Insight Northampton Autumn 2014

Insight

T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R N O R T H A M P T O N G E N E R A L H O S P I TA L PAT I E N T S A N D V I S I T O R S

Autumn 2014 Issue 52

New children’s A&E NOW OPEN department

FaRgaEziE ne m

New fracture clinic open too, and more A&E improvements on the way – See pages 8-11

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Free tickets to

Merlin

SEE BACK PAGE Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

2 ❘ INSIGHT

Insight Autumn 2014

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Good progress… and some concerns As you will read on page eight, we are making good progress with bringing about improvements to our A&E department. We do still have some concerns about the way commissioners currently fund the hospital to provide emergency care, because we are paid at a reduced rate for emergency admissions over a certain limit. As we have already seen a 15% rise in emergency admissions this year compared to last, you can see our problem – the busier we are, the more in debt we get. At the time of writing we are still trying to agree a sensible funding arrangement in relation to this issue. We are trying to ensure a rounded collaborative approach with our commissioners so that we plan together for the future for patients in Northamptonshire.

Another concern is that under-pressure clinical commissioning groups continue to set ambitious targets to cut avoidable hospital admissions, amid widespread belief that they can be reduced quickly and in large numbers.

(Another belief in some quarters is that hospitals admit too many patients just to guarantee an income. But doctors admit patients based on clinical need, not so they can be even busier and earn the trust more money.)

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CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S COLUMN ◗

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Editor: Peter Kennell 01604 523871 (peter.kennell@ngh.nhs.uk) Photos: Medical Illustration 01604 545251 Advertising: Octagon Design & Marketing 01909 478822 Insight is a free magazine, and we encourage our patients and visitors to take one home with our compliments. Please pass it on to a friend or relative when you have read it.

Printing and design of the magazine are provided free of charge in return for the revenue from advertisers. No NHS or charitable donations are used to fund its production.

We do know that as many as one in three of our patients could be in alternative care settings rather than in an acute hospital bed. We are continually exploring ways to facilitate this whilst at the same time we face a continual struggle to move people somewhere else when they are medically fit. This is because that hypothetical capacity is not actually available. Initiatives to deliver more ‘care in the community’ are all wellintentioned, but the facilities have to be in place first. As the Health Service Journal’s David Oliver has reported, several major reviews have all made this point – it can take 3-5 years for a new service to mature and deliver even a levelling off in acute activity. It’s important not to set up initiatives to fail by over-promising reductions that are not available.

Recently we had some significant discussions with social care and the commissioners about this issue. We are agreeing a plan with them that holds them accountable for reducing delayed discharges in a stepwise fashion in the next few months. This is clear progress and was the result of a directive from

the regulators who, following a recent meeting with us, praised the hospital for all our hard work on the emergency care pathway. They did feel we needed to continue making improvements but the overall progress and effort was noted. Although some days are still extremely challenging for us, I am pleased to say that we are receiving more compliments about A&E now, and far fewer complaints than in the past.

The work that we are doing with Kettering General Hospital to collaborate to provide improved services at a reduced cost is going well. Discussions are taking place at various levels about how to ensure that is productive, while we also look at each of our own services to develop a sustainable plan for them.

The work so far was discussed during a recent meeting of all the boards of the hospitals and commissioners in Northamptonshire and was well supported. The CEOs of all the county trusts are also meeting weekly to oversee progress on the collaboration work.

Finally, users of Twitter may want to know that I have started to post comments there. I decided I needed to make more use of social media so I will be tweeting and retweeting as a means of letting people know about positive things or to signpost things of interest.

You can find me @soniaswartCEO – and we also have a corporate account manned by our communications department @NGHNHStrust.

Dr Sonia Swart Chief executive

INSIGHT ❘ 3

◗ CHEMOTHERAPY APPEAL

Chemotherapy unit needs your help Northampton General Hospital has launched an appeal to raise funds to refurbish its chemotherapy suite, giving patients more privacy and providing a brighter, more uplifting area for patients and more practical working space for staff.

The department, which cares for people receiving treatment for all types of cancer, plans to rejuvenate the whole suite as part of a £350,000 project.

The appeal has already made headway with the unveiling of a brand new treatment room, thanks to donations from the Bigley family in memory of Andrew Bigley, who received treatment there before sadly passing away in 2011. The Wellingborough family raised more than £30,000 to build the room, which is now used every day by patients for consultations and blood tests.

Community fundraiser for Northamptonshire Health Charitable Fund (NHCF), Alison McCulloch, said: “We want to make it more welcoming for patients because a positive frame of mind is so important medically.”

Artist’s impression of the new layout, which will provide more privacy for patients

The campaign will see the openplan chemotherapy treatment room divided into separate bays, allowing more privacy for patients. Other plans include a better equipped room for nurses to prepare treatments more efficiently, a utility room to maintain products, such as “cool caps” that can be worn by women during chemotherapy to reduce hair loss, and a special room for a doctor and pharmacist to be able to prepare

We want to make it more welcoming for patients because a positive frame of mind is so important medically.

The new treatment room donated by the family in memory of Andrew Bigley

4 ❘ INSIGHT

prescriptions on site.

The proposed refurbishments include careful use of design, lighting and colour, to transform the treatment area into a more welcoming and calming unit, while the new layout will offer more privacy to patients and practical working space for staff.

More than 450 chemotherapy day case patients visit the chemotherapy suite each month in a room and department which is in much need of alteration, refurbishment and improvement.

Alison said: “We know that raising the funds in the current climate is going to be a challenge but anyone who has had the experience of someone with cancer knows how important the changes to the chemotherapy suite are. It is with your help and support that we will be able to reach the target of £350,000 to make these improvements.”

CHEMOTHERAPY APPEAL ◗

Cake sale and raffle A cake sale and raffle organised by chemo staff helped get our appeal off to a great start, with a fantastic turn-out on the day. The lovely homemade cakes, all donated from the chemo team, were soon snapped up, and the raffle saw the main prize, a giant chocolate bunny, generously donated to the children’s wards by the winner, Mrs Wheeler. Thanks to everyone involved, over £600 was raised.

Other events being organised by staff include the Chemo Commandos event in September, when 25 staff members will take part in a challenging military level Rock Solid obstacle course in Milton Keynes. To give their training a boost and donate, visit: www.justgiving.com/teams/ chemocommandos. Also in September, health care assistant, Heather Snedker, is organising a much less demanding through-the-decades fancy dress disco. Tickets for the event cost £10 each and can be ordered by emailing Debbie Smith via debbie.smith@ngh.nhs.uk

Please help us reach our target by fundraising or making a donation quoting Chemosuite.

Donate by:

Bank Transfer Acc.: 02137258 Sort code: 30-96-09 NGH Charitable Fund

Cheque Made payable to NGH Charitable Fund

Cash At the cashiers office, Billing Road entrance to hospital

Text CHEM35 £5 to 70070 to donate £5 instantly!

Have you got any pennies?

We are asking visitors to pick up hand-decorated “penny pots” to fill with loose coins and then return to the hospital. “Because,” said Alison McCulloch who, along with chemo staff, spent hours decorating the jars, “not everyone who wants to donate is up for climbing mountains and cycling across countries.”

JW McQueen Plastering started off our penny pot collections with collecting a total of £161.39 from just two pots! Travis Perkins and local self-employed traders who worked with them also donated into the pots to support the appeal.

If you would like to start your own penny pot collection, contact the charity on 01604 545047 for a pot and some information – or make your own. Every penny received will go towards the chemo suite refurbishment, so why not start your penny pot collection today!

Fundraising despite tragedies Ann Williams, who lost her husband and two daughters to cancer, is refusing to let the tragedies put her off raising funds for our chemotherapy suite. Ann held a garden party at her home in Lumbertubs, and also sold bookmarks featuring a poem her daughter wrote before she died, to raise money for the appeal.

After losing 13-year-old daughter Julianne in 1979, her husband Roy died last February of oesophageal cancer.

Then on April 23 this year, her daughter, Heidi, succumbed to breast cancer.

She said her only way to cope now was to throw all her efforts into raising funds. Ann said: “I have to admit that I’m bitter against God for what has happened. But that doesn’t change the fact that the hospital needs funds to make other cancer patients’ treatment better. After so many losses you can either sink or you can swim. I chose to swim.”

Thank you!

Local organisations and businesses have also been getting involved in different ways to offer their support. ◗ Kicking off the appeal was a £33,000 donation raised by Lindsey

Carmen who organised a “Big Wig” Ball earlier this year.

