InTouch magazine - September - October 2022

Welcome Staff Survey

PAHT2030 Ready

Our clinical column

Our clinical column (continued)

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. The closing date is on 25 November

We also update on our PAHT2030 Ready programme, for our senior management teams to develop their knowledge and skills in taking forward the transformational changes set out within our PAHT2030 strategy. You can read more about this journey and how you can get involved on p.4.

Voluntary services team shortlisted for award

Celebrating our allied health professionals (AHPs)

Associate director of AHPs appointed Improving patient flow

Charity update

Charity update (continued) Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Our patients said...

Thank you to everyone involved in our Black History Month celebrations – it was fantastic to see the range of events for our #PAHTPeople, with more details on p.14. This month, our clinical column, which is also shared with our community in Your Harlow, is from Mr Ashraf Patel MBE, associate specialist, breast surgery, on breast cancer awareness (p.4-5).

We have seen our people recognised with some fantastic accolades – congratulations to the One Step at a Time team, who won the Team of the Year category at The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Awards in recognition of their work to promote the patient voice (p.6). The celebrations continue on p.7, where you can read about the compassionate care Namaste voluntary services team, who have reached the finals of the Helpforce Champions Awards, in the Outstanding Team of the Year category. We also focus on highlighting and celebrating our amazing allied health professionals (AHPs) and the vital role that they play in our patients' journey as part of Allied Health Professions Day (p.8-9).

You can read about our ongoing work to improve patient flow on p.10, followed by our latest charity update from p.11-12. In addition, we cover Lung Cancer Awareness Month (p.12), share compliments for you from our patients (p.13), the latest divisional update, this month from family and women’s services (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

McCarthy Chief executive

This is Us - feedback to action

The NHS Staff Survey 2022 is open - 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 hear from our people, Darryl and Janice for more.

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.

Making PAHT2030 a reality across our divisions

Launched in May, our PAHT2030 Ready development programme concluded with its sixth and final day in October. Here’s a snapshot of why the programme was developed and how the participants will take forward their learning to deliver our PAHT2030 strategy.

What?

PAHT2030 Ready was a six-month programme for our senior management teams to develop their knowledge and skills in taking forward the transformational changes set out within our PAHT2030 strategy. Over 100 participants explored these key topics critical to taking PAHT2030 forward:

y Understanding the PAHT2030 strategy and outcomes framework

y Building self-awareness as a leader

y Involving teams in achieving our vision

y Engaging communication

techniques

y Creative thinking approaches

y Giving and receiving feedback

y Overcoming problems and barriers

y Managing change

y Accountability vs. responsibility

y Effectively planning how we spend our time

What now?

Senior management teams are putting their learning into practice to start our journey towards PAHT2030 today –not next week, next month or next year – today. To make big changes happen, we need to take lots of small steps – and we want everyone to feel they are part of this journey together

You can expect to hear more conversations driven by your senior managers about…

y The aspirations for what the future at PAHT will look like

y The types of changes within your departments that will be key along this journey

y Projects which have already started in your division and

opportunities to get involved

y How our work towards PAHT2030 will impact you and your team

y Team culture and how our ways of working with each other are critical to our success (including participating in culture huddles)

y How we positively hold each other to account for our responsibilities in supporting our success (including having more feedback conversations with each other)

For more information

y Visit the PAHT2030 section on AlexNet

y Listen out for updates about PAHT2030 as part of ongoing conversations (e.g. at team meetings)

y Reach out to a member of your senior management team, who will be pleased to hear from you. You can find out who this is in our senior management team booklet on AlexNet

Our clinical column: Breast cancer

Our clinical column is part of exclusive content written in-house and published by Your Harlow.

By Mr Ashraf Patel MBE Associate specialist, breast surgery

October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month and at PAHT we are encouraging our people and our community to be aware of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 50, but younger women can also get breast cancer. About 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. There is a good chance of recovery if it is detected at an early stage.

For this reason, it is vital that women check their breasts regularly for any changes and always have any changes examined by a GP. In rare cases, men can also be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Symptoms of breast cancer

Breast cancer can have several symptoms, but the first noticeable symptom is usually a lump or area of thickened breast tissue.

Most breast lumps are not cancerous, but it is always best to have them checked by a doctor.

You should also see a GP if you notice any of these symptoms: y a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts y discharge from either of your nipples, which may be streaked with blood y a lump or swelling in either of your armpits y dimpling on the skin of your breasts y a rash on or around your nipple y a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast

Breast pain is not usually a symptom of breast cancer.

