One & All Magazine by Edgemoor Design

Issue 7 August 2014

Royal Cornwall Show A roaring success

Research and Innovation at RCHT Improving care for One+All

RCHT Abroad Compassion overseas

Competitions & Prizes Tickets to win

CONTENTS www.rcht.nhs.uk

Editorial Communications, Bedruthan House 01872 253216 oneandall@cornwall.nhs.uk

Royal Cornwall Hospitals

NHS Trust

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One and All is published quarterly every January, April, July and October. Copy date for each issue is approximately six weeks before publication.

Cover Picture Pre-Assessment Clinic nurses give the Eden Project’s T-rex a free health check. See page 28 for the full story

DISCLAIMER Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that adverts and articles appear correctly. Edgemoor Publishing cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the contents of this publication. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of its publisher or editor.

Welcome

CONTENTS TRUST VIEW

Ethna McCarthy - Planning for the future

My View Duncan Wheatley - Why research is important

Competition Hall for Cornwall - win 4 tickets for Joseph

Trust People News & Views

In Focus RCHT Abroad - Compassion overseas

Feature Research and Innovation - Improving care for One+All

Grapevine Save the Date & staff lottery

Volunteering Volunteers, donations and new volunteers

Membership Busy summer

Charitable Funds Donations & Fundraising

Feature Equality and Diversity for all

Feature Royal Cornwall Show

Did You Know? Saving blood at RCHT

WHAT’S ON Diary Dates, Spot the Difference

Welcome to the latest edition of One + all – our quarterly magazine for patients, staff, volunteers, Foundation Trust members and anyone with an interest in local healthcare. What a front cover! It certainly got my four year old son interested in my work! It has been a busy summer already and it is that time of year when the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Team aim to outreach into the community as much as possible attending shows and events throughout Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The Royal Cornwall Show (front cover picture) was once again a highlight and a great opportunity to promote health and wellbeing and the services we provide. A big thank you to our all our colleagues who offered advice and health screening to show goers. In this edition we also feature our exceptional work in research to make the very best treatments available to one + all, alongside the work of our dedicated clinicians who give up their own time to take their care, compassion and talents to other countries around the world. I hope you enjoy the magazine and we welcome all feedback. If you would like to know more about Royal Cornwall Hospitals and ask questions of our senior leadership then please come along to our Annual General Meeting on Thursday 25th September from 6.30pm in the Knowledge Spa on our Truro site. Look out for full details in the coming weeks. Thank you for your continued support. Garth Davies Associate Director, Communications at RCHT. oneandall@cornwall.nhs.uk

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TRUST VIEW

Ethna McCarthy, Director of Strategy and Business Development A successful career from finance management trainee to a wide range of senior posts in the NHS, in the North West of England and since 2006 here in Cornwall, Ethna was most recently part of the team that led Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust into gaining Foundation Trust status. She joined RCHT in January 2012 taking up a key role on the Trust Board.

What is your role at rcht? I have a wide and interesting role planning for our future. I am leading the development of the Trust’s service and business plans. We have recently published the two year business plan, which is now summarised on one page and widely distributed across the Trust. I work closely with our specialty teams, commissioners and other partners in health and social care, with the aim of providing outstanding patient care. I also have responsibility for the 2018 programme, which is a series of projects to change and improve the way we work and cost saving schemes designed to 4 One and All

improve quality while reducing cost. That is very challenging for all organisations in the NHS so a key part of my role is to learn from other Trusts and make sure we convert ideas into reality. I am also leading the Foundation Trust application and continue work towards its completion.

organisations will need to involve patients and GPs more to develop innovative health care. We can’t be complacent and it does mean the Trust needs to become more business-like and make difficult choices. Our vision is working together to achieve outstanding care and better health outcomes.

Is this all management led or do clinicians play a role?

So what is next for rcht?

I work closely with clinical colleagues to help them create their own plans. The plans obviously reflect the direction RCHT is moving in but the clinical teams take responsibility for their own decisions. I help them to develop as business units. The aim is that Clinical Specialities will run as if they are their own business and thus be empowered to take more responsibility for decisions about services in the future. We welcome everyone’s views about how the Trust can improve its services. We are always looking at how we can inlcude patient and staff ideas into the development of our business plans. What do you feel the future of the nhs is? The only things that seem certain are that there will be more changes and an increasing pressure on scarce resources. Quite rightly, quality of service will be paramount and all health care

In the NHS today there is more competition for clinical services so it is important we develop our market plans in order to protect current services and look to expand the range of services we might provide in the future, especially for people in the East of Cornwall. Key to the Trust’s long term success is the acceleration of our E-transformation programme including development of our electronic patient record and sharing those records with other health providers. It is great we are already making much better use of technology, but we have a long way to go and so will be making significant investment to try to move to paperless working. This includes making it easier for patients to access their own information and to help them be more involved in planning their care. Finally, we need to develop truly integrated clinical pathways to ensure high quality services for all delivered through effective partnership across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. n

MY VIEW www.rcht.nhs.uk

Consultant Oncologist, Dr Duncan Wheatley is newly appointed Clinical Lead for Research, Development and Innovation at RCHT. One+All talks to Duncan about why research has such an important role to play in healthcare in Cornwall. What does it mean to local patients to be able to take part in research and clinical trials? By their nature clinical trials are comparing what are already regarded as the best treatments in the world with those expected to be even better. As a minimum patients will get the best treatment available. On top of that, in a study every aspect of care gets rigorously monitored and double-checked so patient safety is always a top priority. Patients are keen to develop new treatments for themselves and for future generations to come. Many of the approved medicines available today have side effects and there are still

better ways of doing things. Research and trials are part of our constant search for better care. It has to be an evolution with a treatment that is hoped to be the next best thing. How can RCHT become more involved? We have to dispel the notion that research is about laboratories, animals and test tubes. The greatest benefit is local research with real patients as part of their standard care. But not as ‘guinea pigs’, it’s about taking good treatments and making them even better – new drugs, better ways of screening, diagnosis and treatment. Research should be a normal part of patient care. If a study is available that might lead to a better treatment then we should be able to offer that. What’s the key to bringing more commercial trials to Cornwall and why are they so important? This is an area where there is a great deal of competition. What we have to do is show as a Trust we are ‘open’ for trials and that we have a good track record. That means showing we can open studies quickly, actively offer them to patients and meet recruiting targets. We have some specialties, such as cancer and diabetes, already doing well. For example, for cancer trials RCHT is the second highest area in the country for recruitment and fifth highest for new commercial studies. We’ve just finished a radiotherapy treatment study involving 93 hospitals and 4,000 people. What we now need to do is to build on the infrastructure needed to support all areas of research. Commercial trials often mean patients get early access to high-cost treatments that they wouldn’t otherwise have. They also bring funding with them which means we can save on treatment costs, employ additional staff and attract high calibre, innovative clinicians who in turn inspire others to develop their own research activity. There are also spin-offs for the local economy through research related healthcare business development. Can patients play a part in developing our research activity? Most definitely. We want patients to be more aware of the opportunities to ask their clinicians about any studies they can take part in as part of their care and treatment. It’s about making access to studies easier for patients and clinicians. The infrastructure and funding is in place. We now have to make research part of our core business and encourage patients to ask and to participate.” Interested in trials? Turn to page 16 n

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puttin’ on the Ritz

Bill Kenwright by arrangement with the Really Useful Group presents

Mon 8 Sat 13 Sep ‘this glorious show hits the jackpot’ US Press

three Men in a boat tue 16 Sat 20 Sep êêêê

‘the whole audience were in stitches’ WhatsOnStage

beyond the barricade

DANIELLE HOPE AS NARRATOR

Lyrics by

NIELS LLOYD DAPH AS JOSE

MATT LAPINSKAS AS PHARAOH

Tim Rice Music by AndRew LLoyd-weBBeR

‘A SuPERb PIEcE Of ENTERTAINMENT’ Daily Mail

TuE 26 SuN 31 Aug

Box Office 01872 262466 www.hallforcornwall.co.uk Hall For Cornwall, Lemon Quay, Truro, TR1 2LL

Win 4 tickets to see

Sat 27 Sep

Joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat

Recreating some of the west end and broadway’s greatest hits

Tuesday 26 August, 7.30pm

book now Box Office 01872 262466 www.hallforcornwall.co.uk

For a chance to win four tickets to the opening night, please answer the following question: How many brothers did Joseph have?

To enter, please send your answer along with your name, home address, or Department and extension number to oneandall@cornwall.nhs.uk or send it to: One & All Magazine, c/o Press Office, Bedruthan House, RCH There will be just one winner, no cash equivalent prizes. The competition is open to RCHT staff only, excluding those associated with the competition. The prize is non-transferable and is available to entrants aged 18 and above. Al entries must be made by 15th August 2014. The decision of the Press Office is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

TRUST PEOPLE www.rcht.nhs.uk

Special visitors to the children’s wards…. Young patients at the Royal Cornwall Hospital have been treated to special visits over the last few months.

Elmo and Cookie Monster say hello

TV favourites Cookie Monster and Elmo made a surprise visit and gave out chocolate eggs. Sponsored by Balfour Beatty, the two lovable characters brought a smile to the faces of the children and staff. More Easter Eggs were given to the Emergency Department by GE Money in Truro, for any young patients who are admitted over the bank holiday weekend. The Easter Bunny, guided around by PCSO Emil Gabriele from Truro Police Station and RCH Police Officer George Torrance, took

PCSO Emil Gabriele and PC George Torrance with the Easter Bunny

time out from his busy schedule to hand out chocolate eggs for the older children and soft toys for younger children. Sponsored by the Easter Bunny Foundation and supported by Truro Police Station, PCSO Gabriele said: “It’s so lovely to see the look on all the children’s faces when they see the Easter Bunny, we have thoroughly enjoyed helping out!” Sainsbury’s in Truro gave a selection of eggs which had been donated by their customers. Stavros Ballas, Service Deputy Manager explained they were amazed by their customers’ generosity, which saw over 350 eggs being donated.

Special chocolate boxes were also given to all the nurses’ stations by Winners Personnel from Truro. Gill Caddy, Play Specialist at RCH, said: “We are so grateful to everyone for their kind donations. It can be difficult for children to spend time in hospital over the Easter period but being able to give them special treats while they are here can really help them on the road to recovery.” Those youngsters who were unable to enjoy the chocolate didn’t miss out on the Easter fun thanks to the Starlight Foundation who provided cuddly toy bunnies. Poppet and Buster Bumble Chops, two of the Moshi Monsters characters, decided to pay a visit and say hello before they started their Easter break visit to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek.

Elliott (18mths) with mum and the Moshi Monsters

Kelly’s Ice Cream not only bought in chocolate eggs but also brought in pots of their famous ice cream for patients, their families and staff. Steve from Kelly’s Ice Cream, who has been doing these Easter visits for five years, said: “A lot of staff at Kelly’s Ice Cream have children who have spent time at the hospital, so we can only imagine how difficult it might be to be in hospital over the Easter period. If giving an egg and some ice cream can help put a smile on a child’s face, it is certainly worth it!”

£63,500 machine donated to Stem Cell Transplant Service An award of a state of the art machine used in stem cell treatment is helping to ensure a smooth service can be provided to haematology patients at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro. The Spectra Optia Aphresis machine, which was bought with a £63,500 award from the Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund, is a second machine for the Trust. The new machine has been affectionately named Lily and joins Bert, the original machine. Both are named after Clinical Lead Consultant Haematologist Bryson Pottinger’s wife’s grandparents.

Steve from Kelly’s Ice Cream gives out Easter eggs

Gill Caddy, Play Specialist at RCHT, said: “We are very pleased the Moshi Monsters were able to come and see us. Visits like these really brighten up the day for our young patients so we want to thank Poppet, Buster Bumble Chops and the Cornish Seal Sanctuary for coming along.”

