Best August 2014

Best Issue 13 August 2014

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

@sfhft /sherwoodforesthospitals

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

CQC report praises caring staff at our hospitals

Inside this edition:

It’s ‘all in a day’s work’

In the running for a national award

P12-13

Sign up to support our Trust

P4-5

P8-9 Adam Hayward and Shantell Miles have been recognised in the Nursing Times Awards for their work to enhance patient dignity by improving the care provided to some of our most vulnerable elderly patients. Read more on page 11.

Personal stories of our life-changing care

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

Disappointed but not despondent I have to admit that when I knew we would be staying in special measures I was incredibly disappointed, especially since the CQC acknowledges that improvements have been made across our hospitals.

CQC report praise The CQC said it found outstanding practice in maternity, the emergency department, children and young people’s services and surgery at Newark.

Over the last year we have made significant improvements. We have invested in more nurses and doctors, seen mortality rates fall to within the expected range and cleared a backlog of complaints.

We have worked with colleagues and patients to create shared values and behaviours, known as Quality for all, that will drive our ambition to champion and deliver the best care, service and wellbeing outcomes possible for each individual in the communities we serve.

I am delighted that the CQC rated three of our services as Good in all domains. These were critical care, maternity and children and young people’s services.

Universally, services across the Trust were rated as Good for caring and nursing staff were seen to be compassionate. Patients said staff were caring, kind and respected their wishes. One patient told the CQC: “They really did see me as a person, not just a patient.”

Patients can be proud of their local hospitals and can be confident about the quality of care received from us. We have continued to put safety and quality above everything else and this has meant we have made excellent progress in many areas.

While the progress we have made is encouraging, we know there is more to do.

The CQC clearly highlighted areas of good and outstanding practice, but they also saw examples where we let patients and their families down.

The challenge for everyone, from Board to ward, is to spread those areas of good and outstanding practice across the Trust so that we deliver consistent quality care to all our patients.

Working for a Trust in special measures is challenging, but it is a challenge that our talented and committed colleagues have risen to. Their passion and dedication are admirable and I am delighted that the CQC recognised this in their report, highlighting the care and compassion shown to our patients.

While we may be disappointed about remaining in special measures, we are not despondent. I am determined that we will continue with the excellent work that has already been done across our hospitals so that when the CQC return there will be no doubt in their minds that our Trust should be removed from special measures.

Paul O’Connor Chief Executive 2 Best | August 2014

A report published by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has praised Sherwood Forest Hospitals as a caring organisation.

The CQC said it found outstanding practice in maternity, the emergency department, children and young people’s services and surgery at Newark.

The report follows inspection visits by the CQC earlier this year, during which they visited King’s Mill Hospital, Newark Hospital and Mansfield Community Hospital.

The Trust’s smoking reduction programme for women during pregnancy was also acknowledged as producing good results. It was noted that the gynaecology department was well led, with staff passionate about the care and service they provided. The report also states that at Mansfield Community Hospital patients were treated with compassion, dignity and respect.

Whilst the report by the CQC praises the Trust’s hospitals as being caring and outlines several areas of outstanding practice, it also identifies areas of practice where the Trust needs to make improvements. The CQC has also recommended that the Trust remains in special measures for a further six months.

Three services were rated as Good in all domains: critical care, maternity and children and young people’s services.

es caring staff at our hospitals Universally services across the Trust were rated as Good for caring. Nursing staff were seen to be compassionate, and patients said staff were caring, kind and respected their wishes.

A brief summary of the reports is as follows: • Overall ratings for King’s Mill Hospital and Newark Hospital of Requires Improvement • Overall rating for the Trust is Requires Improvement • King’s Mill was rated as Good for critical care, maternity and family planning and children and young people’s services •A ll other services at both hospitals were rated as Requires Improvement • Trust was rated as Good with regard to whether services were caring.

The Trust has been told it must make the following improvements: • Staff mandatory training and appraisals must be completed to meet Trust targets • Ensure there are appropriate numbers of staff in place for the care required in Newark Hospital •A ccurate record keeping should be maintained with regard to patients’ observations and hydration • Ensure there are secure systems in place for storing medicines and that people are given medicines according to their prescription.

Well-led, with passionate caring staff For those who know Diane Reason and her team on the gynaecology ward at King’s Mill Hospital, it will be no surprise to learn that the CQC praised the ward as being well-led and highlighted the passion staff show for the care and service they deliver.

Diane has led Ward 14 since 1992 and says she is proud of her team: “They strive for consistent quality care, and while it’s not always easy, we don’t lose focus on what’s important - and that’s the patient.”

The ward has embraced Care and Comfort Rounds to ensure that women are well cared for and monitored. The CQC praised staff who left pillow cards for patients who were asleep or not in their bed, so they knew staff had come to check on them and when they would be back.

One patient said: “I cannot praise the

Model example of reducing smoking rates Maternity services were praised by the CQC for their work to reduce smoking in pregnancy. Staff integrated smoking cessation advice into routine antenatal care in order to improve outcomes.

The use of visual aides clearly and visibly showed women the potential impact and risks of smoking while pregnant. Women have welcomed the support and last year

nurses, healthcare assistants and other staff enough. They answered call bells promptly and regularly came to ask me if I was ok or needed anything. What I want to emphasise was the atmosphere on the ward. All the staff presented as happy and cheerful and the atmosphere was lovely. They really did see me as a person, not just a patient.”

the service saw a 6% reduction in the number of women smoking while pregnant.

Alison Greenwood, Senior Midwife said: “A lot of hard work has gone into this by all staff in the maternity service.

“We are thrilled it has been recognised by the CQC and I hope we can continue to further reduce smoking rates that will provide better health outcomes for women and their babies.”

The final report for Sherwood Forest Hospitals, as well as specific reports for King’s Mill Hospital (including Mansfield Community Hospital) and Newark Hospital can be found on the CQC website. Visit www.cqc.org.uk A view from the Chairman Sean Lyons said: “The Board of Directors fully supports Paul and his team. It is clear that significant improvements have been made. We are very proud of our colleagues across the Trust for their achievements over the last year.

“There is much to be proud of in those areas where outstanding practice has been demonstrated. The challenge will be to spread those standards across the Trust consistently and sustainably, and the Board looks forward to supporting Paul and his team in achieving this.”

Top marks for the pre-operative assessment unit at Newark Hospital ‘Very efficient and utilised their skillmix’ - that was how the CQC described the pre-operative assessment unit at Newark Hospital.

Patients attending the unit were asked if they had any anxieties during their appointment. This meant staff could talk through any anxieties at the time and provide reassurance to the patient ahead of their surgery. Staff felt supported by their

line manager and leaders were passionate about providing quality patient care.

For Bridget Baggaley, Pre-operative Assessment Sister, this is just all part of the job. She said: “We are really pleased that the CQC recognised the work we do. We pride ourselves on being flexible and fitting to the needs of our patients.

“Our department leader Sam Annis sets high standards and as a team we are keen to keep them up.”

August 2014 | Best 3

Dates for your diary 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.

Light refreshments are provided at all events.

Restart a Heart Day 16 October 2014 (time and venue TBC) VitalPAC 26 November 2014 (6pm) Lecture Theatre 1, King’s Mill Conference Centre, King’s Mill Hospital, NG17 4JL To book a place contact the membership office on 01623 622515 extension 3575 or email membership.sherwoodforest@sfh-tr. nhs.uk Your invitation to our Council of Governors meeting Members of the public are welcome to attend and listen to the discussions. There is an opportunity to ask questions at the beginning of the meeting or to submit questions prior to the meeting to the membership office.

For more information or to confirm your attendance please call 01623 622515 extension 3570. Agendas are published on our website five days before the meeting.

Council of Governor Meetings 2014 14 August & 20 November 2014, 5.30pm Lecture Theatre 2, Education Centre, King’s Mill Hospital

Attention all members It is important to let us know if you change your home address or email address. To keep us up to date, email membership. sherwoodforest@sfh-tr. nhs.uk or call 01623 622515 ext 3575.

4 Best | August 2014

Sign up to support Did you know that our Foundation Trust now has around 26,000 public and staff members?

The members are all individuals who want to support the Trust, and our Governors do a fabulous job of working to represent all their views to the Board.

Sean Lyons, Chairman, said: “The 29 members on the Council of Governors play a key role in making sure the views of members are represented to the Board of Directors and are taken into account when decisions are made. We very much value their input, as they help us ensure that our patients and staff are at the heart of everything we do.

