Winter 2023 | issue 26
THE
BRINGING MEMBERS, STAFF AND PATIENTS THE LATEST TRUST NEWS
North West Anglia
NHS Foundation Trust
TAKE A WALK ON THE WOODLAND SIDE – STAFF WELLBEING AREA UNVEILED P5
WELCOME FROM THE
News from our Volunteers
Chief Executive
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Welcome to the Winter edition of The Pulse magazine. It is hard to believe that we have reached the end of 2023 and will be wrapped up in scarves and gloves for the next few months.
Looking back over a busy year, it is pleasing to see how much our fantastic staff have achieved to care for so many patients in 2023. On top of that, we have continued to plan and develop services and facilities for the future across our sites. But I am also aware how vital it is to continue to our work to improve the experience of those patients who are waiting for treatment. We are prioritising those patients waiting longest for appointments as part of a dedicated push to overcome the delays to care that have impacted the local and national health service in the past few years. In the next edition of The Pulse we will be able to share our progress on this important programme of work. Since I joined North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust in September, I have been fortunate to meet so many staff and see the great things they are doing, as well as understand the challenges they work with. Alongside visits to wards and departments, I have been on portering duty in the Emergency Department and worked a 12-hour shift as a Healthcare Assistant on a ward that cares for elderly patients. It was a fascinating and rewarding experience and I have renewed admiration for the hundreds of Healthcare Assistants at TeamNWAngliaFT for the invaluable contribution they make to patient care. We were able to honour our amazing staff at the Trust’s Outstanding Achievement Awards held in October. It was a glitzy ceremony that allowed our teams to ditch their scrubs and uniforms and enjoy a chance to dress up and celebrate as one big team. You can find out more about our winners on pages 9-12.
Exciting Theatres update from Hinchingbrooke
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Dementia service round up
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Christmas in hospital is clearly not the nice as Christmas at home can be, but on page 3 we showcase all we are doing to mark the festivities across our hospitals and bring some cheer to patients and staff alike. Also in this edition, we feature the work of our amazing volunteers. The service is going from strength to strength as we recruit some very special people to support patients and staff. Read more on page 5.
Awards special
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Finally, I’d like to wish you all a safe, happy and healthy festive season. Hannah Coffey Chief Executive Winter 2023 | issue 26
THE
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
Contact Us The Pulse magazine is compiled by the Communications Team at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust. If you have any comments, or would like to make a suggestion about a subject you would like to read about in our magazine, please call the Communications Team on 01733 678024 or email: nwangliaft.communications@nhs.net
Spotlight on Stamford BRINGING MEMBERS, STAFF AND
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PATIENTS THE LATEST TRUST NEWS
TAKE A WALK ON THE WOODLAND SIDE – STAFF WELLBEING AREA UNVEILED P5
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HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY TEAM GEARS UP TO DELIVER ITS CHRISTMAS PRESENCE TRUST WIDE The festive season is a time for celebration, reflection and remembrance – and not surprisingly, is one of the busiest periods for the Hospital Chaplaincy team. The team will be offering support and bringing comfort and joy to dozens of staff, patients and visitors at Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke and Stamford and Rutland hospitals. Some of the main highlights include:
- Hinchingbrooke Christmas Carol Service
Peterborough City Hospital
• T uesday 19 December - 2pm - Carol Singing Around the Wards
• Monday 11 December - 5.30pm at Peterborough Cathedral - Trust Christmas Carol Service
• T hursday 21 December - 2pm - Carol Singing Around the Wards
• Thursday 21 and 22 December - 6.30pm St Peter’s Singers will be Carol Singing
Stamford and Rutland Hospital – including John Van Geest
• Christmas Day - 10.30am - Christmas Day Service in the Atrium with the Salvation Army Band, followed by 11am Christmas Day Communion Service in the Chapel of the Faith Centre
• Friday 22 December - 11.30am - 2.30pm - Carol Singing
Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon • Thursday 14 December - 4pm in the Atrium
The chaplaincy service provides a multifaith service all year round. This includes faith sensitive and compassionate care to the diverse communities that the hospitals serve, facilitating rites, rituals, and care for a variety of faiths and beliefs to accommodate their needs.
Winter Market brings festive cheer to patients at Peterborough The Christmas season is just around the corner and our colleagues at Progress Health have been working hard to arrange another Winter Market in the main atrium at Peterborough City Hospital. As we went to print, 16 white gazebos’ were being set up through the middle of the atrium, with stall holders selling candles, books, arts and crafts, handmade items, jewellery, cakes and more. The market will be there until Friday 15 December and is available for anyone looking for gift ideas or to treat themselves.
