February - March 2021
InTouch New hospital: your views make a difference Our COVID vaccination programme – thank you Lateral flow testing Our charity update
Please note that these are architects’ concepts
respectful caring responsible committed 1
Foreword Contents 2
Welcome to In Touch magazine
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New hospital: your views make a difference
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COVID-19 vaccination programme
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Lateral flow testing
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Capital estates project update
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New liver care service Cancer, cardiology and clinical support services (CCCS) update
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New patient information leaflet process
10 New patient information
screens
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Our charity updates
13 Our patients said… 15 Duty of candour 16 #PAHTPeople
Hello Welcome to In Touch magazine – your insight into the latest news and updates from across PAHT. In this edition, you can read about the success of our COVID-19 vaccination programme, with feedback and words of thanks for your support. There is also an opportunity to hear the latest about lateral flow testing – please remember that if you are participating, you have a responsibility to report the results. We focus on the exciting programme of capital works underway to improve our buildings ahead of moving to the new hospital, and we have a healthcare group update, this month from cancer, cardiology and clinical support services (CCCS). Please take the time to find out more about our revised patient information leaflet process and our new digital screens – two important developments for all to be aware of. Our charity has launched a new COVID appeal, with more information on p.11. Please support us in any way you can and share with your friends and family too. Additionally, this magazine features the latest update on the programme to build a new hospital that is fit for the future. If you would like to share your news with colleagues and to see your team featured in In Touch magazine, please let the communications team know via paht.communications@nhs. net. I hope you enjoy the read. Best wishes Lance McCarthy Chief executive 2
Your views make a difference It has been a busy start to the year, with a number of communications and engagement activities launched. Designs for the new hospital continue to develop and we’ve held staff and public virtual briefings to capture your thoughts on the design of the new hospital welcome space. These events have marked the start of the rollout of our engagement plan and we have been overwhelmed with the positive response they have received so far. We have more exciting engagement opportunities to come, and we look forward to you continuing to join in and have your say. Public events First impressions count, and our inaugural new hospital public events focused on the welcome experience in the new hospital. Our architects shared some of the concepts for how the spaces might look and feel, what amenities might be available and how technology could be used.
There were also some great suggestions of other things you’d like to see in the space to welcome you in.
Technology and digital Sustainability and environment
We want to give you plenty of Your views are already influencing opportunities to have your say on how the design team are planning what matters most. this important space. Thank you. How can you help? Tell us what you want! What do What’s up next? you want to know next? Do virtual Keep your eyes peeled for more events work for you? How can we new hospital engagement over reach more people and make our the coming months. We will be The events attracted a huge engagement more inclusive? holding more public events, In amount of interest and even a slot Touch briefings, focus groups and on the BBC Look East lunchtime We also want our patients, visitors running more surveys and polls. news. Thank you to everyone who and community to be closely helped us spread the word. involved and are committed We will be focusing our to reaching as many people engagement on specific themes What we heard as possible. Do you have a including: Your ideas really do matter to connection to a community group us, overleaf you can see some Patient journey and models who would like to get involved? of what we heard as being most of care important to you about the design, Transport, travel and You can share your feedback with finding your way and technology. us anytime via parking paht.newhospital@nhs.net. 3
Really great ideas and like the fact you are involving us.
It is clear the new
Very impressed with all of the ideas.
Very professional and informative!
hospital team has done much work, the results of which are beginning to look rather impressive
Exciting times, looks amazing.
Better than Grand Designs last night. 4
COVID-19 vaccination programme Thank you to everyone who has supported with the COVID-19 vaccination programme at our hospital. We began vaccinating on Wednesday, 6 January, and concluded our first doses of the Pfizer vaccine on Tuesday, 2 February.
through and it was so heartening to see them all living the Trust values in everything they did. There was so much energy in the hub, as though the whole team knew they were part of the solution and making a huge difference.
