InTouch magazine - October - November 2022

Welcome

Staff Survey

New hospital update

Armed Forces Covenant

Armed Forces Covenant Remembrance Day

New Aseptic Unit

Welcome to InTouch magazine – your insight into the latest news and updates from across PAHT.

In this edition, we focus on the Staff Survey – thank you to everyone who has completed the survey so far. If you haven’t already, please share your feedback to support us to achieve even more this year, together, by tomorrow (Friday 25 November).

We also update on our new hospital programme (p.4), with an opportunity to hear our patients’ views on plans for our new hospital on our new hospital website too

Virtual Hospital

World Radiography Day

Stop smoking support service eRedbook World Diabetes Day

Charity update

We recently signed the Armed Forces Covenant in support of veterans (p.5), and there is more information about how you can get involved in shaping our commitment on p.6. Thank you to all involved in hosting a poignant Remembrance Day service for our people – you can read more on p.6.

We focus on our new facility to support our patients with cancer, the Aseptic Unit, which is due to open next spring, with more information on p.7. You can also read about how our patients are to benefit from the new virtual hospital service on p.8.

Our patients said...

CQC update

Wise about wellbeing

We cover the fantastic contributions of our radiography team to mark World Radiography Day (p.9) and of our diabetes team for World Diabetes Day (p.11). In addition, you can find out more about our maternity department introducing a new stop smoking service and eRedbook (p.10); our latest charity update calling on keen runners for the London Marathon (p.12); 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

Lance McCarthy Chief executive

This is Us - feedback to action

The NHS Staff Survey 2022 closes tomorrow (Friday 25 November)please share your feedback.

You will have received the survey by email, or a paper copy if you are in our estates and facilities team.

Thank you to everyone who has completed the survey so far.

You can also read our This is Us - feedback to action special edition for more information about the progress across our divisions >

Thank you to all of our #PAHTPeople for the difference you continue to make. It is with your support that we can achieve even more this year.

New Princess Alexandra

Hospital: programme update

November 2022

Severe sewage floods, overheating theatres, failing roofs and escaping gas reads like the unlikely plot of a hospital disaster drama, but as you will all know is in fact typical of a week at PAHT. Sadly, there are all too many estates issues like these at PAHT every day, with many of you facing a continuous ‘battle against the odds’.

In a recent article in the Health Service Journal (HSJ): Hospital with 600 estate ‘incidents’ demands ‘urgent’ government decision, I outline the overwhelming case for our new hospital against the backdrop of weekly estate infrastructure failings, many of which directly impact patients.

The board and executive team fully appreciate how extraordinarily hard you all have to work to maintain the highest quality care, despite these poor conditions. It is clear the case for our new hospital has never been stronger.

As you may know, plans for a new Princess Alexandra Hospital were first accepted onto the New Hospital Programme (NHP) in 2019. Over three years later, we are finally getting close to knowing

what the outcome will be, in a decision made ultimately by the Treasury.

We have been working closely with the NHP team over the last year or two, and they have informed us that we should know what funding we’ll get in early 2023, after which we can proceed to our Outline Business Case.

We will update you all as soon as we can.

More information on the wideranging benefits our new hospital will bring to Harlow can be found on the new hospital website and in this handy brochure

And if you’d like to hear some of our patients’ views on plans for our new hospital, then take a look at some recent video

vox pops on the home page

Onwards and upwards to 2023!

Best wishes

Thank you for your all your hard work and continued patience and support for our new hospital.

Michael

Meredith Director of strategy and estates

Signing the Armed Forces Covenant in support of veterans

We signed the Armed Forces Covenant in support of veterans on 27 October.

This demonstrates our commitment to supporting veterans across all areas. This includes ensuring that veterans receive appropriate care; raising awareness of veterans; with established links to veteran services in the community; and making referrals for veterans to other services as appropriate. It also involves our pledge as an employer; with training and education on the needs of veterans, and veterans’ champions.

Following making the pledge, we will continue to develop the support we provide to veterans, for our patients and our people.

Kelly French, head of operations, urgent and emergency care, a veterans’ champion at PAHT, said: “It means a great deal to me to see PAHT sign the Armed Forces Covenant.

“I have a family connection to the military and I know how important it is to veterans to be aware that as a place to receive care and as an employer, the needs of veterans are fully supported.”

Stephanie Lawton, chief operating officer, who cosigned the covenant on behalf

of PAHT, added: “We are proud to have made our pledge to veterans in our community.

