Best - April 2014

Best Issue 12 April 2014

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

@sfhft /sherwoodforesthospitals

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

QUALITY FOR ALL

Inside this edition:

New kids’ menu

P17

MP Gloria does the rounds

P2

“Our new shared values and behaviours were developed by hundreds of patients, families and staff members. They set out our ambition for providing excellent care to the people we serve and to each other. Find out more about Quality for all on pages 12 and 13.”

P18 Protecting patients

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

Quality for all Welcome to April’s edition of Best Magazine. We are dedicating this introduction to three words - Quality for all. Read on to find out more.

The English writer and poet G. K. Chesterton, once said: “There’s a lot of difference between listening and hearing.”

Indeed there is and throughout autumn 2013 we did exactly that - we listened!

We listened to patients, carers, families and colleagues to understand their current experiences of being treated or working at our hospitals.

Through our In Your Shoes events, as well as feedback from surveys, our Patient Advice Liaison team, NHS Choices, compliments and complaints, we heard firsthand from patients about the care they, or their loved ones, have experienced at our Trust.

Some of these stories showcased the excellent compassionate care that we offer day in, day out.

However, there were also stories of poor care that are simply not acceptable to us. Whether good or bad, these stories were a powerful reminder of the importance of listening to those people that use our services and we are grateful to everyone that took part.

We listened and we are taking action!

It will not come as a surprise to you that evidence shows happier NHS staff deliver better care. So we also listened to colleagues about their experiences of working for Sherwood Forest Hospitals and how we can help them to keep improving patient experience.

Through the In Our Shoes events colleagues told us what a good day and a bad day at work looked like. They told us that Quality for all means safe and compassionate care for patients, and a supportive working environment for staff.

We have turned this listening into action and in March launched our Quality for all values and behaviours across the organisation. These are: • Communicating and working together • Aspiring and improving • Respectful and caring • Efficient and safe Quality for all is our pledge to patients and colleagues.

It means supporting our staff to provide the very best patient experience and outcomes. They will help shape the way we plan and make decisions, the way we recruit, induct, appraise and develop colleagues, as well as influence the way we behave with patients, family members and each other.

Our Quality for all values apply to all of us, in all we do.

The links between improved staff experience and better patient experience are clear. By living up to our values every day we can truly deliver quality care for all.

Dr Andy Haynes appointed Medical Director Dr Andy Haynes has been appointed as the Trust’s substantive Executive Medical Director, after working at Sherwood Forest Hospitals on an interim basis since October 2013.

Dr Haynes joined the Trust from Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) where he was a senior consultant for 20 years – eventually becoming the lead for cancer services.

In his role at NUH Dr Haynes delivered a nationally recognised blood cancer service and was part of the team responsible for the iconic

Maggie’s Centre – a service that provides free practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer. He was also a key member of the team that delivered a number of large scale service improvements.

During his time as interim Medical Director at Sherwood Forest Hospitals Dr Haynes has made a significant contribution to the Trust, including overseeing a reduction in mortality rates and implementing recommendations from the Keogh Review.

“He told Best: “During my time as interim Medical Director we

New Medical Director, Dr Andy Haynes have demonstrated the significant progress made by hard work from dedicated staff. I will bring all of my experience and energy to help continue the journey and create excellent services across the local healthcare community.”

Gloria does the rounds Gloria De Piero, MP for Ashfield, joined nurses on Ward 14 at King’s Mill Hospital in March to see for herself the impact that our recentlyintroduced ‘Care and Comfort Rounds’ are having on the wellbeing of patients.

Care and Comfort Rounds were introduced across the Trust last year and are carried out hourly between 8am-10pm with two-hourly rounds between 10pm-8am.

These proactive checks, made by nurses, create a safer hospital environment pre-empting the patients’ needs to keep them comfortable and deliver excellent patient care.

Speaking about her visit, Gloria said; “It was obvious just how much the patients I met valued the new Care and Comfort Rounds. They couldn’t speak highly enough of the staff or the care

they received and what stuck with me was when one lady told me she had been beautifully looked after.

Another patient, called Christine, told me how much of a difference it made knowing who the nurse is each day and who was looking after her. As the local MP, this was so reassuring to hear.”

Diane Reason, Ward Leader on Ward 14, said: “I am delighted we were able to showcase our work to Gloria.

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.”

Trust Board Meetings

Sean Lyons ,Chairman 2 Best | April 2014

Paul O’Connor, Chief Executive

The Trust’s Board Meetings are held every month and members of the public are welcome to attend. Please contact the Head of Corporate Services on 01623 622515 extension 4007 if you would like to attend or require more information

about any of the agendas, minutes or papers. The next four meetings will start at 9.30am on: 24 April, 29 May, 26 June, 31 July Board Meeting dates for 2014 can be found on the Trust’s website at www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk under “About us” “Board of Directors”.

Hospital volunteers kickstart Dementia Appeal The Trust’s Dementia Care Appeal has received a generous donation of £6,000 from King’s Mill Hospital’s Voluntary Services department.

living with dementia. We are really pleased to be able to donate £6,000 to the appeal and thank all those who have purchased items in our sales and tombolas.”

The money was raised through a variety of events including tombolas, book sales and a raffle.

The Dementia Care Appeal has recently been launched by Sherwood Forest Hospitals to ensure that every adult ward within the Trust is dementia friendly.

Jill Smallwood, Vice Chair of the volunteers said: “The volunteers all support the Dementia Care Appeal wholeheartedly, especially as some have friends or relatives

This donation will be used to purchase equipment to convert two adult wards into dementia friendly environments.

Hospital volunteers present cheque to Dr Steve Rutter, Head of Geriatric Services at the Trust.

Friends £9,000 dementia donation The Friends of Newark Hospital have donated £9,000 to improve ward environments for people with dementia.

June Howsam, Chairman of the Friends of Newark Hospital said: “The Friends of Newark Hospital are very proud to support the dementia care project at Newark Hospital and hope that this donation can assist the wards in purchasing equipment to aid dementia patients.”

The money will be used to purchase items such as clocks and dementia friendly signs for all the wards at Newark Hospital, which will help patients with dementia remain orientated whilst in the hospital.

L-R Hayley Allison (Deputy Director of Operations), Carly Rollinson (Matron) and June Howsam (Chairman of the Friends of Newark Hospital)

Dementia Care Appeal launched The Trust is urging the local community, businesses and fundraising groups to support its new Dementia Care Appeal.

Currently 670,000 people in England are living with dementia and an estimated twenty one million people, that’s 42% of the population, have a close friend or family member living with dementia. More and more people will be affected by dementia as life expectancy increases.

The Trust is committed to improving the quality of care offered to patients with dementia and has already introduced many improvements including memory boxes, a volunteer befriending scheme and dementia friendly signs to five inpatient wards.

As patients with dementia can be cared for on all adult wards, across a variety of specialties, the Trust aims to provide every adult ward with: • Dementia friendly signage • Dementia friendly clocks visible from every bed space • Highly contrasting raised toilet seats • Brightly coloured cups/mugs to promote better hydration of people with dementia.

The Trust will also trial the use of way finding floor stickers to aid orientation on adult wards.

Adam Hayward, Practice Development Matron for Dementia, said: “We really hope the community will support this campaign. The population of Nottinghamshire is growing older and so the number of people living with dementia is rising. We want to offer high quality ‘dementia friendly’ care to patients admitted to our hospitals.

