Taking Pride Spring 2014

Pride Taking

Spring 2014 . Issue 7

For staff, members, patients, visitors & volunteers

Help us stay smoke free

This spring we are urging everyone to help us keep our hospitals and grounds smoke free. Our new Think Again campaign aims to create a healthier environment for patients, visitors and staff.

Our new campaign will ensure that patients and visitors are aware before they arrive that both the Royal Derby and London Road hospitals are smoke free zones. All patients will receive a leaflet with their appointment letter to ensure they and their visitors know about the smoke free policy.

If you come into hospital you will be offered free nicotine replacement therapies to help you during your stay. If you do smoke on hospital grounds, staff are likely to approach you to hand out a small card to ask you to put out your cigarette.

The card clearly explains the area covered by the smoke free zone.

The campaign has the backing of respiratory consultant Dr Chris Whale “I spend every week looking after patients with lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses, many of which are caused by smoking, so week in week out I see what damage smoking does.�

Read more on pages 6 and 7.

In this issue...

Improving care for our elderly patients

Inside our neonatal intensive care unit

Page 4

Page 8

Making your moment matter Page 10

Why not become a governor?

Page 14

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2 Welcome from our Chief Executive We are asking for your help this spring as we launch our Think Again campaign to keep our hospitals and grounds smoke free.

We need support from everyone – visitors, patients and our staff – to help us achieve our aim of creating a smoke free environment for the benefit of us all. Please do your bit and respect the fact that you cannot smoke outside the hospital entrances.

The way in which we are delivering healthcare is changing. We are seeing an increase in the number of patients aged over 80 being admitted to our hospitals here in Derby and in this edition of Taking Pride we look at the variety of ways

in which we are improving care for our older patients.

The launch of our new Frail and Elderly Assessment Service is helping to make sure our elderly patients are assessed quickly by a dedicated team of specialist doctors, nurses, therapists and social workers. This means all their health and social needs can be addressed, pulling together the resources which are needed to help keep our elderly patients out of hospital wherever possible.

Working in this way, in partnership with our health colleagues in the wider community, will play an important role in the years ahead as we deal with an increasing number of frail and elderly patients.

Our staff remain at the heart of everything we do here at Derby Hospitals and we celebrate their success in the Pride of Derby awards. I hope you enjoy reading some of their inspiring stories.

Best wishes

Sue James Chief Executive

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In the News Our chief executive, Sue James, was delighted to accept a new patient buggy which has been donated by the Friends of the Royal Derby Hospital.

The new buggy, which cost almost £9000, will join the existing fleet. It will be driven by our volunteers who will use the new buggy to help move less mobile patients around the hospital to attend appointments.

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Birds swoop on pigeon problem Birds of prey brought in to help tackle a pigeon problem have helped reduce the pest population by more than 95%. Derby Hospitals enrolled the services of a peregrine falcon and a hawk in 2011 to try and combat more than 1,000 pigeons congregating on the top of the Royal Derby Hospital. Since then the birds have been taken up to the building’s helipad three times a week and now the pigeon numbers have plummeted to around just 20.

Birth Centre officially opened The country’s top midwife, Cathy Warwick, snipped the ribbon to officially open the Derby Birth Centre in the Royal Derby Hospital’s Labour Ward.

Professor Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said she would be “going out and singing the praises of Derby” for “making the very best” of a Department of Health grant in choosing to create the centre. The £224,000 midwife-led area has been designed to simulate the experience of delivering a baby at home, with colourful décor, sensory lighting, en-suite bathrooms, calming music and soft furnishings in each of its four rooms.

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Saving Lives -

Derby Accredited Trauma Unit Every year approximately 875 patients in the East Midlands are treated for major trauma.

To ensure patients receive immediate life-saving interventions and subsequent specialist care, hospitals across the East Midlands have created a new ‘Trauma Network’ giving local people the very best chance of survival.

Derby has now been officially accredited as a Trauma Unit working in partnership with the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, as the specialist Trauma Centre.

This will ensure patients who have suffered the most serious of injuries are given access to the best medical care across the region quicker than ever before.

Good trauma care involves getting a patient to the right place at the right time for the right care. Derby is recognised as an essential trauma unit and is well placed to provide high quality immediate time critical life-saving treatment.

How will it work?

The Ambulance Service will decide where it is most appropriate to take patients. Major trauma is fortunately quite rare. However, if a patient has multiple complex injuries they will initially be taken to the nearest trauma unit, like Derby, if they need time critical interventions to stabilise their airway, restore circulation or stop severe bleeding, and later transferred to the Nottingham Trauma Centre for highly specialised treatment.

stage patients will then return to Derby for their rehabilitation care.

These changes will only be for the most severe injuries. In Derby we treat over 120,000 patients every year in A&E. For the majority of patients there will be no change with A&E treatment and surgery carried out at the Royal Derby Hospital. In Derby we will continue to take great pride in delivering expert emergency and surgical care to patients.

Did you know?

