January - February 2021
InTouch
New hospital update COVID-19 vaccination now available New facility to support the health and wellbeing of patients opens Director of infection prevention and control awarded MBE
respectful caring responsible committed 1
Foreword Contents 2
Welcome to In Touch magazine
3
New hospital update: More ways to have your say in your new hospital
5
COVID-19 vaccination available at PAHT
Hello
6
COVID-19 vaccination – your feedback
Welcome to In Touch magazine – your insight into the latest news and updates from across PAHT.
7
New facility to support the health and wellbeing of patients opens
In this edition, you can read about our COVID-19 vaccination programme, with the Pfizer vaccine now available for all PAHT colleagues.
8
Remembering our friend and colleague, Barclay Mason
There is also an opportunity to find out more about the new facility to support the health and wellbeing of our patients – The Adult Assessment Unit (AAU).
9
Director of infection prevention and control awarded MBE
11
Volunteer recognised with British Empire Medal in New Year’s Honours list
We congratulate our colleagues on a host of awards, including Dr Shico Visuvanathan, who has been awarded an MBE; volunteer Joanne Busson, who was recognised with a British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours list; and Ron Leslie, heart failure specialist nurse, who has won a national accolade.
12 Heart failure specialist
nurse wins national award
13 Our patients said… 15 CQC: Patient experience
and engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic
16 #PAHTPeople
It is also a time for reflection, as we remember our friend and colleague, Barclay Mason, a long-standing member of the emergency department (ED) team who passed away last month. 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
More ways to have your say in your new hospital Over the coming months our architects will be working on bringing the vision for the new hospital to life. By continuing to share your ideas and feedback we can create a hospital for many generations to come. What we’ve been up to Clinical and operational teams have been working closely with the architects since August 2020 and 123 workshops have taken place so far. Focusing on making sure our clinical adjacencies and the flows throughout the building are right for our patients, you and our visitors. These workshops have been putting our patients at the heart of all we do. Making sure they will have a seamless journey through the new hospital. As we move forwards in our design journey we are beginning to look more closely at the public spaces. Lance McCarthy, chief executive of The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust said: I’m delighted with the huge progress we’ve made in planning our new hospital, but we now need our people, our patients and our community to tell us how our public-facing areas and facilities in the new hospital can work better. Please come along to one of our meetings and have your say. You will be playing a really important part in helping us build a hospital for the future, together.
First impressions count The welcome area is the first place you and our patients and visitors will experience when entering the hospital. First impressions really do count. We want the building to create a calming and welcoming atmosphere from the moment you walk through the door.
functionality of our reception and welcome spaces. You can hear from our architects and share your feedback thoughts and ideas directly to them in an exciting and interactive session. Join us for our next virtual public meeting on Thursday, 4 February, 6.30-8pm.
To make sure we get this right we would like to invite you, your family and friends, as well as patients and local residents to help us shape the design and
3
At this event, you will be able to hear more about our vision for the new hospital and see some of the early design concepts for the welcome and reception area. Including how the space will look and feel as well as how innovative technologies can be used to improve the experience of our patients.
of the welcome centre. It might be something which would really make a difference to you or one which would improve the hospital experience for your patients.
Take part in our online survey We have also launched an online survey that asks some short questions about your expectations of that welcome experience, If you are not able to attend, you so that our design team can can also access a recording of understand what matters most the InTouch briefing with our to you. Please complete the architects, held on 20 January, survey but clicking on the link via our YouTube playlist. This was on our microsite or social media an extra opportunity just for you channels. to share your ideas on the design
Your questions, answered Finally (for now!) we have also published a list of frequently asked questions on our microsite. If you have any questions that you would like answered, please email us at: paht.newhospital@nhs.net. Have your say! Whatever your ideas are, don’t hesitate to share them with us – get involved and have your say!
For more information and instructions for how to register to attend please visit our microsite www.pah.nhs.uk/newhospital or e-mail us at: paht.newhospital@nhs.net. 4
COVID-19 vaccination available at PAHT The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is now available for all PAHT colleagues. You are encouraged, for those who can, to take the opportunity to be vaccinated and protect yourself, your loved ones and our patients. All people who work at PAHT (on all sites) will be able to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine here, on the main site at PAH. It is available to everyone, regardless of role, via a booking system. Please book an appropriate appointment for yourself as soon as possible, as we want to ensure the maximisation of all available slots to ensure we do not waste any of the vaccine.