Teresa Batchelor, Transplant Nurse Co-ordinator, said: “This new machine from the Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund is exactly the same as the one we already have. By having a second machine we can ensure that should we have a problem with one machine, we can continue to offer the service in Truro. In the past we would either have had to send those patients to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth or borrow a machine from Derriford which could have caused a delay in treatment.” The new machine also gives the Stem Cell Transplant service the opportunity to expand in the future. Dr Pottinger said: “Having two machines means we have the opportunity to develop the service in the future and we are also able to harvest or plasma exchange two patients at the same time.” The donation was made after representatives from the charity met with Dr Pottinger and Kathryn Radcliffe, RCHT Lead Cancer Nurse. Kathryn said: “Dr Pottinger and I had a meeting with Helen McLeod from the Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund. We put in an application and at the end of last year we heard our bid had been successful and the charity’s Trustees had approved the award for the machine.” One and All 7

TRUST PEOPLE

Innovative solution to gulls

Allyson James (specialist stroke nurse), Andy Virr (Divisional Director), Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter and Truro MP Sarah Newton

Health Minister impressed by visit to RCHT

ealth Minister Dr Dan Poulter and Truro MP Sarah Newton visited the newly expanded and refurbished emergency department in April. Dr Poulter was shown around by Divisional Director Dr Andy Virr, Matron Claire Blake and Specialist Stroke Nurse Ally James. He spent time with staff talking about the improvements to their working environment and the changes that have been put in place to improve care for stroke patients with fast access to specialist support and diagnosis. The expansion project was part-funded by a £1.2 million investment from the Department of Health and has seen the number of trolley bays increase from 12 to 22 and separate new areas created for children and walk-in patients with less severe injury or illness. Dr Poulter also visited the Truro base for University of Exeter’s Medical School and European Centre for the Environment and Human Health at the Knowledge Spa where Year 5 students from the Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry and researchers were among those he met. On his departure Dr Poulter said: “The modern facilities are excellent and clearly delivering the improved levels of privacy, dignity and quality of care that were planned for.”

Stilts, so named because of his longer than average legs, has been happily soaring above the Royal Cornwall Hospital site in Truro for the last 17 weeks helping to deter seagulls from nesting. With complaints last year about seagull numbers and their less than friendly attitude once their chicks had hatched, the Trust’s Estates team approached NBC Bird & Pest Solutions for assistance. Martin Cattell from the company and Stilts, a male South American Harris Hawk, took on the challenge and Martin says so far it’s been very successful. Martin said: “Stilts is only here as a deterrent helping to prevent the Herring Gulls from nesting and forming a colony. Due to their declining numbers Herring Gulls are protected however they can be managed under license.” Stilts’ presence this year has resulted in a significantly reduced number of nesting and breeding pairs and along with a licensed egg control programme has subsequently reduced the numbers of chicks hatching as the gulls are put off breeding. Anthony Ayers, Operations and Technical Officer in the Trust’s Estate’s Department, said: “We have tried audio and decoy deterrents in previous years but these were only effective for a very short period and had no effect on the colony size or the number of breeding gulls. Martin, with Stilts, came to site and made an instant impact.” He added: “Although there are still Herring Gulls on site, some of whom have managed to hatch chicks, the numbers are much less with a huge reduction in the overall colony size when compared to last year and its felt the programme has been a very successful way of dealing with a difficult problem.”

Volunteers help grade Trust against Equality criteria

The Trust has recruited 20 volunteers from the public to help make sure it meets its responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010. The volunteers, who include two patient ambassadors, a retired nurse, retired social worker and representatives from voluntary organisations and service users, will assess the Trust across four main goals relating to patients, staff and leadership and give each element a grade. Debby Lewis, Equality and Inclusion Lead at RCHT, said: “The Equality Delivery System is a tool used to help public organisations

8 One and All

provide evidence they are complying with their public sector equality duty. To ensure organisations don’t use it as a selfassessment, it is recommended service users – patients and visitors – are recruited to provide the grading.” As all health organisations in the county have to comply with the Act, a co-ordinated approach has been agreed and the volunteers will grade each organisation. Debby said: “Each panel member will sit on two panels each and then the individual organisations will present their evidence to the relevant panel. The volunteers will have opportunity to ask questions, challenge and discuss evidence and then agree the appropriate grade.” Debby added: “This first session was really well received by the group and there was some lively debate. We looked at equality in general and in the context of Cornwall before we went on to talking about the Equality Delivery System which the panel will be grading the Trust against.” For more information see the Equality and Inclusion feature on pages 26 and 27.

TRUST PEOPLE www.rcht.nhs.uk

Cornish cancer patients help to raise awareness of Myeloma Members of Cornwall Myeloma Support Group spent time talking to visitors and staff at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in June to raise awareness as part of National Myeloma Awareness Week. Trevor Sulch from Mylor was diagnosed with Myeloma two years ago after his cancer was picked up by chance while he was in hospital for something else. Myeloma is a complex and uncommon cancer with approximately 4,000 new diagnoses each year in the UK. It is treatable but currently is incurable. It is a cancer of a blood cell called a plasma cell; these are found in the bone marrow and are responsible for

Helping Cornish ME sufferers

he Trust’s Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME) Service has been running for ten years and has seen a notable change in the treatment and care of patients. The current service at RCHT began in 2004 and for the last four years, the multi-disciplinary team which includes medical assessment, psychological and occupational therapy has been led by Carol Wilson, Specialty Lead and Specialist Clinician. Carol said: “We work very much across services, using resources that might help the patient. We always focus on getting the person back into a normal life as soon as we can.” Around 300 new patients a year are now referred to clinics at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance or in community settings. Most are aged 16 to 60. Symptoms of CFS/ ME include extreme fatigue with an associated malaise which is out of proportion to the amount of mental or physical exertion spent and does not dissipate after rest. Many suffer headaches, nausea and sleep disturbances. Muscle pain and balance disturbance are also common. Difficulty in processing information is another associated complaint with sufferers struggling to process verbal or written instructions or follow conversations. As its name suggests, it is a chronic condition, however for some it can be much shorter in duration. Carol added: “Medicine does not have any quick answers and that can have a huge psychological effect on patients who just want to get well as soon as they can. Recovery can require dedicated hard work to become well again. There is no ‘off the peg’ remedy and because of this we work psychologically with patients to help them come to terms with their situation and learn to live in a way that minimises symptoms and slowly allows incremental increases in function. Some people make a full recovery while others learn to live within a boundary that feels achievable on a daily basis.” The service in Truro is also helping to educate health professionals of the future. The team provides teaching and training placements with the University of Exeter Medical School and Plymouth University. The European Centre for Environment and Human Health at the Knowledge Spa is a great supporter of the service with its interest in emerging diseases and the increase in Lyme Disease. The RCHT team also meet with MESH and SWAME, the local support groups for sufferers. Carol said: “We get good feedback from them and from our patients and that continues to influence how we run the service.”

making proteins called antibodies that help protect the body against infection. Myeloma is a very difficult cancer to diagnose as most of its common symptoms and complications are not specific. The most common symptoms of myeloma are tiredness, infections, bone pain and bone fractures. Andy Wood, Chairman of the Cornwall Myeloma Support Group, said: “Not many people know about myeloma. This may make it difficult to get a diagnosis. This is one of the reasons the people in our support group were keen to be involved in myeloma awareness week. Myeloma UK have developed a myeloma diagnosis pathway which aims to provide GPs with a short, simple guide to the most common symptoms of myeloma.” The haematology consultants and clinical nurse specialists are committed to offering Cornish myeloma patients the opportunity to take part in clinical trials. Despite being a small centre the department is the 9th top recruiter out of 108 sites in the current National Myeloma X1 Trial.

Interested in trials? Turn to page 16

Sunrise Appeal adds to capability of hi-tech radiotherapy equipment... Commissioning of a second TrueBeam linear accelerator to provide the latest in radiotherapy treatments came a step closer as the £2 million machine was delivered to the Sunrise Centre. Installation of the TrueBeam is part of RCHT’s clinical site development programme and its capabilities are being further enhanced thanks to a major donation from the Sunrise Appeal. The Appeal has raised in excess of £2.3 million since it was launched and its major grants have been the £500,000 when the Sunrise Centre was first built and a further £646,000 in upgrading the first TrueBeam in 2011. It has continued to be widely supported by patients and the public and plays a big part in keeping our radiotherapy services at the forefront of developments in cancer treatments. Consultant oncologist, Dr Toby Talbot said: “The second TrueBeam will make a massive difference. It will mean every one of our patients will have access to the cutting edge treatment these machines can offer.” The TrueBeam linear accelerator is able to target tumours more precisely than conventional radiotherapy machines, meaning the specialists at the hospital can plan treatments to minimise damage to tissue and organs surrounding tumours, cut down treatment times and consequently lower radiation doses. It is also able to follow a patient’s breathing pattern to precisely target treatment as the body moves. The Sunrise Appeal is contributing £460,000 to the project which will enable the oncology team to purchase hi-tech tilting couches for both machines. These will bring a new dimension to the way in which patients can be positioned during their treatment. The new TrueBeam is due to be ready to treat the first patients towards the end of the Summer. If you would like to support the Sunrise Appeal you can make a donation online via JustGiving: ‘The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Clinical Oncology and Cancer Care Appeal’ or contact the Appeals office 01872 252627.

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TRUST PEOPLE

Fond Farewell There were tears, laughter and fond memories shared at a retirement party for midwife Sharon Tucker. Many of Sharon’s colleagues from midwives to health care assistants and consultants crammed into the small Delivery Suite coffee room to see Midwifery Matron Teresa Phillips present Sharon with a bouquet of flowers and a gift from the Trust. Teresa said: “I just want to say how pleased we are for you but we are sorry to see you go. Sharon is retiring after over 30 years working as a midwife in Cornwall. Sharon started her training as a 17-year-old in 1977, qualifying in 1982 and spending her entire working life helping to bring Cornish

babies into the world. She even managed to deliver a baby during her last shift. Sharon said: “I just want to say thank you so much. It’s been a pleasure to work with every one of you. I have worked with some of you for a very long time. I think Cornwall is very, very lucky to have this unit. Everyone here works incredibly hard and the team work is outstanding from the consultants to the cleaners. I have had many great times.” While she is now looking forward to her retirement, Sharon won’t be losing touch completely with the Trust. She has signed up to Kernowflex, meaning her colleagues may see her again walking the wards.

Colleagues and friends of General Theatres Staff Nurse Sue Lewis gathered to say a fond farewell as she retired after 36 years with the NHS. Sue’s career included a six year stint in the RAF as a State enrolled nurse before she went on to work in a range of hospitals ending with a 13-year employment at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. Sue worked in the General Theatres but she had previously worked on surgical wards and children’s wards as well as with children with special needs and in the

community setting. Sue was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a gift from the Trust as well as gifts from colleagues. Sarah Asbridge, Theatre Manager, said: “You have been fantastic and your experience has been varied and wide and as a result I have been able to rely on you in many situations. You will be missed.” With her uniform packed away, Sue is planning on enjoying a cruise and learning photography.

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Also leaving was Sandra Knowles, Medical Secretary in Paediatrics, who retired after 25 years at the Trust. She joined RCH in 1989 as a Laboratory Assistant in Pathology before joining the Paediatric department in 2003. Even though she has plenty lined up for her retirement, Sandra will miss many parts of her job. “I will miss working with all of the colleagues that I have worked with over the years. They have made my time here so special,” said Sandra. As well as a holiday to Majorca to look forward to, Sandra is also looking forward to redecorating her house, gardening and going on horse rides. Having notched up 78 years of service between them, the Mermaid Centre said goodbye to two breast care nurses Sandra Paleschi and Frances Lambert. Sandra, who started at St Michaels Hospital as a staff nurse in 1980 and Frances, who joined RCH in 2007. Kersten Stepp, Associate Breast Clinician Specialist said: “Their expertise and experience will be sorely missed but we wish them all the best for their new ventures.” Sandra said: “I am always proud to say that I work for the Mermaid Centre, it is such a lovely place to work and they are all a great bunch of people,” said Sandra. “However, I’m sure I will still see them when I come in for my mammograms!” Frances, who worked closely with the Young Women’s Group, said: “I will really miss working together with my colleagues and treating such amazing patients; it really is a wonderful place to work.” Sandra is heading off to China for a two week holiday and Frances is traveling to America for a month for the birth of her two new grandsons, before embarking on a new chapter in her life with a move to Crete with her husband.

