r u o yhospital Spring 2015
New Outpatient Centre opens in Whitstable PLUS: CQC Update and Dementia Appeal Launch
your hospital your health
The magazine for members and supporters of east Kent’s hospitals
Putting patients first
Welcome! Nicholas Wells, Chairman Welcome to the latest issue of Your Hospital, the magazine for members of East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. As always, the magazine is full of interesting and informative articles, many of them written by Governors of the Trust, to whom I extend my thanks. I should particularly like to draw your attention to the article on the Trust’s new Charitable Appeal which is focussed on dementia. This new appeal follows on from the highly successful fundraising for digital mammography equipment which by the time of its closure in July 2013 had raised more than £1 million. Many of you will recall from the membership events we ran on dementia in 2013 the enormous challenges it poses for sufferers, their families and the Health and Social Care Services. It is therefore a very worthy topic for our second appeal and will, I hope, receive widespread support. This edition also contains an article reflecting on the past of the Buckland Hospital in Dover. I found this a very interesting ‘history lesson’ and it is, of course, particularly timely as the New Buckland Hospital is virtually complete and will be opening in April. In closing, I want to tell you about some important changes in personnel at the Trust. At the end of March Stuart Bain will be leaving his position as Chief Executive after more than seven years leading the Trust. I have greatly enjoyed working with Stuart and he can justifiably look back on many successes during his time as CEO, including, of course, the achievement of Foundation Trust status. Taking over from Stuart will be Chris Bown who has been appointed Interim Chief Executive for a year. You can read more about Chris below. Finally, as I suspect many of you will be aware by the time you receive this magazine I shall be leaving my position as Chairman at the end of April. I have been on the Board of Directors of the Trust since 2001 and Chairman for the last seven and a half years. It has been an absolute privilege to serve the Trust in this way and I look forward to watching it continue to restore the positive reputation I believe it thoroughly deserves. I have also greatly enjoyed meeting you, our members, at the various membership and other events and wish you all well for the future.
Introducing our new Interim Chief Executive Chris Bown has been appointed as our new Interim Chief Executive, to take over from Stuart Bain, when he retires in March. Mr Bown is a long standing Chief Executive with a wealth of experience in steering NHS organisations through challenging periods of change. He led Poole Hospital Foundation Trust and before that West Suffolk Trust for a total of 10 years. Prior to that, he held Board level Director positions with responsibility for Operations and Corporate Development at Birmingham Children’s hospital.
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He started his NHS career in London working at both Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals. For the last year he has undertaken a number of interim roles, most recently as Managing Director of County Hospital, Stafford (previously Mid Staffs Hospital Foundation Trust). Chris has been appointed for a period of one year. This will give our Trust the stability of leadership which will be important as we strive to make substantial progress with our CQC action plan, resolve the operational challenges we face and, over the summer, take our strategic plans into public consultation.
Chris Bown In this way, EKHUFT should be able to make significant progress and hopefully come out of special measures.
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Update Following the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) inspection last year, the Trust’s regulator Monitor took the decision to place the Trust into special measures, requiring the Trust to produce an action plan to address the issues highlighted in the CQC’s report. The Trust has been working with the CCGs, Monitor and the CQC and has produced an action plan that can be viewed at www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/cqc The plan is updated every month showing the progress that is being made. Work is on-going across the Trust to address the issues raised and an Improvement Plan Delivery Board has been established, chaired by David Hargroves, Clinical lead for Stroke Medicines within the Trust, which will oversee the implementation of the action plan.
East Kent Hospitals named Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer East Kent Hospitals has been named in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list, recently announced at the National Apprenticeship Awards. EKHUFT has supported apprentices for approximately five years, training 75 in that time. We have expanded the scheme from the traditional areas of business admin and the trades and moved into Clinical Apprentices, Finance and Science apprentices. Lesley Palin, Learning & Development Trainer, said: “We work closely with Canterbury College to provide suitable qualification frameworks. By ensuring that functional skills are embedded within that framework, we are able to ensure that our placements are available to a wide range of young people, of differing skills and abilities. Our aim is to take local, young people and at the end of their apprenticeship have turned them into young professionals, who should they chose to move on from the Trust at the end of their apprenticeship have marketable skills and invaluable work experience. Our current permanent recruitment rate from apprentices stands at 90%.”
