InTouch magazine - May - June 2023

May 2023 - June 2023

InTouch

This is Us: Our Amazing People Awards

Free car parking for colleagues

Celebrating our professions

Virtual Hospital update

Welcome to InTouch magazine – your insight

Please take the opportunity to nominate your colleagues for our This is Us: Our Amazing People Awards, recognising and celebrating their fantastic contributions. Nominations are open until midnight on Monday (29 May), with more details on p.3.

We also share that we have extended free car parking for our people until further notice, to support you and enhance your experience at work – you can read more on p.4. Additionally, please take a look at the Agenda for Change pay award update from the people team (p.5).

We were delighted to celebrate our professions on Friday 12 May, with a range of activities involving our nurses, midwives, health care support workers and allied health professionals (AHPs) – read more and spot your colleagues in the awards ceremony photos (p.6-10).

You can find out more about the Virtual Hospital, with reminders of how to contact the team and welcoming the patient at home team (p.11). You can also read our latest clinical column (p.12) and take a look at the Coronation celebrations at PAHT – thank you to everyone involved (p.13).

Additionally, you can read our latest divisional update (p.10), feedback from our patients (p.14), wellbeing tips (p.15) and much more.

This magazine is for and about you, our #PAHTPeople –please contact the communications team if you would like to see your team featured, at paht.communications@nhs.net

I hope you enjoy the read.

Best wishes

This is Us: Our Amazing People Awards 2023 - nominations close on Monday...

Do you know or work with someone who inspires you and goes above and beyond in their role?

Nominations are open until Monday for our This is Us: Our Amazing People Awards, giving us the opportunity to recognise, celebrate and thank our #PAHTPeople.

There are 12 awards across four categories aligned with our This is Us behaviours and values guide, listed below.

To nominate a colleague, including volunteers, please complete the online nomination form and tell us how they have met the criteria detailed here >

The awards nominations will close at midnight on Monday (29 May)

Patient at heart category

y Kindness award

y Safety award

y Speaking up award

Everyday excellence category

y Learning award

y Commitment award

y Improvement award

Creative collaboration category

y Teamwork award

y Engagement award

y Inclusion award

Management and leadership category

y Managing for excellence award

y Emerging leader award

y Inspiring leader award

Nominees who are shortlisted will be invited to join the awards celebration evening on Tuesday 27 June

Look out for more information on This is Us Week coming soon.

You can read more on AlexNet >

Message from Lance: Car parking update for our peoplefree car parking

I am pleased to share that we have extended free car parking for our people until further notice. This is to support you and enhance your experience at work, particularly given the current cost of living pressures.

The estates and facilities team will be working with you and seeking your feedback to ensure that we continue to develop and enhance our car parking arrangements that most effectively meet your needs. This will align with our green travel plan to ensure we continue to make PAHT as sustainable as possible.

Please note:

y Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras are being installed on The Princess Alexandra Hospital site from the end of June. You must apply for a new car parking permit online

to update our records once this installation is complete, with the application window expected to be from 1 July – 31 July – further details are to follow

y The car parking policy remains that you are not eligible to park on site if you live within a one-mile radius of the hospital (except for our people who are Blue Badge holders)

y Please be aware that the Linkway will remain open until October 2024. We will

Dementia Action Week

be reviewing alternative car parking options to replace the Linkway

Car parking will remain free for relevant colleagues for the foreseeable future. This will be reviewed in spring 2024, aligned with the future parking arrangements.

Best wishes

Lance McCarthy Chief executive

It was Dementia Action Week from 15-21 May and this year’s theme focused on increasing diagnosis rates in order to ensure that people get the help and support that they need in the early stages. Recent research conducted by the Alzheimer’s Society shows that the biggest barrier in stopping people seeking a dementia diagnosis is thinking memory loss is a normal sign of ageing. Getting a diagnosis can be daunting, however it vital to ensure that people get the correct help and support. Caroline Ashton-Gough, Admiral Nurse, who leads on care for patients living with dementia at PAHT, organised a range of activities throughout the week - thank you Caroline.

You can read more on AlexNet >

Message from the people team: Agenda for Change pay award update

On 2 May, the NHS Staff Council accepted the pay offer made by the Government to Agenda for Change staff, which covers the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 pay years. This increase in pay might take some staff into the next pension bracket if they are on the NHS pension.

The additional payments for the previous pay year (2022/2023) will be paid as a non-consolidated lump sum, subject to tax and National Insurance deductions, excluding pension.

These payments will be prorated and applied to all our people who are employed on a permanent/fixed term contract and in post as at 31 March 2023.

