Patient First - Summer 2013

patient

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#patientfirst

s u m m e r 20 1 3

“Diabetes doesn’t stop me from doing anything I want to do” New Endoscopy and Urology Units open at Maidstone p3 iBabyScan service now available for parents-to-be p4

patient first

Welcome to the Summer edition of

Contents

Patient first!

This edition of our magazine is packed full of information and news for all of you.

We hope you will be pleased to know that following the first official Friends and Family Test in April, we were awarded a rating of 4.6 stars out of a possible 5, by the 685 patients who took part in the survey. We think this is great news and a very positive base upon which we can build and improve even further. You can read more about the results on page 12 of this magazine.

You can also read about six year old Matthew Stonebridge who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of two, and Jessica Briggs, a toddler who underwent a procedure to treat Developmental Hip Dysplasia. There is also information about the innovative work going on within our Trust, our fantastic PALS team, the 20th anniversary of Kent Oncology Centre and a brilliant new service we are offering to prospective parents called iBabyScan…

As always, you can try your hand at our quiz, practice the recipes from our very own League of Friends cook book, and find practical advice about local services available to you.

Don’t forget we would love to hear from you – all your feedback and suggestions are gratefully received… so please get in touch!

We hope you enjoy our summer edition of Patient First and we look forward to hearing from you!

Best wishes and see you in autumn…

T he Pati ent F irst tea m

Contacts

If you have a story to tell us, please contact us.

Communications Team: 01622 225858 Communications email: mtw-tr.communications@nhs.net

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p3 p11

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New Units at Maidstone

The new Endoscopy and Urology Units at Maidstone Hospital are now open for our patients.

4-5

News from your hospitals

Leading the way

Read about what’s been happening at our hospitals, including a new baby scan service, our hospital fete in aid of dementia awareness and a sponsored bike ride by three 10 year old girls.

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Read about the innovations developed by our staff and the internationally recognised courses run by one of our doctors.

8-10

Diabetes case study and features

11

Jessica’s case study

12

If it matters to you it matters to us

Hear all about 6 year old Matthew Stonebridge who has Type 1 diabetes, plus read about the Paediatric Diabetes team and how the condition can be treated with an insulin pump.

See the story of 2 year old Jessica Briggs who was treated for Developmental Hip Dysplasia at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

Learn more about our Patient Advice and Liaison Service.

For any general enquiries or advice, please contact our Trust switchboard or visit our website.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust switchboard: 0845 155 1000 Website: www.mtw.nhs.uk

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patient first

Brand new units now open for patients at Maidstone Patients at Maidstone Hospital are now being seen in our newly refurbished and redeveloped Endoscopy and Urology Investigation Units.

The £2.4 million initiative will enhance and improve our patients’ experiences with new, more modern, larger facilities, which have been designed by the hospital’s doctors and nurses.

The new Endoscopy Unit will also allow the hospital to undertake more endoscopic therapeutic treatments, with dedicated facilities and will also provide sigmoidoscopies as part of Kent’s bowel cancer screening programme. (A sigmoidoscopy is a medical examination of the large

intestine through a scope with a camera.)

The new design will also enable the department to achieve Joint Advisory Group (JAG) accreditation for Gastroenterology.

The new Urology Investigation Unit will provide patients with greater privacy and dignity, than in its previous location.

Additionally, work is due to start on a new admissions lounge and a new discharge lounge at the hospital in July.

These new facilities are due to open in November at a cost of £1 million and will provide greater privacy, dignity and comfort for patients as the start and end of their stay in Maidstone Hospital.

Part of this summer’s work at the hospital also involves using a ward

treatment and four Consultants. Today, it has nine linear accelerators and 22 Consultants and has a sister site based at Canterbury Hospital.

The Centre was one of the first in the country to have representatives from Macmillan Cancer Support working onsite – now, in 2013, there are nine Macmillan specialist posts within the Kent Oncology Centre.

They work alongside the 380 full time and part time members of staff who ensure Kent Oncology Centre continues to provide the best possible care for its patients.

Senior Radiotherapy Physicist, Alison Alderson, said: “My involvement with The Mid Kent Oncology Centre, as it then was, started in 1990 when my husband Alan Alderson was appointed to be the chief physicist for an exciting project to open a new radiotherapy centre in Maidstone. The challenge of setting up a completely new unit and having to order everything from pencils to Linear Accelerators was vast.

“The vision of having a paperless department never seemed to materialise and it seems hard to remember the days when there was just one small room where you could sometimes

Staff celebrate 20 years at the Kent Oncology Centre

Nine members of staff are celebrating 20 years service with the Kent Oncology Centre, having worked there since it opened in April 1993.

The purpose-built facility was one of the first oncology centres to be created for 25 years, and was built on the Maidstone Hospital site to meet the needs of patients from across Kent and parts of Sussex. The creation of this unit meant the smaller, ‘old fashioned’ departments at the old Pembury Hospital were merged to form the new Kent Oncology Centre. Equipment used within the centre was, and still is, state of the art - much of it not having been previously available in the UK. When Kent Oncology Centre first opened, it had three linear accelerators, which are used for radiotherapy

as a temporary admissions lounge, while the permanent facility is being completely upgraded.