There was such a range of staff in the process, including Lindsay Hanmore, associate those who supported the booking director of nursing – Quality First, in process, the vaccinators, the said: recovery and booking out staff and the continuous pharmacy It was an absolute pleasure support to ensure no vaccines and joy to be part of the Trust’s were wasted. We also were able vaccination programme. I met to accommodate a large number so many amazing people who of patients through our doctorhelped to ensure the process ran led clinic twice a week to ensure smoothly, efficiently and safely for their safety. Anyone we contacted our staff and also local health and for support came willingly and social care staff. Every member quickly, including estates to of the team was completely ensure the environment was at committed to supporting everyone the correct temperature for the
vaccine, facilities to make sure the environment was clean and well equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE), switchboard to help us direct enquiries, security to direct visitors to the hub and the resuscitation team to ensure we had everything in place to promote safety at all times. A huge thank you to everyone for your support. If you have not received your COVID-19 vaccination at The Princess Alexandra Hospital vaccination hub, you will now be referred to the vaccination centres in the community (e.g. Harlow Leisurezone) for your first dose of the Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine. To book your slot, please follow the link to the booking portal, which is shared in the regular COVID-19 briefings. Once you have had your vaccination in the community, please email paht.shawcovid19@nhs.net and let the team know when you received your vaccination. You can also contact the staff health and wellbeing team (SHaW) if you have further queries.
Feedback about the vaccination from our health and social care colleagues: An amazing service and having been through alongside several of my staff, I cannot compliment you all enough for your efficiency and kind, caring, professional approach. 5
Lateral flow testing We are carrying out asymptomatic staff selftesting for COVID-19 as part of a national programme. The test has been successfully used to identify COVID-19 infections and helps to support the safety of you and your colleagues, as well as our patients. Thank you to all who are involved in the lateral flow testing scheme for our staff. Please be reminded that if you are participating, you have a responsibility to report the results. Please ensure that you use the testing kits appropriately - you can read full guidance on the COVID-19 self-testing page on Alex, accessible from the front page. You can also watch the recent InTouch briefing on lateral flow testing on our YouTube playlist.
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Capital estates project update Williams Day Unit rebuild Colposcopy upgrade Endoscopy - third room created Alex Lounge – staff health and wellbeing space New CT scanner build Pre-assessment upgrade ED - frailty assessment The capital programme consists of build three elements, including: Alex training and education centre Emergency backlog and Labour Ward upgrade critical infrastructure Chamberlen patient toilets maintenance schemes and showers installation Capacity schemes Kalmar House refresh Development projects New laundry facility Green Zone - electric You will have seen a number vehicle points/bicycle of fantastic projects completed changing rooms recently, including two as a result of your feedback in the Staff Michael Meredith, director of Survey: strategy and estates, said: The Alex Study – a modern We are extremely proud of the and quiet office recent capital works projects and environment for our look forward to making a number consultants and doctors Multi-faith facility – the of improvements to the facilities across the hospital over the next creation of a new facility that provides a safe, year. secure and appropriate space for our people, The improvements will support patients and visitors to the health and wellbeing of both express their spirituality our fantastic PAHT people and experience for our patients and The Adult Assessment Unit (AAU) visitors. and Fracture Clinic have recently opened (as our vaccination hub) A big thank you to all of those and the Dolphin Ward upgrade involved during an extremely works are now complete. The challenging year. new and modern facilities help to support the health and wellbeing There will be regular updates of our patients and enhance the regarding the estates capital patient flow across the hospital. programme in the InTouch weekly The capital estates team are also newsletter. working on a number of other capital projects including: This year, the extensive estates capital programme includes just under £25m worth of investment to improve our hospital and the estate.
Multi-faith space
The Adult Assessment Unit
Mortuary department upgrade 7
New liver care service The new liver service aims to identify patients with known liver disease, and those at risk of developing liver disease, as early as possible and to provide a treatment that is tailored to their needs.
To refer patients to the service: Email: paht.liverpaht@nhs.net For urgent liver advice: Call the on-call medical/ gastroenterology team
Meet the team The service is run by Dr Ghosh (consultant gastroenterologist) and Teesha Joshy (liver CNS). Which patients should you refer? The service manager is Leanne Inpatients with liver Summersell and the IBD/ Liver co cirrhosis ordinator is Stephanie Thorpe. Patients with compensated For alcohol related liver disease liver disease advice, please contact ALNS on Patients with grossly 01279 425989. abnormal LFTs Patients with new jaundice Pictured above: Dr Ghosh, You can access the team's Pregnant women with liver consultant gastroenterologist information poster here. problems and Teesha Joshy, liver CNS.
Cancer, cardiology and clinical support services (CCCS) update
The healthcare group (HCG) has seen some recent changes to the leadership team. In November we said a fond farewell to Jo Ward, associate director of nursing and therapies (ADoN&T) as she joined medicine as associate director of nursing (ADoN), following the departure of June Barnard. In December, we welcomed Toni Wright as interim ADoN&T and saw the successful appointment of Katie Silk as head of therapies
and Jane Hosty as interim head of nursing. These changes were completed in January when we said a fond farewell to Darren Hobbs, director of operations, as he too has joined the team in medicine. We look forward to welcoming Barbara Brafman-Price as interim associate director of operations, who joins the team this month. Congratulations and a warm welcome to all.