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Keeping in touch Brian Glew, Elected Governor, Canterbury On behalf of the Council of Governors’ Communication and Membership Committee
One of our key roles and responsibilities as Foundation Trust Governors is to represent the interests of you, the members of the Trust as a whole, and of the wider public. This is set out in legislation and is one of our local priorities. In order to do this successfully, we need to keep in touch with you and seek your views and to feedback information about the Trust’s activities and plans. So how have we done this over the past year? This newsletter, published twice a year in February and July, is one way. Many of the articles are written by Governors and almost always invite your comments and views on the subject being addressed. There are also items produced by the Trust. In the early Autumn, we wrote a letter to all of you about the Care Quality Commission’s inspection and report on the Trust which led to its being placed in special measures. We invited your feedback on these exceptional developments. We have a busy programme of events that enable Governors, members and the wider public to meet face-to-face: • A large number of Governors attended the Annual Meeting in October • We attended each of the Trust’s 5 health roadshows held across the area during 2014 (and to which you were all invited) 4
• We attended each of the Trust’s 11 public consultation meetings, held across the area, about the new Outpatients service • Each month we have a ‘Meet the Governor’ session in one of the 5 hospitals which provides an ideal ‘drop-in’ opportunity • We visit community organisations and groups to talk about the role of members and Governors delivering 3 presentations With the exception of the Annual Meeting, between 2 and 5 of the 22 elected Governors have attended each event. Many of you have taken the time to come along to these and share your thoughts and views. This has been invaluable. These events are advertised in this newsletter and on the membership pages of the Trust’s website. The
website is our third means of keeping in touch. It tells you how you can contact Governors and we run regular surveys to provide a further opportunity for you to express your opinions.
How you can help We are continually looking at new ways to establish even stronger links, but in the meantime please: • keep your thoughts and views coming • visit the website – if you have computer access • take advantage of the opportunities to meet us faceto-face
East Kent Hospitals Charity launches new Dementia Appeal!
East Kent Hospitals Charity is excited to be launching its next major appeal for dementia services across our hospitals! With your support, East Kent Hospitals Charity wants to raise up to £500,000 to be spread across the five hospitals in East Kent, which will fund multiple projects to help support patients with dementia and make their time spent in hospital more enjoyable. We have launched our charity appeal with the goal that every patient living with dementia will leave hospital as fit and healthy as possible, rather than experience a decline in their condition that can happen when a person is in an unfamiliar environment for a length of time. Our projects will revolve around the everyday work of our hospitals to make sure they quickly deliver benefits for patients and their carers, families and friends. What will the appeal achieve?
your support today, you could help raise enough money to fund the following… • Arts activity sessions for patients with Dementia • Dementia cafes which will provide information to patients and carers • Therapeutic and interactive dementia-friendly spaces across all our sites • Changes to the environment to promote relaxation, by means of buying special clocks, wall coverings and reminiscence items
What can you do to help? In order to raise up to £500,000 we would love you to get involved with our appeal. This could be through holding or joining in with a fundraising event, volunteering for the charity or simply making a donation.