Northampton added £60 by donating 50p from every drink sold for one day.

◗ Kendrick UK Construction Ltd, added to the total with a donation of £250.

If you would like to organise an event to support the appeal, contact our charity on Northampton 545091.

◗ No. 50 Cafe on Duston Main Road in

INSIGHT ❘ 5

Northampton General Hospital

◗ NEWS

NHS Trust

What we do Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust provides general acute services for a population of 380,000 and hyper-acute stroke, vascular and renal services to people living throughout the whole of Northamptonshire, a population of 684,000.

Ruth Boycott of the community stroke team with her laptop in the car

The Trust is also an accredited cancer centre and provides cancer services to a wider population of 880,000 who live in Northamptonshire and parts of Buckinghamshire.

In addition to the main hospital site, which is located close to Northampton town centre, the trust also provides day surgery and outpatient services at Danetre Hospital in Daventry.

We provide the full range of outpatients, diagnostics, inpatient and day case elective and emergency care and also a growing range of specialist treatments that distinguishes our services from many district general hospitals.

Our vision and values Our vision is to provide the best possible care for all of our patients. This requires NGH to be recognised as a hospital that delivers safe, clinically effective acute services focused entirely on the needs of the patient, their relatives and carers.

These services may be delivered from our acute or community hospital sites or by our staff in the community.

Our prime focus is to provide the best possible care for all of our patients, regardless of the setting where this is undertaken.

Our values are: ◗ We put patient safety above all else ◗ We aspire to excellence ◗ We reflect, we learn, we improve

Mobile access for staff NGH midwives, and members of our community stroke team, have seen their working day transformed over recent months thanks to support from the NHS Nursing Technology Fund.

Earlier this year the hospital received funding for 100 mobile devices for its Mobility in the Community project, and 74 devices are now in use by midwives and 26 devices with the stroke team. NGH was the first trust to report completion of the rollout. The project is part of the trust’s “paper light” approach to medical records and providing access to clinical systems wherever and whenever required.

The technology gives staff secure access to the information they need, wherever and whenever they need it out in the community. They can access many clinical

systems, up-to-date patient records and test results, and make or reschedule appointments while they are out and about. This reduces the amount of time they have to spend travelling back to office bases to update records, allowing them more flexibility in their working day and ultimately giving them more time to provide quality care to patients.

The midwifery team report that by using the new system they have reduced the first booking appointment by 24 minutes, and expect to make time savings on all follow up appointments.

Ruth Boycott, a member of the Community Stroke Team who care for people in their own home following a stroke, said: “It’s like having your whole office in the car”.

◗ We respect and support each other

Who we are Chairman Paul Farenden | Chief executive Dr Sonia Swart | Chief operating officer Deborah Needham | Interim medical director Dr Mike Wilkinson | Interim director of nursing, midwifery and patient services Jane Bradley | Director of finance Simon Lazarus | Director of facilities and capital development Charles Abolins | Director of strategy and partnerships Chris Pallot | Director of workforce and transformation Janine Brennan | Non-executive directors Graham Kershaw, David Noble, Nick Robertson, Liz Searle, Phil Zeidler.

Contact us NGH all departments: 01604 634700 Website: www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk

6 ❘ INSIGHT

L-R: Sally, Jackie and Tina with their partners

Strictly successful Our first-ever Strictly NGH in June was enthusiastically supported by a lively audience. Thanks to all staff, family and friends who came along to support the dancers, and well done to our competitors who raised almost £10,000 for the charitable fund’s chemo suite appeal through sponsorship. The competition was very hotly

contested, with each of the couples dancing a waltz and a salsa.

When it came to the judges’ decision SallyAnne Watts and her partner Jason were declared the winners, with Jackie Palmer and Mark in second place and Tina Arnold and Allen in third.

PATIENT PRAISE ◗

First-time parents so pleased with labour ward’s great care Elsie Louise King was born at NGH to firsttime proud parents James King and Kay O’Reilly. James and Kay, now “loving life with a healthy little young lady”, wrote to us saying “great work needs to be acknowledged and praised”.

These were some of the comments received from other mums when we posted James and Kay’s letter on Facebook…

Selina Boddington How lovely to hear such positive story, the midwives in NGH are amazing. All of our 6 babies were born there and I could not fault them with each delivery. I had a few high risk pregnancies and the care we received each time was wonderful. Well done! x

They said: “As parents-to-be it can be a very tough, scary time with no knowledge of what to expect, and we relied on the knowledge of the labour ward. Our time spent there was absolutely top quality. We would never have thought that it was going to go so well, and we believe that was mainly down to the lovely midwife Lisa Sexton and the care and support that she offered.

Alison Matthews For both my daughters, now aged 8 and 3 I received great care during my labours and afterwards. I have fond memories of the midwives I had.

Our ‘lovely’ midwife Lisa Sexton

“Our baby is now so calm and content and we feel that was down to having a nice calm birth and great guidance on after care when at home. Lisa was instructive but we always felt we were in control and even that we knew what we were doing. She even made me (Dad) laugh on occasions.

James and Kay wiith Elsie Louise

Facebook fans

“All the other midwives were also very helpful, and we would definitely come to NGH again. We have told many people how great it was and will continue to do so as we don’t think you guys get enough credit for the jobs you do, and with such great passion.

Well done labour ward and well done Northampton General Hospital!”

Debbie Jean Sutton Aww we had Lisa too... Love her and all the NGH labour ward staff, you’re all amazing xxx Mary Corrigan I had my baby Aoife by c section on 7th jan. In total I was in 12 days and all the midwives were fantastic. Not just the midwives but all the staff were amazing too.

Sophie Kean Lisa is a brilliant midwife, she delivered my baby and couldn’t have asked for better care Holly Hamer Lisa is bloomin awesome!

Charlene Underwood I had a brilliant experience having my baby

by CS at NGH. Brilliant aftercare and support.

“Danielle looked after us both” Another popular Facebook post was a photo of student nurse Danielle Markie, praised by a grateful mum following her daughter’s treatment on Disney ward. Katrina Hiskey sent us this photograph and wrote: “This is the lovely lady who looked after me and my daughter Alanna today - such a lovely person, who bent over backwards to help us. Keep up the

good work.”

Later she added: “Thank you for all your hard work, it wasn’t just Alanna you looked after, but it was me too. Thank you so much xx.”

Many other Facebook users, including some of our own staff, joined in and added their praise to what was a very popular nomination. So a big well done to Danni! And thank you Katrina, it’s a lovely photo.

Student nurse Danielle Markie with Alanna

INSIGHT ❘ 7

◗ URGENT CARE

Moving ahead with A&E improvements As rising attendances continue to pile the pressure on our stretched A&E department, year-long building works are under way at NGH to extend and improve the facilities.

Making good on a promise to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following its inspection in January, a new dedicated children’s emergency department has been developed and is already in use. So too is a new enlarged fracture clinic, moved to a new location in order to create more space for enlarging A&E – see our feature over the page.

The latest phase of improvements, begun in August, will see a larger resuscitation unit and more ‘majors’ cubicles in which to treat more serious accidents and injuries. Key to the whole development will be a new GP assessment unit through which less serious cases will be streamed, in order to prevent patients with minor complaints from burdening the system.

This current phase of building works should be complete by the end of December, but further work will continue well into the middle of 2015 in order to permanently relocate other departments temporarily displaced to enable these improvements to be completed.

Capital projects manager Tony O’Donovan said that the total cost of the project was likely to be around £3 million.

Our A&E department now has a different feel: safer, calmer and more controlled.

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The new children’s department is placed centrally in A&E, adjacent to the nurses’ station and control room, but behind closed doors that ensure children do not have to see or hear treatment of adults in the unit.

There are three separate rooms for consultations and treatment, plus a dedicated waiting area with toys and other distractions available.

Also part of the new set-up is the

introduction of paediatric nurses to the area, to ensure there is 24-hour access to a Registered Sick Children’s Nurse. The department was planned and completed in record time – just three months – following publication in March of the CQC inspection report which recommended its introduction.

In the wider A&E department there have been enormous efforts to get to grips with the urgent care pathway and ‘break the cycle’ of months of poor performance. Chief executive Dr Sonia Swart said: “Despite everyone working hard and appearing to be doing the right things, we were not providing patients with the care they deserved. We missed the target to deal with 95 per cent of patients inside four hours every month from June 2013 to April 2014.”

