September – December 2019
InTouch
Congratulations to our radiology team (pictured), who won Amazing Team of the Year at Our Amazing People Awards in September.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Event in a Tent Our Amazing People Awards Putting quality first
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Foreword Contents
Hello Welcome to In Touch magazine – your insight into the latest news and updates from across PAHT. This edition includes coverage of the announcement regarding the new hospital funding and a visit from the Prime Minister, together with a focus on the fantastic work showcased at Our Amazing People Awards and the packed programme at Event in a Tent. You can also find out more about the flu campaign – please keep yourselves and your patients safe by having your vaccination as soon as possible. There are plenty of opportunities around the organisation. The quality improvement work around the trust is in the spotlight, alongside our work to support your health and wellbeing at work. With the introduction of this magazine earlier in the year, there are now more opportunities than ever to share your news with colleagues across the organisation. If you would like to see your team featured, please let the communications team know via paht.communications@nhs.net. I hope you enjoy the read.
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Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
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Funding announced for new hospital, CT scanner and Prime Ministerial visit
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Nursing Times Awards finalists
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Event in a Tent
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International Men’s Day, International Stop Pressure Ulcers Day, and Emergency Department team success
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World Patient Safety Day
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Our Amazing People Awards
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Flu Fight in progress
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Putting quality first: Fab Change 2019
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#PAHTPeople
Best wishes Lance McCarthy Chief executive 61391 InTouch Autumn winter 2019_.indd 2
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Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Our patients and people gathered to mark the start of the festive season with the unveiling of a Christmas tree outside the Princess Alexandra Hospital on Monday, 2 December
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year As we move into the holiday period, some of you will be starting to head off on your Christmas and New Year breaks and we wish you the very best and a restful break. We would like to thank you all on behalf of our patients for your dedication and caring, and in particular, thank you to those of you who are continuing to work hard over the festive period to care for our patients.
Festive community and hospital Christmas carol service The annual Christmas Carol Service took place at St Paul’s Church on Tuesday 17 December. The evening brought our people and the local community together as we sang carols and listened to readings and prayers. The service was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone, followed by a glass of mulled wine and delicious mince pie.
Bringing Christmas cheer to our patients As we know, it can be a difficult time for those spending the Christmas period in hospital. So this year, to share the Christmas spirit and put a smile on our patient’s faces, our hospital chaplaincy team, our hospital choir, and local church members toured the wards singing festive songs.
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Funding announced for new hospital We are thrilled regarding the fantastic announcement that we are to receive funding to rebuild a new hospital in Harlow for our patients, community and people. The allocation for the trust will be part of phase one of the Government’s health infrastructure project, aimed at modernising NHS buildings and working with the latest technology. A new hospital and the use of technology aligns perfectly with the ten year plan for the trust - entitled PAHT 2030 - and will make a real difference to our patients and to everyone at PAHT. It also aligns with the NHS Long Term Plan. Lance McCarthy, chief executive
of the Princess Alexandra Hospital: I am absolutely delighted that funding to rebuild a new hospital in Harlow, for the patients and people we care for, has been announced.
continuous support we have received from the healthcare community, local councillors and MPs. Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow, has consistently advocated our cause for which we are very grateful.
This will make a real difference to our patients, clinicians and support teams who will benefit from a modern, purpose-built hospital with specialist equipment to meet their needs. We can now put into action our plans to speak with local people about their thoughts and suggestions on the new hospital to make sure that it meets their needs into the future. We greatly appreciate the
Funding for new state-of-the-art CT scanner We are also to receive funding from the Government for a new state-of-the-art CT scanner to support early diagnosis of cancer for our patients.
one that is 10 years old - and they are used to diagnose more than 40,000 patients every year. It is part of wider investment of £200million at 78 trusts across
the country to improve diagnosis of cancer and quality of care, announced by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock MP.
The CT scanner will be in place during 2020 and will enable the trust to identify cancer at the soonest opportunity, helping to save lives. Replacing and upgrading the machine will improve efficiency and quality, as new machines construct images quicker and give a better image quality. It is also anticipated that the new CT scanner will impact on quicker turnaround times for patients undergoing a scan and increase the flow of urgent care patients through the hospital. We have two CT scanners – with
The radiology team with the current CT scanner 4
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Nursing Times Awards finalists Caroline Ashton-Gough
The Butterfly Volunteers are a space to talk about what gives
a team of volunteers who offer a comforting presence, supporting the holistic care of patients as they near the end of their lives. It is a challenging role that requires a delicate, sensitive approach, for which PAHT provides specialist training. It is for this training programme, delivered in conjunction with a charity, The Anne Robson Trust, that we reached the finals of the Nursing Times Awards.
patients joy and purpose in their life.
