In Touch Plus Issue 4 Spring 2014

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Midlands’ first Page head and neck robot operation

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ISSUE 4 SPRING 2015

Midwife wins prestigious award

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Staff awarded for their long service

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A magazine for UHCW patients, visitors, volunteers, foundation trust members and staff.

Welcome IN THIS ISSUE

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Welcome from the Chief Executive Officer

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UHCW crowned ‘Best Dementia Friendly Hospital’ in national awards

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Midlands‘ first head and neck robot operation

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Patients’ pedigree chum: a volunteering tail

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Sue “rebuilt” by UHCW surgeons

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A brave pathologist returns from Sierra Leone

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Innovative cancer treatment wins award

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Midwife wins prestigious award

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UHCW maternity services scoops top national award

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Five minutes with Non-Executive Barbara Beal

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Dialysis heat recovery

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A new guide to prescribing a blood transfusion

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New Coventry Eye Treatment Room

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Local church and business help St Cross appeal pass £40k

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Cancer United

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UHCW takes top 10 place in its stride

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No ifs or butts, hospital Trust is now smoke free

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Welcome, goodbye and a massive thank you

Dr Rob Simpson steps into his dancing debut

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Sue calls it a day after 33 years

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Staff awarded for their long service

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Members’ Lounge

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Membership Application Form

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elcome to the latest issue of InTouch Plus, our regular magazine for members, the public and patients.

In March, our Together Towards World Class programme celebrated its first anniversary. Our staff have really embraced this programme, and we’re making really good progress on our way to becoming a world-class organisation.

Also in March, we welcomed a team of inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to our hospital sites in Coventry and Rugby. The CQC is responsible for checking that all hospitals in England meet national standards. Our staff, patients and members were able to speak to the inspectors about care provided at our hospitals. The CQC’s final report is expected later in the year, and we’ll share all its findings with you.

In this issue of InTouch Plus, we’ve got the usual mix of stories about the Trust which demonstrate our values of compassion, openness, pride, partnership,

learn and improve.

Our cover story shows the work of a canine volunteer and her owners in brightening hospital stays for patients of all ages.

We share stories of patients’ lives transformed by innovative surgical techniques, and about a pathologist who volunteered to help the fight against Ebola in Sierra Leone.

We also look at prestigious national awards which have recognised our staff, as well as providing updates on the great work done by our charities If you have any suggestions of what you’d like us to feature in a future edition of InTouch Plus, just drop us a line to communications@uhcw.nhs.uk.

Andy Hardy – Chief Executive Officer

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UHCW crowned ‘Best Dementia Friendly Hospital’ in national awards

“This award is also a tribute to the hard work and dedication of staff who have embraced the changes and who make a real difference to the lives of the patients in our care.”

Picture caption L- R : Paul Sinha, presenter of the awards,with clinical nurse specialists Rose O’Malley, Liz Kiernan and Tracey Chapman, and Maria Beech and Dr Alistair Burns, National Dementia Lead at NHS England.

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The Frail and Older People’s Team at UHCW NHS Trust has won a prestigious national award for the way it cares for people living with dementia while they are in hospital.

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t the fifth National Dementia Care Awards, the Trust’s Frail and Older People’s Team came out on top in the ‘Best DementiaFriendly Hospital’ category.

The award, sponsored by the Department of Health, was presented to the team in honour of the services provided to people living with dementia for treatment or care while at the Trust.

Rose O’Malley, Clinical Nurse Specialist, said: “I would like to emphasise that the winning of this award would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of staff at the Trust, who have helped provide a person-centred approach and compassionate care to those living with dementia.

“The experience of coming into hospital is always going to be challenging for people living with dementia, so it is with thanks to our nursing team, porters and hostesses and many more – all of whom have embraced our initiatives to improve the hospital experience for this patient group.”

The National Dementia Care Awards comes after the Frail and Older People’s Team used innovative ways including the Forget-Me-Not Care Bundle and the Sky Blue Pillow cases to help create a more person centred approach at the hospital for those living with dementia.

The Forget-Me-Not Care Bundle focuses on critical elements of nutrition, hydration, communication and the environment including safe personal space,

for those living with dementia and their carers.

The Sky Blue Pillow Cases initiative helps staff to identify patients living with dementia, through the use of blue pillows. When staff see patients with these pillows they can tailor their care accordingly. By making subtle changes for patients, the team has ensured patients have a good experience of the hospital environment.

Mark Radford, Chief Nursing Officer of UHCW NHS Trust, said: “I am delighted that the excellent work done by the Frail and Older People’s Team for patients with dementia has received national recognition in the Best Dementia-Friendly Hospital category.

“This award is also a tribute to the hard work and dedication of staff who have embraced the changes and who make a real difference to the lives of the patients in our care.”

Janice Connolly, Operations Manager from the Alzheimer’s Society, who works alongside the Frail and Older People’s team, commented: “We have a great working relationship with the team at UHCW and this award really is a joint effort by all involved. People living with dementia can become disorientated and face many challenges to their day-today life, and being admitted to an acute hospital for treatment can be particularly distressing. UHCW has made great strides towards making the hospital experience as friendly as possible.”

Midlands’ first head and neck robot operation University Hospital, in Coventry is the first hospital in the Midlands to use robotic surgery for head and neck procedures.

The da Vinci robot

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rust Head and Neck surgeons, Mr Gary Walton and Mr David Howe, are two of only 12 surgeons in the country to have used the da Vinci robot to conduct innovative surgery to remove cancers from the throat.

Mr Howe said: “The reason we use the robot is that we are able to take a tumour out of the mouth rather than a very extensive neck operation. This means that patients have to stay in hospital for less time and the surgery is scarless.”

Mr Walton said: “The alternative for patients is chemo-radiotherapy where swallowing function and speech can be compromised. Using robot surgery means that sometimes radiotherapy can be avoided in younger people.

“Tonsillar Carcinoma is one of the most rapidly increasing cancers in the last 10 years affecting young people, which is exactly the sort of thing that the robot is excellent at treating, allowing people to go home quicker.”

One of the first to go under the robot’s knife was Phil Hadley.

Phil, 60, from Galley Common, Nuneaton said: “The care was brilliant. I can’t fault it.

“I had a growth on my tonsil which they found to be cancerous. I needed an operation to take the tonsil and surrounding muscle out. This operation was suited to the robotic surgery because it could operate internally otherwise they would have had to go through my jaw.

“My recovery time was quick. I came in on the Monday night, I had the operation on Tuesday, and I went home on the Friday afternoon.

“The operation all went really well Phil Hadley and it all seems OK. “I would recommend anyone in my position using the robot for the operation. The conventional way, going through my jaw, would be quite messy, whereas the robot is far less invasive.”

The robot is controlled by the surgeon on a remote control station using their hands and Mr Gary Walton, M feet to guide axillofa an d Mr David Howe, EN cial Consultant, the robots T Consultant three arms.

Combining fine instruments and an incredibly detailed high definition camera, the a quality view meaning that it is well robot allows the surgeon access with suited to removing tumours through the mouth without the need for disfiguring scars.

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Patients’ pedigree chum: a volunteering tail A four-legged volunteer has been brightening visiting times at University Hospital in Coventry.

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iddy, a six-year-old labradoodle who works as a Pets as Therapy dog, has been visiting the hospital since 2012, with her owners, Paddy and Lynn Morris, who are registered hospital volunteers.

Before she could visit the hospital, Biddy needed to take an assessment which showed she had the right temperament to meet patients, visitors and staff.

Lynn and Paddy now bring her every week to visit several children’s wards and an orthopaedic ward.

Biddy is a very gentle dog, and is happy for patients and visitors to pat her and smooth her fur. The children especially enjoy the tricks Biddy has been taught to do, including doing ‘hi fives’ with owner Paddy and guessing which hand her treat is hidden in.

Lynn explains: “We wanted to give something back now we are retired, and it’s lovely to speak to patients, staff and visitors. It’s only two hours out of our week, but it makes a big difference.

“Biddy loves being patted and fussed by children, parents and staff. Every time she comes in, we see children’s and older patients’ faces light up. People have said that meeting Biddy has made their day, and the staff love her visits too. They all know Biddy.

“It also really starts conversations. The wards can be quiet places, but we notice that even when we’re leaving, she’s got patients talking to each other.”