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New patient information leaflet process Please be aware that we have a new process for the review and approval of patient information leaflets (from January 2021). The patient information group has been established, featuring members of the Patient Panel and the communications team. The group review patient information leaflets each month – please ensure that you take the time to read through and follow the steps below. Please submit the leaflets at least three months prior to their review date, in order for the process below to be completed in time for when you require them. What you need to do Before sending your patient information leaflet to the communications team, please ensure that you have: 1. Used the correct branded template and followed the structure of this template – You can find the correct templates on the patient information leaflet Alex page. Please remember:
To use Arial font, size 12 Headings should be in NHS Blue (RGB: 0/94/184). You should use sentence case throughout (including headings). You should use bold, NHS Blue for emphasis (not the underline, highlighting tool etc.). 2. Used plain English. 3. Checked that you have clearly explained all medical terms that patients may not understand and detailed
the risks and benefits of the procedure. 4. Sent your document out to your colleagues for extensive peer review. The process 1. Once you have followed the above steps, please email your patient information leaflet to paht. communications@nhs.net. 2. The communications team will review the content and make any initial amendments required from their perspective e.g. spelling/ grammar/plain English. The communications team will then return the leaflet to you with this feedback.
send the leaflet to your Healthcare Group’s patient safety and quality team (contact details are on Alex). 4. Your Healthcare Group’s patient safety and quality team will then refer this leaflet to their next patient safety and quality meeting, if they do not have any initial requested amendments. Alternatively, they will provide you with feedback for you to address before the leaflet is referred to this meeting. 5. If your leaflet is approved by your Healthcare Group’s patient safety and quality team, they will refer the leaflet to the communications team, for review at the next patient information group meeting. Alternatively, they will provide you with feedback for you to address before the leaflet is referred to this meeting.
3. You must then complete the standard appendix pages, including the meeting cover sheet (you can download this on the patient information page from the communications hub on Alex) and 6. The patient information group
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(featuring members of the Patient Panel and communications team) will review your leaflet. If approved, you will be notified, together with your Healthcare Group’s patient safety and quality team. The leaflet will then be sent to the graphic designer for finalising on the template. If the patient information group have queries or feedback on your leaflet, you will be notified and asked to address this and return it to the communications team.
send the final version to the Healthcare Group’s patient safety and quality team, with the author copied in. The Healthcare Group’s patient safety and quality team will update the meeting cover sheet to reflect the patient information group’s approval.
team and the communications team will be notified. 9. Please print the leaflets in colour (where possible) within your department, using a trust printer, before distributing to patients.
10. The leaflet will be publicised 8. The Healthcare Group’s patient in the next issue of the InTouch safety and quality team will submit Weekly newsletter. the leaflet to the Trust Policy Group. The leaflet will be noted You can access templates and the compliance and clinical and read full information effectiveness team will add the on the patient information leaflet to the POLICYAssure 7. The graphic designer will leaflet page on the finalise the leaflet on the template. system. You, your Healthcare communications hub on The graphic designer will then Group’s patient safety and quality Alex
Digital messaging screens update We have recently installed new software onto our digital messaging screens that allows us to produce our own high quality, effective messages for our patients, people and visitors. The screens can also be tailored to each department. If you would like to add a message onto the screen, please email paht. communications@nhs.net A huge thank you to our IT team and procurement team for their support with this project.
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Our charity updates COVID appeal
We have recently relaunched our COVID appeal in response to the requests and kind offers of support from local people. The community can donate via a dedicated JustGiving page, www.justgiving.com/campaign/ pahtpeople. Lovely messages have been left from grateful members of the community, including: To the wonderful kind staff @ PAH – you all do an amazing job. Stay safe everyone!” Very grateful to all the wonderful staff at PAH, thank you for your dedication and hard work for our community. It is very much appreciated. All donations to the campaign will be used to support PAHT People. Last year, the charity funded complimentary refreshments in the Project Wingman lounge, as well as free breakfasts for our staff – you can read more about this below
Thank you - free breakfast
All staff had the opportunity to enjoy a free breakfast earlier this month as a small gesture of thanks for your continued hard work and dedication.
