Best December 2013

Best Issue 11 December 2013

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

@sfhft

News from King’s Mill, Newark, Mansfield and Ashfield hospitals

The people’s star!

Inside this edition:

VitalPAC is coming!

P3 Santa visits King’s Mill Congratulations to Esther Jenkinson, Children’s Specialist Needs and Palliative Care Nurse, who scooped the prestigious “People’s Award” in the 2013 Staff Excellence Awards. See special feature on pages 11-13.

Nurse of the Year Awards P7

Minster Ward celebrates winning ‘Newark Hospital Nursing Team of the Year’ in the Trust’s first ‘Nurse of the Year Awards’ held to reward inspirational nurses and midwives.

Turn to pages 15 for details of the other five well-deserving winners.

P9 Tree of Life

Trust website: www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk, Children & Young People’s website: www.cyp.sfh-tr.nhs.uk

Celebrating, innovating, developing In this edition of Best you will read about some of the fantastic achievements of our staff, both individually and collectively. We are honoured to have such superb and dedicated staff and volunteers working at our hospitals.

You will read on pages 5 and 16 about our fantastic volunteers. We are really proud that we have some of the longest serving and most dedicated volunteers in our hospitals.

We are hugely indebted to them for the devotion of their valuable time and skills. Their contribution plays a vital part in helping us to deliver high quality patient care.

This edition also features our annual Staff Excellence Awards which are now in their eleventh year. The most prestigious award of the evening The People’s Award - went to Esther Jenkinson, Children’s Complex Needs and Palliative Care Nurse Specialist who was nominated by a local family.

Although the family’s nomination talked about Esther going above and beyond her job role, Esther was very modest in receiving her award and gave credit and thanks to the team within which she works. This year for the first time, we also held our Nurse of the Year Awards, which were so successful that we will now be holding this as an annual event.

We also tell you about a number of innovations and new developments in this issue, including the fact that this Trust will become the first in the Midlands region to introduce an award-winning hi-tech system which will revolutionise patient care.

VitalPAC will enable our doctors and nurses to record clinical information on hand held iPod devices at the patient’s bedside, which will then be instantly analysed and high risk patients automatically identified. The introduction of the system will further support our reduction in mortality rates and improve the quality of care for our patients.

In partnership with our local Clinical Commissioning Groups we have recently unveiled exciting plans for

Sean Lyons ,Chairman 2 Best | December 2013

Newark Hospital which will ensure more people are treated locally. This is fantastic news for the hospital and fantastic news for our patients.

Proposals include an improved range of inpatient, outpatient and out of hours services. More information about these plans is on page 4 and for those wishing to see the full Vision and Strategic Direction for Newark Hospital please visit the Newark Hospital pages of our website www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk.

At the time of going to print we had just welcomed the Keogh Review team back to the Trust.

Whilst many of the issues raised by the Keogh Team were issues that we were already taking actions to address, there is no doubt that the additional focus of the review gave us the impetus to make our changes in a much tighter timescale than we might otherwise have achieved.

Since the results of the national Keogh Review were published in July we have made significant progress against our action plan. We were confident that when the Keogh Team returned we would be able to demonstrate our longer term plans for maintaining our progress, and for continuing to ensure measurable improvements in the quality and safety of care for our patients.

New appointments to Trust Board The Trust Board has been further strengthened with two key appointments.

Mark Chivers and Tim Reddish, previously non-executive director designates, took up their substantive posts on 1 November 2013.

Mark currently has a dual role, as Director of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone and Head of Procurement and Supplier Relationship Management for Alliance Boots. For the Enterprise Zone, Mark is focused on property development and regeneration of the main Boots site for the benefit of Nottingham, which will create many hundreds of jobs in the area.

Since last year Mark has also been Co-opted Commercial Member to Nottinghamshire County Council Economic Development Committee.

another term as Chair in the lead up to, and delivery of, the 2016 Rio Games.

Trust Chairman, Sean Lyons, said: “Mark and Tim’s unique skills will add to the strength of the Board and bring the highest level of expertise to benefit the Trust in our commitment to delivering excellent standards of patient care.”

Mark Chivers

We will receive a written report before Christmas which will summarise their visit and help inform how we can continue to further improve our services. In the meantime we have extended our thanks to each and every one of our staff - it is clear real progress has been made.

Tim is currently Chairman of the British Paralympic Association. Following a very successful swimming career both nationally and internationally for the British Paralympics swimming team, Tim sadly lost his eyesight and made the move into sports leadership at British Swimming in 2003. In 2010, he moved into an executive director role.

Following a non-executive director position for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games, he has just been re-elected to serve

All of this would not be possible without our fantastic staff, and for their hard work and dedication we are grateful.

Thanks to Stuart and David

Immediately after the visit, we received some initial, informal, feedback and we are delighted to say that this was very positive. The team found no major issues/concerns and could clearly see that significant improvements have been made across the Trust.

Paul O’Connor, Chief Executive

Stuart Grasar and David Leah, concluded their arrangements as NonExecutive Directors at the end of October.

Stuart’s specific responsibilities included membership of the Trust’s Remuneration Committee, and Chairing both the Charitable Funds Committee and the Organ Donation Committee.

Tim Reddish

David was a member of the Finance & Performance, Audit, Charitable Funds and Remuneration Committees.

Trust Chairman, Sean Lyons said: “I would like to express the Board’s thanks and appreciation to David and Stuart for their invaluable service, contribution and support over the last few years.”

Revolutionising patient safety Sherwood Forest Hospitals will become the first Trust in the Midlands region to introduce an award-winning hi-tech system to revolutionise patient safety at King’s Mill Hospital.

Improving quality of care, patient safety and reducing mortality rates, the new hi-tech system (VitalPAC) will enable doctors and nurses to record clinical data on hand held iPod devices at the patients’ bedside, which will then be instantly analysed.

When an unusually high score is calculated from a patient’s observations and vital signs, the appropriate doctor will immediately be alerted on their personal hand-held mobile device. They will then be prompted to respond to the nurse and record actions taken.

Identifying high risk and deteriorating patients at the earliest possible opportunity ensures that clinical staff can take the necessary action immediately to save lives.

The new system will be used from the patient’s admission to hospital and throughout their stay, replacing the traditional paper chart at the end of each bed. Currently nurses write down patient observations, including blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and breathing rate; allocating a point score for each before calculating an overall total.

VitalPAC virtually eliminates the possibility of human error in both calculating scores and making a judgement call about a patient’s condition. Studies have shown that the error rate in calculations is reduced 3-fold.

VitalPAC Project Manager appointed Morgan Thanigasalam, formerly our Resuscitation Training Officer, is the Trust’s new Project Manager for VitalPAC. Morgan will oversee the smooth roll-out of the new system on to all King’s Mill wards and will co-ordinate training.

Listening to patients

Accessing and analysing data from many of the Trust’s other systems, including pathology, microbiology and radiology, the new software will give a clear and complete picture of each patient’s current condition. Abnormal blood results will be highlighted, and it will also issue acute kidney injury alerts and sepsis alerts.

Doctor Lisa Milligan, Consultant Anaesthetist for Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “The introduction of VitalPAC supports the Trust’s strategy to reduce mortality rates and improve quality of care. Failure to recognise and respond to patient deterioration is a major cause of preventable hospital mortality worldwide. We are confident that the new system will have a major positive impact on our cardiac arrest and mortality rates.

“Research suggests that it is also about 40% quicker for nurses to record a complete set of observations and calculate a score using the new automated system, compared to the pen and paper method. Releasing our nursing staff from time-consuming administrative tasks will enable them to focus on their most important role of providing high quality patient care.”

Following a six month period of installing hardware and staff training, the new system will be used on all wards at King’s Mill Hospital, including paediatrics and maternity, from Spring 2014. Authorised clinical staff will be able to view the observation charts and clinical data for all their patients from any tablet or PC on the ward, or on any tablet or desk top computer with access to the hospital network.

Staff, patients and members of the public have been providing vital feedback about what it’s like to work and be treated at Sherwood Forest Hospitals through a series of listening events.

The events - called ‘In Your Shoes’ and ‘In Our Shoes’ - have been attended by more than 300 people, who have shared their experiences and helped shape the future standards of care that all Trust staff will be expected to meet.

During the two-hour events patients met nurses, doctors, managers and other healthcare staff to talk about their real life experiences face to face; including those who have used the hospital for an outpatient appointment, emergency, surgery or as an inpatient for any reason in the last 18 months.