A ‘command and control’ system was implemented at chief operating officer level, and consultants McKinsey were enlisted to coach and support hospital managers in analysing and solving the problems. Half

the causes were diagnosed as laying outside the trust, primarily in delayed discharges awaiting action by community or social care, which helped put the focus for improvements on working together with partner organisations.

Among many other initiatives, daily clinical safety ‘huddles’ were introduced for 15 minutes every morning and afternoon to identify potential problems and reduce delays to patients.

Despite the continuation of very challenging days when attendances peak, overall A&E performance has recovered and should improve further as the latest building projects are completed. Dr Swart said: “Our A&E department now has a different feel: safer, calmer and more controlled. There is more to do but we have the capability to continue the improvements. I think we have abolished that awful feeling that there was nothing more we could do that would really make a difference.

The glass is definitely half full again and we are ready to move ahead.”

Some of our A&E staff in the new children’s waiting and play area

Alfie Scully, aged 5 from Kingsthorpe Hollow, is checked over by Dr Mohsin Ullah

Capital projects manager Tony O’Donovan outside A&E where the new GP unit is being built

Other building projects under way Due to the kind donation of funds from the Hannah Payne Trust we are refurbishing the parents room on Paddington ward.

We have started on the construction of a new paediatric assessment unit adjacent to Disney ward, allowing children to be admitted directly on to the children’s wards and helping save time at A&E.

A&E sister Lisa Barnes looks after a young patient in one of the new children’s treatment rooms

A new room is being provided in the Pre Operative Assessment unit to carry out heart rate checks on patients prior to their operation.

INSIGHT ❘ 9

◗ ORTHOPAEDICS

New fracture clinic Patients are benefiting from improved efficiency and shorter waiting times for broken bones, following the move of our very busy fracture to a new, larger area. The change is the first phase of a wider plan to expand urgent care facilities at the hospital.

The new area, still close to A&E and reception but now on the opposite side of the main entrance doors, cost half a million pounds to redevelop. It now boasts a large central plaster room, 11 consulting rooms, a computer room for staff, and a special bay for treating children.

It also houses a “mini museum” in the waiting room displaying oldfashioned orthopaedic equipment from the hospital archives.

Healthcare assistant Sam Harding uses a special cutter to remove a cast without damaging the skin. The vibrating blade automatically stops as soon it reaches skin as there is not enough resistance for the blade to cut.

Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Mr Alistair Jepson

Staff and patients are very happy with the new clinic which is now more efficient.

The “mini-museum” in the waiting area was put together with the help of the NGH archive volunteers

10 ❘ INSIGHT

Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Alistair Jepson, who helped to design the new area, said clinic patients can expect a “quiet, confidential and better experience”.

Mr Jepson said: “Staff and patients are very happy with the new clinic which is now more efficient, can accommodate increased numbers of staff, and is more separated from orthopaedics. We now have 13 consultants, up to four at any one time, and there is room for us here to provide 30 clinics a week.”

The old clinic, which opened in 1992 when orthopaedics transferred from Manfield hospital, had become very noisy

I have always been interested in architecture, it’s surprisingly similar to surgery in some ways.

and congested. The number of patients has increased by 75% over the last 20 years due mainly to the rise in population, whose greater average age also makes them more prone to fractures and injuries. In addition there has

ORTHOPAEDICS ◗

Mr Jepson examines patient Marek Miklas, who has had his cast removed following a leg fracture

been an increase in referrals from A&E of injuries which in less pressured times may have been dealt with there.

The new clinic, which took three months to build after three years of planning, was partly designed by Mr Jepson. He said: “All the consulting rooms are built around the main plaster room, which is the key to a smoother flow of procedures. The room is sealed so it’s a much quieter environment, and a dedicated bay for children’s treatment avoids the bottleneck that used to feature in the old area.”

Healthcare assistant Teresa Morgan (right) practises using the cast cutter. Ortho practitioner Julie Thorpe supervises, and student nurse Sarah Chmura lends a hand – or rather an arm!

Commenting on his contribution to the design process, he said: “I have always been interested in architecture, it’s surprisingly similar to surgery in some ways.”

INSIGHT ❘ 11

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12 ❘ INSIGHT

PARTNERSHIPS ◗

Supporting cancer patients to Live Well NGH and Macmillan Cancer Support jointly hosted a free Living with and Beyond Cancer event providing people affected by cancer information, advice and support about living well during and after treatment.

The uplifting event, held at Northampton’s Hilton Hotel in June, was a real success with around 90 people attending including patients and carers, volunteers, healthcare professionals and charity representatives.

There was a real buzz throughout the day, with a combination of informative discussions, demonstrations and activities, and a chance to meet up with people who had been through similar experiences.

Workshops were specially tailored for people affected by cancer on practical topics such as financial advice, eating well and managing fatigue. There were also sessions on mindfulness and Indian head massage to encourage relaxation and focus on positive mental wellbeing. Local Boots Macmillan Beauty Adviser, Marie, held a session on makeup techniques showing how to manage the visible side effects of cancer treatment The event encouraged patients and carers to try something new, and many took part in workshops that involved dancing, singing and even laughter therapy. A local Walking for Health group led some walks near the hotel grounds to show how easy it can be to get active following cancer treatment.

Sisters Diane and Kathy Hughes attended the event. Diane, who is currently undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer at NGH, said: “I saw a flyer for the event in my oncology clinic and thought I would come along and see what it was all about. I was hoping to meet some other people, share some experiences and find out about the support out there locally. It’s lovely to see so many people here, it’s been a great turnout and a really interesting day, I have found

Kathy Hughes (left) and her sister Diane who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer

it really uplifting. I had a go at the dancing workshop which was a great laugh, so much fun. It’s been great chatting to all the local support services that have been represented here today as well, people really don’t realise the range of support that’s out there.”

Kathy said, “It has been great, a real opportunity to forget about the harsh reality of a cancer diagnosis for a day, to get away from it all and enjoy a bit of lighthearted fun and respite. I have been really inspired by this event, it has given me a chance to meet other people and share experiences. You don’t always want to dwell on cancer, you want to get on and live your

life, start a new path and a new journey beyond cancer, and that’s what this event has been all about.”

Liz Summers, lead cancer nurse at NGH, said: “It was wonderful to be part of such a fantastic day for cancer patients and their families. We are very grateful to all the healthcare professionals, charities, support organisations and volunteers who came together to make this event so successful. We would particularly like to thank Macmillan Cancer Support for sponsoring the event and the Macmillan team for working so hard to make the day such a success.”

INSIGHT ❘ 13

◗ NEONATAL CARE

New service extends support for Gosset families and babies

By Kenny Englefield

Support for premature babies doesn’t stop when they leave NGH, thanks to a new initiative set up by our Gosset neonatal ward No one understands better than our staff on Gosset ward that having a baby on a neonatal unit can be a very stressful and challenging time for families.

And although pre-term babies and their parents get great care while they are on the ward, many parents struggle after leaving hospital, feeling that they have missed out not just on a normal

delivery, but often all the support that goes with it.

Now, both while babies are in hospital and following discharge home, some extra help can be provided through the Family and Baby support (FaB) service. Formed by forging a link between the county council’s children’s centres and the NGH neonatal service, FaB provides

a vital link between hospital and home. It is a cost neutral service with benefits for all involved.

Gosset ward sister Wendy Copson picked up the idea at a neonatal network meeting and immediately thought that connecting up community and hospital resources was a brilliantly simple idea – one that would help to bridge a gap

I get the parents to think through what their needs are.

L-R Joanne Cooper, outreach nurse/discharge coordinator; Mikki Peers, senior family worker, Duston library children’s centre; Wendy Copson – Gosset (neonatal) ward sister

14 ❘ INSIGHT

NEONATAL CARE ◗

I really enjoy the satisfaction that comes with the job, especially seeing the look on the parent’s faces that says ‘this is my baby and I can take it home’ and knowing they will be ok.

that she had been aware of for some time. Three years ago she appointed a discharge coordinator, Jo Cooper, and a year ago extended Jo’s role to include an outreach service, visiting some parents and babies at home. The latest development in June this year saw Mikki Peers, a senior family worker based at Duston library children’s centre, come on board the project too.

Jo Cooper in her role as discharge co-ordinator looks after families and babies from admission right through to going home, liaising with GPs and health visitors, dealing with documentation, follow-up appointments, and much more. She says: “I get the parents to think through what their needs are, and plan how they are going to care for their baby when they get home. In a sense it is preparing them to accept from the outset that the baby is theirs, not ours.

“I really enjoy the satisfaction that comes with the job, especially seeing the look on the parent’s faces that says ‘this is my baby and I can take it home’ and knowing they will be ok.”