Derby has been working with Nottingham for many years in this way for patients with severe head injuries, for example, and this works well. Extending this for other extremely complex injuries will ensure that patients do not need to be moved out of the area. At a later

n Major trauma patients have

the most severe multiple lifethreatening injuries and have less than a one in 10 chance of survival. Examples include amputation, severe knife or gunshot wounds, burns and major head and spinal injuries.

Steve: A trauma patient’s story Setting out for a Sunday bike ride with his brother, 46 year-old Steve had no idea he would end the day in A&E.

He was assigned a bed on Ward 101 and kept in for a couple of nights for observation.

Having cycled round Carsington Water, Steve was near Hulland Ward when he was involved in an accident with a car which had been towing a caravan.

He said: “People checked on me regularly and I was kept informed. I’m a type 1 diabetic and I had none of the equipment with me and I felt very vulnerable but this was quickly spotted and the help I was given was excellent.”

He said: “The last thing I remember was the car coming back across after passing me and that’s it. My brother said I cartwheeled through the air and landed a long way away.”

With his brother holding him to keep warm, the ambulance service was called by a passer-by.

“Despite how busy it was we were seen quickly and there were a series of scans done, X-rays and a CT scan, with the results coming back quickly.”

Steve said: “I woke up in the ambulance and when I started talking to the paramedics they said it was a huge relief.

“I was taken to A&E at the Royal Derby Hospital and the first girl who looked after me was so nice. It is so confusing and frightening and she was just so friendly and looked after me.

“Despite how busy it was we were seen quickly and there were a series of scans done, X-rays and a CT scan, with the results coming back quickly.”

These assessments showed that Steve had suffered a collapsed lung, bruised ribs, a grazed hip and needed two stitched for a gash above his eye.

Visit us at www.derbyhospitals.nhs.uk follow us on twitter @DerbyHospitals

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Improving care for our older patients Launch of new Frail and Elderly Assessment Service Sitting in the glow of a warm fireplace, with classic songs from the 1940s playing on the radio, the hectic world of a hospital ward seems a million miles away.

But, as it happens, this little oasis of calm is right in the heart of the busy Medical Assessment Unit in the Royal Derby Hospital.

The room, known as the Frail Elderly Activities Room, has been designed to offer a comfortable, familiar and relaxing atmosphere for older patients with conditions like dementia, which might leave them confused in the hospital environment.

The development of the activity room – in which patients can sit, listen to music, play board games and chat to volunteers – is part of our new Frail and Elderly Assessment Service.

The service has been developed at the Royal Derby Hospital over the past year and is now up and running. All frail and elderly patients admitted to MAU or A&E will be quickly assessed and, where appropriate, transferred to the care of a dedicated new team of specialist doctors, nurses, therapists and social workers to ensure all their health and social needs are addressed.

If the patient needs to be admitted, medical staff will work closely with social care staff for the duration of the stay, making sure the patient is discharged quickly and effectively and in the best possible care.

And if the patient does not need to come into hospital, the Frail and Elderly Assessment Team can arrange for the patient to go home, or be placed into care.

The service has already been singled out for praise by the NHS Emergency Care Intensive Support Team, when it visited the hospital in February and there are plans to expand the assessment team further out into the community and help patients in their own homes.

Did you know? n In the last 12 months we have

seen an 11% increase in the number of over 80 year-olds coming in to the hospital

Derby Carelink and Telecare

n A just over 11% increase in

the number of patients in the A&E resuscitation room

Derby Carelink is a 24 hour service providing an instant response at the touch of a button. It offers personal safety and security to enable you to live independently, within your own home.

sicker patients which have prompted a change in the way we treat frail and elderly patients

There for you 24 hours a day.

For more information call 01332 642203 or email carelink@derby.gov.uk www.derby.gov.uk CDT14-010 Carelink advert.indd 2

Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

n It is these rises in older and

14/02/2014 15:30

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Home from Hospital Sometimes going home from hospital can be daunting. For many elderly patients, the prospect of going home to manage alone can be overwhelming.

Thanks to an innovative new scheme called ‘Home from Hospital’ we can send a specially trained hospital volunteer into a patient’s home to help them with simple tasks and to provide a chat and cup of tea as they make the transition from hospital back to their own home.

So far, this trial scheme has been used by more than 30 grateful patients. One of them is 90 year old Vera Wright “It is a great service, I really enjoy the visits and look forward to them, I would like them to go on forever!”

The Home from Hospital volunteers are on hand to provide support in a patient’s own home for up to 5 weeks after discharge from hospital. “So far this trial has

been a great success” explains Derby Hospitals’ voluntary services co-ordinator Trudi Jones.

“The scheme means we can support patients in those first weeks after discharge. After leaving hospital patients tell us they want someone to chat to or to do their basic shopping and this is where our volunteers can make such a difference. Patients don’t have to be living alone, our volunteers can also give carers a much-needed break.”

If you or someone you know could benefit from the Home from Hospital scheme please contact Trudi Jones and our volunteer service team on 01332 786148.