“We’ve invested a lot of time in training for the Governors, with our executive directors providing a deeper insight into our strategy, financial performance and clinical performance. This will be an ongoing training programme, as we want to develop the Governors in parallel with the Trust.

As critical friends to the Board, the more information they can understand and interpret, the better they can fulfil their role.”

The Trust has 15 public Governors covering the constituencies of Ashfield, Derbyshire, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood, and one from the rest of the East Midlands. Seven staff Governors represent staff and volunteers, and we have five Governors appointed by community partner organisations.

“Governors form an important link for the members’ voices to be heard, and the Board very much takes their views into account when formulating our future strategy and services.”

Sean Lyons, Chairman What do our Governors do?

The Governors hold our Board accountable for the safe and proper running of our hospitals on behalf of our members and the wider public.

They attend Council of Governor meetings as well as the Annual General Meeting, to pass on the views of the members from their constituency. Also, newly introduced this year are Governor forums which allow the group to discuss areas of concern and determine the forward agenda of the Council.

Governors holding an information and recruitment Each year there are two specific meetings looking at topics requested by the Governors, which offer a ‘deep dive’ insight into a service or issue.

Governors also participate in Governor sub-committees that mirror the subcommittees of the Board. Through these they hold the non-executives to account, and can ask directors to attend a subcommittee meeting.

The Board of Directors attends the Council of Governors meetings, giving them an opportunity to hear direct the views of Governors and members on the strategic direction of the Trust and any significant changes planned.

This year our Governors have also worked together to develop a reshaped code of conduct for Governors.

See over for more on specific Governor responsibilities.

Our Governors’ work in the community As well as engaging with those members already signed up, Governors act as

our Trust

Are YOU interested in becoming a Governor?

This summer we have a golden opportunity for members who want to get more involved in shaping healthcare in our community.

The Trust has four vacancies for public Governors in the Mansfield, Ashfield and Newark and Sherwood constituencies, and we want members from those areas who’d like to make that extra commitment to put themselves forward for election.

Governors are volunteers so they don’t get paid, but they do receive expenses for travel to meetings. To become a Governor, you must first be a member of the Trust. Governors are elected by the members.

What will my responsibilities be?

Governors have an important role in making an NHS Foundation Trust publicly accountable for the services it provides, helping the Trust deliver quality care to our local communities. They bring valuable perspectives and contributions to its activities.

Importantly, as a Governor you will hold non-executive directors to account for the performance of the board and represent the interests of members and the public.

The key responsibilities include: ✓ Helping to plan for the future ✓ Ensuring the Trust is held to account on behalf of local people ✓ Recruiting and developing the membership ✓ Engaging with Trust members ✓ Appointing, and if appropriate removing, the chairman and non-executive directors ✓ Deciding the remuneration and allowances of the chairman and non-executive directors ✓ Approving the appointment of the chief executive ✓ Appointing the external auditors.

stand in the King’s Treatment Centre ambassadors for the Trust and encourage more people to become members. This can mean attending community events, local colleges and open days to recruit and meet with their members.

Our Governors can also ask for special events to be held within their community.

Governors should attend four Council of Governor meetings a year as well as the Annual General Meeting. There are also regular events and briefings that you can participate in, as well as joining one of the Governor sub-committees, including: • Performance and strategy • Membership and engagement • Safety and experience • Nominations committee.

Interested? Here’s what to do . . .

You can request an information pack and nomination papers from Katie Roper at UK Engage by:

How to contact a Governor or become a member To contact a public Governor, email governors@sfh-tr.nhs.uk, call 01623 622515 ext 3570 or write to FREEPOST RLSJ-BGTLXRUY, Membership Response Centre, King’s Mill Hospital, Mansfield Road, Sutton-inAshfield, Nottinghamshire, NG17 4JL. Staff Governors can be contacted via the number and email above or directly via email or telephone, available on the Trust intranet.

• Calling: 0345 209 3770 • Emailing: sfhgovernors@uk-engage.org • Texting: ‘sfh’ plus your name and address to 07773 789 104 • Writing to: UK Engage, Image House, 10 Acorn Business Park, Heaton Lane, Stockport SK4 1AS Nomination forms must be received by the Returning Officer no later than 5pm on Monday 15 September.

Election timetable Publication of Notice of Election: Wednesday 13 August 2014

See our website at www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk for a complete list of Governors.

Deadline for receipt of Nominations: Monday 15 September 2014

To sign up as a member, call 01623 622 515 or go to the ‘Get involved’ section of our website at www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk.

Deadline for candidates withdrawal: Thursday 18 September 2014

Staff and volunteers automatically become members unless they opt out.

Publication of Statement of Nominations: Tuesday 16 September 2014 Notice of Poll/issue ballot packs: Tuesday 30 September 2014 Close of Poll: Thursday 23 October 2014 Declaration of result: Friday 24 October 2014 August 2014 | Best 5

Hospital open day sees record number of visitors A record 700 visitors came along to the Newark Hospital Open Day in June, when it opened its door for patients and members of the public to take a look behind the scenes.

Friends of Newark Hospital and other healthcare partners including East Midlands Ambulance Service, Nottinghamshire Police, Our Centre and Health Community Support Groups also supported the event.

The event was officially opened by Tom Bickley, Newark Town Mayor, Sean Lyons, Chairman and Tracey Wall, Newark Hospital Manager.

Tracey Wall, Newark Hospital Manager, said: “We wanted to show all the facilities and the level of diagnostics and treatment we offer.

Tours of various departments across the hospital were open to visitors, including Theatres, Radiology, Minor Injuries Unit/Urgent Care Centre, the Sherwood Women’s Centre, the Mercia Doughty Endoscopy Centre and the Bramley Children’s Unit.

In total 33 groups of staff were on hand to answer questions and showcase what they do at a number of health and hospital information stands.

Interactive displays and demonstrations were available from departments such as Cardiorespiratory, Chaplaincy, Occupational Therapy, the Fernwood Community Unit, Physiotherapy, Midwifery and NHS Careers and work experience.

6 Best | August 2014

“At our last open day more than 200 people turned up, but to see 700 people was fantastic.”

The Bramley Children’s Unit was host to a teddy bear clinic for the day - treating more than 60 poorly teddies. Jane Langford, from Newark, attended the open day with her children Shanince, Iaysha and Malann-Mai. She said: “It is good for the children to have a look round at what is here because they get quite scared about the thought of coming to hospital. It is interesting to get an idea of what the hospital does.”

Other comments from visitors included: “A most enjoyable visit; most impressed by the friendly staff” and “Fantastic to see what the hospital has to offer.”

Robert Jenrick, Newark MP Buzzing open day at Newark Hospital. Great to meet & thank staff and volunteers. Loved the teddy bears hospital!

Susan Bowler, Director of Nursing and Quality Thank you to all the staff and volunteers who made the Newark Hospital open day a great success.

Andre Clegg, Lead Nurse for Professional Practice Development Great day at Newark Hospital - well done everybody.

Newark Hospital is home to a fantastic range of day case surgery, outpatient, medical, rehabilitation and diagnostic services. Find out more about the facilities and the people who work there on pages 12 and 13.

Newark Hospital clerical officer embarks on NHS leadership programme A clerical officer at Newark Hospital has been accepted onto an NHS professional leadership programme.

Bernice Wilson, who has worked at the hospital since 2012, started the Mary Seacole Programme on 1 May 2014.

The course aims to boost the skills needed to be a great leader, including inspiring others, making informed decisions and focusing even more on the patients, service users, carers and families, while learning how to make the NHS values even more central to the daily role and working environment.

progress into that type of role.

“During the course I will learn more about leadership within the NHS and it will help me develop my skills within my current role as a Case Note Store Clerk.”

The Mary Seacole Programme is a recognised academic qualification and attendees will receive a post-graduate certificate in Healthcare Leadership.

Sam aims to win in Field Archery championships Congratulations go to Sam Gascoigne on her recent bronze medal-winning performance in the European Field Archery Championships in France.

Sam, Chief Clinical Physiologist in the Cardiorespiratory and Vascular Department, is now preparing for the World Championships, which will take place in Hungary next August.

Bernice, who received support from her manager Karen Hage and Newark Hospital Manager Tracey Wall during her application, applied for the course after seeing it advertised in an internal hospital bulletin.

She’s been enjoying the sport for the last 25 years, and has competed at six European and two World Championships, bringing home gold, silver and bronze medals.

