Update GP
Issue Number 4 Spring 2010
NEWS FROM
Enhanced recovery ADVANCES IN surgical techniques, coupled with changes in pre- and postoperative care and advice, mean that patients are able to recover from surgery much sooner than before. Research led by Professor Henrik Kehlet, from Copenhagen, demonstrated that patients could be eating, drinking and walking unaided only three or four days after major colorectal surgery. When combined with laparoscopic techniques, some patients are able return home after only three days. At the NNUH we have started to introduce this process, and some patients are able to recover and go home more quickly than before. Very occasionally patients may experience complications. Where this is the case patients will be given a direct line number to contact the hospital for assistance.
PLEASE HELP US TO TACKLE LABELLING ERRORS
T
he Laboratory medicine team at NNUH processes more than 950,000 specimen requests each year, of which around 3,500 are found to be incorrectly labelled. This creates an unacceptable risk to patients, as well as additional costs, and we have been looking into the reasons for these errors as part of our ongoing campaign to improve patient safety. Recent evidence suggests that more than half the mislabelled requests come from primary care and we are working with colleagues in the community to help find solutions to this problem. Liz Groves, the clinical scientist who is leading this project for the NNUH Foundation Trust, says: “We have identified the main factors contributing to labelling errors within the Trust and we are working with staff to make sure that patients are positively identified and that sample labelling is done at the point of collection. However, there may be different factors involved in errors with samples from primary care, so it’s important that we work together to improve labelling and reduce the risks to patient safety.” Krishna Sethia, Medical Director, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Make the most of laboratory medicine ARE YOU having problems meeting the demand for phlebotomy in time to meet the transport pick-up times? Would you like to extend this service for your patients, while cutting down the waiting times for bloods? The laboratory medicine team at NNUH would be happy to discuss the options available to allow you to do this. For example, did you realise that if you had a centrifuge in your surgery to spin the biochemistry samples, you would be able to take bloods after your pick-up time and save the samples for collection the next day – thus extending your phlebotomy service? The hospital laboratory does not supply centrifuges but can offer advice on suitable equipment to use and will provide the
The power of progress: Why not come and take a spin round our hospital laboratory? necessary staff training. If you’d like to discuss possible options please contact Dianne Gibson, Service Manager on tel 01603 286936 or email Dianne.gibson@nnuh.nhs.uk “
THE LABORATORY Medicine department at NNUH is hosting an open afternoon for GPs on 13 April from 2 - 5pm in the East Atrium. The programme is: • 2pm: welcome and introduction • The Power of Automation: a tour of the hospital laboratory to see the processing power of the equipment • ESR or CRP – you choose • POCT – the good, the bad and the ugly • A biochemical approach to testosterone measurement • Improvements in our laboratory service • Question and answer session To book a place, please email rebecca.perry@ nnuh.nhs.uk
KEY CONTACTS Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Colney Lane Norfolk NR4 7UY Website: www.nnuh.nhs.uk On-call: For emergencies tel: 01603 286286 and ask to be transferred to the appropriate on-call teams: • Surgical: SpR. (bleep 0080) • Medical: via the Emergency Assessment Unit (EAU) on bleep 0002 • Medicine for the Elderly: ext. 6509 There is also an on-call general (GI) and vascular consultant available via the switchboard.
Norwich Community Hospital Bowthorpe Road Norwich NR2 3TU Tel: 01603 776776 (Also Breast Screening, Pain Management)
Norwich Central Family Planning Clinic Grove Road Norwich NR1 3RH Tel: 01603 287345
Pharmacy Medicines information line: 01603 287139
Pathology Clinical Biochemistry and Haematology 01603 286929 / 286932 / 286959 Microbiology 01603 288587 / 288588
Knowledge Norfolk website: http://nww.eastern.nhs.uk/scripts/index.a sp?pid=73450&id=95975
GP UPDATE SPRING 2010
Free advice line for employers OCCUPATIONAL health advisors from NNUH are taking part in a pilot scheme to give small local businesses free access to professional advice via a helpline and website. More than £100 billion is lost from the UK’s economy each year because of working-age ill health and sickness absence, with an estimated £30-40 billion of this attributable to mental ill health. A recent Government report identified a need to provide employers, particularly those in small firms, with easy access to advice on workplace health issues. To address this, a ‘Health for Work Advice line’ for small business is being piloted in seven locations in England, and across Scotland and Wales. Building on existing services such as NHS Plus, the Advice line provides small business
CLOT TACTICS A CAMPAIGN has been launched at NNUH to raise awareness of the dangers of blood clots contracted in hospital. All adult in-patients must now undergo a Thrombosis Risk Assessment (TRA) and both patients and staff are being urged to learn more about clot prevention after surgery (an information leaflet is available via our website: nnuh.nhs.uk). A new “Click for Clots” icon on the desktop provides instant access to information for staff, together with a TRA form and guidelines on anticoagulation, with links to other useful sites. The aim is to make the question “Have you filled in a TRA?” as ubiquitous for hospital doctors as “Have you washed your hands?”
employers with early and easy access to advice from health professionals that is tailored to their needs. Employers are also directed to other services and advice if required. The advice line will provide small businesses with direct support to help them retain the services of an employee at work or assist an employee back to work following a period of sickness related absence. Employees may also call the advice line about a health problem, although they should be encouraged to speak to their employer in the first instance, who can then contact the service on their behalf. The advice line, delivered by NHS Plus, will run until 31 March 2011 and the number to call is 0800 0 77 88 44, or visit www.health4work.nhs.uk
Down’s scans are extended PREGNANT WOMEN aged over 35 are now able to have a nuchal fold scan at NNUH to screen for Down’s Syndrome at about 12 weeks of pregnancy. Previously only women in high risk categories were eligible for this scan, but the service has now been extended following a cash injection of £500,000 by NHS Norfolk. Two rooms at NNUH have been refurbished and equipped with ultrasound to meet the expected demand. A routine blood test for Down’s will continue to be offered to all pregnant women at about 16 weeks into their pregnancy. It is essential that women bring with them a signed consent form as otherwise the scan cannot take place. The forms are available from midwives.
TOP TIPS FOR COMMON COMPLAINTS GP UPDATE GP Update is edited by Rebecca Perry and produced by the NNUH Communications team If you have any questions, comments or contributions please contact Rebecca on 01603 289989 or by email: rebecca.perry@nnuh.nhs.uk
NEW GUIDELINES for the appropriate treatment and referral of some of the most common conditions have been drawn up between NNUH and NHS Norfolk’s Planned Care Commissioning Team. The guidance includes useful “rules of thumb” for dealing with conditions such as snoring and nosebleeds, difficulty swallowing, tonsillitis, chronic rhinitis, ear
wax and discharge, tinnitus, children’s hearing loss, and dizziness. They are designed to provide helpful support to GPs and suggest treatment options prior to referring patients to NNUH. • Look out for our quick guide pack, arriving shortly, or go to http://nww. knowledgenorfolk.nhs.uk and search for the relevant specialty