100 Days challenge

100 Days Countdown to the British Transplant Games marked by launch of sponsored ‘100 Days Challenge’

100 days and 100 ways to make a difference to those in the transplant community, Tuesday 19 April marked the start of the 100 day countdown to the Westfield Health British Transplant Games in Leeds, 28-31 July 2022.

The Leeds Children’s Transplant Team, based at Leeds Children’s Hospital, launched a fundraising challenge asking participants to raise funds by doing 100 things in the 100 days before the games. Activities could be anything with a focus on health and wellness e.g. some participants have signed up to cycle 100 miles, complete 100 laps of their local park on roller skates, and even have 100 conversations about transplantation. The Leeds Children’s Transplant Team is an inspiring group of more than 40 children and young people, aged between 2 and 18, who have been the recipients of organ and bone marrow transplantation. After years of illness and overcoming hurdles in life, members of the team will be representing Leeds during four days of competitive sporting events, including track and field, swimming, cycling - all in celebration of their gift of life and their donors.

Fundraising led by Leeds Hospitals Charity is required to get the team

and their families to the games with kit, registration fees, accommodation and transport. Matthew Hick is a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Leeds Children’s Hospital and long-standing Leeds Children’s Transplant Team volunteer, supporting children and young people to take part in The Games. He said:

“The determination and fearless approach demonstrated by so many of these children is inspiring for everyone around them. The Leeds Children’s Transplant Team relies on donations to make it to The Games and we’re hoping that by launching ‘The 100 days challenge’ we can help celebrate the amazing achievements of these children who live life to the full and ensure they have an amazing experience at The Games. These children and their families deserve a British Transplant Games they will always remember.”

Nursing leaders officially open new national nursing test centre

A new national nursing and midwifery examination centre has officially opened at LTHT. The new Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Competence Test Centre, based at Leeds General Infirmary, will host up to 7,000 nurses, midwives and nursing associates each year for their Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

The exam is the practical part of the Test of Competence that all overseas-trained nurses or those returning after a career break are required to take before they can be registered to practice. Until recently there were only three test centres in the UK, but with rising demand to bring people with the right skills and knowledge onto the UK’s nursing register as quickly as possible, the NMC needed to increase national testing capacity. As such, two new centres were announced in Leeds and Newcastle.

Andrea Sutcliffe CBE, Chief Executive and Registrar of the NMC visited Leeds General Infirmary to officially open the new centre, together with Duncan Burton, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for England. Following a private tour to see the new facilities first-hand, Andrea and Duncan met with key colleagues from LTHT.

Andrea Sutcliffe said: “I’m delighted that our newest test site is now open in Leeds, making our OSCE tests even more accessible to skilled nursing and midwifery professionals. Increasing our total national OSCE testing capacity to 35,000 candidates each year, will help more professionals to join our register quickly and safely. We’re grateful to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust for working with us to make this happen so that people across the UK can continue to receive the safe, kind and effective care they deserve. I was particularly impressed with the care and thought Leeds had given to supporting candidates with kindness and fairness.”

The centre includes its own main reception and briefing room for candidates, and a clinical area comprising 12 clinical bays where the tests take place. Lisa Grant, Chief Nurse at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, said: “Having a new centre in Leeds will be a huge benefit for trusts and healthcare providers locally, right across Yorkshire and nationally. We are so pleased that so much hard work has come to fruition today with the centre’s official opening. We’re looking forward to welcoming nursing colleagues to take their exam and proudly join or rejoin the nursing profession in England.” The OSCE is part of the Test of Competence for nurses, midwives and nursing associate and involves a face-to-face examination using actors or simulation models to play patients presenting with a variety of medical conditions or ailments. Nurses, midwives and nursing associates are assessed on how they care for and communicate with the patient to ensure they meet the required standards.