OCTOBER 2021
Celebrating AHPs
How our AHPs support our patients
Spectacular Charity Ball £50,000 raised for our hospitals
Tackling patient addiction
Contents
4 5 7 10 12 15 16
Your views shape our Trust Vote for our next governor Meet our Interim Chief Nurse
Spectacular £50,000 raised at Charity Ball
New uniform rollout
Country music charity night
Highlighting our AHPs
Living our values: Employee of the Month
Getting to know you… Paula O’Malley
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CURE: Tackling smoking addiction after 40 years
Building your bug house
Have you had your vaccination?
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’ll be covering key Trust priorities but we also want to showcase the amazing people that make up our organisation and share what’s happening throughout our hospitals. Is there an award you’ve gained, 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. 2 | LUHFT Life
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Front cover image: Each month our cover will feature a member of staff who is living our values. Kate Maitland is our Nurse Lead for Smoking and is passionate about supporting patients to manage their addiction. Read more on page 9. 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
World-leading expertise in one place The Pandemic Institute has now launched and is committed to helping the world prevent, prepare, and respond more effectively to pandemics.
drug treatments, diagnostics and vaccine studies and being at the forefront of innovation and research in response to COVID-19.
It will bring together world-leading clinical and research expertise across all stages of the pandemic lifecycle, all colocated within The Spine.
“The Pandemic Institute provides an opportunity for research and innovation as well as an opportunity to inform national and international healthcare systems on safety resilience and outcomes.”
Initially funded by a £10 million gift from Innova Medical Group, LUHFT are founding partners alongside the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool). LUHFT Infectious Diseases Consultant, Dr Stacy Todd, who has international research experience, said: “Liverpool is home to one of the UK’s five High Consequence Infectious Diseases (HCID) departments. It’s where I worked with some of the very first COVID-19 cases in the UK. I have been on the frontline, developing and delivering research around
Professor Matthew Baylis, Director of the Pandemic Institute, said: “The Pandemic Institute has the potential to help revolutionise how the world responds to pandemics. “Liverpool is perfectly placed to be the home for the Pandemic Institute – building on the foundations laid so far in the city, and its significant contributions in this field, Liverpool is a global city with expertise in many fields relevant to pandemics, including medical, tropical and veterinary research.” Visit www.thepandemicinstitute.org for full details.
Ambitions to tackle inequalities Ibrahim Ali Ismail has been appointed as a NonExecutive Director on LUHFT’s Board of Directors. One of his key ambitions is understanding how anchor institutions can tackle inequalities and stay rooted in the local community. Ibrahim will chair the Board’s Charitable Funds Committee, which ensures that charitable donations are administered properly and invested appropriately in eligible charitable activity in accordance with donor wishes. With over 19 years’ experience working locally, regionally and nationally in the voluntary and community sector, he said: “I’m delighted to be joining LUHFT at such an exciting time and I hope that I can really make a difference in my role.