“We recognise the individual support that veterans may require, and we are committed to ensuring that PAHT is a fantastic place to work for veterans and that they receive high quality care that meets their needs when accessing our services.”

Ogechi Emeadi, director of people, organisational development, and communications, who cosigned the covenant on behalf of PAHT, added: “We are dedicated to championing the needs of veterans at our

organisation.

“We look forward to working together to continue to build on the support we offer veterans in our workforce and in our community.”

Pictured: From left, Stephanie Lawton, chief operating officer, and Ogechi Emeadi, director of people, organisational development and communications, after signing the Armed Forces Covenant.

Armed Forces Covenant - our next steps

Following signing the Armed Forces Covenant, which promotes a commitment to providing the best standards of care for the armed forces community, there is now more to achieve in order to gain full accreditation.

These steps include:

y Supporting the UK armed forces as an employer y Educating staff on the needs of veterans y Identifying veterans to ensure they receive appropriate care

To achieve this, the first step involves establishing who works at PAHT and has a connection to the armed forces, reaching out across the organisation to establish our own armed forces community.

We are asking you:

y Do you have a connection to the armed forces?

y Are you a reservist?

y Have you once served in the armed forces?

If so and you would like to help shape our commitment to the covenant and full accreditation, please contact veterans champion Kelly French at kelly.french4@nhs. net. He will then ask you to complete the survey (pictured above, right).

On Friday 11 November, our chaplaincy team led a Remembrance Day service.

During the service, a selection of poignant readings, prayers and poems were read by our chaplaincy team and executive team, and we observed the twominute silence together.

If you were unable to attend the service, or join via Microsoft Teams Live, you can watch the recording via this link >

Thank you to all involved.

New facility to support our patients with cancer set to open next spring

A new facility to support our patients with cancer is set to open next spring.

The new Aseptic Unit, which will be used to make chemotherapy medication for patients with cancer, is being built at the rear of The Princess Alexandra Hospital, adjacent to the Williams Day Unit, where our patients receive cancer treatment.

The pharmacy team will produce individually prepared chemotherapy treatment doses for oncology and haematology patients at the unit. This will enhance the service, with the new, modern facility supporting the manufacture of specific chemotherapy medications in the required dosages on The Princess Alexandra Hospital site. The improved space and equipment will largely eliminate the current intermittent need for external support.

An extension and renovation to previous office space, the work has begun to transform the area, improving the facilities available for our patients ahead of the completion of the new hospital.

The Aseptic Unit will feature a modern suite of pharmacy clean rooms (a sterile environment for manufacturing medications), and equipment including two negative pressure isolators

for the safe handling and preparation of chemotherapy. There will also be space to accommodate cancer services pharmacists, who clinically validate prescriptions, a dedicated dispensary for oral cancer treatments and other medication, together with a dedicated clinical trial medication office.

John Biddulph, chief pharmacist, said: “We are delighted to see the construction of our new Aseptic Unit progressing at pace. This is a significant milestone in producing treatments for patients with cancer, with up-to-date technology and equipment. We are looking forward to the opening next spring.”

Stephanie Lawton, chief operating officer, said: “The new Aseptic Unit represents an investment of £2.5million in improving the experience for our patients with cancer and the working environment for our people.

“The modern facility will enhance the high quality care our dedicated teams provide – thank you to everyone involved.”

Pictured above: An artist’s impression of the new Aseptic Unit.

Pictured below: The work on the Aseptic Unit in progress (exterior) and the interior of the extension which will contain the clean rooms.

Patients to benefit from new virtual hospital service

Our patients will soon be able to access more hospital services from the comfort of their homes.

We are part of the new Virtual Hospital, a service across west Essex that provides face-toface nursing care, therapy and remote monitoring services for a range of conditions that would otherwise require an acute hospital bed. The service aims to prevent avoidable admissions to hospital, and support patients to be discharged from hospital as soon as they are able to. It enhances patient experience by supporting independence and a faster recovery in patients’ home environment.

Patients will only be referred to Virtual Hospital after they have been assessed as suitable. Under clinical supervision, many of the treatments patients receive in hospital can now be given safely at home instead. The service offers the same treatment that patients would receive in hospital, from their own home, for up to two weeks. After this time, the team will refer patients for further care as appropriate.

