PULSE Summer 2014

the

Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Summer 2014 | issue 2

New ‘buggy’ service launched for less mobile patients page 3 Bringing members, staff and PATIENTS the latest Trust news

Message from our

Chief Executive Dr Peter Reading

New children’s fracture clinics

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Welcome to the Summer edition of The Pulse magazine.

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e have had a very busy few months in the Trust, which began with a new-style inspection visit from the Care Quality Commission in March. A large inspection team, made up of inspectors, clinicians and patient representatives, visited both our hospitals in a series of announced and unannounced visits over a three-day period. The questions they asked and the observations they made centred upon whether our hospital services are safe, effective, caring, responsive to patients’ needs and well-led.

The inspection report is due to be published in late May – sadly, our production deadlines mean that we are unable to publish the findings in this edition of The Pulse, but the information will be available on our website as soon as possible. However, I can say that I was very pleased to observe the fantastic efforts made by our staff in preparing for the inspection. They should also be commended for their commitment to our ongoing quality improvement plans.

While on the subject of staff, I am pleased to report positive results from a recruitment programme that began at the start of 2014. We now have 135 more staff on our payroll compared with this time last year and this includes 45 more nurses, 40 more healthcare assistants and some more doctors, too. Like many other hospitals, we have been carrying nursing staff vacancies that are not easy to fill – especially since there appears to be a particular shortage in the eastern region. While we have recruited to some posts through events held locally, we have now launched an international campaign to find qualified nurses to join our teams.

Recent recruitment events held in Italy, Romania and Spain were successful and we look forward to welcoming

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21 English-speaking nurses joining us soon as a result. In addition, the next cohort of student nurses will be joining us later in the year once they complete their studies.

The redevelopment work at Stamford Hospital is taking shape. We have appointed a design team to develop how the hospital will look, and cleared the parts of the site not in use in readiness for decommissioning. The next steps are to work along side our commissioners to determine what clinical services will be required for patients using the hospital.

Finally I would like to say a few goodbyes. On 2 June the Trust will mark the end of a very successful 18-year relationship working with our military colleagues from the Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit (MDHU) based at Peterborough City Hospital. The MDHU closure is a sad loss for the Trust, but we wish our colleagues well in their redeployment to trauma centres across the country. I am pleased to report that military consultants are remaining in post until their contracts come up for review. In addition, some personnel have decided to leave the forces and continue working for the Trust.

Now comes the time for me to say goodbye to you. I will be leaving my role as interim chief executive when my contract ends in June. I will hand over to our Finance Director Caroline Walker, who will be acting chief executive for the Trust until the new chief executive, Stephen Graves, takes up his permanent post in September. (More information on page 3). I am proud to have worked in such fantastic facilities at Peterborough City Hospital and with some dedicated and talented staff across the Trust as a whole.

Trust consultant elected president of Royal College of Pathologists

60 seconds with…

Shaun Harrison, Ward Manager on A10

Medal awarded to Consultant Anaesthetist

The Trust’s priorities for 2014 - 2016

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New CEO joins Trust Stephen Graves has been appointed chief executive of our Trust and will take up his post in September 2014.

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tephen is currently chief executive at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. He will take over from interim chief executive Dr Peter Reading, who has been in post since February 2012.

Peter leaves the Trust in June and in the period between Peter’s contract ending and Stephen joining, the Trust’s Finance Director Caroline Walker will be acting chief executive.

Rob Hughes, Trust chairman, said: “I am delighted to welcome Stephen as our new chief executive. His appointment was made following a rigorous recruitment

of experience within the NHS. Prior to his current role at West Suffolk he was director of corporate development at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and therefore is no stranger to the local area. One of his areas of expertise is business development, which makes him the ideal candidate to lead us in the next phase of the strategic development of our hospitals in Peterborough and Stamford.

Stephen Graves

process and I know I speak on behalf of the board and our Council of Governors when I say that we are all looking forward to working with him.

“Stephen has a broad range

“I would also like to thank Peter Reading for his excellent performance over the past two years. He has been responsible for leading a huge amount of positive change within the Trust. We wish him well for the future.”

New ‘buggy’ service launched for less mobile patients Peterborough City Hospital took delivery of an electric vehicle in March, to help transport less mobile patients and visitors around the large hospital site.