“These small one off alterations to our wards will greatly enhance the care of patients living with dementia, enabling them to remain orientated and as independent as possible whilst in hospital.”

How to donate • Visit or call the Customer Services Department at King’s Mill Hospital on 01623 672222, or Newark Hospital on 01636 685692 • Through the Just Giving website at www.justgiving.com/sherwoodforest • Send a cheque made payable to “Sherwood Forest Hospitals Charitable Funds” to: Dementia Care Appeal, c/o The Patient Advice & Liaison Service, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, King’s Mill Hospital, Mansfield Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts NG17 4JL. Turn to page 6 for details of our Memory Walk on 18 May 2014.

April 2014 | Best 3

Bramley Unit proving a hit with young patients A dedicated children’s unit at Newark Hospital is proving a hit with young patients and their families.

Friends bring colonography to Newark Hospital Newark Hospital has taken delivery of state of the art medical imaging equipment, thanks to the League of Friends.

The new CT colonography equipment, costing £7,500, is used to diagnose colon and bowel cancer. It produces two and three dimensional images of the colon (large intestine), all the way to the lower end of the

The Bramley Children’s Unit opened to patients in October 2013 and offers outpatient appointments in an environment dedicated to children and young people.

The new unit has clinical rooms and a large, airy, waiting area where children can play - bringing the facility up to date and in line with the artistic themes of the children’s wards and clinics at King’s Mill Hospital.

Seeing approximately 40 young patients each week, the unit has held clinics specifically for children with ailments ranging from allergies to diabetes, and general clinics which see babies with feeding problems right up to adolescents with migraines and everything in between.

Tracey Wall, Newark Hospital Manager, said: “Since the opening of the Bramley Children’s Unit feedback from patients and their families has been excellent.

“We are also looking to improve the outdoor area in the summer so that children can play outside while waiting.”

Dr Helena Clements, Service Director for Children’s Services, said: “I am delighted to see how far Bramley has come since opening in October last year. It has given the children and their families their own space and has enabled them to have treatment much closer to home. The feedback has been fantastic.”

Representatives from the Friends of Newark Hospital present colonography equipment to the hospital’s CT department.

small intestine, and displays them on a screen.

Colonography is the preferred choice for investigating abnormalities of the large bowel in patients who are unable to have colonoscopy. It provides clearer and more detailed images, and can detect abnormalities outside of the colon. It is particularly useful for elderly patients, especially those who are frail and ill.

Tracey Wall, Newark Hospital Manager and Krishnamurthy Badrinath, Consultant Surgeon and Colorectal Lead for Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “The Trust is extremely grateful to the Friends of Newark Hospital for their very generous donation. We are delighted that patients in the Newark and Sherwood area can now have this procedure closer to home, and take advantage of the latest technology while benefitting from the excellent facilities at Newark Hospital’s CT suite.”

The equipment has been purchased with profits raised by the Friends of Newark Hospital in the Mary Taylor Coffee Lounge.

Partnership creates new videos Creative Media Production students from Vision West Nottinghamshire College have worked together with Trust staff to produce two new videos promoting Newark Hospital.

Two groups of students produced the videos which are available to view on the Trust’s website (www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk) and YouTube channel (Sherwood Forest Hospitals).

The first video showcases the wide variety of services available at West Notts College students filming on Bramley Unit Newark Hospital including the Mercia Doughty Pre-Operative Assessments the outpatient department. It provides patients and and Endoscopy Centres, the Fernwood Unit and visitors with lots of information about the hospital and allows people to see the departments.

Friends’ dynamic donation Care for local children has been enhanced further thanks to the Friends of Newark Hospital after their donation of a Dynamap V100 blood pressure monitor and three examination couches to the Bramley Children’s Unit.

Hospital Manager Tracey Wall (far right) is presented with the Dynamap monitor 4 Best | April 2014

This much-needed equipment, totalling £5,222, was purchased with profits raised in the outpatients’ tea bar.

The second video focuses on the new Bramley Children’s Unit, showing children and young people what to expect when visiting the unit for their outpatient appointment. The film includes comments from patients and staff to help alleviate any anxieties new patients may have prior to their appointment.

Tracey Wall, Newark Hospital Manager said: “The students have worked really hard on this project and it was great to see their enthusiasm and ideas. They have produced high quality films that really show off the services available at the hospital. I hope that we will be able to develop this relationship with the college in the future.”

#Hello my name is Claire Hello my name is Claire Madon and I am a registered nurse currently working on secondment to the Achieving Best Care Team. I have been a nurse for 21 years.

I have been using Facebook socially for a number of years and had only ‘dabbled’ in twitter when I went to a conference and started ‘tweeting’ during it. Suddenly a new professional ‘live’ arena was opened to me, real nurses and health professionals sharing good practice, new ways of working and innovations.

At the end of August a Emma Pownall (left) and Claire Madon promote the “Hello my number of the people I name is” campaign follow started to ‘retweet’ My fellow rebel with a cause is Emma messages from a doctor Pownall, Department Leader in Pre-operative called Kate Granger about her hospital stay Assessment. Together we planned how best with post-operative sepsis. I began following to get the #hellomynameis message out Kate, reading her tweets, crying at her across the Trust – not just to our nurses but to poignant observations, and being angry everyone working in the organisation. that – at this most vulnerable of times – her colleagues in healthcare were failing her. Health One evening on Twitter I suddenly had care professionals were providing care to her a brainwave, why not tweet one of the without first introducing themselves, or at best Trust’s Governors to ask for support. A quick saying “hello, I’m your nurse/doctor today.” tweet to Craig Day, a couple of emails and soon after Sean Lyons (Chairman) was sat Kate started using the hashtag in Emma’s office listening to us, agreeing #hellomynameis and this quickly went viral. that this was essential for the Trust - a Once she was well, Kate posted on her fundamental behaviour and attitude, telling blog asking healthcare workers to pledge us to “just do it!” their support for the campaign, to ensure at every interaction with a patient they first And so it began, our two women campaign, introduced themselves. pestering the Communications Department, poster bombing toilets with key messages, She wrote: “I have always been a strong talking to the senior nursing teams, believer in getting to know people’s names as gatecrashing new starter inductions and part of building good working relationships with both patients and other colleagues. I think student nurses lectures, engaging with porters, housekeepers, waitresses, doctors, nurses, it is the first rung on the ladder to providing volunteers and making every interaction with compassionate care, and often getting the staff within the organisation a chance to spread simple things right means the more complex the message. things will follow more easily and naturally.”

So I ask all staff to please ‘just do it’ - show I started talking to my nursing colleagues at care and compassion at the start of any the Trust, telling them about #hellomynameis interaction with our patients and carers. and raising awareness of how something so simple can make such a difference to our Have the courage to challenge others when patients’ experience. I shared Dr Granger’s story introductions don’t happen. at every opportunity - in meetings, in car parks, Have the commitment to make it your walking down corridors. I felt strongly that our normal practice . patients deserved this common courtesy.

Read more about #hellomynameis and I also listened on our wards, in clinics and the inspiring Dr Kate Granger at: http:// departments. Sometimes I heard some good drkategranger.wordpress.com/ practice and sometimes I heard nothing at all.

Follow Kate on twitter: @GrangerKate I found an ally at the Trust, a fellow lover Follow Claire on Twitter: @mummymadon of Twitter, and someone who totally felt Follow Emma on Twitter: @emmaaappp the same passion I did for #hellomynameis.

Millside Radio to celebrate a milestone in broadcasting Let’s take you back to 20 October 1989.