Susan Bowler, Executive Director of Nursing and Quality, said: “These events were a genuine opportunity to influence the future of local care and I would like to thank everyone who took part.

“The vital feedback we received from these sessions will now be used to create our values and improve patient and staff experience across Sherwood Forest Hospitals.”

Best PLACE for hospital care The Trust has been ranked as one of the best Trust’s in the region for the quality of its patient environments.

Results from the new Patient-led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE) published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre in September show the Trust scored an impressive 99.31% for cleanliness, 86.68% for food and hydration, 92.74% for privacy, dignity and wellbeing, and 93.75% for condition, appearance and maintenance.

These results, combined for King’s Mill, Mansfield Community

and Newark hospitals, are well above the national averages of 95.74%, 84.98%, 88.87% and 88.75% respectively.

Paul O’Connor, Chief Executive of the Trust, said: “I am extremely proud of this excellent achievement, which is a tribute to the hard work, expertise and dedication that all our staff bring to our patients and their families every day.

“We are committed to a high level of excellence by providing an environment that is welcoming, safe and respectful, and we will continue to focus on improvements that will keep our hospitals at the forefront of health care delivery.”

December 2013 | Best 3

Bramley children’s unit opens Young patients attending Newark Hospital for outpatient appointments now benefit from a dedicated children’s unit, which was officially opened on 14 October by the Mayor of Newark.

following the expansion of a paediatric presence from three days to five days a week in 2012. Diabetes clinics are also now available to local children who previously needed to travel to King’s Mill Hospital.

Clinics, which used to be run in the main outpatients department at Newark Hospital, now take place in the Bramley Children’s Unit where medical, nursing and play staff have worked together with patients to design the new unit.

Tracey Wall, Newark Hospital Manager, said: “I am delighted at the opening of the new Bramley Children’s Unit and would like to thank all the staff and local community who have played a huge part in making this happen.

With clinical rooms and a large, airy, waiting area where children can play – the new unit brings the facility up to date and in line with the artistic themes of the children’s wards and clinic at King’s Mill Hospital. At Newark, this will also have the added benefit of freeing up clinical rooms in outpatients so that other adult based services could be increased in the future.

The unit further improves the developments to children’s services at Newark Hospital

Presentation of a Bramley apple tree to local primary school at the official opening

Dr Helena Clements, Director for Children’s Services, said: “I am delighted to see this project come to fruition. It will give our children their own space to receive top quality health care.

“Providing enhanced clinics for children in the Newark area reduces the need for families to travel to Kings Mill Hospital or other local hospitals unless they need an inpatient stay or complex investigation. It is an important part of the Trust’s vision to provide care locally and link with community services where possible.”

Deb Farn, Children’s Ward Leader cuts a celebratory cake at the opening of the new Bramley Children’s Unit

New Vision to secure the future of Newark Hospital Exciting plans for Newark Hospital have been unveiled which could see the expansion of an out of hours GP service and a high quality diagnostics and assessment outpatient and day case centre so more people can be treated locally for non-complex surgical procedures.

The proposals outlined in a 32 page vision document include the provision of a range of improved inpatient, outpatient and out of hours services. The document follows considerable discussion across the community over the last two years and the recent Keogh Review into mortality rates, which made a number of recommendations about Newark Hospital. The plans take into consideration areas of concern that people have raised and have brought together the views of independent clinical experts, local doctors, nurses and other staff as well as community representatives.

Plans could also see the extension of the pioneering Fernwood Community Unit at Newark Hospital at weekends, providing some of the best rehabilitation and recuperation services in the UK for frail elderly people. An enhanced Minor Injuries Unit/Urgent Care Centre (MIU/UCC) will provide a single front door triage, bringing GPs and hospital staff together there for the first time. Nurses, GPs, mental health workers, voluntary sector and social workers will work alongside each other to create a more flexible and joined up service 4 Best | December 2013

around the needs of patients and their carers.

The local NHS has confirmed it will continue to provide inpatient beds at the hospital but will soon include a GP out-of-hours service integrated with the MIU/UCC at evenings, weekends and bank holidays (6pm - midnight, weekends, and bank holidays).

As part of the vision, health leaders say they will work with ambulance colleagues to review the Newark and Sherwood urgent care ambulance that operates from the hospital to see if the service can be boosted at peak times.

The CCG also plans to study the impact of voluntary driver and non-emergency transport schemes. They will also look at the idea of using out-of-hours doctor vehicles to support non-emergency transport during normal hours. The CCG and Trust also committed to support and monitor a pilot scheme to provide paramedic cover for rural areas. It is also hoped that the private transport provider will extend its shuttle service between King’s Mill and Newark hospitals. Plans also include a campaign to help the public have a greater awareness of what services are available at Newark Hospital and plans to improve training and development of staff to enable it to become an even more attractive place to work.

When Sir Bruce Keogh’s team visited the hospital in the summer his team concluded that “…The Newark strategy needs to determine the future of the hospital working with the wider health community and social care and the public…” Amanda

Sullivan, chief officer for NHS Newark and Sherwood Clinical Commissioning Group commented: “Commissioners and the Trust have worked tirelessly to come up with a vision that reflects what the public have told us they want; and what we believe could be possible for this much valued community facility. I would urge people to get behind the plans and do all they can to help us achieve this vision together to create a sustainable, vibrant hospital where people want to work to improve the quality of life for local people and where patients fully understand the services available at Newark Hospital.”

Chief Executive of Sherwood Forest Hospitals, Paul O’Connor said: “The vision for Newark Hospital is based on considerable evidence, as well as the views of local people, our own staff and independent clinical experts. As part of the vision, a campaign will be launched to help local people understand what services are available at Newark Hospital, and to enable GPs to be more confident in referring people for care at this fabulous local hospital.”

The Boards of both NHS Newark and Sherwood Clinical Commissioning Group and Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have endorsed the document and work is now ongoing to take the vision forward.

The Vision and Strategic Direction for Newark Hospital document can be seen on the Newark Hospital pages of www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk/

Celebrating Newark’s volunteers Twenty three volunteers who give up their time to make people’s stays in hospital more bearable were rewarded for their efforts at the Sherwood Forest Hospitals Chairman’s Awards Ceremony on 10 October.

Long service medals were presented to each volunteer by Trust Chairman Sean Lyons, in appreciation of service ranging from five to thirty five years.

“They make an outstanding contribution and we simply couldn’t do what we do without them – they really do make a difference.”

Sean Lyons said: “We are hugely indebted to our 220 volunteers who give their valuable time and skills to Newark Hospital.

Flower volunteer Sheila Clutterbuck is the longest serving volunteer with an outstanding 35 years’ service under her belt.

Five years’ service

Ten years’ service

Sue Austin

Help desk

Carol Gilbert

Help desk

Anne Carter

Flowers

Margaret Hayes

Mary Taylor Coffee Lounge

Sylvia Macbain

Mary Taylor Coffee Lounge

Sheila Reid

Mary Taylor Coffee Lounge

Val Swain

Help desk

Barbara Duckett

Help desk

Ann Edis

Mary Taylor Coffee Lounge

Barbara Greaves-Osborn

Help desk

Elaine Leary

Mary Taylor Coffee Lounge

Gill Nice

Help desk

Marisa Tabar

Mercia Doughty Preoperative Assessment

Diana Tindale

Mary Taylor Coffee Lounge

John Toole

Help desk and outpatient department

Peter Wright

Help desk

The ceremony was also attended by the Town Mayor of Newark, Councillor Bryan Richardson, plus members of the Trust’s Board of Directors and Governors.

Fifteen years’ service Michael Bell

Help desk

Valerie Bell

Help desk

Ethel Cook

Mary Taylor Coffee Lounge

June Howsam

Help desk/Mary Taylor Coffee Lounge

Beryl Podger

Help desk

Vera Pollard

Help desk/Mary Taylor Coffee Lounge

Newark Hospital has over 220 volunteers working in various sections including outpatient clinics, Mercia Doughty PreOperative Assessment Centre, Mercia Doughty Endoscopy Centre, Voluntary Helpdesk,

Nursery visit Pupils from Newark’s Beacon Hill Day Nursery School paid an educational and fun visit to Newark Hospital in September as part of their curriculum activities.

The children were enthralled by unique x-rays of a teddy bear, banana, glasses and a torch taken by Radiographer Julie Watchorn. They were also shown what happens when an x-ray is performed and a comparison of x-ray images to a skeleton.