“I hope that my previous experience can add to Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation Trust's strong position with regards to how health can maximise opportunities for the people of Liverpool, not just in health but in other areas such as skills, employment and proactive community engagement to tackle inequalities.” Sue Musson, Chair at LUHFT, said: “I am so delighted that Ibby has been appointed by the Council of Governors to join the LUHFT Board. Ibby has a wealth of experience that will be of enormous benefit to the Trust. He has demonstrated his enthusiasm and passion for the role, and he will be a great asset to our organisation as we focus on delivering social value as an anchor institution.” LUHFT Life | 3
Share your views in staff survey The annual staff survey, which opened in October, is one of the key ways you can share your views about life at LUHFT. We used your feedback from the last survey to look at how we can make Trust-wide improvements for patients and staff. Care group managers can also see results for their teams, and use these to work with their teams on changes at a local level. During the past year our Radiology Departments have used the staff survey results as a starting point for a number of improvements across their teams. “The main thing that we found from the survey was that staff didn’t feel heard or that they were having enough contact with our management teams,” said Daniel Ordidge, Head of Operations – Imaging. “We wanted to make sure we could improve these issues and that our staff got a chance to have their say. So we started introducing more listening activities to talk about the results in more detail. We also introduced management walkarounds, and made sure everyone was having team meetings, to give us more opportunities to speak to each other openly and find out what colleagues were feeling. “Getting more detailed feedback has really helped us improve things for all of our staff so that we can make sure they’re well supported at work. It helped us find some of the gaps in our training processes, and led to a shift in the way we work and oversee our trainees, so that everyone gets more time in different areas and better variety of rotations. This gives our teams better development and role expansion, and means they feel more confident working in a number of different imaging specialities. “There’s so much change taking place at the moment, with integration, the new hospital, the ongoing covid waves, so it's really important to me that our staff get to be involved in the decision making. I’d encourage everyone to complete the survey this year, the feedback really does help us improve and make sure we are listening to your views.” Take this opportunity to share your views in the annual staff survey and help us shape the future of our Trust. For more information visit: www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/annual-staff-survey 4 | LUHFT Life
Our Radiology Teams used the survey feedback to make improvements
Vote for our next governor Our Council of Governors is currently holding elections and, as a staff member, you can vote for our next staff governors. Our governors play an important role in representing the views of other staff members and influence how decisions are made and services are developed. We are holding elections for seats in the following areas: • Allied Health Professionals, Scientists and Technicians – 1 seat • Medical Practitioners and Dentists – 1 seat • Other non-clinical staff – 1 seat Nominations closed on 20 October and voting packs will be sent out in November. If you’re interested in shaping the way we work and ensuring we continue to provide Great Care, you can vote here: www.cesvotes.com/luh2021 Contact the Corporate Governance Team for further details: Corporate.governance@Liverpoolft.nhs.uk.
Welcoming our new Interim Chief Nurse “My focus will primarily be that we safely staff our wards and departments, that we continue to improve the fundamentals of care that we deliver every day and lastly to review our clinical governance systems, so we can learn from incidents to enable us deliver care that is both safe and reliable. “I would wish to continue, at pace, the work that has already begun in developing our clinical/academic career framework, from our fabulous newly Registered Nurses through to hopefully appointing our first Professor of Nursing and all the exciting roles in between. I know there is much to be done to ensure you are supported fully in practice from the beginning of your career to making decisions on how you may wish to flexibly wind down from serving our patients and their families. I am hoping the improvements will mean you will all have the opportunity and confidence to spend your whole career with us here at LUHFT. “There is much to do but I know I’m going to be working with some great teams, I’ve already met some of you, and I’ll continue to meet colleagues, including those working out of hours too so that I can understand the context and complexity of situations that you’re working in. I will be drawing on your expertise to help me help you to find solutions.” Dame Elaine Inglesby-Burke has spent over 44 years working in the NHS and brings a wealth of experience as she joins LUHFT as our Interim Chief Nurse. It was in 1980 that Elaine qualified as a registered nurse at Warrington District General Hospital and has worked in the North West in a variety of positions, including ward manager and nurse specialist. She has held executive nurse director positions since 1996. In 2004 she became the Chief Nurse at Salford Royal. Looking ahead to the next six months, Dame Elaine said: “First and foremost I’ll be listening to you and your leadership teams, working alongside you to help you find solutions to issues that have been frustrating you in delivering what you believe is the best care to patients, families and indeed to each other.
Dame Elaine’s work on patient safety and quality improvement has been recognised nationally. She has been a leading advocate in the campaign for hospitals to set staffing levels in the interests of patient safety, which was credited by Ruth May, Chief Nurse for England, along with the ‘Ward to Board’ programme which was developed across Salford Royal and rolled out nationally. She also served on the Prime Minister’s Nursing and Care Quality Forum and was the only nurse on the Berwick National Advisory Group of the Safety of Patients in England. It was in 2020 she was awarded a Damehood for services to nursing, following on from being awarded NHS England’s first national Chief Nursing Officer’s (CNO) Gold Award for Excellence in Nursing in 2019, and receiving a CBE in 2015 in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
New uniform rollout One of our Trust-wide projects this year has been to standardise our clinical and patient-facing uniforms across the whole organisation to ensure staff and patients can easily identify roles.