Jo also provides basic life support training for every set of parents that come through the unit – a service that is really appreciated by parents, and is described by sister Wendy as a “phenomenal achievement”. After discharge Jo calls parents at home to see how they are getting on and, in her extended outreach role, she visits parents of babies who have been allowed to return home with a feeding tube still in place, to replace the tubes and check that all is well. “The relationship with these families is lovely because they take you into their home, whereas they are normally in our clinical environment. You work more as a team and it’s more relaxed – a privilege really.”

Mikki Peers, who helped Jo set up the new FaB service, describes herself as the “neutral territory” between hospital and home. She comes into the unit two days a week and explains to parents how she can support them once their baby is discharged. “I tell them how they can access services, benefits, and advice. Many parents go away better off financially, often as a result of milk tokens, free vegetables, healthy vitamins and so on. I can help them find equipment and clothes, and talk to them about budgeting.”

Mikki can also help parents network and make friends, and chat with them about general or emotional worries

Lee and Laura Curtis with baby Brody and Mikki Peers

that they perhaps wouldn’t speak to nurses about. She explains what children’s centre can offer them, and arranges for families to be contacted by their local centre, but of course it’s the parents’ choice if they want support. Mikki is also setting up the Bookstart programme on the ward, to encourage babies’ development and bonding through listening to parents’ voices as they are read stories from books which are available in several languages. She also provides books of high-contrast black and white illustrations specially designed for babies to focus on.

“I think it’s nice for someone neutral to come in and ask how these parents are doing,” says Mikki. “I usually see little changes in their babies and I can pick out the positives about how much they’ve grown or how much more alert they seem. This closer liaison between the hospital, community and families has benefits for everyone and, although it has not been available for very long, parents have been really appreciative and we have already had some very positive feedback.”

The Family and Baby service - how it works Support can be offered in a variety of ways to fit in with your family’s individual needs. The service is tailored to meet the unique needs of each family admitted to the neonatal unit.

Support can include:

◗ Emotional Support ◗ Preparing for bringing your baby home ◗ Signposting to other relevant agencies ◗ Offering advice and assistance in budgeting and seeking financial help ◗ Helping parents to network and make friends ◗ Ongoing support once home With your consent your details will be shared with the link Family Support Worker who visits the neonatal unit every week. She will pass your details to a Family Support Worker based in your local Children’s Centre.

They will then contact you to arrange a suitable time and place to meet that suits the needs of your family.

The service is optional, and will only be provided with your consent.

INSIGHT ❘ 15

◗ CARDIOLOGY

Meet Margot, our new heart failure nurse

By Kenny Englefield

A second heart failure nurse is now in place to support people referred to a cardiologist or admitted as an emergency with heart problems.

Margaret Jeffs, known affectionately as Margot, has worked at NGH in other roles since 1982 – mainly on Dryden cardiology ward but also, until recently, as part of the hospital’s site management team. So what made her want to face a new challenge?

Margot said: “Working with the site management team was excellent and I learnt lots on a corporate level. But I really missed contact with patients and relatives so I was very keen to get back into a clinical setting and within a specialist role.”

Margot is now working alongside BHF specialist heart failure nurse Dot (Dorothy)Vass, who she says has taught her a lot in the few months she has been in post. She describes her role as being dynamic and diverse, and one that she admits is challenging but “very, very rewarding”.

“My job includes looking at all the BNP results that come through, which is a specific blood test that helps to diagnose and assess the severity of heart failure. I look at those each day and I go and review

Not all heart failure patients are cared for within medicine or cardiology, so Dot and I have to cover the whole hospital.

Now Margot is part of the very small team she is aiming to help promote its work, and to improve all round awareness of heart failure symptoms and management.

“Not all heart failure patients are cared for within medicine or cardiology, so Dot and I have to cover the whole hospital. It’s vital that we make all staff aware of the signs and symptoms of heart failure, and important that they know how to contact us and refer patients when they need to. We are also setting up link nurses on each ward. We will regularly update them with changes in cardiology and what is going on the field of heart failure, so that the link nurses can then go back and pass on that information to all the staff on their ward.”

Margot is settling well into her new job and is very positive about the future. She said: “I feel that I’ve a lot to offer to the service and I’m enjoying getting to grips with the role, working alongside (consultant cardiologist) Dr Sprigings and Dot to promote the service and move it forward.”

Working with the site management team was excellent and I learnt lots on a corporate level.

Dot Vass

16 ❘ INSIGHT

each patient, liaise with and support the medical and ward staff. I offer psychological and emotional support to patients and their families, and we also provide follow-up clinics for outpatients two days a week.”

Although it’s a very demanding job, Margot finds that regular visits to the gym help her to switch off after work, and – if that doesn’t achieve the desired result – there’s always the vino!

The value of specialist heart failure nurses Care provided by specialist nurses has been shown to improve outcomes for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), most often developed as a result of coronary artery disease.

Specialist heart failure nurses can help in significantly reducing the number of unplanned readmissions, length of hospital stay, hospital costs, and mortality. They have a wealth of knowledge and expertise in patient management and support.

Whereas a consultation with a doctor will usually be focused on optimising patients’ physical well-being following a heart attack, a nurse can spend time with patients and relatives, dealing with their worries and concerns and providing support and understanding when it is needed.

This leads to increased patient satisfaction and, as problems are addressed, to improved quality of life.

Symptoms of heart failure The symptoms of heart failure can vary from person to person.

The main symptoms are breathlessness, extreme tiredness, and ankle swelling, which may extend up the legs.

If you have symptoms of heart failure, a blood test is one of the things that will be carried out to help diagnose what is causing them.

Your blood will be tested for a substance called brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). If your heart is under high levels of stress, it will secrete BNP into your blood.

The test is able to detect these increased levels.

A natriuretic peptide test can also indicate the severity of your heart failure. Higher levels of BNP in your blood may indicate that you have more severe heart disease, while lower levels may indicate a milder form.

Margot Jeffs

◗ CANCER SERVICES

Innovative new project making a real difference to local cancer patients A Northampton man with terminal cancer said specialist nurses have inspired him to a new lease of life. ‘I’m dying, but I have never been happier’ he says Northampton General Hospital and Macmillan Cancer Support are working together on an exciting and innovative new Lung Cancer Pathway Project to improve the experience of lung cancer patients and ensure they receive the best possible care and treatment.

Clinical nurse specialist Lisa Wells said: “The pathway for lung cancer patients is often very difficult as they can experience a complex range of symptoms which require specialist support, and can result in the patient coming into hospital unnecessarily. So far we have worked to prevent nine

admissions and de-escalated three crisis situations.

“Also for patients who cannot be cured, prognosis can be short, giving little opportunity to come to terms with a life threatening illness before end of life decisions need to be made. This can have a devastating effect on the patient and leaves the carer feeling isolated and alone. We have ensured 100% of patients are now having these discussions so preparations are made and patients have the opportunity to die in the place of their choosing.”

The new model of care involves undertaking a holistic needs assessment for every patient to identify their individual needs, and looking at care planning at the point of diagnosis and significant points throughout their cancer journey to prevent emergency unnecessary admissions.

One patient who is already feeling the benefit of the project is James Keating-Wilkes from Northampton.

He was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in September 2013.

The support from Lisa and the team has been fantastic, they have been the link between all the different clinicians I see.

James said: “The support from Lisa and the team has been fantastic, they have been the link between all the different clinicians I see in the hospital, the local hospice, and my GP, which has meant my care is better coordinated. This has meant I am able to spend more time at home, so my experience as a patient has improved and has made me feel as though I am not battling this diagnosis alone.

James Keating-Wilkes, who was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in September 2013.

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“The holistic approach of the project has given me a vastly improved quality of life. They have

arranged for me to have access to oxygen at home to help with my breathlessness and I had a chest drain fitted, so rather than going to hospital for several days every few weeks to have the fluid drained from my lungs the district nurse comes to my home to do it every couple of days. The process only takes a few minutes and planning my care helps to ensure I don’t reach a crisis point and have to be admitted to hospital.

“I was also referred to a psychologist. The referral helped to enhance and maintain my positive attitude. Accepting the unacceptable is never easy, but with a positive attitude, a sense of humour and help from Macmillan I have been able to see myself as living with cancer and not dying from it. The emotional support for me and my partner has been extremely important, as she has really struggled with my diagnosis, and Lisa is always at the end of the phone to provide a listening ear. I have also been supported to make decisions around my end of life care when the time comes.

