as the cleanest hospital in the NHS for two years in a row. The annual staff survey was carried out in autumn 2015 and was very pleasing with 78% of staff recommending WWL as a place to work compared to the NHS average of 61%. In fact our overall results were the 4th best in the whole of the NHS for the second year running. Sadly, things do go wrong in our hospitals, and we readily admit that we always need to improve. However we are very proud of our record as a good hospital and we hope you are proud of us too.
Andrew Foster Chief Executive
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In the News
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Summer 2016
Pioneering Nurse Awarded MBE
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A nurse who has led innovative bereavement and donor work in Greater Manchester and shared it across the country was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
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Events Find out about the events that WWL have recently been involved in, as well as those that we are supporting and holding over the coming months, and how you can get involved.
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The Role of Our Governors Following the last issue of Members Magazine, we received several queries from members with regard to clarifying the roles of the Council of Governors. Find out how and why members of the public choose to become a Governor.
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On 22 April 2016, WWL was hugely proud to officially open our award-winning Cancer Care Centre. Members Magazine Summer 2016___ ___ 3 Members Magazine Summer 2016
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Official Opening of Our Cancer Care Centre WWL was hugely proud to officially open the Cancer Care Centre at the Wigan Infirmary site, on Friday 22 April. An award-winning endeavour by our Trust, the building had been operational for patients for just over a year and celebrated its first birthday in January. The building was made possible by a solid partnership between WWL, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and MacMillan Cancer Support. It opened to patients in January 2015. The purpose of the Centre is to provide the people of the Wigan Borough a place where they could undergo chemotherapy treatment closer to home, rather than having to travel to Manchester. It cost £5 million to build and the project was carried out by Barnes Construction. The event began at 1.30pm and was attended by many dignitaries from across the Borough. There to officially open the building was Dr Andrew Wardman MBE, who has worked at WWL since 1988. Also at the event, WWL was able to unveil its new Sensory Garden, designed to give chemotherapy patients a place to relax whilst they undergo their treatment. The garden was inspired by one of our patients and volunteers Keith Roberts. Cllr Phyllis Cullen (former Wigan Lady Mayoress) was invited to open the garden, as her role as a donor to the centre had been crucially important.
Dr Wardman said, “It is not very often that you get to open a building and this one is very dear to my heart.” He continued, “Before this building opened, the great majority of chemotherapy patients in Wigan went to the Christie in Manchester, which is a 60 mile round trip.” He subsequently described the emotional effect chemotherapy can have on a patient. After his speech, he unveiled a plaque to open the Centre. Shortly after, Robert Forster, WWL Deputy Chief Executive, announced that staff at the Centre had been awarded the Christie NHS Foundation Trust’s Environment Award. Jackie Bird, Chief Nurse at the Christie, presented Leonora Anson, WWL Lead Chemotherapy Nurse, with the award. A number of other presentations were made, such as the opening of the Complimentary Therapy Room by CANtreat Trustee, Chris Eyres. A presentation was also made by Macmillan to showcase the outstanding work they do at the Centre. WWL Fundraising Officer, Elizabeth Titley, also spoke to demonstrate the outstanding charitable efforts that have gone into the Centre. Finally, Cllr Cullen was invited to open the Sensory garden, something she was thrilled to do. She said, “This garden is absolutely beautiful. It is a place where you can gather your thoughts, not just for the patients, but also for their families. Whoever thought of this garden, it is a wonderful idea.”
Proceedings began with WWL Chairman Robert Armstrong saying, “It is my privilege and honour to welcome each and every one of you to our Cancer Care Centre.” He continued by thanking our superb partners in The Christie and Macmillan, expressing his desire that our partnership continues long into the future, demonstrating the same strength it has shown thus far. He also thanked the staff who work at the centre for their tireless work, before introducing Dr Wardman to open the Centre.
“This garden is absolutely beautiful. It is a place where you can gather your thoughts, not just for the patients, but also for their families.” Cllr Phyllis Cullen.
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Photographs The opening was attended by dignitaries, staff, patients as well as our partners that have made the Centre possible.
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Photograph Ethel is presented with some flowers as a gift by Trust staff.
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Centenarian Ethel Howard Has Sight Restored Ethel Howard, a 106-yearold lady, underwent two procedures during winter, to have her cataracts removed by WWL doctors to fully restore her sight. It was a truly remarkable tale. On 23 February she returned to our Eye Unit at Boston House for her post-operative check and to share her incredible story.
cruise. A highlight she fondly recalls was having her picture taken beneath the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Ethel visited the Eye Unit, accompanied by her bright and bubbly niece, Tina Hunt and saw Mr Manoj Mathai who had been overseeing her care. Alongside two of our caring nursing staff, Emma Lynch and Stephanie Eckersley, both Ethel and Tina were happy to share the course of events that brought them into our care.
Eventually the problem got so bad that she had to go and see a specialist. This is where Mr Mathai and his team came in.
Ethel had lived a very full life, a fact Tina attributes to her determination to always cook her own food from fresh ingredients and living healthily. “I don’t eat any junk food,” states Ethel with pride. “She does like a brandy now and then,” giggles Tina. “Well it’s cheaper than whisky these days,” Ethel jokingly replies, bringing laughter to the room. Before retirement, Ethel had worked in a variety of jobs. These included displaying her creative side, as a costume designer for the Tower Ballet in Blackpool, and a more serious side, when she had been a Housemother for teenage boys at a remand centre in Poulton-le-Fylde. There has been adventure in her life as well. When she was 26, she went on a world
However, a couple of years ago, both Tina and Ethel noticed something was wrong. “You see, she loves reading and doing crosswords,” began Tina, “and she also enjoys watching the telly. But suddenly she couldn’t do them anymore and found it difficult to see things.”