Picture a cold, damp night, the wind is howling, the rain is pouring and a new hospital radio service is born.

Millside Radio had no studio or premises of any kind, so how was it possible to make the programmes for the new radio service?

Well, this was thanks to Nottingham Hospitals’ Radio who, at that time, had the luxury of four studios at Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham. Volunteers were able to collect requests from people in the Dukeries Centre at King’s Mill and then dash down to Nottingham to put the programme together. Back at King’s Mill, the wires from a cassette tape recorder (the only equipment Millside had at the time) were patched into the hospital distribution system sited alongside the water tanks in the attic of the Dukeries Centre. With all the work done, Millside Radio went on air at 6pm on Monday 20 October 1989 and listeners on the wards were able to pick us up on a channel on one of their headsets.

One of the original members was obliged to sit in the attic to turn the cassette tape over, a task he continued over the whole of that first winter – with the help of a hip flask to help keep him warm!

The Millside Radio Team in the early 1990’s From those early days, Millside Radio was given more permanent accommodation in the long since gone Occupational Health offices and was officially opened by the late Jeremy Beadle in August 1990. The station has since gone from strength to strength and is now resident in the TB3 building at King’s Mill Hospital. Staffed entirely by volunteers, Millside broadcasts a mixture of live and recorded programmes twenty four hours a day for listeners in the hospital on channel five of the Hospedia network. Programmes can also be heard anywhere via smartphones, tablets and internet radios.

Millside Radio will be celebrating twenty five years on air later this year and we will be having a party. We hope everyone throughout the hospital will be able to join us to celebrate this milestone. If you have any memories of Millside Radio over the years we’d love to hear from you. Please give us a ring on 01623 737737 or email 25@millsideradio.co.uk The Millside Radio team April 2014 | Best 5

You don’t have to be a doctor to give the gift of life Join our Memory Walk 2014 Would you like to raise awareness of dementia? Then join the Trust’s Dementia Memory Walk!

The word “dementia” describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. Dementia is caused when the brain is damaged by diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease or a series of strokes.

There are currently more than 800,000 diagnosed cases of dementia in the UK. The sponsored walk will be held in Sherwood Forest on Sunday 18 May 2014 from 10.30am. There are three routes to choose from with distances ranging from 1 mile up to 3 ½ miles. Volunteers are also required to help out on the day.

For more information contact Rachel Cooke on 01623 622515 extension 3575 or email membership.sherwoodforest@ sfh-tr.nhs.uk

Now spring is here thoughts turn to the outdoors and keeping fit and healthy, but Sherwood Forest Hospitals and NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) are asking local people to think of others less fortunate, such as those who need life-saving blood transfusions or organ donations.

Dr Sandeep Dhir, Consultant in Intensive Care and Anaesthesia and Clinical Lead for Organ Donation at Sherwood Forest Hospitals, said: “We are urging local people to support the ongoing demand for blood and organs that the NHS faces every year.

“Most people think of organ donation as the giving of major organs such as heart and lungs, and are unaware that they can also, for example, give the gift of sight to someone who is blind or partially sighted through corneal donation.

“Raising awareness and providing ways to give plays a significant role in transforming the lives of others through donation.

“Unfortunately hundreds of people die every

Prize draw winner Congratulations to Mr Donald Sharpe from Sutton in Ashfield who is the lucky winner of the prize draw in our last issue, for signing up to receive future copies of Best by email.

Mr Sharpe wins a £50 high street shopping voucher.

Posting hard copies of Best magazine to our members three times a year costs a huge £4,836 per issue! If you would prefer to receive your future copies by email, then please contact membership@sfh-tr.nhs. uk – with your name, address and preferred contact email address.

year waiting for a donor organ that never comes – we have the power to change this”.

Holly Mason, Lead Donor Relations Manager for blood donation at NHSBT, said: “New blood and organ donors are needed in the local areas and we are asking people to seriously consider signing up to give blood and joining the organ donation register.

“People sometimes think donated blood is used to help save the lives of people in serious accidents, but is it also used for people being treated for blood disorders and cancer, and people undergoing surgery.”

NHS Blood and Transplant is a Special Health Authority dedicated to saving and improving lives through the wide range of services they provide to the NHS. For more information please call 0300 123 23 23 or visit: www. organdonation.nhs.uk and www.blood.co.uk

Dates for your diary – member events Do you want to get more involved as a member? If so, why not come along to one of our member events? Come and learn more about a service or condition, with the opportunity to ask our doctors and nurses questions. New members are always welcome too.

Events take place monthly and all staff, volunteers and members are invited to attend. Places on the Emergency Life Support sessions are limited to 20 per session so please book early to avoid disappointment. Light refreshments are provided at all events.

EVENT

DATE AND TIME

VENUE

Emergency Life Support

Wednesday 30 April 2014 – first session at 3pm, second session at 6pm

Holy Trinity Centre, Boundary Road, Newark, NG24 4AU

Emergency Life Support

Wednesday 18 June 2014 – first session at 3pm, second session at 6pm

King’s Mill Conference Centre, King’s Mill Hospital, NG17 4JL

Healthy Living

Thursday 26 June 2014 6-8pm

Holy Trinity Centre, Boundary Road, Newark, NG24 4AU

To book a place contact the membership office on 01623 622515 extension 3575 or email membership.sherwoodforest@sfh-tr.nhs.uk 6 Best | April 2014

Leading the way with ward communication boards Innovative ward boards have been introduced across Sherwood Forest Hospitals to transform patient and staff communication.

Considerable interest has already been shown by other trusts across the country wishing to copy the pioneering new boards, which provide an open and honest reflection of the quality of care experienced by patients on each ward.

Now displayed on 36 wards across all Trust sites, the large laminated boards ensure inpatients, visitors and staff are informed about their ward and its performance.

Focussing each ward on its own specific priorities, reflecting the Trust’s commitment to continuous improvement, the laminate finish also enables ward leaders to handwrite regular updates on the boards.

Information featured on the boards includes: • Number and grade of staff on the ward (with photos of uniforms) • Number of patients to each registered nurse per shift • Names of nurse in charge and matron • Times of daily leadership rounds • Key quality focus area identified for the month • Charts showing previous month’s figures for falls, pressure ulcers and medication incidents, in comparison to the ward’s yearly figures – by month • Top three improvement actions for the month • Friends and Family Test results • Compliments, concerns and complaints data • Recent actions taken as a direct result of patient feedback.

The boards also explain the Trust’s commitment to patient safety and the new Care and Comfort Rounds introduced last year.

Developed with the benefit of public consultation, the new communication boards are prepared in-house each month by the Trust’s own graphic design department and preprinted with the latest figures and information for each area.

Ward 14 Leader Diane Reason, Sister Mel Bull and Practice Development Matron Adam Hayward update a ward communication board. Photo kindly provided by the Chad newspaper.

Information boards for more specialist areas such as Intensive Care, Emergency Department, Maternity and Paediatrics, will be tailored to accommodate their own specific information requirements and are currently being finalised.

VitalPAC launch!

At the time of going to press, the Trust was counting down to the exciting launch of VitalPAC - which will improve quality of care, revolutionise patient safety and reduce mortality rates.