This payment will be shown as two separate payments on the

payslips:

y 2022 non-con payment

y NHS backlog payment

Details have been published on the NHS Employers website with regard to how much our people will receive subject to band and contracted hours at 31 March 2023

You can download the summary table here >

It is recognised that some staff may prefer to receive the

International Clinical Trials Day

Saturday, 20 May was International Clinical Trials Day and our research, development and innovation team ran a series of activities from 17 May to promote the wide range of research carried out at PAHT and the opportunities available for our patients.

This included community engagement, highlighting the improvements in patient care that have been made possible through research, and an InTouch briefing to meet the team and find out all about their work.

You can read more on AlexNet >

totality of these payments in multiple instalments.

Please contact the people team if you would like your payment spread over multiple months (to a maximum of six months), no later than 1 June 2023 by emailing paht.peopleinformation@ nhs.net

Staff will not be able to change the nature of the payment once the non-consolidated payment has been paid as a single lump sum.

It is anticipated that the increase to salaries and retrospective pay (backdated to 1 April 2023) is expected to be available for payroll on 28 June 2023.

If you have any questions, please contact your line manager in the first instance.

Celebrating our professions

Friday 12 May marked International Nurses' Day, which is celebrated every year on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth.

This year, we celebrated our midwives, health care support workers and allied health professionals (AHPs) too, through a range of activities including an InTouch briefing, a special awards ceremony (pictured overleaf) and an event to celebrate our diverse workforce in the evening at the Learning and Education Centre.

This gave us the opportunity to highlight and celebrate the contribution of all these professions and reflect on the vital care that they provide.

Take a look at the thank you video, which includes some of our colleagues sharing why they thoroughly enjoy their profession. You can watch the video via this link >

A huge thank you to all for your care, compassion and skill over the last year, which has been particularly busy and

challenging with an increasing demand for our services.

You can read the full details of the day on AlexNet >

Pictured above: Colleagues enjoying the celebrating our professions evening event.

Pictured overleaf: Attendees at the celebrating our professions awards ceremony, including those who made pledges.

Also pictured is one of the Pets as Therapy dogs who joined the celebrations.

Congratulations to the runners up and award winners...

Allied Health Professional of the Year Award - Runner Up Allied Health Professional of the Year Award - Winner

Nicola Cox

Nikki Herring

Care Assistant of the Year AwardRunner Up

Irina Dimitrova

Care Assistant of the Year AwardWinner

Tabitha Floyd

Maternity Support Worker of the Year Award - Runner Up

Tania Wills

Maternity Support Worker of the Year Award - Winner

Paula Etherington

Midwife of the Year Award - Runner Up

Kerry Lainchbury

Midwife of the Year Award - Winner

Kiera Wedlake

Nurse of the Year Award - Runner Up

Polly Rogers (collected by Toni Wright)

Nurse of the Year Award - Winner

Uma Aravind

Rising Star of the Year AwardRunner Up

Laura Carson

Rising Star of the Year AwardRunner Up

Shemy Mariyam Jose

Rising Star of the Year AwardWinner

Ennety Ganagana

Team of the Year AwardRunner Up

Same Day Emergency Care team

Team of the Year AwardSpecial Commendation

Anticoagulation service (collected by Toni Wright)

Team of the Year AwardWinner Harold Ward team

Divisional update: Clinical support services

Clinical support services have had a very busy six months – we have seen some colleagues leave for pastures new, such as Vinoj Srinivasan, former general manager, John Anderson, former head of operations, and Barbara Brafman-Price, former associate director of operations, and we have welcomed into the team Seval Gurtunc, general manager, Bradley Stevenson, general manager, and Claire Clarke, associate director of operations. We have also seen colleagues move into new roles – Liz Penn has become general manager for radiology and audiology, Michelle Clooney has become clinical manager for radiology and Zowie Copeman has become PAHT's first associate director of allied health professionals (AHPs), which is a role that supports not only the division, but the wider AHP workforce across the organisation. We have welcomed new colleagues within therapies and radiology, some of whom have been recruited internationally, and we wish all our new people well as they settle into their new roles. We have also seen our phlebotomy team and therapies teams move into their new home within Gibberd Ward and work has contiued at pace for the new Aseptic Unit for pharmacy, which is fast approaching its opening. Our teams within the labs have undergone inspections from both UKAS and MHRA and we would like to extend our thanks to everyone who has been involved in these inspections. We received positive feedback on the day and the teams were very engaged with the process and ensuring that the required actions identified are being addressed. Our radiology systems team have been shortlisted for two HSJ awards and we are working really hard to address the results and feedback from the Staff Survey, with listening events, regular culture huddles, Q&A sessions and quadrumvirate visits.