“Patients and visitors who struggle with their mobility can now be transported anywhere on the ground floor of the hospital” said Rolf Stobbart, Moving and Handling Advisor.

“The three-seater buggy operates from the hospital’s main atrium and will be driven by Trust volunteers who have been specially trained for the role.”

Modelled on the type of vehicle usually seen at airports, and built especially for the Trust by local firm Bradshaw Electric Vehicles, the buggy has been Volunteers are specially trained to operate the buggy

kindly funded by the Friends of Peterborough Hospitals charity.

Lesley Crosby, Assistant Director of Nursing and Care Quality, said: “I would like to thank the Friends of Peterborough Hospitals for purchasing the vehicle for us. Concerns about the distance people need to walk to get to their appointments, was originally raised by our Disability Advisor just before moving into the new hospital. Following the move we received similar feedback from patients and visitors and this was reaffirmed by HealthWatch Peterborough, so we decided to look into using an alternative to a wheelchair.

We hope that the buggy provides reassurance to those patients who are less mobile and takes additional stress out of their hospital visits.”

Sexual Health services on the move From July the Trust’s Department of Sexual Health will be moving from Peterborough City Hospital to join the Contraception and Sexual Health Clinic at Rivergate in Viersen Platz, Peterborough city centre.

The move comes as a result of changes to the way sexual health services are commissioned and will see all contraception and sexual health services delivered in the same location. Patients can use the Rivergate Clinic for a wide range of services including contraception advice, emergency contraception, screening and management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy testing.

The integration of these two departments aims to give more people easier access to sexual health services and will be provided by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust.

Patients can make an appointment, or get more information, by calling the Rivergate Clinic on 01733 317888.

It is important to have regular sexual health checks, especially after any new sexual partner, in order to reduce the risk of complications and further transmission of STIs. Most STIs can be asymptomatic and if you do not have symptoms and just want a STI screen, we recommend that you do this at least two weeks after you have been at risk or took antibiotics.

If you have symptoms you should get tested as soon as possible.

The HIV service currently run

by Peterborough City Hospital will remain in the hospital with a view to move this service into the community over the next year.

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Nurses look after a junior patient having his leg plastered

New children’s fracture clinics

Junior doctors residences taking shape A project to build new residences for junior doctors, student nurses and other medical staff at the entrance to the Peterborough City Hospital site is close to completion.

The final touches to the four storey, 111-room accommodation block, which offers ensuite facilities in all rooms, are now taking place. They include fitting out and furnishing all rooms as well as landscaping around the site in readiness for the first residents moving in during July 2014.

The block is being built by Peterborough-based construction specialist Elliott and will house medical students who have previously been living in the accommodation provided at the former Peterborough District Hospital site.

Trust interim chief executive, Dr Peter Reading, said: “Offering quality accommodation is one way of helping us attract a greater proportion of students from the medical schools at Cambridge and Leicester Universities to work at our hospitals.

“The building has been created in a modular design which means it will be more straightforward to extend it in the future, if necessary.”

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he Trust is providing dedicated fracture clinics for children. The young patients will be treated by orthopaedic consultants, supported by play specialists and nurses trained in paediatric care.

Mr Mark Latimer, Consultant

Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon, said: “Previously we saw children and adults at the same fracture clinic, however by providing dedicated paediatric clinics we will improve the experience for all patients. This specialist clinic enables our play specialists to use their toys and techniques to distract young

The Trust’s recruitment campaign to attract qualified nurses by holding regular recruitment roadshows has been a great success. A number of events have been held to give potential new recruits the opportunity to view the state-of-the-art facilities that are on offer at Peterborough City Hospital.

In addition, staff in the Emergency

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“We are also looking to provide dedicated paediatric clinics for non-urgent fracture patients in the future.”

Department held their own recruitment roadshow for both junior and senior nursing staff to see the workings of the busy department and observe skills such as plastering a limb and suturing.

Two additional specialised recruitment days will also be taking place, with the Theatres team and Clinical Support, Pharmacy and Therapy Services. More information on these events will be available on the Trust website.