The same ward will then be used to accommodate other facilities as and when work is carried out as part of the Trust’s multi-million pound redevelopment and modernisation of all its inpatient wards over six years.

manage to access the internet. We were less dependent on computers and the planning of patients was done using hard copies of X rays which were developed in a dark room.”

Nick Jenkins, Head of Radiotherapy Physics, has also worked for the Centre since it opened: “I have greatly enjoyed working in the Radiotherapy Physics Section of the Kent Oncology Centre because the work is interesting and my colleagues are all keen and hardworking.

“In 1993, I was transferred to the new Mid-Kent Oncology Centre at Maidstone when the Radiotherapy Department in the old Pembury Hospital closed. Back then, I was a junior member of a small team of six scientists who worked across all areas of the centre. Now, in 2013, there are more than 20 scientists and technologists working in the Radiotherapy Physics section, across both the Maidstone and Canterbury sites.

“While many things have changed in the last 20 years from my perspective, two things have not - the first is the unseen need for scientific and technical staff to ensure the safe planning and delivery of radiotherapy, and to facilitate the introduction of new treatment techniques and equipment; the second is that Kent Oncology Centre remains a very enjoyable place to work.” summer 2013

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patient first

News from Your Prospective parents now able to access scan footage online

Mums and Dads-to-be who have their pregnancy scans at Tunbridge Wells Hospital are being offered the opportunity to use a new service, which allows them to securely watch video and see images of the scan online any time they want to. iBabyScan means that prospective parents can watch footage from their scan via their mobile phone, iPad, PC or laptop, while also being able to share it with friends and family via Facebook, Twitter and You Tube.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) is the first NHS site in the country to offer this service to its patients.

Dr Oliver Chappatte, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, said: “While our primary role in the Women’s Ultrasound Department is to provide a diagnostic scan to ascertain the health and wellbeing of the patient’s baby, we recognise and value that a pregnancy scan is also a time to reassure parents For someone to have access to a clip of their scan online and to take as many images from it as they wish, the cost is £15. Profits raised will be used to provide additional training and equipment for the Women’s Ultrasound Department at MTW.

Sponsored Cycle Ride Three 10-year-old girls who cycled 7.5km round Leybourne Lakes have raised £180.64 for Hedgehog children’s ward at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

Neve Palmer, Lauren Rowe and

Here are some comments from those who have taken advantage of the service: “It was wonderful to watch and we were able to show it to our 18 month old son as part of explaining about the baby in mummy’s tummy.”

All three girls recently came in to Tunbridge Wells Hospital to hand over the cheque and to have a tour of the unit, where they met staff and patients.

Hedgehog Ward Manager, Mary-Ellen Gordon, said:

Abigail Bradford from Lunsford Primary

“We are so grateful to the

School in Larkfield, completed three

girls for their support and

laps of the lakes.

for the huge effort they put

Neve came up with the idea of the

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and provides them with an opportunity to bond with their unborn baby so being able to offer this service is a very good way of doing that.” iBabyScan is part of Ultrasound Manager, a cloud-based technology which helps hospitals and clinics to manage ultrasound recordings, images and other data, which aids clinical practice, collaboration and referral processes.

So far, patient survey feedback results have been very positive, with 95% of patients surveyed on iBabyScan saying the system is easy to use, that the images are of good quality and that they would like the option to use this service at their next scan or during their

in to raise this money for

sponsored cycle in memory of a friend

our unit. It’s very humbling

who died of cancer a few years ago,

to see young people show

and she and her friends organised the

that level of dedication to

event and sponsorship themselves.

support others.”

www.mtw.nhs.uk/patientfirst

next pregnancy.

Dr Sarah Flint, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist and Lead for Ultrasound Services, said: “It’s great to be able to offer this sort of service to our patients at Tunbridge Wells, many of whom take great pleasure and reassurance from being able to watch the footage and take images from their scan, while also ensuring that our Trust benefits directly from profits raised.”

For more information, please visit www.iBabyScan.com “My parents live in Canada so it was wonderful to be able to involve them in the pregnancy” “My fiancé could not make the 20 week scan, due to being away with the armed forces so the opportunity to view the scan is a real privilege to us.”

patient first

Hospitals Hospital fete raises hundreds of pounds for dementia awareness A fete held outside Tunbridge Wells Hospital in May, to mark the end of National Dementia Awareness Week, raised almost £700 for the Alzheimer’s Society.

The event, which was run by staff from the hospital, and included stalls, crafts, a raffle and tombola, was organised to help raise the profile of dementia care. It followed a number of other events across the Trust during Dementia Awareness Week, including visits from charities to both hospital reception areas.

Lead Nurse for Dementia Care at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW), Liz Champion, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the success of the fete. I want to thank all the staff, friends and family who donated their time on the day, along with cakes, crafts and prizes, and all the people who came to visit us – which is what made the event such an excellent occasion.

“We are extremely pleased to have raised £696.56 which we are going to donate to the Alzheimer’s Society.

“As the fete was such a success, we are planning to hold similar events in the future to continue raising awareness and money for the charities committed to the cause.”

Birth Centre welcomes 700th Baby!

Congratulations to Alice Hines and Michael Morgan who welcomed baby Louie into the world in June, weighing 8lbs 2oz. Louie was the 700th baby to be born at the Maidstone Birth Centre since it opened in September 2011, which goes to show how popular the centre has been.

