news@QEHB November 2014

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NOVEMBER 2014

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Antibiotics: Staff told to think before you prescribe

Outstanding Achievement winners SAU/302

Worthy winners in Best in Care Awards Tribute to Matron’s legacy The legacy of one of the most well-respected nurses in UHB history will continue thanks to a bursary set up in her honour. The Helen Tees Bursary, which will focus on end-of-life care, was launched at this year’s Best in Care awards. Helen Tees, a long-serving Matron, passed away in 2011 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Helen was the first person to be presented with the Best in Care Award’s Outstanding Achievement honour in recognition of more than 40 years’ service. Born in Scotland, Helen first trained in general nursing in the 1960s in Glasgow. She came to the Midlands in 1969, working as a theatre sister in Worcester. In 1974 she was appointed as a nursing officer at the General and became Deputy Director of Nursing 10 years later. She was Acting Director of Nursing when the hospital closed in 1994. Helen transferred to the QE and Selly Oak hospitals where she was a prominent senior nurse until her death. Chief Executive, Dame Julie Moore said: “Helen Tees embodied what this Trust is about and I was honoured to announce the inception of the bursary at this year’s Best in Care Awards. “There couldn’t be a more fitting tribute to a much-loved and admired nurse.”

Senior sister Roberta Batchelor and staff of the Surgical Assessment Unit on Ward 302 were staggered when a special video revealed the team had been selected for an Outstanding Achievement award. In a pre-recorded message to the team, Associate Director of Nursing Marie Hale shared how Senior Sister Roberta Batchelor and the team had successfully developed ways for patients to be assessed and diagnosed quicker, improving patient waiting times and providing a superior level of care. Marie said: “Roberta is the epitome of what nursing is all about. She inspires, challenges and leads from the front. “The success of this ward is a testament to Roberta’s leadership and I am personally very proud of all the team have achieved.” The audience also heard from patient Alfred Mason about the

positive impact the new ward set-up had made on the experience of being rushed into hospital. “The treatment has been so quick, from coming in to having my scans. “All the nurses are so attentive; they are always checking you are ok or taking your blood pressure - I highly recommend it!” The Trust’s chief executive Dame Julie Moore also spoke of how impressed she had been when she had recently visited the ward to talk to staff. She said: “I was completely blown away by their level of professionalism and their attention to detail. “Everyone works so hard and it is clear to me that their passion to deliver not just good care, but excellent care every single day, has made a huge impact on patient outcomes. “They thouroughly deserve this award.” For all the winners plus photos from the awards see centre pages.

Junior doctors are looking at alternatives to prescribing antibiotics in an ongoing campaign under way across the Trust. The work with junior doctors is just one of the many initiatives being driven by the Trust’s highly-skilled ward pharmacists and the infection control team. The over-use of antibiotics is causing widespread concern at a national and international level and there are fears that unless prescribing habits are changed the health of patients will be put at risk. These issues are highlighted on the run up to the European Antibiotic Awareness Day on November 18 when the Trust’s pharmacy team will be visiting wards to highlight how staff can make a real difference. Dr Harpal Dhillon, the Trust’s Principal Pharmacist for Infection Control, urged staff and patients to be aware of the risks and look at alternatives. Training with all staff groups is also giving the team an opportunity to show how fresh thinking can make a real difference. Harpal said: “Far too often people are expecting to be given antibiotics for a winter ailment and this really is not necessary. “There are many things people can do to self-treat when suffering from winter ailments, such as a cold, cough or flu which your local pharmacist can help advise you on, instead of taking unnecessary antibiotics. It’s important to drink lots of fluids, get plenty of rest and take ibuprofen or paracetamol which can help to reduce a temperature and ease aches and pains when suffering from symptoms. We hope people will talk to their pharmacists and try alternatives.” Clinical staff can feel under pressure to prescribe antibiotics and the Trust is working with teams to develop tools to help deliver the most appropriate care to patients. These include the ‘Bee Aware’ icon on the Trust’s Prescribing, Information and Communications System (PICS). This alerts clinicians to the fact that the patient has tested positive for an infection and will give more information to enable the most appropriate treatment is chosen for the type of infection. Work is also underway to ensure patients, who may be carrying antibiotic resistant bugs, are identified early and reducing the risks. Harpal said: “We do not want to scare patients, especially those who might feel vulnerable, for not seeking medical advice when they are feeling ill but rather than wait to see a GP it is worthwhile speaking to a pharmacist. They are in touch with the latest drugs and will be able to prescribe and advise.” For more information see page 5

Puzzle page: brainteasers, mind benders and more P23 Find your way around: hospital maps P24 news@QEHB 2014_11_November .indd 1

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