“My perception of lung cancer before my diagnosis was very different to what my actual experience of it has been. I am making the most of every day and I can honestly say I have never been happier than I am now. My diagnosis has not signified the end of my life, for me it’s been the beginning. I knew very little about Macmillan but having now engaged fully with them I cannot speak highly enough of the service and of the people who are delivering it.”

The Macmillan team consists of (left to right) Lung Cancer CNS Lisa Wells, Lung Cancer Support Nurse Rachael Mynard, Complex Case Manager Julie Reece, and Care Coordinator Georgie Morriss.

◗ SUSTAINABILITY

Garden renewal brings health benefits for patients and staff The regeneration of our Willow garden, completed in late spring, has already been attracting some positive feedback from patients and visitors. Many of our longer term patients really miss their gardens when they are staying with us, and there is good evidence that access to outdoor spaces, particularly in a healthcare setting, help to enhance the healing environment.

Our energy and sustainability manager Dr Clare Topping, who managed the renewal project, said: “The garden used to be looked after by volunteers, but since their retirement had become rather neglected. With the help of local landscape designer Mike Greaves, the NGH charity who provided funding for the plants, and our estates department, the area has been transformed.”

Clare believes that good outdoor spaces are important to hospitals, especially for one that is so close to the town centre. “Just looking at a garden is scientifically proven to aid recovery time. In one study of patients that had had gall bladder surgery, half were given a view of nature and half weren’t. Those that had the nature view needed less pain

relief, slept better, reported less stress and spent less time in hospital.”

Staff can also find stress relief from their busy jobs by taking time out in garden areas. Another study showed that, within three or four minutes of viewing nature scenes, blood pressure, breathing rate, brain activity and the production of stress hormones all decrease and mood improves. Almost all people interviewed found themselves more calm, and less stressed and anxious when they spent time outside.

Mike Greaves, who designed the new garden for free, has created something with scent, year round interest, movement and colour, that will enhance nature and will also be low maintenance.

Clare said: “By definition a healing garden needs to be relaxing and distracting with lots of vegetation and flowers and without any abstract art or sculptures. So, with this in mind, Mike created a space that has a number of pathways through it.

Scent is provided by flowers such as lavender, thyme, salvia and jasmine.

Grasses have been put in that will ripple in the breeze and provide a softer texture to contrast with some

of the other plants like thistles and sea hollies. Movement will also be gained from some of the taller plants such as the purple cow parsley, sweet rocket, verbena and geraniums.”

Many more plants were chosen for their bright colour and flowers and also for being good at attracting butterflies, ladybirds, bees and hoverflies. A bug box was put up, and we have leaf cutter bees nesting in there already - and bees, damselflies and butterflies visit each day.

“In the winter there will be colour from the bark of the specimen willow tree, the witch hazel flowers and some of the evergreens such as the heuchera, and in winter we might also get some goldfinches coming in to feed on the seeds.

It might take a season to get established but in a year’s time the garden will be fantastic.”

Some of the benefits gardens and green spaces bring… ◗ Improved mental health and stress reduction ◗ Increased levels of vitamin D and serotonin to regulate your body clock ◗ Reduced noise and pollution (plants and trees absorb all sorts of chemicals) ◗ Reduced temperatures to combat urban summer heat ◗ Improved habitats for wildlife

Just looking at a garden is scientifically proven to aid recovery time.

Like to help?

Spending time outdoors doing some exercise is great for both mental and physical health. We would welcome any volunteers who want to spend time doing a bit of gardening in any of our outdoor spaces.

Garden in the process of being cleared – it looks bigger already!

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For more information please contact Clare Topping on 01604 545754.

The new plants have been carefully selected to provide scent, year round interest, movement and colour as well as being attractive to nature.

Mike Greaves provided the free garden design

Painted Lady Butterfly on Verbena Bonariensis – we have 37 of these planted

The old plants were dug up, the slabs lifted, relaid and pressure-washed. After that it was just a small matter of planting 750 herbaceous perennials!

Helenium – 20 of these have been planted.

INSIGHT ❘ 21

◗ PATIENT PRAISE

‘Brilliant’ support for perinatal illness NGH staff were praised in a national newspaper in August when writer and lecturer Gemma Briggs, from Towcester, wrote about her experiences with postpartum psychosis for The Times.

The traumatic birth of her first child led to Gemma suffering from a severe episode of mental illness that can cause various symptoms including depression, confusion, hallucinations and delusions. It is a much less common condition than postnatal depression, but it occurs in about one in every 1000 women who have a baby.

When she became pregnant again last year, she was understandably very concerned but, with the persistence of NGH staff, Gemma was found proper psychiatric care. She says that this was thanks to the “inexhaustible determination” shown by both consultant obstetrician Owen Cooper and midwife matron Paula Briody.

Midwifery matron Paula Briody and consultant anaesthetist Dr Paul Slater; (inset) consultant obstetrician Owen Cooper Midwife Katy MacIntosh with Gemma’s daughter Nell just after her delivery

Paula said: “Labour is a small part of the experience of having a baby, and even women without mental health problems often find it challenging when they go home with a new baby. Women are having their first baby much later in life and, particularly for career women having been in control, it is a lifechanging event. Factors such as loss of finances, sleep deprivation, often a lack of family and relatives being around nowadays, the accessibility of worrying information on the internet – all these play a part in creating anxiety.

“We aim to be kind and compassionate with all 4,700 women we see a year and, particularly if they have had a traumatic birth before, try to make them feel part of the decision-making process. We cannot always guarantee normal vaginal birth but we can ensure they are part of that process. We put together a birth plan for everyone and ensure that everybody is aware of the plan before the patient comes into the delivery suite. We know how important it is for that birth experience to be positive.”

Seven people were closely involved with Gemma’s care, and she says that perhaps the greatest impact was made by our consultant anaesthetist Dr Paul Slater.

Paul taught Gemma a simple self-hypnosis process which he believed would help. In fact the self-hypnosis was so successful that when Gemma went into labour she delivered daughter Nell with just gas and air and without the antipsychotic medicine that was on standby. In the Times article she said that the care she received from “brilliant” staff who were determined to make her second labour a positive experience “shows how strong our maternity service can be”.

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INSIGHT ❘ 23

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We welcome consultant cardiologist Dr Michael Cusack who joins our executive team at the end of September as our new medical director. Michael has a longstanding interest in medical management and has been a clinical director and more recently a divisional medical director of a large surgical division at Royal Wolverhampton Hospital. He is very patient-focused with a broad range of experience, and is looking forward to joining us to help develop our services.

24 â?˜ INSIGHT

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Best wishes to critical care nurse consultant Mary Burt, who has retired after 32 years here at NGH. Mary started in ITU as a staff nurse, and was promoted to ward sister before becoming nurse consultant, a role she later combined with her work as a Patient Safety Academy lead. She supported many staff in their career development, and was known for her loyalty, sense of humour and passion for safe patient care.

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Healthcare workers from across the UK came together to take part in

the London Pride Parade in June. Kate Bates, one of our midwives and mother of a gay son, was there with her family and sent us this great photo.

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Congratulations to these Friends of NGH volunteers, each receiving long service certificates from the Mayor for the sterling work they do here. They are just a few of more than 200 we have throughout the hospital.

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Congratulations to chest clinic coordinator Emma Gardner who has achieved 30 years’ service here at NGH. Emma came to NGH at the age

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of 16 where she worked for five years in Medical Records, followed by 21 years in ophthalmology before her current role.

“I can’t believe how time has flown!” said Emma. “I have been fortunate to have made a lot of good friends along the way and have worked with some lovely people.”

in her NGH career. Her colleagues and members of her family organised a secret party to acknowledge her achievement. Boss Daniel Glasgow said: “She is like a mother figure, always going that extra mile doing everything for everybody and making the atmosphere so much nicer.”

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Thank you to catering supervisor Steve Short who, with help from our sustainability manager Clare Topping, has set up our own miniallotment at NGH! The garden is used to grow vegetables and salad crops for meals in the No.3 restaurant. Steve brought seeds from his own allotment and, thanks to favourable growing weather and donations from local companies, has been harvesting lettuces, spring onions, strawberries, cucumbers, pumpkins and lots more.

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Congratulations to Paddington ward housekeeper Carol Moran on reaching the 30 years milestone

Gosset ward specialist nurse Diane Rogers has cared for her final baby on the ward, retiring after 35 years. Combining the skills of a qualified children’s nurse with those of a midwife, as well as advanced neo-natal training, she was one of the most highly trained members of staff in the department.