Scheduled to go live on the first King’s Mill Wards at the end of March, this new hi-tech system will replace the notes at the end of patients’ beds by enabling observations and vital signs to be recorded at the bedside on iPod touches. VitalPAC instantly analyses results, identifying high risk and deteriorating patients at the earliest possible opportunity and immediately alerting the appropriate doctor. The full roll-out of the system at King’s Mill Hospital will take place

L to R: VitalPAC Trainers Jeanette Marshall, Kirsti Tucker, Morgan Thanigasalam (VitalPAC Project Manager), Joanne Bryan and Tracy Dring. over the next few months.

The four newly appointed members of the VitalPAC Training Team will be training all staff groups and supporting wards before, during and after their individual “go live” dates.

Junior doctors are best prepared in the region The Trust’s junior doctors receive the best preparation for their future careers in the East Midlands region, according to audit figures released from the Local Education Training Board (LETB).

All junior doctors in training have a variety of competencies to achieve, including patient safety, good record keeping, communications and consent, together with a wide range of practical skills. Each trainee’s educational supervisor signs their portfolio as they gather evidence to prove their competence in each area. At the end of the Foundation Programme, trainees who achieve all their competencies go on to apply for further training in their chosen specialty – surgical, medical or GP training.

At Sherwood Forest Hospitals, junior doctors are fully supported by extremely well-qualified and highly experienced educational supervisors at consultant level.

They also benefit from a dedicated Medical Education Department, whose staff closely monitor their progress throughout the year.

Evidence is assessed at the end of the training year, when outcome scores are allocated by an internal panel which reviews each trainee’s Accreditation for Review of Career Progression (ARCP).

Scores range from level 1 (highest) to level 5 (lowest due to insufficient evidence).

Trainees achieving outcome 5 at the ARCP review panel are given a further ten days to gather missing evidence of their competencies. Failure to do so results in them failing their year’s training and being referred back to the LETB to repeat the year at a different Trust.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals reported the lowest rate of initial outcome 5 for the whole of the East Midlands region, approximately just 2% of trainees – compared to up to 70% in other trusts.

As a quality control measure, the LETB scrutinises a 10% sample from every Trust’s ARCP outcome. They agreed with 100% of the assessments undertaken at Sherwood Forest Hospitals.

Dr Owain Thompson, Foundation Program Director and Mr Eduardo Villatoro, Foundation Year 1 Tutor at Sherwood Forest Hospitals agree that the success of ARCP progress is mainly due to the dedication of the Medical Education Department, in particular Tracey Clarke, Postgraduate Co-ordinator. This is further strengthened by the “end of placement” interviews that Dr Thompson and Mr Villatoro hold at the end of each post throughout the year - an initiative unique to Sherwood Forest Hospitals.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals currently has 74 foundation year trainees.

April 2014 | Best 7

Throughout February the Mansfield Chad delved behind the scenes at King’s Mill Hospital. The three features took an in-depth look at different services by speaking to those involved - as well as the patients and families who have benefitted from the care and professionalism of our staff.

Stephen Thirkill, Newsdesk Editor for the Mansfield Chad, said: “The Behind the Scenes features helped provide our readers with a much better insight into all the excellent work that goes on at King’s Mill Hospital and really brought to life the dedication, passion and commitment of all staff.

“We often have bad news stories about the hospital and people criticising it, so it has been very nice to bring the positive news to our readers and celebrate the excellent work going on behind the scenes of our local hospital.”

You can view all the features on the Mansfield Chad website at www.chad.co.uk.

Spotlight on care for young pati ents The mother of fifteen year old Cora h Slaney, from Kirkby, praised the care provided to her daughter after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and epilepsy. Six-year-o ld Lillie-May Holey, from Forest Town, has had multiple complications and has needed over 40 operations. Mum Amanda Munt says the care she has received from King’s Mill nurse Esth er Jenkinson has transformed their lives.

life...three times Doctor who saved young mum’s nally grateful to the consultant Jade Worboys, from Newark, is eter birthing complications. after s who saved her life three time 8 Best | April 2014

Meet the people who give their time to make all the difference Husband and wife Malcolm and Marjorie Coupe say volunteering at King’s Mill Hospital has transformed their social life after retirement.

NHS Change Day Pledge, Share, Do, Inspire Carolyn Harris, Senior Staff Nurse, Theatre Recovery: “I pledge to continue to provide individual care, highlighting and changing areas where improvements could be made to improve the patient experience in my area.

I want the patient’s perioperative experience to be the best it possibly can be, including their emotional care as well as physical care.”

Claire Madon, Project Facilitator: “I pledge to continue to challenge practice and to accept and welcome challenge to my practice to ensure the best possible patient care.”

The Trust supported NHS Change Day on Monday 3 March - a frontline ‘call to action’ for NHS staff, patients and the public.

Demonstrating how one simple action or new idea can really make a difference and improve things, the national event encourages as many people as possible to pledge to do one thing to make the NHS better. Pledges can be big or small, personal or professional but must make a difference to patient care.

NHS Change Day is the perfect way to harness the collective energy, creativity and ideas of thousands of staff who all share the same values. It is an opportunity to utilise the passion, drive, commitment and innovation of our workforce to challenge the status quo and do something differently to make things better.

Donna Sowter, Evaluation & Monitoring Assistant: “I pledge to always put myself in my patients’ position and fully respect their dignity.”

Amanda Callow, Deputy Director of Nursing: “I pledge to work with our nursing teams to proactively share new and innovative ways of working.”

Paul O’Connor, Chief Executive: “I pledge to deliver our current Improvement Plan and transform our services for patients.

Our commitment to putting the patient first is built on the core principles of quality, safety and clinical excellence. Yet it is our complete dedication to patients that really sets us apart.”

Committed to improving nutritional care Placing great emphasis Celebrating the first worldwide on this vital aspect of afternoon tea party for Nutrition patient care, the Trust & Hydration Week on 19 March, organised a number the Trust worked in partnership of events throughout with Medirest to serve afternoon the week, including a tea to all inpatients across King’s nutrition and hydration stand in the King’s Mill, Newark and Mansfield Treatment Centre.

Community Hospital.

With around 3 million people at risk of malnutrition in the UK, the third national Nutrition & Hydration Week in March aimed to raise awareness of the importance of good nutritional care, including hydration, in all social and healthcare settings. By making positive changes to eating and drinking habits, people can improve their quality of life. Trust staff have a vital role to play in promoting good practices that help prevent malnutrition and the related Mansfield Community Hospital celebrates illnesses that often require complex “worldwide afternoon tea” - Left to right: Lindhurst treatments, prolong recovery Ward hostess, Debbie Drew, Angie Hill Nutritional periods, delay hospital discharges Nurse Specialist, patient Pauline Kruszewski and and increase NHS costs.

Trust Chairman Sean Lyons.

The ‘flash mob’ dancing in the main entrance at King’s Mill Hospital

New Hand Wash video is mobbed!

A new video filmed at Sherwood Forest Hospitals has just been released using the tune and lyrics of the Rose Royce hit ‘Car Wash’, changed appropriately to ‘Hand Wash’. Led by the Infection Prevention and Control (IP&C) team, the video features correct hand washing techniques performed as a dance to the catchy Car Wash tune. As the music builds the IP&C staff are joined by nurses, doctors, patients, visitors and other staff in what develops into a spontaneous ‘Flash mob’ dance of around 200 people in the hospital entrance foyer.

The production elements of the song and video were supported by local companies. The vocals were recorded at Mansfield’s Electric Bear Recording Studio and Vision West Nottinghamshire College Create Theatre helped enlist local singers and dancers to get involved in the production.