Patient Panel Award - Winner

Anna Mawbey

Inspiring Leader of the Year AwardRunner Up

Janice Bernardo

Inspiring Leader of the Year AwardWinner

Swathi John

The clinical support services divisional management team

Virtual Hospital update

As you will be aware, the Virtual Hospital service, which is easy to refer into, is part of the new West Essex Out of Hospital Care Model, which is centred around health and social partners working more closely together to ensure patients receive holistic care tailored to their individual needs.

The team works closely with the Care Coordination Centre (CCC) and Integrated Neighbourhood Teams to:

y Help people stay well at home so they do not need to go into hospital in the first place

y Help them stay independent and to recover faster

y Ensure people who do not need to stay in hospital can be cared for safely at home, if their condition and individual circumstances mean the Virtual Hospital is a suitable option for them

The latest update from the Virtual Hospital service includes:

Reminder of contact details for the Virtual Hospital

To refer into the service, telephone the dedicated hotline for professionals on 07581 013636 between 8am to 8pm, seven days a week to speak to a clinician. They will advise you if the service is suitable for your patient. The Virtual Hospital service enables patients with specific conditions to be cared for at their usual

place of residence, including care homes, with support from a multi-disciplinary team of health and social care professionals.

You can also email a referral form to epunt. virtualhospital@nhs.net. This form can be used for referring patients from West Essex and Hertfordshire.

A full list of referral criteria can be found on the your questions answered document here >

Patient at home is now part of the Virtual Hospital

The patient at home team have been welcomed to the Virtual Hospital service, after they joined from PAHT last month.

Their skills and experience mean the service can increase what it offers to patients, as the team provides intravenous medications and fluids, in addition to face-to-face care and support with remote monitoring.

All referrals for patient at home now go through the Virtual Hospital team. If you have a patient who would benefit from patient at home care, you can contact the Virtual Hospital team. They will advise you on the best care pathway for your patient.

If your patient is from Hertfordshire, you can still contact the West Essex Virtual Hospital Service, who will pass on referral information to the relevant hub within Hertfordshire. Or, you can refer direct to the Hospital at Home (H@H)/Virtual Ward service run by Hertfordshire Community Trust on 0300 123 7511

You can read the full Virtual Hospital update here >

Feedback from system partners

Feedback from system partners

GP Dr Jeyaseelan Selvarajah said: "The referral process was smooth, the call answered promptly. The clinician taking the referral was friendly and took the details promptly.

"Patients were contacted on the same day. I feel it is a great service which has definitely prevented admission. My patients also valued the service.”

Our clinical column: Why a diagnosis is important in dementia

This month featured Dementia Action Week (15-21 May), with a focus on increasing diagnosis rates. While it’s normal for your memory to be affected by stress, tiredness, certain illnesses and medicines, if you're becoming increasingly forgetful, particularly if you're over the age of 65, it's a good idea to talk to a GP about the early signs of dementia. Dementia is not only about memory loss - it can also affect the way you speak, think, feel and behave. It's also important to remember that dementia is not a natural part of ageing.

What is dementia?

Dementia is a syndrome (a group of related symptoms) associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning. There are many different causes of dementia, and many different types. People are often unsure about the difference between Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia and, together with vascular dementia, makes up the majority of cases.

Symptoms of dementia

Dementia symptoms may include problems with:

y memory loss

y thinking speed

y mental sharpness and quickness

y language, such as using words incorrectly, or trouble speaking

y understanding

y judgement

y mood

y movement

y difficulties doing daily activities

People with dementia can lose interest in their usual activities, and may have problems managing their behaviour or emotions. They may also find social situations difficult and lose interest in relationships and socialising. Aspects of their personality may change, and they may lose empathy (understanding and compassion). A person with dementia may see or hear things that other people do not (hallucinations). Because people with dementia may lose the ability to remember events, or not fully understand their environment or situations, it can seem as if they're not telling the truth or are wilfully ignoring problems. As dementia affects a person's mental abilities, they may find planning and organising difficult.

Maintaining their independence may also become a problem. A person with dementia will usually need help from friends or relatives, including help

with making decisions. The symptoms of dementia usually become worse over time. In the late stage of dementia, people will not be able to take care of themselves and may lose their ability to communicate. You can read more about the symptoms of dementia here >

Why it's important to get a diagnosis

Although there is no cure for dementia at the moment, an early diagnosis means its progress can be slowed down in some cases, so the person may be able to maintain their mental function for longer. A diagnosis helps people with dementia get the right treatment and support. It can also help them, and the people close to them, to prepare for the future. With treatment and support, many people are able to lead active, fulfilled lives with dementia.

It was great to see the first Harlow Dementia Fair (organised by the Harlow Dementia Friendly Communities (previously Harlow Dementia Action Alliance) take place on 20 May at St Paul’s Church – a fantastic opportunity for our community to understand more about dementia. If you have concerns and for further advice, please contact your GP. You can read more about dementia at www.nhs.uk.