The Virtual Hospital team includes consultants, advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs), nurses, therapists and pharmacists with easy access to advice and care from dietitians, the palliative care team, the community

respiratory team, and other specialists. Our patient at home team will be part of this new service, supporting patients across west Essex.

y You will be able to make an online referral seven days a week between 8am – 6pm via the Care Coordination Centre. Full information about referring patients to the Virtual Hospital will follow ahead of the go live of this service

y The service can provide rapid two-hour assessment and treatment where required. It is flexible and patient centred, care can be escalated or de-escalated as needed

y Where appropriate, Virtual Hospital is the preferred choice to an acute hospital stay. It supports an improved patient experience as well as relieving pressure on acute hospital beds

Many patients who have multiple health conditions will benefit from a personalised approach, combining remote

monitoring with in-person care when required. Services include:

y Remote monitoring via technology

y Administration of intravenous (IV) therapies

y Face to face nursing and therapy care, including urgent assessments

y End of life (EoL) care

y Post-operative care

y Acute respiratory infection care

y Heart failure decompensation care

y Holistic management of frailty and falls

y Point of care testing

y Oxygen therapy

y Electrocardiograms (ECGs)

y Medication reviews

y Taking blood samples

The Virtual Hospital is provided for and by organisations within West Essex Health and Care Partnership. It will be introduced for PAHT patients from 1 December.

Bob Ghosh, divisional director for medicine and urgent and emergency care, said: “We are proud to be part of the Virtual Hospital and to be able to offer our patients this fantastic service. We know how important it is for patients to have the right care, in the right place, at the right time. The Virtual Hospital is a step towards the future, with care supported by technology that meets the individual needs of our patients.”

World Radiography Day

The 8 November marked World Radiography Day. The date is also the anniversary of the discovery of X-radiation by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895. The day is an opportunity to highlight the wide range of radiography careers and the vital contribution that our radiography teams make to enhance the care of our patients. Every year, our radiology department uses highly specialised imaging equipment to diagnose and treat over 240,000 patients (on average). Our radiology department consists of 145 team members, including radiologists, radiographers, radiography assistants, assistant practitioners, clerical/booking officers, nurses and the picture archiving team. The service runs across all of our three sites, seven days per week.

Radiology team proudest moments

Our radiology team has worked hard over the past year to introduce a number of service improvements to benefit our patients and people. This includes:

y Boosting international recruitment efforts - over the last year, the team has welcomed 14 new radiographers

y Going paperless – introduced a paperless workflow system on iPads and removed paper patient questionnaires before they have a scan

The team has also introduced paperless radiology and cardiology test requests with the introduction of the ICE system. The changes help to ensure that all illegible requests are removed from the system, it only allows people to request tests that they are qualified for, and reduces the need to scan paper requests. This means that less storage space is required for printed and scanned documents, waiting times for results are improved and requests are fully auditable.

y Introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) modules for CT chest analysis - AI provides radiologists with automatically calculated nodule analysis on chest scans. The radiologist can view what has been analysed on the patient scans, and significantly reduces the reporting time for critical scans and increases the accuracy of the nodule assessment

y Voice recognition introduced - secretaries no longer have to type out voice recordings and can focus their time on other administration tasks and reduced delays in publishing reports. The initiative also helps to reduce potential errors within the report

y Integrating the PACS system with cardiology services - allows the reporter to produce detailed reports quickly using custom made reporting templates and workflow processes

y New medical imaging system (XERO) introduced - the system helps to save time and reduces the risk of errors. Clinicians would previously upload and store multiple files from one camera memory card, whereas now they are uploaded directly from the XERO system and camera

A huge thank you to our radiology team for all that you do and making a difference for both our patients and people.

Maternity department introduces a new stop smoking support service

We have introduced a new enhanced stop smoking service to support pregnant women, birthing people, and their families.

The service has been developed in partnership with the Hertfordshire and West Essex Local Maternity and Neonatal System and has also been introduced at other NHS hospitals across the region.

Giuseppe Labriola, director of midwifery and gynaecology, said: “We are pleased to offer this new service to help improve the health outcomes for women, birthing people and their unborn babies.

“Women and birthing people who quit smoking during their pregnancy will increase their chances to have a healthier pregnancy and a healthier baby, whilst reducing the risk

of other associated illnesses in the future.

“We know that it can be difficult to break a smoking habit, but it is never too late to quit. The sooner they stop smoking, the better, for both themselves and their unborn baby.”

Natasha McCormack, healthy lifestyle midwife, said: “Quitting smoking to protect an unborn baby is one of the best things that people can do to give their child a healthy start in life.

Each cigarette contains over 4,000 chemicals, which can harm their unborn baby.

“Our maternity team can advise women and birthing people about our new service and offer support. They will receive support that will take place on the telephone or in person, alongside the introduction of nicotine replacement therapy, including a personal carbon monoxide reader, distraction aids such as patches or chewing gum and e-cigarettes (vapes).