Julie Cox, Operations Officer, from Progress Health, said: “This will be our 4th Winter Market since we first started in 2019, with a break during the pandemic, and each one has been a success. We have received such lovely feedback from staff and patients saying how nice it is to have the stalls within walking distance for a browse during a lunchbreak or to get presents for loved ones while they are in hospital.”
Volunteers will also be on hand to assist any patients who need help getting down from the wards in a wheelchair.
The stalls will be open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm for staff, visitors and patients.
Trust charity backs ‘Giving Tree’ appeal to help families in need this Christmas North West Anglia Hospitals’ Charity is focusing it’s seasonal fundraising efforts on the Giving Tree appeal this year. Staff working at the hospitals and members of the public are being asked to donate presents for local underprivileged children in their local community. The Giving Tree was set up in 2016 by a member of staff to provide Christmas presents to children that would otherwise have nothing to unwrap on Christmas Day. Natalie Styles–Hudson, Site Senior Manager and Paediatric Nurse at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Last year we donated over 2,000 Christmas presents to underprivileged children and young people in our local communities. “Due to the amount of donations we received it enabled us to donate to more areas and far more children. Presents went to refuges, families using food banks, underprivileged children identified by local schools, and children living in hostels and temporary accommodation. We also gave presents to children of members of staff who were struggling. “If you would like to donate please keep an eye out on our hospital social media and website news page for more details.”
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Sweet treats raise money for staff charity The Volunteering Team recently held a cake sale and raised £785.22 for North West Anglia Hospitals’ Charity, which will benefit staff. The cakes were made and donated by other staff working at the hospital and a prize was won by the person that donated the most cake.
NEW DEAFBLIND VOLUNTEER SERVICE AT PETERBOROUGH CITY HOSPITAL Volunteers at Peterborough City Hospital have been learning a new skill to better support members of the Deafblind community. Trust volunteers have been learning the Deafblind Manual with help from local man and volunteer Jimmy. Jimmy has been deaf since birth and sadly when he was 18 also fully lost his sight. The Deafblind Manual is a hand-based communication system where you spell out the words through touch. This has helped Jimmy communicate with people around him in what can be a very isolating and lonely world.
New Swan Volunteer Team A new team of volunteers has been created at Hinchingbrooke Hospital to engage with endof-life patients and their loved ones, offering practical and emotional support. Our new Swan Volunteer Team also offer all patients companionship, maybe when they don’t have visitors. Visits from the volunteers can be booked between 10am and 2pm by contacting Jo Travers: jo.travers@nhs.net
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Peterborough has a large community of deafblind people so it’s important that volunteers and staff have opportunities to learn these skills as it really opens the world for deafblind people to be able to interact with those around them. Jimmy comes into the hospital fortnightly to volunteer with his long-term friend JJ, who
has worked with people with disabilities for over 20 years. They are available to teach others the Deafblind Manual and will be passing their skills and experience onto other members of the volunteering team. Professor Steve Barnett, Trust Chairman said: “I met both Jimmy and JJ who showed me how to use the Deafblind Manual, it was a lot easier than I imagined, although I need lots of practice to get my speed up. I think it’s really exciting that Jimmy can teach people the Deafblind Manual and although no qualifications will be gained real skills are being learned, which will make a big difference when trying to communicate with our Deafblind patients and visitors.” Jimmy said, via the Deafblind Manual: “I love volunteering and I’m so excited to come each week and help others learn how to talk to me and others in the same situation.”
WINTER WELLBEING
SUPPORTING YOU AT HOME: OUR VIRTUAL SERVICES As our local communities continue to grow, so does the need for our services – and so it is important that we strive to offer a wide and innovative range of patient services. Through our Virtual Ward initiative, we can offer care and support to our local community away from the traditional hospital ward environment – and allow eligible patients to receive regular checks and interactions with healthcare professionals in the comfort of their own home. Our Virtual Ward is designed to help individuals with health issues who need ongoing support. Virtual care is not a replacement for our hospital wards but simply an alternative option to those eligible. Patient’s may benefit from the familiar environment of their own home and witness reduced stress or a shorter recovery time. As well as providing a different support for patients, the virtual ward supports our hospital wards and helps us to manage our patients more efficiently. This means the focus can be solely on offering patients the best possible care as opposed to organising bed space for the most deserving patients.
was on the Virtual Ward for nine days, before being discharged. Philippa said: “It was really good to be at home, and I felt good that I was able to release a hospital bed for someone else who needed it more than me. I would highly recommend the Virtual Ward to patients if they are eligible, the kit was easy to use and I was able to recover at home and still have fabulous support from the nursing team.” Meanwhile, our Virtual Fracture Clinic is a service designed to speed up access to orthopaedic trauma care. Traditionally, patients who visited us with orthopaedic injuries would require multiple hospital visits for face-to-face assessments and treatment. Now, appropriate orthopaedic trauma patients will be referred to the virtual clinic where the team will review cases within three days following attendance at the emergency department, with no need for the patient to attend the hospital for an assessment.