It is important that you provide your NHS number, either when you complete your online consent form, or when you attend for your appointment. This is particularly important for staff who are not formally employed by the Trust, i.e. contractors, as it is not possible to carry out a search if they are not on our systems.Â
We will be running doctor led clinics on certain days for staff who carry Epipens.
Please contact Michael Snares at: michael.snares@nhs.net with your details so you can be allocated one of these slots.
Priority will be given to: colleagues who are clinically extremely vulnerable colleagues working in high risk areas, including the emergency department, critical care, and the COVID-19 wards Other patient facing colleagues All vaccines will be administered in the new Fracture Clinic at The Princess Alexandra Hospital, lower ground floor (A31), between the restaurant and maternity - there will be clear signage and social distancing will be maintained.
Everyone should have now received an email from noreply@ microcaretechnologies.co.uk with a link to complete the online consent form and book your appointment for your first and second dose. It is essential before you book
your first appointment that you take note of the exclusion criteria detailed in the email you will receive with the consent form. If you would like any further advice, please contact the staff health and wellbeing team via paht.shawcovid19@nhs.net.
5
Vaccination infographic Data as of 15.01.21
COVID-19 vaccination at PAHT – your feedback Sharon, midwife, said:
enabling us all to be vaccinated. The organisation and efficiency was exemplary.
We are all so thrilled to have Thank you so much for helping been able to have been given the me out today. I am so pleased to vaccine. have had my first vaccine. I also wanted to say how well Sylvia, ward clerk, said: organised and helpful the vaccination team were today. I I have just returned to the was very impressed. department, having had my first COVID-19 vaccination, and would Gill, clinical lead, said: like to thank everyone involved in setting up and implementing this I would like to thank you for mammoth task.
I felt welcome and confident, in something that we have all had to give careful consideration to. Everything was fully explained, and extremely well run. I just wanted to express my gratitude.
6
New facility to support the health and wellbeing of patients opens
It will be brought into use as a dedicated space to see patients for rapid assessment and treatment for a variety of illnesses and injuries when COVID-19 demand decreases across the hospital. The Adult Assessment Unit (AAU) team will then use the The new Adult Assessment Unit, facility to help patients to avoid which opened on Saturday, 16 unnecessary admission to hospital January, is a two-storey extension and ensure a shorter stay for adjacent to the Emergency those who are admitted. Department at the front of the hospital and next to Charnley This will improve the facilities Ward. available for our patients ahead of the completion of the new During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital. the facility will initially be used as a non-COVID inpatient ward. Stephanie Lawton, chief operating officer, said: A new facility to support the health and wellbeing of patients has now opened at The Princess Alexandra Hospital.
We are dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of our patients and enhancing patient flow through the hospital. Opening the Adult Assessment Unit is a fantastic milestone in our ongoing work to continually improve patient experience. Initially, the space will provide an additional facility for us to care for patients who do not have COVID-19, releasing capacity across other areas of the hospital. Thank you to all of the teams who have been involved in this extremely important project. 7
Remembering our friend and colleague, Barclay Mason Colleagues have paid tribute to friend and colleague, Barclay Mason. Barclay was a long-standing member of the emergency department (ED) team. Originally from New Zealand, he was a senior charge nurse, who joined PAHT over 20 years ago. His loss is felt by the ED team and colleagues from across PAHT, including many from the hospital at night team that he worked closely with in the early years and from the East of England Ambulance Service. Barclay tested positive for COVID-19 and was cared for by the ICU and Harold Ward teams. He died at his home last month (December). Barclay's funeral was held in the morning of Tuesday, 12 January, at Parndon Wood Crematorium.
the sanctuary room, during which they paid tribute to him. Candles were lit in his memory, people wrote messages in a special memory book, and all listened to a Maori blessing, shared with us by Barclay's family: Scattered by the wind Cleansed by the rain Uplifted by the sun All doubts are Lifted away All restraints are cast off Fly free, o spirit Fly to the realms of the heavens Uplifted by the sun All doubts are Lifted away All restraints are cast off.