Ethel approached us in July 2015 complaining of foggy vision in both eyes. She was diagnosed to have cateracts and was listed for surgery. Her first cateract was removed in October 2015 and the second one in January 2016, with IOL (Intraocular Lens) implants placed in both eyes. Both procedures produced outstanding results and she has now been discharged from our care.
“She wasn’t nervous at all about the operation and they were lovely with her at the hospital,” she said. When asked how it felt to have her sight restored, Ethel simply responds by saying, “It’s great.” Her niece, Tina, is overjoyed with how things have developed. “It’s a blessing really, she had been so frustrated with her not being able to do her crosswords or watch the telly, but now that frustration has gone,” she enthused. But, fittingly, the final word in this story had to go to Ethel, who was very eager to pay tribute to caring, considerate staff that we pride ourselves on at WWL. “I would like to thank the staff,” Ethel states, “Everyone’s been really good and helpful.”
Mr Mathai is an experienced Ophthalmology Consultant, but treating Ethel left an indelible impression on him. “I am not certain how many 106-year-olds we have in our borough. This lady has left a mark on me with her longevity and spirit. Her story must be told, she deserves a standing ovation for her effort,” he said. Her incredible effort and bravery when faced with a daunting procedure is something that Tina paid tribute to as well.
“She wasn’t nervous at all about the operation and they were lovely with her at the hospital.” Tina Hunt, Ethel’s niece
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Photographs Current and previous patients enjoyed getting involved in the fun.
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Bringing a Sparkle to Rainbow Ward Children at Wigan Infirmary’s Rainbow Ward were recently treated to a fun morning of entertainment, courtesy of a pantomime production of “Aladdin”, provided by the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
Twice a year, once in summer and once at Christmas, staff at WWL’s Rainbow Ward arrange with the Charity for a pantomime performance to be put on for the children. Starlight, a national children’s charity, organises the pantomimes in association with “The Panto Company”. The aim is to provide a distraction for ill children, by cheering them up and making them laugh. As well as inviting children staying on the ward, staff also invited previous patients along to experience the fun. These included children who were once longtime patients on the ward, or who have been in and out of hospital for a prolonged period of time. Staff members were also able to bring their children along to join in. Those in attendance were treated to a lively performance, full of colourful costumes and traditional “panto” fayre. The actors brought smiles to the children’s faces with their cheerful brand of family entertainment. Diane Swindlehurst, Head of Nursing for Children’s and Midwifery Services at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust said: “As a Trust we would like to express our huge thanks to Starlight for providing a tremendous show for the children on our ward” “Being in hospital is a stressful time for a child, and their family, so we welcome any opportunity to take their minds off it by providing some joy and laughter during their time here.”
The actors brought smiles to the children’s faces with their cheerful brand of family entertainment.
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WWL Appoints
New Directors We were delighted to announce two executive appointments in March. Pauline Law was named our new Director of Nursing, whilst Mary Fleming was named our new Director of Operations and Performance. Both appointments bring with them a huge breadth and depth of knowledge to their new positions. After joining the Trust in 2012 on secondment, Pauline used her extensive nurse leadership and operational management experience, to gain first the Deputy Director post then the Director of Nursing post. Pauline’s nursing experience spans 30 years, first starting as a district nurse before moving into operational management in 2004. Pauline is the professional lead for nursing and governance across the Trust and is responsible for Infection Prevention and Control. Mary started her career in the private sector, before moving into healthcare in acute provider organisations across Greater Manchester and Yorkshire. Mary’s strong patient-focused operational background put her in a good stead as Acting Director of Operations and Performance, before her appointment as Director of Operations. Mary holds the responsibility for performance, and the delivery of clinical services throughout the Trust.
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Andrew Foster, Chief Executive commented: “It is with great pleasure to announce that Pauline and Mary have both been successful in securing the Executive Director positions permanently. Pauline is committed to continuing her professional nurse leadership and building on the improvements she has already made in the nursing directorate. Mary has worked in the Trust since 2008 and has wide-ranging operational experience across all clinical divisions within an acute setting. Mary has a track record of delivery within WWL, with a strong focus on staff and clinical engagement. These appointments provide continuity and stability for the Trust. Completing the appointments to the board will enable the Executive Team to continue their focus on our Trust remaining a high achieving organisation, with the patient at the heart of everything we do. The essence of successful management is to have strong mutual support and good teamwork. These newly appointed Executive Directors will provide continued to support to each other, the Executive Team and their own individual teams, working collaboratively to maintain the quality of our safe, effective and caring services.”
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Both appointments bring with them a huge breadth and depth of knowledge to their new positions.
Photograph Left/ Pauline Law, Director of Nursing. Right/ Mary Fleming Director of Operations and Performance.
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Charnley Legacy Lives On It was with great sadness that Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust announced on Thursday 2 June 2016 that one of our greatest benefactors and supporters, Lady Jill Charnley, had passed away.
Lady Charnley was the wife of Professor Sir John Charnley; who is regarded as one of the great pioneers of medical science. He famously invented the hip replacement and clean air theatre in the 1960s, at Wrightington Hospital. Professor Sir John Charnley won acclaim nationally and internationally for his contribution to Orthopaedic Surgery and was awarded a Knighthood in 1977. After Professor Sir John Charnley died in 1982, Lady Charnley was keen to ensure that his work and research continued. She personally ensured his last project was completed and the John Charnley Trust was born. Through this Trust over £1.7m has been given for Orthopaedic research projects, education and assistance in enabling attendance at, and organisation of, Orthopaedic education seminars.