Among the many patients to benefit from the Virtual Ward is Phillipa – who presented to our Emergency Department at Peterborough City Hospital with a complaint of Infective Gastroenteritis and Acute Kidney Injury.
Understanding winter pressures in our Emergency Departments
It is estimated up to two-fifths of Emergency Department attendances are avoidable or could be better treated elsewhere. There are many different care options – not only are they more convenient for patients but can also help relieve pressure on already busy emergency departments. Stocking up on appropriate medicines,
Whatever the season, staff at Peterborough City Hospital now have a fantastic new space to take a breather, connect with nature and make time for their wellbeing. Thanks to the kind generosity of Multiplex, Vercity and Progress Health and the incredible efforts of their dedicated teams; the Woodland Walk is now officially open. The feature complements Stamford & Rutland Hospital’s staff Wellbeing Garden and Hinchingbrooke Hospital’s variety of beautifully kept grounds – and is part of the Trust’s continued efforts in supporting staff. Although the remit of the initial project was only to clear and tidy up the overgrown area, Marcello Martignetti of Multiplex saw the potential of the area and took the initiative to lead a multi-organisational team in creating a haven for wildlife and a peaceful rest space for staff.
Philippa was admitted onto the Virtual Ward and sent home with equipment that allows the Virtual Ward team to monitor her condition whilst she was at home. Philippa
Winter pressures in the NHS is nothing new, it occurs every year and despite huge amounts of planning, pressures are always felt.
Take a Walk on the Woodland side
keep ourselves warm and avoid any unnecessary trips out in the cold can help to reduce unnecessary trips into hospital. Where appropriate, use the NHS 111 online service to get the help you need. The NHS 111 online service is available for people to use to get help on a wide range of health problems. The service is best equipped to direct people to the most appropriate local treatment option such as GPs, pharmacy consultations, a call-back from a nurse or urgent walk-in treatment centres.
With shaded areas and sheltered places to sit and talk, the circular walk also hosts spaces for staff to take a breather and practice mindfulness. The benches, bins and tables also make the forest an idyllic place for colleagues to eat or grab a coffee. The garden hosts various types of bird’s nests, bug hotels, bat boxes and hedgehog houses to encourage the local wildlife. A wide variety of trees as well as over 3000 bulbs have been planted, and many of the site’s features were created and repurposed from excess of the plots natural resources. The Woodland Walk will also provide opportunities for educational talks and activities for local schools and children’s groups.
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HINCHINGBROOKE UPDATE
HINCHINGBROOKE THEATRES HAS BEEN DESIGNED WITH PATIENTS IN MIND The building of the new Theatres Block is continuing at pace, with the external cladding and windows now complete and the internal plastering and wiring being installed. Staff were given the opportunity to tour the state-of-theart facilities, which will house seven operating theatres, including a dedicated obstetrics theatre, recovery area, reception, isolation area for patients who may be infectious, dedicated samesex spaces, large staff and shower room and panoramic windows to create a light and welcoming environment. Recovery Manager and Interim Theatres Manager, Julie Knight, has been sharing how her team have been integral to the plans. She said: “I have worked at Hinchingbrooke since 1996 when I was a student nurse and joined the team in Theatres in 2007. Our hospital is a friendly place and you soon get to know everyone very quickly due to the
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small community environment. I jumped at the chance to be involved with the redevelopment for our department. “It’s been great to be involved with the project, from small things like the colour scheme to where our recovery area should be. Our team are going to be working in the new building for years to come, so it is important that it works for our staff and improves the overall patient pathway and experience. “We have worked together as a collective team from the beginning, so simple things such as a pathology shoot, which will send specimens straight down to our Pathology Department for testing, moving and handling hoists will help to position patients safely and save our staff from lifting patients and the yellow and grey colour scheme throughout will provide a bright and airy space.” The building is due to be completed with the first patients through the door in early 2024.
HINCHINGBROOKE UPDATE
HINCHINGBROOKE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS TOOK US AROUND THE WORLD In 2023, we celebrated Hinchingbrooke’s 40th birthday by spotlighting some of our staff who have been working at the hospital since its doors opened. We also dusted a number of photo albums and shared some throwback photos of departments over the years. However, we did not anticipate the fantastic level of response received from the public following our appeal with local paper, the Hunts Post, for our Hinchingbrooke first babies appeal. We were inundated with stories from people sharing their memories, including twins born in the December of 1983 and a lady who now lives in the United States, who was the first patient to be transferred with her new baby from the original Maternity Unit, Primrose Lane Hospital, across to the then brand new Hinchingbrooke Hospital.
my contractions going. When Kelly was born on the 9 September I was told someone else had beaten me to the first baby born spot, but she was the second. It was a nice new hospital and we received lots of attention for the three days we were there.” Kelly said: “We don’t live in Huntingdon anymore, but my uncle does, and he told us about the appeal for the Hinchingbrooke 40th anniversary. I still have the newspaper cuttings of the Hunts Post from 1983 to mark the day I was born and recently celebrated my 40th by going for a meal with my friends and family and will be taking a trip to Italy soon.”