In the Minor Injuries Unit/ Urgent Care Centre they were shown how to use pulse oximeters to monitor their pulse during exercise

by Michael Thomson, Department Leader. They also listened through a stethoscope for heart beats, performed temperature

checks and were taught how to put plaster casts on brave teachers and hospital staff!

To mark their visit, each pupil was presented with a teddy bear kindly donated to the Minor Injuries Department/Urgent Care Centre via the registered charity ‘Teddies for Loving Care Appeal.’

Podiatry, Mary Taylor Coffee Lounge, Chaplaincy and the outpatient’s tea bar. For more information on volunteering please contact Nadia Whitworth on 01636 685692 or email nadia.whitworth@sfh-tr.nhs.uk

New home for Cardiorespiratory Unit The Cardiorespiratory Unit at Newark Hospital is now located in the Eastwood Centre. The unit has undergone a refurbishment - including a new reception desk – and was opened to patients on Monday 30 September.

Crystal Pegg, the first patient, pictured with Tracey Wall, Hospital Manager and Sam Gascoigne, Sonographer December 2013 | Best 5

Appointing more nurses Recently embarking on an overseas recruitment campaign to strengthen its nursing numbers, the Trust aims to further improve quality and reduce expensive agency costs.

Making Mealtimes Matter The importance of food and drink in the healing process cannot be underestimated. That is why the Trust is ‘Making Mealtimes Matter’.

The Making Mealtimes Matter campaign is about ensuring patients are able to eat their meals in a calm, supportive environment with assistance provided by staff.

Mealtimes on our wards are: • Breakfast (8-9am) • Lunch (12-1pm) • Dinner (5-6pm) During mealtimes patients will be supported to enjoy their meal without interruptions – ensuring activities involving patients are kept to a minimum.

Susan Bowler, Director of Nursing and Quality, said: “As a Trust we have a responsibility to support the nutritional needs of our patients. We know good nutrition is an essential element of the care that we give and our Making Mealtimes Matter campaign will make sure patients have protected time and feel supported to eat the meals.”

The drive to recruit nurses has included looking overseas because, like many other NHS providers, the Trust has found there are insufficient applicants in the UK to fill its current vacancies. The overseas search has mainly taken place in Europe, including Spain.

“Being able to employ nurses on permanent contracts allows us to train and develop our staff, as well as being more cost effective than using agency staff. It’s important to remember that this overseas recruitment campaign will help to supplement our ongoing recruitment of newly qualified and experienced local nurses.

Recruitment is challenging, from a national perspective, due to a reduction in overall numbers of under graduates entering nurse training, coupled with a national drive to support safe registered nurse staffing levels across wards and departments.

All nurses recruited from abroad must be registered, with a minimum of two years’ experience of working in a similar type of hospital setting, and must possess strong English language skills. Recruitment is taking place in small groups to ensure a robust and thorough induction into the organisation and NHS. The first group of nurses will join the Trust in early 2014 and will work on various wards at King’s Mill and Newark hospitals.

Susan Bowler, Executive Director for Nursing and Quality said: “High quality patient care is our top priority and this is a really important recruitment campaign for us. It will allow us to increase the number of permanent nurses working within the Trust to maintain safe staffing levels.

Overseas recruitment campaign strengthens nursing numbers “We are looking forward to welcoming these new recruits to our hospitals and communities and are doing all we can to ensure they have a warm and friendly welcome.”

2014 Board meetings in public Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will hold its first three Board Meetings in the New Year on the following dates: Thursday 30 January Thursday 27 February Thursday 27 March

The meetings will start at 9.30am.

Members of the public are very welcome to attend. Please check the Trust’s website at www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk or telephone 01623 622515 ext 3259 nearer the time for venue details.

National accreditation for Occupational Health The Trust’s Occupational Health Service has received a national accreditation award for its services supporting the health and wellbeing of staff working in our hospitals and the local health community. The accreditation process is managed by The Royal College of Physicians on behalf of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine.

6 Best | December 2013

The assessors awarded the Occupational Health service a full pass with no conditions, recognising that it is an excellent nurse-led occupational health function which has a wonderful team. The service has a main base at King’s Mill Hospital, with a smaller base at Mansfield Community Hospital.

Karen Fisher, the Trust’s Director of Human Resources said: “The accreditation is a reflection and recognition of this high quality service, which plays a crucial role in maintaining staff health and well being.

This is of paramount importance to us as an employer, to enable the Trust to provide the highest standards of patient care possible.”

Santa visits King’s Mill Santa Claus paid an early visit to King’s Mill’s children’s ward in November on his way to the official switch on of Mansfield’s Christmas lights.

Delighted young patients were thrilled to meet the big man himself as he toured the ward, talking to the children about their all important present lists and handing out selection boxes kindly donated by Asda.

Postman Pat was also on hand to help Santa distribute the goodies and put a smile on the children’s faces, along with Buzz – the Four Seasons Shopping Centre mascot.

Our grateful thanks to Mansfield Radio 103.2 and the Four Seasons Shopping Centre for arranging this Santa and friends visit the children’s ward very special visit.

Michelle Smith’s winning eyeball cake!

Starlight panto brightens children’s day

HR’s haunting Halloween bake-off

Young patients were dazzled by an interactive performance of Sleeping Beauty when it visited the children’s ward in late summer.

The HR department held a Halloween-themed ‘Great HR Bake Off’ on 31 October, raising over £80 for Cancer Research UK.

The pantomime was staged exclusively for Starlight by the interactive theatre group The Panto Company, visiting100 hospitals and hospices during an eight week tour.

Every year, Starlight provides entertainment and distraction to over half a million poorly children, giving them the chance to shout

“He’s behind you!” from the safety of the hospital ward.

Nicola Armstrong, Play Leader on Ward 25, the children’s ward, said: “It is known that entertainment and play can significantly improve a poorly child’s hospital experience and that it helps to distract them from their illness and treatment.”

Little Millers fun day donation

Zavier was diagnosed with craniosynostosis at the age of three months old and underwent extensive skull remodelling surgery at Birmingham Children’s Hospital at six months old. During his treatment he was looked after by their Craniofacial Team, and attended hospital on a number of occasions before, during and after his surgery.

Zavier’s Mum, Holly Halili,

Zavier and his mum present present a £100 donation to his Craniofacial Team, raised at Little Miller’s Fun Day told Best: “Little Miller’s Day Nursery was a great support

Mary Berry (aka Kate Lorenti, Deputy Director of HR) and Paul Hollywood (aka Joe Forde, Assistant Director of HR) were chief tasters and judges!

The panto cast in accommodating Zavier’s sister, Arabella, for extra days at nursery while he was undergoing treatment, and we are very grateful to them. Zavier joined the nursery on the King’s Mill campus last year when Arabella left for school, and we were very touched that Little Millers chose to raise money at their recent fun day for this team.

We know that a lot of effort goes into arranging all the fun and games at this very enjoyable annual event, and were thrilled with the £100 raised for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.”

Thomas Walsh and Jayden Hostler

Spooky fun Little Millers Day Nursery enjoyed a spooky Halloween fancy dress party, where the children came dressed as spiderman, skeletons, witches, Woody and the incredible hulk!

Prince’s Trust Challenge Young people involved in the Prince’s Trust programme visited King’s Mill Hospital’s children’s ward and the children’s clinic in summer as part of a team challenge, involving caring for others.

Supervised by Ian Cotton, on secondment to the Prince’s Trust from Nottinghamshire Police, the participants helped patients with crafts and activities, bought from their fundraising efforts, totalling over £600.

Michelle Smith’s gory eyeball cake was chosen as the winning entry.

Patients (left to right) Megan, Cherie and Kara show off the crafts they made with Prince’s Trust participants

The children had fun participating in lots of themed Halloween activities, carving out pumpkins and making pumpkin soup and bread, before enjoying a special Halloween party tea.

December 2013 | Best 7

Annual Members’ Meeting 2013

Governor, Dr Nigel Nice learns more about Children and Young People’s services

Non-Executive Director, Gerry McSorley chats to Paula Evans, Lead Sepsis Nurse

One of the many information stands at the event

Over 150 people attended the Trust’s Annual Members’ Meeting held in September. The event offered a range of stands and two health talks, in addition to the formal Annual General Meeting where the Trust presented its annual report and accounts and took questions from the audience.