Those present heard moving speeches from two of her children, Tristan and Het Charnley; as well as, Chris Faux, Chairman of the Charnley Trust and retired Consultant from Wrightington Hospital. Chris Faux said “Jill was a wonderfully determined lady and had the ability to engage with people, making them feel like they were the only people in the room. She supported the work of Professor Sir John Charnley tirelessly even after he died. She will be sadly missed”. The teams at Wrightington continue to honour the traditions set by Professor Sir John and Lady Charnley by remaining at the forefront of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research.
Lady Charnley has supported the hospital in other ways. For example, she frequently supported events at Wrightington Hospital, marking key moments in its history. She opened the Patient Information Centre, the Charnley Research Institute and more recently took part in the ground breaking ceremony for our new £18.1m Orthopaedic Unit, which opened in December 2015. On Saturday, 28 May 2016, members of her family, friends and colleagues past and present all joined together to remember Lady Charnley and to celebrate her life.
After Professor Sir John Charnley died in 1982, Lady Charnley was keen to ensure that his work and research continued. 12 ___ Members Magazine Summer 2016
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Photographs 1/ Patti Faux, Miranda Charnley, Tristan Charnley, Het Charnley and Chris Faux at a memorial service for Lady Charnley. 2/ Lady Charnley with Mr Anil Gambhir, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, at a Trust event in 2012 celebrating 50 years of hip replacement. 3/ Lady Charnley at our £18 million ‘Phase 1’ ground-breaking in 2014 with Robert Armstrong (current Chairman) and Les Higgins (previous Chairman). Members Magazine Summer 2016 ___ 13
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“Diary of a Bed Number” Premieres at WWL A brand new educational film, about the difficult subject of dementia, was recently screened for the very first time at Wigan Infirmary. The film was the brainchild of Jean Ramsdale, Lead Nurse for Dementia at WWL, and was produced by Prestonbased company, Red Pencil Productions. It tells the fictional story of a dementia patient, Lucy, and her challenging journey through hospital once she had been admitted. Among those in attendance at the film screening were; Trust Board Members, Senior Nursing staff, plus members of the cast and crew. The thought-provoking film provides incredible insight into what someone suffering from dementia goes through. It also highlights the effects that seemingly inconsequential actions by staff can have on the patient. Roseanna Leathley gives a highly emotive performance as Lucy. It is hoped that the film will become a highly useful training resource for WWL staff. At our Trust, all staff, both clinical and non-clinical already undergo dementia training through our online e-training modules. In the past year, Trust staff gained a superbly respectable 98.7% pass rate. In addition, Jean Ramsdale and her team provide
dementia training at care homes, voluntary groups, schools and colleges. The focus on dementia training came as part of a new campaign that was established in Greater Manchester. The initiative, entitled “Dementia United,” which formally launched in March 2016, aims to ensure that residents of Greater Manchester receive excellence in dementia care. This will not only involve care in hospitals and care homes, but also attempt to ensure that people with dementia live well with their condition.
Productions and WWL staff for their dedicated work in making this film a reality. Hopefully the film can become a valuable resource for our staff as we try and improve our high level of care for our patients. All those involved with this project can be incredibly proud of what they’ve produced.”
Pauline Law, Director of Nursing at WWL, introduced the film to the audience in the lecture theatre of our Medical Education Building. She said, “We are really very proud of our film that you’re about to see. I have already seen it and it is terrific. On behalf of WWL, I would like to thank Red Pencil Productions for their superb work on this project. I would also like to thank our staff who performed in this film. You are about to see the fruits of your labour.” Jean Ramsdale was thoroughly pleased with how the evening went. She said, “I would like to thank Red Pencil
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Photographs Top/ WWL staff and members of the Red Pencil Productions team at the event. Bottom/ Members of staff during filming.
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Pioneering Nurse Fiona
Awarded MBE A nurse who has led innovative bereavement and donor work in Greater Manchester and shared it across the country was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Fiona Murphy, Assistant Director of Nursing for Bereavement and Donor Support at Bolton, Salford and Wigan, has dedicated much of her 30 year nursing career to care for dying patients and their families. Fiona – winner in 2011 of the Nursing Standard Nurse of the Year award and Lancashire Life Woman of the Year – began this work in 2002 at the Royal Bolton Hospital as Donor Liaison Sister. She is now the driving force behind the Royal Alliance Bereavement and Donor Service, a nurse-led innovation that has transformed practice across three large foundation trusts, Salford Royal, Bolton, and Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh (WWL). The pioneering work has dramatically improved end of life care and successfully promotes patient choice and dignity. Fiona has spoken about bereavement work at many national conferences and is currently shortlisted in the national Patient Safety Awards in the category for Clinical Leadership. Fiona said: “I am overwhelmed and delighted to receive this accolade for our services to nursing and bereavement care. I feel truly humbled. “I’m proud of each and every healthcare professional who has played their part in breaking down some of the barriers when providing care for the dying and the dead. For me, this is testament that we are making progress in getting it right for every patient every time.”