Alice and Michael, who are already proud parents to Louie’s big sister, 14-month-old Holly, said; “Our experience at the Birth Centre was a really positive one and made a great change to the normal hospital environment. It was so relaxed and stress-free and we really appreciated the fact that Michael was able to stay overnight.

“We would definitely recommend the Birth Centre to others.”

There are currently around 800,000 people with dementia in the UK, not to mention an estimated 670,000 carers of people with the disease in the country.

Children’s Toys Wanted!

We are in need of children’s toys for waiting rooms and children’s units at our hospitals.

We are always grateful for any donations from the public and can always make use of washable/wipeable toys such as: • Paints/arts & crafts/stickers/activity sets • Plastic or wooden toys in good condition • Books • CDs and DVDs • Popular character toys • Sensory toys There is a box at the main entrance to both hospitals where donated toys can be left, or you can bring them directly to the Riverbank Unit at Maidstone Hospital, or Hedgehog Ward at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

We are very grateful for your support!

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Leading the Way In April, the sixth highly successful Thoracic Ultrasound Course for Physicians, organised and run by Dr Syed Husain, was held at the Academic Centre at Maidstone Hospital.

during chest

The course, which has been a popular training event nationally

the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow.

for the past three years, attracts attendees from all over the

The courses not only help to improve patient care and safety

UK, as well as trainees and consultants from as far afield as

by helping to reduce complications, but also encourage shared

France, Romania, Poland and Israel.

learning and collaboration between professionals.

drain insertions.

The course is supported by colleagues from Guys Hospital London and

Also this year, Dr

A third event, the International Interventional Bronchoscopy

Husain organised

and Medical Thoracoscopy course also generated a great deal

the second Safety

of interest both nationally and internationally. Experts from

in Chest Drain

Heidelberg University in Germany, the Pulmonary Disease

Insertions course,

Unit in Ancona, Italy and representatives from the Democritus

following the

University in Greece attended and contributed. Many of the

National Patient

overseas delegates commented that there is a lack of similar,

safety Agency

high quality training events in some other European countries

report in 2008

and that the course run by the Trust was of an incredibly

about harm

high standard.

Innovative Ideas Dr Husain is also the Trust Lead for Innovations. The innovations development process allows staff to submit creative ideas which could then be turned into reality, with the support of the Trust and NHS Innovations South East.

There are about 35 different concepts which are currently being worked on and developed.

Just two of the ideas which have recently

In July the Trust is hosting a

been successfully developed include:

Grand Innovations Day to update staff on

• The ‘Air Glove’ (pictured, above right)

current innovations and encourage them to

- a device which helps to find veins

submit their own ideas, which can directly

so patients can be given cannulas

benefit patients and staff and also generate

more easily. These are often patients

revenue for the Trust. You can read more

undergoing chemotherapy or other

about the event in the next edition of

medical patients whose veins are

Patient First.

difficult to find.

Earlier this year, MTW, in partnership with NHS

• The Kanga Kardi baby wrap which is Dr Syed Husain, Trust Lead for Innovations

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www.mtw.nhs.uk/patientfirst

Innovations South East won a government

used for skin on skin contact between

competition and was awarded a grant of

parent and newborn baby to help

£75,000 to develop medical apps to further

with bonding and feeding.

improve patient care.

patient first

Loitering with good intent Our Chaplaincy departments at both Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospitals have staff and volunteers who are here to help with the spiritual, religious and pastoral care of patients, their families and those who work for the Trust.

The Chaplaincy team and Chapels/ Quiet Rooms are available to everyone for peace or reflection – it is not necessary to be a member of a religious group, because all faiths, as well as those with no religious beliefs, are welcome.

Tunbridge Wells Hospital Chaplain, Stephen Baker, said: “We are here to help people. It doesn’t matter what they believe or don’t believe, we want to be able to support patients and their relatives and friends during, what is often, a very difficult and demanding time.

“People often tell me they are not religious; that’s fine. We are not here to push our beliefs on anyone but we are here to be interested in them and to do what we can to make their stay in hospital easier.

“I like to think of what we do in terms of 3 pictures. The first is a signpost. We are there to help people find some direction for their lives. For some it may be to do with their faith, for others it may be making sense of their lives in terms of relationships or the roles they perform. Often illness interrupts that. We can help point them to where they may find help. The second is a journey. People in hospital are on a journey and sometimes it can be a bit rough. Sometimes they can only see the twists and turns in the road and no end. We journey with them as companions listening to their concerns and doing what we can to make things a bit easier. The third picture is of a sponge. We are there to soak up the different emotions that illness brings with it. Having somebody to talk to and to get things off your chest is very necessary and very helpful; we have the

time to allow people to do that. We won’t judge but we will listen. If people would like us to pray with them we will do that too.”

Maidstone Hospital Chaplain, Nicola Mitra, said: “I see the role of chaplaincy as helping to provide some of the compassionate, human side of care in hospital. It is what all clinical staff want to give but don’t always have time to give. We can hold hands, sit with patients quietly and listen and we don’t have to watch the clock in the same way.

“We can’t magic problems away but we can help patients feel better able to cope with them. When we sit next to them and listen we remind people they are not on their own. We can help patients voice some of the things that worry them and that can be a great relief…. We often leave a patient who has talked to us looking less anxious, more peaceful, brighter, and more cheerful.