Hospital Discharge 7 days a week

every hour counts

“We aim to help everyone remain as independent as possible & help patients return home as long as it is safe to do so”

Did you know? n We have 379 active volunteers

working across our hospitals n They vary in age from 16 to

87 years old n Our volunteers meet and

greet patients n They help with patient

activities and at meal times

n The volunteers run the ward

newspaper and library service n They drive the patient buggy n Hand care volunteers give

massages n Breastfeeding volunteers help

new mums

Early and safe discharge reduces the risk of: n Infection n Isolation or depression n Loss of independence

Allowing others to access care helps: n Reduce waiting lists n Reduce waits in A&E n Prevent cancellation of operations

How you can help: n Be involved in planning your discharge n Be aware of your expected date of discharge n Inform us as soon as possible of anything that may delay your discharge n Please meet with staff to discuss your needs after discharge

www.twitter.com/DerbyHospitals

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Behind the headlines Coping with winter Every year there is media scrutiny of the hospital’s ability to cope with the increased demands of winter pressures.

As winter bites, acute hospitals like the Royal Derby come under increased pressure as more people, especially the frail elderly and those with complex medical conditions, become unwell.

This winter, we have coped well with this seasonal increase in demand. As the Derby Telegraph reported back in February, the Trust’s robust winter plan has paid dividends and we have been able to meet the target to see and treat 95% of patients coming to our A&E department within four hours every month throughout this winter.

Over the winter we have seen an 11% increase in the number of sick patients being taken straight into the resuscitation area in A & E, where the most seriously ill patients are treated. This suggests that the public are choosing well and are using our accident and emergency department as they should.

Our A & E department at the Royal Derby Hospital treats more than 300 people every single day, and on occasions this winter more than 400 patients have been seen by our busy and dedicated emergency staff in just one day.

Hospital car parking makes the news again Plans to increase hospital car parking charges have been in the news. The Derby Telegraph and BBC Radio Derby reported on planned increases in charges which came into effect across our car parks on April 1st.

“Whilst our parking charges remain in line with other hospitals in the area, with over 1 million patients, 8,500 staff and many more visitors coming to our hospitals each year the demand for parking during the day often exceeds the spaces available” says Paul Brooks, Associate Director of Facilities Management and Patient Experience.

We must always ensure parking is available to people who absolutely need it for health reasons but if you can use other means of transport to visit a patient in hospital or to get to an out-patient appointment, please leave your car behind.

“We recognise many people will have to travel by car but for others for whom it isn’t essential, we have worked closely with Derby City Council and local transport providers to encourage healthier alternative options” he adds. “We know that parking charges do matter to people and where we can we have lowered parking costs, for example after 5pm to £1 to try to encourage visitors to come in the evening rather than in the daytime. There are now more bus routes than ever before linking local areas to the hospital and we hope to encourage people to consider all the options available to them rather than to simply use their cars.”

Travel zones at the Royal Derby and London Road hospitals provide full access to travel information or visit www.derbyhospitals.nhs.uk/How to find us

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7 Please do not smoke on hospital grounds

thank you for helping create a healthier place Main road - no smoking for patients, visitors and staff policy operates within the

www.smokefree.nhs.uk

perimeter of the hospital and grounds

. with access to: Free Mobile App . Free email support Free TXT support . Free Quit Kit

We have listened to the views of our patients and visitors in launching our Think Again campaign to reinforce the ban on smoking anywhere in hospital grounds.

G16142-SMOKING CAMPAIGN-BC VERSION 2.indd 2

Our new campaign aims to create a healthier environment for everyone - patients, visitors and staff. We need your help to keep Derby’s hospitals and grounds smoke free.

If you are a patient coming into one of our hospitals, you will receive a leaflet with your appointment letter to explain our smoke free policy.

You will also be asked to make sure your visitors know that they must not smoke on hospital grounds.

We recognise that nicotine is addictive and simply stopping smoking, particularly during the stress of a hospital admission can be difficult. So we will be offering nicotine replacement therapies to our inpatients during thier hospital stay.

MAIN ENTRANCE CAR PARK

CAR PARK

5/3/14 16:36:29

‘My mum’s stopped smoking.

It makes me very happy.’

Freya, who wants to be a doctor or paramedic when she is older, says she is pleased that we have listened and have launched a new campaign “I think it is important that people don’t smoke. I think the ‘Think Again’ campaign is an excellent idea and I hope it will encourage people to think about their own health.”

Please don’t smoke in the hospital or grounds

G 16142E/0314

Our staff are handing out small cards to anyone seen smoking in hospital grounds. The card clearly explains the area covered by the smoke free zone and shows smokers where public exits are to take them off site.

‘I’ve got asthma.

Stopping smoking has helped me become more active again.’

Please don’t smoke in the hospital or grounds

G 16142C/0314

Respiratory consultant Dr Chris Whale looks after many patients with smoking-related diseases such as lung cancer “Week in, week out I see what damage smoking does.

We need people to come to our hospitals with a different attitude towards smoking and we recognise this won’t happen overnight but we want to encourage people to think again.”