The idea of changing the ‘Car Wash’ lyrics to ‘Hand Wash’ was developed by Emma Pownall and Elizabeth Pickup at the Trust who, with the support of the Trust’s Infection Prevention and Control team, entered the lyrics for the schülke Hand Hygiene Champion awards.

They were delighted when schülke approached the Trust with the offer of an educational grant to cover all the filming and editing costs. Rebecca Holmes (Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Nurse Specialist) said: “We wanted to design and produce a video, which can be used to help train all new staff as well as remind more experienced staff of the importance of hand hygiene.”

The video can be viewed on the Trust’s website at www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk and YouTube channel.

April 2014 | 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

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

October 2013

Every day I watch and listen to her interact with my patients - talk to them in the most caring manner, offer them food and drink as if she was speaking to a member of her own family, and assist them by making sure that their tables, food and drink are close at hand.

Mandy Birkin, Ward Hostess, Ward 14 Nominated by Diane Reason, Gynaecology Unit Leader “Mandy has worked on ward 14 for many years, primarily as a Housekeeping Assistant and latterly as a Ward Hostess.

“Mandy probably feels that this is all just part of her role, but she takes it to that extra level just by being the person she is and showing patients that they matter.

“She lightens my day when I hear her with the patients and I know that they are getting the care they deserve. She is a credit to the Trust and one of the frontline people who really do make a difference. I want to say thank you to her for going that extra mile.”

November 2013

I know if I have a problem with a patient then I can ask Julie what she thinks. I honestly do not think I would be able to manage without her.

Julie Lewis, Gastroenterology Nurse Specialist Nominated by Sarah Wyatt, Cancer Pathway Coordinator “Julie is a lone worker who is consistently there for her patients with a sympathetic ear, and is always ready to action their requests. If a patient needs to offload their worries, she is there for them, often staying well after her working day has finished or coming in early to try to get on top of her enormous workload. Julie often does a lot of things that are not in her remit - if it benefits the patients, she’ll do it!

“Julie deserves recognition for the very good work she has continually done for the Trust and to care for our patients.”

“She is also a very big help to me in ensuring we meet cancer targets and keep everything running smoothly.

December 2013 Denise Millhouse, Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist Nominated by Amy Southam, Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist “Dee is a specialist neurological physiotherapist who works across multiple services. Her main role is working on Ward 54 at King’s Mill with 10 Best | April 2014

stroke patients, and she also works in neurological outpatients at Mansfield Community Hospital. Dee has also been helping out at Newark Hospital during a time when they have been short staffed.

She has strong working relationships with all teams/departments. Dee is extremely dedicated and passionate about her role and she frequently goes over and

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

January 2014 Gary Else, Charge Nurse, Emergency Department Nominated by Sheila Burscough, ED Operational Practice & Service Development Lead “As well as demonstrating excellent skills in co-ordinating Emergency Department shifts, Gary is very committed to the education and training of our staff and students. Twice yearly he facilitates our two day in-house trauma training for new, newly qualified, junior, student nurses and healthcare assistants - producing a manual and CD, mostly in his own time. He also does lots of ad hoc teaching in the department during shifts.

The team values his input very highly and he has been nominated in the past by student nurses for a mentorship award.

“He also represents the department and Trust in undertaking charity work, particularly with the homeless – such as sleeping rough to support Framework in raising money for, and the profile of, local homeless people. Gary asks for nothing in return for these endeavours, and I would like his commitment to the department, Trust, patients and local population to be acknowledged in a more formal way.”

above what is expected of her to ensure patients receive optimal quality care. Dee often works extra, unpaid hours and is always there to support other staff both clinically and personally. She consistently strives to help patients with neurological conditions achieve their maximum potential and always takes time to listen and problem solve with them.”

Doctor receives praise for Parkinson’s project Dr Nishthana Silva, a Physician at Sherwood Forest Hospitals, won first place for his study “Impulsive and Compulsive Disorder in Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease Dysphgia pathway” when he recently completed a UK Parkinson’s Academy Masterclass.

Over 60 doctors from across the UK submitted projects as part of the nationally accredited course.

Dr Silva said: “I am honoured to have received first place for this project. Parkinson’s disease is very close to my heart and I have a strong desire to improve the care offered and promote better understanding of the disease.”

During the project Dr Silva worked with Dr Robert Skelly, a consultant at Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and visited their multidisciplinary Parkinson’s Disease Clinic which is a centre of excellence. He also worked closely with his fellow Parkinson’s disease team members at Sherwood Forest Hospitals evaluating the current service and implementing improvements.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition which means part of the brain is damaged over time. It primarily affects older people and is incurable. However, people with Parkinson’s disease will generally be able to enjoy a good quality of life for many years with the current therapeutic options.

Dr Silva has a special interest in the non-motor symptoms (those not involving movement, coordination, physical tasks or mobility), motor complications and the neuropsychiatric features of the disease (mental disorders attributable to diseases of the nervous system). These areas can have a significant impact on the patient and their family but often they do not receive sufficient attention.

Dr Silva added “My father developed the condition, so I witnessed him go from being a healthy man before his diagnosis, through to palliative care and then, sadly, to him passing away - so many of his needs had not been met throughout his care.

“This influenced my career as I was determined to improve the care received by Parkinson’s disease sufferers.”

Dr Silva with patient

Exercise tests Major Incident Response at King’s Mill Major incident systems at King’s Mill Hospital were fully tested recently in an exercise involving over 40 members of staff.

Every NHS major incident receiving hospital is required to undertake a full unannounced test of its Major Incident Plan every three years. For this exercise, hospital staff were guided through the day-long exercise by Public Health England, who provide training and funds for similar exercises to hospitals across the country.

The scenario simulated a major building collapse in Mansfield, resulting in approximately 100 casualties requiring varying levels of emergency medical treatment.

At the scene of any major incident, casualties are triaged and sent by ambulance to hospitals with the capacity to cope. Depending on the assessment, specialist services at other hospitals may be required.

As soon as the hospital is notified, a call out is activated to contact key staff. These staff then start a well-rehearsed routine to implement the Trust’s Major Incident plan and either delay staff going home from their shift

or bring additional staff in to cope with the casualties, all while the rest of the hospital continues to operate normally.

Co-ordination of the Trust’s response to incidents is managed from an Incident Control Room set up in the hospital. Staff that are activated as part of the major incident are required to report to the control centre to be given instructions or be allocated to tasks. Volunteers play an important role in major incidents by providing support to both staff and relatives.

Speaking after the exercise, Jacqui Tuffnell, Director of Operations for the Trust, said: “This was a real test of how the organisation would cope and I am proud of the way hospital staff reacted.

“As a major Accident and Emergency Centre it is important that we are prepared for all eventualities. I am pleased to say that everything went really well and we will be ensuring that the lessons we have learnt from this are implemented.

“The feedback from Public Health England was very positive, and they were impressed with the commitment and enthusiasm shown by staff.”

Radiographers from King’s Mill Hospital who gave their time to host a National CT Study Day.

CT success at King’s Mill Hospital King’s Mill Hospital hosted another successful National CT Study Day recently. The lecturers showed tremendous enthusiasm in their delivery of what was a very educational and enjoyable event.

Five of the day’s presentations were delivered by Trust staff. A lecturer from Queen’s Medical Centre also offered to contribute without being asked, and a specialist from Leeds talked about a very topical subject CT Colonography.

The feedback received from the attendees was an overwhelming “excellent” for the content and delivery of the lectures, and also for the food and venue.