“Patients can share their worries about their families, anxieties about test results, concerns about what will happen when they go home. We can listen to their sadness and let them express their frustration and anger.

In fact, we can be great de-fusers of frustration, and anger which might otherwise be directed at nurses or doctors, or their families.

“We also can have a laugh with patients and let them talk about things that matter to them - gardening, football, their grandchildren, anything, so they feel they have value as people and are not just patients who are being treated in hospital.

“It can be very boring in hospital and having a chat with someone from the Chaplaincy team can really brighten up someone’s day and put some sparkle back into them.

“Everybody in the Chaplaincy team is passionate about their work and we all agree it is a privilege to come alongside people at a difficult time in their lives.”

Both the Chapel at Maidstone Hospital and the multi faith centre at Tunbridge Wells Hospital can be accessed 24 hours a day, every day and are located as follows: Maidstone - As you enter main reception, the Chapel/Quiet Room is located on the left opposite the League of Friends book shop.

Tunbridge Wells - The multi faith room can be found on level 0 of the hospital, along the corridor to the right of main reception.

To speak to a member of the Chaplaincy team please contact: Stephen Baker Chaplain Chaplaincy Office, Level -0, Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

Tel: 01892 635438 s.baker4@nhs.net Nicola Mitra Chaplain Chaplaincy Office Ground Floor, Maidstone Hospital (opposite League of Friends shop) Tel: 01622 224569 nicolamitra@nhs.net

Testimonials from patients (names changed):

“You were very kind and thoughtful when we were at our most desperate, so thank you.”

“I just wanted to say thank you. I will never forget how comforting it was to have you at Bill”s bedside.”

“I just wanted to write a short note to express my gratitude for everything you have done for my family over the last month it has really helped us through.

Neither I nor Colin practice religion but we have found comfort in the words that you have said.” summer 2013

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patient first

Living with…

Type 1 DIABETES You look at Matthew Stonebridge and what you see is a healthy, happy, energetic 6-yearold. You wouldn’t suspect for a moment that he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of two, and more recently Celiac disease.

Here, his Mum, Nicola, his sister, Lucy, and Matthew himself tell us why living with diabetes no longer has to be a life-changing life-sentence.

A

t the age of two, Matthew, who lives with his family in Staplehurst, seemed to be going to the toilet a lot more than normal. His parents, Nicola and John, initially put it down to him being potty trained. When the situation didn’t improve, they took Matthew to the doctor’s for a urine test, which they were sure would show up a minor infection – easily treated with a course of antibiotics.

What it actually showed up was something far more serious.

“The surgery phoned us almost immediately after the appointment to say they had concerns Matthew was diabetic,” said Nicola, “They asked us to go back immediately for a fingerprick test to check his blood sugar levels. The results of this indicated the same thing and we were told we had to take Matthew to Maidstone Hospital straight away. When we arrived, the paediatric team were waiting for us in A&E. “While we were at hospital, we began to realise that Matthew had, in fact, shown other symptoms of diabetes – for example, he had always been a very sleepy baby.

On its own, this had never rung alarm bells for us but in the context of diabetes, it suddenly started to add up.”

Matthew was taken onto a ward and given an injection before being allowed to eat. The results were almost instantaneous and Matthew was immediately full of energy.

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www.mtw.nhs.uk/patientfirst

“The difference was huge. We were allowed to go home and returned again for tea the next day so Matthew could be given an injection first,” said Nicola. “It was agreed that now we had established what the issue was, we could treat it at home by giving Matthew injections ourselves.”

However, this turned out to be far less simple than anticipated.

“We discovered that Matthew had a phobia of needles. He would see one, get very distressed and run away. It was such a battle to give him the injections and also very upsetting for us as parents, and for Lucy, as an elder sibling, because the whole process would upset him so much.”

Matthew was diagnosed in January 2009 and for the following eight months, Nicola and John struggled through the process of giving him a minimum of two injections every day. In August of the same year, Matthew was given an insulin pump – a computerised syringe, which Nicola describes as ‘lifechanging’ and something which meant the insulin injections, which Matthew found so distressing, could stop.

Nicola said, “The insulin pump literally changed everything. It made the process of treating Matthew so much more precise and accurate” “We, and Matthew’s nurses, can programme it and it is attached by a small cannula in his bottom. Matthew does his own finger-prick tests regularly now to check his blood sugar and the small piece of equipment he uses to do this actually sends a message to his

patient first

Dr Kala Pathy, Consultant Paediatrician, said: “Matthew’s management was difficult, particularly in the initial period with diagnosis when he was a toddler. His mother and Jenny Endean, Paediatric Diabetic Specialist Nurse, worked very closely together, and the insulin pump was also a great help. He has also been diagnosed with celiac disease this year, and again, Matthew’s mother has faced this new challenge admirably, to ensure that his diabetes control is optimum.”

Type 1 diabetes Type 1 diabetes affects around 400,000 people in the UK, of which more than 29,000 are children.

Only around 10% of people with diabetes have type 1.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune

insulin pump which will then alter his

is brilliant and are literally always on the

condition – for reasons that are not

dosage automatically according to his

end of the phone.

yet fully understood, the immune

blood sugar readings. It is amazing and

“Matthew is a very happy little boy

system mistakenly attacks and destroys

means that Matthew can lead an almost

who never says ‘I can’t do that’ as a

the beta cells in the pancreas that

completely normal life.”

result of his condition. I honestly believe

produce insulin.