• Meet the Governors

• Infection Prevention and Control – members used the light box to see how clean their hands really are

Information stands at the event showcased the Trust’s work over the last 12 months and included:

• Dementia services

The health talks, which focused on keeping a healthy heart and thyroid conditions, were both well-received by all who attended.

• Sepsis – work carried out to reduce sepsis deaths

A big thank you to everyone who attended the event and made it a success.

Member events coming soon…

A programme of member events is currently being finalised for January onwards.

Watch out for details of forthcoming events in the local media, and on the Trust’s website (www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk), Twitter and Facebook pages.

• Fernwood Community Unit • Children and Young People’s services – including Bramley Children’s Unit

• Organ donation campaign • Free blood pressure checks

• Care and Comfort Rounds • FLO • Achieving Best Care – improvement projects

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Fact!

To mail a one-sided letter to our 21,544 members costs the Trust a whopping £6,330 in postage!

Fact!

To post Best to our members three times a year costs a huge £4,836 per issue!

Every new, or existing member, who opts for us to

contact them by email rather than post will be entered into a free prize draw to win £50 worth of “Love to Shop” vouchers – valid in over 20,000 stores.

For a chance to win, existing members can email membership@sfh-tr.nhs.uk with their name, address and preferred contact email address. Anyone wishing to join the Trust as a new member should follow the link on our website, www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk, under “Get involved,” “Become a member.”

All members providing their email address by 28 February 2014 will be entered into the prize draw.

Lung Cancer Awareness events In the UK around 41,500 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed each year. It is the most common cause of cancer death in the UK, for both men and women.

health problem which is why the Trust has held these events. We need to help patients recognise symptoms so

we can catch the disease in the early stages in order to offer the best chance of a cure.”

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation visited King’s Mill Hospital on Tuesday 12 November bringing with them a huge pair of 12ft high inflatable lungs. Visitors were able to step inside the human lung model, learn about the various structures and normal lung functions and observe examples of lung trauma and disease.

Later in the month Dr Giles Cox led a member event to discuss the signs, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and support of lung cancer.

Dr Cox, said: “Lung cancer is a major 8 Best | December 2013

Pictured with the mega lungs at King’s Mill Hospital are Dr Giles Cox, Consultant in Respiratory Medicine, and Beryl Perrin, Public Governor for Ashfield

Shaping future ‘In your body’ health and social care family event in Mid Notts Health and Social Care leaders in Mid Nottinghamshire have been asking local people to share their experiences of health and social care services in the area. Events have taken place to gather feedback from the public on what they think works well and what doesn’t, and to discuss how services could be delivered in the future. This feedback will form the basis of new developments for services across health and social care in Mansfield and Ashfield, Newark and Sherwood.

The programme called Better Together, has been created by the Mid-Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Transformation Programme, which includes many of the area’s health and social care providers.

It is to tackle the challenge of increasingly stretched budgets, and the area’s increasing and ageing population. The estimated funding gap could reach £140 million within the next ten years if action is not taken now.

The ambition is to create a health and social care service which is patient focused, with services delivered closer to, or at, home and which offers the tax payer the best possible value for money.

Chief operating officer for Mansfield

and Ashfield and Newark and Sherwood clinical commissioning groups, Amanda Sullivan said: “Our population’s health needs are changing. People want more services in the communities where they live and more care in their own homes.

“Improving the current system is not enough. The NHS is facing the biggest challenge in its 65 year history - ageing populations, an epidemic of long term conditions; lifestyle risk factors in the young and greater public expectations, combined with rising costs and constrained financial resources.

We’re just starting out and our communities and workforce have to be involved in this change. “ Paul O’Connor, the Trust’s Chief Executive said: “Tackling unnecessary hospital admissions is one of the key challenges facing the NHS today, especially in the communities of Mid Nottinghamshire. We are committed to working with our partners and the public to support work to reduce the pressures faced by our front line staff so patients get the services they deserve - the first time, every time.”

For further information, please visit the programme website at www.bettertogethernotts.org.uk

The Tree of Life A ‘Tree of Life’ wall mural dedicated to organ and tissue donors has made a stunning addition to the main entrance at King’s Mill Hospital.

The mural, funded by the Organ Donation Committee, has been designed and produced by two Nottingham based artists, Nathan Bainbridge and Anna Wheelhouse. The organ donation committee wanted to produce a mural of a tree surrounded by butterflies to represent organ donation and new life. The committee worked with both Nathan and Anna to develop the idea.

The tree, standing on a carpet of forget-me-nots, is surrounded by approximately 70 brightly coloured Perspex butterflies, that create coloured shadows on the wall. Rather than a formal plaque the committee agreed to have a garden inspired sign that reads the simple message “In remembrance and celebration of all organ and tissue donors, who, at the end of life, gave a lifetime.”

The Tree of Life complements the Trust’s organ donation campaign that aims to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation and the Organ Donor Register.

Dr Sandeep Dhir, Clinical Lead for

King’s Mill Hospital hosted an ‘In your body’ family event in the main entrance of the hospital on Saturday 16 November.

The event focused on internal organs and how to keep them healthy.

There was a range of interactive and informative stands, visitors were able to learn life-saving resuscitation skills and many Local schoolgirl, Katie took advantage Harrison, learns live saving of free blood resuscitation skills pressure checks.

Visitors were also able to see the new ‘Tree of Life’ wall mural and speak to people who have received transplants to understand the effect organ donation can have on people’s lives.

The event was organised as part of the Trust’s organ donation campaign. Clinical Lead for Organ Donation, Dr Sandeep Dhir said: “The organ donation committee wanted to hold an event that not only raised awareness of organ donation but also the important function of your organs and how to keep them healthy.

“We are really pleased that so many people enjoyed the event.”

Organ Donation said “The Tree of Life is a beautiful way to remember those who, at the end of life, helped others.

“The committee has worked hard alongside the artists to ensure that we created a fitting and lasting tribute to organ and tissue donors and their families.

“We have received many positive comments about the Tree of Life from colleagues, patients and the public - it has been really well received.

“I do hope that it will make people think more about organ donation, as it really can make such a difference to someone’s life.”

The new Tree of Life at King’s Mill Hospital December 2013 | Best 9

Congratulations to our latest ‘Star of the Month’ winners.

Star of the Month recognises and rewards those staff who regularly go that extra mile to provide the best service possible. Staff may nominate themselves

June 2013 Deborah Thompson, Housekeeper/HCA, Ward 52 Nominated by Adele Bonsall - Ward Leader Ward 52 and Anita Chapman – Domestic Supervisor and Chris Hall - Supplies.

“Deborah is a highly skilled individual who works between the two roles of housekeeper and health care assistant. She

July 2013 Jonathan Fawcett, Clinical Physiologist, Cardiorespiratory Department Nominated by Sean Tilbrook, Clinical Physiologist, CardioRespiratory & Vascular Department “For many years now Jon has consistently gone the extra mile for both patients and colleagues. He regularly works hours far in excess of his contracted

is tireless in her efforts to ensure that she provides the best service for our patients at all times, constantly going the extra mile to ensure that both her work and her colleagues’ work is to a high standard. Deborah always has a smile and, despite facing personal challenges, never changes her approach to all she encounters. The ward’s cleanliness audits speak for themselves, although Deb would argue she does not do this alone as she understands the part the team has to play in maintaining the high standards we all desire.

Deborah has always played an active role in, and had a positive impact on, the cost effectiveness of the equipment and supplies utilised on the ward. She engages others to consider quality cost effective alternatives and I know she is valued by Chris and the team who visit the ward weekly. Finally, as a worker who can flex between the two roles, Deborah offers high standards in both her caring and compassionate nature, which endears her to all the patients and their relatives, and she is considered by all as a dedicated and determined individual.”

hours, and is constantly working behind the scenes to ensure both the pacing and cardiac catheter services work effectively. Jon is also qualified in respiratory physiology and is always happy to help out where required. His attention to detail is a shining example to all those who work with him. Jon has been actively involved in training a large number of Cardiac physiologists over the years, a number of whom still work in the area. I’m sure

those who have benefited from Jon’s expertise over the years would share my view that he should be awarded the Star of the Month.”

September 2013 June Parr Health Care Assistant, Day Case Nominated by Nicola Short, Day Case Unit.

“I would like to nominate June Parr for star of the month. She 10 Best | December 2013

or a colleague and all nominations are judged by the Chief Executive and the Executive Director of Human Resources.