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The three Trusts’ bereavement teams provide support to patients and their families during the last hours of life and immediately after death. They regularly pull out all the stops to make a dying patient’s wishes come true including hosting birthday parties at the bedside and they have even arranged for some pets to make a special visit to hospital. They offer relatives the opportunity to have locks of hair or handprints of their loved ones. Pauline Law, Director of Nursing, WWL says: “I am proud and delighted that Fiona has been awarded this honour. She has had a huge positive impact on bereavement care, both nationally and internationally, and she works tirelessly to promote excellent care that ensures patients and families receive the very best care at the at the most distressing of times. She is one of the most committed and courageous nurses I have ever met. She is a great role model for the nursing profession and this award could not be more deserved.” Fiona has worked closely with Professor Jennifer Leeming, HM Senior Coroner for the District of Manchester West which covers Bolton, Salford, Wigan and Leigh. Prof. Jennifer Leeming said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Fiona has been awarded this honour, it is very well deserved. What she has done is to make the option of organ and tissue donation an ordinary part of bereavement care, and this can give great comfort some families. It is a huge achievement.”
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“I am overwhelmed and delighted to receive this accolade for our services to nursing and bereavement care. I feel truly humbled.�
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Collette Ryan, our Local Anti-Fraud Specialist talks about her role, how fraud in the NHS is unacceptable, and the role everyone can play to ensure that NHS funds are protected.
NHS Fraud Fraud is the intentional distortion of either financial statements or other records, by persons internal or external to the organisation, in order to conceal the misappropriation of assets or otherwise to gain. In plain English this means some action is taken which results in a loss to the Trust or a gain to an individual, not as the result of physical theft.
Examples of frauds which may take place are: • • • •
Working elsewhere whilst being off sick from the Trust False travel claims / falsifying timesheets Non-payment of NHS charges Individuals providing false information to get a job etc.
What is a Local Anti-Fraud Specialist? Every NHS health body has its own Local Anti- Fraud Specialist (LAFS) who is responsible for overseeing its fraud-proofing measures, studying the financial comings and goings, looking for anything suspicious, raising awareness of the issues and investigating allegations of fraud. What does an LAFS’s job involve? As Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust’s LAFS I am responsible for the delivery of anti-fraud work at a local level. I am required to undertake a range of activities such as; • developing an anti-fraud culture and raise awareness of the service identifying and implementing of ways to deter, prevent and detect fraud occurring in the Trust • undertaking fraud investigations from referrals or as the result of pro-active work within the Trust • providing advice on relevant sanctions e.g. legal proceedings or disciplinary proceedings against people committing fraud • helping Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust to seek repayment of money defrauded from it.
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On a day-to-day basis my work includes; • developing and maintaining close working relationships with various colleagues throughout the Trust or health body undertaking fraud investigations and taking responsibility for the production of relevant reports for that investigation • delivering presentations and other counter fraud communications to a range of audiences, including staff and professional groups • ensuring all anti-fraud work is conducted in a professional, comprehensive and ethical manner, following the standards by NHS Protect for NHS Providers, the NHS Counter Fraud and Corruption Manual and any other guidance issued by the NHS Protect. Does a LAFS only respond to allegations of fraud, or can they look for evidence? While I regularly deal with referrals from colleagues or concerned members of the public, I am authorised to undertake proactive exercises if there is evidence that a certain area of the health body’s work may be at risk of fraud. How can you help? Anyone can report concerns or suspicions about fraud at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust directly to myself via email at collette.ryan@wwl.nhs.uk or by calling 01257 256204.
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On Thursday 12 May we thanked our nurses on International Nurses Day. In the week leading up to the special day we held stalls at all our main sites to celebrate nurses and the excellent work that they do.
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Events
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Recent Events
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There have been a series of exciting events in which WWL have been involved requiring participation from both staff and members of the public. Engagement with the public who we serve, is tremendously important to us and forms part of our Social Responsibility to the Borough of Wigan.
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4/ Photographs 1/ The NHS Trans Masterclass held at WWL was a great success. 2/ A Charity Bowling event raised money for our brand new “Minds and Memory Fund”. 3-4/ Children enjoyed stalls and performed a “Rio Dance” during the Race to Rio Carnival.
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NHS Trans Masterclass WWL’s Education Centre played host to a special training day on transgender issues relating to health on 23 February. The event was the second largest of its kind ever to be hosted by a NHS organisation. The event was a great success and involved a number of informative presentations being made by a variety of speakers. Among the partners with WWL for this event were the 5 Boroughs NHS Foundation Trust, Wigan Council and Wigan Borough CCG. Pre-Employment Programme Graduation Participants in our Pre-employment Programme were honoured at a certificate presentation ceremony held on 10 March. The event was held in WWL’s Medical Education Centre at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary. It was hosted by the Trust with representatives from Skills for Health Academy North West.
celebrate nurses and to also preach about resilience at work. To this end, a number of informative pamphlets were on offer as well as some free giveaways, such as pens and colouring books. International Clinical Trials Day This event is celebrated every year in the health profession to commemorate James Lind carrying out the first ever clinical trial on board the HMS Salisbury, 269 years ago. As part of the celebration, WWL’s Research and Development team established stalls to promote the value of clinical trials.
Dementia Talking Space Launch On Thursday 19 May, WWL was very pleased to launch its new Carers’ Talking Space in the Christopher Home Building at Wigan Infirmary. This initiative aims to provide a space for people who care for someone with dementia can come and get professional advice from some of our expert staff at the Trust.
International Day of the Midwife
Race to Rio Carnival Hosted by Woodfield Primary School on 1 July, the Race to Rio Carnival marked a hugely successful project that has been run by our Social Responsibility Group in conjunction with the school. To commemorate the Olympics being held in Rio de Janeiro Brazil, this summer, school children have been tracing their steps, day by day, in an effort to “Race to Rio.” The Carnival was a celebration of the hard work the children have put in. Stalls were in place from a variety of organisations, including WWL, Wigan Athletic, Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles and Metrofresh. In addition, pupils performed a special “Rio Dance” that they had been practising in advance of the event. A variety of funfilled activities were also on offer. Wigan Pride In August the Trust supported the first ever Wigan pride event. Pride events are designed to celebrate the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community.