At The Princess Alexandra Hospital, staff enjoyed a free breakfast on a day of their choice at the Alexandra restaurant. Staff also enjoyed a free hot beverage, such as tea or coffee, over the week from 1 February – 7 February.
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Staff at St Margaret’s Hospital and Herts and Essex Hospital also enjoyed a free breakfast roll and hot beverage at these sites. Additionally, staff received tasty treats as part of a hamper where more suitable (e.g. Kao Park). The breakfasts were kindly funded by our charity.
Run the virtual London Marathon for PAHT
Take on the iconic London Marathon your way! In this exciting virtual event, you’ll have from 00:00:00 to 23:59:59 on Sunday, 3 October to run or walk 26.2 miles in your local area. Track your route using the Virtual London Marathon App and receive an official finisher’s medal and T-shirt. The 2020 Virtual London Marathon broke a world record for the most people to complete a remote marathon in 24 hours and this year the London Marathon are aiming even higher, so you could also be part of a Guinness World Record.
monitors are important to reduce Marc is raising money for the the requirement for blood samples NICU. He said: to be taken from babies when measuring jaundice levels. Family friends, Neil and Laura Rowe, gave birth to the beautiful Blood testing requires a baby Ralph 10.5 weeks early and for to have a heel prick, which is eight weeks the NICU gave Ralph a painful stimuli and can have the great care and aftercare The Princess Alexandra Hospitals’ a long-term impact on babies’ needed. neurological development. The Charity has secured ten charity jaundice bilimeter measures the places for this event, and you On Sunday 24 January, Neil reading through the skin and does and Laura gave birth to another can raise money for a ward or not require the need for painful department of your choice. The beautiful boy, Sam, 6.5 weeks non-refundable, non-transferable stimuli. This has helped us to early and he too is receiving registration fee is £20 and we ask provide a better quality of care great care from the unit. This is and experience for babies. that people taking part pledge to definitely the hardest challenge I raise £150. To secure one of our have set myself, but hopefully with charity places in this virtual event, 406 miles for NICU your support I can achieve it and I please email: Marc Petters (pictured above) has promise I will give it my all. paht.fundraising@nhs.net. set himself quite a challenge for February! He is aiming to run one To keep up to date with Marc’s extra mile every day for the 28 What the charity funds challenge, you can view his days in February. This means that Virgin Money Giving page: Recently, donations to the on 1 February, Marc ran a mile, on https://uk.virginmoneygiving. charity funded a jaundice 2 February he ran two miles, but monitor (bilimeter) for the com/MarcPetters. by 28 February, he will be running Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. 28 miles, which is longer than the Recommendations from The London Marathon! This totals an National Institute for Health incredible 406 miles. and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines show that these 12
Our patients said… I would just like to say thank you to all the staff at PAHT on behalf of our family. Our loved one lost her battle against the COVID-19 virus, but we know that everybody involved simply could not do anything more for her.
Everyone was polite, informative and friendly, but in particular I wanted to say a special mention to the receptionist. She had phoned my mum earlier in the week and was very patient and kind to her when explaining about the need to visit the unit. I observed her talking to a number of the patients and their carers in this way and just was so impressed by her role modelling of kind and courteous behaviour.
PAHT has a brilliant physiotherapy department. The staff, in particular Marleen, have been super, friendly, caring, reassuring and professional in all aspects of my recovery. In these difficult times where video conferencing has been prominent, I have been contacted regularly on time throughout and with paper support via post, thank you.
I just wanted to say a very big thank you to Chloe King (radiographer) and Rosalind Kettle (physiotherapist, Virgin Care) for making my daughter’s X-rays so easy. We were so concerned that it would be difficult, but Rosalind had spoken to Chloe beforehand and prepared her, emailed me to walk me through the process. Then Chloe called me to give me all the information. On the day it was so fast and really easy. A big thank you to them both for going above and beyond.
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I was brought into A&E, I was operated on and am now home. I just wanted to thank a number of staff who seemed to go above and beyond their duties: Daniel in the section you go into after A&E - he realised something was wrong and was quick to act to support me, was kind and caring even though he was just so busy - thank you. Gambo Ward - all the nurses I met there were just fabulous, but Sandra was just that extra bit lovely, caring and attentive. Obviously Mr Ghazi who completed my operation, saw me every day afterwards, fully explained everything and was incredibly supportive. I then went onto John Snow ward - all the staff were amazing from the lovely tea lady, the cleaners and all of the nurses. In particular I wanted to thank Billy (on nights) Sarah, Georgia and Pria for their patience, kindness and just general approach to everything, nothing was ever too much trouble for them and they would chat, support and care throughout their shift. Good luck Georgia with your training - you will make an amazing nurse.