FEATURE

RCHT Abroad:

compassion overseas The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust has a large number of staff who are involved in medical projects abroad every year. Not only do the other countries benefit from the UK’s medical expertise and training, but the Trust benefits as staff learn new skills and ways of working which they are then able to bring back to their day-to-day jobs. Here are just a sample of projects currently in progress this year….

CHT Pathologist Dr Rob Marshall headed to Ethiopia earlier this year to help set up a tissue pathology department. Also going with him was a microtome, a crucial piece of equipment which was donated by

the Trust. Wollega University Medical School is one of 13 new medical schools in Africa and its first group of students are only now in their second year of training. All of the new schools are hoping to forge links with UK medical schools and Dr Marshall’s University of Exeter Medical School team are one of the first to sign up. While his main role is to provide educational support to the undergraduate programme, Dr Marshall was aware there was no diagnostic service for tissue pathology. Dr Marshall said: “The teams out there have been diagnosing by eye. If something looks wrong then they are treating that person for what they suspect it might be and as a result people may be having unnecessary treatment. This microtome is crucial. This machine is an old piece of equipment by our standards but still works well and can be used for teaching and diagnosis. “With this, eventually the medical school will have the only tissue pathology department for a radius of a couple of hundred miles. It will add a new dimension of care.”

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FEATURE

RCHT Consultant aiming to set up first Sudanese stroke unit

Dr Marshall is keen to point out that this isn’t just a case of shipping equipment to Ethiopia. The team have also spent time checking there are people out there who know how to use the equipment. The next step is to build up the number of pathologists who are capable of making a microscopic diagnosis. Dr Marshall has identified a Dutch group who will assist and he will also spend a number of weeks in the country each year. Assisting Rob in the project is RCHT Associate Specialist in Neurology Julie Thacker. She also spent time with the medical school in April. Rob said: “Each of us provides something different in terms of education. While my pathology background is much more in use with the first and second years, Julie will provide clinical skills training to the third year students.” To read more about the trip visit One&All Magazine on facebook and see Rob and Julie’s trip diary.

Frances Harrington, an RCHT stroke consultant, is hoping to set up the first stroke unit in Sudan. She visited the country earlier this year with Sudanese colleague Amir Abdalla to speak at a national conference about stroke treatment, dementia and the lack of services there for the elderly and frail. Frances said: “Amir used to work with me as a registrar. We would often discuss the lack of specialist medical care for older people in Sudan compared to here. In the UK there are 10 million people over the age of 65 and there are 1,400 geriatricians. In Sudan they have 1.8 million aged 65 and over and there are no geriatricians. With improvements in health and lifestyle, their elderly population is growing and the medical infrastructure to care for them is not there to support it. There are no training programmes either.” Frances said: “The trip was a fact finding mission. We were well received and our plan is to go out again next year and develop undergraduate and/or postgraduate teaching. We are going to try and set up some small research projects around dementia as well.” Frances’ main area of expertise is stroke and she discovered that despite stroke being very common in Sudan, there are no stroke physicians or stroke units. “The health care and targets have very much been aimed at reducing infectious diseases, infant mortality and maternal mortality but as that is improving, there are more people living longer and so they need to start looking at eldercare issues. We are going to try and set up a stroke unit with Soba University Hospital.” Helping Frances and Amir in this ambitious effort will be Advanced Stroke Nurse Practitioner Allyson James and Liz Tremayne, stroke specialist occupational therapist. Frances said: “Ally and our Stroke Specialist speech therapist Penny O’Brien have set up a swallow training programme for nurses here at RCHT which has helped to reduce the rate of aspiration pneumonia. That’s an immediate thing we could teach which would have a big impact on outcomes out there because they don’t do that.”

UWEZO Project A team of clinicians, researchers and patients from the Trust, Sweden and Kenya are working together on the UWEZO Project, a training programme to improve access to musculoskeletal health care in Kenya. In this innovative project physicians and patients from across Kenya are being taught to become trainers so they can teach others, such as nurses and clinical officers, the basic skills needed for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of musculoskeletal conditions (MSC). Since training began 2012 over 650 health professionals from 14 different locations across Kenya have received training. The team are also developing a patient self-management programme for people with long term MSC in

Kenya. Next they would like to see the project expanded to include occupational therapists and physiotherapists so that multi-disciplinary teams could be set up in locations across Kenya.

How can you help? Help is needed in many aspects of the UWEZO project from fund raising to providing storage for orthotic equipment before it’s shipped out to Kenya and developing and maintaining a UWEZO website. Volunteers are also needed to help develop and deliver training programmes for patients, OTs and Physios. If you would like get involved or would like more information, contact Dr Jo Erwin on 01872 256431, email josephine.erwin@rcht.cornwall. nhs.uk. One and All 13

FEATURE

West Cornwall nurses taking their skills to Ghana

Gaza Update Trust surgeons Robin and Magdalena Kincaid returned from their fourth trip to East Jerusalem in May where they were involved in providing the Basic Surgical Skills (BSS) course to Palestinian trainee surgeons. The course, which is endorsed by the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, teaches safe surgical skills to enable Palestinian surgeons from the West Bank and Gaza to tackle emergency cases which would otherwise be delayed in transit to larger hospitals due to roadblocks and checkpoints. It also includes a ‘train the trainer’ module for senior surgeons. This year saw the course turn a corner with the Palestinian surgeons undertaking a large part of the main teaching. Robin said: “They were more involved and the faculty there had really taken it on and done a lot of the sessions. The senior surgeons had clearly picked up on the teaching methods and were able to communicate well.” Magdalena added: “One of the high points of our trip this year was a session where the UK team stepped back and there was a classroom where there were senior Palestinian surgeons teaching Palestinian students and the whole room was Palestinian. It was great to see.” In fact the course has proved so successful form an essential part of the Palestinian Surgical Board’s training in future. Robin said: “The partnership we have formed between the UK and our Palestinian friends is still needed. The health department there has no budget and so our fundraising and charitable donations are just as important as ever. Anyone wanting to make a donation can continue to do so via Natasha Photiou on 01872 255017 or email Natasha.photiou@rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk” While the course begins to move across to Palestinian ownership, the next stage for the UK team is to work with the British Consulate to build links with Israeli Authorities to ensure the trainees are able to travel to the course and also to enable the team to take the course into the Gaza Strip itself.

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Three nurses from the Urgent Care Centre at West Cornwall Hospital will be heading off to Ghana in November to provide and teach basic first aid to rural communities. Acting Matron Louise Silver, Staff nurse Emma Sage and Nurse Practitioner Julie Oliver will spend two weeks living with local families while providing much needed medical care. Louise said: “Working abroad has been a life-long ambition of mine. I’ve wanted to do humanitarian work since I was a teenager and it was on my ‘50 before 50’ list.” When her colleagues Julie and Emma heard what she was planning they decided to jump on board as well. The trio spent months researching possible charities and came across Project Support Professional working in Ghana. Louise said: “We told them we wanted to use our skills and we didn’t want to be in a big hospital, we wanted to be working in the villages and communities.” During their trip the three will be staying with host families in the community and working with the outreach clinics that travel around Ghana. As well as providing medical care, they will also be teaching basic first aid to school children and basics such as hand washing, oral and toilet hygiene as well as helping to train health professionals. They are also expecting to be carrying out malaria vaccinations and promotion. Louise said: “We will be taking some equipment with us, teaching them how to use it and leaving it out there for them so they can carry on. The ambulance service has donated us some of their old stock and we are keen to collect more so if anyone has any old equipment which is no longer in use, please get in contact.” To sponsor the trio go to https://fundrazr. com/campaigns/5hNL0

FEATURE

RCHT midwives deliver lifesaving skills overseas Midwives from the Trust are making their mark in voluntary humanitarian projects overseas. Liz Carson, Lucie Baylis, and Norma Coward, who are all based in Truro, and Ali Wilcox from Penrice Birthing Unit, have been sharing their expertise with midwives and doctors in Africa and Asia, playing a part in improving maternity care in countries where both maternal and neonatal death rates are high. Liz explained: “As midwives and NHS employees there is recognition that humanitarian work is something we should be encouraged to get involved in. It’s a privilege to be able to use the training, skills and knowledge you’ve built up to help make a difference to women and babies who don’t have the easy access to healthcare.” “It’s not uncommon to meet a midwife in Africa who’s never had any additional training throughout a 30 year career,” says Liz, who spent time teaching in an area two hours north of Nairobi last year. “Although the training we deliver is the basic end of maternity and emergency care – there’s no specialist equipment involved – it does provide vital life-saving skills and techniques.” For both midwives their experiences abroad so far have made a big impression. The contrast in facilities and equipment available comes as no surprise but some of the more basic elements of care have been. Good hand hygiene, for example, isn’t generally considered important and access to blood transfusion and other specialist care is limited or non-existent. “Mothers who are expected to lose a lot of blood during childbirth are often asked to bring a number of relatives with them who would be able to give blood if needed. There is donated blood but most people just couldn’t afford it,” says Lucie. “Around a third of women who die during childbirth, die as a result of haemorrhage. And care is practically non-existent for some problems like ectopic pregnancy, it’s not really even recognised.” Liz adds, “It’s an amazing project to be a part of. It is very different and you do have to adapt to and respect the cultural differences but to know you are playing a part in something that will save lives is all the reward you could want.” Liz and Lucie’s experience has been infectious. Fellow midwife Norma Coward is looking forward to her first trip, to Ghana, in October and Ali Wilcox, has gone into volunteering through a different route with the Royal College of Midwives, having just taken part in a 3-week visit to Cambodia.

Habon Update

One&All readers may remember a little girl from Kenya who was featured in the July 2013 edition of the magazine. Habon, then aged seven, had suffered severe burns and had scarring from the waist down which had become painfully tight and inhibited her movement. Talking last July, Dr Jo Erwin, Research Associate at RCHT, said: “Habon had been in the hospital near the border with Somalia since May 2012 with very little medical care. While her father was very dignified and did not ask for help, her family are goat herders so there is no money to pay for treatment.” Moved by the girl’s plight, Dr Erwin arranged for Habon to be moved to a larger hospital in Nairobi and for the hospital to waive its £5,000 fees for the first round of operations the child so desperately needed. Fast forward a year and after donations and support from Dr Erwin, Habon is now standing on her own two feet and walking although she remains in hospital. Habon’s doctor, Dr Wanjeri said: “Habon came to our unit after Jo came across her curled up and looking wretched in a Garrisa Provincial Hospital bed. Thanks to Jo’s efforts, Habon is now walking.” As well as helping Habon, Jo has also raised money for the paediatric burns unit meaning they have been able to buy two bikes and a seesaw for the children to use. More money will also be used to decorate the unit’s walls with friendly paintings. If anyone would like more information about helping with Habon’s on-going treatment or contributing to toys and equipment for the unit, please call Dr Erwin on 01872 256431.

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FEATURE

The Research Development and Innovation team at RCHT is working hard to put Cornwall on the map as a thriving hub for clinical trials and health-related innovation. It has set ambitious targets to almost double the number of patients recruited to clinical trials and to increase the number of commercial studies by at least 20percent over the next year. One+All takes a look at why this work is so important for local people.

“There are many benefits to being a research rich environment,” explains Dr Duncan Wheatley, consultant oncologist and recently appointed clinical lead for research at RCHT. “By far the most important is the gold standard care it offers our patients who take part.” Research Development and Innovation manager at RCHT, Chris Cannaby says, “This is a really big year for us. We’re looking to increase the research opportunities we can offer to patients. It is known that taking part in research studies is beneficial to patients, and we need to let more people in Cornwall get that opportunity. There is also a benefit for the Hospital, in that an active research culture brings in high calibre clinicians, who raise the general standard of care.” Chris continues, “We’re very keen to encourage patients to take an active role in research by asking their clinicians what opportunities there are. We want them to let us know how they want to find out more about research and how we share our findings. It’s really about them knowing that by taking part they can help themselves and others.”