WWL Charity Bowling Event This annual event was held on Thursday 5 May and aimed to honour the tremendous work of midwives all around the world. To mark the occasion, WWL made two special presentations at Wrightington Hospital. Alison Murray and Chevelle Melling were awarded Midwife of the Year and Midwife Support Worker of the Year respectively. Nurses Day WWL celebrated International Nurses Day on 12 May. In the week leading up to the special day, our Professional Practice team (incidentally a team of Nurses) established stalls at all our main sites to
A charity bowling event organised by WWL, and held at the Bellingham Bowling Club on Saturday 28 May, was hailed as a great success. The idea of the event was for people to raise money for our brand new “Minds and Memory Fund” a ring-fenced fund under the banner of the Trust’s charity, Three Wishes. Its aim is to provide vital funds for our services that treat elderly and dementia patients. Money was raised through donations and also through a raffle that was held at the club on the day. In the end, over £780 was raised, a brilliant effort, representing tremendous value to our patients.
It took place on Saturday 13 August 2016 in Wigan town centre and was established by Wigan Council. Support from WWL came in the form of our Inclusion and Diversity Team and our Patient Engagement team. The event was officially launched on 17 May and to commemorate it, WWL flew the “Rainbow Flag” outside Wigan Infirmary.
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Future Events
#WellFest 3-11 September 2016 Looking after the health and wellbeing of the Wigan Borough is the aim for the very first #Wellfest which runs from Saturday 3 until Sunday 11 September 2016. Over the course of the week #Wellfest will take in a variety of activities, right across the borough. They will encourage people to get involved to look after their mental and physical wellbeing. WWL has joined forces with other public sector organisations, charities and voluntary groups to encourage people to take up a new wellness or fitness challenge. During the #Wellfest WWL will be establishing a marquee on our Wigan Infirmary site on 8 and 9 September with a number of fun and informative activities for staff and visitors to take part in. Annual Public Meeting 22 September 2016 The Annual Public Meeting is being held at the DW stadium, on 22 September 2016 from 6pm until 8pm. Last year’s meeting was hugely successful, with over 160 members of the Trust and members of public attending to listen to presentations from a variety of Trust staff and professionals.
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Below are some of the exciting events that WWL are supporting and holding over the coming months. As always, we would encourage you to go along and get involved.
Open Day and Official Opening of “Phase One” 24 September 2016 Saturday 24 September 2016 sees a monumental date at Wrightington Hospital, with the official opening of WWL’s fabulous “Phase One” development. Opening to patients on 21 December 2015, the award-winning facility has enjoyed a tremendously successful first 6 months of operation. A number of local dignitaries will be attending including the Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP (Member of Parliament for Leigh). Mr Burnham will undertake the official opening of the building. On the day, there will also be a full range of fun-filled activities with the aim of raising money for the Wrightington Wish Fund. This is a relatively new, ring-fenced fund that is exclusively for donations to services at Wrightington Hospital. It is one of eight new funds that have been launched by the WWL Three Wishes Charity. The aim of the new funds is to make it easier for donors to give money to the specific areas of the Trust they wish to support. For more information about the day visit www.wwl.nhs.uk.
Pearl Suite 14 October 2016 On 14 October 2016 Lisa Nandy MP will officially open the Pearl Suite in our Maternity Unit at Wigan Infirmary. The Pearl Suite is a dedicated bereavement suite where we have created an environment that is suitable and appropriate for families enduring difficult circumstances. We were able to furnish the suite with the help of one of our patients who fundraised to raise money after she sadly lost her twins. Recognising Excellence Awards 11 November 2016 In November, we will seek to honour the great and the good of our Trust at WWL’s annual Recognising Excellence Awards. The theme this year, as voted on by staff, will be Hollywood, with the event being held at the DW stadium, Wigan. We will share the list of the impressive and deserving winners with you in our next issue.
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3/ Photographs 1/ Our Open Day will see the official opening of our “Phase One� development. 2/ #Wellfest will encourage people to look after their mental and physical wellbeing. 3/ Our Annual Recognising Excellence Awards honours the hard work of our staff.
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“Without the continued support and cooperation of the public, clinical research in the NHS would not take place.� Tracey Taylor, Senior Clinical Research Nurse.
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Clinical Trials International Clinical Trials Day is celebrated each year to commemorate the first ever clinical trial carried out by James Lind aboard the HMS Salisbury. This year, 20 May, marked the 269th anniversary of Lind’s first clinical trial. This trial was used to compare different methods of treating scurvy, a disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C. The success of this and Lind’s successive trials paved the way for clinical research as we know it today. The day provided a great reminder of how important clinical research is in healthcare. Our award winning clinical trials team celebrated Clinical Trials Day by holding promotional stands across all four of our sites. The staff and information stands engaged patients and visitors in our research successes, and highlighted the benefits involvement, engagement and participation in research can bring. Patients were invited to come along and look at how they can participate in clinical trials for gastroenterology, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory conditions, ear, nose and throat, orthopaedics, paediatrics, reproductive health and cardiology.
Tracy continues: “Without the continued support and cooperation of the public, clinical research in the NHS would not take place. We welcome you to visit the information stalls at our hospitals, where you will have a chance to talk directly to our research staff and learn more about ways you can get involved in clinical research. We have had some real success stories with our patients.” Ann Kenyon, rheumatoid arthritis patient who is in remission after completing a clinical trial says; “Before the clinical trial I had got to a point where there was not a lot to be worth living for.” Her husband Norman says; “If we hadn’t got the clinical trial for Ann, I was very worried as I didn’t think she could cope much longer, either mentally or physically.” After undergoing the trial Ann says; “It has actually given me my life back I can do things now that I had given up all hope of doing.” If you would like more information on our clinical trials programme please contact Diane Heaton or Joanne Farnworth on 01257 256593.