Causes of breast cancer

The exact causes of breast cancer are not fully understood. However, there are certain factors known to increase the risk of breast cancer.

These include: y age – the risk increases as you get older y a family history of breast cancer y a previous diagnosis of breast cancer y a previous non-cancerous (benign) breast lump y being tall, overweight or obese y drinking alcohol

Preventing breast cancer

As the causes of breast cancer are not fully understood, at the moment it is not possible to know if it can be prevented.

If you have an increased risk of developing the condition, some treatments are available to reduce your risk. Studies have looked at the link between breast cancer and diet.

Although there are no definite conclusions, there are benefits for women who:

y maintain a healthy weight y exercise regularly y have a low intake of saturated fat y do not drink alcohol y it has been suggested that regular exercise can reduce your risk of breast cancer by almost as much as a

third. Regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle can also improve the outlook for people affected by breast cancer

If you have been through the menopause, it is particularly important that you try to get to, and maintain, a healthy weight. This is because being overweight or obese causes more oestrogen to be produced, which can increase the risk of breast cancer.

If cancer is detected at an early stage, it can be treated before it spreads to other parts of the body. If you have any concerns, please contact your GP, and please come forward for breast screening when invited.

Women with a higher-thanaverage risk of developing breast cancer may be offered screening and genetic testing for the condition.

As the risk of breast cancer increases with age, all women who are 50 to 70 years old are invited for breast cancer screening every three years.

Women over the age of 70 are also entitled to screening and can arrange an appointment through their GP or local screening unit.

For more information, please refer to www.nhs.uk. If you would like to take part in a future clinical column, please contact the communications team at paht. communications@nhs.net

Team wins national award for enhancing cancer care services

A team who are committed to enhancing cancer care services have won a national award.

The One Step at a Time team, which includes colleagues from PAHT, the Patient Panel at PAHT, and the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board, won the Team of the Year category at The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Awards 2022 in recognition of their work to promote the patient voice.

Together they produced a range of information for patients who have received a cancer diagnosis, focusing on a variety of video content and a printed pocket guide. The topics are explored by other patients and their loved ones, giving unique insights, and are available in different languages. This information is provided to patients when they receive a cancer diagnosis to support them on their journey throughout their treatment.

Shahid Sardar, associate director of patient engagement at PAHT, said: “This is an award recognising our incredible patients, because this is information for patients, by patients. Huge thanks to the public and staff for their incredible work and to the RCN for recognising its potential –it means a great deal to the team, who are dedicated to

improving the experience of patients with cancer.

“One Step at a Time are continuing to develop the resources available for patients who receive a cancer diagnosis and are proud to be making a difference.”

Ann Nutt, chair of the Patient Panel at PAHT, said: “We have received great feedback about the information produced for patients who receive a cancer diagnosis, this came from our successful conference ‘Fight Cancer with Hope’ held at Harlow College in September 2021. It is a privilege to represent the patient voice and to have worked with patients and their loved ones to give the information that others need, at a difficult time when they need it most.”

Emma Harnett, Macmillan

nurse for Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board, added: “We are working together to help improve the lives of patients with cancer in west Essex and amplify the patient voice. We have a vision, cancer information by patients for patients, professionally produced, and we have put the patient at the heart and centre of what we do.

“Winning the RCN award is fantastic, with recognition from our peers in the nursing profession. We are so proud of what we have achieved as a team, and I’m proud to represent the nursing voice.”

Sharon McNally, director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals and deputy chief executive at PAHT, added: “Congratulations to the team on this amazing achievement – I feel incredibly privileged to work with such amazing colleagues and I am delighted to see them recognised. Well done to everyone involved.”

One Step at a Time are keen to expand their membership, if you are interested in joining and have experience of cancer and/or cancer services, please contact paht.patient.panel@ nhs.net to get involved.

Pictured: From left, Emma Harnett, Ann Nutt and Shahid Sardar at the awards ceremony.

Voluntary services team shortlisted for prestigious award

The compassionate care Namaste voluntary services team have been shortlisted for a prestigious award.

The team have reached the finals of the Helpforce Champions Awards 2022, in the Outstanding Team of the Year category.

The awards focus on providing national recognition of fantastic contributions to volunteering in the health and care sector. The team were recognised particularly for demonstrating compassion and giving their time to offer a listening ear to our patients.