In November we will start to receive delivery of our new clinical and patient-facing admin uniforms and then we will begin a phased rollout to all staff.
We have partnered with local uniform suppliers Meltemi and after staff consultation, the new clinical uniform will be a smart scrub-style top with smart trousers whilst patient-facing admin colleagues will receive a navy patterned blouse or navy shirt. As the uniforms start to come in, they will be distributed and delivered to your departments and wards. We expect staff will have their uniform by the new year. For further details and FAQs please check the intranet.
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Our supporters raise £50,000 at spectacular Charity Ball This month over 270 guests attended our Charity Ball raising an incredible £50,000 for our hospitals.
that COVID-19 is having on both the physical and mental health of our staff,” said Lauren Evans, Head of Fundraising.
Situated in the impressive Titanic Hotel and Rum Warehouse, guests enjoyed a drinks reception, three-course meal and entertainment from Deana Walmsley, Up All Night, Andrew Dean Magic, Jokers Wild Casino, AV from Pete Pinnington Productions and radio DJ Pete Price.
“It was wonderful to see so many supporters, volunteers and staff together having a fabulous time whilst raising much needed funds for our Trust. A special thank you to our Chair Sue Musson for her continued support and for being such an important part of our evening.
“What an incredible evening with over £50,000 raised for Liverpool University Hospitals’ Charity. Long-Covid is impacting our staff and patients in many ways, and so we hope this contribution will go some way towards supporting the impact
“Also, a big thank you to our corporate sponsors who all made this event possible including Arup, Laing O’Rourke, IF Finishes Limited, Avrenim, FK Group, Connectus Business Solutions Limited, ISS, Drink Liverpool and Fishlocks Florist.”
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Country musician gives back after lifesaving cancer operation Music has always been the lifeblood of 79-year-old Stan Matthews, who picked up his first instrument aged nine to play in a brass band. So when a cancerous tumour broke his jaw and his life was saved by a 14-hour operation in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the musician decided he wanted to give back to the hospital who enabled him to get back up on stage. Stan and his band, the Chelwood County Country Music Band, are hosting a charity night including a country dance demonstration and raffle, with proceeds going directly to our hospitals. “I’d previously been treated for cancer twice before at another hospital in the region. However, after I developed the lump the size of a golf ball on my neck, I was referred to the Maxillofacial unit at Aintree University Hospital at the start of 2020. The cancer had gone into my bone so I needed surgery to remove it,” said Stan, who’s an ex-Royal Air Force Police Officer. Unfortunately, before his planned surgery could take place, Stan’s jaw broke, and he was brought in for emergency surgery to remove the tumour and repair his jaw. Stan was treated by Professor Simon Rogers, Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon, in an operation that included removing a piece of bone from his leg, shaping it, and replacing it in his jaw. “Professor Rogers did a world class job. I was then looked after at Aintree for 10 days until I was fit enough to go home. I cannot thank the doctors and nurses at Aintree enough and felt I had to give something in return to the staff who saved my life.” Proceeds of the charity night will be split between the Head and Neck Centre at Aintree Hospital, and the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital fund. Professor Simon Rogers said: “I am really pleased to see that since his surgery last year, Stan is now able to get back up on the stage doing what he loves best. The whole team at the Head and Neck Centre wish him well and really appreciate his fundraising efforts.” Chelwood County Country Music Band will be hosting their country music charity night on 27 November 2021, at the Metal Box Sports and Social Club in Speke Boulevard at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 and can be purchased by texting COUNTRY to 07919234289 or contact fundraising@liverpoolft.nhs.uk. LUHFT Life | 7
Supporting patients w