Four years ago, the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) launched its ‘OK to Ask’ campaign. ‘OK to Ask’ aims to encourage more patients and carers to ask about research opportunities that could be available to them or their loved ones, if they have a medical condition for which they are receiving treatment. The campaign is about saying it is ‘OK to Ask’ about such research opportunities. WWL wholeheartedly supports the campaign and we are asking patients and carers to reach out and be identified for existing and future studies being carried out by the Trust. Tracey Taylor, Senior Clinical Research Nurse says: “Clinical research helps the NHS identify the best interventions and treatments which have the potential to improve the lives of those affected both now and in the future. More volunteers are needed to take part in clinical research if this vital work is to continue.”
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More Award Success The last six months has seen WWL enjoy plenty of awards successes, highlighting the great work that is achieved across our Trust by many people. There has been a mixture of regional wins and national triumphs for our teams, along with a range of individual successes.
The first major awards success of the year was an individual honour that went to Dr Chandrabhusen Chatopadhyay. He was presented with an award by the BMA (British Medical Association) at a ceremony to honour the work of Principle Investigators. He was presented with his award in the “Consistently Delivers to Time and Target” category.
Our top success of the night was our Project’s Team who won an award in the “Estates Management” category for their fabulous work on WWL’s state-of-the-art Phase One development at Wrightington Hospital. It was a fitting tribute to the team who had ensured the challenging project was completed on time and on budget, costing WWL £18.1 million.
Next came an outstanding success for our Maternity team as they won a national Friends and Family Test award, presented by NHS England. They received this prestigious honour at an event at the Queen’s Hotel in Leeds on Thursday 17 March. The team won their award in the “Friends and Family Test Champions” category for their remarkable, innovative work on encouraging patients to fill out the survey when they are in hospital.
On the same night, our IHST (Integrated Health Service Team) were Highly Commended in the “Obstetrics and Gynaecology” category. They were honoured for their tremendous work in providing one to one, holistic support to the top 2% of vulnerable women in the Wigan Borough.
Moving into April, our Pharmacy team, led by WWL Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Gary Masterman, won two IMS (Improving Medicine Safety) Awards at a summit held at the Lowry, Salford on Friday 22 April. The IMS is a Greater Manchester Academic Health Science Network; their awards sought to recognise organisations that were making steps to improve the safety of medicine in the region. Our team won their awards in the “Patient Engagement” and Best in Show categories. May proved to be a hugely successful month for WWL, with a very strong showing at the HSJ (Health Service Journal) Value in Healthcare Awards. The awards were presented at a tremendous ceremony at Manchester Central on Tuesday 24 May.
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In addition to this, two other WWL projects were shortlisted for awards at the HSJ Value in Healthcare Awards. Our Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) team were shortlisted for an award in the “Specialist Services” category. Also, WWL’s Business Intelligence was shortlisted in two categories; “Emergency Medicine” and the “Use of Technology to Drive Value in Clinical Services”. Finally, Mikala Hough was a member of WWL’s Pre-Employment Programme, run in association with Skills for Health. She was presented with an Adult Learners Week North West Award at a ceremony held at the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester. She had been nominated in the “First Steps to Employment in Health and Social Care” category.
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Photographs Top/ Our Maternity team won a national Friends and Family Test award. Bottom/ WWL wins Estates Management Award at HSJ Value in Healthcare Awards.
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Recognising Our Volunteers Volunteers play a crucial role in the NHS. They are committed people who give up part of their time to help others. Not only do they help our patients, but they also enable NHS workers, both medical and non-medical, to do their jobs more effectively. Their role in the modern health service cannot be overstated. Every year, Volunteer’s Week seeks to recognise their contribution to the NHS. In 2016, Volunteer’s Week was held from Wednesday 1 June to Sunday 12 June. A special emphasis was placed on the role of NHS Hospital Governors during the annual celebration. At WWL, very few people exemplify their contribution better than Helen Ash. Helen was elected to the WWL Council of Governors in September 2015 as a representative for Makerfield. She was able to do this off the back of being a member of the Trust for three years, having become a member when she started volunteering for us in 2012. Her role, as a volunteer, involves working for the Age UK Hospital Information and Support Service based at Wigan Infirmary. The Age UK team endeavour to ensure the safe and prompt discharge from hospital of older people.
Recently retired, this line of work suits Helen immensely, as she worked as a social worker for 20 years of her professional life. This bred into her a firm commitment and deep passion for health and social care issues. Her experience whilst working in this field also put her at an advantage as a health volunteer, as she understood the needs of the people she was meant to be helping. However, she was also able to develop her existing skills through her work at the Trust, in order to better support and represent their needs as well. Having only recently been elected as a Governor, she readily admits that she is still finding her feet in her new role. Part of this is down to the range of responsibilities a Governor has. Their prime role is to represent the interests of members and patients in their area, in Helen’s case, Makerfield. In addition, they also attend hospital committees, taking an active part in them. They also take part in surveys, such as the Real Time Patient Experience Surveys. Helen is very clear in her passion for volunteering. “As a Governor and a Hospital Volunteer,” she says, “I feel that I am able to put something back into my community. To anyone who is considering becoming a volunteer, in whatever capacity, I would say ‘Go for it!’ Besides the opportunity to offer your time and help, it’s also a great way to meet people and to stay in the loop.”