Due to social distancing measures, the service was held in private. Barclay's funeral procession passed through the hospital on the day, starting at the main entrance off of 4th Avenue so that all could pay their respects. The sanctuary room was also made available at this time for quiet reflection, with social distancing observed at all times. Barclay was then flown home to New Zealand for a burial in his hometown of Christchurch. On 30 December, a group of Barclay's colleagues attended a socially distanced ceremony at
Barclay is remembered for his love of the countryside and travelling the UK in his camper van. Anyone wishing to make a donation to chosen charity, The National Trust, in his memory, can do so via Daniel Robinson funeral directors. Please be reminded that there is a range of support available, with details on the staff health and wellbeing page of Alex.
8
Director of infection prevention and control awarded MBE such a surprise, at the end of a difficult year. It is a reflection of the wonderful infection prevention and control team (IPC team) and microbiology team I work with, and the hard work put in by clinical colleagues and Trust senior management alike during this pandemic. I would like to thank my colleagues who have helped develop and accomplish difficult and complex infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies in our hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the IPC team led by Jenny Kirsh, our dedicated and excellent head of IPC, who spent many long evenings and weekends working on IPC plans with me. Also, all of my amazing colleagues on the PAHT IPC Cell, supported by a team of highly skilled microbiology laboratory biomedical scientists.
Congratulations to Dr Shico Visuvanathan We are delighted to announce that Dr Shico Visuvanathan, consultant microbiologist and director of infection prevention and control, has been awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours list.
during the COVID-19 response. The New Year Honours list recognises the achievements of a wide range of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom. This demonstrates the incredible efforts of hundreds of public sector and community workers throughout 2020 and beyond.
Dr Visuvanathan said: Dr Visuvanathan has been recognised for services to I am humbled and very proud microbiology, and infection prevention and control, particularly to be awarded an MBE. It was
I have been consultant microbiologist at the Trust since 1994 and laboratory manager Deborah Orriss has led an excellent microbiology laboratory service throughout this time. Our laboratory team, especially Nick Levene, Cherie Beckett, Louise Lopez, and Sabiha Alom, have supported a seven day COVID-19 testing service. The Trust executive team including our director of nursing Sharon McNally, deputy director of nursing Sarah Webb and chief executive Lance McCarthy, have helped me from the start of the pandemic, through the IPC Cell, to implement best practice IPC guidance to help our patients 9
and staff. All clinical colleagues throughout the hospital have helped our patients and done their best for each other. They have done outstanding work despite such difficult circumstances with a pandemic virus in our midst. Colleagues on the IPC Cell, especially consultant respiratory physician Dr Ugo Ekeowa, and associate director of nursing (ADON) Joanne Ward provided invaluable advice to me to help embed IPC guidance in day to day clinical work. Associate medical director Dr Bob Ghosh, ADONs June Barnard (recently moved to Scotland) and Pam Humphrey, and chief operating officer Steph Lawton provided clinical and operational support throughout. I have been privileged in my role as the director of infection prevention and control for the last 17 years to have worked with a wide range of multi-disciplinary staff of all grades and specialities, and each of them holds a special place in my heart. Looking after and protecting our Trust staff to the best of my ability has been something very important to me during the COVID-19 pandemic. I had unfailing support from director of quality improvement Jim McLeish to do this throughout these pandemic months and still ongoing with the vaccine programme unfolding this week, supported by staff health and wellbeing manager Kathryn Court, and human resources colleagues, especially Ellie Manlove.
pathologist Dr Shanthi Thomas (now retired), previous CEO at the Trust Mr John Gilham, and consultant orthopaedic surgeon Mr Charles Aldam. Numerous Trust clinicians and managers have helped in different ways to build a successful department in microbiology and IPC at our Trust. Together we have overcome difficult challenges over the years including MRSA, Clostridium difficile, and E.coli bacteraemia. As a passionate advocate of patient and staff safety, I was committed to reducing COVID infection rates to the minimum possible and supporting staff in any way I could to get through these difficult times. I feel honoured to have had so many clinical and management colleagues working with me to do just that. I would also like to thank my family, who I hardly saw last year, for their continued support. Finally, I wish to thank all those who I have not been able to mention individually who have helped us get through 2020, and we all hope for a better year in 2021. *Please note that Dr Shico Visuvanathan's married name is Dr Shikandhini Kanagasundrem, as shown on the New Year's Honours list.