I just wanted to say that I have been in and out of the hospital recently for various reasons. In general I was impressed by the duty of care and the rapid response to many issues presented. I wanted to specifically praise Nicola from the Surgical Assessment Unit. I was very anxious about a procedure and the different things it entailed; she was very reassuring and kind, taking the time to manage me and deal with me directly. She demonstrated outstanding duty of care. I am very grateful for her hospitality and patience. 14
CQC: Duty of candour The requirement to undertake duty of candour came from The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014: Regulation 20. Duty of candour is an open and transparent conversation with people who use services in general and in relation to care and treatment. This is a contractual, legal and professional obligation of Trusts and their staff. The principles of the Duty of Candour Regulation (20) set out specific requirements that include informing people about an incident, providing reasonable support, providing truthful information and an apology. The principles are to help and support openly and fairly, without blame or recriminations. This has been developed following the Frances Report (February 2013) after the Mid Staffordshire enquiry. This means we must demonstrate that our care includes:
with staff, patients, the public and regulators. Candour: Any patient harmed by the provision of a healthcare service is informed of the fact and an appropriate remedy offered, regardless of whether a complaint has been made or a question asked about it.
has occurred. II. Provide an account, which to the best of the health service body’s knowledge is true, of all the facts the registered person knows about the incident at the time of the notification. III. Include an apology which expresses sorrow or regret in respect of the incident.
IV. Identify what further enquiries into the incident will be Duty of candour means we are undertaken; respond to questions being open with patients and openly and truthfully. Agree the service users following an incident process for keeping the patient or and doing this promptly, fully, carer updated on a regular basis. honestly and compassionately. If the person does not wish to This process requires that we give communicate, their wishes must an apology to patients and their be respected and a record kept. carers when things go wrong, in an honest manner. V. Document all information The expectations of staff to patients and carers when a patient safety incident leads to a moderate, severe harm or death incident is that we acknowledge a mistake, apologise, explain what happened and identify learning so that it does not happen again.
Once an incident is identified and reported, prompt clinical care is initiated to prevent further harm. Upon assessment of the severity Openness: Enabling of harm, if confirmed as being concerns and complaints moderate or above, a lead for duty of candour will be identified. There to be raised freely without fear and for are five stages to duty of candour questions to be answered. and these are: Transparency: Allowing information regarding the I. Initiate a being open process, truth about performance by notifying the relevant patient and outcomes to be shared or carer in person that an incident
and conversations in the formal records. Share the findings of the investigation with the patient or their representative, including all learning and actions being taken. Staff may be concerned that by giving an apology, it means that they or the Trust is admitting liability. This is incorrect and an apology is not an admission of liability.
The executive lead for being The executive lead for being open is Dr Fay Gilder, medical open is Fay Gilder, medical director, supported by Sharon director, supported by Sharon McNally, director of nursing, McNally, director of nursing, midwifery and allied health midwifery andGilder, allied health Dr Fay professionals. Our professionals. Our nonnon-executive director for being executive director for being open is Helen Glenister. open is Helen Glenister. Background information: The CQC made their first prosecution for a breach of the duty of candour regulations in October 2020 for a Trust where there was a failure to disclose a failed clinical procedure (endoscopy in this case) and did not offer the patient an apology. The trust was fined £12,565. 15
#PAHTPeople
Your photos - for our communications photo library
We are now on Instagram - please follow us @ princessalexandranhs to find out the latest updates and news about PAHT. Please spread the word to your colleagues, family and friends.
Please send your photos of yourself or your colleagues (at a safe, social distance) in your face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) to us. You could see your photo used in our variety of communications, from our newsletter and magazine to our website and on social media. We would like photos of both clinical and support services colleagues. We want to show the breadth of the organisation, from porters and domestics, to healthcare assistants, nurses, doctors, therapies staff, corporate colleagues and more. Please email paht.communications@nhs.net with your photos – thank you.
Heart failure specialist nurse receives national award Ron Leslie, a heart failure specialist nurse in the cardiology department, has won a national award from heart failure charity, The Pumping Marvellous Foundation. Ron was nominated by patients to receive a 'You're Simply Marvellous' award. Ron was presented with the award this month by Sharon McNally, director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals.
Produced by the communications team
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