Kelly Luff was the second baby born on what was a new Maternity Unit at Hinchingbrooke, on 9 September 1983. 40 years on, Kelly and her mum Christine Slack both live near Mildenhall, where they celebrated her birthday with family and friends. Christine said: “I remember my doctor couldn’t hear her heartbeat, so I was sent to what was the new Hinchingbrooke Hospital to check everything was ok. The midwife met me at the main entrance and the Hospital was in darkness as many other areas weren’t open yet and some were still being built. It was very empty. They checked her heartbeat and everything was fine, but I had to walk along the dark corridors to get
Local school joins Hinchingbrooke birthday celebrations Whitehall Independent School, in Somersham, is also celebrating its 40th birthday this year and the Friends kindly got in touch with staff to work on some collaborative artwork to mark the occasions. School children have designed some wall art which will take pride of place in our Children’s Outpatients department. Lauren Williams, Paediatrics Outpatients Manager, said: “We would like to thank
all the children at Whitehall Independent School for taking the time to create the artwork
for our wall. It really brightens up our department and it marks our birthday perfectly.”
Working with staff on the new Hinchingbrooke Hospital is vital Following the announcement that Hinchingbrooke had been added to the New Hospital Programme in May 2023, the Redevelopment Project Team is continuing to work behind the scenes to move plans forward. Last year the team worked with staff on Development Control Plans (DCPs), which looked at key elements, such as how each department in a new hospital would fit together to provide the best patient journey and to coincide this with the New Hospital Programme future plans. Luke de Lord, Programme Director for the Trust, said: “It is really important that we engage with clinical and operational colleagues to ensure that the initial thinking and planning is robust so that everything fits together. This includes instances such as where our new Emergency Department will be positioned to ensure rapid access to our Diagnostics Department, Acute and Paediatric Assessment Units and Same Day Emergency Care. We have been on the first part of our journey working with our clinical teams for the past twelve months. There is much more detailed work to be undertaken in greater detail over the coming months and years as the Hinchingbrooke Hospital Redevelopment scheme evolves to ensure that it works for our staff and our patients. “A further round of engagement with Trust clinical and operational colleagues and with our system partners is being planned for the Autumn 2023. Follow up meetings will take place before the end of the year to share the findings with staff and look at what other elements need to be considered before we adjust our architectural plans accordingly. We will then be in a position to share this more widely with members of the public and our stakeholders.”
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DEMENTIA ROUND UP
ALISON IS HOOKED ON HOBBY TO SUPPORT DEMENTIA PATIENTS When it comes to hobbies, our Trust Dementia Nurse Specialist Alison Gray is hooked on hers! Alison is currently on course to crochet and deliver around 30 lap blankets for use by dementia patients at Peterborough City Hospital by Christmas. The crochet needles have been working overtime in recent weeks, with Alison relying on donated or bargain price wool purchased from her own pocket to complete her colourful collection. Having recently delivered a large number of blankets to Ward B14, Alison’s hooks are poised to continue on her crocheting campaign to make more blankets over the coming weeks. And with stocks running low, Alison is now appealing to colleagues who may have any spare wool they are happy donate to her. She said: “The more donations of wool received means that more lap blankets can be crocheted for wards and used by patients.” The blankets will be crocheted for Peterborough City Hospital only, as Stamford and Hinchingbrooke each already have a constant supply chain.
If you can help, please label your donation for Alison’s attention and drop it off with our wonderful volunteers in the Atrium at Peterborough City Hospital.
Here’s Alison (centre) with some of the fabulous blankets gratefully received by B14 Ward Manager Caroline White and Senior Healthcare Assistant Kerry Walker.
New dementia discharge support service up and running A new service to offer support to dementia patients or their carers discharged from hospital is now up and running.
“There may be many questions around their discharge, and we can help by simply being a listening ear to offer advice, giving information or signposting the person to the relevant local area.
Worries about returning home, concerns over caring responsibilities and much more can be supported by the team at the forefront of the Hospital Discharge Dementia Support service. Currently operating at Peterborough City and Hinchingbrooke hospitals, the service has been commissioned by NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board.
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Provided by the Alzheimer’s Society, dementia advisors John Spencer-Davis, Kim Gale and Teresa Richards make up the team delivering the service locally.
John said: “We recognise that for many dementia patients or for carers of a dementia patient, being discharged from the hospital environment can be an anxious time.
