LUHFT Life - issue 1

New Royal Hospital Construction continues at pace

Uniform project Standardising our patient-facing uniforms

Our Future Together

Welcome W

elcome to our first issue of LUHFT Life, our new monthly staff magazine which celebrates life within Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, focussing on the quality care that we provide for our patients, our ambitions for the future, and everyday examples of colleagues living our values.

It is about what we do so well here at LUHFT - work together with a good sense of humour during the good times, but also how we pull together, support and learn from each other during the tougher times. And this past year has demonstrated the importance of these qualities; it is only when we live our values – being caring, fair and innovative – that we provide the best care for our patients.

This is what you have all continued to do throughout the course of the pandemic and for that I, our Chair Sue Musson, and the extended Board of Directors would like to offer our heartfelt thanks and appreciation.

In this first issue, we felt that it was important to outline our direction, priorities and what we want to achieve for the next three years. We’ve spent the past 12 months successfully dealing with everything that the pandemic threw our way, so now it is time to focus on the future.

LUHFT Life is your magazine, so please let us know what you think of this first issue.

The magazine will also keep you informed of the latest operational developments taking place across all of our hospitals, including the integration of our services and new ways of working, to the progress of the new Royal, and much more.

Make sure you share your good news with us to let everyone else know what is happening in your ward or department.

Thanks for everything that you do and I hope you enjoy reading our new staff magazine.

Chief Executive

Send us your stories We want our new staff magazine to reflect all the great achievements and inspirational stories from you and your colleagues.

Within LUHFT Life we want to showcase the amazing staff, patients, volunteers and partners that make up our organisation and share what’s happening throughout our hospitals.

Is there an award you’ve received, an innovative way your team is working, an inspiring patient experience or a new patient treatment that deserves recognition?

Send your stories to communications@liverpoolft.nhs.uk.

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PaperLite

Our single digital system for patient records

Uniform project Standardising our patient-facing uniforms

Patient thanks

Our first COVID-19 patient

Our Future Together

Front cover image: Each month our cover will feature a member of staff who is living our values.

Anita Nasser, Lead Nurse at Broadgreen, has been providing great care for our patients at Broadgreen for more than 25 years and is one of our Freedom to Speak Up Champions.

If you know a colleague who is caring, fair and innovative and would like to feature on our cover, email: communications @liverpoolft.nhs.uk.

* Some photos taken before COVID-19

Say hello to…

Daniel Scheffer Daniel Scheffer

Associate Director of Corporate Affairs I started working for the NHS after the 1997 general election following a career in banking. I’ve worked in regional, Westminster civil service and a number of NHS Trust roles.

“I’m here to support our ambitious Board to make good, sound decisions, ensuring our communities get the best possible health services and our staff feel valued and involved.

Jason Brannan

Sam Westwell Sam Westwell

Jason Brannan

Director of Nursing for the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospitals

Deputy Chief People Officer

I have over 30 years of nursing experience and have worked in a variety of hospitals in Greater Manchester, including a senior position at Salford Royal and as a Director of Nursing at the Northern Care Alliance.

“I joined LUHFT at the end of March and I’m delighted to be part of the team.

I have felt incredibly welcomed and I’m really looking forward to working with the people of Liverpool.

I will be leading on supporting the Trust to be a compassionate and inclusive organisation.

“I joined LUHFT from North West Boroughs Healthcare, where I was previously the Director of HR and Organisational Development and I am a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD.

Welcoming our international nurses We welcome 44 international nurses who have joined us from the Philippines, India, United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

They are part of 280 new international nurses who are set become part of our Trust this year. By increasing our staff nurses this will help us continue to deliver safe and timely care for our patients and provide a greater staff experience on our wards.

After a period in quarantine, our new nurses commenced their intensive training for the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) which will allow them to register with the NMC. They are supported by an experienced team of OSCE trainers for international nurses alongside a pastoral support nurse whose responsibility is to ensure that our new nurses receive the optimum support and that they adapt well in their new workplace and in their new city.

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We are now PaperLite!

PaperLite is now live and has unified our clinical digital platforms so we now use the same system for all of our patients, across all of our hospitals.