Many of our staff who support the Think Again campaign have successfully given up smoking: Simon Marriott, Building and Projects Manager for Skanska, had been a smoker for over 30 years before quitting. “My sense of taste and smell is so much better; I no longer avoid trips out with the family to places where I can’t smoke such as the cinema and I no longer wake up in the morning coughing.”

KTC

10 year old patient Freya Elise Oldfield wrote to us after seeing smokers outside the hospital entrance on a recent visit to the Royal Derby.

When you arrive at the Royal Derby and London Road hospitals you will see a series of posters which have gone up around our hospital sites, reminding everyone of our smoke free policy.

We know that 80% of you want completely smoke free hospital grounds. There was a big public response to a campaign led by the Derby Telegraph and we have listened to this feedback in launching our new campaign.

MAIN HOSPITAL CAR PARK

For further advice and help on stopping smoking visit

CAR PARK

this is a smoke free zone

Andrea Shaw is the Trust’s Transport & Sustainability Officer who smoked for more than 20 years “There are so many benefits to not smoking. I am a lot fitter now as I do lots more exercise as I’m not out of breath.

I can breathe more easily, I’m not wheezy and don’t get pains in my chest any more. I was smoking 20+ a day costing £160 a month which is a lot of cash wasted, when you think about it that’s the cost of a family holiday abroad in a year!”

For further advice and help on stopping smoking visit www.smokefree.nhs.uk With access to: Free Mobile App Free email support Free TXT support Free Quit Kit

Visit us at www.derbyhospitals.nhs.uk follow us on twitter @DerbyHospitals

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Awards

Celebrating our ou spotlight

Every quarter we celebrate the people and the teams across our hospitals who have gone that extra mile in their everyday duties in the ‘Pride of Derby’ awards.

The neonatal intensive care unit has been named best team for demonstrating something special in their care of babies and their families. The judges said the NICU staff are a ‘very special team’ who are able to gain a mother’s trust. In this Spotlight feature we look at their work: Away from the noise and bustle of the main hospital corridor, the neonatal intensive care unit at the Royal Derby Hospital is a quiet, spacious area where dedicated teams of highly skilled staff look after premature and sick babies.

The 20 bed unit includes seven intensive care and high dependency cots, with 13 further cots for babies who have a lower dependency. A team of 75 staff provide round-the-clock care, not just for the babies in the unit but also for mums and dads and extended families at a very stressful time.

“We are very proud of our family centred care” says senior sister Kay Eyre “We provide holistic care for each baby, giving a real focus to all of the individual baby’s needs.” Kay and her colleague, senior sister Angela Merry, have more than 50 years’ experience between them of caring for sick and premature babies.

“During our careers there has been a huge step forward in the use of technology to help us nurse these tiny babies” explains Angela “but fundamentally the compassion and caring which our staff demonstrate hasn’t changed.”

The piles of Thank You cards from grateful families, whose babies have been nursed in the unit, bears testimony to the team’s outstanding work. “We are so very proud of everyone in our NICU team, they are amazing and they really deserve this Pride of Derby award. We work closely as a team, many of us have been together for a long time and we support one another really well which is important when we have sad moments to deal with” says Kay. Many families spend a long time alongside their babies in the unit. For some, the stay can stretch into many months. “Very occasionally we can have a baby with us for a long time, as long as 9 months; some need our care for six months. We say to all parents with a premature baby that their baby is likely to be with us until they reach what would have been their due date, when they should have been born” says Angela.

When it is time to prepare to go home with their babies, families are given an opportunity to stay in one of three en-suite flats, attached to the unit, where they care for their babies with expert nursing teams only a few steps away. Going home can be a frightening prospect as a new family takes the first steps in learning how to care for their premature baby.

The NICU staff, and the vital role they had to play, will never be forgotten by the families who are forever grateful for the work of our neonatal unit.

Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

“To all the staff on NICU – thank you for saving our daughter’s life and for the wonderful care you gave her, we are more grateful than words can show, you are exceptional people.”

“From arriving on the first day in NICU to today, as we leave to go home, we cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for our twin baby boys. You have all been a mazing.“ “You are our little girl’s guardian angels. We so lucky to now be taking her home. Thank you for giving us our happy ever after.”

“You are all little gems, you will always be remembered. Words cannot express how much we’ve appreciated all the help and support you’ve given us as a fa mily in caring for our baby son.”

“Thank you us our happy

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outstanding staff and teams on the neonatal unit for giving ever after.”

Inspirational Staff awarded Pride of Derby awards also include: The ‘Best Frontline’ member of staff award went to health care assistant, Anthony Smith from ward 405. Anthony was nominated by many patients and relatives for the exceptional care he shows patients, relatives & visitors and for his courage in dealing with sensitive situations going above and beyond in times of need.

The ‘Best Behind the Scenes’ member of staff awards went to Amanda Barker, clinical facilitator. Amanda shows true compassion and provides real support both to health care assistants and stepped up to the challenge of recruiting health care assistants in a different way.

