Countess Matters Winter 2023

COUNTESS MATTERS

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Winter 2023

Creating more ways for staff to raise concerns

Find out more about the new Women and Children’s Building on page 7

More on page 5 03 New gynaecology service launches

07 New Women and Children’s Building starts to take shape

08 Staff achievements and successes are celebrated

se See more on page 5 about how staff can raim.

Up tea concerns with a growing Freedom to Speak

CONTENTS

04 Empowering employee wellness: Meet Gareth

08 Celebrating staff at our annual Achievement Awards

09 Alan celebrates 40 years at the Trust

REVOLUTIONISING MATERNITY CARE:

WELCOME NEW COLOUR CODED Welcome to the latest edition of Countess Matters. You can also keep up with our latest news on Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram.

3 Spotlight on: new rapid access to gynaecology service 4 Empowering employee wellness: Meet Gareth: steering our new staff wellbeing hub 5 How staff can raise concerns with a growing Freedom to Speak Up team

TRIAGE SYSTEM TO ENHANCE PATIENT PRIORITISATION Our maternity team are in the process of launching a new patient triage system.

•Y ellow: Further assessment (within 1 hour of initial assessment)

The Birmingham Symptom-Specific Obstetric Triage System (BSOTS) is a nationally recognised triage process that enables staff to assess and identify maternity patients who need urgent care first. The process has the safety of patients and their babies at its core, using this colour code:

•G reen: Non-urgent (within 4 hours of initial assessment)

• Red: Emergency (immediate review) • Orange: Priority (within 15 minutes of assessment)

Practice Development Midwife Jessica Gibbons explains: “The process is similar to an A&E triage but specially adapted for maternity service users. BSOTS promotes a shared triage language between the multidisciplinary team and is an exciting development within maternity care nationally.”

5 Continued improvements to our PALS service for patients and relatives 6 Surviving Winter: The challenge of seasonal pressures in a busy hospital 7 New Women and Children’s Building on track to open in summer 2025 8 Celebrating staff at our annual Achievement Awards 9 Estates Team Manager Alan celebrates 40 years of working at the Trust 10 Feedback from our patients/ updates from the Trust 11 News from our Fundraising Team 12

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Governor updates

Maternity staff mark the launch of the new BSOTS triage system with colour coded healthy snacks.

Local scouts give their ‘thanks’ in boost to staff morale We recently received heartfelt and personal messages from children at one of our local Scout Groups – 1st Tarporley Portal Pack Cub Scouts – as gratitude for the work we do to look after the health of the local community.

The cards were well received by staff and served as a welcomed boost to morale and a reminder of the public support for the NHS. Thank you!

SPOTLIGHT ON…

RAPID ACCESS SERVICE Breaking barriers in women’s health: the innovative new gynaecology service that cuts waiting times The new Rapid Access Service (RAS) enables faster diagnosis for patients with suspected gynaecological cancers.

Pippa Scott-Heale and Jade Edwards, who helped design and shape the Rapid Access Service, explain more: What is the new RAS? The RAS ultimately accelerates a patient’s care journey. The sooner we’re able to diagnose a cancer the sooner we can initiate a plan to manage this. The RAS allows GPs to request a two week wait fast-track pelvic ultrasound, so investigations are already in progress before the patient is even assessed.

Our new clinic takes weeks off waiting times. For most patients we have reduced their appointments from three to one. The majority of patients won’t have cancer, but it’s important we give them reassurance and discharge promptly.

The process for patients has been made simpler and safer thanks to a different way of thinking that we learnt through Lean Management training, and which we hope will lead to further service improvements in the future as some staff complete the advanced course.

Who is in your team?

The team consists of highly skilled, adaptable, and passionate healthcare assistants, trained to support patients.

Alongside highly trained nurses who specialise in various areas of gynaecology we have recently welcomed newer nurses, who work within each area to develop their knowledge. We also work closely with sonographers, who support us daily to run our clinics. We have wonderfully supportive reception staff and a fantastic team of consultants and doctors.

What is a typical day like?

The department opens at 8:30am.