Team supporting patients with chronic wounds
The team supporting patients with chronic wounds at PAHT have been commended for their work to improve patient outcomes.
This includes the tissue viability team (pictured, below), leg ulcer nurse specialist, and the podiatry and vascular nurse practitioners The nomination of the project by Shahid Sardar, associate director at PAHT. They were recognised Caroline Ashton-Gough, as part of the wider network of of patient engagement (pictured, dementia clinical nurse tissue viability nurses and wound on the right, with Nicki Harris, specialist here at The Princess Butterfly volunteers coordinator), care practitioners across the Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust Hertfordshire and West Essex was in recognition of the (PAHT), was a finalist for the enhanced patient dignity achieved Sustainability and Transformation Nurse of the Year category of the through the Butterfly Volunteers Partnership (STP). awards in recognition of her work programme for patients nearing making a difference for the elderly, the end of their lives, which The team reached the finals of people living with dementia, the Nursing Times Awards in the launched in 2017. vulnerable patients, their families ‘Innovation in Chronic Wound and carers. Management’ category following Together with The Anne Robson a programme of developments in Trust, the volunteers are trained While Caroline did not scoop the the way care is delivered across on topics such as what physical accolade at the awards ceremony changes to expect when a person the STP area. at the Grosvenor House Hotel in is dying, how to give space to London, reaching the finals is a patients and families to talk about fantastic achievement. how they are coping and creating Caroline has worked to build up a range of measures in the hospital care setting, and is also active in raising awareness among the public of issues affecting the elderly. Outside work, she’s working to attain a Doctorate in health research at the University of Hertfordshire, looking at the effect of delirium when superimposed on dementia, supporting carers, plus she also volunteers for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Tissue viability team Shahid Sardar and Nicki Harris 5
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Event in a Tent
Some of the speakers with our PAHT team
Three days in September 2019 were a memorable time of fun activities, shared experiences and opportunities for learning for our people at PAHT. The focus was well and truly on you, our wonderful staff. Event in a Tent brought together staff – from our main hospital and from all other PAHT sites, representing a wider array than ever of professions in healthcare, with 1,500 attendances over the event. The three days highlighted a wide range of health, wellbeing and staff support and benefits available for you. Whether it was the range of inspirational speakers, the health and wellbeing market place, or the
One emphasis of the event was how behaviours affect our mental and general wellbeing.
the hard work of staff, and the outstanding quality improvement work at PAHT. It’s an opportunity to learn how different departments can help support your quality improvement ideas.
Dr Chris Turner, leading founder of civility saves lives group joined us to explore the relationship between our behaviours towards each other and the quality of patient care we provide. Chris is passionate about the importance of civility in healthcare.
Keynote speakers, Chris Pointon, co-founder of the #HelloMyNameIs campaign, Roy Lilley and Terri Porrett, founders of the Academy of Fabulous Stuff, delivered powerful and inspiring talks relating to quality improvement.
To amplify our mental health support, our mental health first aiders were on hand with information, and there was a Schwartz Round discussion around your mental health matters – a chance to take a moment to listen to colleagues as they share their mental health journeys, and reflect on your own experiences.
Other sessions to boost staff health and wellbeing included stress less, menopause and mental and emotional needs. Staff were invited to pop into the health kiosk for a health check, to relax and unwind with a head massage, or try a Bounce fitness workout, among a range of tasters. You could talk to our dieticians and learn about support to stop smoking.
showcase of work, there was something for everyone to enjoy.
A popular aspect of Event in a Tent is the chance to showcase
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As part of the learning experience, you could also sample the challenges of daily activity after stroke through a simulator or special glasses.
Dr Chris Turner and staff at the civility saves lives workshop
The first day’s grand finale saw the return of our annual celebration of staff, Our Amazing People Awards, to recognise staff and volunteers who help make a difference every day, while the Long Service Awards on the second night celebrated our amazing people who have completed 25 years or more service at PAHT.