Diane joined Paddington before taking up midwifery and then returning to neonatal nursing which she described as her first love. “When the children come back just to say ‘I’m still around, thanks so much’, it’s really fantastic,” she said.

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Good luck to therapy radiographer Rachel Bussey who is running

in the Great North Run with her dad on his 65th birthday, (and her mum Sue!), to raise money for Diabetes UK. Her dad Paul Bussey was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2006. After her father took part in a triathlon in 2008, Rachel took up an annual sporting challenge deciding that if he could complete this with diabetes, she must be able to do something similar! Her first triathlon was in 2009 and she has continued to cycle and run since.

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Congratulations to Anna Gordon-Brown, who was presented with the 2014 Pharmacy Staff Award, in recognition of her commitment to her role and colleagues.

Nominators said she always volunteers to do more when it’s needed, has a great team ethic, and has gained the recognition and respect of the whole department. There were also some references to Anna’s famous Easter celebrations – we can’t wait to see what she has in store for next year!

INSIGHT ❘ 25

◗ SIMULATION SUITE

Simulation suite goes from strength to strength A state-of-the-art training suite to help prepare the doctors, nurses and allied health professionals of the future opened at Northampton General Hospital in 2011. The NGH Simulation Suite can replicate any clinical area within the hospital or community environment, providing realistic facilities so that all grades of staff and students can receive training and practise their skills in simulated settings without compromising patient safety.

The suite boasts several life-size patient ‘manikins’ which can breathe, bleed, blink, react to medicine and even speak. They can simulate life-threatening medical conditions and can also be cannulated, catheterised and intubated. Using them, trainees can carry out a wide range of procedures, often being video recorded so that they and colleagues can learn through

We now have Daisy, a SimMom ‘pregnant’ manikin which can mimic all obstetric emergencies and birthing complications.

26 ❘ INSIGHT

reflection, mutual support and shared skills.

Three years after its introduction, the suite is in almost constant use for a wide range of purposes and has proved to be a popular and valuable resource for the hospital and its staff. Recently it has been boosted by some additional equipment, made possible by income generated from the successful training of staff from external agencies as well as from the hospital itself.

Clinical simulation manager Vicky Garrod said: “We now have Daisy, a SimMom ‘pregnant’ manikin which can mimic all obstetric emergencies and birthing complications, and an ultrasound scanner to use in conjunction with it. We have purchased two chest drain trainers which allow the doctors to practise ultrasoundguided chest drain insertion.

Also, through Health Education England, we’ve obtained a

surgical laparoscopy simulator for all general and gynaecological surgeons to use to practise key-hole surgery - plus cardiac, abdominal and gynae ultrasound scanners for use by medical and healthcare staff.

“The suite is used by all types of staff including doctors, nurses, medical students, allied health professionals, acute care teams, and air ambulance paramedics and doctors. We run a training programme covering a wide variety of hospital specialities and external organisations. In the last 15 months we have trained over 1500 people in simulated scenarios including emergency tracheostomies, highrisk maternity situations, rare anaesthetic emergencies, A&E situations and so on. We can even set up a live surgery link between the simulation suite and theatre for training in tonsillectomies, including the use of equipment in the sim suite to practise on.”

Air ambulance staff participating in a pre-hospital emergency medicine training day

The simulation suite has gone from strength to strength over the last three years, and we are looking forward to continuing that progress well into the future.

The simulation training is remotely managed via computers based in the control room. Trained facilitators watch the training through a one-way mirror and can communicate when necessary with learners by telephone. The whole experience can be witnessed by other learners in the adjoining control and debrief rooms, and recorded for reviewing. Debriefing is an essential part of the simulation where team performance can be discussed by all learners as a group.

of patients and to raise any issues.

The future is looking bright for the centre, and Vicky is enthusiastic and excited about its continued development. She said: “As a result of a successful trial for foundation year trainees, we have now secured a three-year contract with East Midlands Local

Education and Training Board to train Foundation Doctors from across the region. Thanks largely to the core of teaching staff we have established, the simulation suite has gone from strength to strength over the last three years, and we are looking forward to continuing that progress well into the future.”

Some of the most valuable results of simulation training have come when staff see how learning points can be applied back in their own work area. Discussions of scenarios have led to improvements such as changing the layout of oxygen and suction piping to allow easier access to equipment in clinical areas after a simulation session.

Focus on the human factors involved has also led teams to meet in between shifts to check all staff were fully briefed on the condition

INSIGHT ❘ 27

◗ WAYFINDING

Find your way around the hospital Follow the signs to the area letter, then look for local signs to the ward or department you need DEPARTMENTS D Accident & Emergency L Antenatal Assessment Unit K Antenatal Outpatients K Audiology W Billing House H Biochemistry K Blood Taking Unit R Centre for Elderly Medicine E Chapel D Chest Clinic L Child Development Centre K Children’s Hearing Clinic K Children’s Outpatients U Chiropody J Cripps Centre K Day Surgery Unit K Dermatology J Diabetes Centre E Discharge Lounge C Echocardiography K ENT L Eye Unit B Forrest Centre D Fracture Clinic R Genitourinary Medicine K Gynaecology Outpatients G Haematology D Hand Therapy C Heart Centre Q Human Resources B Integrated Surgery W Limb Centre F Main Theatres Admissions Unit A Manfield day case L Maternity day unit R Maxillofacial Unit K Medical Outpatients H Mortuary and Chapel of Rest J Neurophysiology E Nuclear Medicine N Oncology Centre S Pain Relief Clinic R PALS and Bereavement Service G Pathology K Pre-operative Assessment D Radiology (X-ray) D Rapid Access Chest Pain J Research and Development F Respiratory Laboratory F RESTART C Rheumatology W Sunnyside Q Training & Development

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WARDS E Abington (Orthopaedic) 545982, 544945 C Allebone (Gen medicine & dermatology) 545536, 545336 S Althorp (Elderly rehab) 544410, 544413 L Balmoral (Maternity) † 545434, 544826 D Becket (Medical short stay) 545981, 544972 C Benham (General medicine) 545537, 545337 R Brampton (Elderly medicine) 544460, 544462 A Cedar (Trauma) 545553, 545353 A Collingtree (Orthopaedic) 543944, 543966 S Compton (General medicine) 545332, 545532 C Creaton (General medicine) 545539, 545339 M Disney (Children’s) † 545518, 545318 C Dryden (Cardiology) 545540, 545340 C Eleanor (General medicine) 545804, 544808 D Emergency Assessment Unit (EAU) † 545613, 545304 D Finedon (Renal) 523530, 523560 M Gosset (Neonatal) † 545520, 545320 A Hawthorn (Surgical) 545551, 545351 S Head & neck 523961, 545509 C High Dependency Unit (HDU) † 545544, 545344 R Holcot Stroke Unit † 544430, 544432, 544433 C Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) † 545542, 545342 M Paddington (Children’s) † 545319, 545519 M Paddington HDU (Children’s) † 545836 L Robert Watson (Maternity) † 544928, 544819 A Rowan (23-hour surgical) 545549, 545349 L Singlehurst (Eyes) 545483, 545083 S Spencer (Gynaecology) 545525 M Sturtridge (Labour ward) † 545058, 545426, 545898 M Sturtridge HDU † 545055 G Talbot Butler (Oncology & Haematology) 545534, 545334 S Victoria (Elderly Medicine) 545326 A Willow (Surgical) 545548, 545348 Visiting 2.00pm – 4.30pm; 6.00pm – 8.00pm unless marked with † (please check with these wards)

INFORMATION Northampton General Hospital, Cliftonville, Northampton NN1 5BD Tel: 01604 634700 www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk D Reception Cliftonville. Open Mon-Fri 9.00am – 6.00pm.

Dial 0 from any corridor phone and ask for “operator” when prompted.

E Restaurant Hospital Street, open Mon-Fri 7.15am – 7.00pm; Sat-Sun 7.15am – 6.00pm.

D Café Royale Main reception, Cliftonville, open Mon-Thurs 9.00am – 3.30pm; Fri 9.00am – 3.00pm.

WRVS shops E South entrance, open Mon-Fri 7.00am – 8.00pm; Sat, Sun, bank holidays 10.00am – 4.00pm.

T Billing Road entrance, open Mon-Fri 9.00am – 4.00pm.

Buggy service Guiding and transport service provided by Friends of NGH volunteers Mon–Fri 8.30am – 4.00pm.