Reception admit patients whilst the clinical area is prepared. Multiple clinics run at the same time, with lots of patients to see. Staff see patients in clinic, take medical histories, perform examinations, take samples and biopsies, and make a treatment plan with patients and then arrange a follow-up where required.

Jade Edwards, Pippa Scott Heale, Rochelle Gabiddon, Debra Davis, Sophie Barker, Debika Bandyopadhyay and Lesley Haddock from the maternity team What are the best and worst parts of your job?

Receiving feedback from patients who had a positive experience is definitely a highlight, especially when trialling new ways of working, when we can see the difference a new intervention is having on them. It really motivates me to carry on improving in my role and in the care we give.

A harder part of the job is balancing time and demands against making sure our patients’ needs are met and wanting to do the best by them. Though our focus on service improvement has helped us to be smarter with time.

Why is your work so important?

As a department within the Women and Children’s Division we are part of the driving force to improve patient experiences and their health. Our patients are all different and we want to be there for them every step of the way – whether it be treating heavy menstrual

bleeding, a prolapse, endometriosis, early pregnancy loss or a diagnosis of a gynaecological cancer.

How does the new clinic benefit patients?

We have already seen patients getting their results far quicker, which is reassuring if they don’t have cancer but for those that do it means they can start treatment as soon as possible.

What’s next?

Our next ambition is to bring in a ‘one stop service’ for therapeutic hysteroscopies so we can treat patients in one appointment, offering theatre procedures and treatment on the same day. Plans are underway to secure the equipment needed and we are excited to introduce this change.

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EMPOWERING EMPLOYEE WELLNESS Meet Gareth: steering the new staff wellbeing hub Demands on our staff are changing as patient needs become more complex, which is why staff wellbeing is a top priority for the Trust.

Recognising the toll long hours and high intensity working can take, we have been developing a wellbeing strategy to make sure we continuously improve the wellbeing support for staff.

Gareth Siggee, our new employee wellbeing manager, is a key part of this work, bringing a wealth of experience to the role.

Staff wellbeing is an area of specialism and interest for Gareth, who has several years’ experience of workplace related roles to improve people’s health and wellbeing.

Originally training as an occupational therapist in mental health rehabilitation, Gareth has also worked on communitybased early intervention and prevention projects in the region.

About our employee wellbeing strategy Previous staff surveys, CQC reports and wider engagement with staff identified that our staff felt there could be more wellbeing support at work. Amid increasing pressures on the NHS, we want to ensure we increase the focus on support available to staff.

Gareth explained: “This new strategy will direct the focus of the support to include major priorities for our people across physical, mental, financial, safety and welfare needs. We know from feedback that few staff understand the wellbeing support offer, so we want to get into a position where we are able respond to staff needs as far as possible and that we provide a wellbeing service that they know about and value.

“To transform the way wellbeing is supported, we’ve tailored our approach to concentrate on these important areas and will be implementing programmes of activities, support, and looking at our current systems, leadership, and engagement and how we deliver them.

“The strategy specifies crucial steps for forging stronger connections with external partners to foster coproduction and collaboration, enhancing the support on offer to all staff.”

Wellbeing hub Gareth will also be managing a new Wellbeing Hub at the Countess of Chester hospital, which is on track to open this autumn. It will offer a place for employees to rest, unwind and take a break from their typical workspace, providing a central space for wellbeing focussed activities and events, alongside inviting internal and external partners to provide activities and engagement with staff. Additionally, the hub is somewhere staff can receive 1:1 signposting, support and guidance for a wide range of wellbeing issues, as well as being a one-stop-shop for wellbeing information and resources.

Meanwhile, there will be a regular programme of wellbeing workshops, activities, and events to ensure staff can develop self-awareness of what good wellbeing and a positive work-life balance means for them. Examples of workshops are likely to include mindfulness, relaxation and breathing spaces, positive psychology approaches and exercise related activities, alongside courses like mental health self-care, preventing burnout and stress.