“Digital technology and innovation is at the heart of healthcare delivery. By combining our IT systems, we can now offer an improved patient experience and work more collaboratively across all our sites to achieve better patient outcomes.

“This system allows clinicians, nursing and administrative staff to share information easily and see the full patient record anywhere within LUHFT. It also reduces

the time required for preparing patient records for transfer between our hospitals,” said Jason Bincalar, our new Chief Information Officer.

Jason added: “This has been a major change, particularly at Aintree, so we are keen to support staff for the coming weeks while we adapt to the new ways of working and the new processes bed in.

“Together our next step is to remove all paper-based clinical ordering and results, which will make our hospitals safer. We also plan to consolidate our digital systems further, making it easier to record and retrieve patient information.”

I enjoyed the training and found it useful. The first few days were challenging but everyone is really keen and we are seeing the benefits already.

Maddy Jones Ward Nurse Manager, Ward 32, Aintree

It’s like walking around with every single patient’s set of case notes.

The clinical system which has now been implemented at Aintree has already been in use at the Royal and Broadgreen.

Lorraine Burgess, Critical Care Outreach Nurse Clinician, explains how the system helps her: “It enables us to order tests and view results, check electronic prescriptions, record and review observations and view radiology.

“The absolute game-changer is accessing primary care records. Not only clinic letters from other trusts, but GP records showing problems, investigations in the community, end of life care as well as medication and allergies.

“The benefits for me, personally, are huge. It means that I can remotely track the on-going progress of a patient without having to visit the ward area – it is like walking around with every single patient’s set of case notes in your hand. I am able to view in real time assessments from other teams, results and observations. The functionality is based on need and what works for our patients.”

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GOLDEN ICCKAERETER TGolden A

Ticket TO aHFTcareer with LUHFT ITH LU Wto Eight lucky students have received a golden ticket, fast tracking them into the speciality of their choice upon completion of their placement.

The new ‘golden ticket’ student recruitment scheme gives students an opportunity to gain employment in the speciality and ward where they want to work, as well as giving managers an excellent opportunity for talent-spotting.

Supporting our commitment to building and developing our workforce, the scheme, aimed at all third-year student nurses who are set to qualify in the next six months, bypasses the traditional recruitment process of formal interviews and written assessments.

“Ward managers are able to have informal chats in a relaxed setting with student nurses, giving them an overview of the team and the ward. This also gives the manager a chance to find out the student’s values and their fit into the team,” said Jo Marinas, Head of Professional and Practice Development.

“If the manager feels the student shares the same passion for patient care, as well as a drive to learn and develop, then they can be offered a golden ticket to employment on that ward or clinical area.”

Students will need to have had clinical placements at LUHFT and particularly in the ward or clinical area where there is an offer of a golden ticket. They also need to have demonstrated exceptional competence whilst on placement. If they’re awarded then recruitment will get in touch with the ticket holder and talk them through the next stages of their employment journey.

Inspirational employee shares breast cancer journey Days after winning Employee of the Year in 2018, Danielle McDermott was diagnosed with breast cancer. The Patient Experience and Engagement Officer has since written her own book, Bald, Brave and Bloody Beautiful, sharing her journey with others.

“I felt my femininity had been taken away from me when I lost my breast and my hair. It was such a difficult process, and that’s when I said I was going to write a book. To look back and relive what I went through on paper meant there were tears but also a sense of pride of how far I’ve come,” said Danielle.

Consultant Breast Surgeon, Dr Lee Martin, carried out Danielle’s surgery to remove a three-and-a-half centimetre cancerous tumour, which was followed by reconstructive breast surgery and five months of chemotherapy.

He said: “She’s an inspiration and it was a great honour being her doctor. About one in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer, but there’s a good chance of survival and recovery if it’s detected at an early stage - which is why it’s vital that women check their breasts regularly for any changes.”

LUHFT Life | 5

Staff can relax in the 10th floor canteen which enjoys city-wide views.

Colleagues can work in modern surroundings allowing our clinicians to meet the future health care needs of the community

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New Royal taking shape Construction at the new Royal hospital continues at pace and we are on track for building completion in spring 2022, with a large part of the structural remedial work now completed.