The Trust’s sincere thanks are extended to Consultant Radiologists Dr Sue Geary and Dr Iain Au-Yong who gave their weekend time to give interesting talks on trauma CT and lung cancer staging.

Thanks also to Consultant Neurologist Dr Szabo, who gave up his time to enlighten attendees on how clinicians manage and treat patients who present with “headache”. Radiation doses and best practice for paediatric brain imaging was also well received and educational for the majority.

Over 80 radiographers gave their time to support the day. Many attended from local hospitals including King’s Mill, Newark, Queen’s Medical Centre and some travelled great distances from as far away as Lucerne, Switzerland!

Giuseppina Hannan (Pina) CT Superintendent Radiographer April 2014 | Best 11

In March the Trust launched its Quality for all values and behaviours. These were developed by hundreds of patients, families and members of staff. They set out the Trust’s ambition for providing excellent care to the people it serves and to staff.

These values and behaviours will shape: • The way the Trust plans and makes decisions • The way the Trust behaves with patients and family members, and how staff behave with each other • How the Trust recruits, inducts, appraises and develops staff • How the Trust measures and improves people’s experience

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Here’s what patients said about the Trust’s care at the In Your Shoes sessions • “They prepared me for how much pain I would feel and gave me pain relief. Being clear about what I should do meant I didn’t worry.”

• “Staff were nice, friendly and had a sense of humour. I was made to feel at ease and felt reassured.”

• “The staff taking blood were happy and jolly and I could tell they enjoyed their job.”

• “We didn’t have to wait long for anything. I understood my options and felt confident making a choice.”

Turning listening into action Throughout autumn 2013 staff, patients and members of the public gave vital feedback about what it’s like to work and be treated at the Trust’s hospitals through a series of listening events.

The events – called ‘In Your Shoes’ and ‘In Our Shoes’ – allowed people to share their experiences and helped shape the future standards of care that all Trust staff will be expected to meet.

The Trust’s Board of Directors publicly pledged to live up to these shared values at the launch events pictured at King’s Mill and Newark hospitals.

Paul O’Connor, Chief Executive, said: “Quality for all is our pledge to patients and colleagues. It means supporting our staff to provide the very best patient experience and outcomes.

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 attended hospital for an outpatient appointment, emergency, surgery or as an inpatient.

“The links between improved staff experience and better patient experience are clear. By living up to our values every day we can truly deliver quality care for all.”

April 2014 | Best 13

New hospital-based registration office The first hospital-based registration office in the county, outside Nottingham, has opened at King’s Mill Hospital for people to register deaths. Opening hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 4.30pm, and bookings to register a death or stillbirth will be made by the hospital’s Bereavement Centre.

Next of kin will be able to collect the medical certificate from the office and register the death at the same time.

Chaplain Edith Dawson welcomed the opening of the new office: “This is an important step in the ongoing development of bereavement services offered by the Trust. The death of a family member or friend is always difficult. We hope that by working together with the registrars we will offer a more sensitive service and enable the legal processes to run smoothly.”

King’s Mill’s Cardiac Rehabilitation team, and volunteer Neil Goddard, “ramp up the red”

King’s Mill Volunteer representatives present hemocue equipment to theatre staff

Cardiac Rehab “ramp up the red”

Volunteers enhance patient surgery

The Cardiac Rehabilitation team supported the British Heart Foundation’s “ramp up the red” fundraising day in February by organising a cake stall, raffle and sponsored row in the King’s Treatment Centre at King’s Mill Hospital.

The King’s Mill Hospital volunteers have purchased hemocue equipment for King’s Mill Hospital costing £11,587, with funds raised from the volunteers’ café, trolley and various fundraising activities.

Denise Guzdz, Departmental Leader in Theatres and ITU, said: “We are extremely grateful to the volunteers for this valuable new equipment. A hemocue is a machine that instantly monitors blood haemoglobin so a decision can be made whether it is necessary to transfuse immediately without waiting to go through haematology.

Good practice recommends that all patients having fracture neck of femur fixation should have a haemoglobin check immediately following surgery, and in the recovery room, and this will enable us to do that. There will be many benefits for patients undergoing surgery.”

The event was very well supported by staff and patients, raising £890 in total - £400 of which was sponsorship money from Neil Goddard, a cardiac rehabilitation volunteer and triple heart bypass patient (from nine years ago) who managed to row 12.135 kilometres in one hour on a rowing machine. Thank you to everyone who supported this event.

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British Heart Foundation fundraiser held in the King’s Treatment Centre

Patient’s Oncology Department thank you Patient Lynda Etchells (fifth from left) is pictured presenting a £1,000 cheque to King’s Mill Hospital’s Welcome Treatment Centre, raised by a charity garden party and sponsored parachute jump. Lynda said: “Everyone at King’s Mill Hospital has been fantastic. I have had the best care and I cannot thank everyone enough.”

PCSO Linda Foreman

Cop spot Hello again, I would like to focus on vehicle crime in this issue.

Unless your vehicle is locked away in a secure garage it unfortunately remains a target for criminals to break into, but there are ways to reduce the chance of becoming a victim of auto crime: • Keep your vehicle locked at all times when unattended • Don’t have any items on show in the vehicle,

including coats/jackets • Don’t keep any phones, Sat Navs or MP3 players on show when the vehicle is unattended • Wipe off marks on the windscreen left by a hands free or Sat Nav holder.

Patrols of King’s Mill Hospital car parks are conducted by officers and, if any items are left on display in an unattended vehicle, we often send a letter to the owner reminding them of the risk they are taking.

Improving car parking Continually improving car parking on site for both staff and visitors is high on the Trust’s agenda. Additional new parking spaces will shortly be available at King’s Mill Hospital – with the creation of 140 new visitor spaces and 230 new staff spaces on the old Dukeries site.

The Trust is also addressing inappropriate and dangerous parking on site. In response to staff and visitor feedback, Civil Parking Notices will in future be issued to anyone who does not park in a marked car parking space, or does not pay for parking. This will ensure safe and convenient parking for all users, and guarantee the free movement of emergency vehicles around the site at all times.

National Staff Survey results Results from the latest national NHS Staff Survey have shown mixed messages from Sherwood Forest Hospitals.

Staff reported feeling engaged and motivated, and confirmed that they would recommend the Trust as a place to work or receive treatment. However, the Trust still faces challenges in areas relating to communication between senior management and staff, staff training, physical violence by both patients, relatives, public and staff, and also increased work pressures. Work is now taking place to implement the actions necessary to secure improvements in the outcomes which really matter to staff.

Karen Fisher, Executive Director of Human Resources for Sherwood Forest Hospitals said: “The Staff Survey results reflect the commitment and dedication of all staff towards providing quality care for our patients throughout challenging times. Staff clearly appreciate the difference their roles make to people’s lives.

“We appreciate the need to more fully support staff in those areas where they feel the most pressure, and are already looking at the most effective ways to make improvements. There is a clear link between staff wellbeing and the provision of high quality patient care. The Trust’s new ‘Quality for all’ strategy will focus on ensuring staff feel valued and empowered to do an excellent job. The new approach is based on feedback from extensive staff and patient engagement.”

As part of the launch of “Quality for all” (see pages 12-13), which defines the organisation’s values and enduring purpose, the Trust will be undertaking quarterly ‘pulse surveys’ and the staff friends and family test.

This will help to gauge and monitor the views of staff as identified actions are implemented.

Nottinghamshire fit for work service The Support in Work service supports people with health issues to manage these in the workplace.