Ken Hutchinson, Interim Director of HR, said: “Recruitment open days are a great way to meet potential employees face to face to discuss what their interests are and show them what we have to offer as an employer.

Shaun Fretter, Clinical Educator, Lisa Sharpe, Sister Emergency Short Stay and Vicky Birchall, Clinical Educator

“At Peterborough City Hospital we can offer a very modern building and advanced equipment, complete with fantastic learning facilities, which we hope will encourage more excellent nursing staff to join us.”

Stamford gym is given a lift Patients at Stamford Hospital were thrilled to see the newly refurbished gym completed in May.

As a result the area is more usable, with up to five members of staff able to treat their patients in the gym at any time.

in the new accommodation block

“We have a dedicated entrance for the children’s clinic and we have decorated to make it more child-friendly.

Recruitment open days a great success

Last year it was agreed that both the small and large gym areas would be given new flooring, the walls redecorated, and one wall moved to create a larger space.

An example of one of the rooms

children during painful or stressful procedures.

There is also a smaller gym for the paediatric team to treat babies and younger children, where they won’t be distracted.

Leanne Williamson, Senior Physiotherapist, said: “The refurbishment is really impressive and has been extremely beneficial for us and our patients. We now have more space to treat our patients and we are even looking to increase the number of classes that we hold.”

The revamped gym at Stamford Hospital

Planning to have

your baby at home?

Community Midwife Serena McLean

Having a baby is a great joy but it can bring with it a number of questions, queries and worries.

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arents are encouraged to think about all of the choices available to them throughout pregnancy and one of the biggest questions is ‘where do you want to have your baby?’. “The answer to that is more often than not, very simple,” said Serena McLean, Community Midwife. “The majority of women currently choose to have their baby in hospital – be it on the midwife-led birthing unit or on the delivery suite. However, we want to remind people that we also offer a very cohesive home birth option for women who have had low-risk pregnancies.”

The advantages of giving birth at home are that women are more likely to achieve the birth that they hope by being more comfortable

One of the aims of the homebirth team is to increase awareness of homebirth as an option, by ensuring women have all the available information and support to make an informed choice about where to give birth. We believe this will lead to an increase in the number of women booking for and achieving a homebirth” said Serena. “The service aims to provide continuity of midwife wherever possible, so that all of the women opting for a homebirth have their antenatal appointments, and their care in labour and postnatally, undertaken by a small group of midwives, whom they will have met and got to know before they deliver.

“There are a lot of myths about having a baby at home, and many of those relate to the safety of mother and baby,” said Serena. “A lot of these worries are unfounded though and people forget that giving birth is a normal and natural process for women, and also that giving birth is safe wherever women choose to have their baby.” The advantages of giving birth at home are that women are more likely to achieve the birth that they hope by being more comfortable and relaxed in their own environment. Research shows that planned homebirths are safe, particularly for second-time mothers.

The disadvantages are that they may need to be transferred into hospital during their labour for clinical reasons, and there is less choice of pain relief.

The Maternity Services in Peterborough currently offer a successful homebirth service, where many babies are born at home every year. In England 1 in every 50 babies are born at home.

There are plans for there to be six midwives in the new ‘Sunflower’ homebirth team by the time it ‘goes live’ in September.

If you would like more information about having a homebirth then please contact the Maternity Helpline on 01733 677266 or Serena McLean, Homebirth Team Leader on 07766253917.

Trust plans special event for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, are invited to attend a special event at Peterborough City Hospital planned for Saturday 1 November 2014.

The aim of the event will be to show the hundreds of sufferers in the local community

- plus their families, friends and carers - what treatment, support and advice is available to them via the specialist team at the hospital.

This will include being able to talk to the hospital’s Inflammatory Bowel Disease Nurses, Consultant Gastroenterologists, Dieticians and representatives from Crohn’s and Colitis UK.

At the cutting edge of research Research is a core part of work that NHS does and the Trust’s Research and the Development Team is working hard to raise the profile of clinical research throughout our hospitals. The trials that we assist in provide our patients with the chance to receive cutting edge treatments that would not otherwise be available to them.

of care for our patients. There are currently a large number of research trials taking place across the whole of the Trust, with the

The event will begin at 9.30am in the Learning Centre, which is on Level 4 at Peterborough City Hospital. It will run until lunchtime. It will be publicised in the hospital as well as in local GP surgeries and community facilities. If you want to find out more, please contact John Humphries at pch.ibd.patientpanel@gnet.com. main areas of research activity in oncology, cardiology, stroke, surgery, dementia and neurodegenerative diseases.