There are currently 25 members of the team covering wards and departments, with four new volunteers joining soon. Their role includes sitting alongside patients to encourage conversation or to be with them to provide company, reading them a newspaper or a story, and playing music from a device. They can also help care for patients who have a learning disability, or are living with dementia, and offer one-toone support sessions. Since the compassionate care volunteers’ project began in December 2021, volunteers have committed to almost 800 volunteering hours, and compassionately supported 1,974 patients.

Jayne Moscow, compassionate care/Namaste voluntary services coordinator, said:

“We are delighted to have been shortlisted for a national award – our volunteers provide invaluable support to our hospital and it means so much to all of us to be recognised.

“Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers for your contributions.”

Phillipa Haslehurst, voluntary services manager, added:

“We know how vital all of our volunteers are to support our patients, their families and our people. This is an incredibly exciting time to be shortlisted for the Helpforce awards as it recognises the success of a unique service that is planned

to be shared across the NHS."

Sharon McNally, director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals and deputy chief executive, added: “I am delighted to see our wonderful volunteers shortlisted for an award. Their commitment to support our patients and our people is amazing and so appreciated by us all. Well done and good luck for the finals.”

Please contact jayne. moscow@nhs.net if you are interested in being part of the compassionate care (Namaste) team.

Pictured: Some of the compassionate care Namaste voluntary services team.

Celebrating our allied health professionals

The 14 October marked Allied Health Professions (AHP) Day, which was an opportunity to highlight and celebrate our amazing AHPs and the vital role that they play in our patients' journey.

We have over 160 AHPs at PAHT - did you know that there are 14 allied health professions? They include:

y Art therapists

y Drama therapists

y Chiropodists/podiatrists

y Dietitians

y Music therapists

y Occupational therapists

y Operating department practitioners

y Orthoptists

y Osteopaths

y Paramedics

y Physiotherapists

y Prosthetists and orthotists

y Radiographers

y Speech and language therapists

More about the wide range of AHP roles

To give you an insight into the wide range of AHP roles, our communications team interviewed two of our fantastic AHPs, Janice Bernardo, frailty lead practitioner, and Toby Trundle, dietitian, to find out more about their roles, why they wanted to become an AHP, their reasons for being passionate about working in the NHS, as well as offering advice to anybody who is considering a career as an AHP.

You can take a look at Janice’s interview via this link and Toby’s interview via this link.

AHPs in the spotlight:

Proudest moments

Take a look at the video that explains more about the roles of our allied health professionals and some of their proudest moments over the last year, including offering a seven day service within our emergency department, Older Person’s Assessment Unit (OPAL) and frailty unit, the virtual fracture clinic therapies service and introducing therapies support within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

A huge thank you for all that you do and putting our patients first – we hope you enjoyed celebrating your amazing profession that makes a difference to so many people.

60 second interview with Nneka Smith, clinical education lead for non-medical colleagues

When did you join PAHT and what is your role?

I joined PAHT in August this year as the clinical educational lead for non-medical colleagues.

What is the most rewarding part of your role?

The most rewarding part of my role is working together with our people and colleagues

across the Integrated Care System (ICS) to support our learners at PAHT. It is great to see many of our learners go on to secure a substantive role at PAHT.

What is the most challenging part of your role?

There are a wide range of educational opportunities for our people, including

postgraduate education, continued professional development and advanced practice programmes, so it can be challenging to support them all at the same time.

Do you have any stand out moments whilst working at PAHT so far?

I am thrilled to be part of Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) Day. Our team has worked hard to plan activities to celebrate the day and raise the profile of our amazing AHP colleagues. I am proud to be an AHP (diagnostic radiographer) and to represent our profession in my current role, which has not been occupied by an AHP before.

Why are you passionate about working in the NHS?

I am passionate about the impact that education has on our recruitment and retention rate and supporting

our people who continue to work extremely hard despite managing the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased demands on our services.

It is so important to provide a positive clinical placement for our people who are continuing with further education to ensure that we have an amazing future workforce.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I am focusing on the first three to six months of my current role. However, I do intend to continue to undertake some clinical time to support my colleagues and provide high quality care and experiences for our patients.

Is there any advice that you would like to share with our people?

I think it is important to note that education is much more than just our undergraduate

and postgraduate programmes; we have a variety of apprenticeships at different levels for people who wish to continue education, please get in touch with Mary Verlander, apprenticeships manager, at mary.verlander@ nhs.net.

What are your future plans at PAHT?

I need to understand our current position with nonmedical education at PAHT in the first instance and use my personal and previous experience to support our teams with teaching, problem solving and progressing educational opportunities. I also plan to form a nonmedical education committee to ensure that we meet and surpass the regional and national standards required.