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Paddy and Lynn even bring ‘Get Well Soon’ stickers with Biddy’s picture on as presents for the younger patients.

Biddy has become such a local celebrity that she was recently selected as a ‘local hero’ to officially open a new store near the hospital.

Pets are not normally allowed into the hospital, except for guide dogs or registered therapy dogs like Biddy. Staff at the hospital ensure that full infection control procedures are followed throughout, and Biddy is not able to visit those areas where patients are particularly vulnerable, such as any High Dependency Units.

Sue Ellis, Lead Nurse for Paediatrics and Neonatology at University Hospital, said: “We always look forward to Lynn and Paddy’s visits with Biddy, and the mood in the ward is always lightened when they arrive. The children love Biddy, especially as you don’t necessarily expect to see a dog in a hospital.

“There have been quite a lot of studies into the therapeutic benefits of pets.

Many patients have pets at home that they miss, and Biddy is such a happy and calm dog, she always makes patients feel at ease.”

For more information about volunteering at UHCW NHS Trust, contact Kristine Horne, Head of Voluntary Services, on 024 76965147 or kristine.horne@uhcw. nhs.uk.

Sue “rebuilt”

by UHCW surgeons

They rebuilt me. They were really good with me

Very few thought Sue Jones was going to make it. She came into University Hospital two years ago with horrendous injuries as a result of a serious car crash. However, due to the work of the Orthopaedic Department, Sue has now been “rebuilt”.

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year-old Sue, from Desborough, Northamptonshire, said: “Nobody thought I was going to make it. I broke everything from the neck down: shoulder, elbow, ribs, pelvis, hip, legs and feet.”

Sue, a library assistant, stayed in hospital from February 2012 to June 2012 and has undergone numerous operations to help correct her injuries. She was under the care of UHCW Orthopaedic Surgeons, Mr Matthew Costa and Mr Martin Blakemore.

She said: “They rebuilt me. They were really good with me; they did everything they said they were going to do and talked everything through with me and my family.

As a patient this makes you feel so much more reassured.

“The ward, and especially the Sister, were fantastic. The Sister made allowances for my family to stay longer because they had come from Northamptonshire.”

There was no stopping Sue in her rehabilitation. She has gone from questioning whether she would survive, to being able to walk short distances, attempting to live independently, and return behind the wheel of an adapted car.

Sue commented: “They took the decision to put my dropped foot, a paralysis caused by injuries to nerves that control the muscle that lift the foot, in a cast, which at the time I hated them for as it was unbelievably painful.

It had to be reset numerous

times. Mr Costa kept his word and was with me in the casting room every time I went for reset, which was very reassuring.

“I can’t thank them enough for doing that, it improved my chance to walk again.

Sue added: “They have now introduced an intermediate trauma ward in orthopaedics, which is such a brilliant idea. It is so hard to transfer from intensive care to an orthopaedic ward.

“I have gone through an awful lot of physio to get to this point, and I have also taught myself how to drive with my hands and I am currently trialing moving back into my own home, after staying for 18 months with my parents.”

Mr Costa said: “Thanks to her hard work, Sue has made an excellent recovery from potentially life-threatening injuries. We had to perform several operations to reconstruct her legs which were broken in several places.

One of these injuries was a fracture of her ‘distal tibia’, the lower part of her shin bone, which is a difficult injury to treat.”

Sue has now become involved in making improvements as a lay person representative on a new research project which is trialling different operations to fix the distal tibia in conjunction with the University of Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, a study which is taking place in hospitals throughout the NHS. Mr Costa said: “Sue is a key member of the research team; her personal experience of this injury has been invaluable in making sure that the trial is focussed upon the patients’ needs.”

Sue as well as describing her surgery and care as “brilliant”, owes a lot of her rehabilitation help to her family.

“My family have been brilliant with me, they would drive to Coventry to spend the day at the hospital, when I was in physio they were asking how to do things so they could continue on the treatment with me. They were and still are my rock and have picked me up when I was down.”

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A brave pathologist returns from Sierra Leone A brave UHCW pathologist has returned from Sierra Leone after helping with the battle against Ebola.

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isa Berry, Virology Clinical Scientist, based at University Hospital in Coventry, answered the call for volunteers to work in West Africa, and was there for four weeks from November.

Her role involved working in the laboratory, testing samples to detect the virus. Quicker tests mean that patients with Ebola can receive the right treatment as soon as possible.

They also mean that the risk of the disease spreading further can be minimised, so roles like Lisa’s are crucial.

Lisa said: “When I saw the request for help, I felt compelled to go. Ebola is a virus and I am a virologist. I can help so I felt that I should.”

Her laboratory, operated by International Medical Corps, was based in Makeni, a city in the Bombali district of Sierra Leone which had been a region of intense viral transmission. Her 10 person team was one of the first to arrive at this site.

She added: “I wasn’t nervous about

catching the virus as when we were in the laboratory we were wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) and had training at Porton Down prior to deployment.”

Lisa spent two weeks pitching in with her volunteer colleagues to help bring the lab to working order, including lifting heavy boxes of equipment through 35 degree heat.

She said: “The laboratory was based in one of the British-built Ebola treatment centres which was still under construction when we arrived, so when I turned up it was a building site and we had to set the laboratory up.

“We opened ahead of the treatment centre and started off testing samples from the community while the hospital got up and running.

“Some of the poverty is heartbreaking and it really makes you appreciate what we have here. There are a lot of issues that need to be addressed before the country can recover.”

However, Lisa wouldn’t change the experience and would encourage other people who are able to help to consider doing so.

“It was an incredibly rewarding experience, we were making a difference by diagnosing the virus; the quicker you can do that, the quicker you can treat the patients appropriately and put the necessary infection control measures in place.”

Chief Nursing Officer, Mark Radford, said: “We are really proud of Lisa’s work in Sierra Leone. It shows a fantastic commitment to caring for people and her work will have made a real difference to people’s lives.”

The Ebola virus has been present in Sierra Leone since last December.

There have been around 9,000 cases and more than 2,400 deaths since the start of the outbreak.

To find out more about International Medical Corps’ response to the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone, please visit www. internationalmedicalcorps.org.uk

Grateful thanks given to Mr Parker as he leaves Popular breast surgeon Steve Parker has left the Trust to move to the sunnier climes of the Isle of Wight.

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r Parker first started here as a registrar in 1998 and was Clinical

Steve Parker

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Lead for Breast Surgery and Clinical Director for Theatres for many years, including being responsible for many significant improvements in theatres.

Steve became a consultant in 2003

and most recently was Associate Director for Cancer Services. We would like to thank him sincerely for all his hard work and dedication over the 16 years here at UHCW and know his patients feel the same.

An innovation in cancer treatment which uses proton beams to localise the treatment causing less damage to healthy tissue has won an Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Award.

A consortium of hospital and academia, including UHCW, have won the Model-Based Engineering category for their Proton CT ‘Seeing cancer during proton therapy’ innovation.

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he innovation is all about assisting radiotherapists by helping them to achieve accurate proton CT images.

Over half of all cancer patients receive radiotherapy as part of their curative treatment, and most radiotherapy is delivered using high-energy external beams of x-rays. Proton beam therapy, however, uses a different type of beam to conventional radiotherapy. It uses a high-energy beam of protons.

Like x-rays, protons can penetrate tissue to reach deep tumours.

However, compared to x-rays, protons cause less damage to healthy tissue in front of the tumour, and no damage at all to healthy tissue lying behind, which greatly reduces the side effects of radiation therapy.

Nigel Allinson from the University of Lincoln said: “We are really pleased to have won this award – it’s great to receive such recognition from a global institution as renowned and long-running as the IET. Hopefully this award will mean that we can continue to provide accurate cancer treatment for more and more patients.”

Dr Spyros Manolopoulos from UHC W with his Institution of Engineering and Technology Innovation Award.

as one of the most forward-thinking, pioneering innovations in the field.

“These awards are part of the IET’s mission to inspire engineering

senior established professionals.”

As well as UHCW NHS Trust, the team behind the innovations includes University of Lincoln, University of

Dr Spyros Manolopoulos, Project co-investigator and Consultant Clinical Scientist and Radiotherapy Physics Strategy Lead at UHCW NHS Trust, said: “We are pleased to have won this award and intend to be closely involved in the continuing research, which we hope will benefit patients. Our world class innovation aims to improve clinical techniques by enabling more accurate cancer treatments.”