These trials range from observational trials to interventional and medicinal trials.

The Trust board has recently approved a five-year Research and Development strategy to increase the portfolio of research trials.

The team can be contacted via email: R&DDepartment@pbh-tr.nhs.uk or on 01733 677919.

This commitment to stay abreast of the latest treatments enables us to provide the highest quality

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The Robert Horrell Macmillan Day Centre – here to help you!

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ucked away behind the City Hospital, is a deceptively modest bungalow surrounded by gardens. This is home to the Robert Horrell Macmillan Day Centre. The Centre is for those undergoing treatment for cancer and other long term conditions.

The facility offers a number of services including day therapies, for anyone facing the challenges of long term conditions, a ‘Moving Forward’ course for people who have recently completed cancer treatment, and an outpatient occupational therapy service for patients under the care of a Community Macmillan Nurse.

“We have a multi-professional team, including nurses, occupational therapists, a craft therapist, chaplains, volunteers and support staff based at the Centre and they provide a range of treatments, advice, activities and support structures for patients who are living with cancer or other progressive illness,” said Kate Jurkschat, Deputy Sister. “Among the interventions offered are fatigue management, anxiety management, craft therapy, relaxation, nutritional support, reflexology, and advice

about managing symptoms as well as emotional and spiritual support. We can also refer to other services if required such as the dieticians.”

Set in spacious grounds, the Robert Horrell Macmillan Centre was opened with the aim of providing a safe, supporting and caring environment for patients. “People are not always aware of the service we offer’’ said Kate. “’Being diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness impacts all areas of people’s lives. The good news is that many people are living for much longer following diagnosis but this can bring many challenges as people face the

Kate Jurkshchat, bottom left with colleagues and patients in the Robert Horrell Centre

physical and emotional consequences of the illness and its treatment. We aim to provide information and skills to empower people to take control. There is also the opportunity to meet others facing the same challenges’’.

The Day Centre is open every week from Monday to Thursday 8am to 4:30pm and Friday from 8am to 1pm. Transport to the centre can be arranged for eligible patients and all patients referred must be 18 years or over. Referrals need to be made by a healthcare professional so please speak to your nurse or doctor if you would like more information.

Trust launches

a guide to your hospital We have created a new booklet for patients coming in to stay in Peterborough City Hospital. The booklet, which is available by the side of every bed, aims to make hospital stays more pleasant and easier for patients as it is packed with information about hospital services, patients’ rights and discharge arrangements.

An example of the Your Hospital

Trust consultant elected president of Royal College of Pathologists The Trust would like to congratulate Consultant Histopathologist, Dr Suzy Lishman after she was elected President of the Royal College of Pathologists.

Dr Lishman is the Head of Department and Clinical Governance Lead for Pathology where she has been sharing her skills for the past seven years.

Within her role Dr Lishman teaches medical students, junior doctors and biomedical and clinical

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scientists about pathology, focussing on practical aspects such as the role of screening and how cancer is diagnosed.

Dr Lishman said: “I am delighted to have been elected President of the Royal College of Pathologists, particularly as this is the first time that all fellows have had the opportunity to vote. As President-elect I look forward to working with the current President over the next few months before taking on this challenging role in November. I am grateful to the Trust Board and my colleagues in histopathology for their encouragement and support.”

booklet for 2014

60 seconds with…

Shaun Harrison, Ward Manager on A10

Shaun has worked for the Trust since 2007 when he started as a Ward Manager on the old Ward 3X at the District Hospital.

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is inspiration to become a nurse grew from a personal experience after his mother had to have a kidney removed.

“I used to help the district nurse do my Mum’s dressing when I was seven years old, “said Shaun. Shaun’s grandmother was an old-fashioned hospital Matron and his Mother a nursery nurse so it seemed his destiny would always be in a caring career.

“I did have a phase where I thought I wanted to be a vet but that was short-lived and I set my heart on nursing when I was 15 years old.”