Stoptober supports people nationally to stop smoki our hospitals to help patients and staff, so this mont This Stoptober, an ex-smoker of 40 years is urging those who want to stop smoking to seek the support needed to quit, after receiving help from our dedicated hospital team, CURE. Allan Berry, aged 66, has not smoked for six months. When the retired chef from Whiston was admitted to the Royal in May 2021 for vascular surgery, he was able to utilise smoking cessation support and begin an individualised management plan to quit smoking for good. “I was in my 20s when I took up smoking, and until this year I smoked between 10 and 12 cigarettes a day. When I was going out, the pubs were all filled with clouds of smoke. I’d play darts and snooker with my friends, who all smoked, and my parents did too – it was just the normal thing to do,” said Allan. It wasn’t until his health started to deteriorate that he tried to kick the habit. Allan has several health conditions caused as a result of smoking, including peripheral arterial disease and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). He has also suffered a heart attack and a stroke. Allan puts his success of finally being on the road to recovery down to the CURE team he met whilst an inpatient at the Royal. “It was scary to hear. Being on the vascular ward at the Royal was a real wake up call. I saw some patients who were having their legs amputated because of the damage smoking had caused. I went to hell and back there – and still have nightmares about what I saw, but it was the wake-up call I needed. That’s when I met Ian.” Ian McNally is a Smoking Cessation Assistant, said: “I am really proud of Allan; he has made some fantastic steps to quit smoking. I know that the support we have been able to give Allan has helped positively change his health and life. This makes the job that I do all the more worthwhile. By medicalising nicotine addiction, it helps to reduce stigma and effectively support people to quit for good.” Allan added: “Meeting Ian, changed my life for the better. I decided I wasn’t going to let him or anyone down, and I wasn’t going to be back in hospital because of smoking. I’m now six months On average, 1 in 5 smoke free. Don’t get me wrong, admissions are active it’s incredibly difficult. I’m not 100% smokers there yet – but I’m 90% and I am so much better for it.”
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287 patients have been supported by CURE to quit vs 12 quits in 2017/18
Around 4,982 smokers admitted to our hospitals have been identified since the Liverpool CURE programme launched in the Royal two years ago. Due to the success, the team began supporting patients at Aintree in July and Broadgreen in October 2021. “Being sick and hospitalised is a powerful motivator for patients to evaluate their health and want to improve it. So being in a position where we can support patients to reduce the further health risks associated with smoking is why the CURE programme is working so well,” said Kate Maitland, Nurse Lead for Smoking. When patients are admitted staff simply need to record the patient’s smoking status in Dashboard and they will automatically be referred to the CURE team.
with smoking addiction
ing, but we wanted to find out what we do in th caught up with the Liverpool CURE Team.
Kate continued: “It’s not about asking people to stop smoking, it’s having a meaningful conversation about their smoking and supporting them to manage their cravings whilst in hospital. We explore with them how medication such as nicotine patches or an inhalator (replacement therapy) can help.
Neck surgery, and will expand this further to all LUFHT inpatient areas during the next few months.
One patient is supported to quit for every 15 smoking statuses completed on Dashboard
Monthly staff support clinics across LUHFT are coming soon
“We offer patients an individual treatment plan for nicotine dependence, continue to support them after they’re discharged and, if they are ready, can book them directly into a specialist community service who will continue to work with the patient throughout their quit attempt. Seamless, collaborative care.
“We identified 4,982 smokers in two years, and that’s all thanks to the hundreds of staff who are screening and recording the smoking status of all inpatients, so thank you! If we don’t know about these patients, we can’t support them.”
“We are now rolling out the CURE service at Aintree, starting with the respiratory departments, cardiology, AMU and Head and
To contact the CURE Team call 0151 706 2205, bleep 5796 for Aintree, or bleep 5327 for Royal, Broadgreen and Dental. LUHFT Life | 9
Celebrating our AHPs This month we’re highlighting our Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) who all play a crucial role in treating, rehabilitating and improving the lives of our patients.
There are nine different AHP sectors working across our Trust, which includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, dieticians, radiographers, operating department practitioners, podiatrists, prosthetists/ orthotists and orthoptists.