William Webb, IET President said: “The IET Innovation Awards celebrate the best in global innovation, highlighting the rapid and exciting pace of development in today’s engineering and technology industry.

Congratulations to the team for their win. They were selected from a highly impressive set of global innovations

excellence, which last year provided over £500,000 to celebrate excellence and research in the sector and inspire the next generation of engineers and technicians. Our awards recognise and reward the industry’s elite, from apprentices and technicians at the start of their careers, through to

Birmingham, University of Liverpool, University of Surrey, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

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Midwife wins prestigious award A midwife from UHCW has won a prestigious Royal College of Midwives award recognising her work in bereavement support.

Sam Collinge with

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parent memento

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am Collinge, from Stratford upon Avon, has been a Bereavement Support Specialist Midwife since 1999 and helps grieving families to cope following the death of a baby.

On March 3, she won the National Maternity Support Foundation (NMSF) Award for Bereavement Care, after being one of three midwives in line for the award.

By winning the award, Sam has got a £5,000 bursary to improve the sensitive photography the hospital provides to bereaved parents and also gives her the honour of becoming one of Jake’s Midwives, named after the son of NMSF founders Andrew and Rachel Canter, who sadly lost Jake in childbirth.

Sam said: “I felt delighted to have been shortlisted and it is fantastic for the team I work with and the Trust as a whole.

“I am immensely proud to be designated as a ‘Jake’s Midwife’ as

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it will not only enable me unknowns less daunting. to further develop our local “She came to visit us for a good service but it recognises the couple of weeks afterwards to check difference the team at UHCW we were doing alright and was always are making at what is a very on the phone. She has a very warm difficult time in people’s nature so you could feel like you could lives.” talk to her about your darkest feelings The £5,000 from the at that time, even though you hadn’t bursary will support Sam’s met her before. idea, called ‘Forever Photos’ “When I was pregnant with my – to develop an in-house second baby, it was quite a scary time; training scheme for Sam joined us for all the scans and midwives, using a specialist consultant appointments. She was a photographer to build skills real strength for us and really went and confidence in taking above and beyond. I don’t think we good quality sensitive would have been prepared to have photographs. two healthy children if it wasn’t for Sam said: “We have Sam. She is a real inspiration. always offered keepsakes “We were really fortunate to be in to parents, which are the right place at the right time to usually photographs and meet Sam.” hand and foot prints, Head of Midwifery, Carmel however I feel that the McCalmont, said: “Sam is totally level of photography could committed to her role as Bereavement be improved for parents.

“Creating memories is a vital psychological component in helping families come to terms with the loss of their baby, and as most parents cherish mementoes of their baby for the rest of their lives, it is vital that the quality of photographs we offer is of the L-R: Colin, Ross, Karen and Islay highest standard.”

One parent helped by Sam is Karen midwife. Families who have suffered Bell, from Hinckley, whose first child from the sad loss of a baby have was sadly stillborn at 38 weeks. benefited greatly from Sam’s Karen, 40, said: “After we were compassion and care. She always goes taken to the post labour ward, Sam the extra mile and is an asset to the came in, met us and told us what maternity unit at UHCW. We are to expect. In a very horrible time, delighted that Sam’s commitment has Sam was a calming presence and been recognised nationally.” very approachable. She made all the

Supporting mums and dads in their first 1,000 days leads to UHCW maternity services scooping top national award The maternity team at UHCW has won an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Maternity (APPGM) award.

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he award recognised UHCW’s inspiring work in improving local maternity services for mums and dads and was presented to the Trust’s midwives, doctors and support staff at a prestigious ceremony at the Houses of Parliament.

The APPGM is serviced by the National Childbirth Trust (NCT).

The awards were based on five key themes and the Trust scooped the top award in the ‘effective working in a multi-disciplinary team’ category.

Claire Croxall, Modern Matron for the Trust’s Maternity Unit and Claire Allan, Modern Matron for Intrapartum Services from UHCW were the driving force behind the ‘First 1,000 Days’

initiative designed to help new mothers and fathers.

The initiative places special emphasis on engaging mothers and fathers in the first 1,000 days; the period from the beginning of the pregnancy to around the child’s second birthday. This has been identified as the time mothers and fathers need to be supported the most, enabling them to be confident parents.

Modern Matron, Claire Croxall, explained: “This service aims to improve the life chances of parents and their babies and focuses on addressing health inequalities amongst the most disadvantaged

families from Coventry and Warwickshire.

“Our maternity services in Coventry share the challenge of a rising caesarean section rate.

In developing the ‘First 1,000 Days,’ we aimed to reduce the amount of caesarian births by providing information and support from midwives to help mothers have a natural birth.”

Claire Allan, Modern Matron, added: “We are celebrating the success of this award as an excellent example of the good work that happens here at the Trust, and what can be achieved through committed staff and innovation in services.”

Carmel McCalmont, Head of Midwifery at the Trust, said: “We are delighted with the result. It’s great to see the excellent maternity services standards that we have in place were rewarded for their approach to providing support for mothers and fathers. It’s a great accolade to the innovative work our midwives are delivering and a tribute to the collaborative work we are committed to at the Trust.”

The award was presented to the Trust by Health Minister Dr Daniel Poulter, and the ceremony was attended by midwives, doctors and representatives from the maternity services across England.

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Five Minutes With...

Barbara Beal

Why did you want to become a NED? (Non – executive director) I became a NED because I believe I have a genuine commitment and contribution to make after 40 years of NHS service to improving

safety, care and services for patients, families and carers.

What was it that attracted you to UHCW? I was attracted to UHCW as I trained and worked here as a nurse, midwife and manager and it is my local hospital where my family and I have always received wonderful care.

What do you see as the main aspects of your job?

There are many but fundamentally to ensure as a non- exec member of the Board along with the rest of the board and our staff that patients, families and carers receive the highest standard of safe, effective compassionate, care.

What has been your proudest achievement at work?

There have been many but if I had to narrow it down it would be delivering my first mother’s baby safely.

Change Makers proudly display their new pin badge Congratulations to Karen Mogan, Practice Facilitator for creating this unique pin badge for our Change Makers. hey were invited to design a unique Change Maker pin badge that would ensure they were recognizable and visible throughout the Trust. After 10 great entries, the

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design produced into the Change Maker pin badge was Karen’s.

If you spot any staff wearing the CEO Andy Hardy with winner Kare Change Maker pin badge don’t n Mogan forgot to say hello and ask them Change Makers are about their work with Together passionate members of staff, Towards World Class. Staff can also dedicated to help the Trust deliver learn more about the Change Makers its organisational development via the Together Towards World Class programme, Together Towards World intranet.

Class.

Community nurse given prestigious title A Community Nurse at UHCW has been acknowledged for her commitment to high standards by being awarded the title of ‘Queen’s Nurse’

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iona Shally, Lead Nurse of the Community Integrated Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Service, has been given the title of Queen’s Nurse by community nursing charity the Queen’s Nursing Institute, whose patron is Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. She said: “I feel truly honoured and proud to receive the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse. To be given recognition by the Queen’s Nursing Institute is both a professional

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achievement and sincere privilege.”

To be eligible for the title, nurses must have worked in a community role for a minimum of three years, be working in the UK and registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Fiona was required to submit an application form, which was then supported by patients and peers, and assessed by a panel of judges.

Fiona said: “I have been a nurse for 30 years. During this time there has been a strong community focus to my career. I have worked in general practice, fulfilled my aspiration to become a specialist nurse and now I am Lead Nurse for the COPD Service in Coventry.

“I never thought I would ever have achieved anything like this, but most of all I couldn’t have done it without the support of my patients, their carers and my colleagues.

“I have always been passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of people that I care for, always aspiring to deliver care to highest quality and with compassion.

Integral to this is involving and empowering patients in their health care and with service developments.

“I believe the future holds many opportunities for community and primary care nursing in the challenge to improve the health and wellbeing of our local population.”

Dialysis heat recovery

Kidney care has this year become the first clinical specialty to address its environmental impact, with the creation of a “Green Nephrology” programme.