“We are continuing to work with divisional teams on the development of integration of services, service models, estate reconfiguration and workforce requirements. Many of the teams have visited the new site to progress the operational, workforce and clinical plans, with further planned visits over the next few weeks. The plans will ensure we have the right systems and processes in place to deliver safe care in all areas of the new hospital,” said Beth Weston, Chief Operating Officer.

“During this phase of the project, we will also be confirming the new equipment required in the new build and either commence or continue with the necessary procurement processes.

“In the meantime, we will continue to provide updates as plans progress, not just for the new build but for other developments across our three sites.”

Over the next few weeks we’ll be finalising a new Royal website for staff which will contain all the latest details and some of the latest images Patients will from the new hospital. benefit from the privacy of single rooms with en-suite facilities which help reduce the spread of infections.

Our new uniforms Our project to standardise our clinical uniforms across the Trust is now well underway.

Providing a clear LUHFT identity with consistent uniforms will ensure staff and patients can easily identify roles throughout all our hospitals. This will be particularly important as our integration programme develops and teams work across sites.

Our new uniform will be a smart scrub-style top with smart trousers.

“This uniform project is a really exciting development for all our nursing, HCA and AHP staff across the Trust and it signals an important point in our journey of moving forward together to build our services to provide the very best care for our patients and their families,” said Dianne Brown, Chief Nurse.

There are also national plans to standardise all NHS uniforms and we have tried to align with these expected styles to enable a seamless transition.

We will look to increase the range of style options after this first rollout, including scrub dresses.

LUHFT Nursing Star Award winners:

Celebrating our staff To highlight the amazing work of our staff, on International Nurses’ Day we hosted our virtual LUHFT Nursing Star Awards and then our ODP Star Awards to celebrate ODP Day.

• Star Staff Nurse: Lucy Taylor, Ward 22, Aintree • Star HCA or Assistant Practitioner: Elaine Dawkes, Dental • Star Deputy Ward Manager or Team Leader: Pauline Lynskey, Ward 2B, Royal • Star Ward Manager: Elizabeth Owens, Ward 6Y, Royal and Elizabeth Kenny, Ward 28, Aintree • Star Matron: Sue Travis, Theatres, Royal • Star Clinical Nurse Specialist: Deborah Brown, COPD, Royal • Star Student Nurse: Mary McNeill, Ward 1, Broadgreen

• Star Champion for Learners: Vanessa Loftus, OSCE Training Team, Aintree • Star BAME Nurse: Gladys Madzamba, Research and Development • Star Research Nurse: Deborah Scanlon, Infectious Diseases Research, Royal • Star Nursing Team: Critical Care at Aintree and Royal, and Theatres at all sites ODP Star Award winners: • ODP Rising Star: Andrew Giles, Theatres, Royal • Star ODP Manager: Noreen Hall, Main A Theatres, Aintree • Star ODP: Natasha Stabler, Theatres, Royal LUHFT Life | 7

Our Future Tog Our Future Together is our three-year strategy. It sets out where we want to be in the future, how we will get there, and the role that each of us needs to play to achieve our shared vision.

Our Chair, Sue Musson, tells us more…

When we came together as one organisation, our first priority was to ask what was important to you, our staff, so that we could define our values and culture. More than 1,200 colleagues joined our online ‘big conversation’ and shared their views. It was also a great pleasure for me and our non-executive directors to visit wards and departments across all sites to discuss what was going well, the changes you wanted to see, what could be done to improve the quality of the care that we provide, and how we could achieve our vision of healthier, happier, fairer lives for all.

Your comments reflected all the qualities that make Liverpool such a special place: passion and pride, community spirit and teamwork, a willingness to speak up for what you believe in and a great sense of humour. You shared with us a desire to provide the best possible quality of care, an immense pride in serving our families, friends and our region and a will to tackle health inequalities and poor outcomes. You are driven by wanting to respond to what matters most to people while they are in our care.

It was a privilege to listen to you, and it has been our task as a Board to develop a strategy that reflects your priorities as we work together to deliver outstanding healthcare.

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Our Chair, Sue Musson, visiting our wards and departments.

