WCT Magazine For You – Spring Edition 2015

Issue 10 Spring 2015

Oh what a night...

It was another fabulous night at this year’s For You Thank You Staff Awards. Niamh McTague, above with the Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Steve Foulkes, picked up the prestigious Patient Choice Award.

Comment Simon Gilby Chief Executive

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

News bites

3

Vision 2018

4

Trust News

5

Members and Volunteers

8

International Wheelchair Day

9

A day in the life

Welcome

FEATURE Staff Awards 2015

Welcome to this spring edition of foryou, the magazine for all our staff, members and volunteers. As always, it’s a packed edition full of news, updates and events from across the trust. As I’ve said before, a key part of my job is getting out and about, meeting staff and people using our services to see and hear for myself what’s happening across our services and clinics. The last few months have been no exception, listening to staff and hearing the positive stories and feedback from our patients, and that’s reflected in our magazine.

In particular, earlier in the year we held our third annual For You Thank You staff awards.

It was a fantastic night for everyone involved and a night full of inspirational stories. This year we launched our Patient Choice award where patients could nominate the individual or team they felt had given exceptional patient care. Thanks to everyone who submitted a nomination. You can find out who all the winners were on our feature pages 11 – 14.

The staff awards also gave us the ideal opportunity to launch our #Hello my name is… campaign which highlights the very positive impact of all staff introducing themselves by name to patients and colleagues. Getting the simple things right is at the heart of delivering compassionate care. We’re proud to be one of the many trusts involved and you can find out more on page 19.

10 11 – 14

Trust News

15

Spotlight - Smoking

16

Trust News

18

Equality & Diversity

20

Getting to know you

21

Health and wellbeing

22

Brain training

23

Also in this edition, we are delighted to welcome all school nurses to the trust as part of our new 0-19 Health and Wellbeing Service. We are also delighted to introduce our new Specialised Dental Service (previously Community Dental) which, from 1 April, has been delivering specialised dental services to adults and children across Wirral, Cheshire West and Chester.

The latest staff survey results are out, showing a very encouraging picture, and we continue to score better than average following an excellent response from our staff (see page 6). We are also the top performing community NHS trust in the annual seasonal flu campaign – well done to everyone who got their jab!

On a final note, we’re getting ever closer to foundation trust status and look forward to welcoming Monitor to visit us in the coming months. We have lots going on and if you can’t wait for the next edition of the magazine, don’t forget you can follow our activities on twitter @wirralct and on our website www.wirralct.nhs.uk And as always, if you want to get in touch, I am always keen to hear from you.

PUBLICATION DETAILS Published by: Communications and Marketing, Wirral Community NHS Trust.

SUBMISSION DETAILS If you would like to submit an idea for an article, please contact:

foryou

Follow me on twitter @SimonGilby_WCT

Communications and Marketing Wirral Community NHS Trust Old Market House Hamilton Street Birkenhead Wirral CH41 5AL E: communications@wirralct.nhs.uk

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News bites

Newsbites National Pay Award Agreed The pay offer made by the Government for NHS staff on Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions in England has now been accepted. The overall agreement includes changes to pay scales for 2015/16 and revised national redundancy provisions for England. The agreement brings the industrial action by health service unions to an end. These changes come into effect from 1 April 2015. For further information and FAQs, go to www.nhsemployers.org

100% success!

In March, 919 patients responded to our Friends and Family test question ‘How likely are you to recommend our services to friends and family if they needed similar care or treatment?’ The best divisional score came from patients who received care from our therapies division – 100% of whom would recommend their service. Well done to the therapy staff, this is a great endorsement of the quality of care they provide. Across the trust 93% of patients said they would recommend our services.

This is great news and thank you for all your hard work in helping us achieve this.

Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) The trust’s new SIRO is Mark Greatrex, Director of Finance and Resources.

The SIRO owns the trust’s overall information risk policy and risk assessment process ensuring we have a robust incident reporting process for information risks.

The SIRO reports to the trust Board and provides advice on the content of the trust’s Statement of Internal Control in respect to information risk.

Do we have your email address?

In January 2014 we posted about 2,700 copies of foryou and emailed 1,800. It costs about £1 to print and post each copy, so if you are able to receive it by email let us know – email foryouwithyou@wirralct.nhs.uk Every pound we save helps patient care!