Shaun currently manages Ward A10 which specialises in gastroenterology.

“My first F grade post was on a medical ward which I thoroughly enjoyed and it was there that I developed a keen interest in alcohol-related liver disease and the subsequent health problems surrounding it,” said Shaun.

A career in nursing can bring about a number of challenges but Shaun says his patients never fail to keep him smiling at work. “As with any profession, you have some days where you wonder if the grass is greener on the other side but to see my patients and staff happy, and to know I’m making a real difference in an excellent team, always reminds me of what an important job we do and how much I love it,” said Shaun.

An average day for Shaun includes

keeping a close eye on bed capacity, admissions and discharges and attending Trust-wide meetings to discuss specific patient needs. “I will often assist with difficult discharges and acutely unwell patients as this is a good way of supporting junior staff and helping with their development as nurses. I try to keep afternoons free so that I can be on the ward seeing patients and meeting their relatives.”

One thing is for sure for Shaun, and that is that no day is ever the same. “Nursing is a continuous learning curve,” he said.

“The fundamental principles have never changed, it’s the way we deliver our care which has, and the research surrounding what we do and why we do it. It’s not all about bedpans and bathing anymore, there is a huge amount of education surrounding the profession and I no longer believe it’s a vocation.”

To wind down from a busy week Shaun keeps himself occupied at home with his huger menagerie of ‘pets’. He is lucky enough to own four large horses, 25 chickens, five ducks, a basset hound called Archie and 24 rare breed sheep who have just had 31 lambs between them. “At the moment I get home and bottle feed two of our lambs, feed the chickens and collect the eggs whilst trying to stop Archie from chasing them,” said Shaun. “My partner and I check the sheep and then saddle up for a lovely country hack – horses are amazing animals and as soon as I see mine, I forget about almost everything.”

I did have a phase where I thought I wanted to be a vet but that was shortlived and I set my heart on nursing when I was 15 years old.

Shaun Harrison

Radiotherapy expansion update In the last edition of The Pulse we told you about our exciting plans to expand the radiotherapy unit to include two new bunkers and a brand new linear accelerator machine. “The work we are doing to increase our capacity and ensure we’re able to treat more patients with cancer is fantastic,” said Andrew Poynter, Head of Radiotherapy Physics. “The construction plan is currently being finalised and we are also looking at the recruitment of two new consultant oncologists.”

The expanded unit is expected to go live in the Spring/Summer of next year and we’ll continue to provide updates throughout the months.

There should be no major disruption to the service for current patients, and any building works will be communicated in good time in case there are any temporary changes to parking arrangements in that area of the City Hospital site.

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now patients and other members of staff will be able to identify us by our new uniforms

Dietitians join therapy services

Dietitians join the Therapy team

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ietitians at Peterborough City Hospital can now be identified by their new purple and black uniform. The change to their uniform coincides with the team transferring from Cambridgeshire Community Services to work for our Trust.

The team previously worked on site at Peterborough City Hospital, but by becoming employees of the hospital it is hoped the good working relationships they have developed within the Therapy Services department will be strengthened further as both teams will have more opportunities to share plans and

development ideas.

Sarah Pickles, Dietetics Team Manager, said: “We are really pleased to be able to work more closely with our colleagues here in the Therapy Services department and now patients and other members of staff will be able to identify us by our new uniforms.”

Medal awarded to Consultant Anaesthetist Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Richard Griffiths had been presented with an award from the Royal College of Anaesthetists.

Dr Griffiths collected the coveted Dudley Buxton prize at a ceremony held at The Anniversary Meeting of the College, in London. He received a bronze medal, together with Dr Stuart White, in recognition of ‘meritorious work in anaesthesia or in a science contributing to the progress of anaesthesia.’

Dr Griffiths founded the NHS Perioperative Hip Fracture Network in 2007 and it now has over 300 members throughout the U.K. He was one of the instigators of the Anaesthesia Sprint Audit of Practice (ASAP), which collected information on over 11,000 patients last year. This has just been published by the National Hip Fracture database.

He said: “Having been

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involved, it’s great the work in our network is being recognised. It’s showing how we’re working to improve the care of elderly patients during surgery and anaesthesia.”