Wellbeing Practitioner Kathy Cofax continues to offer direct 1:1 support and signposting to any member of staff requiring it, and now has Gareth’s support to lead on several new initiatives designed to improve staff wellbeing and welfare.

From left to right: Kathy Cofax, Workplace Wellbeing Practitioner, and Gareth Siggee, Employee Wellbeing Manager

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WELCOMING OUR NEW FREEDOM TO SPEAK UP CHAMPIONS The Trust has recently bolstered its Freedom to Speak Up offering by training 25 new Freedom to Speak Up Champions.

Freedom to Speak Up is a national NHS initiative to enable staff to raise a concern or speak up when they see something at work that isn’t right or that they think needs to be challenged.

We actively encourage colleagues to speak out if they have concerns about the care or treatment of a patient, colleague or themselves. Any concerns raised in good faith will be investigated fully, openly and transparently. This can be done anonymously and if a name is shared we will provide feedback on the issue raised to the individual who spoke out. If any colleague raises a concern and feels like they have come to any detriment because of it we will ensure they are kept safe and supported.

Freedom To Speak Up Champion Emma Bezant, Senior Radiographer, explains:

Our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) relocated to the entrance of the Countess of Chester hospital a few months ago, making it easier for families and loved ones to access the service.

The team are now situated in the heart of our main hospital and patients and their families can call in anytime with anything they’d like to discuss, including any concerns and questions about a patient’s care.

It’s spearheaded at each Trust by a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian and is increasingly being supported by Freedom to Speak up Champions, who act as ambassadors to give more visibility for this important service and can be the first point of contact for staff who have concerns. We have a renewed commitment to ensure that our staff can be confident that they will be heard if they raise a concern.

We’ve been making huge strides to grow and strengthen our Freedom to Speak Up service at the Trust, most notable by the recent training of 25 new Freedom to Speak Up Champions and (alongside the non-Executive lead) the appointment of a new Executive lead to support the Freedom to Speak up Champion – Helen Ellis – in her work.

Continued improvements to our PALS service

It is a drop-in service, and you don’t need to make an appointment to speak to the team. However, if the team is speaking with another family and the room is engaged, you can now leave feedback or request a call back using the recent addition of a suggestions box outside of the office.

You can also contact the team by phone on 01244 366066 or freephone 0800 195 1241 (option 2) by email: cochpals@ nhs.net. Or visit the PALS office in the main entrance of the hospital, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.

“Becoming a Champion has enabled me to have lots of discussions with colleagues.

I can really see how having this additional way to communicate can positively impact on the experiences of both patients and staff equally. I know that promoting staff confidence to enable them to speak up about any issue is a key priority for the Trust this year.”

Cathy Chadwick, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Lead for Freedom to Speak Up, said: “Feeling confident and able to speak up about any concerns you have at work is extremely important. We want to foster a culture that is open and transparent so that speaking up is business as usual.”

The PALS team. From Left to right: Jodie Mcilwain, Rebecca Halpin and Claire Willis

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SURVIVING WINTER: THE CHALLENGE OF SEASONAL PRESSURES IN A BUSY HOSPITAL The NHS is once more preparing for an annual rise in patients who need treatment and care at winter time.

Hospitals often experience heightened demand during winter, primarily due to cold weather causing a rise in patients needing emergency or hospital care.

Often seasonal illnesses mean more staff are absent from work at a time when demand for care is at its highest.

According to new statistics, the most common reasons for patients turning up at the Emergency Department at the Countess of Chester hospital last winter were chest pain and shortness of breath, followed by abdominal pain and injuries.

These conditions can be exacerbated by cold weather, making more people prone to seeking medical assistance.

Certain groups are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of cold weather, including the elderly, young children and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.

For the elderly, colder temperatures can exacerbate chronic conditions like arthritis and heart disease, so keeping warm during winter is crucial to maintaining good health and reducing the risk of winter related health issues. Here are some practical tips: • L ayer up – wear several layers of clothing to trap heat • S tay active – physical activity generates body heat. Engage in regular exercise to help stay warm

Countess of Chester staff get vaccinated at work in the run up to winter • Heating at home – ensure your home is adequately heated. Set a comfortable temperature and use draft excluders to prevent heat loss

• A pharmacy – pharmacists can give treatment advice for a range of minor illnesses and can tell you if you need to see a doctor

• Nutritious diet – consume hot and nourishing meals. Carbohydrate-rich food can provide sustained energy and warmth.