She said: “To be able to take part in the course I had to fill out an application form - putting forward my qualifications. Having a degree helped me get accepted onto the course as places were limited.”

Sam, who’s a member of the Artemis Archers, has to balance many hours of practice and competitions with the demands of her role.

“I train one evening during the week and on Saturdays, then there are competitions around the country on Sundays, so while I’m always very busy, it fits nicely around my job.

The one year course was named in honour of Mary Seacole - a Jamaican woman who battled discrimination to become a pioneer of modern nursing.

Bernice added: “I am very pleased to be part of the course and look forward to getting started. I hope to develop my career within the NHS and go into team management or leadership - so this programme is a great way to help me

The medal presentation at the European Field Archery Championships

“It’s something I really enjoy and I’m already looking forward to competing in Hungary.”

Bernice Wilson at Newark Hospital

Now that IS cricket Huge thanks go to the Friends of Newark Hospital who have purchased a ‘Cricket’ transfer aid to help patients with neurological problems during treatment.

Lynne Knowles, Cardiology and Vascular Manager, said: “Congratulations go to Sam from everyone in the team for her achievement in France, and best wishes for the World Championships, where we know she has had success in the past.”

Frances Tweddle, Therapy Team Leader said: “We are extremely grateful to the Friends for their invaluable support in purchasing this aid.

“Patients with complex needs, such as stroke survivors and those with Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis, can now be transferred with ease. It also helps to improve their treatment, making it easier for them to regain their independence.”

The Friends presented the aid, which cost over £800, to the Therapy team in June.

(L-R) Denise Millhouse, Physiotherapist; June Howsam, Chairman of the Friends of Newark Hospital; and Frances Tweddle

Sam in action at a local competition August 2014 | Best 7

Thanks go to two of our patients w personal stories of our life-saving a

Such excellent care – on your doorstep!

When Alan Taylor’s colitis was gradually getting worse, he decided to use his medical insurance to get treatment at a private hospital – and thanks to the excellent care he subsequently received at King’s Mill Hospital, that’s a decision he says he wouldn’t make again.

Alan received private treatment including three operations over the space of two years – but twice suffered from complications and ended up being taken by ambulance to King’s Mill Hospital for his recovery.

He says the transfer was necessary as King’s Mill has facilities not available in the private hospital. Alan was very impressed with his consultant Mr Achyuth Menon and the nurses on the ward.

“Mr Menon and all the team were brilliant.

When we have such fantastic NHS facilities available, why would I pay to go private?” he asks. “The quality of care and the environment are fantastic, and I’m now back to 110% better.”

8 Best | August 2014

Alan, Managing Director at Kirkby-inAshfield based B. Taylor and Sons Transport, discussed his first-hand experience with his senior managers, who also had private health insurance through the company. They all agreed that with such great care from the NHS available on the doorstep, they would no longer be signing up for private healthcare.

“I ended up spending three months in total in King’s Mill, and I would happily recommend the hospital to anyone who needs treatment,” he added.

Alan says that he now feels better than he has done for around 20 years. He’s playing squash, living and breathing work, and even drinking beer.

He will be holding a garden party for colleagues, suppliers and customers in August, and will be using it as a fundraiser for the hospital. “We all might need to use the local hospital at some point so it just made sense to me,” he explains.

“The money raised will go towards new

patient mobility buggies for the main entrance - a perfect cause for me as a haulier, with it being related to transport!”

More about colitis Ulcerative colitis is thought to be an autoimmune condition, where the body’s defence against infection goes wrong and attacks healthy tissue.

Around 1 in every 420 people in the UK is thought to have the condition, or around 146,000 people.

Ulcerative colitis can leave sufferers feeling exhausted and in acute pain, and treatment for severe or frequent cases can include removal of the colon.

Several successful sports people have also had the condition, including rower Sir Steve Redgrave, Manchester United footballer Darren Fletcher and former England rugby captain Lewis Moody.

who have shared their and life-changing care Working together to save Moya’s life The fact that 53-year-old Moya Stevenson is still alive and kicking is testament to the importance of different health providers all working together.

Moya suffered a severe heart attack at her home in Sutton-in-Ashfield in January.

She had felt unwell in the morning and called 111, the number for urgent health advice. While she can’t remember anything about it, Moya knows the call handler must have realised what was happening, as East Midlands Ambulance Service sent out a first responder, who found her collapsed and without a heart beat.

The paramedic worked hard to bring Moya back to life, and after around 15 minutes of CPR, she was taken to Accident and Emergency at King’s Mill Hospital, where the resus team stabilised her for the journey to Nottingham City Hospital for specialist emergency surgery.

“The paramedics who took me to King’s Mill stayed with me in resus so that as soon as I was safe enough to travel, the ambulance would be there and waiting. It was a prime example of King’s Mill and EMAS working together,” said Moya.

A few days after her surgery Moya was transferred back to King’s Mill, spent some time in Intensive Care then woke up on Ward 23 with no memory of her ordeal, which had happened three weeks earlier.

“When I woke up I literally thought it was the next day!” she said.

The day before her heart attack, Moya had been to see her GP as she didn’t seem to be getting better from a case of pneumonia, and

she was referred for further tests. That day she also picked up a prescription, drove some friends to do some shopping at Asda, and went to her slimming club to be weighed – but has no recollection of anything after the GP practice.

Moya, who worked as a nursing auxiliary in her younger years and spent around 10 years in the voluntary sector focused on mental health, is a ‘critical friend’ to the NHS, and understands the pressures that trusts and staff are under. She sees her care as a great example of how the system can really get it right when providers work together.

Since her heart attack Moya, a member of the Trust, has highlighted her experience in a presentation to the Board on Emergency Critical Care.

She has also previously successfully campaigned nationally to get MRSA screening in hospitals, helping drive the infection control related measures introduced into the Health and Social Care Act. Moya adds: “My story and the care I received has now been highlighted in the local and national media including the Daily Mail. The NHS often gets a bad press, so it’s great that care like mine can get such good publicity.

“I’d like to thank all the staff in Accident and Emergency, Intensive Care and Ward 23, as well as all the many other professionals who cared for me so well. My chances of survival were very slim, and without each and every one of them I might not be here today.”

Get social, on social media Social media is an ideal way for staff, patients and local organisations to keep up to date with what’s happening at our Trust.

We use Twitter and Facebook to communicate good news, celebrate staff achievements and to help the public understand NHS services and available support.

Here are some of the comments we have received from patients on Twitter and Facebook.

Thank you to the paramedics @ SFHFT for getting to my mum so quickly yesterday and the A&E team for looking after her. #LoveTheNHS @johnploughman Like to say a massive thank you to all the fantastic staff at Kings Mill in CT & A&E! Amazing service and treatment #nhs #savinglives @ Stephen_Evans31 Thank you very much its good to be home and the nurses on ward 21 are amazing well done to them!!! #NHS @MattiGibson Weird feeling today sending my resignation letter to @ NHSGradScheme. Definitely end of an era. Excited to be joining @SFHFT soon though! @LauraCondie Want to say a big thank you to the staff in the children’s A&E at Kings Mill @SFHFT for patching my little girl up. @joann_plowright Had 2 brilliant midwives (Rachael and student Stevie) at King’s Mill today. Couldn’t have asked for any better :) @jamiehunt89 From the minute I entered the hospital I was treated with nothing but respect, everything that was going to happen to me was explained in great detail, my questions were all answered thoughtfully. Stephanie Wright on Facebook All the staff from my arrival were second to none. They were all supportive understanding empathetic and so much more I have nothing but praise. Natalie Louise Kemp on Facebook

(L-R) Richard Clarkson, Department Leader; Moya Stevenson and Marta Skuza, Staff Nurse

Great service and care received when I had my cholecystectomy in April! My father was also diagnosed with lung cancer and he has been treated and cared for exceptionally ! Would recommend Sherwood Forest Hospitals every time. Annette Fox on Facebook August 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

February 2014

“Heather had managed to get an address from the gentleman and called the emergency services who brought him to King’s Mill.

Heather Burton, Switchboard Operator, Switchboard Nominated by Sue Bowler, Executive Director of Nursing and Quality “The niece of an elderly gentleman called to ask if we could trace the lady who took a phone call sometime in the morning, when he had called to change an appointment, but became seriously ill during the call.