Dr Griffiths is currently the Honorary Secretary of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland. He has published a number of papers with Dr Stuart White, a Consultant Anaesthetist from Brighton, who is the research and audit lead for the Hip Fracture Perioperative Network.

Dr Richard Griffiths receiving his award

2013 staff award winners

Nominate your health hero for a Trust award Have you received outstanding care or treatment from a member of staff at Stamford or Peterborough City Hospital?

Would you like someone at our Trust to be recognised for their hard work, compassion or for going that extra mile?

This year we are also introducing a new public recognition award for ‘Midwife of the Year’. “Having a baby is such a special time and having a confident, caring midwife by your side can make all the difference,” said Penny Brett, Head of Midwifery.

This is your chance to have your say about a member of our team by nominating them in the public recognition category of our Outstanding Achievement Awards.

If you have had a baby in the last 12 months and received care from a midwife who went the extra mile then please send in your nomination.

“Feeling like you’ve made a difference is a wonderful feeling,” said Penny.

The outstanding achievement awards will take place to mark the end of our staff and volunteer celebration month, which is due to take place in October 2014. The week of celebration is dedicated to our staff and volunteers - the Trust’s greatest asset.

To nominate your health hero, all you need to do is email communications@pbh-tr.nhs.uk with the name and department of the staff member you are nominating and state briefly why you think this person deserves to win the award.

Raising awareness of Parkinson’s Disease The Radiotherapy team are playing their part in a key development for the Trust the expansion of Radiotherapy services

The Trust’s priorities

for 2014 - 2016

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atient safety, patient experience, service developments and finance are the main focuses for the Trust’s priorities for the next two years. Seven key objectives have been agreed by the Trust board to ensure commitment to delivering high quality services, whilst working to resolve the Trust’s underlying financial challenges. The objectives were developed through engagement with senior clinical leaders, the Trust Board and the Council of Governors.

Objectives summary Our top priority is to be in the top 25% safest district general hospitals in England.

We aim to achieve this by reducing harm caused by falls and infections, as well as providing earlier identification and support for patients with a worsening condition.

Seven day cover will also deliver significantly better continuity of care for patients, particularly at weekends.

At both hospital sites, patient experience is in the top 25% of Trusts in the country, and we aim to do even better by aiming to achieve top 20% scores in the national patient safety

surveys for inpatients, outpatients and in the Emergency Department.

In terms of service development, the Trust has two major developments planned over the next two years - the radiotherapy expansion on the PCH site and the extensive redevelopment of the Stamford hospital site. The new staff accommodation building is also currently being built on the site at PCH will provide excellent new facilities to our doctors and other staff in training when it opens later in 2014.

The Trust’s challenging financial position means we will have to work hard to reduce cost and be more efficient.

Trust Objectives 2014/15 – 2015/16 1. Be in the top quartile safest district general hospitals in England 2. Be in the top 20% of Trusts for patient care and experience 3. Be an effective Trust and meet performance standards 4. Have a productive workforce equipped, skilled and motivated to provide the highest quality care 5. Ensure that the Trust is well run and well led 6. Deliver our financial targets 7. Achieve all round ‘sustainability’ for PCH and Stamford Hospital

Healthcare professionals and patients helped with raising awareness of Parkinson’s disease as part of the national awareness week in April.

The focus for the 2014 campaign was ‘in control’ to highlight the unpredictable nature of the symptoms of Parkinson’s. The campaign aims to educate the public on what they can do to put Parkinson’s patients back ‘in control’. We spoke to our patient safety manager, a service user and a full-time carer to find out why raising awareness of the disease is so important.

Gillian Clark, patient safety manager at the Trust, said: “If patients with Parkinson’s do not get their medication on time, they can lose the ability to manage their symptoms effectively. We work all year round to raise as much awareness of the unpredictability and complexity of Parkinson’s as possible, not just through the national awareness week. A little understanding can make a great deal of difference.”

Mick Wicks, a full-time carer for his wife who suffers from Parkinson’s, said: “My wife was diagnosed with Parkinson’s three years ago and I automatically became her carer. We had to adapt our life to accommodate the quick onset of symptoms, and the challenges the unpredictability of Parkinson’s has given us. There’s no cure for the disease yet, so my wife and I focus on keeping morale high and living life to the full whilst raising awareness of the disease so everyone can learn and benefit.”