Each month’s winner receives a framed

is a HCA and goes above and beyond her role. We have had a lot of people off sick lately and she helped rearrange the off duty so that all the shifts were covered with the appropriate healthcare assistants, including working extra hours herself. She works so hard

certificate and a High Street gift voucher, and is automatically entered into the “Unsung Hero” category of the annual Staff Excellence Awards.

August 2013 Lynette Fox, Rehabilitation Assistant, MCH “Lynette consistently demonstrates understanding of our patients’ often complex needs and has had some extremely complimentary feedback from patients who attend our outpatient rehab service.

She has worked extremely hard to further her knowledge, always participates actively in training sessions and team meetings, and patients have benefited from her dedication.

She is very thorough and is not phased if she has to work beyond her official hours to ensure that the job gets done, and to ensure that patients are not left in need, or at risk.

Lynette’s treatments are inventive - she shows initiative and imagination, and her patients say that she is always friendly, cheerful and inspires them to want to improve their abilities. Patients report that they have a better quality of life and more independence after their treatment with her.

Due to her own persistence and self determination, she has recently been accepted onto a Physiotherapy course – this has long been an ambition of hers, and we would like to recognise her achievements and success. She will leave a very big hole when she has moved on in her career, and her patients will also miss her.”

and I would like her to receive this award to show how much we appreciate her. If the nurses are having a bad day she will always make a cup of tea to make us feel better. She is such a team player and really cares about her colleagues and patients.”

The People’s Award 2013 For the sixth year, patients and carers were invited to nominate their NHS hero – that special member of staff who they feel provides exceptional service above and beyond the call of duty. We were delighted to receive many nominations from members of public. A big thank you to everyone who took the time to tell us about their NHS hero.

WINNER 2013 People’s Award winner – Esther Jenkinson Esther Jenkinson, Children’s Complex Needs and Palliative Care Nurse Specialist, who was nominated by the Munt family.

“Esther always goes above and beyond her job role for us as a family and I’m aware that this is the case for other families too. Nothing is too much for her - often doing things to make the life of our family with our disabled daughter easier at every step.

Instead of me having to make a very complicated journey to the hospital to collect medications, Esther will make every effort to deliver them while out on her journeys.

She will also juggle her diary to fit in flushing my daughter’s port at school so she doesn’t have to miss school and I am not stuck with extra appointments. These are just a few examples of the difference Esther makes to our very complicated lives. I truly believe she deserves to be recognised for all her extra effort and the wonderful care she provides, when it would be quite acceptable for her not to go out of her way for families like us’.

Highly Commended Carolyn Bennett, Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse

concerns and find a solution. She is a lovely person who goes out of her way for you.”

Highly Commended Hazel Fletcher, Clinic 8 Receptionist

Highly Commended Sharon Wheeler, Macmillan Colorectal Nurse Specialist “Since my Dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer in February 2012, Sharon has always been there to answer questions and organise appointments. She made us feel like we were her only patients.”

“Carolyn works tirelessly with cancer patients and their carers, and has greatly improved the service patients receive. Because of Carolyn, King’s Mill patients and their carers really do have a voice that is listened to and taken notice of. She is hard working, committed, dedicated, and has made a real difference to the quality of care provided. I have no hesitation in nominating Carolyn Bennett for the People’s Award. She really deserves it.”

Highly Commended Jane Bell , Rehabilitation Nurse Specialist, Newark

Highly Commended Jane Cox and Jackie Hatton, Stoma Care Nurse Specialists “Jane and Jackie provided exceptional care to my father, who was their patient for the last 2-3 years. During that period Jane and Jackie have been a lifeline to him and to us. I am well aware that it is very easy to say things like ‘he couldn’t have coped without them’ or ‘’we would never have managed without them’ but this is absolutely the case for us and it is hard to convey the extent of their care, attention and support.”

“Jane has been very supportive to my wife, really going the extra mile since my wife had her heart procedure. She even took the time to come to the outpatients department to check on my wife when she had a recent appointment and explained what the next step would be in my wife’s treatment.”

Who is your NHS Hero?

“Jane rings you on discharge, listens to you, answers your worries and encourages you.

She is always helpful and goes to the physio heart class. She will always discuss your

Or email: thepeoples.award@sfh-tr.nhs.uk

“I recently visited the hearing clinic the receptionist was so friendly, helpful and nothing was too much trouble. I was offered an appointment I couldn’t make as I had a family day at the beach planned, so she gave me a choice of alternative appointments. She chatted to me, treated me like I mattered and, when I left, she told me to enjoy my day at the beach. I left the clinic feeling that I was an important person.”

Nominations are now being accepted for the “People’s Award 2014”.

Mill Hospital, Mansfield Road, Sutton-inAshfield, Nottinghamshire NG17 4JL.

Please write and tell us about your hero by completing an on-line nomination at www. sfh-tr.nhs.uk.

All nominations should state the full name and department of the person being nominated and the hospital. They should also include the name, address and telephone number of the nominator.

Nominators’ details will not be passed on to any third parties.

Or write to: “The People’s Award”, Communications Department, King’s

December 2013 | Best 11

2013 Staff Excellence Awards A record-breaking 450 members of staff and special guests attended the Trust’s annual Staff Excellence Awards presentation in October to celebrate excellence in patient care.

Awards were presented on the evening

by Paul O’Connor, Chief Executive and Sean Lyons, Chairman, in seven different categories. Winners were chosen from more than 130 exceptionally dedicated teams and individuals from across the Trust’s hospitals at King’s Mill, Newark, Mansfield Community

and Ashfield Health Village.

A huge thank you to all our 2013 sponsors for their very generous support - Capitec, Medirest, Central Nottinghamshire Hospitals plc, SOLOS specialist recruitment, April Strategy and Newton Europe.

And the winners are…….

Team of the Year Cardiology Patient Admin Team The team has consistently achieved the Trust’s targets for administration and average a three day turnaround for all correspondence to GPs/ patients/providers (sometimes less than three!)

They undertake anything that is asked of them and have embraced all new working practices that have been implemented – despite having had two vacancies within the team for the last 12 months. Their hard work and professionalism is a shining example of the high calibre of staff working at the Trust.

Improvement Award Sepsis Working Group

Since October 2012, this group has worked with enthusiasm and commitment to meet some critical objectives in improving the care

our patients receive. They have introduced life-saving sepsis boxes within the Trust, and delivered a vital education programme to over 400 nursing and medical staff. Their work resulted in a dramatic initial drop in mortality rates and audits have shown a 350% improvement in the sickest patients receiving antibiotics within one hour.

Chris McFarlane Award Alison Northern, Staff Nurse, Lindhurst Ward, Mansfield Community Hospital As a Tissue Viability Link Nurse, Alison has taken on her role with absolute vigour, determination and enthusiasm. She has developed ideas into good working tools and has a real desire to involve patients and their families in supporting the nursing team with pressure prevention. Alison also does a lot of work in her own time and even developed a

prevention message in the form of a fun “rap” to brighten the patients’ day.

Quality Care Award Fernwood Community Unit, Newark Since opening earlier in the year as a new ‘step down, step up’ nurse-led facility, the unit has been a big success. Patients’ physical and wellbeing needs are assessed on admittance to the ward, and all patients have shown a significant improvement on discharge from the unit – with many able to manage independent living with minimal support. The unit has been viewed very positively by patients, carers and local GPs.

Unsung Hero Award David Cunningham, MRI Assistant David is a very professional and modest man, who is very popular with patients,

Team of the Year

Winner – Cardiology Patient Admin Team

Improvement Award Winner – Sepsis Working Group 12 Best | December 2013

Chris McFarlane Award Winner – Alison Northern, Staff Nurse, Lindhurst Ward, Mansfield Community Hospital

“Now in its eleventh year, this event is a very significant and important date in our calendar.

“The evening provides a valuable opportunity to shine a spotlight on those outstanding members of staff who consistently demonstrate extraordinary dedication to providing excellent care for our patients. always cheerful and ready to help. Due to a colleague’s illness, David was the only assistant working through the challenging time of scanning patients in an external mobile unit, during the installation of the new MRI scanner. He covered the duties of two people both willingly and efficiently. Through the worst winter weather it was also not unusual to see David clearing snow so that wheelchairs and stretchers could safely reach the scanner, so he was also presented with a brand new deluxe snow shovel as a special gift!