Helen’s story is an example of how rewarding and enriching being a Trust volunteer can be. It is a way to hone your skills, develop new ones and also make some friends along the way. You also have the added pleasure of knowing that you are helping others in a time of need. WWL Voluntary Services Manager, Nadia Koriba, said, “We have 28 dedicated hospital governors who work incredibly hard to support our Trust and ensure that local views are represented. Volunteers’ Week is the perfect opportunity to thank and recognise our governors and volunteers for everything they do. We hope that everyone will join us in thanking all our governors and volunteers at WWL. If you would like to learn more about our hospital governors, please visit our website at: www.wwl.nhs.uk/about_us/governors Information about volunteering opportunities can be found at: www.wwl.nhs.uk/work_with_us/ volunteers.aspx
www.wwl.nhs.uk/about_us/governors
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“To anyone who is considering becoming a volunteer, in whatever capacity, I would say ‘Go for it!’ Besides the opportunity to offer your time and help, it’s also a great way to meet people and to stay in the loop.” Helen Ash, Governor and Hospital Volunteer
Photographs Top/ Some of our wonderful volunteers. Bottom/ Helen Ash, Governor and Hospital Volunteer.
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The Role of Our
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We always listen to what our reader’s feedback to us is and act upon it. Following the last issue of our ‘Membership Magazine’, we received several queries from members with regard to clarifying how the Council of Governors is “made up”. We were also asked to define what is the role of the individual members who are Governors including the reasons why members of the public choose to become a Governor in the first place.
Every Foundation Trust is required by the overriding national body NHS Improvement, to have a Council of Governors. The WWL Council of Governors is comprised of representatives from the following groups; the registered membership of the Trust; staff who work within the Trust and those local bodies who are stakeholders in the local health economy, such as AGE UK, the Council or GP’s. Membership for those who are not employed by the Trust is open to anyone above the age of 16 who lives within the borough, or outside of the borough but who uses the WWL’s services. There is no membership fee, you just need to simply sign up to become a member. Elections to become an “elected Governor” from the membership, or from our staff, are held annually, with the successful candidates serving for a period of three years. Registered members elect from their own body, as do staff, while the stakeholder bodies simply nominate their representatives. Interested individuals can nominate themselves, making it open to anyone wishing to stand for election. It really is that simple. The “make up” of the Council is determined by those wishing to become a Governor and who are elected by the members of the body to which they belong supplemented by those nominated by locally interested bodies. The composition of the Council is scrutinised annually by NHS Improvement, asking one simple question, “does it (the Council) reflect the ‘make up’ of the local community which it serves”?
Why become a Governor? The answer to this is easy - you need to believe passionately in the NHS and have the opportunity to represent the public’s view. This ensures that patients are always at the heart of all the services WWL provides.
How do you become a Governor? Annual election information is available at www.wwl.nhs.uk. By following the links it clearly describes the steps required to begin the process. You will be required to write a short overview of why you want to be a Governor and what you think you can bring to the role. Also, you will need to provide a current photograph. These documents are then sent off to the Electoral Reform Society, who oversees the election process. The information received from all applicants is sent out to all registered Trust members who live in the relevant constituency (e.g. Leigh) and then the outcome depends simply – as in any election - on which candidate gets the most votes from the people they will go on to represent!
What do we do as Governors? We have a clear role, which is set out by NHS Improvement (the independent NHS watchdog) and can be found on their website under ‘Your statutory duties: A reference guide for NHS foundation trust governors’, which simply states:
The over-riding role of the council of governors is to hold the non-executive directors individually and collectively to account for the performance of the board of directors and to represent the interests of NHS foundation trust members and of the public. In order to carry out the above requirements we receive a comprehensive induction and training programme, which is provided on site at Wigan. After this, should you wish to, you will be invited to join various committees and attend meetings where you are free (from a patient’s perspective) to challenge and express your thoughts and views on the various issues that arise.
You need to believe passionately in the NHS and have the opportunity to represent the public’s view.
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How much time do you have to commit to? The answer to this is as much as you would wish. A minimum requirement is that you attend four Council of Governor meetings per year: after that, at no time will you be pressured into doing any more than you want to. Obviously, the more time you are able to give, the deeper will be the understanding of the complexities of the Trust and the NHS in general, thereby enabling you to be more effective in your role. Governors who choose to join Committees are always made to feel both welcome and valued, and those who wish to are encouraged and supported to become involved with both public events, such as our Dementia Bowling Day which took place at the end of May, and corporate management issues which require a Council of Governors input, such as signing off the Trust’s Annual Plan and the Quality Accounts.
Should I get involved? Definitely yes! With all the changes to health provision about to take place in the Greater Manchester area, the more people from a variety of backgrounds that have a voice in the way our health services are planned and delivered can only be for the better, and will help to ensure that we continue to get the best quality local services that meet the needs of local people close to where they live. If you would like any more information about becoming a Governor, or have any questions or queries about applying, please feel free to contact Stephen Hand, Membership and Engagement Officer on free phone 0800 073 1477 or by emailing foundationtrust@wwl.nhs.uk.
Photographs Page 33/ A selection of our Council of Governors. Above/ Governors are encouraged and supported to become involved in a wide variety of projects both corporate and public facing.