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nswering the call from the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, the Renal technicians retro fitted heat exchangers to 38 dialysis machines. Working with Estates, who found the funding, the team installed and now maintain the units, saving energy and carbon.

The renal technical team currently maintain just over 100 haemodialysis machines with

30 points of use at University Hospital, 19 at Rugby, 12 at Nuneaton and eight at Whitnash.

Equipment runs between 12 and 18 hours per day, six days a week, with the team on-call 24 hours a day if required to provide expert technical assistance.

Many thanks to the Renal Technical Green Team.

Jubilee Nature Reserve gets visit from Brazil The Jubilee Nature Reserve at University Hospital received a visitor from Brazil who is looking to take sustainable ideas back to her home country.

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r Karina Patricia, who works for Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu – UNESP near Sao Paulo, visited as part of a tour of hospitals alongside the Centre of Sustainable Healthcare, who focus on helping the NHS become a more ecologically sustainable organisation.

She said: “I am here so I can learn more about sustainable healthcare

and so I can get more ideas to take with me to Brazil. It is very difficult to start these discussions in hospitals, so to get ideas from elsewhere will help with these discussions.”

Clive Robinson, Sustainable Development Manager, said: “The Trust was honoured to welcome Dr Karina Patricia to University Hospital, it is a great compliment that such an eminent visitor travelled across the globe to see our project. To have gained international recognition for the nature reserve is truly amazing, which has occurred through our partnership with the Centre for

BUPA London 10k Bank Holiday Monday 25th May 2015

Silverstone Half Marathon March 2016

Sustainable Healthcare”.

The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare has been working with UHCW since 2009 on the NHS Forest project, and they worked together on the ‘Outerspace’ project to set up the Jubilee Nature Reserve. The centre has pledged to help and support NHS organisations to reduce carbon emissions by 80%.

London Marathon April 2016

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A new guide to prescribing a blood transfusion A new guide to prescribing a blood transfusion has taken place

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new initiative called Don’t use two… Until you review was launched to aide medical staff prescribe blood. The project led by the Hospital Transfusion Committee, has created the initiative using the acronym SINGLE, to help staff make an informed decision when prescribing blood. The guide also

includes a Red Blood Cell Calculator which helps medical staff calculate how many units of blood are required for a patient.

SINGLE stands for : S – Size matters, establish the

patient’s weight to ascertain how

much blood will be needed I – Indication for transfusion N – Note the incremental g/L rise you

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coming to harm.

UHCW has created the new guidelines and risk assessment tool to help staff, and a number of ward teams have already benefited from bespoke training. Matrons also walked the wards to distribute these materials and also to discuss with staff how they would use them with patients most at risk of harm.

The new Safe and Supportive Observation Guidelines are available to all staff on the Trust intranet pages.

Further information about this initiative is available from the Hospital Transfusion Committee, please call 02476 96 5470.

Day Surgery Theatre Nurse retires after 42 years!

New Guidelines for Safe and Supportive Observation

ew guidelines have been developed to help clinical staff make decisions about the appropriate level of observation for vulnerable patients.

A new observation assessment template is being used on the wards of the Trust to help staff identify potential risks to patients. This aids decision making for staff to increase levels of supervision to support safe care, and safeguard against our most vulnerable patients from

want to achieve G – Gain the patient’s consent L – Liaise with the blood bank E – Each unit of blood is an

independent decision, re-assess

after each unit.

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ate Moroney, a sister from the Day Surgery Theatres, has retired following 42 years at the Trust. Kate first joined the NHS in Coventry back in 1972, and has enjoyed scrubbing for surgeons both old and new! We thank Kate for her time and commitment to the Trust and wish her all the best for her future.

Trust named as one of the top NHS tweeters UHCW has been named as the 28th top NHS organisation in the country using Twitter.

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n the brink of SoMething Special”, by consultancy JB McCrea and supported by NHS Providers, identifies the top 50 NHS organisational Twitter accounts.

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The Trust is the second highest hospital Trust in the West Midlands on the list.

The full report is available at www. nhsproviders.org/news/analysis-ofsocial-media/ Ken Hutchinson, Interim Chief Human Resources Officer, said: “We were really proud to be named as one of the highest profile NHS organisations on Twitter.

“As the report for NHS Providers shows, social media is a key part

of making the NHS accessible and accountable to patients and the public.

“Combined with more traditional communications techniques, we’ve found it to be a great way for the Trust to engage with its patients and the local community, and other healthcare organisations and professionals across the world.”

You can follow the Trust on Twitter @nhsuhcw.

Seeing in the New Year with new Coventry Eye Treatment Room Eye patients in Coventry are now able to access treatment closer to home thanks to a new Ophthalmology treatment room which has been officially opened at University Hospital in Coventry.

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he new room, which was opened to patients in early January, is used to treat eye conditions such as Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Diabetic Macular Oedema and Retinal Vein Occlusion.

The renovation of the room, including the purchase of new equipment, has been achieved through a joint working project with pharmaceutical company Novartis.

New staff have also been recruited by the Trust to support the service.

The main Ophthalmology service will remain at the Hospital of St Cross in Rugby. However, this new room means that patients from Coventry can get treatment closer to home if they wish.

There will be benefits for Rugby patients too, as it is hoped this new service in Coventry will result in shorter waiting times for diagnostics and treatment at the Hospital of St Cross.

Andy Hardy, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We were really pleased to officially open the new Ophthalmology Treatment Room at University Hospital.

“Our partnership with Novartis allowed us to buy new equipment and renovate the room.

“It means that we can now offer patients treatment for retinal eye conditions in Coventry as well as

Rugby, improving access for patients across our area.”

Mr Nonavinakere Manjunatha, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, said: “Patients with eye conditions can feel very vulnerable.

Offering treatments for these illnesses closer to patients’ homes should hopefully make a big difference to patients and the friends and relatives taking them for appointments.

“It’s fantastic to now offer patients the choice of being treated at our Macular unit in Rugby or in the new room in University Hospital.”

Frederic Guerard, Managing Director, Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd., said: “The launch of this new service in Coventry is the result of the strong joint working partnership between Novartis and UHCW NHS Trust. It highlights our shared dedication to improve care

for patients with these common and treatable eye conditions, and our goal of preventing unnecessary sight loss across the UK.

“We are committed to working with the NHS in longterm partnerships to help ensure patients are getting the care they require. Patients in the UK are already benefiting from other NHS and Novartis joint working projects, delivering greater accessibility, increased capacity and a more individualised approach to care.”

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Local church and businesses help St Cross appeal pass £40k In January the Friends of St Cross Diamond Jubilee Appeal total received reached £40,034 thanks to recent donations made

by Bilton Methodist Church, and Aphrodite Beauty and Spa. This means the appeal is now two thirds of the way to its initial target of raising at least £60,000 to celebrate sixty years of making a difference to the patient experience at the Bilton Methodist Church by Leigh Greenaway and Crosby L-R: Chur Joan Glanville pr Hospital of St Cross and in the Vice President of esenting the ch ch Officers Peter eque to Mike Ri The Friends of St gby, Cross local Community and Mental

Health Service.

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embers of Bilton Methodist Church had already held a coffee morning in September which raised £225 and the Charity was delighted to hear that they had decided to support the Appeal further through their Christmas

collections which raised another £400.

Local Business Aphrodite Beauty and Spa held a Christmas Raffle in aid of the Charity and raised £105!

Aphrodite Manager, Debbie Shaw said: “We chose to support the hospital as it’s a local service for the community. Aphrodite supplied a lot of the hamper prizes such as nail polishes, Good Hair Day straighteners and gift vouchers to use within the salon.

I contacted local businesses to ask for their support, and Klickers hairdressers in Rugby, Cotesbach Garden Barn, The Barley Mow, Larry’s y L-R: Sam Chippin and Badgers sb ro C h ig Le ty and Spa by y Tea Room, in Aphrodite Beau sk, Teasantana Garcia, Will Pa h ep St Brandon, all supplied y, Dunph ebbie Shaw.

D t, id gift vouchers or m ch ds Gol products to help

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make our raffle even better with more prizes up for grabs. Clients brought a raffle strip for £1 and the winners were selected on Christmas Eve. We had great support from our clients with helping out such a worth while cause that’s close to a lot of people’s hearts.”