• Your GP – you may be able to speak to a GP online or over the phone, or go in person for an appointment if they think you need to

Recognising the vulnerabilities of certain people and taking proactive steps to stay warm and healthy during the winter months is crucial. By understanding these challenges and making practical adjustments we can alleviate some of the pressure on our hospitals and ensure we stay well this winter.

Always remember you can get help and advice from:

• NHS 111 – go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111 if you have an urgent medical problem and you are not sure what to do • In an emergency, go to A&E immediately or call 999.

Get your vaccine Getting vaccinated is a safe and effective way of protecting yourself against becoming seriously unwell if you catch a seasonal illness. More people are likely to get flu this winter as fewer people will have built up natural immunity to it during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you get flu and COVID-19 at the same time, research shows you’re more likely to be seriously ill. You can get vaccinated through your GP surgery, local pharmacy, booking online or via the NHS App. Look out also for The Living Well Bus in your area – a service delivered by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust which provides COVID-19 vaccines, health checks and wider wellbeing guidance in local communities.

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NEW WOMEN AND CHILDREN’S BUILDING ON TRACK TO OPEN IN SUMMER 2025 Work is well under way on The Countess of Chester hospital’s brandnew Women and Children’s Building (WCB), which is on track to open to the public in summer 2025.

has been allocated £110m funding from the National RAAC Programme, which replaces buildings containing the Re-enforced Autoclaved Aeriated Concrete that will be eliminated from construction use by 2025.

Construction work officially started in June on the £110m three-storey facility, which will replace the existing Women and Children’s Building that has been in use since 1971, and the occasion was marked with a special breaking ground ceremony.

Services currently housed in the existing Women and Children’s Building will all move into the new development – including maternity, neonatal, paediatrics and gynaecology – and the new development will provide increased capacity and additional modern rest spaces for patients, families and staff all to enjoy.

Patients, including new parents, families and children, joined members of the hospital’s clinical team, construction workers and the project team as builders officially placed the first spade in the ground.

Work has progressed well over the past few months, with two large cranes currently visible in the hospital grounds. These will remain on site until next summer and enable the construction process to be completed more swiftly and on track for opening in two years’ time.

The exciting development comes as the Trust

The new building will feature a brand-new ground floor full delivery suite for 11 births, with two Obstetric theatres and a first floor maternity ward with 24 single bedrooms, as well as en-suite bathrooms that have been specially designed to promote accessibility.

A neonatal unit with up to 16 cots will occupy the ground floor, while the second floor houses a new Children’s Ward, complete with access to overnight accommodation for patients, as well as increased rest facilities for hospital staff.

The ambitious project is being clinically led with support from Integrated Health Projects (IHP), a joint venture between building companies VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine, reflecting the Trust’s ambition to provide the highest quality care for patients and their families, using state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure to enhance treatment options for the local community and wider region.

Around 2,300 expectant families from Chester, Ellesmere Port and surrounding areas including North Wales are currently supported by maternity services at the Trust.

Project lead Joan Carter said: “It is so exciting to mark the official start of work on the new Women and Children’s Building.

“This represents a hugely positive development for the Trust that will enable a step-change in how we provide families with the highest levels of care and treatment, while supporting our wider ambition to tackle health inequalities in our region.”

Patients, staff and construction workers break ground at the site of the new build.

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CELEBRATING STAFF AT OUR ANNUAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS The Trust’s Celebration of Achievement event to recognise the achievements and success of staff has returned this year.

Nominations were received from our staff, patients and carers, as well as our volunteers and governors.

of the Year, Outstanding Individual Achievement of the Year and Volunteer of the Year Award.

The eagerly awaited event took place in September at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Chester. Over 250 staff attended to celebrate and acknowledge the most outstanding achievements at the Trust over the past year.