Volunteer of the Year Individual winner – Mavis Keers “Marvellous Mavis” is a friend to many of the staff and a huge hit with patients.

Using her initiative to get on with her tasks

“I was truly impressed with the excellent standard of entries received, and it was a very difficult task for myself and the 2012 winners to choose the most worthy candidates to recognise this year. Everyone nominated, and indeed every member of staff, should be extremely proud of their achievements over the last 12 months. Well done to you all.”

Sean Lyons, Trust Chairman without being asked, Mavis is friendly and helpful to everyone. Despite a recent nasty fall at 82 years of age, she was back into work as usual to work her magic.

Everyone who meets her can’t help but love “our Mave!”

Highly commended Team of the Year • Linen Room • Medical Assessment & Discharge Support Services • Ward 53, King’s Mill Hospital

Improvement Award

• Medicines Management Technicians • Zoe Barnes & the Ward 35 team

Unsung Hero Award

• Susan Widdison, Ward 53 Receptionist • Judith Pell, Deputy Manager/Cardiac Clinical Physiologist

Quality Care Award

• Susan Goralik, Gynaecology Cancer Nurse Specialist

Chris McFarlane Award

• Kevin Inglesant, Pharmacist • Susie Escott, Staff Nurse, Endoscopy

Team Winner – Mercia Doughty PreOperative Team, Newark Hospital The volunteers are the first people encountered by patients on arrival at their department. All visitors receive a wonderfully warm welcome and are dealt with with respect and dignity. As well as making drinks for the patients and chatting with them to put them at ease, they can often be seen helping them do crosswords or making paper chains to entertain their waiting children.

Quality Care Award

Volunteer of the Year

Winner – Fernwood Community Unit, Newark

Individual Winner – Mavis Keers

Unsung Hero Award Winner – David Cunningham, MRI Assistant

Team Winner – Mercia Doughty Pre-Operative Team, Newark Hospital December 2013 | Best 13

The great nursing bake-off With the nation in a baking frenzy the Trust took the opportunity to invite staff across the organisation to take part in the first ever ‘Sherwood Forest Hospitals Great Nursing Bake Off’.

The challenge was to design, bake and decorate a nursing inspired cake to be judged at the Nurse of the Year Awards.

The results were amazing with more than 30 entries from cupcakes to large novelty cakes.

Sue Stringer, Macmillan Head & Neck Nurse Specialist, was named the winner and received a bouquet of flowers.

The cakes were then distributed across wards as a thank you to nurses and midwives for all their hard work.

“That’s the way we do it!” was the theme for the Colorectal & Stoma Care Nurse Specialists’ stand

Celebrating Nurses Week In October the Trust showcased the dedication and commitment of their 1,800 nurses and midwives with a week of celebration.

‘Celebrating Nurses Week’ saw nursing teams hold a number of information stands at King’s Mill Hospital to interact with visitors and highlight the work they do.

grateful.” (Nicola, David and Baby Arthur) • “With grateful thanks to ALL staff for the care taken with my husband and restore him to good health.” (John and Ann Colgon) The week culminated in the presentation of the Nurse of the Year Awards.

Large thank you walls were also in place across all the Trust’s hospitals for members of the public to record their comments and appreciation.

Selection of comments from the walls • “Robbie Williams was right – Angels!”

(Member of the public) Winning cake by Susan Stringer

• “Thank you to all the wonderful and kind midwives on labour ward and maternity ward and the lovely nurses on ICU. So

Thank you wall

Ensuring care and comfort for patients An innovative approach to hourly rounding has been rolled out across all wards at the Trust to ensure regular pro-active nursing checks are made on patients at timely intervals.

Care and Comfort Rounds are carried out hourly between 8am-10pm with two-hourly rounds between 10pm-8am. They create a safer hospital environment pre-empting the patients’ needs to keep them comfortable and deliver excellent patient care.

Patients can expect a visit from a registered nurse who will ask about their basic care needs - known as the 4 P’s: • Pain: How is your pain on movement?

• Personal Cares: Do you need assistance to use toilet? Do you require a drink or anything to eat?

• Position: Are you comfortable?

14 Best | December 2013

• Possessions: Is everything within your reach?

• Reduction in pressure ulcer prevalence

Kerry Moore, Practice Development Matron at Sherwood Forest Hospitals, said: “Patient safety and experience is our number one priority. This is the key reason for implementing Care and Comfort Rounds.

• Improved patient experience

“Nursing staff throughout the Trust do a fantastic job at taking care of our patients and our Care and Comfort Rounds demonstrate how we have taken care delivery one step further to improve experiences for all. Having rapidly implemented Care and Comfort Rounds we are already seeing amazing results and staff are truly engaging in outstanding care delivery.”

• More compliments rather than complaints

In completing Care and Comfort Rounds we expect to see: • Reduction in falls

• Increase in hydration / nutrition standards • Reduction in call bell usage • Increase in coaching and leadership • Increase in pain assessments Diane Reason, Ward Leader on Ward 14 at King’s Mill Hospital, said: “Care and Comfort Rounds are now a pivotal part of our nursing practice on the ward and ensure that patients know their care needs are the priority of our nurses.

“Patients are seen at regular intervals by a member of the nursing team and their individual needs are met. It makes all the difference for a patient to see a friendly caring face or just spend time talking to a nurse at their bedside.”

Rewarding the dedication and compassion of nurses and midwives In October the winners of the Trust’s inaugural Nurse of the Year Awards were announced during a special ceremony held in the Conference Centre at King’s Mill Hospital.

Run in conjunction with the CHAD and Newark Advertiser newspapers, the awards celebrated those inspirational nurses and midwives who are committed to providing quality care and comfort with humanity and compassion.

Nurse of the Year

Suzanne Goralik, Gynaecology Cancer Nurse Specialist A patient said: “I truly believe that Suzanne is worthy of this award along with all other nurses who provide a fantastic service to patients and their families.

In 2005 I was diagnosed with cervical cancer which was a very difficult and traumatic time for me and my husband to be. Suzanne was there for me every step of the way, not just as a nurse but I believe as a friend.”

Nursing Team of the Year Ward Leaders for General Surgery and Trauma & Orthopaedics

The nominees

Susan Bowler, Director of Nursing and Quality, said: “I have always been team. More importantly the commitment to their role and leadership provided to the clinical teams has been outstanding in very challenging times. All these staff have consistently gone the extra mile both personally and professionally and are a credit to our Trust.”

Midwife of the Year

proud and honoured to work with the hundreds of nurses and midwives we have across the Trust and seeing their hard work and dedication rewarded was truly special. job, her ward and her staff. I have had the privilege of visiting ward 25 a few times, once as a visitor, on each occasion I have witnessed first-hand Deb’s amazing compassion and communication and her dedication to both her staff and patients.”

Newark Hospital Nurse of the Year Jane Bell, Cardiac

“I would like to congratulate everybody who was nominated and I look forward to these awards becoming an annual event that allows us to celebrate our wonderful team of nurses and midwives.”

Nurse Specialist A patient said: “Jane has been very supportive to my wife. She has gone the extra mile with her support and care since my wife had her heart procedure. She even took the time to come to the outpatients department to check on my wife when she had a recent appointment and explained as far as she was able what the next step would be in my wife’s treatment.”

Newark Hospital Nursing Team of the Year Minster Ward A colleague said: “Since I started I have found all the staff to be hardworking, friendly, trustworthy and ready to help anyone. We always have someone that we can talk to any time it is needed. The nurses on the ward work very hard even under extreme pressures. The health care support workers help, not only the patients, but also the nurses.”

Helen Evans, Community Midwife A colleague said: “Helen is hard working and professional and has demonstrated her commitment to women and families using the maternity services at the Trust.”

Children’s Nurse of the Year

A colleague said: “As a Head of Nursing for these Ward Leaders I cannot be more proud of the

King’s Mill and Mansfield Community Hospital Nurse of the Year • Dale Pashley • Kim Cliff • David Johnson • Rozalyn Jackson • Sarah Burton • Kerry Robinson • Suzanne Goralik • Sarah Banks • Susie Escott • Linda Salmon • Gillian Clark • Sharon Wheeler • Elaine Higgins

The awards saw more than 60 nominations from staff, patients and members of the public across the six categories.