Pictured above: Operating department practitioners with Sarah Webb, deputy director of nursing and midwifery (back row, left) and Zowie Copeman, currently general manager for radiology, audiology and breast services, recently appointed to the newly established role as the associate director of allied health professionals (AHPs).

Pictured above: Speech and language therapists by their information stand.

Associate director of allied health professionals appointed

We are pleased to share that Zowie Copeman (pictured, previous page) has been appointed to the newly established role as the associate director of allied health professionals (AHPs), and will take up this role as part of the clinical support services (CSS) triumvirate. Currently, Zowie is the general manager for radiology, audiology and breast services, in CSS division, a post that she has held for six years. As the associate director of AHPs, Zowie will be responsible for supporting, developing and leading our AHP workforce.

Zowie will also work directly with our nursing and operational leadership teams and executive team to enhance our processes, pathways and governance, support our AHP leadership team, and work with our wider teams and system partners to ensure that we continue to optimise and improve experiences and care for our patients. Please join us in supporting and welcoming Zowie as she takes on her new role.

Improving patient flow – making it better, together update

As you will be aware, we are working with teams across PAHT towards:

y A reduction in hospital admissions where a patient could be cared for in a more appropriate setting

y A reduction in bed occupancy and length of stay (LoS)

y An increase in early discharge of patients (before 12noon)

y The timely identification and reduction of patient delays

y Enhancing the quality of single referral forms to support complex discharge planning

y Keeping patient readmission rates stable

y Consistent achievement of internal professional and performance standards (IPPS)

A presentation relating to patient flow was recently shared with clinicians, including advanced nurse practitioners, at the Grand Round. The presentation aimed to share the projects

underway to help support patient flow; provide detailed information about support services available over the winter period; and demonstrate how working together can help to address the challenges we face with patient flow.

In the session, Dr Ganesh Arunachalam, consultant, elderly care/medicine on Lister Ward, outlined three key principles that will help to support patient flow, including:

1. Every hour counts: When the patient no longer requires an acute treatment in the hospital setting, it is better for the patient to be discharged to avoid deconditioning.

2. Work together: It is extremely important to work collaboratively with our multidisciplinary (MDT) teams, including therapists, across the hospital to ensure patient flow and better experiences for our patients.

3. Your board rounds: Remember, board rounds are the key place to make

decisions. Be proactive about patient discharge plans from the point of admission to help enhance patient flow.

Kay Cobbold, matron for the transfer of care team, discussed a case study with the group to highlight the importance of discharging our patients in order to avoid deconditioning. The case study focused on a patient who was medically ready to be discharged home after 12 days in hospital; however, the patient stayed in hospital for over six weeks, due to a prolonged period of being less mobile and independent during their stay in hospital and as a result, required additional support with feeding and essential care. Fran Humphries, general manager for elderly medicine, palliative care and resilience, also shared an update about the launch of the Red2Green pilot on Harold Ward and Locke Ward. For more, contact johanna.burge@nhs.net

Charity update... Tap to donate machines – please support our charity

We are pleased to share that we now have three tap to donate fundraising machines for The Princess Alexandra Hospital Charity.

Responding to requests from our donors for new ways to give, as an alternative to cash, patients, relatives and visitors can use the machines to make a contactless donation from their debit or credit card. They can also give via mobile phone on Apple Pay/Google Pay.

The machines are located at the main entrance, in the maternity waiting area, and

the outpatients' waiting area (pictured, right) of The Princess Alexandra Hospital.

The hospital charity enhances patient care, purchases special equipment, improves facilities and invests in research to support patients now and in the future. Please direct people to the machines if they ask how to donate - it is quick and easy.

For more information, please contact Gary Taylor, head of charity, at gary.taylor17@nhs. net or paht.fundraising@nhs. net

New artwork unveiled at local breast unit clinic

The dedicated breast unit team at St. Margaret’s Hospital has unveiled a new floor-toceiling piece of artwork in their appointment waiting area after receiving a generous donation from a local golf club.

Sue Atherton, past ladies’ captain at the Chigwell Golf Club, selected the Breast Unit as her fundraiser as part of the annual Captain’s Day competition.

Over 5,000 women attend the Breast Unit, based at

St. Margaret’s Hospital in Epping, which is part of PAHT, for a routine appointment or specialist care and treatment every year.