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

“The gentleman is now on ward 53 – he is still very poorly and sadly his family are not sure that he will actually survive. The family are still keen to thank Heather as they feel he would not have made it this far without her.”

March 2014 Andrea Wood, Staff Nurse, Fernwood Community Unit Nominated by Fernwood Community Unit team “Andrea is a very valued member of the nursing team, her knowledge and dedication goes above and beyond the call of duty.

“As a rehab ward led by GPs, with

no doctors present the nurse on duty is responsible for full care of the patients. If a patient falls ill, Andrea uses her nursing knowledge and judgement to assess the patient and call for a doctor. Andrea has developed good relationships with all disciplines involved in the unit including the GPs. “Patients and visitors are very fond of Andrea and her dedication to their relatives.”

April 2014

May 2014

June 2014

Lisa Welham, Office Manager, Occupational Health Department

Natalie Bradbury, Staff Nurse, Emergency Department

Kirsti Tucker, VitalPAC trainer/Staff Nurse, Ward 44

Nominated by Jean Townley, Occupational Health Nurse “Whilst out running around the reservoir last week Lisa came across a lady floating in the water. Without any thought to herself she jumped in and managed to pull this lady out and saved her life. Once the lady was safe Lisa continued to take charge of the situation and actioned an ambulance and, from the crowd that had gathered, collected warm clothing for the lady and stayed with her until help arrived.

“This was Lisa’s day off, thank God it was!”

Nominated by Craig Day, Public Governor “Natalie always excels in her role in the Emergency Department. She was recently presented with a young patient with severe learning difficulties who could not communicate for himself effectively. Natalie made every effort to communicate with the patient and kept his family informed of his treatment at every stage.

“Natalie’s main focus was to ensure the patient was given the best possible treatment in the safest possible environment.

“I can only commend and admire Natalie for sticking to her moral and professional obligations to her patient and for making me proud to say I know Nurse Natalie Bradbury, the nurse who goes the ‘extra mile’ for all her patients.”

10 Best | August 2014

Nominated by Morgan Thanigasalam, VitalPAC Project Manager “Kirsti has been seconded to the team for the last three months and has truly been a star with her flexibility and willingness to go out of her way to ensure staff are as supported as possible with the introduction of VitalPAC. “She has stayed late “just to get the training finished” and has come in as early as 5am to train staff who would otherwise miss out. Kirsti has even gone home and come back in the evening to train a member of night staff.

“She has shown energy and enthusiasm above and beyond expectation, contributing greatly to the success of the VitalPAC rollout.”

Two nurses shortlisted for national award Two nurses have reached the final of a prestigious national award.

Adam Hayward, Practice Development Matron - Dementia, and Shantell Miles, Practice Development Matron, have both been shortlisted in the Nursing Times Awards 2014.

Adam and Shantell have been recognised in the Enhancing Patient Dignity category for their work to improve the care provided to some of the most vulnerable elderly patients across the Trust.

The project, called Enhancing Patient Support in Acute Hospital Settings, enables hospital staff to therapeutically engage with patients experiencing confusion at their bedsides.

Adam and Shantell outside King’s Mill Hospital way we care for our most vulnerable patients.

Receiving national recognition for all the hard work is the icing on the cake.”

It combines structured guidelines with practical resources and a targeted training programme to help staff deliver the best quality care to some of the most vulnerable patients. This helps improve patient experience, enables closer working with carers and families and channels resources to where they are most needed.

Adam and Shantell will find out if they are winners at a ceremony on 29 October.

Adam, who has worked at the Trust for nine years, said: “We are really very excited to be announced as finalists. This work will continue to enable ward staff to improve the

“Their hard work, dedication and commitment to nursing deserves to be recognised on a national stage and I wish them the very best.”

Susan Bowler, Executive Director of Nursing and Quality, said: “I am extremely proud of Adam and Shantell for reaching the final shortlist of the Nursing Times Awards especially as more than 700 entries were received for this year’s awards.

King’s Mill nurses chosen as national ambassadors Compassion in Practice across the NHS, they act as role models and ambassadors to help support, deliver and inspire colleagues to use the ‘6Cs’ set out in the strategy – Care, Compassion, Courage, Competence, Communication and Commitment.

All four are delighted their applications for the nationally recognised titles were successful.

(L-R) Claire, Joanne and Emma Four King’s Mill Hospital nurses have been recruited by a national healthcare organisation to act as ambassadors for their profession.

Claire Madon, Registered Nurse/Senior Service Improvement Facilitator; Emma Pownall, Department Leader in Preoperative Assessment; Kay Fritchley, Staff Nurse on Ward 52; and Joanne Lanckham, Staff Nurse in Preoperative Assessment have been afforded the titles of ‘Care Makers’ by NHS Employers.

Care Makers are selected because they embody the professional values set out in the nursing strategy, Compassion in Nursing, which was published in 2012 by the Chief Nursing Officer for England.

As well as spreading the word about

Coveted award for groundbreaking dementia care The Trust’s Library and Knowledge Service has been picked out for a national award thanks to the success of a groundbreaking project to help people with dementia.

The coveted Sally Hernando Award for Innovation has been presented to the service for the development of dementia kits, which help patients feel less frightened when they are admitted for emergency care.

Available at King’s Mill, Newark and Mansfield Community hospitals, the resources include reminiscence kits, games and picture books, which are used by relatives and carers visiting patients on wards.

They tackle disorientation and anxiety, stimulate the patient’s mind and provide a diversionary activity that prevents or reduces potentially disruptive behaviour.

Alison Sherratt, Primary Care Librarian said: “Patients with dementia are often admitted to hospital as an emergency with an unrelated condition. Once on a ward, in unfamiliar surroundings, they can become increasingly anxious and agitated, potentially causing disruption that adds to the staff’s workload.

“Although the scheme only started last September, it has been wellreceived by the wards. Staff say the patients find the kits entertaining and engaging, which helps with their behaviour and makes them feel less anxious.”

Claire said: “We are really excited to be part of this initiative – we are passionate about nursing and really want to make a difference.

“We aim to transform the care we give by focussing on the ‘6Cs’ – these will help us to continue to provide first class patient care.”

Emma agreed: “It’s fantastic to be part of a team responsible for spreading the vision across the Trust.

“We strongly believe in the ‘6Cs’ and feel proud that we are helping to raise awareness and making sure they are securely embedded in our culture.”

As an organisation the Trust fully supports the importance of the ‘6Cs’ in practice and this is underpinned by the Nursing and Midwifery Strategy which states that Nurses and Midwives will embrace compassion in practice and reflect the values of the ‘6Cs’ in all they do.

(L-R) Adam Hayward, Practice, Development Matron – Dementia; Alison Sherratt, Primary Care Librarian; Heather Gardner, Library Manager and Ian Hind from the Alzheimer’s Society showcase the kits August 2014 | Best 11

Excellent patient care is ‘all in a

Newark Hospital is home to a fantastic range of day case surgery, outpatient, medical, rehabilitation and diagnostic services.

And with over 240 full time equivalent staff and a team of more than 220 volunteers supporting the hospital, there’s plenty going on there every day. In fact, you could say excellent patient care across the board is ‘all in a day’s work’ at Newark!

Here’s a round-up from Tracey Wall, Newark Hospital Manager.

Day case surgery Newark Hospital is a specialist day surgery centre, tailored to meet the needs of the local community - in the heart of the local community.

Having surgery as a ‘day case’ means patients can go home on the same day and recuperate in the comfort of their own home. Day case surgery is becoming increasingly common across the entire NHS due to advances in medical practice, and in recognition of the improved experience for patients.

And what happens when everyone has gone home? A room in the day case ward is used seven nights a week as a sleep study room – an unusual but hugely beneficial service for local people!

What day surgery is offered?

The day case unit is open Monday to Friday, 7am to 10pm, offering an extensive range of surgical procedures across many specialties including podiatry, gynaecology, urology and orthopaedics.

We help with common problems such as: • Cataracts • Trigger finger • Tennis elbow • Carpal tunnel syndrome • Hysteroscopy • Sclerotherapy for varicose veins.

We also offer treatments for skin and bladder cancer, and a comprehensive range of podiatry surgery which ranges from cortisone injections to toe amputations, toe joint replacement and the removal of metalwork.

There is a minor operations theatre inside the day case unit and another theatre operating suite available within the hospital.

12 Best | August 2014

The benefits of specialising in day surgery By offering purely day case surgery, we can carry out more operations each day and have shorter waiting times than if we also offered in-patient surgery.