Caroline Ashton-Gough Dementia clinical nurse specialist

Celebrating the Coronation of Their Majesties

As the country celebrated the Coronation of Their Majesties over the Bank Holiday weekend (6-8 May), many of our people were working to support and care for our patients.

Colleagues joined in the celebrations by decorating their ward and department areas and attended the afternoon tea party for staff and patients, hosted by the Patient Panel and Harlow Hospital Radio.

Local school children from St. Michael's School in Bishop's Stortford created an array of fantastic posters which were

judged by Lance McCarthy, chief executive, Stephanie Lawton, chief operating officer, and Ann Nutt, chair of the

Patient Panel. Thank you to all involved in organising a wonderful celebration.

PAHT represented as part of the Coronation tickets allocated to NHS staff

Debbie Poole, midwife in our maternity triage department, was lucky enough to be allocated a ticket to attend the Coronation and shared some of her photos with us (see below).

She said: "It was an amazing experience and despite the rain, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. I think the best part of the day was seeing the gold coach with His Majesty the King and Queen. It's a day that I will never forget and I will always treasure the memory."

Our patients said...

"To all the nurses and doctors on Charnley Ward - thank you for taking care of me.

"I couldn't have wanted any different - you've all been amazing."

"Thank you so much for the brilliant service I received at A&E and the Eye Unit. All the staff were so kind and friendly and worked very hard.

"From the administrators to the nurses and doctors, I am very grateful."

"Thank you to everyone on Harold Ward who is looking after my dad for all the care and medical services provided while he has been in hospital.

"Many thanks - you have given the best service for my dad."

Wise about wellbeing...

While you are caring for our patients, or supporting those who provide care, it is extremely important to remember to focus on your wellbeing and to check in with your colleagues too.

There are a wide variety of resources available to you to support your health and wellbeing. Each month, we share practical information and tips as part of our wise about wellbeing feature.

This month, we are focusing on the new staff health and wellbeing (SHaW) checks. If you live in Essex and are due your NHS health check, or you wish to have a SHaW check, please contact the SHaW team who will soon be providing these checks for all of our people. This will be introduced during This is Us Week (26 June - 1 July).

The health check will take about 30 minutes and the team will:

• Ask some simple questions, for example, about your family history and choices, which may put your health at risk

• Record your height, weight, body mass index (BMI), age, sex, and ethnicity

• Take your blood pressure

• Do a simple finger prick blood test to check your cholesterol level

Please email or call SHaW on x 7015 or email tpa-tr.shaw@nhs. net to book a health check.

You can access details of the full range of health and wellbeing resources on the staff health and wellbeing workspace on AlexNet >

#PAHTPeople - making a difference

Our Journal - take a look

We are pleased to share the fourth edition of Our Journal – a publication written by our clinical people, for our clinical people, at PAHT.

This edition features a wide range of content, including:

y Our patients - qualityproductivity programme update

y Introducing our mental health strategy

y Patient at home service start first patient on innovative medication

pump

y Anaesthetic trainee focuses on the connection between humans and animals

y Radiology referrals achievements

y Medical education team updates

y Team featured in national publication

y Consultant and library manager put pen to paper with new book

y Latest breast cancer research

y Research study on pain management

Welcome to our new #PAHTPeople

In the last month, 44 new #PAHTPeople have joined us:

Sunday Adebayo

Jacqueline Aslandogdu

Tilly Atkinson

Catherine Baffowaa

Chanjel Biju

Binisha Binoy

Carris Campion

Melanie Carter

Mariya Cheriya

Caitlin Clancy

Jodie Clare

Dorian Craddock

Nicolette Davis

Jane Eastwood

Loredana Feldiorean

Lyndsey French

John Gibson

Susin Hassan

Krissy Hegarty

Ruby Hillinger

Katherine Holmes-Atkin

Jacqueline Irwin

Rachel Jennings

Dettis John

Josna Johnson

Priya Kiliyalakudi Edison

Jinsook Kim

Reshma Krishnan

Swetha Manoj

Anu Mohanan

You can read the spring –summer 2023 edition via this link >

Thank you to the teams who have contributed to this edition.

Noufal Mon

Pablo Muacahila

Srinath Nelumdeniya

Gloriya Peter

Bethany Potton

Carla Patricia Sampaio

Silva

Aneesh Sivadas

Kevin Smith

Paulina Sobel

Bradley Stevenson

Kelly Taylor

Debbie Thomas

Peta Worton

Heung Wing Yau

In this time, 46 people have left PAHT - thank you for supporting our patients and our people.