Sallie Kelsey, Head of Education, remarked: “Staff look forward to the event as it is an opportunity to showcase the excellent work taking place throughout the Trust and to highlight the good practice of individuals and teams.”

Other awards presented on the night were the Haygarth Medal for Nurse of the Year and the Patient Choice Award for Outstanding Care.

Over 100 teams and individuals were nominated, showing the breadth and depth of the fantastic pieces of work in the last year from all parts of our hospitals.

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There were 11 teams or individuals who won an award across a range of categories, including the Outstanding Team Achievement

Nicola Price, Chief People Officer, who attended the event shared: “Our Trust is made up of incredible people, doing amazing things every single day, and without every one of them we wouldn’t be the high performing organisation that we are, so thank you!”

DEDICATION BEYOND MEASURE: ESTATES TEAM MANAGER ALAN CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF WORKING AT THE TRUST In 1983 Margaret Thatcher won her second term in Number 10, Spandau Ballet stormed the charts and £1 coins were issued to the UK for the first time since WW1.

But in Chester, 18-year-old Alan Dunn was starting his first job as an admin assistant at the Chester Health Authority, which administered local hospitals including the Countess of Chester.

Based in Hoole, Alan’s role in Child Health – covering school health, paediatrics and immunisation – began on 21 February 1983.

Alan explains: “I’ve spent the majority of my life in the NHS – I’m born and bred. My mum was a senior health manager at the on-site mental health unit at the time.

“My first job was a world away from how things are now. Everything was paper-based then. The only computer was for processing information at County Hall on a punch card system. We had to bag up and securely box healthcare documents and hire a taxi to drop them off and collect processed documents from the previous day.

“The technology explosion has been the biggest change in my years here, in addition to new treatments and developing the estate. But we didn’t know any different back then.”

In the following years the health authority was dissolved into individual Trusts and all acute services moved to the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

What followed for Alan was jobs in nursing and supplies procurement within the Trust, and it’s with the latter that his career in the estates team kicked off.

Alan moved into the estates team when the Trust formed a dedicated capital development team around 19 years ago and has remained there ever since.

Alan said: “At the time we had approximately £60m of capital to invest for that year to develop the estate.

I commissioned buildings like Outpatients 3 and 4, the Jubilee Day Centre, the Haygarth Building and the Education and Training Centre as well as the Emergency Department and in recent years the new Same Day Emergency Care Centre. I thrive on constant challenges and delivering results.

“WE COLLECTIVELY ADDRESSED THE CHALLENGE HEAD-ON AND CAME THROUGH THE OTHER SIDE.”

Eventually moving into capital planning, Alan was involved in the purchasing and commissioning of medical equipment for some of the hospital’s major investment projects.

The biggest challenge of Alan’s career was the COVID-19 pandemic. He was heavily involved in implementing protection measures in and around the hospital and was tasked with providing additional accommodation for patients and staff at safe distances – no mean feat in a challenging time.

“The COVID-19 challenge was unforeseen and unexpected in terms of scale and consequence,” recalls Alan. “My Trust colleagues, friends and I rose to the challenge with vigour and commitment and we collectively addressed the challenge head-on and came through the other side. It was an exemplary effort by all.”

As he approaches his 41st year at the Trust, Alan has no plans to go anywhere yet, and is proud that every one of his years of service has been Chester-based, despite an 80-mile round trip every day from his home in North Wales. That’s dedication!

“My time in estates has been the most interesting of my whole career. It’s varied and challenging. Seeing something tangible that I’ve worked on is a great feeling.”

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FEEDBACK FROM OUR PATIENTS “I spent four years under the care of paediatric ward and neonatal unit. I received excellent service. Staff were always polite, professional and attended to my child’s needs – whether it be an appointment or an unexpected hospital visit due to illness.”

Organ Donation Week To mark Organ Donation Week in September we were privileged to welcome Emma Johnson, an NHS Organ Donation Ambassador, for an inspirational talk with staff about the importance of recording our own decision about organ and tissue donation, as well as supporting our patients in facilitating their donation wishes.