The ‘Inspirational Leader’ went to Gill Ogden, Head of Patient Safety. Gill leads by example and is a positive role model, putting quality and safety at the heart of clinical services across the whole organisation. She is a true ambassador for patient safety and has worked tirelessly on the ‘Leading Improvements in Patient Safety Programme’ (LIPS).

Nominate today Has a member of staff, colleague or team gone that extra mile for you or your relative?

Has someone made your hospital experience a great one?

Please help us to thank them for taking pride in caring by nominating them today for a Pride of Derby award.

All you need to do is complete a short nomination form and pop it into a comments box. The forms can be found on any of our wards, in outpatient clinics and at main reception desks at the Royal Derby Hospital and London Road Community Hospital.

You can also vote online at

www.derbyhospitals.nhs. uk/pride

www.twitter.com/DerbyHospitals

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Patient Experience Making Last year Derby Hospitals’ won the first ever Compassionate Care Award from the Department of Health. This was a real accolade for the core values our staff show to patients.

Matter

Building on our sense of pride, we are now keen to continue to improve the experiences patients and visitors have of being cared for here, and staff have of working here.

Patients and staff have told us it’s often the small things that make a really big difference to the care we give. That’s why we’ve created the Trust’s ‘Your Moment’ commitments.

“It’s often the small things that make a really big difference to patients”.

Making Your Moment Matter: n We

will treat you as a person, not just a patient, with dignity and respect at all times

n We

will do everything we can to give you the best treatment

n We

will give you information in a way you can understand, so you can make decisions about your care

n We

will make the place you are treated in clean, safe and caring

n We

will understand your needs by listening, empathising with you, and keeping you informed

We are asking all staff in their day to day work to ensure these commitments make a difference to the experience of our patients. n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n

Patient feedback @DerbyHospitals n @DerbyHospitals MASSIVE

THANKS to everyone involved who helped deliver our little girl! Labour Ward and Ward 314 #excellentstaff #thankyou

n THANK YOU @DerbyHospitals

for amazing service looking after my son Jack today

n Thank u a&e & ccu teams @

DerbyHospitals Royal Derby glad I brought my hubby 2u within 1 hour seen meds & procedure 4 a heart attack thank u n @DerbyHospitals the staff

who removed my wisdom tooth this morning were excellent!

n @DerbyHospitals Once again

n @DerbyHospitals Just wanted

fantastic service at the hand unit tho I’ll be looking like a storm trooper for a few evenings #LongLiveTheNHS

to say a huge thank you to the amazing radiotherapy team for taking such good care of my mum

An excellent team in an excellent hospital and the food was also excellent / Everyone does their bit to make you as comfortable as possible Ward 303 I was impressed by all staff but particularly moved by the empathy, gentleness and professionalism of the young men and women towards the elderly, no matter what their problems were Ward 202 I felt safe, welcome and comfortable – thank you / The staff are extremely caring and kind and made me son feel special Sunflower Ward

Brilliant medical care and attention, highest standard of hygiene and ward catering staff deserved of recognition Ward 206

“The service was very quick, extremely professional and friendly, the best service I’ve ever had in any A&E Department”

Excellent care given by Midwives – I felt listened to and looked after / Brilliant service, I cannot find any fault Postnatal Community Care

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Improving care for our dementia patients

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At Derby Hospitals we take pride in our caring and compassionate approach. We are constantly looking at ways to improve the care we offer our patients.

We are creating ‘Dementia Champions’ who are specially trained in best practice in dementia care to make sure we are doing all we can to make a hospital stay as comforting as possible for this group of patients.

“The role of our new dementia champions is to pass on best practice to all our staff on our wards” explains nursing matron Lorraine Hourd who is one of the first dementia champions.

As part of our work to improve the care we offer dementia patients and their families, staff are creating ‘All About Me’ documents which tell the story of a patient’s life.

“The All About Me document builds up a picture of a patient’s life, it tells nursing staff about the job they did, about their likes and dislikes, to help us build up a picture of the patient as a person. We want our staff to see this individual as a person and not just as a patient with dementia” explains Lorraine.

Another way in which staff are helping families of dementia patients is by introducing flexible visiting cards. These cards, signed by a nurse in charge of a ward where a dementia patient is being nursed, give visitors the right to come into the ward outside of normal visiting times, if necessary.

“These are all ways in which we’re improving the care we offer our dementia patients and their families to help them during their stay with us” says Lorraine Hourd.

Dementia in Derbyshire Helen O’Connor is the Alzheimer’s Society’s Services Manager in Derbyshire: There are thought to be around 13,000 people living with dementia in Derbyshire including 3,000 in Derby city alone. That number is continuing to rise, so it’s increasingly important that we provide good quality information, education, support and care to help people live their lives to the full.

Whilst there isn’t a cure for dementia, many of the symptoms that can accompany the condition - such as anxiety - can be treated and the Alzheimer’s Society is always learning of new ways to make life more manageable and enjoyable for people living with dementia.