Beyond our role as a provider of healthcare services, we are also an anchor institution. This means we are rooted in the community, we are a large employer with the opportunity to create many highquality job opportunities, we possess significant purchasing power which can translate into local social and economic benefit, and we can act as a role model in promoting ethical and environmentally responsible decisions.

Building a sense of ‘togetherness’ has been the driver for our first 18 months and will continue to be our focus over the next three years as we integrate and improve our services and work with partners in the wider healthcare system to tackle health inequalities and support better health outcomes through all stages of life.

Our Values We are caring I’ve been at Broadgreen Hospital for 20 years, caring for perioperative and post-operative orthopaedic patients. These operations are life-changing and I work with patients to get them ready to return home.

One thing I have kept through the years is treating all my patients the same way as I would expect to be treated - with kindness and competence.

“I feel these patients come to us to gain back a good quality of life and I am always ready and happy to be a part of it. Our patients should be supported the minute they step into clinics until discharge home with new prosthesis.

Pedee Delos Reyes, Charge Nurse

gether Our Greats Through Our Future Together, we have set ourselves four priorities that underpin our three-year strategy.

We are fair Our team is here to support the patient and their family or carer and ensure they receive the same standard of care as anyone else.

“We have learning disability nurses across all sites to ensure that the voices of people with learning disability/ autism are listened to, and ‘reasonable adjustments’ are provided to enhance patient care and family support.

“Although there are areas of good practice, equitable healthcare for people with learning disabilities is something we strive to continually improve.

Ged Jennings, Learning Disability Nurse

Great Care

We are innovative

Great People

Our Intellectual Property and Innovation Team supported us with our invention, the LEAFix, which will soon be available around the world.

“It’s a simple but brilliant new single patient, airways securing device for use during general anaesthesia.

“LEAFix – an alternative to hospital tape - will improve patient safety, avoid cross contamination and standardise technique without a huge cost increase.

To achieve outstanding health and care services

To become the North West healthcare employer of choice

Great Research and Innovation

To become an outstanding centre for research and innovation

Great Ambitions To be a sustainable, valued and innovative partner.

Matt Cullinane, Anaesthesia Associate and Rob Brothwood, Senior Operating Department Practitioner

LUHFT Life | 9

Speak Up, Listen Up, Follow Up .

We are all committed to ensuring that we provide great care for our patients and to do that, we must continuously improve our care and services. Sometimes that means speaking up about what could be done better, either by individuals, teams or as a whole organisation.

Lorraine Heaton, our Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, explains more about the importance of speaking up and listening to others in order to improve the quality of the care that we provide to our patients.

“I’ve been in the role for over a year now, and am really starting to notice the impact it is having.

I believe in fairness and equality and will always try to make sure that staff, who might be struggling to be heard, have a voice.

Anita Nasser “Nothing is too big or small to talk about. If it’s not out in the open, we can’t listen, we can’t follow up to make sure the solutions are right, and we can’t improve. Speaking up can be raising a concern, reporting a risk, disclosing suspicion of wrong doing, or offering a suggestion to improve something. It could be about something that you have seen, heard or experienced and are worried could affect the safety or quality of patient care, or staff safety and experience.

“Sometimes people find it difficult to speak up, but there is a genuine commitment from our Executive Team to create a culture where people feel free to speak up without fear.”

It is important to have a voice and it is more important to be heard. I have taken up the role of FTSU champion to be a listening ear and be the amplifier of voices who want to be heard.

Joselito Marinas

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Prior to becoming LUHFT’s Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, Lorraine spent 26 years as an Occupational Therapist and is also a former staff governor. The Freedom To Speak Up Guardian role is dedicated to listening to your concerns and identifying the next steps to help resolve the issue.

Lorraine says: “I’m supported by a team of Freedom to Speak Up Champions. When things go wrong, we need to make it as easy as possible for staff to let us know. If we don’t know about problems, we can’t work with staff to find the right solutions.

I am passionate about helping colleagues to speak up to improve patient safety and staff morale, since experiencing and overcoming some of the barriers to speaking up as a junior doctor.