There was also an awareness stand in the Countess of Chester hospital.

Emma is a local campaigner who helped change the law around organ donation

“I can only praise the treatment I was given. I had to stay in the resuscitation room and can honestly say the male nurse (Andy) that looked after me was a true professional, very kind and caring.”

“I visited my wife today, who received excellent service from reception, triage, the doctor and the x-ray department. She was in and out within three hours. Thank you Countess of Chester hospital.”

after her son Max’s life was saved by a heart transplant in 2017.

Max made headlines across the UK after spearheading a national media campaign that introduced an opt-out system for organ donation and a change in the law.

One of our governor’s, Caroline Stein, who also chairs our Organ Donation Committee, said: “It is so important to have that talk with family members and to encourage each other to be aware of what you want to happen to your organs. Having that conversation is vital.”

Bespoke events for work experience week In July 18 year 10 students from local secondary schools spent a work experience week with us to find out about the 350 career paths within the NHS, meet staff from different professions, take part in various workshops and gain hands-on experience with clinical and non-clinical teams.

The feedback was excellent and all the students said that the week far surpassed their expectations.

Welcoming our new Chaplain, Holly Reverend Holly Torr, who has recently been Ordained as a Church of England Priest, has joined the Trust as a part-time Deputy Chaplain. Holly has brought fresh and innovative ideas to the role and has already been making a difference to patient care.

Holly shared, “I am delighted to have joined the Countess as a part time chaplain. I am excited to join the chaplaincy team and continue to build upon the great work they do to care for our patients and their loved ones.”

The bespoke package we developed for the week was then recognised by NHS England with a ‘Gold’ standard for work experience quality – the highest level of learning and showcasing an NHS organisation can give to aspiring and future staff.

Molly Whelan, Vocational Development Manager, said: “We are pleased that the hard work we put into offering meaningful work experience programmes and initiatives for local students has been recognised in this way.”

We run work experience all year round for anyone aged 16+ and hope to see many of the students back again in the future.

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FUNDRAISING NEWS Blue Skies Balcony Appeal Launched in July 2020, the appeal is fundraising for an outdoor balcony onto the Intensive Care Unit at the Countess of Chester hospital. Once built the balcony will enable patients to see blue skies and feel fresh air on their faces, whilst overlooking the nearby Welsh hills. This form of outdoor therapy has been proven to assist in the recovery of an Intensive Care Unit patient. The appeal has received a tremendous amount of support from both the local community and corporate supporters, and we are delighted to say we are nearly at our target. To date the appeal total stands at £708,000 of the £750,000 target. We are aiming to complete the appeal by the end of the year. Thank you to everyone for your support.

Dates for your diary We have some great events coming up and would be delighted for you to join us.

Thanks for your donations Thank you to all donors that attended charity events, bought raffle tickets, joined the hospital lottery and more to fundraise for the charity throughout the last year. Several items have been provided to the Trust as a result of your generous donations. We cannot do what we do without the support of yourselves and our local community.

We have been able to purchase a new chair for the Phlebotomy Department which is specifically for heavy usage and will be easier for staff to operate. We’ve also purchased two extra biopsy chairs for the Breast Care Unit, new radios for the respiratory team, 60 new wheelchairs for the whole Trust and a little leftover for ice creams to keep staff cool during (what now feels like) the distant hot weather of the summer months.

• 20 November: Staff Early Evening Christmas Shopping Event at Double Tree Hilton. There will be lots of stalls to start your Christmas shopping.

• 2 December: Santa Dash from 10am.

A sponsored Walk, Dash or Run through the streets of Chester.

• 8 December: Sporting Lunch at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, with VIP guest speaker Michael Owen.

• 19 December: Christmas Carol Concert at the exclusive Chester venue Eaton Park.

For more information call 01244 366240 or email coch.fundraising@nhs.net.