2014

Sta f f Survey Results ...at a glance 660

staff responded d

96%

raisal received an annual app y! ly! all ion - best score nat

84%

received equality lity & diversity training i i

78%

&

received job related training re

would recommend the trust as a place to receive treatment

90% 4%

=52%

s agree their role make ts en ti pa to a difference

experienced physical violence from patients, families or the public

21%

68% 38%

experienced harassment, bullying or abuse from patients, relatives or the public

feel able to contribute to improvements at work

suffered work related stress

The full results are available on Staff Zone or at www.nhsstaffsurveys.com. Thanks for taking part!

Spring 2015 foryou

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Vision 2018

For a healthier Wirral The three guiding principles that underpin Vision 2018 are to improve health and wellbeing outcomes, to improve people’s experience and to reduce the cost of health and social care.

Over the last few months, work has been underway to identify Vision’s priority projects. Workshops have been held to map out current systems for areas such as Unplanned Care, Respiratory and Musculoskeletal. Research was undertaken with patients, clinicians and managers, providing invaluable insight. The workshops then identified how we can improve the patient / carer journey by removing wasteful steps and enabling services to work together to avoid duplication, and developed 12 month redesign plans.

Other vision 2018 projects underway include: Virtual Fracture Clinic - redesign of pathways for appropriate patients who have attended the Emergency Department with a

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fracture or a suspected fracture. Virtual pathways will be delivered by a Consultant with access to results and X-rays.

Ear Care – following a review of the drop in ear care clinic at Arrowe Park, bookable appointments are being made available, along with advice and intervention and appropriate discharge back to the patient’s GP. Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS) / Botox (overactive bladder syndrome) – appropriate care will be available closer to home, utilising existing expert community services. This will create more capacity in hospital for more specialist intervention.

One-Stop Surgery – identifying opportunities to provide a one-stop approach for surgical procedures, based on success of one-stop hernia service at Arrowe Park. This process is well liked by

patients, therefore there is an intention to build on this success.

Integrated Record of Care (IROC) - single care plan for people with long term conditions and complex needs, to be used across all health and social care services.

Being developed with input from patients, carers and professionals.

Think Pharmacy – launch of a minor ailments scheme within pharmacies to enhance self-care and reduce the number of minor ailment cases being seen in GP practices and A&E. GP Acute Vising Scheme (in collaboration with North West Ambulance Service): provide a rapid response by GP practices to take over the care of patients that have called an ambulance but do not need to be admitted to hospital (available 24/7).

Street Triage – collaborative scheme (between North West Ambulance Service, local police and Cheshire and Wirral Partnership mental health team) to rapidly assess people ‘on the street’ who have been identified by police or ambulance service as possibly having mental health and substance misuse issues and ensure they are directed to the most appropriate support service (rather than being taken to A&E by ambulance if not appropriate).

Intravenous (IV) Antibiotic Service – development of a specialist service to allow patients to receive IV antibiotics in the community, preventing unnecessary hospital admission and allowing patients to be discharged earlier and receive ongoing specialist treatment at home.

Other projects in development are focusing on children’s integrated care, integrated coordination teams and projects to support people to self-care.

Trust News

Welcome Onboard!

Joining a new organisation can be daunting and getting a good induction is a vital part of engaging with new members of staff, bringing them up to speed with essential need-to-know information about the organisation and making them feel welcome and part of the team from early on in their time with the trust.

Here at the trust we’ve introduced ‘Onboarding’, a web portal which allows newly appointed members of staff to access essential trust material and information (videos & presentations) before they start. As the first NHS Trust to introduce Onboarding, new employees can find out about the type of organisation we are, our culture, staff benefits, opportunities

for learning, how to prepare for their first day and important facts on topics such as infection prevention and internet usage.

Onboarding replaces the previous corporate induction which took place once individuals had started in their job. It now means that new starters come prepared and ready to play their part here at the trust.

The process will be followed up with a local induction with their line manager making sure staff have the local information, resources and support they need on a day-to-day basis. There’ll also be the opportunity to meet members of the board at quarterly ‘getting to know you’ sessions.

GP Update GP Update is our bi-monthly newsletter emailed to all Wirral GPs, Practice Managers, Practice Nurses and other healthcare professionals. Set up just over a year ago, its aim is to keep the health professional community informed on how we’re developing our services to meet the needs of patients. It’s a valuable source of the latest news about what the trust has to offer and the excellent staff we have working across a whole range of community services.

• 0-19 Health and Wellbeing Service • NHS mail faxing and SMS services If you’re a healthcare professional and don’t currently receive GP Update by email, simply visit the GP section of our website www.wirralct.nhs.uk/for-gps and subscribe online.