Phil Alton “We know that speaking up happens best when listening up is done well. We want staff to feel safe speaking to any manager, as soon as possible after the concern is realised, in order to get the best outcome. The Freedom to Speak Up service is here to help leaders and managers overcome barriers they are facing to help their staff feel safe speaking up too.”

Alternatively, staff might choose to speak up at a safety huddle, in a team meeting, or via a datix. There are many teams and people available to support staff, such as the equality and diversity lead, guardian of safe working, HR advisors and union reps.

Lorraine added: “When staff speak up about a problem regarding care, safety or even culture and behaviours, they are taking the first steps to having positive discussions about changing things for the better for themselves, their team and our patients.”

You can contact Lorraine, anonymously if you wish, and all conversations are confidential.

Email: lorraine.heaton@liverpoolft.nhs.uk, or phone on 07794071021 for a chat or meeting.

Getting to know you…

Each month we ask a LUHFT colleague to tell us a little more about themselves. To kick us off in our first issue, Mark McKenna, Head of Patient and Family Experience gives us an insight into his role, his favourite things and his love of 80s and 90s power ballads!

Q. What does your role involve?

I joined in November 2019, just a few weeks after the merger.

I help provide the best possible experience for patients and families across all our sites. I lead a number of teams, including the Patient Experience and Engagement Team, Volunteer Service and Chaplaincy Service. Each of these teams provide a brilliant service in supporting patients, families and staff in many different ways.

Q. What did you want to be when growing up?

I grew up in Stoneycroft/Tuebrook and I’ve now finally accepted that my childhood dream of playing for Everton isn’t going to happen. I’ve always wanted to work in roles where I can help make a difference for people, which is what we all do every day in healthcare.

Q. What’s your favourite thing about your job?

I absolutely love hearing the many heart-warming stories from patients and families about how staff have gone above and beyond to help them. It is inspiring to hear about the positive impact our staff have every single day.

Q. What are the standout highlights or experiences?

I’ll never forget the way everyone has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly how staff and volunteers came together to form the Family Liaison Service. Over 250 staff and volunteers put themselves out of their comfort zone to help patients and families when they needed it most, handling over 37,000 calls. In years to come, I’ll always look back and feel immense pride in how everyone came together in this way.

Q. What are your hobbies outside of work?

Running, playing five-a-side, watching and helping my sons’ football teams, and forever watching Everton build up my hopes to then go and ‘do an Everton’.

Q. What’s your favourite thing about Merseyside?

How our accent is our ID wherever we go. If you’re on the other side of the world and hear the twang of a Scouse accent, without even knowing the person, it’s compulsory to go speak to them as if they were your friend or family.

Q. What’s your favourite restaurant or café?

Mowgli on Castle Street in Liverpool. Got my taste buds going just thinking about it!

Q. Favourite film?

True Romance Q. Favourite song: Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen (The Boss) Q. You win the lottery, what’s your dream holiday?

Do the Inca Trail at Machu Picchu in Peru, then go have a sit-off holiday on the beach on the way back in the Bahamas.

Q. You’re stranded on an island, what three items would you want with you?

Device with all my favourite 80s and 90s power ballads….speakers to play all my favourite 80s and 90s power ballads….neverending power bank so above devices don’t run out of power.

I’d take some moving to get off the island if I had these!

Farewell to the RVS

After 40 years of serving patients and staff, we are wishing a fond farewell to the volunteers of the Royal Voluntary Service.

Steve Warburton, Chief Executive, said: “We would like to thank all of the volunteers who have supported us over the years for their dedication and commitment. As we are bringing catering services in-house, this marks the end of an era to this long association, but we’re delighted that some RVS volunteers will continue to support our catering offering going forward.”

LUHFT Life | 11

Meet Ben Stuttard, Co-chair of the LGBT+ Network Our Trust is committed to being an inclusive organisation for our staff, patients and visitors, regardless of how they choose to define themselves. To highlight Pride month in June, we spoke to Ben Stuttard, who works as a Nuclear Medicine Radiographer and was recently appointed Cochair of the Trust’s LGBT+ Network.