Many colleagues have championed my career at PAHT and I would particularly like to mention consultant chemical
10
Volunteer recognised with British Empire Medal in New Year’s Honours list A dedicated volunteer who has supported patients to have precious video calls with their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic has been recognised with a British Empire Medal in the New Year's Honours list. Joanne Busson, one of the original members of the virtual visiting team at PAHT, has been recognised for services to the community in Harlow. She has previously volunteered in a variety of roles at the hospital, including as a Butterfly Volunteer through PAHT partner charity, the Anne Robson Trust. Butterfly Volunteers offer a comforting happen and all worthy of such presence, supporting the holistic recognition. care of patients as they near the end of their lives. I take great pride in being At the start of the COVID-19 a PAHT/Anne Robson Trust pandemic, Joanne joined the Butterfly Volunteer alongside an virtual visiting team, facilitating incredibly special team. video calls and delivering messages to patients from their In addition to volunteering relatives and friends via the at PAHT, Joanne heads the Message to a Loved One service. Alternative Education Provision Joanne said: at Passmores Academy in Harlow and she also runs the homeless I feel incredibly honoured provision, the Harlow Chocolate to have been awarded such a Run. special and prestigious award. Phillipa Haslehurst, voluntary services manager at PAHT added: Through my various volunteering roles, I have met and volunteered with numerous Five days a week Joanne teams of like-minded, can-do volunteered, delivering the staff, trustees and volunteers Messages to a Loved One and who tirelessly give their time and also managing the virtual visits energy to making positive change made every day. Her compassion
and care is second to none and she is completely selfless. Without her contribution, the services would not have been as successful as they are today and her kindness is genuinely embedded and instrumental in their provision. Jo continues to give her time and support to our patients at PAHT, as well as the local community. Jo is an incredible lady, who we are honoured to know as a PAHT/Anne Robson Trust/Butterfly/COVID-19 volunteer.
11
Heart failure specialist nurse wins 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. This award acknowledges the value that healthcare professionals bring to the treatment of heart failure, improving patient outcomes throughout the UK. A patient who commended Ron Leslie, said:
Ron said:
I am humbled to receive this award and more importantly the positive feedback from a patient Ron has been an amazing treated by the heart failure support, always at the end of the service. All members of the heart phone and he had me on Entresto failure team at The Princess (heart failure medication) very Alexandra Hospital are passionate quickly. about providing high quality, compassionate, evidence based My three daughters were care. tested and we had the results within days. After all the tests and We are privileged to work in scans I've had, he checks with the a speciality which allows us to consultant and calls me to explain work with patients throughout the results. He is so friendly, their journey with heart failure, genuinely caring, and he really and during this time offer support, listens. He also got me into day education and treatment which therapy early this year at a local can improve quality and length hospice, where they all speak very of life. We recognise and highly highly of him. He is, in my opinion, value the impact of charities a walking angel, he always such as Pumping Marvellous on manages to put me at ease and is improving awareness of heart so supportive. failure and lobbying for further
improvement in patient care. Sharon McNally, director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals, said: Congratulations to Ron on receiving this fantastic award - he is a credit to our organisation and to the nursing profession. Ron has shown outstanding compassion and commitment to patient care and we are extremely proud to see him win this prestigious accolade.
12
Our patients said‌ I felt safe and comfortable, like the most important person in the room. Care was discussed at each stage. There was good communication from the hospital and warm blankets were given because the theatre was cold.
From the moment I reached the theatre area I was put at ease. The anaesthetic was given without any discomfort. The team acted professionally, but with a smile and made me feel special.
Your virtual visiting service is amazing, it has been fantastic in these difficult times.
The nurses are brilliant, they make you feel safe and comfortable and above all, they are happy, friendly, and really care.
The staff at PAH were extraordinarily kind, positive and caring. Their attitude and approachability were exemplary.