Support We run a number of services including ‘memory cafés’ in Ripley,

Alfreton, Breaston, Eggington and Ilkeston. These provide a friendly and relaxed environment for people with dementia, family and friends to share experiences and pick up advice. In Ashbourne there is a café which focuses on ‘life history’, helping people to reminisce and record their early memories.

Of course, much of this support is only available to those people who have been given a diagnosis of dementia and so can be pointed in the right direction. According to Department of Health figures, around half of people that are living with dementia in Derbyshire haven’t been given a diagnosis.

There are also support groups for carers in Belper, Long Eaton and Swadlincote and we have also run an information training programme for carers. One of our more unusual services is our Singing for the Brain group in Quarndon, which is a social activity for people with dementia and their carers enabling them to express themselves and sing with others in a similar situation. Many people tell us it’s the highlight of their week!

As well as missing out on the support provided by charities like Alzheimer’s Society and others, it also means they’re not getting the financial help that comes with a diagnosis (such as a council tax discount) and the possibility of medication which makes a real difference to many people.

For more information on any of these services please call our local office on 01332 208 845.

loss starts to interfere with your daily life it is important to get it checked out as soon as possible.

Symptoms might include frequently forgetting the names of people, places, appointments and recent events. It could also involve mood swings and feeling sad, angry or frustrated at memory loss.

You can also find more information on what to do if you are worried about your memory by calling our national helpline on 0300 222 11 22 or by visiting www.alzheimers. org.uk/memoryworry

Symptoms The key to getting this valuable support begins with speaking to your GP if you are worried about your memory, or that of a loved one. Everyone is a little bit forgetful now and again, but when memory

Visit us at www.derbyhospitals.nhs.uk follow us on twitter @DerbyHospitals

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Tea parties highlight the need for food and drink Derby Hospitals invited patients and staff to a series of tea parties to help promote awareness of the importance of food and drink in healthcare.

To support national Nutrition and Hydration Week across the country and here in Derby, we celebrated with a slice of cake and a nice cup of tea.

In the Medical Assessment Unit staff brought in cakes and served fresh leaf tea to patients, underlining how important it is for elderly patients to take regular food and drink.

The event took place in the unit’s new activities room, which has been designed to make older, frail or more confused patients feel at ease, with a gas fire, classic radio and board games on offer.

David Ainsworth, general manager for Acute Medicine at Derby Hospitals, said: “It is so important that everyone eats and drinks healthily but it is particularly important to be mindful of it in older or more vulnerable patients.

This awareness is what these tea parties - and Nutrition and Hydration week generally - is promoting.

“We also want to show how friends, family and neighbours can help at home, by popping round and seeing if people need any help with shopping, or just by visiting regularly for a cup of tea and a chat.”

There were also similar parties on Ward 301, 404 and 406, among others, all colourfully decorated and well-attended by patients and visitors.

There is evidence that poor nutrition and hydration care contributes to poor patient experience and can seriously undermine a person’s health and wellbeing, reduce their ability to recover and increase mortality.

There is also evidence that poor and inconsistent practice in nutrition and hydration care can lead to serious and avoidable harm.

Dr Mike Durkin, NHS England Director of Patient Safety, said: “Nutrition and Hydration Week 2014 is a call to action to improve the nutrition and hydration for the people that we provide care

Pictured at the tea parties are patients and staff at; above, MAU, ward 406 opposite and ward 301 below

for, regardless of care setting, organisation, region or country.

“It is about everyone recognising that they make a contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of people in their care and it is wonderful to see healthcare teams working together to make a real difference.”

Nutrition and hydration - how you can help n If you have an elderly neighbour,

pop round occasionally and ask them if they have enough food and drink n Ask any elderly people you

know if they need help with their shopping n If you have an elderly relative,

make sure they are eating enough calories each day n Look for any signs of

dehydration, like dizziness, lightheadedness, tiredness or a dry mouth and lips n Invite elderly friends or relatives

round for tea regularly, or visit them each week for a cuppa.

Image courtesy of the Derby Telegraph

Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

inform New Skype technology gives patients “hospital at home” Patients with kidney disease are being given medical help and support by doctors at the Royal Derby Hospital – in the comfort of their own homes.

machine cleans and filters the blood, performing the duty of the kidneys which are unable to function because of the patient’s condition.

The hospital’s renal unit has introduced a Skype communication system which allows staff on the ward to make video phone calls to patients at home.

But, increasingly, the hospital is encouraging people to receive dialysis at home. There are currently 32 people receiving treatment this way, a number which has doubled in the past two years.

Using the system, patients who carry out dialysis on machines in their own homes can be in contact with hospital staff to give updates on their health or talk through any problems or issues which arise.

There are more than 200 people who regularly visit the hospital to receive dialysis for kidney disease.

Dialysis is a process whereby a

And Dr Maarten Taal, lead clinician for the renal department at the Royal Derby Hospital, said: “This is proving to be a popular choice for patients as they no longer need to come to hospital several times a week for hours on end.

“Patients are reassured by Skype contacts as help is on hand whenever it is needed.