“Please encourage the women and birthing people that you care for to sign up to this important service. They can be referred via our maternity teams, or self-refer by emailing paht. maternityhealthylifestyle@ nhs.net or calling 01279 973016.”

Digital information guide and child health record introduced

We have introduced eRedbook, a personal child health record, that is given to parents and carers to provide them with support and information about the healthy child programme.

The eRedbook provides useful information at the click of a button for expectant parents and carers across west Essex.

The eRedbook also supports parents and carers to:

y Feel empowered to take control of their child's health

y Interact with maternity care professionals online

y Find out more about their baby's development through approved guidance and articles that are tailored to their baby’s age

y Record and track their baby's weight and create a safe, long-term record of their baby's health and development

y Record their baby’s firsts with photo uploads

y View information on what screening tests, checks, clinic recorded weights and immunisation details

are offered as part of the healthy child programme

y Reduce the number of faceto-face appointments they need to attend after their baby is born

The introduction of the eRedbook supports our goal to modernise our services in order to improve experiences

Supporting World Diabetes Day

for our patients and people.

For further information, please visit the eRedbook website via this link >

World Diabetes Day took place on 14 November. The purpose of the day was to raise awareness of the condition that millions of people around the world and more than 4.9 million people in the UK have.

The day was also an opportunity to highlight the wide range of support available, as well as the importance of managing diabetes, and how people can help to reduce their risk of developing the condition.

Diabetes is a condition that relates to the body’s ability to produce the required amount of a hormone called insulin to control glucose levels in the blood. There are broadly two types of diabetes: Type 1 requires daily administration of artificial insulin by means of injection or insulin pump. Type 2 is more generally managed by a combination of dietary control and medication in the form of tablets.

Every year:

y 1,000 inpatients on average are seen by our inpatient diabetes team y 650 patients on average are seen by our multi-disciplinary diabetes foot team y 500 patients on average are seen by our outpatients' department y 600 women/birthing people on average are seen by our maternity diabetes team

It is very important that people with diabetes maintain good control of their condition to help reduce and avoid long-term complications, and there have been huge advances in this area over recent years. However, it is vitally important that development work continues, to ensure people with the condition can live well.

Our diabetes team held an information stand on the day - thank you to all involved.

Charity update...

Calling keen runners to represent our charity in the 2023

London Marathon

We are looking for keen runners to represent our charity in the 2023 TCS London Marathon.

We currently have three open positions for participants to run, jog, or walk their way through the marathon which is due to take place on 23 April 2023.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital Charity supports all of our patients, people, and visitors. The charity enhances patient care, purchases special equipment, improves facilities, and invests in vital research that supports patients now and into the future.

Gary Taylor, head of charity at The Princess Alexandra Hospital Charity, said: “We are very excited to share this opportunity to take part in the London Marathon.

“We understand the uncertainty of landing a place through the London Marathon ballot, so this is a great opportunity to secure a spot in the race, all while raising money for a great cause.

“We are always extremely grateful for any contributions towards our charity, and this will be an excellent way to help us fundraise and support our patients and our people.”

To be considered for one of the three available spaces for the London Marathon, interested applicants will need to submit 50 words that explains what it would mean to them to represent the hospital’s charity at the event, along with how much they hope to raise in sponsorship.

Entries should be sent to paht.fundraising@nhs.net by 2 December and successful participants will be contacted with further details.

Successful entrants will be required to raise a minimum of £500 in sponsorship.

Please refer to our website for full terms and conditions >

We look forward to hearing from you.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital Charity

Our patients said...

"My son had surgery recently and was extremely anxious, however the staff were absolutely amazing.

"They were efficient, compassionate, kind, reassuring and caring. They put both of our minds at rest. Thank you.”

"I just wanted to say thank you again for everything. I gave birth to my baby at your hospital and every single member of staff involved in our care was absolutely brilliant.

"We were so pleased and left the hospital well informed and confident should we need any further help."

"The treatment and care that I received was genuinely first class. The team in the Alexandra Day Stay Unit kindly explained everything as they went along, I never felt alone at any point.

"A big thank you for looking after me, please keep doing what you are doing. You were all exceptional."

CQC update

Safer discharge

Since July 2017, a Safeguarding Scrutiny Panel has been in place, which meets on a monthly basis to review all safeguarding cases which have been raised against PAHT.

This is chaired by the associate director of nursing for clinical support services (CSS) (Toni Wright), with representation from both Essex Social Care and the Designated Professional for Safeguarding from the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB).