I work in Interventional Radiology Theatres with a great team of doctors, nurses and radiographers, where I perform the medical imaging for minimally invasive procedures. We often need to perform unplanned emergency procedures, so you never really know what your day is going to be like. Dietitians assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems plus create care plans to improve clinical outcomes, all with the aim of improving people’s health.
“It’s really rewarding to be able to see improvements in our patients’ health, some who may visit us on a regular basis. Emma Finnegan, Diagnostic Radiographer
“I specialise in supporting patients with diabetes and aspire to make a real difference in each patients’ care experience. One of the biggest rewards is knowing you have played an integral role in supporting a patient to make real positive changes to their longterm health. Hazel Cheung, Specialist Dietician
The North West Assistive Technology (NWAT) Team provides computer and phone access to patients with bilateral upper limb difficulties. This includes people with motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury. “Providing those who can't use normal devices with access to the internet or a phone to keep in contact with loved ones, particularly during the pandemic, is really rewarding. Antonia McVeigh, Occupational Therapist for NWAT
Orthoptists diagnose and manage patients with disorders of binocular vision, and recently we are encompassing procedures and conditions normally managed by a medic. We support the sub specialities within Ophthalmology but also other specialities such as Neurology, Endocrinology and Stroke. “I enjoy the increasing diversity of our clinical workload at St Paul’s Eye Unit, as well as the camaraderie, and helping our patients get back to their daily activities. Jane Young, Orthoptist
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I specialise in treating people recovering from breast cancer treatment, which can involve releasing axillary cording, connective tissue massage and scar tissue mobilisation as well as educating patients in maintaining an active lifestyle to aid their recovery. “I absolutely love my role and am very passionate about helping these patients during a stressful time in their lives by providing them with an opportunity to improve their physical function and psychological wellbeing.
I love my role which supports patients with impairments in swallowing, communication and voice disorders. Our team works with a variety of areas including Major Trauma, Critical Care, Ventilation Inpatient Centre, Respiratory, Liverpool's Head & Neck Centre and the Stroke Unit. “I am passionate about patient care and I enjoy working as part of a multidisciplinary team to achieve the best outcomes for our patients. Sara Hatton, Specialist Speech & Language Therapist
Joanne Fortune, Senior Physiotherapist
Prosthetists assess patients who have had an amputation or have a congenital absence of a limb. We take a plaster cast of the residual limb, modify it and manufacture a prosthetic device specific to each patient. “We’re lucky to have a team of very experienced clinicians who specialise in various areas, such as hip disarticulation. We have been manufacturing the famous bikini socket here at Aintree with fantastic results. “Many patients struggle with the loss of their limbs, but I find it very rewarding to be part of their journey and see them regain their independence. Lynzy Holding, Prosthetics Manager
I’ve seen massive strides in podiatric care, especially in the last 10 years in the Trust. We now work with several departments, particularly musculoskeletal and diabetes, and this benefits our patients as we treat the person, not just the feet. “We have developed our assessment skills and work alongside consultants and diabetes specialist nurses, aiming to create a seamless service from community podiatry to our hospitals. During COVID-19 we maintained our foot ulcer service which allowed us to see urgent cases far quicker and has led us to reflect on altering our referral process permanently. John Nightingale, Highly Specialist PodiatristMCAS, Rheumatology and Gerontology
As Operating Department Practitioners, we are highly skilled members of the Perioperative Care Team, with the specialist knowledge needed to care for patients in three key areas: anaesthetics, surgery and recovery. “We also support the anaesthetist to care for patients in critical situations, such as attending emergencies in A&E and within Critical Care. The role is varied, challenging and very rewarding, and we love making a real difference to our patients’ lives. Zoe Pennington, ODP
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LIVING OUR Staff support during COVID-19 gets award nomination Colleagues from Organisational Development (OD), Psychology and Occupational Health, and Practice Education Facilitator (PEF) teams received national recognition at the Patient Experience Network National Awards, for their work on staff support and wellbeing during COVID-19. Our PEF Team was nominated in the Patient Experience Advocate for the Future category. Their Grown Our Own Nurse Programme produced a fantastic first cohort of aspiring nurses who supported qualified colleagues throughout COVID-19. Our OD, Psychology and Occupational Health teams were shortlisted in the Patient Experience Network category, which celebrates the programme of work focusing on staff needs – be that emotional, physical, educational, and
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spiritual – and how this contributes to improved patient experience. The teams opened staff wellbeing hubs, introduced a dedicated staff psychology service and created a digital wellbeing support pack for staff during the pandemic. Dr Jane Hutton, our Consultant Clinical Psychologist, said: “It’s such an achievement to be shortlisted for this award. It was a big team effort and shows how much can be achieved when you come together. “There was so much stress and anxiety at the beginning of 2020. As the year progressed, we were able to reflect on and further develop the support available to our staff. There have been many examples where the support of the staff psychology service has made a real difference to those who may have been in distress.”