“I can do everything really,“ Matthew said, “I really like school and football, and I like playing my Nintendo Wii.

diabetes is only as limiting as you allow it to be.”

Matthew’s sister, 10-year-old Lucy,

My favourite food is chocolate and

agrees, “I do worry about Matthew

sausages!”

because he is my brother but actually,

To complicate matters slightly more,

diabetes is not as bad as you think.

Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to move from the blood stream into cells, which can then be used for energy. Someone with type 1 diabetes will not have enough, or any insulin, meaning that blood glucose

this year, following a routine blood test,

Most people think it is a really terrible

Matthew was diagnosed with Celiac

disease and that you could catch it from

disease – a digestive condition which

someone else or die from it, but that’s

causes an extremely adverse reaction to

not really true. My brother has the same

damage to the body’s organs.

gluten. This has an impact on Matthew’s

sort of life as me and his friends and we

The common symptoms and signs of

already controlled diet and means there

know what to do to treat his diabetes

are certain things he simply can’t eat.

really well.”

“It can make things a bit difficult if he is going to a birthday party or

Matthew himself, an avid Liverpool FC supporter, is also determined that

levels will fall or rise outside the normal levels. This can cause serious

diabetes are: • More frequent urination, especially at night

to a friend’s house for tea as there is

his condition won’t affect his ambition

• Increased and often extreme thirst

always a risk of cross-contamination, for

to be a footballer when he grows up –

• Feeling very tired

example, using a knife for Matthew’s

“Diabetes is not a very bad thing and it

• Weight loss

food which has already been used to

doesn’t stop me from doing anything

cut a loaf of bread. But, the condition is

I want to do. I would tell other people

completely diet-controlled and you do

who have got diabetes that they don’t

get used to the constraints.

really need to worry. Sometimes, having

“We are very lucky because the

diabetes is actually quite cool as you get

care we receive here at Maidstone and

to have drinks and food at school when

Tunbridge Wells is exceptional, the team

no one else is allowed to!”

People with this type of diabetes will need medication for the rest of their lives, either by way of injections or an insulin pump, as currently there is no cure.

There is another form of diabetes – type 2, which differs to type 1 in a number of ways. People with type 2

Matthew’s Mum, Nicola, is the Chair for the Maidstone Area Parent Support Groups (MAPS) which provides a close-knit support network for parents with children who have Type 1 diabetes. The group is affiliated with Diabetes UK and also raises money for equipment, books and days out.

Anyone interested in joining the group can visit their website – www.maidstoneandareaparents.diabetesukgroup.org On 27 October this year, Nicola and a small team, consisting of another Mum and two school teachers, will take part in the 10 mile Great South Run in Portsmouth to raise money for Diabetes UK. You can visit her Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/runfortype1

do not produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells do not react to insulin.

This is known as insulin resistance.

Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1 and often the symptoms can be controlled by diet and the monitoring of blood glucose levels. However, as type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, it may eventually be necessary for medication to be taken.

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patient first

INSULIN PUMPS

an overview

MTW’s Paediatric Diabetic Team

An insulin pump is effectively a computerised syringe, which is usually about the size of a deck of cards. The pump delivers small doses of insulin every few minutes, 24 hours a day and unlike with insulin injections, only rapidacting insulin is needed.

The insulin flows through a cannula, which sits in the subcutaneous tissue (where you would inject) and is changed by the user every 2-3 days.

The Paediatric Diabetes Team works at both Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals.

The team at Maidstone consists of:

nursery visits – and, in fact, will go into

can be difficult to keep blood glucose

Dr Kala Pathy (Consultant), Jenny

any setting that cares for the children.

levels in the normal range. By using the

Endean and Maxine Libby (PDSNs),

pump correctly, users can help keep

and Sally Norris (dietician). The team

better control over their diabetes. The

at Tunbridge Wells is led by Dr Paul

For people with type 1 diabetes, it

small doses of insulin are more easily absorbed than the larger amounts delivered by injections, so blood glucose levels remain more stable and predictable.

Insulin pumps are popular with users for a variety of reasons, including: • Having increased control • Being able to be more flexible, particularly with meal times

Day (Consultant), Lyndsey Austen and Natalie Copley (PDSNs), and Aisling Treacy and Tracey Elks (dieticians).

and each family receives an education package tailored to meet their individual needs. Between both hospitals, approximately 60 children are on insulin pump therapy and this

Between them, the team work with around 220 children who have Type 1 diabetes. The team’s role is to educate, support and advise families on how to manage their child’s condition. This is done predominately in the community

• Less requirement to use needles

setting, rather than within one of our

• Being better able to manage

hospitals. Families receive a home visit

continues to increase. Each child has the choice of three insulin pumps and, fortunately for the children within the MTW area, the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) recognise the benefits of pump therapy and support our team to fund the children’s pumps.

travel across different time zones

following discharge from the ward; the

The Paediatric Diabetic team gained

• Helping to control levels through

average stay is 48 hours, in some cases

formal recognition for the service it

the children are able to go home on

provides to young people with Type 1

the same day.

diabetes by winning the team prize

insulin pump, discuss it with your

The team supports families in a variety

for ‘Exceptional Patient Care’ at the

diabetes care team, who will be able to

of different ways - through telephone

MTW Staff Awards annual event

offer advice and guidance.

contact, text, email, school visits,

(pictured above).

growth spurts and hormonal changes in adolescents For those interested in using an

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The education process is continuous

www.mtw.nhs.uk/patientfirst

patient first

Case study

Hip problems can affect anyone…

It’s easy to make the assumption that hip problems tend to be most prevalent in the older generation… but that’s not actually the case.