A thoroughly professional hearing test, assessment and programming of hearing aids, with concise and practical advice and support. It was most impressive, the best for some years, while adhering to COVID-19 precautions and rules. 13
I spoke to a lovely lady on the phone, who offered my husband a year’s supply of batteries for his hearing aid and myself a year’s supply for both hearing aids. They even gave him a new hearing aid, because he had trouble with it. They were prompt in returning our hearing aids. The service was very quick, very helpful and could not have been any better – 10/10 – thank you.
I had call to visit A&E with my son in the evening of New Year’s Eve. The staff were absolutely amazing, professional, polite and extremely caring. We were treated with such kindness and empathy the whole time we were in the department by both the nursing and medical staff. All the staff were a credit to both their profession and the local hospital. Many thanks.
It is two little words that say it all. I appreciate your support over these past few months I have spent with you all. Thank you.
Thank you for the virtual visit, it was very much appreciated by my mum who has been married to my dad for more than 60 years. You’ve made a very tough time a little bit more bearable.
14
CQC: Patient experience and engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic We are committed to maintaining a high quality patient experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
treatment with their next of kin, in a timely way, so that families feel fully informed and involved.
There are many ways to achieve this and there is a ward level responsibility to act in four During this time, we have adopted general circumstances: innovative ways to ensure that our patients can keep in contact with If the patient deteriorates their loved ones while visiting is If the patient becomes end restricted. of life This has included the Message to a Loved One and Virtual Visiting service – thank you to all of our volunteers who have been involved for your amazing contributions. Please remember that these services are available to signpost our patients, their friends and relatives to. We know that keeping families connected now will help to prevent longer term issues for mental wellbeing and improve the chances of recovery. Communication with loved ones also involves sharing key updates about the patient’s care and
nurse specialists for dementia and senior ward managers. We are now working to continue to develop this further, and welcome your suggestions. Please email Shahid Sardar, associate director of patient engagement, on shahidsardar@nhs.net.
If the patient is transferred out of PAHT or your ward If the patient’s condition improves, they come out of high dependency areas, or are able to be stepped down
All of these circumstances should be discussed at the safety/ morning/ handover/huddles and a communication coordinator of the day identified to make the calls to the patient’s next of kin before lunch. The same process should be followed in the afternoon or evening. This process is based on practices developed by our clinical
15
#PAHTPeople
Refurbished sanctuary space reopens A local school pupil has raised £570 for The Princess Alexandra Hospitals’ Charity Maisie Hancock, a year six pupil from The Broxbourne School, has sold an array of baked goods to raise money for the children’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) department staff. Cassie Burke, paediatric sister at PAHT, said: “We are so grateful to Maisie for her very kind donation. We explored a number of options that would benefit the team and decided that we would purchase personalised hoodies for all of our nurses, including the neighbouring paediatric ambulatory unit. “We wanted to feature a rainbow to signify the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, hope and brightness ahead. Each hoodie has been personalised with the PAHT logo, our department and each nurse’s name. “Maisie has funded 32 nurses to have a free hoodie and to help them keep warm during cold night shifts when our patients are sleeping or staying at home safe and sound. “Maisie is very selfless and generous, which has really cheered us up and boosted morale. She is a very kind hearted and a determined young lady. We are all so thankful.” Produced by the communications team
Our hospital sanctuary and prayer rooms reopened in December after being fully refurbished. The wonderful sanctuary area is open to all for prayer, reflection or just to sit and find a moment of calm. There is a separate room for Muslim prayer, with male and female washing facilities. There is also a quiet room where supportive conversations can take place. Please remember to adhere to social distancing when visiting the sanctuary.
InTouch briefings We have hosted a number of InTouch briefings that are an opportunity to share a more detailed insight and to highlight the latest news, updates and team achievements across PAHT and for people to have the opportunity to ask any questions that they may have. Open to all - everyone can take part and attend the InTouch briefings. The briefings will be recorded and a dedicated YouTube playlist has been created so that people can watch at a more convenient time. If you and your team would like to host an InTouch briefing to share more about your service/department, please email paht. communications@nhs.net
A warm welcome to Saba Sadiq We have recently welcomed Saba Sadiq as our new finance director. Saba, who joins PAHT from her role as deputy director of finance at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “I am delighted to be joining PAHT at this exciting and challenging time. I am looking forward to working with colleagues and system partners to drive forward our ambitions.”
16