This means we can treat more patients closer to home, making the most of the facilities we have on site.

Ambitious plans for the future include extending the practice of one group of patients being treated in the morning, replaced by another group in the afternoon, increasing the numbers of people we care for, and offering more convenience for patients.

The Fernwood Community Unit Every day in this pioneering GP-led unit for rehabilitation and recuperation for patients over the age of 18, our teams support older patients who are either ‘stepping down’ from acute hospital care, or who have been referred for assessment by their GP. For those ‘stepping down’, we can offer nursing and therapy to help them return safely to their home environment. For those ‘stepping up’, we assess the needs that need to be met to avoid a hospital admission and keep them independent in the community.

Outpatients Our main outpatients unit was refurbished last year. Each weekday, a selection of consultant-led clinics are run from a range of services including: • Urology • Dermatology • Respiratory medicine • Endocrine/diabetic • Ante natal • Paediatrics • Neurology • Haematology • Vascular • Orthopaedic • ENT • Gastoenterolgy • Rheumatology • Stroke • Parkinson’s • Fracture clinic • Lung cancer • Podiatry • Cardiology • Breast clinic • Plastic surgery • Wheelchair services • AAA screening • Orthotics • Palliative care • Genetics • Oncology • Medical • Gynaecology including colposcopy, bladder pressure studies

• Surgical - upper GI, lower GI, general • Ophthalmology including orthoptic clinics Outpatients who need to have their operation at an acute hospital can also return to Newark for their follow up appointments.

Bramley Children’s Unit Until last year, families had to come to the adult outpatients department for children’s appointments, but they now have a fantastic new dedicated unit of their own. This summer we’ve also opened a brand new outdoor play area offering even more opportunities for patients and their siblings to have fun.

It’s great that families get to come to this lovely new unit; it’s a more appropriate environment for youngsters and so much more relaxed – and of course the best way to assess children is when they’re at play.

Mercia Doughty pre-operative assessment unit The pre-op assessment unit is geared up to assess patients seen by a consultant at Newark for surgery at either Newark Hospital or King’s Mill Hospital.

This means that if a consultant in clinic at Newark believes a patient needs surgery, they can go straight through to pre-op.

This is a great way of providing one-stop care, with the consultant appointment and pre-op assessment on the same day, without needing a return visit or an additional trip to King’s Mill for assessment.

Diagnostics and radiology We offer a wide range of diagnostic services, including endoscopy, CT scans, ultrasound and X-rays in the Mercia Doughty Endoscopy Centre.

Minor injuries unit/urgent care centre This unit is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Every day our teams offer care for local people including: • Arranging X-rays for suspected broken bones • Treating and plastering broken bones

day’s work’ at Newark Hospital What our patients say “I think the hospital is brilliant everyone is terrific.”

“Very friendly professional staff. Very clean and comfortable.”

• Treating minor back, shoulder and rib injuries, and minor head and neck injuries • Treating cuts and grazes • Treating sprains of ankles, knees, wrists and elbows • Treating infected wounds • Treating eye and ear injuries • Treating minor burns and scalds • Referring to a specialist if required.

People feeling generally unwell should call 111 for urgent advice, speak to a pharmacist or see their GP, but for emergencies such as breathing problems, chest pain, unconsciousness, collapse, drug overdose or severe allergic reactions, you should call 999 or go to A&E. The minor injuries unit is only intended for people with less serious injuries. For advice on this you can call 111 or get in touch with your GP. Sconce Ward On Sconce Ward we look after in-patients who aren’t acutely unwell but do need medical or nursing care. For instance, at this time of year the team might be called on to give intravenous antibiotics to someone with a seriously infected insect bite.

They can also support patients who are transferred from acute hospitals to Sconce Ward on their care pathway back to home.

Physiotherapists and occupational therapists are key members of the ward team.

The Eastwood Centre This centre houses the further outpatient clinics - Genito-urinary (GU) Medicine Department, the Contraceptive and Sexual Health team (CASH) and the Cardiorespiratory Outpatient Unit. The centre is open five days a week.

Sherwood Women’s Centre In this centre we offer antenatal appointments, colposcopy and gynaecological appointments. The centre is open five days a week.

Outpatient physiotherapy We offer outpatient physiotherapy appointments at Byron House, near to the main building.

Social services We have an on-site social services department, where staff from our in-patient wards can refer patients for a social care assessment. This is a great example of partnership working between health and social care.

Support services Many staff who work in the background – but play a crucial role in patient care every day – are based at Newark Hospital. They include patient pathway co-ordinators, clinical typists, clinical preparation staff, reception staff, medical records staff, Clinical governance team, pharmacy staff, Medirest staff including ward hostesses and porters, the estates team, pathology, chaplaincy, and the customer experience team.

Want to find out more? Contact the customer experience team on 01636 685692 or email pals.nwk@sfh-tr.nhs.uk.

“All the staff have treated me with respect and care, this has been my second stay here and I would recommend it to anyone.”

“Every aspect of my care has been excellent - both auxiliary and nursing.

Cheerful staff, cheerful patients and good recovery.”

“Excellent care and encouragement to get well. Very friendly - nothing too much trouble.”

“Once again you have helped me to feeling well again and given me the confidence I needed.”

“I could not have been treated better. Kindness, compassion and caring to name a few.”

“The service we received was absolutely fantastic. The doctor and the nurses were very very good and it has helped to put my mind at rest.”

“Every aspect of my treatment has been thoroughly professional.

The consultant and his team are to be congratulated on their standards of excellence.”

“I am very impressed with the staff and the service I have received. First class. I find Newark Hospital to be very good and the service is excellent; local care for local people. This hospital should be a bench mark for all NHS trusts.”

“Again absolutely brilliant care, very informative with regard to treatment.”

“The first time I came I was made to feel welcome and everything was well explained. Today was my sixth visit & I was given the same degree of attention.”

“Thank you to all the staff. Your attitude to patients is wonderful.

You make us feel comfortable during a trying time.”

“Great experience, the staff were very professional kind and considerate and put me at ease. I feel that I could not have been treated any better if I had paid a million pounds.”

August 2014 | Best 13

Patients praise care at local hospitals Care and treatment received at King’s Mill and Newark hospitals is rated positively by patients, according to the national inpatient survey of 2013.

• Being offered a choice of food

The findings come from the eleventh annual survey of inpatient services and facilities by the Care Quality Commission.

• Being given answers to all questions about their operation or procedure

Inpatients were asked what they thought about different aspects of the care and treatment they received at the Trust.

Results have improved on 42 questions from last year and Sherwood Forest Hospitals scored better than other Trusts nationally for patients: • Having enough privacy when discussing their condition or treatment • Receiving letters that were written in a way they could understand •N oting that hand wash gels were available

Specialist helps babies with tongue tie

for patients and visitors to use • Not ever being bothered by noise at night from other patients or hospital staff

• Having clear written or printed information about medicines.

Susan Bowler, Executive Director of Nursing and Quality, said: “We are really pleased with these results and the feedback received from our patients - especially as this survey took place during a time of intense scrutiny for the Trust.

“The survey results provide valuable information about how patients perceive their experience of hospital care. The fact that our hospitals did so well is indicative of

just how committed we are to continuously improving our services, and our staff are dedicated to providing the best possible care for patients.

“The results give the Trust an excellent foundation to continue driving the work that has been championed and progressed during 2013/14 and into 2014. This includes our new Quality for all values, which are our pledge to patients and colleagues - supporting our staff to provide the very best patient experience and outcomes.

“As pleased as we are that the Trust received these very favourable results, we are not complacent. There are areas identified by the survey which have similar scores to last year, so we will continue working hard to provide the best possible services to our patients.”

League makes vital contribution

The Trust is providing treatment to babies who struggle to breast feed due to a condition known as tongue tie.

Tongue tie (or ankyloglossia) is a condition where the piece of membrane under the baby’s tongue is short, and can stop the tongue from moving properly.

Although it does not always cause a problem, some babies can have difficulty with feeding, as the baby cannot take enough of the breast or bottle into his or her mouth.

Tongue tie treatment is carried out by carefully cutting the tiny membrane under the tongue. It is a quick procedure and babies can be fed straight afterwards. There is no waiting list, so babies are usually seen very quickly.

Jo Lincoln, Infant Feeding Coordinator, said: “Problems with breastfeeding may include baby not attaching properly and falling off the breast easily. Mums may notice that babies who are breast or bottle fed want to feed constantly. Sore nipples and mastitis can also be an issue with breastfeeding.