People of all ages can be affected by hip complaints which require a range of treatment, and sometimes surgery.

Here, read about two year old Jessica Briggs, from Tunbridge Wells, who had an operation on her hip last year…

Twins, Jessica and Charlotte Briggs, were born at the old Pembury Hospital in January 2011 to delighted parents, Lisa and Daniel.

Jessica started walking at 14-monthsold, around a month after her sister, and Lisa and Daniel quickly noticed that she appeared to be limping.

After a number of appointments and discussions with their GP, Jessica was referred to Mr Nick Nicolau, a Consultant Orthopaedic Paediatrician based at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

Jessica’s mum, Lisa, said: “He immediately diagnosed her with Developmental Hip Dysplasia (DDH), which is instability in the hip joint, and advised us it was likely that she would need an operation. He explained this would involve either a closed or open reduction to ensure the hip could be placed back into the socket in a normal position.

“We were naturally shocked and upset with this diagnosis but Mr Nicolau was immediately helpful and provided

great comfort along with a very honest approach about Jessica’s further treatment and prognosis.”

Jessica underwent surgery on 5 November 2012, when a successful closed reduction was performed by Mr Nicolau and Mr Marcos Katchburian, another Consultant Orthopaedic Paediatrician, and she was placed into a hip spica cast for 12 weeks.

Lisa said: “The surgical team at Tunbridge Wells Hospital were fantastic with her and put me, as a frightened mum, very much at ease.

“She had her cast changed in December, then removed, and a hip abduction brace fitted for a further six weeks, which she has just had taken off, although she still wears it at night. So it was a total of 16 weeks in treatment with a long way still to go.

“Throughout this time, we were always advised that Jessica could be brought back at a moment’s notice if we felt anything was wrong and, in fact, Mr Nicolau did indeed fit Jess into a busy clinic when there was a problem with her cast following the change in December.

“Both Mr Nicolau and Mr Katchburian have always been completely honest, upfront and, most importantly, caring, with all of us.

Jessica adores them both and tells everyone about her Nick and Marcus who fixed her leg!

“They are the ideal paediatric consultants who take time not only

Some hip instability is very common in newborn infants but hip dysplasia that needs treatment occurs in approximately 2-3 children per thousand.

However, some studies have detected mild instability in up to one infant in six (15%) but most of this mild instability resolves spontaneously.

with the child but also the parents and while Jessica has a long way to go, she is on the right path, and will hopefully come out of this process with the ability to walk, run and be a normal child.”

Jessica’s prognosis is good – her hip is currently stable and should not re-dislocate, however, as she has a shallow socket at this stage, she will be reassessed in coming years to ascertain if her hip socket is likely to deepen naturally or if she will need a further surgical procedure.

Lisa added: “My advice to any parents who are going through a similar situation is to try not to be terrified. It’s a very stressful and worrying diagnosis for a parent and it can be scary when you first see the spica cast but children adapt very quickly and Jessica was soon crawling around in her cast and even standing up in her hip brace!

“Although it is not something anyone wants to go through, or have their child go through, the consultants made it much easier to deal with and made sure we had a proper understanding of what was going on every step of the way.”

the socket while the baby is asleep under general anaesthesia.

Hip dysplasia is about four times more common in girls than boys.

Occasionally, before the procedure, a few weeks of traction is used to stretch and relax the child’s ligaments before attempting the closed reduction.

A closed reduction is the most common treatment for babies between the ages of 6 and 24 months.

During this procedure, the paediatrician physically manipulates the hip joint to get the ball back into

An open reduction means the hip joint is opened up to clear out any tissue that is keeping the head of the femur (the ball) from going back into the acetabulum (the socket). summer 2013

11

patient first

Win your copy of our brand new book which reveals the history of the Tunbridge Wells Hospitals…

The fascinating history of the former Kent & Sussex and Pembury Hospitals has been made into a book, which will be launched on 5 July, the 65th anniversary of the NHS, and available for sale in both Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospitals.

Bandages & ce Benevolen y of the The Histor Wells Tunbridge Hospitals

ks

By John Wee

The book, ‘Bandages & Benevolence’, was painstakingly researched and written, over a five year period, by John Weeks, Emergency Planning Manager for the Trust.

It traces the history and stories of the hospitals from a small Dispensary in 1828, and the emergence of the workhouse and its infirmary, all the way through to the advent of the NHS in 1948 and then into the 21st century.

More details regarding how you can buy your copy of the book will be available on our website www.mtw.nhs.uk soon!

In the meantime, if you would like to win a copy of the book, please answer this simple question: Which anniversary will the NHS celebrate this July?

Send your answer, along with your name, address and contact telephone number, to: mtw-tr.communications@nhs.net or Communications Office, Room 119, Maidstone Hospital, Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9QQ (or drop it into the hospital reception desks).