We welcome any suggestions about how we can develop GP Update or the GP section of our site, just email: communications@wirralct.nhs.uk

In the latest issue: • Specialised Dental Service • New timetable: Sexual Health Wirral

ISSUE 7

March 2015

Staff Council

#Hello my name is… Helen Lundy and I have been elected as the chair for staff council this year. I’ve worked as a nurse with the trust for 20 years and at the recent staff awards received my 25 years NHS service award.

I joined staff council in July 2013 and find attending the meetings to be a real opportunity to discuss issues that have an impact on staff and to also give feedback to directors on organisational changes.

As a member of staff council I had the opportunity to be a judge for the staff awards this year. It’s really uplifting to read all the nominations and hear about the work being undertaken in all areas of the trust. The staff awards are a great way for us all to showcase the caring and innovation being undertaken every day. I would encourage everyone to try and nominate someone next year, and if your nominee is shortlisted then you’ll be invited to the event!

If you are interested in finding out more about the work of staff council you are welcome to attend a meeting.

We have capacity for one or two staff visitors at each meeting so please contact a member of staff council if you are interested in coming along.

Best wishes, Helen The trust would like to thank Phillipa Compson and Judy Fairbairn, who stepped down from the chair and vice chair role of the staff council earlier this year. The trust would like to thank both for all their input and dedication to the council.

• The Red Book just got better!

Autumn Spring 2015 2014 foryou

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Trust news

Staff Survey Showcases Strengths It was great news for the trust when the annual staff survey results were published last month. A fantastic 660 people responded, providing invaluable feedback on how people feel about the trust, its services and the care we deliver. The responses showed that in comparison to other community trusts we have great staff engagement and are focusing on the important things where patients are concerned. We scored better than average or average in 26 of the 29 key areas. Highlights include: • best in the country for staff receiving an appraisal in the last 12 months (second year running!)

• significant improvements in the quality of appraisals and staff receiving E&D/Health & Safety training • significantly higher score than other trusts for the support provided by immediate line managers • a drop in the number of errors, incidents, near misses staff are witnessing We also scored higher than average for the percentage of staff who thought patient care is the trust’s top priority, for those who would recommend the trust as a place to work, and for those who would be happy with the standard of care provided if a friend or relative needed treatment.

There are still areas where we can improve. Over the coming year we will be focusing on providing job relevant training (particularly for administrative staff), providing more opportunities for staff to contribute to improvements at work, and increasing the rate of incident reporting.

Full results of the survey and a presentation of the key results can be found in the Staff Survey section on StaffZone.

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0 - 19 Health and Wellbeing Service A very warm welcome to all the school nurses who joined the trust in February, as part of the new 0-19 Health and Wellbeing Service (delivered in partnership with Barnardo’s, Brook and Home-Start Wirral). The new service is still developing and includes: • support from our Health Visiting and Family Nurse Partnership teams • infant feeding support • School Nursing service and delivery of the school immunisation programme • work with primary and secondary schools on nutrition, oral health and contraception • weight management support for children, young people and their families • targeted work around drugs, alcohol and smoking • support for young carers Have you spotted one of our bus sides around Wirral?!

The Red Book just got better!

Most parents will be familiar with the Red Book, given to them by health visitors to record health information for babies and young children (up to the age of five).

The 0-19 service is delighted to launch the new and improved red book, now packed with useful information from accident prevention to weaning, sleeping, toileting, and dental care. It’s also full of support around post natal depression, anxiety and quitting smoking, as well as tips on how parents can promote their child’s development.

The book still records childhood immunisations, and will help improve communication and information sharing between eg midwives, health visitors and

school nurses, as the child’s care transfers from one team to another.

The new Red Book will be distributed by midwives half way through pregnancy, so that important pre-birth information can be recorded, and parents are given information at a time when they may be most receptive to parenting advice and support.

Trust news

Board Update I am proud to have been reappointed to such an outstanding organisation.

Frances Street, Chairman

Frances Street has been reappointed as the trust’s Chairman for another two years, until March 2017.

Frances said: “I am delighted that the NHS Trust Development Authority has renewed my position. We have made enormous progress over the last two years, with continued success at each stage of our Foundation Trust journey. What we have achieved is testament to the hard work and dedication of all our staff and the exceptional levels of healthcare that they provide on a daily basis. I am proud to have been reappointed to such an outstanding organisation.”