New apprentice scheme launches in July Connor Packwood recently joined the trust as a Senior Orthopaedic Technician.

Connor was the first graduate of the plaster technician apprenticeship when the scheme was introduced at Leicester Royal Infirmary Hospital in 2010.

As the plaster room co-ordinator in Orthopaedic Outpatients at Peterborough City Hospital, he manages the day to day running and ensures that patients are seen as quickly as possible.

Two new apprentices will begin at the trust in July under Connor’s mentorship. The apprentice

scheme will run for 18 months, during which they will study for their NVQ 3 in anatomy, physiology, casting and wound care.

Connor said: “I am looking forward to being a mentor for the new apprentices and hope that they will experience the same enjoyment that I have for this role. The role of a plaster technician is not very well known outside of the hospital environment and this exciting training opportunity at the trust is also providing a very rewarding career prospect.”

Mick Wicks

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This is a great success for the wards and most importantly, our patients

Cardiac Ward - stop the pressure

Stop the Pressure success!

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ards at Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals have been continuing to hit milestones in the number of days without a patient acquiring a new, avoidable pressure ulcer

Wards B1 (Isolation), A2 (Surgery), A8 (Renal), A10 (Gastroenterology) and the Trust’s Cardiac Ward and Coronary Care Unit are all based at Peterborough City Hospital and have now made it

over 365 days pressure free.

The campaign was initially piloted from 16 August 2012 on Ward B12, the Trust’s respiratory ward, and has since been rolled out to all other wards at both hospital sites. Ward B12 hit the year milestone in August 2013 and is now over 650 days pressure free.

Julie Bates and Janet Small, Tissue Viability Nurses, said: “This is such a fantastic achievement for the wards.

A massive well done to all

ward managers and their staff for their continued hard work, commitment and dedication to eliminate avoidable hospital acquired pressure ulcers.”

Gill Clark, Patient Safety Manager, said: “This is a great success for the wards and most importantly, our patients. We can now celebrate reaching this milestone whilst continuing to ensure our patients are consistently receiving high standards of care around the Trust.”

New service will improve care for mental health patients A new on-site in-patient psychiatric liaison service is now available at Peterborough City Hospital thanks to a collaboration between the Trust and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT).

Now, patients with mental health problems, such as dementia, for example, can be seen by a member of the psychiatric liaison team while in hospital, which means that their care and future requirements can be put into place faster than before.

In addition, the team is working with ward staff to increase their general awareness of mental health and help them identify any potential issues early on in a patient’s care.

Local clinicians introduce emergency medicine courses in India Dr Vijayasankar, Consultant and Associate Clinical Director of the Emergency Department in the Trust, has recently travelled to India with a group of consultant colleagues to help improve emergency medicine education.

The group consisting of six consultants who are part of the East of England Emergency Medicine course taught the first ever five-day intensive preparation course to 32 Indian emergency medicine doctors to prepare them for sitting, and hopefully passing, the UK professional exam set by The College of Emergency Medicine. This course was held at Pushpagiri Medical College and Hospital, Kerala.

Dr Vijayasankar, who is also a flight physician for MAGPAS Helimedix said: “This is the first ever intensive five-day, cost

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neutral, course in India organised by us. It attracted attention from local media as well as from prospective trainees in Emergency Medicine who wanted to attend. It also established an invaluable link between

Dr Vijayasankar pictured centre right, with the group of emergency medicine doctors in India

the Emergency Medicine Trainees across India and The Eastern region. After this successful event, a further course is planned in September in Chennai and the course will run bi-annually.”

Councillor June Stokes, the Mayor of Peterborough, with Chris Wilkinson, Director of Care Quality & Chief Nurse

Celebrating nursing

around the Trust Nursing staff at the Trust celebrated International Nurses Day on Monday 12 May.

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he event is a global celebration of nursing and the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.

Nurses from around the Trust hosted a stand organised by staff nurse Emily Hudson, who is also a Royal College of Nursing (RCN) steward, in the main atrium at Peterborough City Hospital. The team promoted nursing as a career and held a cake sale for patients and visitors in aid of our hospitals’ charitable funds. Councillor June Stokes, the Mayor of Peterborough, also came along to see the display.