“Although it’s very early days for the newly-formed LGBT+ Network, we are looking at ways in which we can support our LGBT+ staff, patients and visitors. We are encouraging all staff to be actively supportive, have an open mind, and understand the importance of listening to the experiences of LGBT+ people. In the coming months we will be making our presence felt throughout the Trust so that people are aware we are here and that support is available. It’s a really positive step forward for the Trust and I’m proud to play a part in it.”

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“One of the things I’m most proud of is helping the Trust to adopt the NHS Rainbow Badge, which we did back in 2019, making us the first Trust in Merseyside to do so. The scheme originally began at Evelina London Children’s Hospital to help younger patients feel comfortable talking about sexuality or gender identity issues. It has since developed into a national scheme run by charities such as the LGBT Foundation on behalf of NHS England, and aims to make hospitals nonjudgemental and inclusive places for LGBT+ staff, patients and visitors.”

If you are interested in joining or learning more about the LGBT+ Network, which is open to all staff regardless of how you identify, you can email staff.networks@liverpoolft.nhs.uk.

Smile for the camera As a tribute to frontline workers, two of our nurses, Gemma Fearon (pictured left) and Sarah Phelan (pictured right), were whisked to London to be pampered and photographed in aid of NHS Gift for Heroes; an initiative founded by celebrity hairdresser, Adee Phelan.

Gemma and Sarah were nominated by colleagues as deserving of a makeover, courtesy of Adee and his team, due to their work throughout the pandemic. Portraits were taken by worldrenowned photographer, Rankin, and featured in the windows of the Maddox Gallery in London for two weeks.

Gemma Fearon, a registered nursing associate who has been redeployed during the pandemic, said: “The hair and makeup, the photo shoot, the luxury gifts - every part of it was amazing and I didn’t expect any of it. I felt privileged to have been chosen. It was a brilliant day, from start to finish.”

Sarah Phelan, a breast cancer specialist nurse at Aintree, said: “This year has been very tough to say the least. On the day of the photoshoot I felt like a celebrity! We arrived in style and our hair and makeup were amazing and the photoshoot was brilliant.”

Showing your support Cathedral abseil

NHS Big Tea There’s never been a better excuse for a brew! On 5 July 2021, the NHS Big Tea is your chance to raise a teacup to our beloved NHS. We’ll be celebrating the NHS Big Tea from Monday 5 July to Wednesday 7 July with tea parties across all our hospital sites.

You can also host your own tea party in the garden, your home or at work (if you can do so safely). Celebrate the NHS, share your stories, and raise much needed funds for your local hospitals at the same time.

On Saturday 10 and 17 July we’re looking for 40 supporters to abseil 150ft over the side of the Anglican Cathedral whilst helping to raise funds.

You don’t need any previous abseil experience, but you must be over 18 years of age and in a good standard of physical health.

For all event details email: loren.slade@liverpoolft.nhs.uk LUHFT Life | 13

LIVING OUR Our values are ‘the way we do things around here’. They are the very core of who we are, for every colleague, patient and individual who comes into contact with us.

Our values enable us to work together more effectively and to deliver great patient care more consistently.

We see examples of our values in practice on a daily basis, and each month we will celebrate individuals or teams who are clearly caring, fair and innovative.

CPAP team

Dr Rajiv Sankaranarayanan is leading the Liverpool Integrated Heart Failure Multi-Speciality Multidisciplinary Team

Home Ventilation Team

Adding value to patient care Congratulations to the Home Ventilation Team, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Team, and Liverpool Integrated Heart Failure Multi-Speciality Multidisciplinary Team, who despite the challenges of the last year, have been shortlisted in this year’s HSJ Value Awards.

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The awards recognise teams driving operational, financial and clinical improvements across the health system, through innovations and new ways of working.

Steve Warburton, Chief Executive, said: “We are immensely proud of all of our colleagues for their outstanding

contribution to the health of our communities in this year. It’s excellent to see that this commitment has been recognised through the HSJ Value award shortlistings. I wish all of our teams the best of luck.”

The winners of the awards will be announced on 2 September.

VALUES Advocating health and wellbeing in the community

Two colleagues, Akinola and Olubukola Adewunmi, whose time spent outside of work is dedicated to improving outcomes for people in Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, have been crowned the winners at the National BAME Health and Care Awards 2021.