“I advise any new mums who are having these problems and think their baby may be tongue tied to speak to their midwife, health visitor or GP for referral. Not all babies who have a tongue tie will need surgery to correct it; the decision is based on assessment of tongue function.”

14 Best | August 2014

Huge thanks go to the League of Hospital Friends (Mansfield and Sutton) for donating almost £21,000 to fund vital equipment for patient care to Mansfield Community Hospital.

Visiting times extended at King’s Mill Hospital Visiting times across all adult inpatient wards at King’s Mill Hospital have been extended following patient feedback.

Friends and family will now be able to visit patients anytime from 11.30am to 7pm.

Previous visiting times were restricted to 2-4pm and 6-8pm.

Visiting times for specialist wards, such as maternity, neonatal unit, critical care unit and children’s wards will remain the same.

Susan Bowler, Executive Director of Nursing and Quality, said: “Patients and their families told us that they would like to see visiting times extended at our hospitals and we have acted on this feedback.

“Patients who are recovering in hospital receive great benefits from having their friends and family around them during their time in hospital, including at mealtimes when this can be a social occasion.

“Visitors also tell us that by extending visiting times it makes visiting much easier to fit in with their work and other commitments.”

All visitors are asked to show consideration for other patients while on the ward. On all wards, the following guidance still applies: •P lease keep the number of visitors to two at any one time, as a large number of visitors may disturb other patients •P lease refrain from sitting on the bed for infection control reasons • I f you have a current or recent infection, please do not visit. Seek guidance from ward staff if you are unsure •P lease use the alcohol hand rub provided when entering and leaving wards.

Meet Florence Simple Telehealth (FLO) An innovative use of remote health monitoring is benefiting patients who attend the King’s Mill Hospital Pre-op Assessment Unit (PAU) and show signs of ‘white coat hypertension’, or high blood pressure caused by anxiety or nervousness.

High blood pressure is a relatively common reason for an operation having to be postponed, but now patients who may be affected by ‘white coat hypertension’ can remotely monitor their own blood pressure for seven days to help the nurses decide on the right plan of care for them.

About FLO Florence Simple Telehealth (STH), named after Florence Nightingale, is an interactive text messaging system that patients can use for remote, personal and secure collection of data through their own mobile phone.

‘FLO’, as she is better known, can also be used as an ‘alerting’ tool that offers individually tailored advice, reminders and support.

Using FLO in the Pre-op Assessment Unit Carol Turner, Senior Operating Department Practitioner and Lead on the implementation of FLO explains: “We went ‘live’ with FLO in April 2013, and our aim was to identify patients who presented with probable ‘white coat hypertension’- a phenomenon where patients exhibit an elevated blood pressure in a clinical setting but not in any other setting.”

Patients who give their consent can take home a portable automatic blood pressure machine and receive a reminder to text in their reading twice a day for seven days.

The benefits of using FLO in Pre-op ✓M ore accurate diagnosis of hypertension ✓ S peedier outcomes ✓R educed short-notice operation cancellations ✓ Reduced unnecessary GP or consultant referrals ✓ S afer surgical preparation ✓B etter communication between patient and clinician ✓G reater patient satisfaction ✓ I mproved information sharing ✓ F inancial savings for both the Trust and the patient.

How FLO adds up From April 2013 to April 2014: • 27 patients used FLO • After monitoring, 17 were able to go ahead with surgery without delay or referral • 11 of those (42%) were found to have ‘white coat hypertension’ • 6 (23%) had Grade 1 hypertension and could still go ahead but with GP input i.e. start treatment with medication.

Cost of using FLO for seven days £3.15 per patient Cost of a missed surgery appointment £232.00 Cost saving of avoiding a further clinic appointment, thanks to the use of FLO - £70

Sharing Best Practice The unit was the first PAU in the country to implement FLO, and the team’s success has prompted interest from other units who are now adopting it as part of their services.

At a recent FLO Simple Telehealth Action Learning Event in Nottinghamshire, the King’s Mill team received two Excellence Awards, including a Special Commendation for ‘Most Innovative Use of FLO’.

Carol Turner was also joint winner of ‘FLO Clinical Champion’, and the judges stated that she “promotes the use of FLO within the team and the wider community and has encouraged staff and patient engagement.”

“It was a total surprise but one that I was so proud of,” said Carol.

“As Project Lead and NHS England TECS-Clinical Advocate 2014, I also became part of a team who were chosen to travel to Washington DC to present at The Veterans Health Administration conference in June.

The nurse checks the readings to identify the patients who have ‘white coat syndrome’ rather than the ones who have genuine hypertension. This improves care delivery and reduces the amount of cancelled operations due to hypertension, and patients identified as hypertensive are referred to their GP.

“The aim was to leverage NHS England’s experience of FLO in an effort to improve the implementation of their text messaging system, called ‘Annie’, and continue collaboration focusing on eHealth.”

Within the first 12 months 42% of patients using FLO were found to have ‘white coat hypertension’ and were able to go ahead with surgery as planned.

For further information on using FLO in other services, contact Carol Turner in her secondment role as FLO Simple Telehealth Project Manager, where she aims to increase the use of FLO in acute services. carol.turner@ mansfieldandashfieldccg.nhs.uk.

“For me, the use of FLO is a ‘no brainer’,” adds Carol.

“To maintain the stability and sustainability of the NHS and ensure quality and efficiency, we need to harness technology to empower people to take charge of their own healthcare.

FLO enables us to do that simply and effectively.”

Some of the other FLO uses in the Trust • COPD • Heart Failure • Colorectal Post-op advice Carol receives her FLO Clinical Champion award from Phil O’Connell, creator of FLO

• Ward 14 (Gynaecology and Early Pregnancy Unit) - discharge advice.

August 2014 | Best 15

A ‘smart’ new way to improve patient care and safety A new hi-tech monitoring system with the potential to improve our quality of care, revolutionise patient safety and reduce mortality rates has now been introduced across all King’s Mill Hospital adult in-patient wards, except maternity.

We were the first Trust in the East Midlands to introduce VitalPAC – an innovative software system that enables nurses to record patient observations on handheld smart devices at individual bedsides which can then be instantly analysed.

The roll out of the system to all 23 wards began on 24 March and day case - the final unit in phase one – went live exactly four months later.

rate, nurses now input them into the device. The readings are then analysed and an Early Warning Score is automatically calculated, warning the staff of any patients who may be deteriorating.

The bedside devices also use smart technology to ‘talk to’ the other parts of the hospital’s network that deal with the individual’s diagnostic test results, including pathology, microbiology and radiology, giving a clear and complete picture of the patient’s current condition.

The VitalPAC system tailors the patient’s monitoring plan in line with the Trust’s Observation and Escalation Policy, ensuring that observations are carried out more frequently for those requiring closer monitoring and less often when not required.

The system is still fairly new, but staff and patients across all aspects of in-patient care are already seeing the benefits of the quick and easy to use electronic observation charts, which are easily accessible, and highly accurate. Please can the design have the pull out section highlighted below close to this paragraph if possible

Thanks to the user-friendly design of the device, staff can easily see the prompts when observations are due, helping them ensure they are completed at the right time. The Early Warning Scores are also colour coded for easy recognition.

“This was a really ambitious roll out schedule which we’ve achieved together as a Trust, and a week ahead of schedule,” said Morgan Thanigasalam, VitalPAC Project Manager.

Authorised clinical staff can view the observation charts and clinical data for all their patients from any device or PC with access to the hospital network.

“This project has been run in partnership with teams across the hospital, and we’ve had support and help from a lot of people. Even ward receptionists and housekeepers who aren’t being trained on the devices have got involved. It’s been a phenomenal effort by everyone.

What’s coming up?

Over the next year, some additional modules will be added to the devices in a staged roll out. These will include:

“We’re very excited to now look forward to the next phase – which is only possible thanks to what we achieved so far.”

How does the VitalPAC system work?

VitalPAC replaces the traditional paper observations chart at the end of each bed.

Instead of writing down patient observations including blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and breathing

• Venous thromboembolism (VTE) assessment (a VTE is a blood clot) • Dementia assessment • Cannula care monitoring (the use of catheters or tubes inserted into veins) • Nutrition module including Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) • Fluid balance module, accurately calculating

where necessary the input all fluids and the output of all fluid loss.