David Nash, also known as Gnasher, an artist from Harlow, was commissioned to design and install the new artwork, to create a calming and welcoming environment in the waiting room for women who are attending the Breast Unit.

Dr Anthony Aylwin, consultant radiologist and director of

breast screening, said: “We are so thrilled with the wonderful piece of scenic artwork.

“It’s so important for us to create a peaceful space for women visiting our unit to help them feel calm and relaxed.

“We have received positive feedback from our patients so far and can see first-hand the difference it makes to their overall experience. It also creates a bright, modern and welcoming environment for our people to work in.

“In the near future, we

hope to commission further artwork throughout the unit to continue enhancing care and experiences for our patients and people.”

Gary Taylor, head of charity, added: “We are committed to putting our patients at the heart of everything we do, whether through funding new technology, investing in vital research, or through projects like this to improve and enhance the hospital environment.

“We are so grateful for every kind donation that we receive to be able to fund projects

that will help to enhance our patients’ wellbeing and experiences.

"A huge thank you to the people who worked collaboratively to make this happen.”

Dedicated hospital team to host informative conference during Lung Cancer Awareness Month

The specialist lung cancer nursing team at PAHT is inviting local people and patients to join them at their forthcoming conference.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and the lung cancer team at PAHT, together with The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, will be raising awareness about lung cancer – the second most common cancer in the UK today.

Tracey Horey, lung cancer clinical nurse specialist, said: “We are committed to supporting our patients who have been diagnosed with cancer and their loved ones

through a very difficult time.

“With lung cancer affecting over 48,500 people in the UK every year and a leading cause of death for both men and women, we are keen to share the latest developments and treatments of lung cancer, highlight the wide range

of support and information available, risk factors and the early signs and symptoms to look out for."

Attendees will hear more from our expert speakers, meet other people who are in a similar situation, and share experiences in a safe space, if they feel comfortable to do so.

The event will take place on Wednesday 2 November from 9:45am until 4pm at The Paringdon Sports and Social Club, Harlow. For more information, please contact the lung specialist nursing team at paht.lungcns@nhs.net or call 01279 827622. Bookings closed on 26 October

Our patients said...

"I just want to say thank you to everyone involved in my endoscopy. Everyone was very kind and understanding and I'm really grateful."

"I wanted to write to say thank you and to highlight the wonderful staff we encountered at the Fracture Clinic.

"All the staff were patient, very friendly and took time to speak to my son, explain what they were doing and put him at ease.

"I would also like to mention the A&E nurses and doctors who looked after him when he initially broke his leg. They were also exceptionally friendly, patient and caring.

"They are all a credit to the NHS. Thanks again, and keep up the fantastic work."

"Many thanks for the professional care and service provided by all of the team for my surgery, from start to finish, that is from reception to surgery and a cup of nice tea in the recovery ward."

Divisional update: family and women's services

"We would like to wish a very warm welcome to our 17 newly qualified midwives who have recently joined us and our new interim general manager for children’s services, Seval Gurtunc. We have also appointed Mary McLachlan as consultant obstetrician and lead for maternity transformation; Sowmya Sadanandappa who is joining us from Nottingham as a consultant obstetrician for maternal medicine in December; and Nabila Iram, locum consultant obstetrician. We have also appointed Tatyana Moshanova as consultant paediatrician with an interest in paediatric diabetes.

"The report on maternity and neonatal services in East Kent was released recently. We, like many of you, were distressed reading the findings which describe failings at East Kent Hospitals, which has caused suffering to staff, women and families. This is the second report this year highlighting the need to address the system in which maternity and neonatal care, and services are provided. There now needs to be some time taken to read the report and reflect upon what this means for our services and what we need to do collectively to continuously improve. What we can do collectively is to work together to ensure we listen, and we learn from this and ensure that women and families have trust in their care. This includes the building blocks and focus for a positive working culture for all of us."

The family and women's services divisional management team

Celebrating Black History Month

Thank you to everyone involved in our Black History Month celebrations, highlighting the incredible contributions of our black #PAHTPeople and those across the NHS. This year's theme was 'Time for Change: Action Not Words' and a series of events, open to all, were held for our #PAHTPeople.

This included safe spaces events with our Race, Equality and Cultural Heritage (REACH) network and a Black History Month Maternity Voices

Partnership women’s event with African families in the UK. Unison organised a celebratory event at the Alex Lounge, and our maternity team also held an event to celebrate diversity within our teams (pictured). The event focused on topics including equality, diversity and inclusion within the workplace, international midwifery recruitment, and personal stories from members of the team.