Get in touch If you are interested in holding a fundraising event, our team would be more than happy to discuss your ideas and provide you with further information to get you on your way! Why not get your family, friends and colleagues involved too? Contact Luke Underdown (Community Fundraising Manager) Email: ekh-tr.dementiaappeal@nhs.net Telephone: 07896 200237 Website: www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/dementiaappeal Twitter: @DementiaAppeal
Big or small, all donations help. With 5
Update on Outpatient Services Dee Mepstead, Elected Governor, Canterbury and Rachel Jones, Director of Strategy and Business Development East Kent Hospitals continues working towards improvement in the provision of services. In the summer of 2014, following wide public consultation, proposals to improve outpatient services were approved by the EKHUFT Board and Canterbury and Coastal CCG. The main objectives included: • I mproved patient access based on local postcodes and a 20 minute travel time for those attending their outpatient clinic appointment by car. • A reduction from 15 sites to 6 site ensuring that facilities are fit for purpose and upgraded where necessary. The reduction in number of sites would make best use of staff time and enable a more comprehensive service with each of the 6 sites offering a broad spectrum of specialities. A one stop model aimed at reducing the follow up attendances and improving efficiency would be implemented with an extended working day to offer a greater choice of appointment times. The Trust is now making real progress including; • E nhanced bus routes with a new bus stop outside Estuary View are already in place. Outpatient services are now being delivered from Estuary View, on the north Kent coast. • Extension of working days, weekend working and increasing the number of clinics offered as one stop are planned from April 2015. • The opening of a fully refurbished outpatient (clinic D housing urology, pain and maxilla facial services) at the Canterbury site. • The new Dover Hospital is planned to open in April 2015. When Estuary View and the new Dover hospital are operational we will have achieved our aim to rationalise outpatient services to 6 sites which, in turn, will offer significantly more patients improved travel to an extended range of services on those sites. The one stop model, and concentration of services, will reduce the number of times patients have to attend separately for diagnostics and then wait until another visit to see a consultant to get results. The size and structure of the population of east Kent is changing. Reviewing, upgrading and improving facilities and services is an ongoing process aimed at successfully meeting the needs of the population.
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My first year as a public Governor Carole George, Elected Governor, Dover Having been a Governor for twelve months I thought this an ideal moment to reach out to the Membership and share my thoughts and experiences with regard to that role, the Trust and the National Health Service. As a new Governor you undertake a number of inductions sessions, visiting the hospitals within The Trust. You become familiar with the processes and the specialist work undertaken within the various wards, laboratories and departments, seeing first-hand the excellent and innovative work that takes place. This is also an ideal opportunity to talk to staff and patients and gain insight into their world, opinions and concerns.
My own sister trained to be a nurse some 60 years ago and went on to become a midwife. I learned a great deal about hospital life by listening to the many stories she told. Clearly she loved her job, worked hard with long hours and a strict regime. It was skilled, with high levels of responsibility but no matter what the demands this was her chosen career and she was totally dedicated to nursing and the care of patients. Over the years The NHS has changed. What doesn’t change however is that same care, dedication and professionalism that remains now with our staff and within our hospitals.
We attend Educational Seminars with excellent and informative presentations and have regular opportunities to talk to the public during our Meet the Governor Sessions. The Council of Governors convene by-monthly and can sit on other Committees, such as Strategic, Nominations and Remuneration and Patient and staff experience committee. These enable us to gain insight and have input into the workings of the Trust.
Our Trust has experienced an extremely difficult year. The NHS is facing many problems with stretched resources and rising patient numbers. The issues being faced in Accident and Emergency Departments all over the country are once again in the headlines. Nothing is perfect and we know there are issues and problems to solve but from where I sit I honestly believe that our Trust and the NHS in general is doing everything it can to secure an outstanding health service for all of us.
The learning curve for me has been enormous, sometimes overwhelming but always extremely interesting and very exciting. Above all I hope that I am making a worthwhile contribution to The Trust while constructively representing the Members and the public.
The reason that I stood as a Governor was because I wanted to give something back and make a contribution to society using the skills I acquired during my working life. I am passionate about our National Health Service which remains a fantastic and essential institution. It
supports the sick and dying, it saves lives and I, like all of you do not want to see it fail. So if I really want to make that contribution what can I do? I can stop dwelling on what the National Health Service is not achieving and start shouting about the excellent service it does provide. I can highlight the fantastic work undertaken by all the staff. I can press the politicians to be forward thinking and support a cohesive health service that matches the needs of the people it serves, not just for now but for future generations. I can highlight the need for improved funding to ensure we have sufficient numbers of doctors and nurses trained. I can keep saying “Thank You” for our National Health Service and I am certain that I can rely on all of you to say a very big “Well done” and “Thank You” too.
Did you know?
We care for a on of local populati 00 around 720,5
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Our excellence EKHUFT Ambulatory Care Team wins Best Team in the Quality In Care Anticoagulation Awards This was the first QiC Anticoagulation awards event, celebrating the work of healthcare professionals working to treat and prevent blood clot-related conditions across the UK and Ireland. The Ambulatory Care Team has developed a nurse-led multidisciplinary team approach to outpatient care, reducing patient waiting times, ensuring consistency and continuity of patient care. Offering booked appointments, walkin clinics and an inpatient service that assesses, diagnoses, manages and follows up VTE patients. This Award recognises the dedication and hard work of all the staff in developing a service that truly puts patients at the centre of care.