“The service is not restricted to any specific ward, we are here to offer support to meet the needs of a carer of someone living with dementia or worried about their memory, experiencing memory loss or waiting for a diagnosis.” Anyone needing to contact the team can email DAHospitalService@ alzheimers.org.uk.
AWARDS SPECIAL
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2023 From inspiring stories of caring and dedicated staff going the extra mile for patients, to colleagues working together to deliver the very latest innovation to the Trust – the stars were certainly out in force at the Trust’s Outstanding Achievement Awards 2023. Awards were presented in eight coveted categories, along with the publicly-nominated Health Heroes for Peterborough City Hospital, Hinchingbrooke Hospital and Stamford & Rutland Hospital. Congratulations to all the nominees, highly commended and overall winners. Here are just a few of the highlights: Health Hero Award (Peterborough City Hospital) Helen Taylor – NICU Senior Sister
Health Hero (Stamford & Rutland Hospital) Dermatology Consultant, Dr Kerry Shalders
Providing exemplary care, compassion and reassurance to a grief-stricken new mum who had recently given birth to twins at just 24 weeks, Senior Sister Helen Taylor has been named Peterborough City Hospital’s Health Hero. Helen was nominated for the way in which she was able to make the parents feel safe in her care, amid the shock of them tragically losing one baby whilst having to focus on their daughter who was fighting for her life. At around two-weeks old, the little girl – born in Cambridge - was stable enough to be transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Peterborough, so that the family could be closer to home and their older son. The nominator said: “She has special qualities that only certain people possess, and she 100 per cent looked after us as well as our baby. “If it hadn’t been for the strength and support shown to us that day and every day for the 16 weeks we spent on the unit, I have no idea how we would have coped.”
Dr Kerry Shalders was nominated by one of her patients who was suffering from a debilitating skin condition causing daily pain and discomfort.
Health Hero Award (Hinchingbrooke Hospital) Dr Rajiv Goonetilleke, Paediatric Consultant Praised for ‘going the extra mile’ and providing ‘genuine care’ to a family he has worked with for some 16 years, huge congratulations to Dr Rajiv Goonetilleke who picked up the Health Hero Award for Hinchingbrooke Hospital. Not only did paediatric consultant Dr Rajiv look after the nominator’s two children (both born with complex needs) but she says that he saved the life of her daughter when she developed meningitis.
Taking time and effort to explain treatment options, Dr Shalders truly listened when the patient was desperately trying to explain the depths of their despair at their condition. Previously the patient had been offered antidepressants which left them feeling unheard and unsure of where to turn, but the nominator says Dr Shalders made them feel valued and didn’t dismiss their feelings – saying: “Without her reassurance and kindness, I would still be in severe pain. I now have confidence, and a sense of freedom that I haven’t felt in a very long time. The world needs more doctors like her in the world.”
Described as a family friend as well as being their hospital consultant, Dr Goonetilleke goes as far as to remember birthdays – even offering his wife’s services to help make a penguin-themed cake as he knew the family’s daughter’s fascination with penguins.
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AWARDS SPECIAL
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AWARDS SPECIAL
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AWARDS SPECIAL
Outstanding Individual of the Year – Fiona Hope It was Community Cancer Nurse Fiona Hope’s care, compassion and sensitivity in supporting a patient and their family at an incredibly difficult time that earned her the prestigious accolade at the recent Outstanding Achievement Awards. Fiona works above her remit to support community patients and was carrying out a routine visit earlier this year at the home of a patient receiving palliative chemotherapy – but who was not in end-of-life care.
As well as dealing with her own shock, Fiona managed the situation calmly and with great sensitivity, breaking the news to his widow. Fiona supported the shocked family during the process of the unexpected death, liaising with the GP, arranging for other visits to be covered and for her own daughter to be collected from school so that she could stay with the widow until their family arrived.
Outstanding Contribution to Patient and/or Staff Safety of the Year - Elouise Pond
On arrival, the patient’s wife informed her that her husband was still asleep upstairs but could be woken.
Outstanding Contribution to Patient and/or Staff Safety of the Year - Elouise Pond Just a few weeks into joining the NHS, Healthcare Assistant Elouise Pond won a monthly staff award.
The patient was found lying peacefully in bed, but it was clear to Fiona that he had passed away some hours before.
Volunteer of the Year - Polly Watson Since joining the Trust in May 2022, Polly Watson has contributed over incredible 430 hours of volunteering. She is a dedicated, reliable team member in the Emergency Department at Peterborough City Hospital, also supporting new starters in placement.