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Research and Innovation at RCHTImproving care for One+All Some of the areas where RCHT is currently doing research • The department of Rheumatology lead on large European projects that help treat, prevent, monitor and identify the impact of rheumatoid arthritis • The award-winning Stroke research team are involved in a number of national and innovative local studies to improve outcomes for patients and carers • There is a variety of research activity within Cancer Services, treating cancer using the latest drugs and therapies • Surgeons are researching the latest technologies to improve operating procedures, reduce infection and hospital inpatient stays • State of the art clinical imaging equipment is enabling radiologists to research more effective techniques • Collaborative working is enabling local researchers to develop a national manual for people living with heart failure • The careful supervision of a range of student research projects encourages the clinical and professional development of tomorrow’s healthcare worker.

Among the more than 200 studies currently underway, is the Heart Failure Project, a locally developed 5-year study which came to fruition after securing a grant of almost £2million from the National Institute of Health Research. It is led by, local GP Dr Hasnain Dalal who has a special interest in cardiac rehabilitation and researcher Dr Jenny Wingham. “The aim of our project is to develop a guide for patients to use at home to help them make life-style changes and to manage their heart condition with the support of their family or carers,” explains Jenny. “We’re currently in the feasibility part of the study where patients in Cornwall and other parts of the UK are using the guide that’s been developed so far to find out what it’s like, what works and what doesn’t, before we go onto a full blown clinical trial.” The 5-year study, involves teams from across the UK and is building on a number of years of work in cardiac rehabilitation where Cornwall has very much been seen as a leading light. Jenny says, “You do have to be patient working in research but it’s really good as a researcher because you get the opportunity to work with a range of professionals, clinical and academic. You get to learn a lot outside your field and working with patients and the public keeps you grounded to make sure you are meeting their needs.” “There is no guarantee that something will work, that’s why we need to do trials. It’s important that we don’t have the NHS rolling out programmes like this which don’t have the evidence to support their effectiveness.”

FEATURE www.rcht.nhs.uk

What do patients say?

Global audience for RCHT research Many of RCHT’s research teams have been invited to present their work on a national and international stage. These have included an insulin pump education programme for patients with diabetes, innovative approaches to simulation training, studies in MS, breast cancer and stroke rehabilitation, as well as ground-breaking research leading the way in the growth of blood conservation and cell salvage techniques. One of the most recent presentations has been research in Clinical Microbiology that has led to the identification of an emerging antibiotic resistant bug, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. The bacteria are associated with animals including pet dogs and the ability to detect them has made successful treatment possible. The Microbiology team has been collaborating with scientists from The European Centre for Environmental and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, who carried out DNA analysis of the strains. Their research was presented at the 24th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Barcelona, Spain in May 2014, the largest conference of its type in Europe with over 100 countries taking part.

UK and Worldwide Firsts Proving RCHT is putting itself on the map as a centre for research our teams have already achieved UK and World firsts when it comes to getting new studies up and running. Our Diabetes, Renal & Endocrine Research Team have twice signed up the first UK patients into new worldwide studies in recent months and the Cancer Team were successful in entering the first patient in the World into a major study which is examining post-surgical treatment for breast cancer. It is this quick and effective response that will attract a growing number of commercial studies to Cornwall and help to develop the research culture at RCHT.

The growing numbers of patients willing to take part in research is strong sign of the quality and professionalism of researchers at RCHT. Many patients share their positive experiences and are keen to encourage others to take part. Alethea Wigzell has multiple sclerosis (MS) and took part in a study called CUPID which was looking at whether cannabis could help to slow the progression of the disease. Having been diagnosed in 1995, Alethea was fortunate that her MS was relatively slow to progress but was very aware of what the future held. “I’d known of people using cannabis to relieve symptoms,” says Alethea. “When I heard about a real trial I wanted to get involved. I had to take pills over a number of years. It could get a bit tedious but I was always warmly welcome, closely monitored and had regular questionnaires about my life with MS. It really felt like someone was taking an interest. I was regular updated about the trail and although the final result was that the drugs did not halt the progression of MS, this was shared openly with us. It was good to have been involved.” Jane Vincent from Fowey is living proof of the benefits of clinical studies and dropped into activities on International Clinical Trials Day to share her story. Now in her seventies, when Jane was 4 years old she underwent an experimental heart operation. Jane said, “My operation involved a major incision, removal of a rib and took 14 hours. Since then continued trials and research mean the same operation can be carried out by inserting a small tube into the top the leg and traveling up through blood vessels to carry out the procedure. My experience then and knowing what can be done now is what has encouraged me to take part in research through my GP surgery over the last 10 years.”

Interested in getting involved in research? Patients may be asked to take part in a research study during any part of their NHS care, that might be before they come into hospital for treatment, during treatment or after they have gone home. We also involve people who might not necessarily be patients but who have an interest in research and want to help us decide on what areas of research we want to development, how we go about that and who we should be sharing our results with. As Lead Research Nurse Lisa Attrill explains, “There is a great deal of patient and public involvement in setting up research, right from the start of studies, it is a real focus. Patients help to ask the questions that we as health professionals might not think of, which in itself is helping to improve the way we do research.” If you want to know more about getting involved there is more information on our website: www.rcht.nhs.uk or call the Research, Development and Innovation team on 01872 255175. n

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NG W OR KIN

I M P RO

Grapevine

LIVES

IWL Gift Initiative!! Do you have a colleague in your department who always goes that extra mile? Someone who organises competitions/ days out for the team or generally contributes to the team spirit? Do you want to thank that person for all their hard work? If so, IWL want to hear from you! Email IWL iwl@rcht. cornwall.nhs.uk and tell us why we should send the nominated individual a bunch of flowers or gift voucher (value of £15). The IWL group will review the nominations at their monthly meetings and decide who the lucky person will be. The winner will be photographed with their prize and might end up on the pages of One And All!

Save the date Christmas Dinner & Dance This year the IWL Christmas Dinner and Dance will be held at the Headland Hotel in Newquay on Friday, December 5. Discounted rooms are available and for those staying the leisure facilities including the spa will be open for use. Transport options are currently being explored and more information will be available nearer the time.

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Tusker offers a Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme to RCHT staff If you’re considering buying a new car, you might like to check out what Tusker can offer. To access the scheme and get instant quotes on the wide range of cars available simply go to www.tuskerdirect.com, click ‘Create Account’ and follow the easy registration process below:

1. Enter your Company Code: (RCHT) 2. Enter your Unique Employee Identifier: (your employee number) Once you’ve created an account, you’ll just need to log on in future with your username and password. Tusker has an Employee Engagement Team who offer support and guidance to make sure you fully understand the scheme. They can also help you choose the right car to suit your needs. You can get in touch with them through ’Live Help Online’ which is an online instant messaging service found on the driver site. Alternatively, you can also call them on 0333 400 2020 or email EETeam@ss4c.com.

Bike Week 2014 - Everyday Cycling For Everyone! Bike Week is an annual opportunity to promote cycling, and show how cycling can easily be part of everyday life by encouraging ‘everyday cycling for everyone’. This year’s Bike Week was staged in June. Demonstrating the social, health and environmental benefits of cycling, the week aimed to get people to give cycling a go all over the UK, whether for fun, as a means of getting around to the local shops, work, school, the library or just to visit friends. Bike Week activities at RCHT included an events stand at each hospital site throughout the week. On the stand visitors could get free bike maintenance and free personalised travel advice and advice about getting into cycling. They were also able to have a go at making their own free pedal powered smoothie using a

bike with the blender on the back of it! For those who cycled to work on one of the days there was a free £3 voucher on RCHT or Friends food and drinks. There was also a social meeting at Bissoe Bike chain café where cyclists were able to enjoy a leisurely ride along the mineral tramways.

IWL Staff Lottery Would you like to join the Improving Working Lives Staff Lottery? The top prize is £3,500 with four runners up prizes of £875. To have a chance at winning, join the IWL Staff Lottery by emailing iwl@rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk for an application form. Every month the IWL Staff Lottery draw takes place in the Payroll Department when the winning numbers are randomly generated. Following the draw the winners are contacted by telephone by the payroll team. Sign up now, it could be you!

n Cornwall we are looking for people to become foster carers and adopters. Becoming a foster carer or adoptive parent can be fulfilling and life changing, and make a real difference to the life of a child. On average we successfully place 50 children a year in adoptive families, and we continue to have children of all ages waiting for a family. There is no one type of person that makes a good adoptive parent. Just as every child is different, so every adoptive parent brings different life experiences, backgrounds and skills to the care and support they can give.

Sarah and Mike adopted with Cornwall last year and say: “We have gained an amazing fun filled family life and recommend it whole heartedly. But be prepared to be exhausted!” Currently we have around 270 foster carers, and anyone can apply to become a foster carer as long as they have the skills and experience to look after children in care. foster carers can help some of the most vulnerable children and young people in Cornwall, providing them with guidance, stability and love. At the moment we particularly need people to care for children aged 7 and upwards, including teenagers. John is a young person in foster care in Cornwall. He says: My foster carers are amazing, I mean they treat me with so much care and they truly do love me as much as I love them. I see them as my family. I wouldn’t be as confident in myself if I wasn’t in foster care…it gives me confidence and happiness. If you are interested in finding out more about how you can give a child a loving, secure home, please contact us. Fostering – www.cornwall.gov.uk/fostering, tel: 01872 323638 Adoption www.cornwall.gov.uk/adoption, tel: 01872 322200

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Volunteer

In the

spotlight Diocese guests visit Voluntary Services

ishop Tim Thornton of Truro and Reverend Steve Wild, Cornwall Methodist Chairman were invited to visit the Royal Cornwall Hospital in April to find out more about the pastoral and voluntary support for patients, visitors and staff. Shown around by the Trust’s Lead Chaplain Rev Mark Richards and Chairman of the Friends Beatrice Dyer, Bishop Tim and Rev Steve first met two of the Trust’s newest chaplains Amanda Stevens and

RCH Friends meeting

The 68th annual general meeting of the Friends of the Royal Cornwall Hospital was held in April at the Knowledge Spa in Truro and was well attended. After welcomes by their President Mr Michael Galsworthy and RCHT Chairman Angela Ballatti, those present heard the minutes of the last Annual General Meeting approved. Friends’ Chairman Beatrice Dyer then gave her report on the work of the Friends over the last 12 months. The highlight being that the combined Friends of RCHT had received recognition by being awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service. Beatrice thanked the volunteers for all their support and hard work before detailing how the funds they raised were used and highlighting new areas of voluntary work 20 One and All

Sarah Chaplain before visiting some of the wards. Greeting staff and patients they were also able to see some of the projects the Friends have supported around the hospital such as a bladder scanner and hoists for Phoenix Ward. Rev Wild was delighted to have been invited to visit the hospital by Mrs Dyer. “It is important to us to be able to give our support to the fantastic work carried out within the hospital by Mark and his team, both pastoral and voluntary work,” said Reverend Steve. “They are very much part of the frontline team caring for patients and it is wonderful to be able to see the support they give, as well as to see how the Friends contribute to so many areas within the hospital.” Rev Richards said: “As Lead for Voluntary Services I am very pleased they were able to join us here and for them to have taken away a very positive view of the supporting role our team plays in patient care.”

that were being undertaken in the hospital. The existing committee were again re-elected with the exception of Mrs Yvonne Dennis who stepped down. Penny Wilson and Jean Parsons were coopted onto the committee. In respect of all the years of service Mrs Dennis had provided to the Friends and the Friends’ Coffee Shop, it was proposed she be made a Vice President of the Friends and this was unanimously agreed. During the afternoon the Friends heard talks on the Phoenix Stroke Appeal and the gold standard rehabilitation available for stroke patients in Cornwall as well as Chronic Liver Disease – the silent killer. To conclude the day 12 volunteers were presented with long service awards for completing 10, 15 or 20 years of service by Angela Ballatti.