VALUES Over 7,000 miles for each transplant needed After nine days of cycling, running, climbing, rowing and much more, #TeamLUHFT have successfully completed the Race for Recipients challenge – racking up over 7,000 miles to represent each person waiting for a lifesaving transplant. The challenge, which took place over Organ Donation Week 2021, saw 94 colleagues from across the Trust complete an impressive 7,562 miles over 1,017 hours. The brilliant effort meant that Liverpool University Hospitals came second in the leaderboard of 19 trusts. Brigitte Dupont, Clinical Lead Organ Donation at Aintree, helped to sign up staff at LUHFT to the challenge: “I am so proud of everyone who took part in the Race for Recipients challenge - it was a brilliant team effort. During the week it was close at times as to who may take the top spot! “I hope that through the challenge we have helped raise awareness of organ donation, by shining a spotlight on the significant number of patients who are waiting for lifesaving organ donations across the country. I’d encourage everyone to share their wishes around organ donation with their family, giving them the certainty to support your decision if and when the time comes.”
Our Employee of the Month from St Paul’s Eye Unit. Congratulations to our Employee of the Month Stephanie Parkinson, Assistant Practitioner at St Paul’s Eye Unit. Stephanie was presented with her award after being nominated by a patient. The patient said: “Stephanie carried out her duties perfectly considering the added pressures of coronavirus. She listened to my worries which meant so much. I think this is one of the most important qualities someone in her position can have. “I haven’t had many positive experiences at hospitals, but Stephanie made me feel comfortable and relaxed. She thoroughly deserves to be recognised for her efforts.”
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Epic cycle raises funds for trauma patients Colleagues from the Major Trauma Centre at Aintree have raised £1,232 for a charity by running, cycling, and walking, to support our patients who have experienced significant injury. Day One is a charity supporting survivors of major traumatic injuries. It originated at Leeds Teaching Hospital, and Liverpool University Hospitals is the first external major trauma centre to be supported by the charity since it launched independently in May 2021. As part of fundraising event, 75 Miles in July, two relay teams from LUHFT and LTH cycled 100 miles between Leeds and Liverpool. The cyclists from Aintree were Simon Scott, Clinical Director for Major Trauma, Jon Blackshaw, Consultant Anaesthetist, and Brian Finlay, Physiotherapist. Simon said: “It was a great experience to cycle 100 miles. It was definitely challenging at points, but a real achievement! I am very proud of my colleagues in the Major Trauma Centre who took part in this event – whether it was cycling, running or walking – everyone’s efforts have contributed to making a difference to the patients we care for.” Several other fundraising events also took place for the charity. A team of 13 runners from #TeamLUHFT won a virtual relay race, covering the 94-mile distance between the two cities in a time of 14 hours and 3 minutes. On the hottest day in July, Major Trauma colleagues John Fletcher, Linzi-Joy Harrison, Emma Lathom and Claire Norris also walked a round trip from Aintree to Southport Hospital, raising £750. 14 | LUHFT Life
Bug hotels are the bee’s knees As part of the Big Green Week event our nature ranger hosted a fun Bug Hotel competition, and the final designs didn’t disappoint. Fiona Megarrell, LUHFT nature ranger, said: “All the staff involved put in so much effort into designing and building the bug houses and it really shows. “These safe havens for insects will be nestled around Broadgreen, the Royal and Aintree hospitals. Well done to all for doing your bit for nature!” Also, during the Big Green Week around 1,000 crocus bulbs and evergreens were planted, turf laid, and a bee and butterfly friendly flowerbed was created. Keep an eye on our staff Facebook page to find out how you can get involved and enjoy the green space within our hospitals.