The team of NHS healthcare professionals has experience across physical, mental health and learning difficulties and specialises in vocational rehabilitation. Members work with employed individuals who may be struggling to maintain work due to health difficulties, and with those returning to work following a period of sickness. They also support unemployed clients who want to work towards employment but whose health condition is a barrier. Individuals

value this independent and impartial service, which provides early interventions and useful appropriate advice regarding managing health issues in the workplace.

The free service may include 1:1 support and/or group interventions. If required, team members can work as an intermediary between a person and their employer to help explore and understand difficulties faced in the workplace, and to discuss and recommend reasonable adjustments to help a person sustain work.

Clients can self-refer by telephoning

the service or can be referred by any health professional involved in their care.

The service is currently commissioned by Nottingham City and Mansfield & Ashfield Clinical Commissioning Group, which means it is able to support people with GPs in those areas. It is hoped that a county wide service can be provided in the future.

For more information about the Support in Work Service, or to make referrals, contact 0115 9560890, or supportinwork@ nottsshc.nhs.uk, or visit www. nottsfitforwork.org.uk April 2014 | Best 15

A day in the Life of…

Samworth Church Academy students commit to fundraising for Neonatal Unit equipment

Samworth Church Academy students support Neonatal Unit Students in Newstead school at Samworth Church Academy have chosen King’s Mill Hospital’s Neonatal Unit as the focus for their fundraising efforts in the coming year.

Gina Henley Johnson, Welfare Manager at Samworth Church Academy says the choice of what to raise money for was an important one for students: “Our Newstead prefects chose the Neonatal Unit at King’s Mill as their charity as one of them was a premature baby and had spent their early days in the unit. The rest of Newstead school were very impressed with this and readily supported the idea.” Students will raise money through raffles, sales and events across the Academy.

On a recent visit to the specialist care unit students were given a short tour by Dr Vibert Noble, Lead Paediatrician for Neonatal Services, who demonstrated how a Neopuff unit works - a device which allows nursing and medical staff to take over the breathing of a newborn baby in an emergency. Students were able to try it for themselves on a high-fidelity simulation mannequin used to train clinical staff for newborn emergencies.

Student Chloe Mawer said the visit had made them more resolute to get the equipment for the neonatal unit: “The experience was very inspiring and has made us very determined to raise the money for further Neopuff units. We are going to try our hardest to make as much money as we can for such a brilliant cause.”

the Head of Estates and Facilities Management Keith Turner joined the Trust in August 2013. His role is to manage the whole of the Trust’s estate and, with the support of his team of seven managers, keep the hospital running as smoothly as possible. Much of his work involves liaising with the Trust’s Private Finance Initiative contractors - Medirest and Skanska. Medirest provides services such as cleaning, catering, portering and site security. Skanska maintains the Trust’s buildings.

We asked Keith to tell us about a typical working day.

7:30 I arrive early at work. It’s nice and quiet so I clear my emails and take time to prepare for the day ahead.

9:00 By now the day is in full swing and I start my first meeting - the Car Park User Group, with staff, union representatives and other interested parties.

from the Trust Board which will require actioning and relaying to my team.

3:30 Off to a meeting with a clinical manager to discuss how to improve patient access to her clinic by enhancing way-finding.

4:00 Meet Medirest and Skanska staff for an external site monitoring inspection - walking around the site to check on on litter, parking, broken fences, signage, etc.

5:00 As fast I can blink 5pm is here already and, if I am lucky, I have achieved half of what I intended to do today! I do a final check on emails and phone messages before heading home.

Tomorrow will no doubt bring a different set of problems to solve, but that’s why I enjoy my job. I thrive on the challenge, and am very fortunate to be supported by an excellent Estates and Facilities team in the form of Liz, Julie, Janice, Mary, Ben, Ian and Tom.

11:00 Next, it’s straight into my monthly Waste Management Meeting, with Medirest and Skanska, together with members of the Infection Control Department.

1:00 Lunch is ‘on the go’, back in the department while catching up with team members to discuss current issues and problem solving.

1:30 A quick check on my emails and phone messages, then it’s off to a Monitoring Meeting with Medirest and Skanska to review health and safety and operational issues, such as lifts out of order, generator testing and portering requests.

2:30 A 1:1 catch-up with my line manager, the Director of Strategic Planning & Commercial Development - Peter Worzencroft, ensures I am updated on current issues. It also provides an opportunity to discuss priorities

Keith Turner, Head of Estates & Facilities Management

Mascots’ VIP visits Smiles are spread throughout the children’s ward at King’s Mill Hospital every Monday when larger than life look-alike mascots pay special visits to cheer up the poorly children.

4-year-old Tegan and Mum Laura meet Mr Smurf 16 Best | April 2014

‘Magnificent Mascots’ is a local family-run company who normally cater for parties, events and functions, but their free-of-charge weekly visits to the children’s ward are one of the highlights of their week.

Mark Lee, who works for the company, said: “It is a pleasure for us to visit the children’s ward – seeing the children’s faces light up makes our job really worthwhile.

“We have a different mascot attend every week, from Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Minions, Donald and Daisy Duck and Ben 10.

Donor human breast milk proving a success A new pilot scheme which offers donor human breast milk to premature babies at the Neonatal Unit at King’s Mill Hospital is proving a success.

diseases prior to starting donation, and the milk collected is then pasteurised to ensure it is completely safe. The cost of donor human breast milk is £120 per litre but, because the volume of milk consumed by a premature baby can be very small, a single litre can be used to feed several babies and last a long time. The cost of the trial is being met by funds donated from the Emily Harris Foundation.

The scheme, which is the first in the East Midlands, has been running since November 2013. While the benefits of human breast milk are widely recognised by clinicians, not all new mothers who have given birth to a premature baby may be well enough, or physically able to, immediately produce milk for their newborn child.

In premature babies, breast milk has been proven to be better tolerated than formula milk and contains anti-infective properties which significantly reduce the risk of a baby developing the potentially fatal Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC), a severe bowel inflammatory disorder in premature babies which has a mortality rate of 20%-40%.

For those babies who do survive NEC, many spend their lifetime living with a major bowel disorder.

Ellen Linguard gave birth to triplets in November at Nottingham City Hospital. The babies were born slightly premature at 33 weeks, and Ms Linguard could not produce enough milk for all three children.

When the babies were transferred to the Neonatal Unit at King’s Mill they were offered access to the breast milk donor service.

Ellen’s partner Aron Inglis said: “To be honest, the donor milk being available was a Godsend.

“It’s allowed us to feed our children with the best quality milk. At first I was a little anxious about it, because it makes you wonder where the milk is coming from, but it has all been pasteurised and made completely safe.

“We were told that it was far safer than a blood transfusion, and we’ve had no problems with it.

“Also, Ellen has been less stressed out.”

There are 17 human milk banks across the UK, and the Trust receives its donor milk from the bank at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Milk is dispatched using a volunteer motorbike courier service.

All women who donate to a human breast milk bank are screened for communicable

New children’s menu goes down a storm

Although it is slightly more expensive than formula milk, the total cost of neonatal care will be reduced if it prevents cases of NEC which need intensive care or surgery. It also encourages more mums to persevere with expressing breast milk for their babies which can be so difficult in those first few days.

Jo Lincoln, Breast Feeding Co-ordinator at King’s Mill Hospital, said: “Breast milk is the natural first food for babies. It provides all the energy and nutrients that an infant needs for the first months of life and gives a baby the very best start. Evidence has shown this is particularly true for premature babies, who often have complex health needs due to their early arrival.