Willy Goldschmidt, Communications Lead for the Friends, said “The collection cylinders in the hospital also passed a milestone when we counted the 20,000th 5p piece. But donors need not worry about a shortage of the coins as they are regularly cycled through the bank. The total donated through the cylinders is now over £2,750! We have also heard that customers of the Nationwide Building Society have nominated the Charity as one of three charities for their Community Match voting scheme.

The charity which wins the vote will receive £600 which would be a great boost to the Appeal. Supporters can vote at the branch in Rugby High Street.”

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UHCW takes a top 10 place in its stride ing Coordinator, ey, Health and Wellbe (L-R) Matthew Domin er at GCC. nag Ma t oun Acc Rachel Kirby, Senior

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hese are the findings after staff teams got up and counted their steps for the Global Corporate Challenge (GCC).

GCC works with organisations across the world to improve the health and wellbeing of employees by providing competition for teams counting their steps and encouraging them to become more active as a result.

and

210 staff at UHCW put their best feet forward, walking more than 200,000km and burning over 12 million calories to come in the top 10 active organisations globally.

The daily step average for participants was for 10,000 steps a day. UHCW smashed this by recording an average score of 16,048 steps.

This has led to UHCW being named the sixth most active organisation in the world for healthcare.

Health and Wellbeing Coordinator, Matthew Dominey said: “It’s fantastic how each team member has contributed to this year’s GCC and

made UHCW the world’s sixth most active organisation for healthcare.

It is such a great achievement and proves how colleagues at UHCW are dedicated to setting an example and improving their lifestyles.”

Of the 30 teams that took part the winners were ‘the Heartbreakers’ who recorded an impressive distance of 12,038km and had an average count of 26,869 steps a day.

World Prematurity Day Coffee Morning The neonatal unit at University Hospital Coventry held a coffee morning to raise awareness of premature births, a problem which affects 60,000 babies born in the UK each year.

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he event was held to mark World Prematurity Day. The parents of babies currently on the unit were invited as well as those whose babies have graduated from their care.

The team decorated and lit up the unit in purple, the international colour for World Prematurity Day, whilst staff and parents wore purple.

Senior Sister, Lucy Bradley, said: “World Prematurity Day is about raising awareness of the causes of premature births and improved care. It

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(L-R) Mum Faye Bra dley holding son No ah Murphy, Mum Ker Billingham holding ry son John-Junior Me ars and Mum Claire Parry holding daughter Em ily Labbett.

is an internationally recognised day and we wanted to play our part by showing our support.

“It’s been a great seeing so many smiling faces of the children we looked after, after they were born prematurely.

New mum Aimee Montgomery, whose daughter was cared for in the neonatal unit, said: “It’s been a wonderful morning and a brilliant chance to speak to other parents who

have been through similar circumstances and whose children have made it through the unit. All the staff are fantastic here so it’s been really good.”

University Hospital has a level three neonatal unit which means it cares for some of the sickest and most premature babies in the region.

No ifs or butts, hospital Trust is now smoke free ‘Thank you for not smoking’ signs have been erected at UHCW as the Trust becomes smoke free.

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ince January 1, 2015, smoking has been prohibited on Trust grounds.

The new signage was inspected by Andy Hardy, Chief Executive Officer, and Will Overfield, Stop Smoking Services Manager at the Trust. It thanks smokers for abstaining from smoking on site and protecting the health of staff, patients and visitors to University Hospital in Coventry and the Hospital of St Cross in Rugby.

It applies to staff, contractors, affiliated services, external agencies, students, patients and visitors. The Trust is offering extra support to those

staff members wanting to quit.

Andy Hardy, Chief Executive Officer said: “We have acted on complaints from staff and patients about those who smoke on our sites.

“The health of our patients and staff is important for the Trust and we are taking pride in this opportunity to make a difference and hopefully help people lead healthier lives.”

To help patients and staff who may want to give up smoking, the Trust’s Smoking Cessation Team provide stop smoking support and can be

contacted on 02476 96 4760.

New imaging device is as easy as abC UHCW has officially launched a new mini C-arm fluoroscopy machine to help surgeons get clearer images in the operating theatre and help patients get quicker treatment.

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he surgeon-operated device can x-ray hands to a high degree of detail so a decision can be made instantly on the best course of action during surgery, rather than patients facing any delays.

Consultant Orthopaedic and Hand Surgeon, Helen Whalley, said: “It is smaller than the normal C-arm machines which means there is more room in the theatre. It provides a much sharper image. The resolution

on a picture, especially for hand injuries, has to be so perfect so that you get the result you need and then it improves the surgery as a result as you can operate with more accuracy.

“Using this means we can fit more operations as there are no more delays waiting for radiographers to be present, and it frees radiographers to work in areas where they are needed more.”

Consultant Plastic and Hand

Surgeon, Matthew Venus, said: “Credit must be given to all in radiology, the day surgery unit and Trust management who have worked hard for over a year with us to help acquire this machine. It will help us to deliver a high quality of care for our hand surgery patients.

The device is currently being used in the day surgery unit at University Hospital with the hope to roll it out at Hospital of St Cross in the near future.

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Welcome, goodbye and a massive thank you We would like to say goodbye and send a massive thank you to Chief Finance Officer and Deputy CEO Gail Nolan who has retired after 25 years in the NHS

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Wendy Bowes

Meghana Pandit

David Moon

aking over her roles are David Moon who is now joint Chief Finance and Strategy Officer, and Meghana Pandit who Gail Nolan is now Deputy CEO in addition to being Chief Medical Officer.

We would also like to Griffiths and Andrew welcome Wendy Bowes McMenemy in HR. who joins us as Associate Congratulations to Director of Human everyone.

Resources and completes the team alongside Donna

New Chief Human Resources and Information Officer We have great pleasure to announce that our new Chief Human Resources and Information Officer will be Karen Martin.

K

aren has worked in the NHS for over 30 years with 11 years as an Executive Board Director and has a wealth of experience in human resource / organisational development,

leadership and change management working across a range of health organisations including Health Authority, and both acute and mental health services.

Karen is currently Executive Director of Workforce and Corporate Development at Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and in her new role will be responsible

for HR, Communications, ICT and the Programme and Performance Management Office.

She hopes to join us in her new role in May 2015. In the meantime Ken Hutchinson will continue in his role as Interim Chief HR Officer.

Karen Martin

Deputy Chief Medical Officer appointed C

ongratulations to Neonatologist Richard de Boer, who has been appointed as the third Deputy Chief Medical Officer alongside Mike Iredale and Andy Phillips.

Congratulations and all the best in your new role.

Richard de Boer

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Dr Rob Simpson steps into his dancing debut A UHCW consultant swapped his stethoscope for sequins and pulled on his dancing shoes to take part in a ballroom dancing event in Northampton.

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mergency Department Consultant, Dr Rob Simpson, took part in the Strictly Northampton show in front of an audience of 1,500, representing the hospital as a Major Trauma Centre for patients in the Northamptonshire area.

Rob, who has been a resident of Northampton for 14 years, was chosen for the event due to his ‘celebrity’ status among the town’s residents. Other competitors included a Northampton Saints rugby player and a Conservative and a Labour MP. This was a dancing debut for Rob, who admits he is more stair lift

than Fred Astaire when it comes to gracing the floor.

However, this didn’t stop him aiming for tens across the board on the night.

Rob said: “Ballroom dancing is not something I have ever done before but I turn my hand to most things and have a lot of interests, so this opportunity to represent the Trust and help a local charity was something not to be missed.

“We had almost 60 people going from the Emergency Department at UHCW, which is great support and I

would like to thank them for that.”

Rob was partnered with a professional dancer, and the winner was decided by a text vote from the audience. Rob came 4th.

The event was held at in November and raised money for the Cynthia Spencer Hospice.

Friends and Family Test - Update The Friends and Family Test (FFT) is a single question survey which asks patients, on discharge, whether they would recommend the NHS service they have recently experienced to friends and family should they need similar care or treatment. As part national initiative, UHCW NHS Trust now offers all its patients the opportunity to take the Friends and Family Test.