All events can be found on the Countess of Chester Charity Facebook page: Search ‘COCHFundraisingTeam’

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GOVERNORS’ NEWS

GOVERNOR UPDATE FROM OUR LEAD GOVERNOR The past few months have been particularly busy for our Governors and I’m pleased to be able to give you an update on the key activities that we’ve been involved in.

Our Annual Members’ Meeting This year’s Annual Members’ Meeting took place at the end of September and I was pleased to see governors, staff and members of the public there. We welcomed new governors elected over the summer (see below) and also received the new Annual Report.

Help us go green!

If you’re a member, please make sure we can contact you by email so we can keep in touch with you. Emails mean we can be more sustainable by using less paper and saving us postage costs.

If we don’t already have your email please email our Membership Team on membershipenquiriescoch@nhs.net.

Governor elections

• Hayley Griffiths

I am very pleased to welcome a number of new governors to the Trust. We have a number of new staff governors across four different staff groups:

• Katy Cottrell

• Allied Health Professionals: Claire Hankinson, Operations Manager (Hospital at Home), and Ashley Jayne Caple, Team Leader - Paediatric • Doctors: Dr Salah Tueger, Consultant Haematologist • Nursing: Paula Edwards, Quality Matron; Angel Lewis-Aaron, Registered Nurse Outpatients Department; Maria Woodward, Matron and; Dadirai Kambasha, International Recruitment & Pastoral Care Lead Nurse.

I was delighted to attend the awards ceremony in September to hear about some of the fantastic work and achievements of staff working at the Trust. Well done to all the individuals and teams who were nominated and shortlisted – it was a great reflection of the strength of the work being done for patients. Read more about this on page 8.

Governor meetings We have continued to meet formally as a Council of Governors but we also meet at our regular Governor Forums and Governor Walkabouts. We’re now designing a new schedule of walkabouts based on areas and services that our governors are keen to visit to aid our understanding of the service and to speak to patients and carers.

Join us: become a member or a governor

• Other (as part of a job share): Chris Price, Head of Information Governance and Stephen Higgitt, Workforce Information Officer.

Anyone can join the Trust as a member and help develop services by giving feedback and supporting the Trust in its work. Members can expect:

Of course, it means we are saying thank you and farewell to others. Our governors have been involved in many aspects of the Trust’s work and they have been great advocates for our patients. I’d like to thank them all on behalf of the Council of Governors and the Trust:

• opportunities to visit services and meet patients

• Hugh Hoather

• a personal invitation to the Annual Members’ Meeting.

• Lionel Rimmer

Celebration of Achievement Awards

• Dr Santokh Singh.

• invitations to take part in discussions or surveys about services • a vote in the annual governor elections

Welcoming new governors The Trust has recently welcomed eight new governors, Robert Howe, Claire Hankinson, Ashley Jayne Caple, Angel Lewis-Aaron, Maria Woodward, Dadirai Kambasha, Dr Salah Tueger and Chris Price. Read more about our governors on page 12.

Become a Governor Governors are elected to our Council of Governors and usually hold their position for three years after which they can run for re-election. Only members can become governors but a membership is very quick to complete. Find out more on the Trust’s website: www.coch.nhs.uk.

Contact our Membership Team to join as a member or with any membership or Governor enquiries: 01244 366429 or membershipenquiriescoch@nhs.net.

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We offer a wide range of programmes across our Chester, Birkenhead, Warrington and Shrewsbury sites, from apprenticeships and foundation studies to bachelors, masters and doctorates.

Courses include Nurse Associate, Assistant Practitioner, Return to Practice Nursing, Art Therapy, Advanced Practice, Non Medical Prescribing and many more.

To find out more about our programmes, please visit www.chester.ac.uk/health For admissions enquiries please contact hscadmissions@chester.ac.uk uocfacultyofhealthandsocialcare uochealthandsocialcare

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Creating more ways for staff to raise concerns

Find out more about the new Women and Children’s Building on page 7

More on page 5 03 New gynaecology service launches

07 New Women and Children’s Building starts to take shape

08 Staff achievements and successes are celebrated

how staff can raise See more on page 5 about to Speak Up team. dom concerns with a growing Free

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