There were more celebrations at Stamford Hospital where they held a display of nursing through the years as well as items from the museum and had a large cake for the nursing staff to enjoy.

Nursing and quality of care is about giving the right care, first time and every time

Jo Bennis, Assistant Director of Nursing and Care Quality, said: “International Nurses Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the fantastic work the Trust’s nursing teams undertake every day to ensure that the patient care and experience is of the highest quality, given by nurses who are compassionate and caring.

“Nursing and quality of care is about giving the right care, first time and every time.”

Lucy loses her locks to benefit maternity unit Lucy Nelson, Health Care Assistant at Peterborough City Hospital, bravely shaved off her long hair to raise funds for the maternity department’s holistic room. As a result of losing her 30 inch locks, Lucy has raised a fantastic £1,400 so far.

“We would like to thank Lucy for this act of selfless giving and hope that she is pleased with the facilities we are hoping to provide with the funds raised.”

Stamford Hospital was one of the areas to benefit from the Friends’ donation

Generous donation from the Friends of Stamford Hospital The Friends of Stamford Hospital have raised £5000 for the Trust after staging book sales and other fundraising events.

Staff at the hospital have had a say in where the money would be best spent and as a result the donation has been split across several departments.

Items purchased include patient chairs for the Minor Injuries Unit and Outpatients, trolleys for the Day Surgery Unit, Plaster Room and Outpatients and arm pads for patient chairs in Phlebotomy.

Sue Brooks, Matron and Site Manager for Stamford Hospital said: “We always appreciate the support that we receive from the Friends of Stamford Hospital and in this instance we have been able to buy numerous items for a number of departments, which will improve efficiency and comfort for our patients. We would like to thank them for their continued support.”

Lucy wanted to support the holistic room, as she is currently an active member of a group facilitated by the Supervisors of Midwives at PCH to encourage normal birth. Lucy recognised the need for additional resources required to set up a holistic room, and set about organising her sponsored headshave.

Deborah Caffull, Acting Deputy Head of Midwifery, said: “The maternity department will use Lucy’s donation to contribute towards equipment to aid relaxation. Relaxation is very important to mothers-to-be as it is known to encourage the release of oxytocin, the hormone that encourages labour to progress.

The Minor Injuries Unit at

Lucy Nelson pictured before and after having her head shaved

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Thanks for your feedback in our Membership survey In April, the trust celebrated the 10 year anniversary of becoming a Foundation Trust.

Reaching this milestone seemed an ideal opportunity to capture your feedback on your experience of being a Member. Therefore, all of our public members were invited to take part in our Membership survey. 72 members completed the survey From the results, we were able to find which methods of communication are most effective, how to improve attendance at our next public meetings and the department areas which are of most interest to you. The feedback provided will assist us in future publications to ensure that members are receiving the news and information that is of interest to them in an appropriate format.

The Annual Public Meeting will be held on Thursday 17 July at Peterborough City Hospital, Lecture Theatre, Core A, Level four. You will hear from our Acting Chief Executive, Caroline Walker about the Trust’s achievements and challenges for the past and coming year.

Refreshments will be available.

Toby Payne, Annette Parker, and Alison Owens

Organ donation committee presents to schools

T

oby Payne, Public Governor and Organ Donation Committee Chairman, Annette Parker, Care Quality Strategic Support Manager and Alison Owens, Clinical Educator all attended Jack Hunt School earlier this year. The members of staff form part of the Trust’s Organ and Tissue Donation Committee who regularly present

to local schools to educate students about organ donation.

Students were encouraged to discuss the topic with their family and friends so that they could make an informed choice. The presentation informed the pupils about organ donation and what it may involve as well as listening to patients experiences. To date the Committee have done over 13 presentations to schools in the area.

Trust seeks a new non-executive director The Trust is looking for a highlymotivated individual to join us as a non-executive director and provide support and leadership at Board level across the challenges that we face.

Wednesday 9 July 2014.

Interviews for the position will be held on

• Chris Hamilton: 020 7529 3996

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For further information, or a discussion prior to application, potential candidates should contact either: • Peter Mason: 0207 518 2641; or

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