The FFT for patients has been introduced at the Trust in the following phases: • Inpatients: April 2012 • A&E Attenders: April 2013 • Maternity Service Users: October 2013 • Staff: April 2014 • OP, DC, Paediatrics: October 2014

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he test consists of a simple question and a follow up question in order to find out why a patient would either recommend a service or not. The FFT question is: “How likely are you to recommend [the name of the service being asked

about e.g. ward, A&E, etc.] to friends and family should they need similar care or treatment?”

Possible responses are: Extremely Likely, Likely, Neither Likely nor Unlikely, Unlikely, Extremely Unlikely, Don’t Know.

The FFT for patients, on its introduction at the Trust in April 2012, was a Net Promoter Score question. From October 2014 this changed and results are now presented as a percentage of respondents classed as recommenders, non recommenders and those who are unsure.

Patients are able to feed back on-line by visiting the Trust’s website or by picking up one of the questionnaires which are available throughout all wards and departments. The Trust may also text the question to patients who meet a set of criteria and whose mobile number is known.

For further information on the Friends and Family Test, please contact Julia Flay, Patient Experience Manager: Tel 024 7696 5186 or email Julia.flay@uhcw.nhs.uk, who will be happy to answer your questions.

21

Sue calls it a day after 33 years Maternity Support Worker, Sue Higginson, has called time on her work after 33 years at UHCW.

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tarting in 1981, when John Lennon and Coventry’s The Specials were topping the charts, she worked in the old Walsgrave Hospital, before moving into University Hospital in 2006.

Sue said: “Thank you to everyone. We have worked together for a long time and it has been lovely working with them all.

“I have enjoyed my time here. It has been nice and I have had some real laughs.”

Caroline Wright, Ward 24 Manager, said: “We will miss Sue very much. She is such a professional and I can’t ever recall a time when she has been off ill. She has been a pleasure to work with.”

Sue now plans to spend some time focusing on her grandchildren and gardening. She also has plans to go on cruises, with one being booked around the Caribbean later in the year.

NHS Sustainability Roadshow Comes To Coventry UHCW flew the flag for sustainability in the West Midlands by hosting the region’s only NHS Sustainability Day roadshow in January.

I

t took take place in the Clinical Sciences Building at University Hospital, Coventry, and allowed NHS staff across the region to participate in the national campaign by minimising their carbon footprint.

The event offered health workers the chance to learn best practice, share innovative ideas, network and exchange information. Representatives from both the public and private sectors spoke about their work of becoming more environmentally sustainable in a cost-effective way.

Speakers included representatives

22 22

from NHS England and other NHS Trusts, as well as national energy and food firms.

Sustainable Development Manager Clive Robinson said: “I’m happy to have welcomed the NHS Sustainability Roadshow to University Hospital and proud to have spoken at the event, especially as it gives us a chance to share some of our successes.

“It was a great opportunity for colleagues to learn about some of the issues we face and how we can improve our sustainability in our hospitals in Coventry and Rugby.”

The national NHS Sustainability Day took place on March 26, 2015. All NHS organisations were encouraged to join in to initiate or continue progress on becoming more efficient, saving energy and helping the environment. NHS Sustainability Day has now attracted senior level endorsement within the NHS and from the Prime Minister.

Only six sustainability roadshows took place nationally. UHCW NHS Trust was the only Trust in the Midlands to host a roadshow.

Staff awarded for their long service 2,925 years of service from 117 loyal NHS staff have been recognised at a special awards event held at University Hospital in Coventry.

U

niversity Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust’s (UHCW) Long Service Awards were held recently to show the Trust’s appreciation to staff who have served the NHS for 25 years.

These colleagues started work in the NHS back in 1988 when the hair was big, the average house cost £60,000, classic songs like Always On My Mind

Staff celebrate w

ith their certificat

by Pet Shop Boys and Belinda Carlisle’s Heaven Is A Place on Earth topped the charts and crowds were flocking to the cinemas to see Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman in “Rain Man”.

Chief Executive Officer, Andy Hardy, and Chief Nursing Officer, Mark Radford, presented certificates and Debenhams vouchers to the members of staff at the annual ceremony.

es.

Andy Hardy said: “I am proud to recognise these colleagues for their loyalty, compassion and dedication that they display for our patients, day in, day out.

“To work for the NHS for 25 years is a wonderful achievement and it is only right that this is celebrated.”

Trust Board Day and Time Change The dates and times of public meetings of the Trust Board of UHCW have changed for 2015.

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rom January onwards, the meeting commences at 10am on the last Thursday of each month, with the exception of August.

Meetings take place in the Clinical Sciences Building (CSB) at University Hospital, Coventry, as previously, on the dates detailed to the right.

UHCW is committed to transparency, openness and accountability and Trust Board meetings are held in public other than in a limited number of circumstances where this would not be appropriate. We welcome the

attendance of staff, patients and the public at these meetings and we are happy to answer any questions that relate to matters on the agenda that we have discussed at the conclusion of the meeting.

All public Trust Board papers are published on our website in advance of the meeting and this being the case, as part of our commitment to sustainability and protecting the environment, we will no longer be making hard copies available at the meeting.

PUBLIC MEETINGS OF THE TRUST BOARD OF UHCW • May 28, 2015 • June 25, 2015 • July 30, 2015 • August 2015 – no meeting • September 24, 2015 • October 29, 2015 • November 26, 2015 • December 17, 2015

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Dr Stirling and the Children’s Outpatient department received a thankful tweet “Blessed to have @nhsuhcw, amazing staff and world class health service #awesome”

Dr Ilchyshyn received two letters of thanks this month – one including a £300 donation! “We have just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary and asked for donations instead of presents. Please find enclosed a cheque for £300 to use as needed to provide more of the excellent care I have received.”

“All of the staff at the Arden Centre are just the best!” said an extremely grateful patient blogging about her experiences.

Ward 32 went that extra mile for a patient who describes Nursing staff as: “absolutely brilliant, I was treated with dignity, was kept comfortable at all times and received a level of care that I never thought I would get.”

Dr Dubey received an email from a very happy patient who said: “I am writing to let you know how grateful I am to you and your team. You have made me feel brand new, it is wonderful to feel free of pain.”

@R4NNA: A huge thank you for Dr K Blake and team. You were all absolutely brilliant. Jovan is doing great. Thank you

@i_mcdermott: @nhsuhcw Thanks to Macular Unit at St Cross. Without exception EVERY member of staff excellent throughout my dads care over the last few years

Amy Kelsey – A big thank you to all the midwives and staff on the maternity unit, u are all wonderful.

This time last week my little girl was being born…X

@catkin1969: Great experience @nhsuhcw dermatology outpatients. Appointment on time and friendly staff. Thanks

@nhsuhcw

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A patient’s family would like to “thank the staff of Oak Ward for the tremendous care that was given to mum and the wonderful support and compassion shown to her family” Free Radio’s breakfast show host JD tweeted “Can’t thank the staff enough for what they have done recently!!” about the Children’s ED make over.

The Children’s Day Surgery Unit got an email of thanks from a grateful parent: “They did a fantastic job to make my child’s experience within that ward a pleasant as possible.”

One of Dr Dharma’s dermatology patients would like to say “a very big thank you to everyone involved with his treatment” @BlazeJules2: Great care today @nhsuhcw A&E dept thank you nurse Emma!!

@CiaraMcmillan: had an amazing experience at Lucina Suite. Thank you! Archie McMillan born 11.01.15 @7.37am by fantastic midwifes. @Tvermar: Many thanks to all the staff at @nhsuhcw in Rugby who looked after me yesterday #LoveTheNHS

@LisaParkerRBC: Goodbye dodgy looking mole! Hello Sat dermatology clinic at st cross Thanks to @nhsuhcw staff. Pls check you moles – selfie them if nec! @Mattblazefan84: So grateful to the doctors and nurses @nhsuhcw a&e and ward 3 for looking after my mum the last few days you’re a credit to the hospital Tony Treacy – Can I take the chance to say what wonderful care we received from all staff at UHCW during my partners pregnancy, labour and post-natal care.

Everyone from Dr Fallon, staff on Wards 24 and 25 and labour ward were amazing!!