EKHUFT wins ‘Most Improved Acute Provider’ at regional awards Improvements being made in the Trust were highlighted in January at the Kent, Surrey Sussex EXPO awards where EKHUFT was awarded ‘Most Improved Acute Provider’. The KSS EXPO is a brand new event focused on accelerating healthcare innovation, enhancing the quality of care, and improving patient safety. These exciting new awards have been introduced to celebrate the clinical teams and local innovators who are leading the way in raising the bar for sustained improvements in patient care, and driving economic growth. The award was made to the Trust on the basis of performance improvements made.
Did you know...? As a University Trust, we play a vital role in the teaching and training of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.
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Buckland Hospital A day to remember Eunice Lyons-Backhouse, Elected Governor, Rest of England and Wales As we are about to commence a new chapter in the life of the Buckland Hospital, (Coombe Valley Road, Dover site) it is interesting to reflect on some past major incidents dealt with at Buckland; a testament to the value of a well-practiced and honed Major Accident Procedure. The incident which I would like to share with you include a severe Fairground Accident in 1985 at Pencester Gardens, Dover and the IRA bomb planted in the Marine School of Music in Deal resulting in the deaths of 11 Royal Marines, injuring a further 21 in 1989. However, today my thoughts are related to the Princess Margaret hovercraft which on a Saturday afternoon at the end of March 1985, during severe windy stormy weather, having completed her 40-minute crossing from Calais, was hurled against the pier in Dover. On board were 370 passengers and 18 crew members. The collision caused a tear in a section of the skirt. On impact, two passengers were killed, an elderly South American Lady and a teacher from a British Army School, returning on leave with his family. His 13 year old daughter was instantly swept into the raging sea; her body not recovered until many weeks later. At Buckland Accident and Emergency Department the Major Accident Procedure was immediately put into place; many of us were summoned
back to the Hospital and slotted into our appropriate roles. The range of nationalities on board that afternoon was daunting, especially when trying to communicate with fuel soaked, terrified passengers. Thankfully the shipping companies quickly supplied interpreters. Part of the passenger list took account of an arranged student exchange and some were unaccounted for. Later it was verified that they had missed this particular crossing. In the meantime, media had publicised the accident and telephone calls from distraught relatives were coming in thick and fast. The Reception Desk was manned by the then District Administrator Derek Russell, Head of Personnel at the Buckland (Human Resources) Tim Waite and me. Many staff who had heard news of what had
happened abandoned their Saturday night arrangements and came to the hospital. We all worked through the night. With the awful increasing stench from the fuel soaked flooring and patients’ baggage, most of the flooring had to be destroyed, along with most of our clothing. Of course, some passengers were admitted and the husband of the South American lady who died was an inpatient for a considerable time on Mountbatten Ward. So before we enjoy the provision of new exciting facilities - and ultimately more history, we can reflect on the Dover Hospital, (that was a legacy from the local Workhouse). If anyone remembers other stories please let us know.
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Dates for your diary March 2015
May 2015
September 2015
Pathology Health Event
Meet the Governors
Meet the Governors
Monday 18 May 2015 10.00 - 12.00 Outpatients, Royal Victoria Hospital
Thursday 17 September 2015 10.00 - 12.00 Main Reception, Buckland Hospital
June 2015
October 2015
Meet the Governors
Meet the Governors
Thursday 18 June 2015 10.00 - 12.00 Food You Love, QEQM
Thursday 15 October 2015 10.00 - 12.00 Outpatients, K&C
April 2015
July 2015
November 2015
Meet the Governors
Meet the Governors
Meet the Governors
Thursday 16 April 2015 10.00 - 12.00 Outpatients, K&C
Wednesday 15 July 2015 10.00 - 12.00 Main Reception, WHH
Monday 16 November 2015 10.00 - 12.00 Outpatients, Royal Victoria Hospital
Wednesday 11 March 16.30 - 19.00 Lecture Theatre, QEQM Tuesday 17 March 2015 16.30 - 19.00 Lecture Theatre, WHH
Meet the Governors Thursday 19 March 2015 10.00 - 12.00 Main Reception, Buckland Hospital
Charity Events 15 March 2015 Kentish Piano Trio Mothering Sunday Concert in aid of the East Kent Hospitals Charity Dementia Appeal Charlton Park, Bishopsbourne
18 May – 24 May 2015 Dementia Awareness Week
28 June 2015
Great Kent Bike Ride in aid of East Kent Hospitals Charity
2 August 2015
Prudential Ride London-Surrey 100
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Did you know?