A refreshing donation The Friends also donated a £419 drinking water fountain for the Hydrotherapy Pool in Dolphin House following a request from Senior Physiotherapist Sue Horne. With over 200 patients a week attending sessions at the pool and a club for 100 people, the staff were constantly making trips to fill water jugs for people who needed a drink after their exercises. Sue said: “We are so grateful to the Friends for the fountain. Our pool is kept at a therapeutic temperature of around 35°C and provides a warm, weightless environment for patients to exercise – especially those who find movement ‘on land’ so difficult or painful. “The warmth of the water combined with exercise can lead to dehydration, so rehydration after pool sessions is a vital part of our patients’ recovery. To have chilled water immediately available is a huge benefit for our patients. We have already had many positive comments. It also benefits our staff who work in the humid environment and were constantly running off to fill jugs!”

Friends Chairman Beatrice Dyer tests the water

Volunteer Fish Therapy! A request from Andrew Arnott, a staff nurse on St Mawes Lounge, saw the Friends provide an £850 Aquarium for the waiting room. The feature has proved hugely successful with staff and patients. Andrew Arnott and Ward Manager Sally Dale Andy said: “The original tank had been there five years and was beginning to show its age. I approached the Friends and asked if they could help us to get another one. This one has been in place for the last six weeks.” Prior to his career as a nurse, Andy worked in aquatic shops and recognised a tank would add a welcoming touch to the lounge. “The patients enjoy the tank and it keeps them interested and takes their minds off what’s going on. It works as a bit of distraction therapy,” said Andy. Staff have also taken the tank on with some buying fish food when they pop to the shops. Andy said: “I even get calls at home from them if any of the fish don’t look right!”

New Starters RCH

Mike Brown – Hospital Radio Amy Bullen – Hospital Radio Daisy Lane-Murley – Hospital Radio Glenys Mcmahon – Hospital Radio Ben Taylor – Hospital Radio Clarissa Jacobs – Hospital Radio Bill Chester – Cardiac Forum Liz Chester – Cardiac Forum Patsy Davis – Emergency Department Megan Drury–Roderick – Emergency Department Perry Tagima – Emergency Department Fay Hamilton – Emergency Department Georgina Hide – Emergency Department Khadiza Lace – Emergency Department Sandra Harris – Emergency Department Frances Raybould – Emergency Department Stephanie Baker – Emergency Department/Coffee shop Christine Firth – Coffee Shop Joy Stevens – Coffee shop Jill Hocking – Library Service Bessie Solomon – Pre-Assessment Clinic Mary Mavers – Pastoral Visitor Louise Gabbitas – Maternity Carol-Ann Mayes – Maternity Stacey Hicks - Maternity Larissa Porter – Maternity Clare White – Breastfeeding

Support Project Vickie Culshaw Breastfeeding Support Project Liz Wyndham – Dementia Surveys John Brittain-Jones – Audiology Trevor Westley – Audiology Brian Swabey - Audiology Matilda Fuller – Hydrotherapy Kathryn Smith – Organist Ian Bell – Gardener George Allen – Patient Ambassador Linda Butler – Patient Ambassador Roger Chalkley Patient Ambassador Christine Chalkley Patient Ambassador Christina Humpleby Patient Ambassador Treve James Patient Ambassador Jane Matthews Patient Ambassador Fiona Roberts Patient Ambassador Brent Thomas Patient Ambassador Jill Burnett – Mermaid Jennie Gardiner – Tower Reception Rosanna Roberts – Play specialist Pauline Robson – Library Trolley

Toys bought with Christmas Fayre donation

The Friends were pleased to act as the go between when a lady from west Cornwall wished to donate £666 to the children’s wards. Penny Buckingham, who runs Cotton Cottage, organises a Christmas Gift Fayre at Mawgan Recreation Hall each year and raised £333 at the last event. Following match funding from Santander in Helston, Penny was able to hand over the £666 for use by the children’s wards. Penny said: “Locally we have had a few children in need of a long stay at the hospital so it seemed a good cause to give to.” One of those was little Elodie, 16 months, who was born at the hospital in March 2013. Elodie was treated in the Neonatal Unit and it was there that her family were told she had a hole in her heart and Down Syndrome. Elodie’s Mum Vicky said: “Elodie received fantastic care in the neonatal unit. We had a weekly visit from the Outreach service and now have regular visits to Gwithian children’s unit for check-ups. “Having used the various children’s units we wanted to help raise money for them because they do such fantastic work for all our children here in Cornwall.” Having received the money, the Friends approached Senior Play Specialist Gill Caddy who has used the money to purchase toys including a train set and a printer. Gill said: “These are just some of the toys and play equipment purchased with this amazing amount. Everything has been selected to help play specialists make hospitalisation a more tolerable experience.” This year’s Christmas Gift Fayre will be on November 15, 10am to 4pm, Mawgan Recreation Hall.

WCH

Lesley Barrett – Outpatient

SMH

Ruth Gordon – Snack Bar Ana Tregunna – Snack Bar

Allana (4) from Newquay and Grace (11) from Helston and Play Specialists Gill Caddy, Clare Price and Gill Caddy with the toys bought with the £666 donation

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WIN ONE OF TEN ÂŁ30 STEVE ANDREWS TYRES MONEY OFF VOUCHERS! WITH A TYRE MANUFACTURERS NAMES WORDSEARCH

To enter, please send a scan of your completed wordsearch along with your name, home address, or Department and extension number to oneandall@cornwall.nhs.uk or send a copy of the completed wordsearch to: One & All Magazine, c/o Press Office, Bedruthan House, RCH To help you find the words we have given the names of the tyre manufacturers that you are looking for on page 39. There will be TEN winners, no cash equivalent prizes. The competition is open to RCHT staff only, excluding those associated with the competition. The prize is non-transferable and is available to entrants aged 18 and above. Al entries must be made by 15th September 2014. The decision of the Press Office is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Words can go horizontallyand vertically Solution on page 39

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E A A D A P O L L O R W D D N

C N T I D R O D A T A M E O D

I O O H M U K E H T E T E U U

P R N T A Y O M O R Y C N S N

N I E T S E D E R V D L V H I

V O R B I E A T H R O I I H O

N E V E E N G M A P O V K H A

T B S A L L E D A S G D I F L

H L U O O L K N I H W P N S G

N I L E H C I M T R O M G E S

R E L L I M X A M A B K N N N

S U M M E R S T A R L E O A R

A P R I M E W E L L R L U Y F

L A Y O R I N U T A U F A N I

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Membership News www.rcht.nhs.uk

This summer looks set to be a busy time for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust’s Membership Team if the last few weeks are anything to go by! The Royal Cornwall Show in early June saw the team sign up over 250 people to join the Membership and then there was a Healthwatch Event and in late July, RNAS Culdrose’s Air Day. Dr Rachel Newman, one of the Trust’s Staff Governors, ran a stall at this year’s Murdoch Day. Rachel said: “Blessed with glorious sunshine, Murdoch day provided the opportunity to engage with members of the public, principally from the Redruth, Pool and Camborne areas, regarding why being a member of RCHT is so important to the future of acute hospital care in Cornwall. Many questions were asked, and as many as possible answered!” Anyone aged 11 and over can join the Membership, so sign up today to support the Trust, receive a monthly newsletter and invitations to “members only” events and health talks. Holding a community event? The Membership Team would love to come along. Just call Maxine Moustrides, Membership Officer, on 01872 252858.

The Membership Team are starting a busy summer of recruitment

✁

Application Form Title:

First name:

Last name: (I apply to be a member of Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. I give consent to the processing of my information by Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust and their database provider.)

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Date of birth: Public register: To opt out please tick here Level of involvement:

Show support Stand as Governor

Do you have a disability? Gender:

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Yes Female

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Ethnicity: Membership Officer Maxine Moustrides and Shadow Governor Kevin Bolt sign up members at this year’s Royal Cornwall Show

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Would you like information sent to you in: Large print Easy read Tick here if you're interested in surveys, events Signature:

Date: Please send completed forms to: FREEPOST RTCC-SGTG KHBC, Bedruthan House, RCHT, TR1 3LJ

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Communications Assistant Louise Molloy and Membership Officer Maxine Moustrides sign up a new member at Cornwall’s Blue Light Day

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CHARITABLE FUNDS

Rugby veterans’ donation aids young patients living with cystic fibrosis

£650 donation from the Bolingey Barbarians veterans rugby team is being used to support a new project which aims to help patients as they move from children’s to adult services, a time when they need to develop greater independence and confidence to manage their condition. Community Lead for physiotherapy for young people with cystic fibrosis, Claire Eddy said: “We’ve created a short exercise and education programme called, ‘Yes I Can Do It’, which aims to promote wellbeing, a sense of achievement and to be fun at the same time. Alongside an individual programme of exercise, we’ll also be looking at the other issues patients will need to keep an eye on as they become more independent and responsible for their own day to day care. The whole programme is designed to give them a positive attitude and outlook toward their on-going health.”

Ana Goncalves (17) from Indian Queens is one of the patients set to benefit. Having lived with cystic fibrosis all her life, last December Ana went to Great Ormond Street for a lung transplant. As well as being at the start of her transition to adult services she will also be using the equipment to rebuild her strength after the long period before her operation when she was particularly unwell and unable to be as active as she wanted to be. The Bolingey Barbarians are no strangers to funding raising, having raised over £70,000 in the 21 years since they were established.

Jackie’s Show raises over £2700 for Mermaid Centre An evening extravaganza of West End Musical songs organised by a breast cancer patient from Newquay has led to a £2,702 donation to the Mermaid Centre at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. Jackie Cornish was diagnosed with breast cancer last year after a routine mammogram. She said: “It does knock you off your feet but what you don’t realise at the time is the impact it has on your family. From the start of investigations to treatment, the doctors and nurses at the Mermaid Centre were so kind and helped in every way possible, talking through and explaining each stage and giving the reassurance you so desperately need – not just for me but for the whole family. It is very comforting.” After completing her treatment Jackie was quite clear she wanted to give something back to the team at the Mermaid Centre and make clear to others the importance of taking part in the breast screening programme. Jackie said: “Since my diagnosis I have met some wonderful and brave people. I want women to know that they shouldn’t be afraid. There is excellent care here if you should need it and I would urge all women to have a mammogram whenever they are invited. ” 24 One and All

Ten Tors challenge in aid of RCHT charitable fund Three teams from RCHT’s Trust HQ battled it out on Bodmin Moor in May as they took on the Ten Tors challenge in aid of the hospitals’ charitable fund. Team member and Communications Manager, Laura Mason said: “We’ve all seen the tremendous support we get from patients and our local community by way of fundraising and donations and it’s great to be able to do something on a small scale ourselves and to help to raise the profile of RCHT’s charitable fund.” You can still sponsor the teams online at: http://www.justgiving.com/TenTorsBedruthan or you can text BEDH50 (followed by £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10) to 70070.

CHARITABLE FUNDS www.rcht.nhs.uk

Make a Donation

Caroline Goddard, Kirsty MacLean, Tom, Keith and Simon Redfern, Debbie Victor

Patient’s fundraiser for Lowen Ward A young patient celebrated his return to health by finishing a fundraising walk at the Royal Cornwall Hospital on the 5th anniversary of discovering he had testicular cancer. After his diagnosis in 2009, Tom Redfern, from St Austell, went on to have a six month course of chemotherapy, spending a great deal of time on Lowen Ward and at the Sunrise Centre, followed by two lots of surgery. Ever since, Tom’s been having regular check-ups to make sure the cancer hasn’t returned. Now back in good health, Tom says he had been waiting to do something in return for his care and treatment for some time. Along with his brother Simon and dad Keith, Tom decided to complete a challenging three-day sponsored walk along part of the south Cornwall coast and then inland to finish at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. “I chose now because of the anniversary and my outpatient appointment being the milestone of five years. We set out from the house that was our family home back then and spurred on by Dad and Simon we’ve walked around 40 miles.” Since launching his Justgiving page in May, Tom has already raised over £3,000 including gift-aided donations, which he presented to the team on Lowen Ward. Cancer nurse specialist, Debbie Victor said, “Tom’s story is truly remarkable. His is one that really shows what can be achieved with modern cancer treatments and it’s just fantastic to see him doing so well. It’s a terrific amount to raise and will be a real boost towards items such as additional equipment, specialist training or research.”