I would recommend UHCW 100%!! The wards were clean, the food was good and all staff were not only professional but also very friendly!! Thank you

@angelapolcano16: Home with my beautiful boy! Thanks to all @nhsuhcw @UHCW_ Midwife best care in the world making our time a special experience #midwives

www.facebook.com/nhsuhcw

@CvLucas16: Caring and empathetic nursing from nurses and care staff thank you to University Hospital, Walsgrave, Coventry

@KarenJBateson: @nhsuhcw Impeccable #hellomynameis by Dr MacDougall today & brilliant care by paediatric nursing team too.

nhsuhcw

ADVERTISING FEATURE

TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE CONTACT OUR SALES TEAM ON:

01257 267677 25

FOSTERING & ADOPTION ADVERTISING FEATURE

The changing face of fostering By Colin Foster Carer since 1989

“My family and I began our fostering journey in 1989 for the Local Authority and looking back, we can see how much the role of fostering has changed.

F

ostering is not just about taking someone else’s child into your family and bringing them up as one of your own, there is much more involved. The issues that make it necessary for children to be removed from their own family and placed into foster care, often for their own safety, affect the ways they behave.

These behaviours need families with specialist training and continuous support. Herein lies the reason for our decision to leave the Local Authority and seek out an Independent Fostering Agency. One of the key differences is the level of support, local authorities are budget led therefore they are under pressure to do it cheaply with minimal resource.

ISP, the IFA we transferred to, are different. They regard Foster Carers as professional members of their very important team, where the child is always at the centre. The support and guidance we received was second to none and we truly felt valued.

“It can be a difficult job at times but the rewards continuously outweigh the challenges. Many of the children

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Fostering is not just about taking someone else’s child into your family and bringing them up as one of your own, there is much more involved. that have been part of our family over the years continue to be a part of our lives post fostering and often bring their own children to visit us. For us, seeing our foster children make such fantastic parents themselves makes us so proud and the whole process

worthwhile. We can see that the circle of abuse is broken, and family values have been rediscovered.”

At ISP we place great emphasis on recruiting, training and developing the very best Foster Carers so that young people can experience the best that fostering can provide. We help create the right environment by providing a wrap-around service that provides wide-ranging practical and professional support for both Young People and Foster Families.

Fostering a Young Person is one of the most challenging yet rewarding things you can do and ISP is here every step of the way to make sure that fostering is right for you. We match you to the right Young Person and provide you and your family with all the training and professional support you need to be a Foster Parent.

Get in touch today and we will talk you though the process of becoming one of our carers on 0800 0857 989 or go to www.ispchildcare.org.uk for more information.

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FOSTERING & ADOPTION ADVERTISING FEATURE

Coventry foster carer backs Foster15 campaign A Coventry foster carer has backed Pathway Care’s Foster15 campaign, which encourages people to consider becoming a foster carer in 2015 and highlights that one child is taken into care every day in England.

A

lison Gallacher, 47 is a single foster carer and looks after three siblings, as well as her own grown up daughters. She said: “Being a foster carer shouldn’t be thought of like a job – it’s about giving something back and there’s a lot to be said about being able to offer a child some happiness.

“It can be challenging, especially as a single carer when you’re trying to get everyone out of the house to

The Nursery

go to school. But Pathway Care is a brilliant fostering agency to work for and offers fantastic support. They’re always on there, 24/7 with clear, honest advice.”

Catherine Rioda, regional service manager for Pathway Care in the Midlands, said: “We need more foster carers to come forward and we know that a lot of people have fantastic transferable life skills. Pathway Care can give you

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One of Coventry’s newest, quality pre-school childcare providers. We offer full day care and free government funded places for 2, 3 and 4 year olds.

The Nursery provides a friendly, safe and secure environment where you can be confident that your child be well looked-after by experienced and qualified staff, who are passionate providing the best opportunities for children to learn, develop and HAVE FUN! Ofsted rated us as ‘Good’ and said that, “The Nursery provides a bright welcoming environment where staff have good relationships with children and parents.”

Opening hours The Nursery offers full day-care for pre-school children.

Opening hours are: Monday to Friday, 8.00am until 6.00pm Funded places are from 9.00am until 12.00pm and 12.30pm until 3.30pm

Tel: 024 7626 6280 Email: pauline.sealey@valleyhouseassociation.org www.valleyhouseassociation.org

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the confidence and offers excellent support to help you take a step towards this.”

If you would like to find out more about being a foster carer with Pathway Care, visit www. pathwaycare.com. We offer 24 hour support, full training and a generous financial allowance to foster carers.

You can also find Pathway Care on Facebook and Twitter @PathwayCare

FOSTERING & ADOPTION ADVERTISING FEATURE

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We need foster carers living in this area If your think you have what it takes to make a difference to a child’s life please contact us now on

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FOSTERING & ADOPTION ADVERTISING FEATURE

Let’s change lives for children in Coventry We’ve all heard about foster carers, either on television or in magazines talking about the great work they do. But it’s rare we ever think of the word fostering and our own families in the same sentence; but why is that the case?

I

t’s true that foster carers do amazing things every day, but it’s ordinary people that become foster carers and there is huge shortage.

More are needed to meet the needs of children right here in Coventry.

At Fostering People we recruit, train and provide the very best levels of support to foster carers. As an Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ agency we

understand that support is key to a successful career as a foster carer.

Make 2015 the year you do something amazing. If you have a spare bedroom and enjoy working with young people, find out more about becoming a foster carer today.

Call 0800 077 8159 or visit www.fosteringpeople. co.uk to find out more.

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FOSTERING & ADOPTION ADVERTISING FEATURE

Question: Malcolm X, Marilyn Monroe, Bo Diddley and Goldie. What do they have in common?

Answer: They all spent time in foster care as children…

Adoption and Fostering is something that people think about doing for many years, often feeling that ‘right now’ isn’t the best time, have heard the process is too long, or assume that there are already enough other people to do it.

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n fact, there are over 600 children in Coventry right now who are looked after by the Local Authority and need a stable, loving home either through foster care or, if the court has decided, adoption.

We therefore urgently need people who could use their caring skills to look after Coventry children - maybe NOW is exactly the right time to come forward?

The process for approval for foster carers and adoptive parents has been shortened and simplified over the past few years, meaning that although assessment processes are rightly robust, they are more focused and flexibly timed visits can take place

32

in the applicants’ home.

A range of training and support is offered to carers including the ‘skills to foster’ and ‘preparation for adoption’ courses as well as 24 hour support and an allocated social worker. There are a number of friendly local and national support groups and organisations to get involved in and met other carers. Foster Carers and some Adopters receive an allowance, fees and other financial and practical support (please see our website for more information).

There is a career path for foster carers who wish to undertake more training and offer more specialist placements such as parent

and child placements for single parents who may need some help in parenting and learning to care for their baby, or becoming a ‘specialist’ foster carer for children with more complex needs.

Fancy a new challenge this year?

YOU could make a real difference to children’s lives!

Call the team on 02476 83 2828, Email: familyplacementservice@ coventry.gov.uk or see our advert and website for information events

FOSTERING & ADOPTION ADVERTISING FEATURE

Nurturing confident, Caring curious Children is what we do...

At Hope Nursery we consider every ‘little person’ to be a beautiful independent fascinating and creative individual with a huge amount to offer the world At Hope we understand that the importance of the early years in a child’s general development cannot be over-emphasised Any experience which caters for the needs of the children before they reach statutory school age establishes the foundations of future learning in many areas of human experience

Poppies 2 year olds

Children are grouped according to age their toys and equipment are carefully selected appropriate to their skills. With their own wet messy play area lots of time for fun. We provide 15 free hours for 2 year old children who qualify.

Come and view the nursery and meet the staff Contact Linda or Caroline on 02476 238 323 or email info@hopenursery.co.uk www.hopenursery.com Hope Centre Vauxhall Street Hillfields Coventry CV1 5LF

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

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21 years serving the Coventry,

There’s something for everyone to enjoy here, from live sport to our weekly quiz nights and special events. We have regular live entertainment, and an outdoor beer garden to enjoy when the sun is out.

Nuneaton & Warwickshire area

thejosepharchbarford.co.uk Joseph Arch, 7 Bridge Street, Barford, Warwick, CV35 8EH

Affiliate Member of the Society of Will Writers Call now on 07966

521999 or 02476 342341

Peace of Mind Starts With A Phone call

Bablake House Birmingham Road, Millisons Wood, Nr. Coventry, CV5 9AZ

Call 02476 40 40 40 for more information BEST WESTERN PLUS Windmill Village Hotel, Birmingham Road, Allesley, Coventry, Warwickshire CV5 9AL

• Range of luxurious treatments available

We don’t train people to be caring...

we employ caring people Bablake House is a large, delightful privately owned country house set in extensive grounds.