Nominee in Outstanding Individual of the Year Fire Safety Officer Trevor Lindsay It was whilst he was off duty and at home that Trust Fire Safety Office Trevor Lindsay was alerted by his neighbour to a house fire on their street. On being given access to the rear of the property, quick-thinking Trevor scaled two six-foot fences to reach the house – taking control of the situation and ordering the neighbour to set up a garden hose. Trevor entered the house, calling out to see if anyone needed assistance, while at the same time removing burning debris and burnt objects onto the lawn so that they could be dowsed. He remained at the scene, helping to administer first aid to the victim, and assisted Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service with their subsequent fire investigation.
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Polly does everything with compassion and kindness and won her monthly award at the start of the year after supporting an endof-life patient who sadly passed away on Christmas Eve.
Working in an area that can often result in difficult news for prospective parents, her nomination came from a situation where the patient being scanned was found to have no heartbeat for her baby. Elouise supported the patient during the traumatic time of having to have a procedure following her heartbreaking news. The patient says that even though it was an awful experience, having Elouise by her side will always be the positive in what happened to her.
The support she gave the patient was not just of basic care for their emotional needs, but also to the patient’s wishes at the end of her life. Polly spent precious moments talking with the patient about her life and the things that mattered most – she went beyond the call of duty and helped to ensure the patient died with dignity and respect. Before their passing, Polly took time to help the patient write a letter to their loved ones, and really helped give comfort in those heartfelt, important moments.
Team of the Year – Rainforest NurseLed Clinic Peterborough City Hospital Recognised for the amazing work they do in helping to make a difference to our young patients, this team helps to ease the minds of anxious children and their families. Not only do they help with bloods for young children with difficult access, but the team from the Rainforest Nurse-Led Clinic provide a safe service to provide regular infusions for patients, thus freeing up space on the children’s ward. They build connections with families and offer a welcoming space where even the anxious and scared children feel at home. From a patient safety perspective, team members often form a bridge between multiple service providers and the families.
HOSPITALS’ CHAIRTY FOCUS
HOSPITALS’ CHARITY PLOUGHS £500,000 INTO STAFF WELLBEING AND PATIENT EXPERIENCE From specialist equipment on the ward to artwork on the walls – over half a million pounds has been ploughed into enhancing patient experience and staff wellbeing during 2023. Many projects across Peterborough City Hospital, Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon and Stamford & Rutland Hospital have been made possible through generous donations from grateful patients and their families. Some £514,000 in donations, made to North West Anglia Hospitals’ Charity since the start of the year, has been spent on delivering a range of projects, big and small in the 75th year of the NHS. The Charity supports the work of the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust in enhancing the patient and visitor experience, supporting staff welfare and wellbeing and enhancing services. Some of the schemes in 2023 have included: • Donations totalling £26,000 for new equipment, including an ophthalmic injection chair in the eye department at Stamford & Rutland Hospital • A special examination chair for Peterborough City Hospital’s urology department • Educational toys and stickers for young patients attending the Amazon (Peterborough City Hospital) and Holly (Hinchingbrooke Hospital) Children’s Wards and interactive play tables at the children’s outpatient clinic
• F ridges and coffee machine donations to help staff maximise their breaks •N ew Sanctuary Spaces for our staff who wish to have some quiet time during their breaks, featuring comfy recliner chairs, home-like furnishings and a radio for background music • I mprovements to the Imaging (X-Ray) department waiting room at Stamford hospital which includes redecoration, new seating and a TV to provide entertainment whilst patients are waiting for their appointment •U pcoming redecoration of the Bereavement Suite at Hinchingbrooke Hospital to make the area feel more supportive and comforting •D ecorative upgrades to the specialised room for young people with mental health challenges, which makes the space less clinical and promotes calm and relaxation
Dust of your dancing shoes for the Spring Charity Ball! Plans are well under way for the 2024 cha-cha-charity ball – so hang on to those festive and New Year glad rags and dancing shoes. Following the success of our first ever Charity Ball last year (where we raised an A-MAZ-ING £30K!!), the North West Anglia Hospitals’ Charity is gearing up for another 10 out of 10 fundraising event. The Spring Ball will be a great opportunity to shake off the dark nights of winter and look forward to a new year where the North West Anglia Hospitals’ Charity will be continuing to support the wellbeing of our 7,000 exceptional staff and enhancing the experience of our patients, who are at the heart of everything we do. A table of 10 people is only £700, which includes drinks on arrival, a three-course dinner, a live band, disco, auction and raffle. We will also be highlighting the work of our FAB-U-LOUS staff and volunteers, who regularly go above and beyond in their care of our patients. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Progress Health and Prospect Healthcare, 100 per cent of the ticket price and money raised on the night will go directly to the charity. Save the Date: Friday 12th April 2024 at the Holiday Inn, Peterborough. If you would like to purchase a table, or you can help supply prizes for the auction and raffle, please contact the charity team via email at nwangliaft. HospitalsCharitySpringBall@nhs.net
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SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY
A year of reflection and celebration… The 5th July 2023 marked the 75th birthday of the NHS and we have spent the year encouraging staff and patients to join us in showcasing the amazing work our teams do every day – indeed some of our staff have devoted their entire careers to working in our hospitals! “The NHS treats over a million people a day and holds a very special place in the hearts of many of us,” says Hannah Coffey, Chief Executive. “We all know someone important to us who has needed care at some point in their lives and we are incredibly lucky to have our amazing staff and volunteers who deliver great care, day in and day out up and down the country.” Since the start of the year, we have seen the new commemorative timeline go up in the Peterborough City Hospital outpatient corridor and cheered on numerous staff members who participated in the special NHS 75 park run in the summer. We’ve talked about the important Windrush anniversary and eaten more cake than we care to admit! Hinchingbrooke Hospital also reached its 40th birthday in September and we have seen a truly impressive number of staff celebrating 40 years of service to the NHS. “Despite some of the challenges we face, every year is one to celebrate in the NHS” says Hannah. “We will continue to serve our patients and local communities, offering the highest quality care and strive to be a great place to work not just today, but for the next 75 years and beyond.”