Please make sure the envelope is clearly marked BOOK COMPETITION. Closing date: 23 August 2013

12

www.mtw.nhs.uk/patientfirst

If it matters to you, it matters to us Read on to find out more about our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) PALS has been established at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) for over ten years.

It provides a friendly and easy to access service for patients at both our hospitals – for questions, comments, feedback and concerns.

PALS Lead for the Trust, Sue Greenwood, said: “A lot of people associate PALS with complaints nowadays, but actually we are also here to answer questions if we can, and to listen to people who have comments to make in general about the service we provide as a Trust. Constructive

Executive Team U pd at e

We, as a Trust are continually striving to improve the service we offer to our patients and it is always reassuring to receive positive feedback about people’s experiences whilst in our care.

That is why the Trust is very pleased to report that following the first official Friends and Family Test in April, we were awarded a rating of 4.6 stars out of a possible 5, by our patients.

685 patients took part in the survey, which has been designed as a new monthly test throughout the NHS nationally to monitor patient satisfaction in real-time.

Many of those who completed the survey also made additional comments about their experience, our services and the standard of care, such as: “Was seen immediately and everyone was really kind and helpful – made the trauma less awful.”

“Nothing to improve – it was outstanding in every way by all the staff.”

“Everyone was really friendly; there is

feedback is extremely important to us as it means we can, wherever possible, look to act upon the suggestions people have made, especially if they are of benefit to a majority of our patients and visitors.”

Of course, an important part of PALS work does involve helping people who are unhappy with the service provided, or their experience, in our hospitals.

In the first instance, patients and visitors would always be encouraged

John Kennedy Interim Director of Nursing always a calm, relaxed atmosphere. At no point did I feel information was being kept from me, likewise I didn’t feel rushed when asking question (I did bombard them with questions).”

It is really pleasing that so many of our patients were happy with their experience and it is very positive that the vast majority would recommend us to their families and friends.

I’m sure that the positive results will continue and that we can further improve to ensure that all of our patients are satisfied with their care.

And on that note, The Trust has recently approved seven objectives which all seek to ensure that we deliver high quality services and will shape how MTW moves forwards in the future.

These are: • Delivering high quality and safe patient services e.g. hitting our waiting time standards • Reducing patient length of stay e.g.

patient first

to raise any concern at the time, with the ward manager, or ask the reception staff of the particular department for help. However, if this isn’t possible, or if someone feels their problem has not been resolved, they can always speak to the PALS staff who will work with them to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

People can normally visit the PALS offices (at both hospitals) between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, phone, email or write in – a full list of contacts for PALS at MTW is below.

We would always recommend that people phone before they make a special journey to visit PALS in person to ensure there is someone available to on the PALS answerphone, the aim is to

By SMS text – 07747 782317

accessible as we possibly can be so not only are there leaflets available with all our details on, we also have bedside information on all the wards in both our hospitals. We can also be contacted via

•

•

By phone – 01622 224960 (Maidstone Hospital) 01892 632953 (Tunbridge Wells Hospital)

see them. If someone leaves a message

Sue added: “We try to be as

•

Contact PALS:

By email – mtwpals@nhs.net

respond within one working day.

• •

the MTW website, Facebook and Twitter.

“We genuinely want to hear from anyone who has a comment, good or bad, or a concern which we may be able to help with. We want to help MTW provide the best possible overall service to all our patients and visitors and we can’t do that without feedback from those using the Trust.

“Like we say – if it matters to you, it matters to us.”

proactively plan for patient discharges and close liaison with carers Reducing C.diff infection rates Progressing towards NHS Foundation Trust status e.g. consistently achieving quality and budget targets and engaging with the people we serve Agreeing the clinical strategy e.g. clarifying our vision and driving greater productivity Delivering financial performance e.g. keeping to our budget limits and controlling what we spend Achieving our cost improvement programme

Ultimately, our vision is to be in the top 20% of Trusts nationally for the quality of services we deliver and we can achieve this by working as a team and having a clear understanding of where our focus lies.

There is plenty of hard work ahead but we are committed to developing and improving for the benefit of you, our patients and visitors.

Jo h n

BY RNID Typetalk – Dial 18002 followed by 01622 224960 In writing: PALS Lead, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Maidstone Hospital, Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9QQ

patient first

Quiz Geography

Q. Where is the volcano Mount Etna situated?

Q. Which city is the most

populated in the world (with an approximate population of 37,126,000)?

History

Q. Who was on the British throne at the time of the Spanish Armada?

Q. Who became the British Prime Minister in 1937?

Literature

Q. How many lines are there in a limerick?

Q. In children’s literature,

who wrote ‘The Gruffalo’ and ‘The Gruffalo’s Child’?

Food/Dining

Q. What shape is ‘farfalle’ pasta?

Q. Bouillabaisse is a French stew containing what?

Entertainment

Q. Which actress won the 2012 series of ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!’

Q. Which 1980’s television cartoon superhero lived at 29 Acacia Road?

Sport

Q. Who won the

Wimbledon Men’s single’s championships every year between 1976 and 1980?

Q. In which sport would

you find the terms madhouse, bed and leg?