The improving quality cafĂŠ
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Marking International Men’s Day Did you know we have 793 male charity Samaritans. It's vitally staff working at PAHT? important that we encourage people, both men and women, to In November we commemorated have open conversations about International Men's Day, which topics such as mental wellness. was an opportunity worldwide to shine a spotlight on men who We hosted two informative are making a positive difference, sessions titled 'Head Strong' celebrate the positive value men to encourage open and honest bring to the world, and to raise discussions about mental awareness of issues that men wellness, and it was a chance to face on a global scale. gain useful advice about building resilience. In the UK, the highest suicide rate is among men aged 45-49, It's important to remember according to emotional support we have a number of support
channels available for you, including:
28 trained mental health first aiders (MHFA) - they provide initial assistance by listening, reassuring and responding - you can speak to a MFHA by contacting our staff health and wellbeing team on x 7015.
Our employee assistance programme - free support service that offers expert advice for staff and immediate family. You can read more on the Alex homepage.
International Stop Pressure Ulcers Day At least 20,000 patients are in UK hospitals at any one time with pressure ulcers a pressure ulcer is an area of damage to the skin and underlying tissue that is caused by unrelieved pressure or friction. Severe ulcers are susceptible to infection and may even be life-threatening. To continue the efforts to #StopThePressure and mark International Stop Pressure Ulcers Day our pressure heroes (tissue viability team) toured the wards to raise awareness of correct pressure ulcer care, with a quiz for our people to win a Christmas hamper – the winner was Sam Hancock on Ray Ward (pictured, centre).
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World Patient Safety Day September saw the first ever World Patient Safety Day (Tuesday 17 September), organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Our clinical teams were keen to support the event to highlight our efforts and achievements in improving patient safety. We are committed to keeping patients safe, day in, day out and the aim of the national day was to urge our people to demonstrate their commitment to making healthcare even safer. Through education, improved hygiene and raising awareness, the campaign aims to make patient care safer. There are many ways that our clinical teams are improving the safe care of their patients by working with partners to support service improvements. Sheila O’Sullivan, associate director of governance and quality, leading on the hospital’s
involvement in the event said:
healthcare professionals said:
We work continuously to improve the safety of our patients and we are pleased there is a national awareness day as it’s a fantastic opportunity to share the key improvements underway.
We were proud to support such an important campaign and message - speaking up for patient safety. It’s key for us to continue to share the learning to ensure we continue providing the highest quality care for our patients. A good example of our recent Another example of continuing work on improving patient safety to improve patient safety is the in the hospital is around falls recent introduction of pre-packed management. We are working to medical kits to provide instant reduce the number of falls that help for patients with diabetes if can result in significant harm to they experience hypoglycaemia, patients by introducing a falls otherwise known as a hypo, management clinic. when they are in hospital. A hypo is when a patient has a low The clinic aims to review patients blood sugar level; this can cause with an increased risk of falling, in serious complications for diabetic particular, patients aged 80 and patients. Our clinical teams have above, those admitted to hospital introduced an easily identifiable, with shortness of breath and those and brightly coloured orange who have been moved from ED or box in each clinical area with the between clinical areas. contents to treat a patient with low blood sugar levels to ensure Sharon McNally, director of their condition doesn’t rapidly nursing, midwifery and allied deteriorate.
Clinical teams across the hospital celebrated World Patient Safety Day
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Our Amazing People Awards and Long Service Awards Respectful Award winner Paul King, ward assistant
Caring Award winner Steve Walker, healthcare assistant
Responsible Award winner Jodie Smith, bed manager
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Our Amazing People Awards and Long Service Awards Committed Award winner Fran Humphries, urology service manager
Equality and Inclusion Award winners Dr Chandra Chandrasekaran, Dr Rony Cherian and Dr Geoff Raine, anaesthestists
Outstanding Learner Award winner Shally Biju, diabetes specialist nurse
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Our Amazing People Awards and Long Service Awards Outstanding Contribution to Learning Award winner Rebecca Parrott, outreach clinical librarian
Amazing Individual Award winner Julie Davies, Charnley ward coordinator
Amazing Team Award winner Radiology department
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Our Amazing People Awards and Long Service Awards Unsung hero Dorothy Hutton, ED domestic
Patient Panel Award winner Sarah Baker, clinical nurse manager for chemotherapy
Volunteer of the Year Award winner Vera Girling, volunteer support administrator
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Flu fight in progress – have you joined the ranks? Protect yourself, your patients and those around you as the winter days draw closer. Flu season is amongst us all year round, but flu is at its highest between December and February, so let our flu champions get to you first. We have reached 52.9% of front line staff vaccinated - so let's keep going and reach our target of 75% of front line staff vaccinated. If you have had your flu jab somewhere else, please let our staff health and wellbeing team know on x7015.