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Incredible Donation to Rainbow Ward A local family from Shevington made a huge donation to the Rainbow Ward at Wigan Infirmary on Monday 21 March. The Rainbow Ward is our paediatrics ward, providing care for children. The Molyneux family had raised the incredible sum of £3000 by producing a magnificent lights display at Christmas time at their house. Once they had raised the money, they then contacted staff on the Rainbow Ward to find out what was needed, so they could then go out and buy what was required. Our staff gave them the information and the Molyneux family duly obliged. Gillian and Paul Molyneux came along to the ward to present what they had bought. They were accompanied by their three young boys, Ethan, Alfie and Theo. The sheer number of gifts they brought to the Infirmary was highly impressive. Among the items they provided were; a microwave for the parent’s room, prams to push young children around the ward, a whole host of toys, a Playstation 3 for the play room, special needs seating and a whole new set of soft play toys. Both staff and patients alike were delighted to receive such a huge donation. However, Paul Molyneux was decidedly modest when commenting, despite the vast amount of items in their hugely generous, charitable donation. He said, “Basically the boys have been patients on the ward a few times and this was just a way of giving something back.”
Both he and Gillian are satisfied with what they’ve achieved. Gillian described the feeling as, “Ace,” whereas Paul simply said, “It feels very good.”
generosity. The toys and equipment that they have provided us with will really benefit both patients and staff on Rainbow Ward.”
It is hoped that the new toys and equipment can benefit our patients on Rainbow Ward. Spending time in hospital is a stressful time for any patient, but especially for a child. With extra toys available, hopefully their wellbeing will be improved. Diane Swindlehurst, WWL Head of Midwifery, Children’s & Patient Services, was thrilled with the donation. She said, “On behalf of WWL, I would like to give huge thanks to the Molyneux family for their thoughtfulness and outstanding
“Basically the boys have been patients on the ward a few times and this was just a way of giving something back.” Paul Molyneux
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Providing a Welcome Distraction for Children at Fracture Clinic Every year, staff at the Fracture Clinic, at Wigan Infirmary, create fun figures out of plaster, designed to take children’s minds off their injuries, during their stay at the clinic.
Last December, they designed and created “Minions”, a move that proved hugely popular among the younger visitors. “Minions” are characters from the family movies “Despicable Me”, “Despicable Me 2” and “Minions” are among some of the most recognisable characters worldwide. We know that attending the Fracture Clinic can be an enormously stressful time for any patient, especially for a child and their families. Enjoyable initiatives like this really help to alleviate some of the pain involved. As well as providing a light-hearted distraction for visitors, the “Minions” were also entered into the BeneCare Christmas Casting Competition, run by BeneCast, one of WWL’s casting suppliers. The team’s efforts saw them finish a highlyrespectable third. This was a tremendous testament to the skilful work of Plaster Technicians Valerie Birch, Lenny Toole, Sylvia Richardson, Jeanette Brown and Auxiliary Nurse Scott Whittle. The group were able to show off their arty side by creating the very realistic “Minions”. In addition, the “Minions” were also shown off at the BeneCare Medical National Conference, in March 2016. Deputy Ward Manager, Joanne McMenemy, was thrilled with the efforts of the team. She said, “Here at the Fracture Clinic, we attempt to make visitors feel as comfortable as possible. When it comes to children, we understand how upsetting a visit to hospital can be, so by making these figures, we try to have some fun and bring a smile to their faces.”
“Here at the Fracture Clinic, we attempt to make visitors feel as comfortable as possible.” Joanne McMenemy, Deputy Ward Manager
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Recruitment Day a
Tremendous Success WWL recently held a hugely successful Recruitment Day event at the DW Stadium, Wigan. The event was established by the Trust’s Human Resources (HR) team to find the right candidates for a number of job opportunities available at the Trust. A number of stalls were established, with WWL staff eager to show off their departments to attract potential employees.
this, we also have the potential to arrange a handful of further interviews for hard to recruit posts where candidates weren’t able to attend, which is fabulous. To see such a high level of interest in working for our Trust was very heart-warming to see.” Anybody who was unable to attend can still browse and apply for all of our current vacancies, via our Recruitment webpage http://jobs.wwl.nhs.uk
With approximately 500 people attending, the event was a resounding success. Among those present to advertise opportunities were nursing representatives from children’s nursing, adult nursing, elderly care and cardiology. Two departments that were also there, to enthusiastically display how attractive a place to work WWL is, were SSDU (Sterile Services Decontamination Unit) and ERU (Endoscopy Reprocessing Unit). Estates and Facilities were also on hand to talk about the myriad of opportunities that exist in their department including catering, domestic and porters jobs that are on offer. In addition to the recruitment stalls, a number of stalls were established to show off the superbly positive aspects of working at our Trust. Our talented Staff Engagement team were on hand to showcase their fabulous activities that ensure staff wellbeing is a top priority at WWL, because we fundamentally believe that happy staff makes for happy patients. The day was a tremendous success on the recruitment front, with 70 people being successful at interview for new positions. Among those beginning their journey with WWL are three Paediatric Nurses, two Radiographers, five Theatre Practitioners, 15 Theatre Assistants and 27 Staff Nurses. Most will be offered immediate vacancies, and others will join our ‘Talent Pool’ ready to be deployed as soon as new vacancies arise. WWL Recruitment Manager, Kim Gibbs, was also thrilled with how the day had gone. She said; “Our Recruitment Day was a great success for our Trust, where we were able to welcome a number of new members of staff to the WWL family. On top of
All our current vacancies are available on our Recruitment webpage – http://jobs.wwl.nhs.uk
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Advertise Here
Would you like to sponsor this magazine, or promote your business or event to the 14,000 WWL Members who receive this magazine? The magazine is also promoted online via our website and through social media. To find out more email communications@wwl.nhs.uk or call 01942 822156.
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The magazine for Members Issue 14
Summer 2016
your hospitals, your health, our priority
Produced by Corporate Communications