“Previously, if we couldn’t get to the bottom of a problem, we would have to go out to the patient’s house but that’s happening less and less because we can check out visually what’s going on.

“This means we can have the same number of people in our department actually helping a larger number of patients.”

Staff are currently looking at extending the use of Skype into other departments, particularly those who care for patients with long-term conditions.

“Instead they can receive dialysis at home, giving them a much better quality of life and experience.

Home dialysis patient Brenda Griffin knows only too well the benefits of the Skype system - it may well have saved her husband’s life.

Staff saw what had happened onscreen and alerted paramedics before talking Brenda through unhooking her dialysis machine to help Peter.

It was while Brenda, 65, was on a routine call from her Draycott home to staff on the hospital’s renal ward that her husband Peter collapsed by her side.

After being taken to hospital, Peter was found to be suffering from bowel cancer. Doctors operated on him soon after and he is now on maintenance treatment.

Brenda said: “I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t been using Skype. It’s a wonderful thing.

“It had already given me my life back because it meant I could have my treatment at home. Now it’s saved my husband as well.”

13 Dialysis: the facts What is dialysis?

Dialysis filters your blood to rid your body of harmful waste, extra salt, and water. There are two types of dialysis: haemodialysis and peritoneal.

Haemodialysis This involves inserting a needle, which is attached by a tube to a dialysis machine, into a blood vessel.

Blood is transferred from your body into the machine, which filters out waste products and excess fluids. The filtered blood is then passed back into your body.

Most people require three sessions a week, each lasting four hours.

Peritoneal dialysis This involves using the lining of the abdomen (the peritoneum) as a filter. During peritoneal dialysis, a small flexible tube called a catheter is attached to an incision in your abdomen. A special fluid called dialysis fluid is pumped into the space within the abdominal cavity and excess fluid are moved from the blood and into the dialysis fluid. The dialysis fluid is then drained from the cavity. The process lasts about 30-40 minutes and is usually repeated four times a day. Alternatively, it can be run overnight.

Who needs dialysis?

It is often used to treat advanced chronic kidney disease where the kidneys have lost most or all of their ability to function.

Dialysis is an increasingly common type of treatment. In the UK, more than 40,000 people are affected by kidney failure, with more than half this number receiving dialysis.

Most people who need to have dialysis are over 65 years of age.

Derby Hospitals dialysis numbers Total number of people on dialysis

323

In-centre haemodialysis

204

Home haemodialysis

32

Peritoneal dialysis

87

www.twitter.com/DerbyHospitals

involve

14

Help grow our army of supporters Can you help by encouraging your family and friends to sign up as members of the Trust?

They can use the form below. With a public membership of over 10,000 there are always lots of changes, especially people moving out of the area, so we always need new recruits to keep informed about Derby Hospitals.

Do you want to get more involved - why not become a governor?

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Foundation Trust Membership

All the governors are very dedicated and active, making contributions at all levels and I’d like to thank the retiring governors for all their support, it’s always sad to say goodbye, but I also look forward to meeting the new governors each year.”

C IS DATE 14 20 8 MAY

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“Spring always kicks off another round of elections for hospital governors. I know you all have an interest in your NHS, but if you want a chance to see how the hospitals are run and get really involved - why not become a governor? Members will have received a letter with this newspaper all about governors and how to apply – but if you are reading this for the first time and want to know more, I am happy to answer any questions you may have. Contact me on 01332 786896 or email dhft.membership@ nhs.net. You’ll need to act soon

though, as the closing date for nominations is 8 May 2014.

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Here Justine Fitzjohn, Assistant Director of Corporate Affairs tells us more:

APPLY !

AY TOLD OSING

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We have 12 vacancies for governors across our staff and public constituencies this year.

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Florence Nightingale honoured with plaque at cathedral A plaque in honour of Florence Nightingale is to be presented to Derby Cathedral as part of a service and parade in recognition of International Nurses Day. NHS staff from across Derbyshire alongside colleagues from the Universities of Nottingham and Derby, will be celebrating International Nurses’ Week this year with a parade of nurses, midwives and care makers making its way through Derby on Saturday, 17 May 2014.

Support can be given for completing the forms and the Trust welcomes nominations from all communities. An information pack ‘So you want to be a Governor?’ is available in the members section of our website at www. derbyhospitals.nhs.uk

Please complete in BLOCK CAPITALS Title ................................... First name ............................................................................................

Surname .....................................................................................................................................................

Address ........................................................................................................................................................

The procession begins at 10.30am outside St Peter’s Church in Derby.

From there they will walk to Derby Cathedral, where the public service will begin at 11am, with people attending advised to be seated by 10.45am.

This year a Florence Nightingale plaque will be presented and blessed in Derby Cathedral.

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Postcode .....................................................................................................................................................

Date of Birth ..........................................................................................................................................

Telephone Number ..........................................................................................................................

If you are proud of Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please help us to spread the word by inviting friends and family to join as a Trust Member. It’s free and is an ideal way of keeping up with the latest news and events.