DODDINGTON HOSPITAL OFFERS CLOSER TO HOME CARE FOR FENLAND PATIENTS AWAITING SURGERY A new service to offer closer to home care for Fenland patients awaiting surgery is now up and running at Doddington Hospital.
The clinics come as a result of a partnership approach between the Trust’s Transformation team (on behalf of the Surgery Division) and Outpatients team.
Patients awaiting orthopaedic surgery have been attending the nurse-led clinic which provides basic healthcare checks and assessments to patients prior to their surgery, helping to deliver a more convenient service.
Ana Alves, Outpatient and Health Records Operations Manager, said: “The weekly clinics give us the opportunity to see more patients closer to their home, offering them the convenience of accessing even more healthcare on their doorstep enhancing their patient experience.
For many local patients, this is more convenient, less time consuming and also eases capacity on the main hospitals on a daily basis. There are plans to extend the clinic at Doddington – which can see up to 40 patients a day – to include blood, ECG and other tests as part of the pre-op assessment.
There are plans to review the service and introduce it to other specialities in the near future.
Patients attending the clinic will still be required to have their surgery at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust’s main hospitals in Peterborough or Huntingdon – but are being invited for general observation and swabs to ensure they are fit for their upcoming procedure. They will have already completed a digital Pre-Op Assessment form, a Trust initiative to increase theatre utilisation, reduce cancellations and improve the patient experience.
New Cancer Community Clinic to commence A new clinic open to patients on an active cancer pathway living in Market Deeping, Bourne or the surrounding villages will take place every Wednesday from 22 November 2023. The Peterborough Community Cancer Nurses, (PCCN) team is expanding into Lincolnshire and will start an outreach clinic at the Deepings Surgery in Market Deeping,
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“We have worked very hard in partnership with the Transformation Team to deliver this new service, which is already being very well received.”
providing pre-treatment and consultant blood tests, supportive anti-cancer injections, removing chemotherapy pumps and caring for PICC lines. For more information about the clinic and what they can provide, please speak to your consultant or specialist nurse, or call 01733 677957.
SPOTLIGHT ON STAMFORD
MEET THE TEAM – DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING BOOKING Meet the Trust’s Diagnostic Booking Imaging Team, a multi-talented group of staff based at Stamford and Rutland Hospital and Hinchingbrooke Hospital. If you are one of the estimated 1,600 Trust patients attending an appointment for an MRI, CT, US or other specialty scan, the chances are it will have been booked by a member of this team.
patient’s journey – we are like the hub of the wheel reaching out to many different spokes. It is certainly so much more than simply picking up the phone and booking a patient’s scan appointment.
The 20-strong team is responsible for not only booking an estimated 320 scans every week, but rising to the challenge of guiding many vulnerable, elderly and non-English patients through the process.
The team – nominated for a 2023 Trust Outstanding Achievement Award in the Excellence in admin, clerical and corporate support category - books around 125 MRI appointments at scanners at the Stamford, Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke sites EVERY DAY; in addition to 95 CT scans and 150 additional scans in areas including DEXA, nuclear medicine, fluoroscopy and ultrasound.
“It’s not simply just a case of booking a patient in for their relevant scan and sending them the appointment,” said Radiology Booking Clerk Jackie Williams.
The five-day a week service prepares patients for their scan, providing them and their families with instructions and even having those difficult conversations.
“On a daily basis we speak not only to patients and their families but liaise with numerous other interested parties: GPs and consultants, medical secretaries, anaesthetists, care homes, other NHS or private healthcare providers, the prison service, the Trust’s play team and even booking interpreters.
Radiology Booking Clerk Heather Conte explains: “As a team we do go over and above – no two days are the same. “Many patients are anxious or fearful about coming into hospital and we bookers have to get control of the situation very quickly.”