Deb Farn, Ward Leader (Ward 25) A colleague said: “Deb is so incredibly passionate about her

• June Morley • Stuart Shaw • Sue Lloyd • Julie Dixon • Josie Shaw • Alison Northern • Paula Green • Julie Smith • Paul Hagan Nursing Team of the Year • Day Case Team • Oakham Ward Team • Ward 22 Team • Urology Team (David Johnson and Beverley Marshall)

• ITU Nursing Team • Lung Cancer Nurse Specialists (June Morley and Sue Bates) • Urology Outreach Team (Chris Bumstead and Debbie Clifford) • Ward 14 Team • Ward Leaders for General Surgery and Trauma & Orthopaedics • Stoma Team (Jane Cox and Jackie Hatton) • Ward 35 Nursing Team • Ward 52 Nursing Team • Ward 53 Stroke Team • Ward 31

• Community LUTS Team • Healthcare Support Workers in Antenatal Suite • Ward 21 Midwife of the Year • Natalie Potts • Helen Evans • Beverley Jackson • Sue Vardy • Helen Evans Children’s Nurse of the Year • Deb Farn • Susan Selby • Helen Marsh • Esther Jenkinson

• Susan Hancock Newark Hospital Nurse of the Year (including Midwives) • Jane Bell • Debra Greenwood Nursing Team of the Year • Newark Outpatients Nursing Team • Minster Ward Team • Eastwood Centre • Fernwood Community Unit • Community Midwives December 2013 | Best 15

Hospital volunteers rewarded The sterling work completed by volunteers at King’s Mill and Mansfield Community hospitals and Ashfield Health Village, were recognised at Sherwood Forest Hospitals’ Chairman’s Awards Ceremonies in October.

The annual awards are in appreciation of service ranging from five to fifty years. Long service medals were presented to each volunteer by Sean

Lyons, Trust Chairman.

Sean Lyons said: “I am really proud that we have some of the longest serving and most dedicated volunteers in our hospitals, and we are hugely indebted to them for giving their valuable time and skills to our hospitals.

“Collectively and individually, their commitment, compassion and contribution plays a vital

King’s Mill Hospital Five years’ service Sue Beastall

role in helping us to deliver high quality care”.

The longest serving member, Flower Volunteer Margaret Thomson, has selflessly volunteered for an incredible 50 years. She started her volunteering career in September 1963 at the King’s Mill Hospital site, organising and arranging flower displays, especially for Royal visits by HRH Princess Anne and the Duchess of Gloucester.

Barbara Fletcher

Emergency Dept/Wayfinder

Harold Greasley

Internal vehicle/ trolley

Fifteen years’ service George Hall

Tea bar

Lynne Rowbottom

Tea bar Chaplaincy

Café

Derek Bent

Clinic

John Lynch

Chaplaincy

Fay Shackleton

Brian Blackwell

Internal vehicle

Sue Naylor

Café

Janet Brockhouse

Café

Twenty five years’ service

Barry Clarke

Cardiology

Iris Parker Smith

Discharge team

Lily Dawson

Café

Marlene Stephenson

Café

Jean Evans

Michael Thornley

Millside Radio

Trolley/Wayfinder

Kay Gagg

Clinic/Wayfinder

Fifteen years’ service Kenneth Gell

Internal vehicle

Ann Lyons

Joan Birkin

Tea bar

Thirty five years’ service Alma Maher

Tea bar

Ashfield Health Village

Jackie Gill

Discharge team

Maureen Harrison

Café

Iris Hensleigh

Cafe

Jean Hill

Headquarters/ Wayfinder

Graham Collis

Millside

Janet Otter

Flowers/Library

Café/Wayfinder

Joyce Welch

Hugh McDiarmid

Wards

Wayfinder

Twenty five years’ service

David Harrison

Sandra McPherson

Stanley Pascoe

Fifteen years’ service

Julie Meldrum

Café

Library

Twenty years’ service

Cardiology Clinic

Jamie Mills

Melvyn Morris

Internal vehicle/ clinic

Barry Parsons

Wayfinder/ Millside Radio

Martin Spelman

Internal vehicle

Five years’ service

Eileen Spencer

Wards

Helen Blockley

Megan Tansley

Wards

Mary Howarth

Tea bar

Sandra Walters Scanlon

Wayfinder

Maureen Kenworthy

Tea bar

Kathleen Williams

Café/clinic

Yvonne Lovett

Tea bar

Barbara Wilkinson

Tea bar

Ten years’ service

Michael Shannon

Beryl Chamberlain

Tea bar

Ann Meek

bar

Ten years’ service

Store room/tea bar

Chaplaincy

Roy Gamble

Mansfield Community Hospital

Dorothy Fox

Tea bar/ward/ hostess

John Blackburn

Chaplaincy

Ten years’ service

Patricia Connop

Lynda Woodward

Wayfinder

Five years’ service

Tea bar

Chaplaincy

Eileen Scrimshaw

Tea bar

Tea bar

King’s Mill Hospital has over 350 volunteers working in various sections within the hospital, including outpatient clinics, wards, internal vehicles and the Daffodil Café.

For more information on volunteering please contact Joy Wilson, Customer Services Department on 01623 672222 or e-mail Joy Wilson on joy.wilson@sfh-tr.nhs.uk

Thank you to the Stroke Early Supported Discharge team A grateful former patient of the Stroke Early Supported Discharge Service was so impressed with the service he received that he persuaded his angling club to choose them for their annual fundraising event.

The Bess of Hardwick Angling Club raised an impressive £1,900, and the team hopes to use the money to further develop its resources and provide an even better patient experience.

16 Best | December 2013

Investment in technologies The Trust is committed to deploying innovative solutions to support staff and patient care processes. Further investment is underway in the Winscribe Digital Dictation System used by the Trust to improve the processes of letter creation and development of systems to electronically check and issue letters to GPs.

being resolved quickly thanks to a dedicated team working constructively and effectively together with the ongoing support of the Winscribe Project Team.”

Roll out to all specialties will be initiated following the pilot evaluation, with plans for completion by the Spring.

The Winscribe Epro system is currently being piloted in two specialties, gastroenterology and trauma & orthopaedics. Each team has been working hard with the Winscibe EPro project team to test the system and define the new processes.

The Gastroenterology Patient Pathway Coordinator/Clinical Typing Team said: “Once fully established, the new Winscribe Epro software will save a great deal of typing and administration time and reduce errors. There have been initial teething problems to iron out, as there are with any new system, but these are

The Gastroenterology Patient Pathway Co-ordinator/Clinical Typing Team

Improvements to Patient Administration Services A number of initiatives are underway within patient administration services at the Trust to improve the services provided to patients.

Excellent patient administration services are essential to proactively manage patient pathways from referral to discharge. The pivotal role valued administration staff undertake ensures the entire pathway is managed smoothly and that the Trust communicates with both patients and GP’s in a timely manner.

Role

Responsible for

Patient Pathway Coordinators

• Proactively managing patients through their pathway.

• Acting as the first point of contact for patients dealing with any enquiries.

• Undertaking planning, coordination and delegation of administration workloads within speciality teams with Clinical Typists and Record Assistants.

A revised Patient Pathway Co-ordinator (PPC) structure has been implemented across the Trust to enable all key processes to be undertaken in line with agreed quality standards and timelines.

The new structures aim to strengthen service provision and to support both improvements to patient experience and staff satisfaction.

Clinical Typists

The Senior Patient Pathway Coordinators leading and working with the Speciality PPC Teams are:

Records Assistants

Sharon Bentley – Emergency Care and Medicine Nicola Utting / Amy Scrimshaw – Planned Care and Surgery Claire Chamberlain – Newark The roles of the Patient Pathway Coordinators have been redefined and the new roles of Clinical Typist and Records Assistants introduced (see box).

• Typing clinical correspondence ensuring it is issued to patients / GP’s within the 10 day turnaround standard.

• Working with the speciality team to provide timely administration support to the PPC. • Key administration tasks within the speciality including; case note tracking, transportation of case notes, filing duties.

• Clerical support as requested by the PPC.

The redefined roles are currently being strengthened through provision of advanced training sessions and through development of standard operating procedures to define the required quality standards and further support staff in their achievements.

Be clear on the symptoms of bladder and kidney cancer The Trust is supporting the NHS Be Clear on Cancer ‘Blood in Pee’ campaign, to raise awareness of the key symptom common to both bladder and kidney cancer – blood in pee. Anyone with this symptom, even if it’s ‘just the once’, is strongly recommended to see their doctor straight away. If bladder and kidney cancers are diagnosed early they are more treatable.