(Answers to be published in Autumn edition)

summer 2013

13

patient first

Delicious summer recipes Enjoy these mouth-watering recipes from our very own Maidstone Hospital League of Friends Cook Book…

Pear and Walnut salad

Raspberry Fool

(serves 4 as a starter or 2 as a main course)

(serves 4)

2 large, ripe pears 1 egg 2 (level) tbsp caster sugar 3tbsp wine vinegar (red or white) 2 ½fl oz double cream Lettuce leaves Walnuts (chopped) Put 1 egg and 2 level tbsp caster sugar into a bowl and whisk together with a fork.

Add 3 tbsp wine vinegar and work well together with a wooden spoon.

Put the bowl with this mixture in it over a pan of warm water, and stir with a wooden spoon until it starts to thicken (it will coat the wooden spoon).

Don’t boil the water.

200g raspberries 40g icing sugar 2tbsp cherry brandy 3 tsp powdered gelatine 125ml double cream 2 egg whites Reserve four raspberries for decoration and put the remainder in a food processor (or push through a sieve).

Add the icing sugar and blend to a puree, sieve to remove the seeds.

Mix the cherry brandy with one tbsp cold water and sprinkle the gelatine on top.

Cut the lettuce leaves into strips.

Put a bowl over a pan of hot water and stir until the gelatine dissolves, then stir in the raspberry puree.

Peel the pears and cut them in half lengthways, taking out the core with a teaspoon.

Whisk cream until it forms soft peaks and then fold in the puree.

Arrange the pear halves on top of the lettuce leaves on separate plates.

Chill for 5 to 10 minutes until the mixture thickens.

Beat the cream until it’s at a thick pouring stage and add to the egg and sugar mix. If it’s too thick, add a little cold water.

With a teaspoon, coat the pear halves with the cream/ egg mixture – cover them totally or they will brown.

Roughly chop a handful of walnuts and sprinkle on top before serving.

Whisk the egg whites until they are stiff and fold into the puree.

Spoon the mixture into individual dishes and chill for one hour, until it’s set. Decorate and serve.

You can serve this dessert in ready-made chocolate cups which can be bought from most supermarkets, to make it even more delicious!

The Maidstone Hospital League of Friends Cook Book is available from the The League of Friends Shop near the main entrance of Maidstone Hospital and is priced at £5.

14

www.mtw.nhs.uk/patientfirst

patient first

Choose well…

Get the right NHS treatment. If you’re not sure what’s best, phone before you go.

Self-care

Minor injuries units

NHS Direct

Edenbridge Hospital Mill Hill, Edenbridge, TN8 5DA

Medical advice 24/7 www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

Tel: 01732 863164

0845 4647

Open 8.30am to 8pm, 365 days a year

Emotional support

X-ray available from Monday to Friday 9am to 2.30pm

Mental Health Matters helpline Confidential emotional support 0800 107 0160

Sevenoaks Hospital Hospital Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 3PG Tel:01732 470200 Open 8am to 8pm, 365 days a year

GP and dentist

X-ray available from Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

GP out of hours Call 03000 242424

Crowborough War Memorial Hospital Southview Road, Crowborough, TN6 1HB

Dentist

Tel: 01892 603602

Contact your dentist directly, or if you have no dentist you can call: 0808 238 9797 Evening and weekends Dentaline 01634 890300

Open 8am to 8pm, 365 days a year

Pharmacy

Emergency Care Centres and Accident and Emergency

To find out where your nearest pharmacy is, text ‘Pharmacy’ to 64746 Late night and Sunday pharmacies Maidstone Morrisons Pharmacy, Sutton Road – 01622 661750 Sainsbury’s Pharmacy, Quarry Wood, Aylesford – 01622 790223 Tesco Pharmacy, Lunsford Park, Larkfield – 01622 701449 Sevenoaks Sainsbury’s, Otford Road – 01732 469198

Some GP practices also offer a minor injury service. To find out who, visit www.nhs.uk

For critical or life threatening emergencies, call 999 or go to your nearest Accident and Emergency, open 24 hours a day.

Maidstone Hospital, Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9QQ Tel: 0845 155 1000 Tunbridge Wells Hospital, Tonbridge Road, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 4QJ Tel: 0845 155 1000

Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells Boots, Calverley Road – 01892 526486 East Street Pharmacy, East Street, Tonbridge – 01732 770055 Sainsbury’s, Linden Park Road – 01892 532569

Spring edition

QUIZ Answers

Geography • What is the capital of Brazil? - Rio di Janeiro • Where is the city of Sofia? - Bulgaria History • Who is Queen Elizabeth II’s great grandfather? - King Edward VII • Who led the Roundheads to victory in the English Civil war? - Oliver Cromwell Literature • Who wrote best-selling ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ which was adapted into a film starring Julia Roberts in 2010? - Elizabeth Gilbert • Who wrote ‘Life of Pi’? Yann Mantel

Food/Dining • What is the name of Heston Blumenthal’s famous three Michelin starred Berkshire restaurant? - The Fat Duck • Which famous TV chef is married to Fern Britton? - Phil Vickery Entertainment • In which English city was three times Oscar winner Daniel Day Lewis born? - London • How many UK number one singles did the Beatles have? - 17 Sport • Who won the Australian Open this year? - Nova Djokovic • What football team has David Beckham recently moved to? - Paris St Germain

summer 2013

15

Missed appointments cost the NHS millions If you’ve booked an appointment that you don’t need, cancel it Help the NHS invest money where it matters.