It has a large, pleasant and secured rear garden with several patios for residents to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. Bablake house has earned an excellent reputation with the CSCI and local authorities. We offer care for 47 elderly men and ladies. The home does not offer nursing or dementia care. Most of the pleasantly decorated single rooms have an en-suite and all have a private telephone point.

Tel: 01676 523 689 bablake-house@carehomes.uk.net

• Indulge yourself with a Spa Day or Break • Open 7 days a week • Gift Vouchers Available

t: 02476 40 40 41 Spa www.windmillvillagehotel.co.uk Relax & enjoy a 25 minute treatment for just: Why not call and book today (Subject to availability / treatment normally £25) Please produce voucher on the day of treatment - Quote Int4

£15 35

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Home from home‌ First class nursing care.

We provide first class nursing care for the elderly residents within a homely and relaxed atmosphere.

The home is set in acres of delightful mature grounds. The dedicated and experienced caring team is committed to providing tailor made care for each individual, ensuring each person is looked after with respect and dignity. As well as permanent residency, the

home also provides respite and recuperative care.

Respite care allows for a person’s normal carer a break from their caring duties whilst recuperative care enables a person to recover from an illness or operation away from a clinical environment.

There are larger luxury suites as well as a range of modern, comfortable single bedrooms, many of which are en-suite. Food is a very important part of life. Providing healthy and appetising meals is the primary concern of our catering team who ensure that each individuals needs are met. All cultural and

special diets are catered for. Meals may be enjoyed in our bright and attractive dining room overlooking the garden. Alternatively, if desired residents may have their meals in their own rooms. The whole nursing team work together to ensure each resident is looked after with care and dignity.

Visitors and relatives are welcome at all times.

Main Street, Thurlaston Nr. Dunchurch, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV23 9JS Telephone: 01788 522405 | Facsimile: 01788 817260 | Email: warks97@aol.com | www.thewarwickshire.co.uk

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Members’ Lounge Welcome to the exclusive ‘Members’ Lounge’ for our Foundation Trust members. This area is full of handy tips and information on how you get the most from your membership. From discounts to important dates for your diary, it’s all right here for your information. We now have over 9,200 public members and are working towards 10,000 members.

Where are my personal details held?

We employ Membership Engagement Services (MES), an external database company, to manage our membership database. All information is kept strictly confidential in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1988. If you would like to find out more about MES please visit their website www.membra.co.uk

NHS Discounts

Members can register with NHS Discounts to receive discounts on top brand goods and services, including gas and electricity as well as discounts at retailers such as Currys, Apple, Radley and BHS. Go to www.nhsdiscounts.com to register.

When completing the ‘your job’ section, answer ‘yes’ to working for the NHS and then select ‘Foundation Member’ as the job category.

Public Register

When we become an NHS Foundation Trust we will be required by law to publish a register of members. This will include your name plus the constituency to which you belong.

You may apply to have your name excluded from the public register should you wish. Just tell us by emailing, telephoning or writing to us, giving your full name, address and date of birth.

Your feedback is important to us

Let us know if you would like us to arrange a talk or tour on a specific issue or area that is of interest to you.

Calling 024 7696 4747 or emailing foundation@uhcw.nhs.uk

Encourage your family and friends to get on board

Andrea Phillips

Medicine for Members Events All the events are free and take place in various locations across Coventry.

UHCW now has over 9,200 public members. Thank you to all of you who are spreading the word and have helped recruit friends, family and colleagues. Friends and family can register as members in the following ways:

We are currently working on events for 2015 and they will be advertised as soon as possible.

Fill in the online application form on our website: www.uhcw.nhs.uk/foundationtrust

Have your details changed?

E-mail or ring Andrea Phillips: andrea.phillips2@uhcw.nhs.uk or phone 024 7696 4747

To book these events please call Andrea Phillips on 024 7696 4747 or email: andrea.phillips2@uhcw.nhs.uk

Have any of your personal details changed (ie: have you moved or changed your email address?)

If so, then please inform the Foundation Trust Office so we can make sure we address any correspondence correctly and keep you up-to-date with what’s going on at UHCW.

You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube and keep up-to-date with news and happenings at UHCW.

@nhsuhcw

www.facebook.com/nhsuhcw

/nhsuhcw

nhsuhcw

The Trust has access to interpreting and translation services. If you need this information in another language or format, we will do our best to meet your need.

Please contact 024 7696 7596

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Foundation Trust Membership Application Form Many thanks for deciding to become a member Please fill in and send us this form so we can welcome you aboard as soon as possible. Please note that all fields marked * must be completed for us to be able to register you. Needless to say, we would also very much appreciate you filling in the other fields to, ensuring you sign the declaration (overleaf).

Your name and contact details

How do you want to be involved?

Learn more about how to improve my own health and take part in health promotion campaigns

* Title: * First Name:

Be sent regular information about the Trust (eg. newsletters)

* Last name: * Address:

Consider standing for election as a Governor Volunteer at the Trust

* Post code:

Receive additional membership forms for family/friends

* Home tel:

Take part in consultation of the Trust’s plans

Work tel:

Advocate for the Trust within the community

Mobile:

Help recruit more members

Email:

Help us develop better information for patients and carers

* Date of Birth: Male

Other (please specify)

Female

How did you hear about us?

What is your connection with the Trust?

Hospital

Local

Press Family

TV

Leaflet

Hospital Staff

Have previously applied to be a member of this Trust.

Radio

Friend

Mailing

Carer of someone who is, or has been, a patient

Other (please specify)

Have worked for the Trust in the past

Which services are you interested in?

Student/work placement

If you have a particular interest in one or more areas of healthcare, we’d very much like to know. Maybe it’s cancer care, diabetes or emergency care - whatever interests you have, please let us know:

Family member of a staff member

General medical care

Diabetes

Women & Children

Cardiac (heart)

Surgery Rehabilitation Renal (kidney)

Other (please specify)

Visitor Family member of patient Other (please specify)

Emergency care

Maternity Stoke Cancer

Patient

Neuro (brain)

Tick the box to select your preferred method of contact Post Mobile

Home tel Text

Work tel Email

Data Protection University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust would like to use your information for communication and research purposes. We may contact you from time to time by telephone, email or post to invite you to take part in surveys and questionnaires about our hospitals. If you do not wish your information to be used for this purpose, please tick this box.

We would like to share your information with the charity/fundraising arm of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. If you do not wish your information to be used for this purpose, please tick this box.

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More about you It is important to us that our membership reflects all the different communities that we serve, so that we can make sure that our hospital services meet their individual needs, and that we treat everyone in a way that respects their views, culture, disbility and dignity. To help us do this we ask you to provide some information about yourself. This is entirely voluntary. If you choose not to provide the information it will not affect your membership application.

Are you registered disabled?

Yes

No

Getting your family and friends involved

If yes, please specify

A physical disability

A hearing impairment

A visual impairment

Other

Other special needs

Please tell us about your ethnic origin White: White British

It would be great if you could encourage your friends, family and other people you know in the community to get involved too. If you would like to suggest any other person who we could send information to regarding membership please provide their details here: Title: First Name: Last name:

White Irish

Address:

If other, please state: Black or Black British: Caribbean

African

British

If other, please state: Mixed:

Post code:

White and Caribbean White and Black African

Declaration

White and Asian

I would like to be a member of the Foundation Trust, when authorised

If other, please state:

Signature:

Asian or British Asian: Indian

Pakistani

Bangladesh

If other, please state: Chinese

Other Ethnic

Date:

If other, please state:

/

/

Thanks again for deciding to become a member Thank you for taking the time to complete this form and we look forward to you becoming a member and getting involved. We will send your welcome letter as soon as we have processed your registration. For more information about the Foundation Trust aspirations, please visit our website www.uhcw.nhs.uk/foundationtrust or call us on 024 7696 4747.

Please return the completed form to: (No stamp required) Freepost RSCT-YUXG-GHZX University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust Foundation Trust Office, 3rd Floor UHCW NHS Trust Clifford Bridge Road Coventry, CV2 2DX

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