nd We have arou ross 1250 beds ac our hospitals
So long, farewell... Dee Mepstead, Elected Governor, Canterbury
This is my last article as an elected public Governor at EKHUFT. I am nearing the end of my three year term and I want to thank those of you who voted for me in the 2012 elections. My work with the Trust, in the past three years, has been interesting, rewarding and at times demanding. I have done my best to fulfil the role of Governor and to represent the interests of both the Canterbury population and also the wider community served by EKHUFT. During my term as Governor, there have been considerable changes in the provision of Health and Social Care. These changes have been determined by Government policies, local needs, economics and demographics, and they have presented significant challenges to the Trust. The last year has
been particularly challenging with the CQC visit and subsequent recommendations. While acknowledging that there are areas for improvement, throughout my time as a governor, I have felt privileged to be able to work alongside Trust staff who continually strive to provide the best possible standard of care to patients. One of my special interests has been End of Life Care (EOLC) and I have been Governor Representative on the End of Life Board (EOLB) since its inception. I shall continue to be a member of this Board, as a Public Representative, for as long as I can provide useful input. Three ‘In your shoes’ sessions have taken place across the Trust and feedback so far suggests that we are mostly doing very well. Part of these sessions enable bereaved relatives to share
Your hospital magazine
their experiences of EOLC with medical, nursing, administrative and managerial staff on a one to one basis. Relatives are in the best position to let us know what we are doing well and what needs to be improved during EOLC. By listening to their voices, and acting accordingly, we hope to improve the overall quality of our care. Other particular interest have included patient and staff experiences, education and training and protection of vulnerable adults and children and I have worked hard in these areas. After February, I shall be joining you again as a member of the Trust and, possibly also like you, will watch future developments with interest.
Your hospital is produced by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust Communications Department.
Unless otherwise indicated, your views expressed in ‘Your Hospital’ are those of its contributors and are not necessarily the views of the Trust.
The editorial board comprises of:
Contact us at:
Mandy Carliell, Corporate Events and Membership Manager / Staff Governor Peter Gilmour, Director of Communications Michael Lyons, Public Governor Rupert Williamson, Fundraising Manager
Communications Department Trust Offices Kent & Canterbury Hospital Ethelbert Road Canterbury CT1 3NG
If you would like a large print copy of this magazine, please contact the Trust’s Communications Department on 01227 866384
Email: mandy.carliell@nhs.net
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How to join us There are many ways to be part of your hospital Trust - as a member, a volunteer, a fund raiser or all of the above! More information is available on our website at www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/support us or complete the form below and send it to: Membership OfďŹ ce, FREEPOST RSGJ-CLYR-UCKY, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, St Peters Road, Margate CT9 4AN. (No stamp required). Become a member
Volunteer
As a member you will be able to share your opinions and ideas and have a voice in the development of hospital services in east Kent.
Charity
We value the involvement of local people as volunteers in activities that enhance the quality of life for our patients, visitors, carers and also support the staff in delivering high quality health care.
I am applying For Foundation Trust membership (please circle as appropriate)
Leagues of Friends
At East Kent Hospitals Charity we would like to know if you are thinking of raising funds for any of our hospitals or in support of the services the Trust provides.
To be a volunteer
There are five separate Leagues of Friends' or 'Friends' in east Kent which individually support the five hospitals across the Trust. Each League of Friends is a voluntary organisation and registered charity.
To support the Charity
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We are required by law to keep public registers of members which will include your name plus constituency. Please indicate if you wish to have your name removed from the public register. Yes No We are required to request the above information in order to ensure that our membership is representative of the local population. All information is protected in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Signed Date 8