“We aim to do everything we can do to give our premature babies the best possible start, and human donor breast milk is just another way of ensuring we keep our babies as safe and well as possible whilst in the early weeks of their life.”

Spoilt for choice - Ward Leader Deb Farn helps patient Lilly Beastall choose her meal

Young patients at King’s Mill Hospital have been enjoying tasty treats after being given their own special re-vamped menu, giving them more choice about what they eat.

Developed by nutritionists and dieticians, in conjunction with Medirest, the Greenacre Garden menu is tempting and full of goodness. It includes not only traditional favourite dinners that feature on the adult menus, but child friendly options including pizza, cod bites, chicken goujons

and spaghetti hoops, with additional accompanying items such as salad snack pots, garlic bread and a vegetable medley.

Serving up a treat

Paul Beckworth, Catering and Retail Manager, said: “The meals are cooked on site and are served as soon as they are ready, so that they are hot, tasty and look good.”

Patients are given two meals from the menu every day and can choose one hot meal and one cold meal or two hot meals. Special tray mats have also been developed – Sudoku, anagrams and crosswords for teenagers, and word searches, spot the difference and join the dots for younger patients.

April 2014 | Best 17

Encouraging staff to Speak Out Safely Whether you are a permanent employee, an agency or temporary staff member, or a volunteer, the Trust wants all staff to be able to speak up when they feel something is wrong.

Dedicated to protecting patients Trust staff have been lining up for the flu jab in recent months, helping the Trust reach its national target.

The phenomenal response saw 75.7% of staff being vaccinated, surpassing the ambitious Department of Health target of 75%, which means the Trust is now eligible for a share of £250m Accident and Emergency Government funding for next year.

The figure is considerably up on other years, and Rebecca Garner, Senior Occupational Health Nurse and lead for the flu vaccination campaign said the latest results were a huge success. “It’s great to see that our staff are getting the message about the importance of flu vaccination. Although the flu jab isn’t compulsory, our staff know that it is important in protecting themselves, their patients and their families.

“This was an ambitious target, and it is a credit to our staff that they have responded well to the challenge.”

This is why Sherwood Forest Hospitals is supporting the principles set out in the Nursing Times ‘Speak Out Safely’ campaign. This means any staff member who has a genuine patient safety concern is encouraged to raise this within the organisation at the earliest opportunity.

Susan Bowler, Executive Director of Nursing and Quality, said: “Quality patient care is our number one priority and our staff are best placed to identify those areas where care falls below the high standards we expect.

“We want staff to feel comfortable with raising concerns about patient safety and quality of care. This is why we are backing the

Nursing Times’ ‘Speak out Safely’ campaign to demonstrate our commitment to a culture of openness.”

A new Whistleblowing Policy has been developed by the Trust, through extensive consultation, in order to reassure staff that it is safe and acceptable to speak up and raise any concerns at an early stage and in the right way.

Supporting and developing leaders Dedicated to promoting and supporting staff development, the Trust is pleased to congratulate Philip Bolton, Head of Nursing for Inpatient Emergency Care, Dr Anne Louise Schokker, Consultant Geriatrician and Clinical Director for Emergency Care and Medicine and Dr Shrikant Ambalkar, Consultant Microbiologist and Service Director for Pathology - who recently completed a “Leading Clinical Services” programme.

Run by the NHS East Midlands Leadership Academy and The Chartered Management Institute, the six month programme aims to develop outstanding leaders who can achieve the strategic vision for clinical services in the East Midlands. It provides senior medical and

clinical leaders with the knowledge, skills and strategies to meet challenging improvement demands and deliver excellent clinical care in a safe and effective way.

Phil Bolton said: “The programme was very beneficial to us all, especially the practical change management advice for managing teams in a continually and rapidly changing environment. It was also a valuable opportunity for networking and sharing best practice.”

The East Midlands Leadership Academy offers an extensive free training programme for all levels of staff. Details can be found on their website at www.leadershipeastmidlands.nhs.uk.

Better together In the climate of stretched budgets, a growing population and an ageing population, the demands on health services are forecast to grow significantly. Change is required to ensure all the area’s health and social care providers continue to deliver high quality care which is customer-led and value for money.

The “Better Together” programme aims to find ways of delivering better care to the public, which is more suited to a patient’s condition or illness. Patients should have easy access to the right care, delivered 18 Best | April 2014

close to or at home, by people who know them and understand their needs.

A number of stakeholder engagement events have taken place recently, providing many ideas and suggestions which have been included in the programme proposals. The Better Together team is now looking for people to become “Champions” for the programme and anyone can sign up. A champion is a volunteer who wants to be involved in some way. This may be by attending events, answering surveys, visiting existing services and sharing the news of the

changes with friends and family, colleagues and peers. How much or how little champions become involved is entirely up to them.

For more information about becoming a Champion, contact Wendy Tomlinson, Programme Manager on telephone 01623 673591 or email: wendy.tomlinson@ mansfieldandashfieldccg.nhs.uk For general information about the Better Together programme, please visit the website at www.bettertogethermidnotts.org.uk or follow progress on Twitter @bettermidnotts

April 2014 | Best 19

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2014 Nurse of the Year – nominations open 28 April Rewarding the dedication and compassion of our nurses and midwives Nominations will be open soon for our Nurse of the Year Awards, run in conjunction with the CHAD and Newark Advertiser newspapers. Launched last year, the awards recognise and celebrate the Trust’s inspirational nurses and midwives who are committed to providing quality care and comfort with humanity and compassion.

Dedicated and hardworking, the winners will make a real difference to our patients’ lives.

Members of the public, patients and staff are all eligible to make a nomination in the following catergories: • Nurse of the Year • Nursing Team of the Year • Midwife of the Year • Children’s Nurse of the Year • Healthcare Assistant of the Year • Director of Nursing Award for Outstanding Achievement From 28 April an online nomination form will be available on the Trust’s website at www.sfh-tr.nhs.

uk, you can email your nomination to nurseoftheyear. awards@sfh-tr.nhs.uk or post your entry to ‘Nurse of the Year Awards’, Communications Department, Trust HQ, Level 1,King’s Mill Hospital, Mansfield Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire NG17 4JL.Please include details of the person you are nominating and the category, along with which hospital they work at and why you are nominating them. The winners will collect their awards at a special presentation during “Celebrating Nurses Week” in July.

As part of the Trust’s annual Staff Excellence Awards, local people are invited to nominate any Trust employee – no matter what their job role – whose exceptional care has had a positive impact on their lives.

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People’s Award nomination form I would like to nominate: Department they work in: Hospital they work at (please tick)

o King’s Mill Hospital o Newark Hospital o Mansfield Community Hospital o Ashfield Health Village Category: This person deserves to be recognised for their excellent patient care and dedication because:

Your details: Name:

Tel no:

Address: Email address (if you have one):

Please send to: The People’s Award, FREEPOST RLSJBGTL-XRUY, Membership Response Centre, King’s Mill Hospital, Mansfield Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts, NG17 4JL

24 Best | April 2014

You can also nominate your NHS hero by emailing thepeoples.award@sfh-tr.nhs.uk.

Or, if you are visiting one of our hospitals, please hand in your nomination at the main reception desk

or post in one of the PALS post boxes on site. Nominators’ details will not be passed on to any third parties.

Closing date for receipt of entries is 31 July 2014.

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The People’s Award 2014” – vote now!