Dial 88 then 4501 then enter your extension number to request the buggy.

D Travel office For car parking permits, and travel info. Open MonThurs 9.00am – 4.30pm; Fri 9.00am – 4.00pm.

01604 545966 or 544600.

E Bank Cash dispensers in lift lobby near south entrance and near Billing Road entrance E Chapel Open to all. For details of services or to contact the chaplains, call 01604 545773.

NEWS IN BRIEF ◗

Enterprising Emily Twelve-year-old Emily Banyard took the death of her aunt from cancer very hard, and wanted to do something to help raise funds for Cancer Research. All on her own – but with the support of her parents - she organised a garden party at her home in Brafield, where tea and cakes were provided, along with stalls for children and adults. Emily posted leaflets in doors and put up posters around the surrounding villages to make sure there was a good turnout. Thanks to around 80 very generous guests and some very good raffle prizes, almost £1,200 was raised from the day.

Emily also obtained a gift of £200 from the Brixworth Freemason lodge, and has decided to donate this to help purchase some equipment for the children’s cancer unit on Disney ward at NGH. Proud dad Neil, who is the hospital’s senior building projects manager, said: “Emily has become a very enterprising girl in the last few months and I am amazed how inspirational she has been. Also I’ve been pleasantly surprised at people’s generosity at a time when every penny counts.”

Back to winning ways after NGH cancer treatment A champion veteran racing cyclist from Daventry is back to winning ways following his successful cancer treatment at NGH. Vince Jenkins, winner of British and Welsh 25 mile and the Welsh and Midland 10 mile championships for his age group in 2012, was shocked to receive the news that he had an aggressive skin cancer that had spread to his saliva glands.

It necessitated major surgery, a two-week stay at NGH, and six weeks of radiotherapy in 2013.

The good news is that, after a year out, the 74-year-old cyclist is back on the bike and racing and - despite some very blustery weather in Abergavenny - he regained the Welsh Cycling Association 10 mile time trial championship for his age group for the fourth time.

Vince said: “This was mega-emotional stuff. As well as my wife and family, I would like to thank all the staff at NGH for their skill and care, and those wonderful MacMillan Nurses who are always there when you need that extra bit of help and encouragement. Thank you Northampton General.”

Staff and managers sign agreement In order to demonstrate their common commitment to working in partnership to ensure stable, positive and collaborative working relationships, NGH management and staff side representatives have signed a Partnership Agreement.

Staff side chair Rachel Forster and director of workforce and transformation Janine Brennan said: “The Partnership Agreement is the result of 12 months of hard work by colleagues from Human Resources, management and our trade unions,

to identify how we will forge a constructive and positive approach to joint working for the benefit of our staff and our patients.”

NHS chief executives, managers and staff representatives who have taken a partnership approach believe the benefits and opportunities they provide are immeasurable.

With partnership, all parts of an organisation can come together to meet challenges, and pull together to meet agreed goals.

NGH director of workforce and transformation Janine Brennan (left) and staff side chair Rachel Forster sign the agreement

INSIGHT ❘ 29

◗ CHARITABLE FUND

All donations to the hospital are managed, separately from NHS finances, by the trustees of the Northamptonshire Health Charitable Fund, a registered charity. If you would like to make a donation, or be involved in raising money for NGH, please contact our fundraising office on 01604 545857.

Please visit our website for more fundraising stories and details of how you can get involved www.nghgreenheart.co.uk

Thomas and friends help our wards Proud new father Thomas Egan raised a total of £18,717 in aid of charities close to his and his family’s hearts, SANDS Charity, Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin, Gosset neonatal ward and Sturtridge labour ward here at NGH. Thomas, owner of Far Cotton hair salon Walk-in Hair, raised the money by completing a 100 mile bike ride

with friends, shaving off all of his hair, sponsored swimming and hairdressing - and dressing in a baby suit outside of Asda, Tescos and Morrisons!

Thomas raised £4,747 in aid of Gosset Ward and £733 for Sturtridge Labour Ward. He brought his friends and family - including his son Rohan, just a few weeks old - into hospital to present the money he has raised to the staff.

L-R Dr Gupta, Wendy Copson, Thomas Egan, Rebecca Newby, Neil Thompson, Kalla Patel and Helen Sabroche

Ann’s head shave for a good cause We would like to say a big thank you to healthcare assistant Ann Rudd for her continuous support of different departments. Over the past four years Ann has supported Endoscopy, T&O, Child Health and Breast Care Services raising over £1,000.

The care that I received in the Breast Screening, Oncology and on Talbot Butler Ward was brilliant.

Last year Ann shaved her head in support of her friend and neighbour of 10 years Chris Bailey, who was going through treatment for breast cancer. Chris previously used to work at NGH and said: “The care that I received in Breast Screening, Oncology and on Talbot Butler Ward was brilliant, they really couldn’t do enough for me.”

L-R Gill Baxter Programme Manager, Ann Rudd, Chris Bailey and Dr Pal Cons

30 ❘ INSIGHT

Ann and Chris presented the cheque for £286.31 to Gill Baxter and consultant radiologist Dr Chhabi Pal who said “We are very grateful for Ann’s efforts in fundraising to help support Breast Care Services and Oncology and also supporting her friend through Breast Cancer.”

CHARITABLE FUND ◗

Sam’s Marathon raises money for Gosset Many thanks to Sam Scarman, who completed the London Marathon in the fantastic time of 5:16:56 to raise over £1,100 for Gosset Ward.

L-R Staff nurse Julie Bradshaw, Sister Bethan Read, Julia Barton and staff nurse Rachel Hobbs

Gary’s legacy helps more cancer patients Julia Barton, along with daughters Emily and Laura, started the Gary Barton Memorial Trust in 2010 after her husband Gary passed away. Gary died in 2010, aged 45, following an 11-month battle with cancer of unknown primary.

We would like to thank the Barton family’s continued support of the ward.

The family created the trust as a thank you for the care Gary received both on Talbot Butler ward at NGH and Cawthorne ward at Danetre Hospital, Daventry. Over the past four years the trust has raised over £13,000 to help provide facilities, support services and equipment for Talbot Butler ward.

This year Talbot Butler received £3,725 from The Gary Barton Memorial

It was tough going in the heat and I have some nice sunburn to show for it, but it was worth it!

He wanted to say thank you to Gosset staff as they cared for his friend Emma’s daughter when she was born eight weeks prematurely.

Emma said: “The doctors and nurses were amazing in the ward but they couldn’t have done such an amazing job without their special incubators and equipment - which doesn’t come cheap. We want to raise as much money as possible to ensure that any other babies born too early or too sick have the best chances.”

Thrilled with his marathon time, Sam said: “It was tough going in the heat and I have some nice sunburn to show for it, but it was worth it!”

Sam Scarman

Trust to purchase an Accuvein AV300, a tool that helps locate the veins ahead of inserting a cannula to give chemotherapy. From their personal experiences with Gary, the family know only too well how after several treatments the veins can weaken and become difficult to locate.

Ward sister Bethan Read said: “We would like to thank the Barton family’s continued support of the ward.

It has enabled us to purchase an Accuvein, which we wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise. The Accuvein will benefit both the patients and staff when inserting cannulas and taking blood, which we are very grateful for.”

INSIGHT ❘ 31

◗ GYNAECOLOGY

Enhanced recovery benefits for urogynaecology patients An Enhanced Recovery Programme for gynaecology patients at NGH is leading to quicker recovery from surgery, a reduction in length of stay in hospital and fewer postoperative complications.

The programme which aims to enhance the patient’s experience has also seen a reduction in readmissions and increased patient satisfaction with their care. The programme has previously been available at NGH for patients undergoing certain colorectal, urological and orthopaedic surgical operations - and has been so successful that it has now been developed for Urogynaecology patients.

It is resulting in most patients being discharged in under four days after major operations.

Some patients are able to go home within 48 hours, even after certain types of hysterectomy. This compares with a two week stay in the 1980s and one week’s stay in the 1990s.

By encouraging women to go home sooner they can rest and sleep more easily which aids their recovery.

32 ❘ INSIGHT

As nurse specialist Denise Hunt explains: “Many gynaecological procedures can now be performed using regional anaesthesia such as epidural or spinal anaesthetic; these reduce the need for strong painkillers and anti-sickness medication which can slow recovery.”

“This programme also recognises that noise at night in hospitals is inevitable and often unavoidable.

To help achieve enhanced recovery, time without food and water before and after surgery is reduced.

By encouraging women to go home sooner they can rest and sleep more easily which aids their recovery.”