RCHT doctor in London to Brighton run fundraiser

Dr Jurg Ehmann, Associate Specialist at the Trust, completed a double marathon by taking part in the London to Brighton run in May and raised over £1,000 for FLEET. Jurg, who is no stranger to running but not a dedicated enthusiast either, says: “I started at 6.20am and according to the organisers if you come in with a time under 15 hours then it’s considered a run! I did it in……” FLEET (Front Line Emergency Equipment Trust) is a Cornwallbased charity supports the emergency teams in Cornwall, 999 Ambulances, Coast Guards and Helicopters. If you would like to sponsor Jurg you can do so via: www.justgiving.com/jurgsweats

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust Charitable Fund was set up in 1996 to benefit the patients and staff of the Trust. The fund is a registered charity which manages the money donated for the benefit of the patients and staff of the Royal Cornwall Hospital, St Michael’s Hospital and West Cornwall Hospital. Healthcare provision at the Trust is funded by the NHS and is tightly controlled to provide the highest level of care for patients. However voluntary donations help to provide the extras that can make life a little better for patients and staff and also aid future diagnosis and treatment. This help includes additional medical equipment, specialist training, medical research and improvements to facilities for both staff and patients. Many of the donations made are to thank staff for the treatment that they or a relative have received. Some donors remember the Trust in their wills or relatives’ make donations in memory of them. To make a donation: The charity is grateful for the support of all its donors, no matter what the donation. If you would like to make a donation towards good work in the future, you can do so in a number of ways: Online: Using your debit or credit card at www.justgiving.com/royalcornwallhospitals Cheque: Payable to RCH NHS Trust Charitable Fund Telephone: Using your debit or credit card on 01872 252690 Cash: Via the General Office in the Trelawny building (RCH), General Office (WCH) or General Office (St Michael’s) Standing Orders: Please contact the Charitable Funds Officer for more information on ext 8015 or by email RCHT.charity@cornwall.nhs.uk. Standing Orders provide a reliable source of support for the Charitable Fund. Legacy and Bequests: A legacy or bequest is a tax free gift left to a charity in a Will. Charitable bequests are of enormous importance to our work. Please contact the Charitable Funds Officer for more information. Money donated to the Charitable Funds is used to benefit all departments unless a donor states they wish it to go to a particular area. To make a request for Charitable Funds (Staff only): A full list of funds and the fund manager contact details along with an electronic copy of the form can be found at http://www.rcht.nhs.uk/ RoyalCornwallHospitalsTrust/WorkingWithUs/ FundraisingAndVolunteers/FundListAndForm.aspx Send the completed form to Stephen Hocking, Finance, Carlyon House, Penventinnie Lane, RCH, Truro, TR1 3LJ or via email to stephen.hocking@rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust Charitable Fund Registered charity number: 1049687

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FEATURE

Equality Statement

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust’s promise to One and All: “The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust is committed to delivering inclusive health services for all in a dignified and respectful way by a workforce which is equally respected. We recognise that all patients, staff and members of the public are individuals and we will strive to meet their needs. As an organisation we will endeavour to ensure that no one is discriminated against or treated unfairly due to age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership or pregnancy/ maternity. Where necessary we will make every effort to ensure adjustments are made to prevent less equitable experiences occurring. Discriminatory behaviour is not acceptable and, in relation to the characteristics above, may be unlawful. RCHT will not tolerate discrimination from anyone – staff, the public or patients.” If you would like to discuss this statement, or any issues relating to it, please contact the Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion Lead Debby Lewis on 01872 258128 or 07795645338.

Debby Lewis, Equality and Inclusion Lead at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust Debby Lewis’ role as the Trust’s Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion Lead is to support the Trust to ensure its services are inclusive and monitor the Trust’s compliance with the Equality Act 2010. “I think our staff are receptive to change and understand what the Trust is aiming for but of course it takes time. I think it is important to get the point across that Equality and Inclusion is everyone’s duty and role. “A new and exciting part of my job will be working with volunteer panels who will help us to review how we are doing. I am also producing an action plan to tackle issues raised in the staff survey by staff with disabilities. We are keen to see how we can change attitudes, turn around the negative perceptions and ensure these staff feel more supported.” Debby’s work is supported by RCHT’s Equality and Inclusion Steering Group, which is chaired by the Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development Nick Macklin. 26 One and All

What We Do And How: Equality Panel

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust recruited 20 public volunteers to help make sure it meets its responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010. The volunteers assess the Trust across the two goals relating to patients and award a grade. As all health organisations in the county have to comply with the Act, a co-ordinated approach has been agreed and the volunteers bring an independent viewpoint to our assessment. Debby said: “Each panel member will sit on two panels and then the individual organisations will present their evidence to the relevant panel. The volunteers will have opportunity to ask questions, challenge and discuss evidence and then agree the appropriate grade.”

Transgender Policy The Trust has a policy setting out its expectations and promises towards transgendered individuals both working for the Trust and accessing the Trust as a patient or visitor. To ensure the policy is as relevant as possible, Debby Lewis has worked with local support group, Kernow Katz. Claire Stocker from Kernow Katz, who began her own transition in 2012, said: “I had worked for RCHT and I still maintain a link through Kernowflex. I was interested in this subject because I have a transsexual history and feel I have a unique insight into the Trust for transgender folk.” Claire added: “One of the reasons why I left the Trust was because I blamed a lot of my personal problems on work. Sadly, I felt I would receive a negative response to any possible transition so I left the Trust, although have stayed with Kernowflex throughout.” When the opportunity came up to assist with the Transgender Policy, Claire was pleased to step forward. “I was asked if I’d like to be involved, initially because of my links with the Trust but also because of what I had formerly perceived as a negative experience.” It soon became apparent education was needed and Claire and Kernow Katz founder Emily were asked to front gender awareness teaching sessions to Trust staff. Claire said: “It’s been a positive experience. My own previously held negativity towards management proved out-of-date as we were shown constant support. It’s been so refreshing to see attitudes are clearly changing.” The training sessions Claire and Emily provided, while not mandatory, were well received. “We started with hour long sessions which then became 90 minutes. We have spoken to everyone from the Chief Executive to student nurses, the latter group went on to petition their tutors to ask for sessions within the University Campus as well.”

FEATURE www.rcht.nhs.uk

Claire said the highlight for her was a talk they gave at St Michael’s Hospital in Hayle. “We weren’t expecting a long session with only four booked but on the day over 20 people turned up! They asked a lot of good questions and were all very positive. They just wanted first-hand information and it was good to see the interest they were showing particularly as St Michael’s has just started doing breast removal for female to male transgender patients.” The work Claire and Emily have been doing with Debby for the policy is now complete and is available to view on the Trust’s website.

Learning Disabilities The Learning Disabilities Team (Daniella Rubio-Mayer, Tristan Coombe and Jane Rees), work with patients with Learning Disabilities as well as children and adults with Autism Spectrum conditions without learning disabilities.

Homeless patient advisor role The Trust, working in partnership with other organisations, received a share of a £10 million grant from the Government aimed at preventing homeless people being discharged back onto the street. The project has enabled three properties to be secured to use as short-term emergency accommodation to help their recovery. Cornwall has the third largest population of homeless people in the country. Once the patient has been discharged into the emergency accommodation, they will have access to any aftercare and can be seen there. A new discharge procedure triggers the need for a housing assessment on admission and helps ensure a safe discharge is not unnecessarily delayed. Most often the first point of contact, RCHT’s Emergency Department and Urgent Care teams are those referring patients to a support worker who is able to get the appropriate arrangements in place.

Patient Ambassadors There are a number of initiatives in place to assist these patients including hospital passports which provide RCHT staff with information on the best way to support patients’ individual needs. The team also attends corporate inductions and mandatory training to raise awareness of what help is available and the safeguarding link staff on wards and departments. The team are now involved in referrals to hospital. A patient referred by their GP to a specialist at the acute trust will go through the Choose and Book system and they are sent a letter giving them an appointment. Daniella says: “For someone with learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorders, they might not be able to read the letter. So now when a referral is made for them, if Learning Disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorders is noted, their referral immediately comes to our team. We then contact the patient or their carer to identify any issues before the patient has arrived on site. This has helped to reduce the number of missed appointments, the need for second appointments and enables us to ensure reasonable adjustments are in place and the hospital passports are available for them to take away. It’s pro-active working right from the start.” The team and Emergency Department staff have produced specific care plans for patients with learning disabilities.

The Trust now has 17 Patient Ambassadors from all walks of life and of all abilities who take part in a wide range of projects from speaking to patients to having a role in capital projects. Pam Rabett, Patient and Public Involvement Manager, said: “The patient ambassadors provide a vital role in that they see things that staff do not. They have a ‘fresh eyes’ approach and can see things from the patients’ perspective. Many people want to undertake the role as a way of saying ‘thank you’ for a positive experience or to ‘give something back’; for others it is to change things that were not so good.”

Interpreters For non-English speakers the Trust provides interpreters either via telephone or an in person service. Pam Rabett says: “While some people prefer to have the face to face interaction with an interpreter, for many people the flexibility of the telephone service, when appropriate, may be better.” For those with hearing problems, sign language services are available via Hearing Loss Cornwall. One and All 27

ROYAL CORNWALL SHOW

Royal Cornwall Show 2014

number of teams from across RCHT came together at this year’s Royal Cornwall Show to promote the care and services they provide, sharing a pitch with colleagues from NHS Kernow, the Friends of Newquay Hospital and local independent health ‘watchdog’, Cornwall Healthwatch. With a focus on health and wellbeing, experts from three of RCHT’s screening programmes were on hand with information, advice and most importantly encouraging people to take up the screening opportunities offered free by the NHS from conception right through to old age. (insert image of the screening banner nearby) Alongside them were colleagues from Cornwall Food, RCHT’S food production team which provides patient meals to all of our hospitals and supplies our staff and visitor restaurants and refreshment outlets. The tempting tasting sessions proved highly popular with overwhelmingly positive comments about the quality of the food. One show-goer remarked, ‘It’s worth going into hospital for!’ New to the Show this year were staff from the Pre-Assessment Clinic (pictured bottom right) who were busy offering blood pressure checks whilst talking to people about the important role they play in assessing and preparing patients for their planned operations. Returning for a second year were the clinical simulation training and the Urgent Care Centre teams, each spending one day at the Show. Breast Care Nurse Specialist, Josephine Brand said, “The Royal Cornwall Show is an ideal opportunity for us to talk directly to some of those people who might not normally put their own health as high a priority as it should be and as a result are less likely to seek help if they have a concern or come along to a screening appointment when they’re invited. By reaching a few hundred people at the Show they in turn can spread the word among family and friends and potentially save lives.”

28 One and All

Screening, scanning, fake plaster casts and much more draws in the crowds

BBC Radio Cornwall presenters in liver scan challenge A challenge with a serious message was taken up by BBC Radio Cornwall breakfast and lunchtime presenters James Churchfield and Laurence Reed. Hepatology nurse specialists Mary McKenna brought along their new £30,000 fibroscan machine, bought by the Friends of the Royal Cornwall Hospital, which uses ultrasound technology to measure liver density. It’s an important indication of how healthy a person’s liver is and, for suitable patients, avoids what used to be an invasive operation to take a sample of liver tissue. With, it’s fair to say, some trepidation, James and Laurence put themselves forward to see who had the healthiest liver, revealing the results live on air the following Tuesday. Marginal winner was James but both were relieved to find their readings to be at the very low end of the spectrum. For information on free NHS screening programmes visit: www.screening.nhs.uk

ROYAL CORNWALL SHOW www.rcht.nhs.uk www.rcht.nhs.uk

With the latest in digital hearing aid technology on display, the audiology team set about dispelling myths around the type of hearing aids freely available on the NHS. Many people either put off doing anything about hearing problems or think they have to pay. A visit to their GP and a referral to the audiology team at RCHT and the isolation and embarrassment they endure can soon be sorted.