Pictured above: Stephanie Lawton, chief operating officer, receiving her flu jab from Sharon McNally, director of nursing, midwifery and Allied Health Professionals
Our flu champions will be touring the hospital with a number of flu clinics in ward areas and departments and inside the Alexandra restaurant, with details available on Alex.
If you have already had your flu vaccination at your GP, please let our staff health and wellbeing team know by contacting: tpa-tr.shaw@nhs.net.
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Putting quality first: Fab Change 2019 Antibiotics App enables more effective prescribing Have you tried the app that will make antibiotic prescribing more effective? Clinicians can download a MicroGuide App to enable them to have easy access to the PAHT antibiotic guidelines.
including phones, iPods and iPads under the apps at work icon - it is important to note that the antibiotic guidelines will remain on Alex. High quality care continued through the night
As part of the improving patient outcomes work, the hospital at night work stream are continuously striving towards The app was introduced by the standardising a structured and excellence every time (group consistent handover approach two) team as part of the ongoing for all specialties from day to improving patient outcomes night-time care. They have programme of work. The app All relevant tasks are now recently introduced an electronic will ensure appropriate antibiotic handover tool and hospital at night identified at the evening medical prescribing for patients, and handover at 9pm and are electronic software. should result in a reduction in entered into the system and antibiotics, which is a key area of the hand held devices in order The hospital at night software focus for the trust. of importance, this forms the within Nerve Centre is for multiclinical teams’ paperless ‘night The app is available on Apple and disciplinary team use to ensure list’ of tasks - each member of the safe and effective clinical care is android devices; you can search and download 'MicroGuide' on the delivered to patients out of hours multidisciplinary team can view the outstanding clinical tasks that Apple and Google Play App store. – without a formal agenda, the have been assigned to them. handover process was variable. In the absence of a set system, The app is now automatically doctors were previously receiving available on all PAHT devices, approximately 70 bleeps a shift. This meant that often they could be dealing with one patient, when they were called by a nurse for support in another part of the hospital. This could happen several times a shift. The project team have seen this piece of technology as a key to solving this issue and revolutionising the existing handover process.
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#PAHTPeople
NICU success Our neonatal unit has been earning praise all round, having achieved an NHS first. On average about 30 babies are cared for on the unit in a month. These babies need personalised, specialist care which benefits from special training. With funds raised by grateful families, it was able to access training from the BLISS baby charity for all 45 staff members – the first UK trust to do so. This led to the unit’s big success – coming runner up in the Team of the Year category of the Bliss Neonatal Excellence Awards. It is one of only three units in the UK shortlisted out of 350 nominations – a resounding achievement.
Boost for sepsis awareness Our dedicated team determined to reduce the incidence of sepsis have been working tirelessly and have had great outcomes. Their application for a grant reaped a fantastic award of £10,000 to fund procalcitonin testing of patients with suspected sepsis. The team has supported training through actions such as the acute kidney injury (AKI) trolley and continuously strive to raise awareness of sepsis. Helen Pardoe, associate medical director quality improvement and consultant colorectal surgeon has been committed to raising extra awareness and funds – and undertook the 10mile Great Southern Run together with her daughter Ruth Keeler.
Local store support of discharge team The work of our dedicated team who help patients get ready to go home has been generously supported by our local Asda store, and the team were thrilled when staff from the Harlow supermarket handed our nurses and support staff a cheque for £1,000. The retail outlet had previously made a gift of clothes, to assist when vulnerable patients or those with limited means are discharged from hospital. Produced by the communications team 61391 InTouch Autumn winter 2019_.indd 16
Singing for memories Music therapy plays a crucial role in the care of many people with dementia, helping minimise apathy, anxiety, restlessness and depression and it can support people at all stages of dementia. Our dementia champions, led by Caroline Ashton-Gough and David Page (pictured), have put music therapy into action. Every Friday they hold stimulating singing sessions, which help to bring our patients and their carers together in a relaxed and friendly environment.
Recognition of the children’s service Our children’s service has been celebrating its fantastic success with recognition in the CQC report in August of the outstanding care staff provide: its rating improved to good all round, with outstanding for caring. The service often reaps praise, reflected by donations from grateful families. Dolphin Ward also received a cheque for £3,875 presented by the Chair of Harlow Council, Maggie Hulcoop, who chose the ward as a charity for her year in office. 16 16/12/2019 16:55