“Another big step we’re preparing for is providing individual devices to doctors and outreach nurses so that they can access information anywhere in the hospital, or on the move,” adds Morgan.

“After that we will be ‘closing the loop’, by introducing the automatic escalation to the relevant doctors and nurses of poorly patients with high Early Warning Scores.”

The Trust is also planning to introduce VitalPAC into the paediatric and maternity wards.

What do staff say? “(VitalPAC) it’s the best thing since sliced bread!” - Lorraine Brooks, Ward Leader – Ward 51 “VitalPAC is safe with correct early warning scores and more efficient for handover and drug rounds where trends can be seen clearly for all patients with less paperwork” - Steph Nicholls, Deputy Ward Leader – EAU “I find it very useful when assessing for discharge or transferring to Newark and Mansfield Community Hospital. Looking at the NEWS score helps to filter patients and prioritise workload – leading to more rapid discharge and appropriate transfer to the right place” - Julie Lewis, Integrated Discharge Advisory Team “We are noticing a significant improvement with observations being done at a time tailored to the individual” James Hart, Physiotherapist – Respiratory “I find as a nurse in charge of a shift that I can now see at a glance how everyone on the ward is, where as before I relied on the staff to tell me and now I have more time to view them” - Alison Meredith, Staff Nurse Ward 35 “VitalPAC is clear and observations legible & I can read them easily, also you can look back at the duration of the patients stay and the information is all in one place” - Monica Marriott, Pharmacist

16 Best | August 2014

‘Have your say’ at King’s Mill Hospital Do you have an experience with health or social care services you would like to tell us about?

“The feedback we receive from people who have used our services, and their family and friends, is really important to us. Listening and

learning about the care and treatment they received will help us to make positive changes to improve patient care and experience.”

The first ’Have your say point’ at a hospital in the county was launched by Healthwatch Nottinghamshire and Healthwatch Derbyshire at King’s Mill Hospital on 28 July. This physical communication point is where the people are invited to talk about their experiences, good or bad, of local health and social care services.

Andrea Sharp, Community and Partnerships Worker at Healthwatch Nottinghamshire added: “We know people want to share their experiences about local services but may be reluctant to call us or complete our online form. The ‘Have your say points’ give people another opportunity to get in touch.”

Paul O’Connor, Chief Executive, said: “At Sherwood Forest Hospitals we want to continue to provide the high quality care and experience that our patients expect of us. The ‘Have your say point’ is a great opportunity for people to have a much greater say on their health experiences, and to give their thoughts, ideas and suggestions.

Healthwatch is an independent organisation created to gather and represent the views of local people about the health and social care services they receive. The ‘Have your say point’ will be permanently available in the King’s Treatment Centre, near the main entrance of the hospital. It will be managed by hospital volunteers during the day.

Chief Executive Paul O’Connor (3rd left) and Healthwatch Chief Executive Claire Granger (third right) launch ‘Have your say’

Trust says thank you to volunteers Sherwood Forest Hospitals honoured its volunteers during National Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June) with a series of celebrations held across King’s Mill, Newark and Mansfield Community hospitals, and Ashfield Health Village.

National Volunteers’ Week is an annual event, which celebrates the incredible contribution that millions of volunteers make across the UK. It plays a huge part in raising the profile of the millions of volunteers who regularly contribute to society, while inspiring others to get involved too.

Sean Lyons, Chairman, said: “We are continually in awe at the amount of work that the Trust’s 700 committed volunteers give to our hospitals.

“Over the past year they have worked over 70,000 hours, often going above and beyond their commitment to the patients, staff and visitors they support.”

Margaret Thompson is one of these fabulous people. She has given over 50 years of her

free time and endless energy to volunteering, which was recognised by an invitation to a Buckingham Palace garden party in June.

Margaret, who initially started volunteering at the old King’s Mill Hospital site in 1963 after her husband saw an advert in the Chronicle Advertiser (now known as the Chad), said: “I was over the moon when the invitation from Buckingham Palace came. It was a real honour to attend the Queen’s garden party – a memorable day never to be forgotten.”

inside. It really cheers them up and seeing their smiling faces is enough reward for me,” Margaret added.

Margaret’s talents lie in flower arranging and she has organised and created beautiful displays for the hospital and VIP visits including HRH Princess Anne and the Duchess of Gloucester over the years.

Sean Lyons concluded: “We were proud to celebrate the work of our volunteers. They provide a vital contribution to the smooth running of our hospitals; from working in our cafes and tea bars, to providing clinic and wayfinding support among many other tasks. I am in constant admiration of their spirit and enthusiasm, and we would be lost without them.”

“Creating flower displays for people in hospital is like bringing a bit of the outdoors

Members of the public who would like more information on volunteering should contact:

Nadia Whitworth Customer Services Team Leader Email: nadia.whitworth@sfh-tr.nhs.uk Telephone: 01636 685692 (direct line)

Ashfield Health Village volunteers’ celebrations

Joy Wilson Senior Customer Services Officer Email: joy.wilson@sfh-tr.nhs.uk Telephone: 01623 622515 extension 3154

Mansfield Community Hospital volunteers’ coffee morning August 2014 | Best 17

Reducing the impact of sepsis on vulnerable patients Michele showcasing her poster

Research achievements showcased at international conference Pioneering work from Nurse Consultant Michele Platt was featured at an international conference in America in May. Michele presented her findings of a research project, in poster form, at the Rapid Response Systems and Medical Emergency Teams 10th international conference in Miami, Florida, which attracts healthcare professionals from around the world.

Michele’s project was carried out as part of a five-year doctorate programme, which saw her observing and interviewing registered nurses, healthcare support workers, doctors, physiotherapists and pharmacists in practice on the wards at King’s Mill Hospital to find out about the type of care received by patients who deteriorate and become acutely ill on the ward.

Her poster highlighting the study’s findings was one of only 40 selected for presentation.

Michele said: “This was a fabulous opportunity to meet other healthcare professionals responsible for acutely ill patients on the wards from at least 15 different countries, to compare and contrast approaches and learn about different ways of working. One of the most interesting things I saw was a robotic nurse, designed in America, that could travel around the wards providing expert advice on the care of very sick patients.”

Staff who volunteered in Michele’s research identified the importance of nursing teams listening to patients speaking about their condition as they can reveal vital information, which is essential for nursing staff when looking for signs of deterioration. Even patients ‘not looking right’ can be a sign of potential problems.

Also highlighted in the research are issues that can make the nursing team’s work more difficult, such as lots of paperwork and interruptions during important activities. These issues are now being addressed across the whole Trust in order to further improve the care given to patients.

Michele, who funded the trip to Miami herself, is now writing the final report for her research and is hoping to demonstrate the potential benefits of human factors in patient care.

Michele concluded: “I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Trust, ward teams and the individuals who kindly volunteered to participate in this research project for their kind support, and without whom it would have been impossible to complete.”

18 Best | August 2014

The Trust’s work to reduce rates of sepsis in our hospitals has been highlighted nationally, and we are now also involved in regional work for NHS England in this area.

Sepsis claims over 37,000 lives in the UK each year – that’s more than breast cancer and bowel cancer combined. Sepsis is a life-threatening illness caused by the body overreacting to an infection and injuring its own tissue and organs. It can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and death especially if it is not recognised early and treated promptly.

This May, Paula Evans, Lead Sepsis Nurse attended a national Patient Safety Congress in Liverpool to highlight our work on improving sepsis care.

“I spoke at the conference about the work we’ve done since 2012, when our mortality rate from sepsis was higher than expected,” she said.

“We’ve made a number of changes to improve sepsis care since then, including the creation of a dedicated team to monitor the number of sepsis patients within our hospitals; providing training to many of our clinical staff to aid early recognition of the disease; and introducing ‘sepsis boxes’ that contain everything needed to treat a patient displaying symptoms of sepsis.

“I’ve now been invited by NHS England to become involved with their regional work on improving sepsis care as part of a five year national project, and the Head of Patient Safety at NHS England Michael Surkitt-Parr has visited the Trust to look at our sepsis improvement work.

“I’ve also been contacted by two other hospitals who wanted to find out more

about the work we’ve done, and how we’ve overcome any challenges or difficulties.

“From talking to so many people at the Congress it appears that very few other hospitals monitor and evaluate the quality of sepsis care in the same in-depth, robust way that we do. Our figures now show that we have a downward trend in the rate of deaths related to sepsis, which is extremely positive news.”