Promoting our life-saving screening programmes The breast screening team, led by nurse specialist Josephine Brand, brought along synthetic breast models to help women (and men) understand how to carry out a breast check. Many were surprised by the pressure needed to do a proper examination and said theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d definitely be more likely to go for screening after finding out more about it. The AAA (abdominal aortic aneurysm) programme looks for signs of any potentially life-threatening weakening of the main blood vessel in the abdomen. More common in men, the programme is set up to screen males during their 65th year, with men over 65 able to self-refer. A number of men fail to act on their invite and the team found the Show a great place to explain the dangers and to get people to realise the importance of being screened.

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ROYAL CORNWALL SHOW

Working together We were able to take full advantage of colocation with colleagues from the South Western Ambulance Services NHS Foundation Trust. Their paramedic motor bike proved a particular hit with the young and the young at heart; many eager to climb in the saddle for a photograph! There were even two real incidents for the team to respond to when one showgoer with a suspected heart attack and another with a head wound needed attention. For us it was an important message about how we work together to provide seamless care for patients whose essential need is not about recognising the different organisations we represent but simply one of knowing that we will be there for them when they need us. Another star attraction again this year was SimMan, our hi-tech training mannequin, attracting budding doctors and a particular hit with volunteers from St Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ambulance. This year SimMan was joined by the latest arrival to the family, SimBaby. Costing ÂŁ20,000 SimBaby offers clinical teams the opportunity to train for emergencies involving small and premature babies. Able to simulate breathing and a wide range of medical problems SimBaby is already proving a valuable addition.

30 One and All

Eating out in Penzance Penzance has an abundance of highly reputable and contemporary restaurants and eating establishments, which offer a wide range of wholesome as well as healthy food choices from vegetarian meals to organically sourced meat products, as well as a wealth of refreshments from local orchards and vineyards. So many places of interest and gastronomic delight are only a short stroll from each other along the nostalgic tinged streets. A friendly relaxed service and pleasant surroundings on a day out in this architecturally rich town can be assured.

Alverne is a warm, relaxed, informal, popular venue in Penzance Family run with an emphasis on consistency from the food to the service. Offering excellent and varied cuisine from modern Mediterranean to creative British. Using a mix of fresh local produce to premium Spanish deli and cheeses, with a daily specials board incorporating fresh local fish daily from Newlyn. Enjoy from a casual cup of coffee on the sofa’s to an intimate meal in the dining room, or a drink on the patio which can be an ideal suntrap, somewhere to watch the world go by. Open Monday – Saturday from 9am serving breakfast, morning coffee, lunch, early diners and dinner throughout the day and evening, and throughout the year.

Tel. 01736 366007

13-14, Market Place Penzance Cornwall TR18 2JB 01736 367497 www.mrbillys.com Email: contact@dishotay.co.uk

Mr Billy’s Café is situated within an early 19th Century building; we offer locally sourced food and drinks including ales and cider. We are open Monday – Saturday 9.30am-5.00pm, serving breakfast, lunch, homemade cakes including a range of gluten free and vegan. We have over forty loose leaf teas from around the world and Cornwall, sixteen coffees roasted in Cornwall, including our own Mr Billy’s Blend. All teas and coffees are available to drink in the café or buy to take home. We have a range of teapots, cafetieres, mugs and accessories available from our shop within the café.

THE FOUNTAIN TAVERN St Clare Street, Penzance, TR18 2PD 01736 369340 • www.fountaintavernpenzance.co.uk

Monday- try our new slider menu - Three different burgers on one plate! Steak Burger, Pulled BBQ Pork & a Southern Fried Chicken Breast, all served with a side of coleslaw & fries with an accompanied drink £11.95 Tuesday is Tex-Mex crazy , a sharing platter of Sticky Ribs & Wings served with Corn On! the Cob, fries & a side of Coleslaw with two free shots of Tequila. £16.95 Wednesday is the ever popular Steak Night now extened to lunch times too! Two Steaks and a free bottle of wine for just £25.00 Thursday is Curry Day choose from three varieties guaranteed to please and outstanding value! Curry & a Pint only £9.95 (optional drink available) Friday is Fabulous Fish Day Beer Battered Cod & Chips with a drink only £9.95 saTurday is Pie Day. Choose our Signature Pie freshly made by our talented Chef with all the trimmings and a drink for only £10.95 sunday our ever popular Roast Day, one course £8 95 or two for 11 .95 Look out for new attractions coming soon such as Cornish Singing and Sea Shanties, Morris Dancing, Jazz Nights and many more!

The Honey Pot is a warm and friendly oasis in the heart of Penzance, serving delicious home-made food and cakes six days a week. It’s the perfect place for lunch or a snack, or to meet up with friends for a coffee and cake l

Antique furniture, stripped pine floors, comfy cushions and fresh flowers create a homely and relaxed atmosphere. All cooked on the premises, you can expect delicious, fairly priced food that is fairly priced and brimming with fresh and locally-sourced ingredients l

Vegetarian and gluten free diets are comprehensively catered for l

Open Mon - Sat 10am - 6pm

5 Parade Street, Penzance TR18 4BU Tel: 01736 368686

Waves Café-bar 29 Causwayhead, Penzance 01736 600014

Wave’s café bar is situated towards the top of Causewayhead. An interesting historical shopping street, semi-pedestrianized and packed with a good mix of independent shops.Wave’s formally the beautiful art deco electricity showrooms, is now a comfortable café offering not only the best coffee in Penzance! But a healthy and affordable menu. Wave’s use local suppliers and where possible only organic produce. All meat sold at Wave’s is Cornish organic and cooked on the premises. Eggs and homemade cake are supplied by Higher Trenowin farm, just outside Penzance. Bread is baked daily with a choice of wholemeal, white or granary. After being awarded a five star hygiene rating for four consecutive years, and a chefs gold award for the same Waves have gained the accolade of being the only food establishment in Penzance town centre with the converted platinum chef’s award.

PATIENT STORY

story W

Living with Ulcerative Colitis

hile for most starting university is a whirl of making friends, parties, sleeping in and lectures for one Cornish teenager it also meant having to come to terms with a shock diagnosis and learning to live with a chronic and debilitating, but treatable condition. Zoey Wright from Penryn was just 19 and settling into a foundation degree in Sports Rehabilitation with Plymouth University in September 2012 when she was told she was suffering from Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Ulcerative Colitis causes inflammation and ulceration of the inner lining of the rectum and colon (the large bowel) resulting in redness, swelling, pain and tiny ulcers developing on the surface of the lining which bleed and produce pus but with the right medication, sufferers can lead a normal life. Zoey said: “I was 19 when I was diagnosed but I’d been ill for about three years before that. It was probably about six months before diagnosis when I was really, really bad. I knew I was going to the toilet more. I just thought it was Irritable Bowel Syndrome because I’d been diagnosed with it years before. It took me quite a long time to pick up the courage to go to the doctors.” Zoey says she delayed because she was scared and kept telling herself it would go away. “I’d seen the posters for bowel cancer about the blood in your stools and it was all really frightening plus the flare ups can last so long that you just adapt to it. I was constantly feeling tired. I do a lot of sport, I weight train and it was hard to keep up with it. I was waking up about two hours before I needed to go to university just to go to the toilet. It would wake me up. In the mornings and evenings it was worse. I’d have to leave lectures. I just didn’t know what was wrong with me and I can’t believe I lived like that for so long. When I finally went to my GP she was really, really good. I explained my symptoms and she said straight away it could be Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis and referred me for a colonoscopy.” 32 One and All

Six weeks later Zoey had her colonoscopy at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro and was told straight away she had Ulcerative Colitis, was given medication and sent home with an appointment to the Gastroenterology team. “I didn’t understand what Ulcerative Colitis was or what it all meant until I saw my consultant Dr Nick Michell later. He couldn’t have been more helpful directing me to the NACC website to help me understand what IBD was. I still have to take the medication they gave me that first day but the condition didn’t improve and a month later I became more unwell. I spoke to Jo Sheppard via the IBD Helpline and she saw me in clinic within a few days. She then arranged for me to be admitted to hospital.” Zoey was so unwell she ended up spending three weeks in the hospital having IV steroids and cyclosporine infusions. “That’s when I found out I might need to have an ileostomy bag which was something I did not want. A bag would have just been impossible with my weight lifting and power lifting but thankfully Dr Harry Dalton, another Gastroenterologist was able to help me with medication and my condition went into remission.” Zoey has been offered a bag again since then but says she is just desperate to get on with her university course and despite having to try many different medications her condition is currently under control. “I’d spent time on an immune suppressant which was perfect for me until it made my white blood cells drop too low and I had to come off it. When that happened, my health deteriorated and I ended up in hospital again in February. They tried IV steroids but they didn’t work, so I was then given infliximab which is only given to patients with ulcerative colitis in special circumstances. It is a miracle thing and I have never felt so good. I’m back at university now in my final year of my foundation degree In Sports Rehabilitation and I am hoping to go onto a BA honours degree in sports performances and coaching. “I can’t thank the IBD nurses and the consultants that have looked after me so far enough. They do an amazing job, I now have my life back and I am confident they will help me stay that way!” Zoey believes that had she been studying further away from home she would not have been able to continue with the degree. “My course is with Plymouth University but taught via Truro College. I’m glad I studied closer to home because I was so ill within the first three months of starting the degree. My family, friends and partner have all been absolutely brilliant. They have been so supportive about it all and the possibility of a bag.” Zoey hopes that by speaking out about her condition she will help others. “I’m hoping people will read my story and come out a

PATIENT STORY www.rcht.nhs.uk

lot sooner about their problems and concerns. If I had gone to the doctors as soon as I was experiencing blood in my stool alongside the crippling pain, I wouldn’t have spent nearly three weeks being so close to having the removal of my bowel. It’s important that people go to their GP even if you have had another diagnosis of something else like Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It is also not just bowel cancer that can give you these symptoms but they need to be checked.” The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Team at RCHT is led by gastroenterologist Dr John Beckly and includes two nurse specialists (Jo Sheppard and Caroline Collins) who work closely with the Trust’s ten gastroenterologists. As well as caring for patients with Ulcerative Colitis, the team also looks after patients aged 16 or above with Crohn’s Disease. Those under 16 are treated in Bristol. For those found to suffer from IBD there are a range of treatments available. Most patients with ulcerative colitis will start taking an amino salicylate with or without steroids. Drugs can be given either orally or rectally. For those whose condition worsens immunosuppressant drugs can be used. There are surgical options available in both conditions.

We said: Jo Sheppard, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, said: “As well as all the physical problems associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, there are often emotional and practical issues which can affect a patient’s life. Frequent flare-ups, frequent toilet visits, periods of hospital stays, dietary issues, side effects from drugs and extreme fatigue will affect every aspect of daily life. It can be very difficult for someone dealing with IBD to maintain jobs, relationships, friendships and leisure activities.” Jo says that often, like Zoey, people will have suffered in private for a long time before they eventually seek help. “We know many patients are embarrassed talking about their bowels and some patients are frightened that their symptoms could be bowel cancer. It is important to seek prompt advice from your GP if you are experiencing altered bowel habit or rectal bleeding.” Jo says: “Patients are rarely discharged from our clinics even if they have been in remission for many years. We offer yearly follow up in these cases and patients can always contact us in between appointments.” Jo Sheppard and Caroline Collins run face to face clinics and telephone clinics each week. There is an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Helpline available (01872 252178) to provide information and advice Monday to Friday. Jo is on the organising team for the Mid and West Cornwall Support Group of Crohn’s and Colitis UK. The group currently has around 280 members and meets every other month to hear talks and have the opportunity to provide support and advice to each other.