Dennis Cox (94) from Mansfield Woodhouse is currently undergoing treatment at King’s Mill Hospital for bladder cancer. He said: “People should go immediately if they see or feel anything funny. If you have cancer it is not your fault it is just one of those things.”

Around 16,600 people in England are diagnosed with bladder or kidney cancer each year and these cancers account for around 7,500 deaths per year. Latest figures show that in Nottinghamshire over 130 people died of bladder and lung cancer in a year.

Bladder and kidney cancers affect men and women, although they are more common in men. Most people diagnosed with these cancers are over 50 with those who have worked in manufacturing jobs that involved the use of rubber, dyes, textiles, plastics or certain other chemicals more prone to developing bladder cancer.

Mr Sadmeet Singh, Consultant Surgeon Urologist at Sherwood Forest Hospitals, said: “If you notice any blood in your pee, even if it is just once, tell your doctor straight away.

The chances are it’s nothing serious, but these cancers are more treatable if they are found early.

“It’s very straightforward for your doctor to examine you and decide whether to arrange further tests. If your doctor suspects it might be bladder or kidney cancer, you will be urgently referred to a hospital and they will then organise tests, and, if necessary, treatment.

“You’re not wasting anyone’s time by getting your symptoms checked out. Having symptoms doesn’t mean its cancer - some symptoms may be caused by an infection or kidney or bladder stones, all of which may need treatment. But don’t try and diagnose yourself. Go and see your doctor now to find out for sure.”

For further information about the signs and symptoms of bladder and kidney cancer, please visit www.nhs.uk/bloodinpee December 2013 | Best 17

Sharing the royal birthday!

Emma Rossiter with Chase Rossiter

Julie and Beth (age 3) Gregory with Timothy Gregory

Adam Baker and Charlotte James with Lottie Baker

Brodie Horton with Lexi-Mae Amanda Bowley

Amelia Elce with Chloe Olivia Elce

Hannah HarperButler with Aiden Harper-Butler

Babies born at King’s Mill Hospital on 22 July, same day as the (HRH) Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s first child - Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, received a free ‘lucky’ silver penny. The penny, presented in a pink or blue pouch, was marked with the year 2013 and featured a shield of the Royal Arms.

In memory of Lorna King’s Mill’s Pathology Department would like to acknowledge with great sadness the passing of one of their much loved former colleagues, Lorna Ashton, who died recently at the Vale Nursing Home in Bolsover.

Lorna joined King’s Mill Pathology after working originally in the Linen Room.

The staff have many lovely memories of her - she was their tea lady and delicious egg cob supplier at fuddles.

She will be missed very much and fondly remembered by those who were fortunate enough to be her work colleagues and friends.

The Iron Lady

Congratulations to Sarah Hutchinson, Cardiac Physiologist at King’s Mill Hospital, who triumphed at Nottingham’s fourth Outlaw Triathlon this summer by winning 8th overall woman.

Nottingham’s Outlaw Triathlon is fast becoming (almost) even more legendary than Robin Hood, the Major Oak and Brian Clough!

Taking place at Holme Pierre Point and in and around Nottinghamshire, the challenge was made up of a 3.8km swim and a 112-mile bike ride, followed by a marathon run (26.2miles).

Sarah, whose triumph was also featured in the autumn edition of ‘Healthy Staff’ magazine, said: “My boyfriend did The Outlaw Triathlon last year and really enjoyed all the training involved. I’d gone along with him to take the equipment for his race and, whilst there, I competed in the Speedo Big Swim (3K open water). As I hadn’t trained up to that distance I was surprised to come out of the water in the top ten!

“My boyfriend did really well on the day so he thought it would be good for us both to have a go at it this year. I’d also completed two London marathons so have experienced the run duration for iron distance and I’ve completed a few middle distance triathlons, so I wanted to train for something new this year.

“My training included a week’s cycling in Gran Canaria, the Retford Half Marathon in March, the Rutland Sportive in the Midlands in April and a week’s training in the hills of Devon.

“It was a fantastic event and I really feel I have achieved something. The hardest part though was battling against the extreme weather - 34-38 degrees on race day!

Super-fit Sarah (left) at the finish line

“In fact, I enjoyed it so much I’ve decided to do another long distance triathlon abroad next year called Challenge Barcelona, which also features a sea swim”.

Sue makes the front cover!

Some time ago I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to undertake a module on end of life care. As part of the course students were required to complete a number of written assignments, including one on the ethical issues in end of life care for children.

I decided to re-format one of my essays into a style suitable for journal publication, in the hope that it would serve as a useful resource for other clinical nurses. The article 18 Best | December 2013

demonstrates the extent to which end of life care for children raises moral dilemmas, using a case study of an 11-year old boy, and examining the considerations of the decision making process involved in his treatment.

It is a clinical article, which summarises and discusses existing knowledge and has clear implications for practice. I hope it will inform and encourage critical reflection among nurses caring for cancer patients. I

was thrilled to find that my article was going to be used as the cover feature for the September edition of Cancer Nursing Practice!

In the current climate of the NHS, we should raise the profile of the nursing contribution to excellent patient care, and hopefully this publication will serve as both a voice for nursing, and for Sherwood Forest Hospitals.

Sue Stringer, Macmillan Head & Neck Nurse Specialist

Sue Stringer with her cover feature in Cancer Nursing Practice

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December 2013 | Best 23

Getting the point Thousands of Trust employees have joined the fight against seasonal flu by getting the flu vaccine.

The staff vaccination programme has had a fantastic response, with a huge number of staff taking the opportunity to protect themselves from developing flu, enabling them to continue providing vital services and protect all those they come into contact with.

Vaccinations are important for protecting staff, their families and their patients, many of whom

are particularly vulnerable to flu. Vaccinations also reduce sickness absence during the busy winter period and help reduce the costs associated with absence.

Paul O’Connor said: “Flu is very contagious and can be spread from one person to another even before symptoms develop. We take patient safety very seriously and our patients can rest assured that having a high proportion of our staff vaccinated will help limit transmission of the virus during flu season.”

Trust Chief Executive, Paul O’Connor, gets his flu jab

Pink cars rally round for sick children The Pink Car Rally convoy saw owners travel from Hereford to show off their pride and joy.

Organised for the fifth year in a row by Gloucestershire businesswoman Sali Gray, all funds raised from the rally went to the Little Princess Trust, which provides real hair wigs to boys and girls across the UK and Ireland who have sadly lost their own hair through cancer treatment. So far, the rally team has raised a staggering £16,000 for the charity trust.

One of the pink car owners is Tania Willetts, a staff nurse on the children’s ward at King’s Mill Hospital. She said: “The Little Princess Trust is even closer to my heart after they provided a real hair wig to my sister after she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma last year.

Fundraisers in the pink

“The Trust is building in popularity and is now in the public eye a little more with thanks to Red Nose Day and Jessie J donating her hair.

“We are so grateful for King’s Mill Hospital supporting us with the event. It was a fantastic day and I would like to thank all local residents for coming out to show their support.

“The rally raised a staggering £10,700 with money still coming in. Wigs cost between £300 and £500 so many children will be able to benefit”.

As well as the parade of pink cars, there were fundraising, craft, face painting and cupcake stalls, and nail art technicians from Quarrydale School to paint visitors’ nails a lovely shade of pink!

Pretty in pink – Tania and the man with no face

Grace Allsop, age 6, from Sutton met the event’s star guests

Peter joins the Trust

Executive Medical Director changes

A warm welcome to Peter Wozencroft, who joined the Trust on 2 December as Director of Strategic Planning and Commercial Development. Peter joins the Trust from Nottingham University Hospitals where he has worked since 2008 as Associate Director of Strategy. He brings with him a wealth of NHS management experience at regional level and within a major teaching hospital. The Board thanks Ian Greenwood, who held this post on an interim basis over the past few months, for his valuable contribution during this time.

New acting Executive Medical Director, Dr Andy Haynes, commenced his role on 1 October for a period of six months. He has replaced Dr Nabeel Ali, who stepped down from the role to concentrate on his clinical activities.

24 Best | December 2013

Dr Haynes is a Senior Consultant in Haematology at Nottingham University Hospitals. His many achievements as a leading clinician in the region include the Clinical Lead for Cancer at the City Hospital in Nottingham for seven years.

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More than 20 bright pink cars rolled into King’s Mill Hospital in September for a special car extravaganza to raise cash for the Little Princess Trust.