“Communication hurdles often need to be overcome and our people skills come into play. Our booking system is for all patients who have been referred for a particular type of scan; from elderly people and those with dementia to children and prisoners.”
Prestigious military band strikes up for Stamford fundraiser Stamford concert goers were treated to the incredible sounds and sights delivered by one of the country’s most prestigious military bands. The British Army Band Sandhurst – which performed at the 2012 Olympic Games closing ceremony – brought with it some 30 musicians to perform a one-off concert at Stamford Endowed Schools in aid of Stamford and Rutland Hospital. Around £1,000 was raised from the concert, which has become an annual event, with the proceeds helping towards the cost of some new ophthalmic screening equipment at the hospital’s eye department.
She added: “Our role is central to so many other things that happen as part of a
Walking all over cancer – Nichola steps out to charity funds in support of her Dad When her dad Nick was diagnosed with prostate cancer this summer, Stamford and Rutland Hospital Deputy Outpatients Department Manager Nichola Wells wanted to help raise awareness and funds. Needing something that would really challenge her, Nichola (pictured) decided to sign up to Prostate Cancer UK’s March the Month – even though she admits to making every excuse possible not to walk somewhere. Or at least she did – before completing the tall order of notching up 11,000 steps a day for the month of September, despite injuring her knee, ending up on crutches and being ordered to put her feet up for a fortnight.
She said: “I absolutely hated walking anywhere, and the thought of doing around six miles a day to hit the steps target was a challenge in itself – and once I started, I realised just how demanding it was. “I walked around the hospital and Stamford town centre, meeting up with friends who supported me throughout, but part way through the month I injured my knee – which meant strict bed rest for two weeks. “It wasn’t ideal, but friends walked on my behalf and my daughter Grace took up the mantle to keep us on track which she did brilliantly.” From a target of £100, Nichola has raised almost £2,000, with donations pouring in from family, friends, colleagues and
even world darts champion Martin ‘Wolfie’ Adams, who lives locally. Nichola, who feels fitter after the challenge, has also discovered a newfound love of walking! She said: “In a few weeks, I have gone from hating walking to really enjoying it, and I intend to carry it on.” And the most celebratory part of the challenge came on the final day, when (having completed treatment) her dad Nick was given the all-clear.
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OUR TRUST
Join the Trust as a Member Membership is open to all patients and visitors, if you are at least 16 years old and live within our membership area of Greater Peterborough, Huntingdonshire or Stamford and South Lincolnshire, you can help us by having a say in how we run our three hospitals. Fill in our online application form here: https://secure.membra.co.uk/Join/ Peterborough Membership is free, and members will receive a copy of Pulse magazine, either by email or post, depending on your preference, which you can choose on your online application form. We have membership meetings throughout the year, which have interesting guests talking about different subjects. Tell us what you want to hear about so that we can shape our meetings for 2024. Contact us at nwangliaft.membership@nhs.net with your ideas.
PETERBOROUGH CITY HOSPITAL FOURTH FLOOR RECONFIGURATION WORK Work is now fully underway to relocate staff from a section of the fourth floor at Peterborough City Hospital (PCH), in order to start the conversion to open two new 36-bedded bays for patients. “The NHS overall is under increasing pressure to provide more beds,” says David Moss, Director of Estates and Facilities. “When PCH was built, the need for an increased bed capacity at some point was already forecast, as we knew the city was expanding. That is why the fourth floor was created in such a way that we could convert it to ward space as and when the time came.” Staff who were working in the area have now
been relocated to other offices, or the new purpose-built modular building on the hospital site, and preparation works have begun in order to convert the space into two medical wards. “A lot of work has gone in to the planning for this work and we’re hoping to complete the project by winter next year,” says David. “Staff have been incredibly helpful as we’ve had to ask them to relocate their work base, and everyone is very much in agreement that the addition of two new wards is going to help us provide a better patient experience.” You can find out more about the new patient wards on our website and in the next issue of The Pulse.
Follow us on social media Did you know that you can keep up to date with the latest news from your local hospital through following our social media accounts? We are on Twitter, Facebook and even Instagram!
Twitter @NWAngliaFT @NWAngliaMat Facebook Peterborough City Hospital Hinchingbrooke Hospital Stamford & Rutland Hospital NWAngliaFT Maternity Services
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Winter 2023 | issue 26
More great stories coming in 2024… We really hope that you have enjoyed reading about our fantastic staff and services across the Trust – it is our privilege to share these with you. And it doesn’t stop here; there will be many more articles, features and photos planned for 2024. Look out for the Spring issue – coming early next year. In the meantime, have a peaceful Christmas and happy and healthy New Year. BRINGING MEMBERS, STAFF AND
PATIENTS THE LATEST TRUST NEWS
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