You can find out more about sepsis, its symptoms and treatment at http:// sepsistrust.org/info-for-the-public/ Who might develop sepsis?

Anyone can develop sepsis from a minor infection, although some people are more vulnerable, such as those: • with a medical condition or receiving medical treatment that weakens their immune system • who are already in hospital with a serious illness • who are very young or very old • who have just had surgery or who have wounds or injuries as a result of an accident.

August 2014 | Best 19

Caitlin Clairvoyant Clear vision and understanding

Professional Spiritual Guidance

Elizabeth House is a warm, caring environment for the elderly.

I am an adept Tarot Master with 32 years of knowledge, qualifications and a high level of experience in all areas of the intuitive realms. I offer genuine, personal, compassionate and empowering readings with quality, personal services, that are cost effective and in depth.

Our residents are invited to make the rooms their own.

Home made meals and regular activities means there is always something to do.

• Kind, compassionate staff • Excellent facilities • Team of visiting medical practitioners • Unrestricted visiting hours • Wheelchair access and passenger lift • Three home cooked meals a day and residents kitchen • Private residents garden

Clairvoyant & Psychic Readings For more details please contact: Elizabeth House, 2 Church Hill Avenue, Mansfield Woodhouse, Mansfield NG19 9JU

Tel: 01623 657368 • Email: info@elizabethhouse-mansfield.co.uk

I am Clairvoyant, Clairaudience, Clairsenttience, Clairempathic, I see what you can not yet see, and what is subtly taking place in your life. I give you spiritual information that will help you make those difficult decisions. A reading with me gives you insight and confidence to be open to new possibilities and open to new choices.

If you have any questions or need advice please email me at:

caitie@outlook.com Mobile: 07531 706109

Tel: 01623 743005

Decking & Patio cleaning quoted on site visit. On average prices start from £100

Double Block Paving Driveway cleaned and re-sanded

Single Block Paving Driveway cleaned and re-sanded

£185

£145

Call now for a free no-obligation site visit & a full written quotation or visit our website for more information Tel: 01623 424601 W: www.cdspowerwash.co.uk E. sales@cdspowerwash.co.uk

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust endorse any of the products or services.

STRAFFORD - QUALITY BUILT IN Strafford Fabrications specialising nationwide in the manufacture and installation of high quality staircases and handrail systems for domestic and commercial projects.

We are able to offer a bespoke design and manufacturing service or supply products to reflect your own ideas whilst complying with current building regulations.

Our traditional or modern staircases can incorporate a wide variety of materials including satin and mirror polished stainless steel, brass and aluminium. Also glass and a wide range of hardwoods are used to compliment our metalwork. We can also offer a powder coating service with a full range of colours.

Our experienced fitters complete installations quickly and considerately with minimum disruption to your property and ensure your complete satisfaction.

We welcome enquiries from members of the public as well as architects and developers and will be pleased to advise on any queries you may have.

Unit 3 Strafford Industrial Park, Gilroyd Lane, Dodworth, Barnsley S75 3EJ Tel/Fax 01226 296767 Wayne 07766 943937 Brian 07818 258601 E-mail: info@straffordfabrications.co.uk

www.straffordfabrications.co.uk Every possible care has been taken to ensure that the information given in this publication is accurate. Whilst the publisher would be grateful to learn of any errors, it cannot accept any liability over and above the cost of the advertisement for loss there by caused. No reproduction by any method whatsoever of any part of this publication is permitted without written consent of the copyright owners.

Octagon Marketing Company Ltd. ©2014 Britannic Chambers, 8a Carlton Road, Worksop, Notts. S80 1PH. Tel: 01909 478822

20 Best | August 2014

Advertorial

1st birthday celebrations at Lancaster Grange It has been an extremely busy first year at Lancaster Grange Care Home in Newark with enquiries and interest running high ever since we welcomed our first resident last August. There has never been a quiet moment…. from our VIP Opening event and our first Open Weekend complete with flypast, to the successful launch of our monthly coffee mornings raising funds for local charities and our first Dementia info events. We have really enjoyed welcoming new visitors to our home and embedding ourselves in the local community.

Lancaster Grange has already built up an excellent reputation within the local community and following the great feedback we have received recently - both from families and as part of our first external CQC inspection -, we are so proud of the quality person-centred care that we have brought to the area. We have found that both respite stays and day care have proved popular with several short stay residents already extending their stay or looking to book regular visits…..

‘The home recently opened and my mother was one of the first guests, spending two weeks in respite care. It is a fantastic place; the care was outstanding, the staff catered for her every need and more. We could not have found a better place. I definitely recommend the home’ We are currently enjoying our first full summer programme of events culminating in our 1st birthday celebrations on the 5th August which will include the unveiling of a War Memorial in the grounds that has been designed and produced by students at Newark College to commemorate those who operated out of Balderton Airfield.

Last month we were proud to sponsor the Carer Award category at the Nottingham Post Heroes Awards 2014. With a ‘glitzy’ evening ceremony in Nottingham with celebrity presenters, the evening recognised remarkable individuals who think of others rather than themselves - with age no barrier. Our Award went to Sarah Miles, age 16, who was awarded for her dedication to caring for her mum Sharon who at the age of just 54 has rheumatoid arthritis and pulmonary

disease. Sarah became primary carer when her Dad passed away in 2011 from bone cancer. She said ‘I was really excited about tonight, just seeing all the really amazing things people have done....looking after my Mum made me grow up really fast and made me think about others a lot more’. Sarah and her Mum are planning to join us for lunch in the next few weeks.

Why not join us for Coffee?

The launch of our monthly coffee mornings on the first Thursday of each month from 10.00am – 12.00pm has proved extremely successful. Entertainment has ranged from a saxophonist and musical bingo, to quizzes and our Christmas themed morning where the Fernwood Ladies Group joined us. We have already raised funds for several charities including Alzheimer’s Society and the British Heart Foundation and we are planning some great entertainment over the coming months. As well as offering a chance for you to stop, unwind and enjoy a chat, you will also have an opportunity to make new friends, meet some of our staff and sample some of our lovely cakes!

We are really looking forward to the coming months and hope to welcome you to Lancaster Grange sometime soon. If you would like any more information then please call Caren on 01636 594300.

Lancaster Grange, Cross Lane, Fernwood, Newark-on-Trent NG24 3NH. www.barchester.com

August 2014 | Best 21

22 Best | August 2014

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Your invitation to our Annual Members’ Meeting

From 3.30pm – marketplace of stands, interactive displays 4-5.15pm – talk highlighting new projects 5.30-6.30pm – formal Annual Members’ Meeting Free refreshments available throughout the event

We are holding our Annual Members’ Meeting on Thursday 11 September 2014.

At the meeting, the Board of Directors will review the past year and set out future plans for the Trust, and members of the public will have the opportunity to ask questions.

You are also invited to attend from 3.30pm to talk to staff and visit a marketplace of stands and interactive displays including: • Steamplicity food tasting • Outpatient and theatre projects • VitalPAC - the new hi-tech system which replaces the notes at the end of patients’ beds • And much more!

The Trust’s health talks have been proving popular, so a talk will also take place from 4-5.15pm showcasing many of the projects introduced during the last year to improve the inpatient experience, including discharge service improvements, ward boards and #hellomynameis.

24 Best | August 2014

Book your place NOW! Places are limited and will be offered on a first come first served basis. Free car parking (car park 9 only) will be available for the duration of the event, and a free bus service will run between Newark and King’s Mill hospitals.

“We are looking forward to sharing our plans and vision at this year’s annual members’ meeting. We will also be showcasing innovations which have taken place within the Trust over the past year and hope that people take the opportunity to come along and see what has been achieved so far.”

Sean Lyons, Chairman

To attend either the formal Annual Members’ Meeting or the health talk, or to book a place on the bus, call 01623 622515 extension 3575 or email membership.sherwoodforest@sfh-tr.nhs.uk.

Trust Board Meetings Members of the public are also welcome to attend our monthly Board Meetings. 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 dates for the next four meetings are: Thursday 28 August Thursday 25 September Thursday 30 October Thursday 27 November More information can be found on the Trust’s website at www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk under ‘About us’ and ‘Board of Directors.’

Designed and published by: Octagon Marketing Company Ltd, Britannic Chambers, 8a Carlton Road, Worksop, Notts S80 1PH. Tel: 01909 478822.

3.30-6.30pm – King’s Mill Conference Centre, King’s Mill Hospital