The panel reviews all cases outstanding against the organisation with the divisions and their implementation plan/ outcome of their investigation. The divisions present their investigation to the panel and share the learning from this. This allows for reviewing themes of safeguarding cases, sharing the learning across the organisation and improving partnership working with local authorities.

The communication and relationships have strengthened over the last five years and we are able to have open and transparent conversations with our partner agencies, which has enabled better understanding of processes within organisations. One of the ongoing themes in cases raised against us is discharge related issues. This can include lack of information being passed on to other providers, involving

lack of equipment, delays in care starting, information on pressure ulcers and issues with medication. Over the last two years, the transfer of care team have worked to implement key initiatives to improve communication in the discharge of patients:

y An impartial assessor liaises with care/nursing homes in relation to new placements of patients

y We commissioned an audit to nursing homes to clarify what information they required on discharge, which led to the redesign of the discharge letter

y The transfer of care team are used as a point of contact for care homes if they are unable to directly contact the ward - the local authority have changed their referral form to reflect this

y We have worked to improve the quality of information on single referral forms (SRFs) to reduce the risk of inappropriate care provision impacting on patient safety, which is a Trust risk

y The single referral form (SRF) has been redesigned to give more clarity and description of patients' personal needs/care needs on discharge, to avoid confusion

y Training for our people is to be implemented on the new process for SRF

y A triage system of SRF forms is currently being piloted by the transfer of

care team

Next steps

y An impartial assessor will make a courtesy call to care/ nursing homes on feedback of discharge of patients – we will review the feedback

y An audit of the use of the transfer letter will take place this month/next month

y An audit of the newly designed SRF and triage system for Essex patients will take place to review the capacity of the team to meet the needs of the service

This work will fit in with the wider aspect of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) improvements:

Safe - The service must ensure that staff keep detailed records of patient care and treatment.

Responsive - The service must ensure that colleagues keep detailed records in relation to risk assessments and care plans for patient falls and pressure ulcers.

Overarching aim - Review and improve current processes and practice in documentation of patient risk assessments, care and treatment to ensure it is in line with national best practice and professional and legal requirements.

For more information, please contact Sarah Cowley, lead nurse - safeguarding adults, at sarah.cowley3@nhs.net.

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 My Health My Way service, a confidential space for people working in health and social care to look after their wellbeing and find support.

You can:

y Find local in-person support for a range of health and wellbeing topics

y Get instant access to free webinars, online classes, articles, podcasts, and more y Access action plans and one-to-one virtual support

The tools include:

y A wellbeing log, where you can answer a few quick questions to measure your wellbeing and see what you can do to feel better y A wellbeing library, where you can filter over 400 wellbeing services and resources that can help you to achieve your goals y An action planning tool, where you can create personalised action plans to achieve your wellbeing goals, with a step-by-step interactive guide designed by behavioural scientists y One-to-one behavioural coaching, where you can receive one-toone virtual sessions with a behavioural coach to help you achieve lasting lifestyle changes

You can find out more at www.myhealthmyway.info. For additional health and wellbeing advice, please visit the staff health and wellbeing workspace on AlexNet >

#PAHTPeople - making a difference

Emergency department team takes part in wellbeing week

Shikha Sharma, practice development nurse for the emergency department (ED), together with the professional nurse advocate team, offered a week of wellbeing activities for our ED team (running from 7-11 November).

Each day focused on a different theme to support with improving wellbeing and professional development for our people.

The week was also an opportunity to thank and recognise the team for their hard work and dedication, especially during these busy times.

Sessions included yoga (attendees are pictured before this session), lunch and learn with professional nurse advocates, pet therapy, and a careers clinic. Thank you to all involved – keep a look out for wellbeing weeks in your area.

Welcome to our new #PAHTPeople

In the last month, 54 new #PAHTPeople have joined us:

Gay Anderson

Augustin Fernandez

Antony Fernandez

Hasan Awan

Louise Banks

Jason Bell

Amina Bellwood

Olivia Bloomfield

Jimson Chittilappilly Paul Claire Clarke

Roisin Conde-Wilcock

Sidonie Dash

Alf Dickinson

Pauline Doyle

Cori Foreman Ellis Fox

David George

Francesca Giambrone

Teresa Goddard

Elizabeth Golding Kara Hanrahan

Jacqueline Mitchell

Nansamba Lubega Alice Lucas Toby Lutman

In this time, 50 people have left PAHT.

Debbie de Labauve d'Arifat