Thank you

Letters “Having had an abnormal routine smear result, I was referred to the colposcopy outpatients clinic. I was greeted for my first appointment on time and by an amazingly compassionate nurse colposcopist who took time to explain absolutely everything to me, leaving no questions unanswered! Throughout both procedures, every step was explained to me and I was constantly asked if I was comfortable! Thank you for the service you provided and thank you NHS for the screening process that is delivered, it proves it works!” NHS Choices “My Dad recently spent just over 6 weeks both in the CCU Dept and on Pendennis Ward and as a family we could not be more happy with the care and kindness shown to him in both wards. Nothing was too much trouble towards him and we were always well informed of his situation. We are sure he is still with us thanks to the nursing staff on both departments, thank you.” NHS Choices “I have rheumatoid arthritis and have been a patient of this department for 17 years. In that time I have had the same consultant who has given me consistently good care. The nurses are all very friendly and accommodating and they are the best to have for a blood test. She always gets the vein the first time. I would also like to point out that the staff responsible for admin and appointments have also been friendly and accommodating.” NHS Choices “I had a very positive experience prior to my surgery on 7th March 2014. I have never had a bad theatre experience at RCH, but this one stood out due to the very kind and sensitive attitudes of the staff, with the nurses and anaesthetist maintaining continual communication whilst preparing me for theatre. This is so important in reassuring patients during a vulnerable time. I regret that I cannot remember the staff individually, as they truly helped to make what can be a tense time into something that was relatively painless and stress free.” NHS Choices “I was in Treliske this morning to have a Pyogenic Granuloma removed from my lip. I have heard so many horror stories about the NHS, but I can honestly say that the treatment was exceptional. The reception girl in the Dermatology department was friendly polite and efficient. The doctor who performed the surgery and his staff were superb.” NHS Choices “My treatment at St Michaels Hospital was excellent.as an inpatient and now as a out patient. I can’t fault the care I’ve had from my consultant and all the staff who made a difficult time much easier. I am very lucky to have had such care.” NHS Choices The Trust has social media sites: Click to like us on facebook at Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust And you can follow us on Twitter: @RCHT2013

One and All 33

LEGAL AID REMAINS FOR FAMILY MEDIATION THROUGH ACCORD Accord has been conducting mediation throughout the southwest since the practice was established in 1996. Accord offers the services of 20 independent fully accredited professionals with the vast majority having practised Law. Accord was one of the founding members of mediation in this country and holds a contract with the Legal Aid Agency to deliver family mediation free of charge to clients who are eligible for legal aid. In April 2013 Legal Aid was withdrawn from solicitors except where there was proven Domestic Abuse or in Care proceedings. It appears that it is not widely known enough that Legal Aid does remain available for mediation. It remains means tested but for those on certain benefits such as Income Support or JSA (Income Based) this is a passport to Legal Aid and even those in work can be entitled once housing costs, tax & NI and children are taken into account. Mediation is a voluntary, legally privileged process which involves the parties sitting down with a mediator to discuss issues in order to move towards a settlement. The mediator will take it for granted that

the couple is splitting up, so his or her job is simply to help the couple make arrangements for their children and divide financial assets fairly. A mediator is impartial: he or she cannot give advice on a best position basis, and does not make any decisions for you. The parties remain in control throughout the process and they make the decisions. For most people, mediation is a much less stressful process than going to court. It is also cheaper. At an initial assessment meeting you are seen on your own. The mediator will check your eligibility for legal aid if you request this and discuss you current situation and concerns with you. The mediator will then discuss what type of mediation may be appropriate if your case is suitable. Accord offers mediation across Cornwall, Devon and the Somerset, and Legal Aid to help with the costs where eligible, so there is no need to shy away from approaching a helpful and friendly service where we can assist both parties through the difficulties that arise on separation and you do not need to see a solicitor first. So please contact us to find out more.

Contracted with the Legal Aid Agency

Family Mediation Divorce & Separation

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Win one of four pairs of tickets for a night of theatre under the stars with Miracle! This year Cornwall’s Miracle Theatre celebrates 35 years of producing inventive and enjoyable theatre with a new production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, touring across Cornwall until September. In true Miracle style, Shakespeare’s text has been respectfully shaken and stirred. Audiences can expect the unexpected when they take a trip across unchartered waters and find themselves washed up on an enchanted island. Here they will discover a magical world filled with sweet air beating with young love, ringing with old jealousies and the cries of enemies - all stirred up by a grumpy conjurer… What was Shakespeare’s first name? To win a pair of tickets to see the show at one of the following venues: • 24th August – Perran Round, Perranporth • 27th & 28th Aug - Restormel Castle, Lostwithiel

To enter, please send your answer along with your name, home address, or Department and extension number to oneandall@cornwall.nhs.uk or send it to: One & All Magazine, c/o Press Office, Bedruthan House, RCH There will be four winners, no cash equivalent prizes. The competition is open to RCHT staff only, excluding those associated with the competition. The prize is non-transferable and is available to entrants aged 18 and above. Al entries must be made by 18 August 2014. The decision of the Press Office is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Making the most of a precious resource: blood transfusion

ost people have heard the adverts for blood donors to come forward, but how many actually know about the processes involved, why the call is so frequent and what happens once your blood is taken? Blood stocks in the UK are a valuable but limited resource and maintaining them can be a struggle. The Blood Transfusion and Patient Blood Management teams together ensuring blood is used appropriately. However it still has to restock its blood bank every day with more than 10,500 units being issued last year to 2,170 patients and 1,053 units of platelets being given to 200 patients. That is why the Transfusion Team and in particular the Trust’s two Transfusion Practitioners Deb Thomas and Nicki Jannaway are on hand to advise clinicians. RCHT Consultant Transfusion Scientist Stephen Bassey says: “While donated blood is a life saver, we should be doing everything we can to ensure this valuable resource is used appropriately and alternatives should be considered and used where it is safe to do so.” The Trust employs a number of alternative strategies through their dedicated Patient Blood Management Team (PBM) and includes cell salvage, pre surgery testing, iron infusion, vitamin replacement and even the old fashioned wait and see. Stephen said: “The Trust does very well when compared to other Trusts nationally. The amount of blood we transfuse is 36 One and All

dropping year on year and this is likely to be due to education, awareness and the introduction of other methods of treatment such as pre surgery screenings, making sure patients are in the best health possible before they come in, a rise in the numbers of theatres using cell salvage and active engagement with clinical teams to discuss transfusion strategy.” “Humans usually have about 120g/l of Haemoglobin (the bit that carries oxygen) but generally transfusion isn’t indicated until the haemoglobin drops to below 70g/l although one size does not fit all. While one person may do well with a low haemoglobin level, another may not be able to tolerate the same level. Our anaesthetists have become very skilled at managing people’s haemoglobin levels safely and we have surgeons who can operate with very little blood loss. Our staff are good at understanding the importance of PBM and restricting the use of donated blood to the most needy patients.” RCHT’s transfusion team are keen to highlight that education plays a vital role. Nicki says: “We work hard to ensure staff use blood in the most appropriate way or look at the more suitable alternatives. The biggest part of our job is education - educating those staff who make requests for blood and providing advice and support to those staff who may want to challenge a blood request. “We provide information and training to new clinical staff and do refresher sessions every two years. It’s about helping our staff to do the right thing for the right people. We try and prevent unnecessary transfusions.” The need to avoid these unnecessary transfusions is not just to preserve blood stocks. Some patients produce red cell antibodies following transfusion, which can make supplying further red cells more difficult. Dr Bassey says: “In pregnant women, these antibodies may also affect any subsequent pregnancies. Although

transfusion is safe, it is not risk free, which is why we put so much effort into appropriate use. Reactions to transfusion can occur, as can infection, and we want to minimise this risk. Once you have been transfused, you are no longer eligible to be a blood donor – this is important to some people.” All the blood at the Trust is ordered from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) at Plymouth or Bristol. Stephen says: “All the blood donated in Cornwall is sent to Bristol for testing and processing. It then goes wherever there is a need and that is not necessarily back into Cornwall.”

Several times a day NHSBT will check its stocks and move blood around to ensure there is suitable stocks in all areas. Most of the blood issued in the Trust is used by haematology and oncology patients. For the Trust’s youngest patients on the neonatal unit the team try to ensure the babies receive from only one donor. Deb says: “For these babies just starting out in life, the amount of blood transfused is the equivalent to an egg cup (15 mls) and so the tiny amounts allow us to split a donation from one person to use over a period of time.” The RCHT team also still carry out the pregnancy antibody checks looking for antibodies that might affect the foetus. Stephen said: “Many hospitals handed over their pregnancy antibody screening to a centralised service but we took the decision to keep ours here meaning pregnant mums in the county can get their results in a quicker time. We felt that speed of turnaround was important because it can be a source of worry and concern to most mums to be.” n

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Come and browse our modern and spacious showrooms where you will find a great range of cots, moses baskets, pushchairs, toys, gifts, clothes, accessories and plenty more. Stockists of iCandy, Bugaboo, Mamas and Papas, Silver Cross, Babystyle, Phil and Teds, Trunkies and many more.

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Put a smile on your face with a salary sacrifice car To access SalarySacrifice4Cars and find out how you can drive away a brand new fully maintained and insured car for up to three years go to tuskerdirect.com. Select â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Create Accountâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, Company Code (RCHT) Unique Employee Identifier (Your employee number) 0333 400 2020 EETeam@ss4c.com Available to Royal Cornwall NHS Trust employees.

WHAT’S ON

Competition WIN two tickets worth £90 on a four hour wildlife trip with AK Wildlife Cruises, Falmouth

AK Wildlife Cruises based in Falmouth, offer all year round marine wildlife experiences from the comfort of their modern vessel.

Can you spot six differences from the photos below? For a chance to win, circle the six differences and send your entries to Spot the Difference Competition, Communications Department, Bedruthan House, RCH – Good Luck!

The heated cabin, outside seating, and home comforts provide a fantastic opportunity to observe wild dolphins and seals, basking sharks, ocean sunfish and marine birds. Captain Keith and crew are knowledgeable and passionate about the local wildlife, and endorsed by the Seawatch Foundation as a recommended boat operator with WiSe and WDCS. The Carrick Roads are home to a vast array of wildlife, landscape and history linked to the ocean and best viewed by boat. Come and enjoy encounters with up to eight species of whale and dolphin, ranging from the small harbour porpoise up to the huge fin whale. Sharing the coastline with the mammals are the Name……………………………….....................................Department (if birds. There are nesting peregrines breeding along the coastline as well applicable)…………………............................ as many wintering birds. To find out more log on Contact Number ……………………................................. to www.akwildlifecruises. All correct entries will be entered into a draw and a winner picked at random. There will be just one winner, co.uk, call 01326 no cash equivalent prizes. The competition is open to all, excluding those associated with the competition. 753389, email info@ The prize is non-transferable and is available to entrants aged 18 and above. All entries must be made by 31 August, 2014. The decision of the Communications Team is final and no correspondence will be entered into. akwildlifecruises.co.uk A list of winners will be on the Magazine’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/RoyalCornwallHospitalsTrust or follow us on Facebook or Twitter (AK Wildlife Cruises). 38 One and All

What’s On

AUGUST 1 – 7 – World Breastfeeding week 13 – Healthy Eating/ Membership sign up, RCH 20 – Stop Smoking/ Membership sign up – RCH 23 – Cornwall Pride, Truro SEPTEMBER Blue September – ‘Facing up to cancer in men’ Childhood cancer awareness month Cornwall Myeloma Support Group Fundraising event, Falmouth, See their facebook page for more info 6 – Fibromyalgia Awareness Week 8 – Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders National/ International Awareness Day 10 – World Suicide Prevention Day 13 – 21 – National Eczema week 14 – World Lymphoma Day 15 – 21 National Blood Pressure Testing Awareness Week Lymphatic Cancer Awareness Week Meningitis Awareness Week Sexual Health Week 19 – Jeans for Genes day 20 – World Alzheimer’s Day 25 – AGM, RCH 28 – World Heart Day OCTOBER Stoptober Breast Cancer Awareness Month National Cholesterol month 9 – World Mental Health Day 11 – World Arthritis Day 12 – 18 – National Arthritis Week 14 – Global Hand washing Day 15 – Baby Loss Day 24 – Wear it Pink 31 – National Bug Busting Day If you have an event or diary date email us at: oneandall@cornwall.nhs.uk

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