Use this form or join on-line via the Members section of our website www.derbyhospitals.nhs.uk Staff are automatically made members so do not need to complete a form.

Email address .........................................................................................................................................

I apply to join the Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and agree to be bound by its rules.

Signature ...................................................................................................................................................

Data will be stored and processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Post to: Freepost RSAC-BHUY-XCSK Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Membership Office, Trust Headquarters – Level 5 Royal Derby Hospital Uttoxeter Road Derby (no stamp DE22 3NE

If you would like to participate in the parade please contact karen.hill18@nhs.net or Jill.Cresswell@nhs.net

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Public tickets will be available in the Cathedral Bookshop from 7 April.

inform

In the hotseat...

Mark Crossley, Public Governor In July 2013 my journey as a governor commenced at the Trust, the sheer size of the workforce and the site hits you for starters before you get into the corporate structures, processes, building up my knowledge and getting to know people.

The role is challenging but very rewarding. The Corporate Affairs staff are very supportive towards governors in carrying out our duties, so thank you to them.

Most times I visit the Royal Derby Hospital I start by spending a few moments in the faith centre. This is located on the ground floor as you enter the main hospital, do ask our wonderful volunteers for directions. A few moments quiet time before meetings, taking time out of a busy day reflecting, I find helpful and peaceful, whatever your reason for visiting the hospital do make use of this facility regardless if you have a faith or not, it’s there, please use it.

15 Health information talks These talks go from strength to strength and are an excellent way to find out more about how we deliver services to patients and to ask questions in a friendly environment.

“This was a comprehensive and well presented talk.

Thank you to all the team.”

“Very informative presentation.”

“Excellent evening - thank you.”

All talks start at 6pm, finishing at approximately 7.30pm. The venue is the Lecture Theatre, Education Centre, Royal Derby Hospital.

Why not along come along 30 minutes before the talk starts as tea and coffee will be available.

26 June Women in midlife problems with the menopause and bladders Mike Cust - Consultant Urogynaecologist Urinary incontinence in women is an extremely common problem, find out more and also about the menopause, ‘myths and mysteries explained.’

Governors really are given top level access; from meeting our regulator Monitor twice now and being able to speak at the Public Board meetings.

They also get involved in various other activities for example, I get involved in scrutinising the Trust’s annual business plans and also focus on staff education and training. In fact the governors are members of many hospital groups. I feel this demonstrates how open and transparent the Trust is with its council of governors. Being able to sit on these groups give us a real insight into how the hospital functions.

30 April

8 July

Making Your Moment Matter - embedding compassionate care

Hospital pharmacy in the 21st-century

There are lots of exciting discussions happening in our membership group too that I have inputted into, watch this space for updates. I would like to encourage our members, which of course includes our staff, to attend the council of governors and public trust board meetings and other events such as health information talks. There you can meet your governor representative, you can even follow governors on the Trust’s twitter page, we’ve gone modern - moving with the times!

Led by the Patient Experience Team

If you have any feedback whether this is good or not; do feed this into the hospital, if you feel, as many satisfied patients do, a staff member has gone the extra mile, why not recommend them for a Pride of Derby Award that is presented at a Public Trust Board meeting by John Rivers (Trust Chairman) and Sue James (Chief Executive).

“Governors really are given top level access; from meeting our regulator Monitor twice now and being able to speak at the Public Board meetings.”

If you do need to use our hospital services, I hope you will have an excellent patient experience whatever you are referred for; from the first point of contact to discharge. I look forward to meeting as many patients as possible during my term of office. If you wish to contact me you can do via dhft.membership@nhs.net or via 01332 786896.

Annual Members Meeting Our Annual Members Meeting will be on Thursday 11 September 2014 from 5pm Please put the date in your diary. Further details of the event will be in the next edition

Making Your Moment Matter is Derby Hospitals flagship pledge to the community we serve.

The five pledge statements, or ‘Always Moments’, were developed as a result of a large scale consultation with our patients, members of the public, voluntary organisations and our staff - nearly 3,000 got involved.

We would now like to present to you our plans for embedding these pledges in everything we do. We intend to make the talk quite interactive to spark further inspiration and ideas for us about how we can make this as big a success as possible.

Clive Newman Chief Pharmacist The talk will give an overview of the services offered by a modernday pharmacy service.

Covering a range of subjects involved in managing our £35m annual drugs bill. How the profession has progressed from ‘pill counters’ to medicines optimisation experts, how we support patients to get the best from the medicines, the use of automation (robots), how we process outpatient and discharge prescriptions, and reducing medicines waste.

Please pre-book on 01332 786896 or email dhft. membership@nhs.net

If you have any comments or suggestions on how we can improve Taking Pride please email dhft.communications@nhs.net or call 01332 785778.

Visit us at www.derbyhospitals.nhs.uk follow us on twitter @DerbyHospitals

‘Grown ups smoke outside the hospital door and it makes me cough.’

Please don’t smoke in the hospital or grounds

G16199/0414 . DHFT COMMUNICATIONS TEAM