New Royal website launched We have now launched a Building Our Future Together SharePoint website where you can find updates and resources on the new Royal Hospital, and other projects we’re investing in across the Trust estate. It also has information on our integration of service plans so you can keep up to date with the development of our services. The website will be updated regularly, visit the intranet home page to view the new Royal site.
Getting to know you… This month we spoke to Paula O’Malley, Healing Arts Manager, who loves seeing the transformation of patients through live performance and also has a passion for playing board games! How long have you worked in our hospitals? I started in 2007 on a project to record the history of Aintree Hospital through artwork, it was a great way to get to know people across all disciplines. I realised that it needed more than one person so recruited my first students from the University of Liverpool. The project was a success and I was taken on permanently in 2008. I’ve developed a strong student-led arts programme since.
supplement the professional performers that perform on our wards and plan and manage events for the entertainment of patients and staff. Where did you grow up? I grew up in Maghull when it was much more rural than it is today and spent lots of summers picking peas, strawberries and raspberries on the local farms for extra pocket money. Now I live on the coast in Blundellsands.
What does your role involve?
What’s your favourite thing about your job?
I use art in all its forms to improve the patient and staff experience as well as improve the built environment and engage with the wider hospital and local communities. I run a student-led programme to plan and curate art exhibitions, commission specific art pieces for refurbishments and new builds, manage our sculpture herd of Superlambananas and Penguins,
It’s lovely working with and mentoring young people. It's great to see an initiative adopted by the Trust such as an improving the environment project ‘Safehaven: transforming relatives’ rooms project’ which was rolled out across Aintree. And before the pandemic the monthly market and music events and weekly live performances on DMOPs.
What are your highlights during your time at LUHFT? Bringing the Capital of Culture onto the Aintree site and continuing that cultural offer ever since. Seeing the transformation of patients through live performance on wards is incredible. A man who wouldn’t speak after a tracheotomy removal but sang along to Elvis, the dementia patients on the DMOP wards who join in word perfect to show tunes. Edge Hill's music and dance project in 2019/20 ‘Glide into Broadway’. This year every student nurse will spend at least a day with the arts department. What are your hobbies outside of work? I have an allotment and I love board games and play mah-jong with friends, scrabble with my parents and 30-minute monopoly with my grandchildren. What’s your favourite thing about Liverpool? Having lived away and abroad I always missed the camaraderie of just striking up a conversation with someone as is normal in Liverpool, so the people really. I love the coast and the sea and our fabulous parks all over the city. What’s your favourite restaurant or café? When I have a hankering for Arabic food (I used to live in the Middle East) I go to Bakchich, or to the Liverpool 8 Superstore to get the authentic ingredients. My hidden secret is L21 at Hugh Baird college, fine dining but cooked and served by students. What’s your favourite film or song? ‘We are family’ always get me on the dance floor! You win the lottery, what’s your dream holiday? I’d treat my own family, parents, sisters and their families to a world cruise to catch up with our extended family. You’re stranded on an island, what three items would you want with you? Seed potatoes, playing cards and a Swiss army knife. LUHFT Life | 15
WE ARE B STING OUR IMMUNITY THIS WINTER
STAFF BOOK YOUR FLU VACCINE
+ COVID-19 BOOSTER
Protect our patients, yourself and your family. For more information visit the intranet. Patients should contact their GP for vaccine information.