Nominated by LUHFT colleagues, the husband and wife duo, who are both biomedical scientists in Liverpool Clinical Laboratories, received the Health and Wellbeing Advocate award for their work supporting those with sickle cell disease, the fastest growing genetic blood disorder in the UK in the BAME community.

Olubukola said: “We are so excited that our activities within our communities have been recognised. This award will definitely inspire us to do more for our communities.”

In 2012 the biomedical scientists established an innovative health initiative, PathLab Support, to support adults and children with the disease, whilst also raising awareness of the importance of blood donations, breaking down cultural barriers within BAME communities.

Akin said: “We wanted to do something for others by raising awareness of the disease, in turn increasing donations and supporting affected individuals and families. Working in the blood transfusion laboratory gives me the opportunity to see the ‘miracle’ of blood transfusion, how it improves and saves the lives of many patients.”

Creating equality for all staff The first meetings of LUHFT’s staff networks have taken place, providing a space for staff to meet like-minded colleagues.

The Ethnic Minority Network, LGBT+ Network and Disability and Wellbeing Network are recognised as being crucial to our wider equality and inclusion agenda, and are pivotal to developing a supportive, fair culture.

They provide members who identify with a protected group or who have specific interests, with a safe, welcoming and practical forum in which views and ideas can be expressed in an informal environment. The groups also raise awareness and visibility of issues impacting upon members to the Board and wider staff audience.

For further information email: staff.networks@liverpoolft.nhs.uk.

Outstanding Dental award Congratulations to our Dental Hospital Nursing Team who’ve been awarded the ‘Outstanding Team during COVID-19’ by the Society of British Dental Nurses.

The award recognises the contributions of the dental nurses that were redeployed to the Agnes Jones Unit that was set up in the new Royal. They received training to work in the step-down unit as healthcare assistants, helping with the direct care of patients on the ward.

Lisa Marginier, our Head of Operations, said: “We are very proud of our dental nurses for the compassion and High Sheriff care they gave to these award patients in the Agnes Roberts His Honour John Jones Unit at a very st with Tru e th d te challenging time.”

DL presen award in the High Sheriff’s reat and ‘g Education recognition of the the to s ce rvi valuable se and mentoring by d ide ov pr ity commun award staff’.

Congratulations to Professor Cheng Hock Toh, who is this year’s winner of the European Hematology Association (EHA) Education and Mentoring Award.

The award recognises Professor Toh’s outstanding contributions to haematology education over the last 26 years, and the amazing influence he has had upon many individuals in the Trust and beyond.

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Celebrating our Employee of the Month awards for 2020 COVID-19 may have put our Employee of the Month awards on hold, but not to worry, we are in the process of catching up and plan to be back on track soon.

Despite the pressures that the pandemic put on our hospitals, it has not stopped this wonderful group of people from caring for our patients and colleagues.

As well as our colleagues pictured below, other 2020 winners include: Marie Gorst from Phlebotomy and Mark Oxley from Ward 17.

March 2020 - Jean Clooney, HCA in A&E (patient nominated)

April 2020 Bridget Maher (Medical Assessment Unit (staff nominated)

May 2020 Michelle Murray, Cardiology Labs (staff nominated)

May 2020 - William McGregor, Security (patient nominated)

June 2020 Marie O’Keefe, Integrated Medicine CBU, (staff nominated)

July 2020 Rachael O’Brien, Therapies (staff nominated)

July 2020 Colette Wright, Ward 30 (patient nominated) June 2020 Jeny Hughes, Ward 8HDU Staff Nurse (patient nominated)

August 2020 Karen McVeigh, Digestive Diseases (staff nominated)

August 2020 Tommy Robertson, Ward 28 (patient nominated)

October 2020 Louise Ellis, HCA, AMU (staff nominated) September 2020 Hasfa Omer, Staff Nurse Ward 7B (patient nominated)

October 2020 - James Dyson, Security Officer (patient nominated)

December 2020 Michelle Roberts, Theatres (staff nominated)

November 2020 Gemma Cameron, HCA (patient nominated)

November 2020 - Dr Josh Callon, F2 (staff nominated)

To nominate a colleague, team or volunteer for an award visit: www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/get-in-touch/