In order to optimise their health before surgery, patients are encouraged to review any chronic health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and COPD with their GP prior to admission. Patients themselves are given information and encouragement about exercise, safety in hospital, diet and smoking cessation at the Enhanced Recovery Clinic – a group appointment at which patients can ask questions during the presentation or in private afterwards.

There is a greater emphasis on involving patients in their own recovery, said Denise, including pre-operative information and advice about the planned early return to normal day-today activities. To help achieve enhanced recovery, time without food and water before and after

surgery is reduced. All nondiabetic patients are given a carbohydrate drink to take the evening before and the morning of surgery. The nutritional drinks help reduce thirst and hunger prior to surgery and poor bowel function afterwards, this helps patients get back to eating and drinking normally as soon as possible, most patients are offered a light evening meal on the day of surgery.

Women are seen by a specialist nurse on the day of surgery and throughout their stay in hospital.

They are given a ‘Milestones’ diary to complete daily which encourages them to mobilise, eat and drink, get dressed and prepare for early discharge.

Patients are encouraged to dress in normal clothes, with the aim of returning to normality as soon as possible.

All patients are followed up by telephone 24-48 hours following discharge. They are also given a specific number they can ring to answer any questions they may after discharge.

Said Denise: “Our aim has been to look at all aspects of the patient journey - before, during and after an operation, the evidence we have, shows that Enhanced Recovery Programmes achieve a much enhanced patient experience.”

The Urogynaecology team is led by urogynaecology consultant Mrs Ami Shukla (seated, centre). Clockwise from bottom left: clinic administrator Val Twiselton, nurse specialist Joanne Smith, health care assistant Nikkie Walker, nurse specialist Denise Hunt and specialist women’s health physiotherapist Michelle Cockram.

The team also receives regular support from health care assistant Jaci Lindsay and staff nurse Sue Wheeler who are based in the Gynaecology out-patient department. >>

INSIGHT ❘ 33

From the Archive

WWI wounded come home During World War One thousands of wounded soldiers were cared for in this county. Telegrams were sent to the local authorities from Dover advising them of how many casualties to expect that day. At local

level it was then decided which hospital or establishment they would be sent to after arriving at Castle Station by ambulance train.

Northampton General Hospital erected wooden pavilions in the grounds with 120 beds to take the wounded, and over the war years treated 3,094 patients.

Other buildings were requisitioned to cope with the volume of wounded soldiers. Barry Road School became a hospital with 260 beds and treated 4,370 wounded. Abington Avenue School was also used with 64 beds and cared for 1,560 patients.

A corner of the wounded soldiers recreation room (now the board room)

The largest hospital in town was Berrywood Hospital, which became Duston War Hospital during WW1. All the inmates of Berrywood were transferred to other asylums and from 1914-1918 the staff cared for 25,000

Wounded soldiers at NGH in 1915

Telegram advising of 142 more casualties

wounded soldiers.

Hundreds of local residents supported the authorities with accommodation, voluntary nursing, entertainments and outings for the wounded. To find out more about this incredible endeavour by the people of this county, visit the Historical Archive at NGH.

Wounded soldiers pavilion no.1

HOLMAN’S WAR Mr Charles Holman was appointed as House Officer at NGH in 1912. The following are some of his memories of his war years at home and abroad.

“In December 1914 I joined the RAMC, leaving my house (15, Guildhall Road, Northampton) in the care of a devoted House-Keeper. In the latter half of 1917 I gave up the relative ease in the RAMC (stationed in Mesopotamia) and returned to strenuous work in Northampton.

There were two open air pavilions on the lawn behind the present theatres, one of which came under my care as Assistant Surgeon. I also had charge of 120 beds at St. John’s Hospital, Weston Favell and of, I think, about 100 beds at Barry Road School. As my only means of transport was a bicycle I could not complain that my time was not fully occupied, especially as there was a considerable amount of civilian surgery in addition. It is an ill wind which blows nobody any good and the £1 a day which I received from the Red Cross probably saved me from bankruptcy. After the War I eked out existence with the aid of reports on war pensioners.”

After a career at NGH and Manfield Hospital, he retired in 1954.

Learn more about the history of the hospitals in Northamptonshire by visiting the Historical Archive at NGH. Open on Wednesday mornings 8am to 1pm Telephone: 01604 544868 Email: sue.longworth@ngh.nhs.uk

34 ❘ INSIGHT

NOTICEBOARD ◗

To advertise in Insight, please contact us on

01909 478822 SUDOKU Fill the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 block contains the numbers 1 to 9.

DO SOMETHING AMAZING… 96% of us rely on the other 4% to give blood.

Please don’t leave it to someone else.

Who can give blood?

Most people can give blood. If you are generally in good health, age 17 to 65 (if it’s your first time) and weigh at least 7st 12Ib you can donate.

You can give blood every 16 weeks, that’s approximately every four months.

For more information please visit www.blood.co.uk The next donor sessions at St Giles Church Rooms, St Giles Terrace, Northampton NN1 2BN are: Monday 01 September 1.30pm to 3.30pm; 4.30pm to 7.30pm Monday 20 October 10.30am to 12.30pm; 2.00pm to 5.00pm Monday 03 November 1.30pm to 3.30pm; 4.30pm to 7.30pm Friday 21 November 1.30pm to 3.30pm; 4.30pm to 7.30pm Monday 01 December 10.30am to 12.30pm; 2.00pm to 5.00pm Monday 15 December 1.30pm to 3.30pm; 4.30pm to 7.30pm To book an appointment call 0300 123 23 23.

FOR HIRE MARQUEE The Friends of Northampton General Hospital have a Marquee for hire. The Marquee comes in two sections each measuring 20ft x 10ft with sides. The cost of hire is £20 for each section.

For further information telephone Sheila Baker on tel 01604 545802 or email friendsofngh@ngh.nhs.uk

ANNOUNCEMENTS RETIRED (or soon to be?) NHS Retirement Fellowship (Northampton Branch) meets on first Wednesday of each month at 2.15pm at Northampton East Salvation Army, Northampton, NN3 8EZ. Range of speakers and activities.

Open to ex NHS staff, together with spouse or partner. Please contact the chairman Mrs Pat Oliver on 01604 839085.

BACK ISSUES of Insight are available online at www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk - go to About Us > Documents and Publications

FOR THE RECORD Apologies for the incorrect telephone number for Pets As Therapy coordinator Rosemary Wooler in the last issue. To contact Rosemary please email rosemarywooler@yahoo.co.uk

INSIGHT ❘ 35

Combines exquisite storytelling with atmospheric original music to convey the magic, mythology and wonder of the ancient Arthurian legends.

Win free theatre tickets Merlin This Christmas, Northampton’s Royal stage will be transformed into the mythical kingdom of Camelot for a magical new take on the legends of Merlin. Insight magazine has teamed up with Royal & Derngate to offer a lucky reader the chance to win a family ticket (four seats) to see this entrancing show on Saturday 29 November at 5.15pm.

Join King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table on a fantastical adventure tale of sorcery and chivalry, charged with heroic battles and enchanting romance.

This world premiere production by Ella Hickson (Wendy And Peter Pan, RSC) will combine exquisite storytelling with atmospheric original music to convey the magic, mythology and wonder of the ancient Arthurian legends. An ideal Christmas treat for all the family, Merlin runs from Wednesday 26 November to Sunday 4 January, with tickets priced from £9.50 to £24*. For full details of performance times, call Royal & Derngate Box Office on 01604 624811 or visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk.

* A transaction fee of £2.80 applies to telephone and website bookings only. Does not apply in person, or to groups and Friends, and is per transaction, not per ticket.

For your chance to win a pair of tickets to the evening performance of Merlin on Saturday 29 November, answer the five questions below.

Send your entry to arrive by Wednesday 5 November 2014 to peter.kennell@ngh.nhs.uk – or by post to Insight Editor, NGH, Cliftonville, Northampton NN1 5BD. Please include a daytime telephone number with your entry.

1 Who will be our new Medical Director from the end of September?

2 What was the name of King Arthur’s sword?

3 Where at NGH will you find a ‘pregnant’ Daisy?

4 When was the Living with and Beyond Cancer event held?

5 How much do we aim to raise for the chemo suite refurbishment?

◗T he winner of ‘Regeneration’ tickets in our last competition was Rosemary True of the Forrest Centre, NGH. Designed & Published by Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd, Britannic Chambers, 8a Carlton Road, Worksop, Notts. S80 1PH Tel: 01909 478822