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Simon Gilby has announced he will be leaving the trust later this year to join Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust as Chief Executive. Timescales for his departure have not yet been finalised, but arrangements for an interim Chief Executive appointment and recruitment to the permanent post will begin shortly.

Wirral and beyond!

We are delighted to announce that our new Specialised Dental Service launched at the beginning of April, delivering care to patients in Wirral, Cheshire West and Chester (including vale Royal).

Following a competitive tender process, the trust was selected as the preferred bidder, in partnership with Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust.

The new contract, set out by NHS England, stipulates some changes to the way specialised dental services will be delivered in domiciliary care.

To provide the highest quality care to patients, specialised dental services provided in domiciliary care will mainly be assessment and advice (from a dentist and dental nurse). Any treatment required will be delivered in clinic, where state-ofthe-art surgeries with specialist equipment, including hoist and wheelchair tippers, will enable our highly experienced staff to provide the safest care whilst delivering best practice for infection control, health and safety, safeguarding and confidentiality.

Vanguard Wirral has been chosen by NHS England to be part of a national pilot for a new healthcare model to help shape a 21st Century NHS. Wirral Community Trust has been part of a joint bid submitted with the Clinical Commissioning Group, Wirral University Teaching Hospital, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership Trust, and Wirral Council.

Non-Executive Directors Christine Allen and Brian Simmons have also been reappointed for two years, until March 2017 and June 2017 respectively.

Simon Gilby, Chief Executive

The successful candidate for the position of Director of Business Development and Strategy will be joining the trust very soon - watch this space for an announcement.

Calidicott Guardian

To find out more visit our website:

The Caldicott Guardian is a senior person responsible for protecting the confidentiality of patient and service user information and enabling appropriate information sharing.

Acting as the ‘conscience’ of an organisation, the Guardian actively supports work to enable information sharing where it is appropriate to share, and advises on options for lawful and ethical processing of information. Medical Director Ewen Sim is the trust’s new Caldicott Guardian.

The pilot (known as a Vanguard project) will help drive forward the new joined-up care models that are part of Vision 2018.

It presents an exciting opportunity for the trust, as we are well placed to be central to the new model, which will see patients receiving health and social care in, or as close as possible to, their own home.

www.wirralct.nhs.uk

Ophthalmology Dr Ewen Sim, Medical Director

The trust has been awarded ‘Any Qualified Provider’ status to deliver a Community Eye Care Service. The service will launch in May… watch this space!

Spring 2015 foryou

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Members and volunteers

Volunteering

Recent member events Quality Goals session

Getting ready for Monitor and our governor elections

Thanks to those members who came to St Catherine’s Health Centre in March to comment on our draft quality goals for 2015/16. Quality Goals are set each year to help us focus on making our services even better. These members’ views on the goals, and how they are written and presented, will inform the final goals that will be published in our Quality Account later this month.

Wirral Community NHS Trust recently passed a major milestone in our application to become an NHS Foundation Trust (FT). On 19 March the Trust Development Authority, the national body that supports trusts who are planning to become FTs, agreed that we were ready to be assessed by the independent regulator, Monitor.

Governor information sessions

by Olivia Daniels I’ve wanted to do children’s nursing since I was 14, and when I was doing my GCSE’s I knew how competitive it was going to be to get into. I was advised to get some voluntary handson experience and that helped me get onto my university course.

During my time as a volunteer I did various things, from observing the baby weighing clinics to going on home visits, doing the paperwork, and helping out in the office - whatever the team needed me to do! I got to do a variety of different things and saw how the team works, which was invaluable, as it meant I wasn’t going into it not knowing anything.

I’m now doing my nurse training.

I finish in August and I’ve got a job at Alder Hey as a nurse. Volunteering really helped me do what I wanted to do. I’d recommend it to anyone looking at a career in nursing – volunteering will give you a real boost.

The Health Visiting Team were so supportive and gave me a great reference for my university interviews, which helped me get on to the course.

It was a really good feeling helping out for a few hours a week. I found volunteering so rewarding. I don’t think a lot of people know volunteering is available and it’s really easy to get into, so go for it!

I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone in the Health Visiting Team for all their help and guidance.

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During January, February and March we held meetings to tell members about our plans for forming a Council of Governors, detailing what governors do and the election process. We are building up to our first governor elections as part of our application to become an NHS Foundation Trust. Over 50 people came to the sessions, which we hope means there will be lots of good candidates for our first set of governors!

Upcoming events Members’ event, Thursday 26 June 2015 – Community Nursing Our June Members’ Event will focus on the work of our Community Nurses. These vital teams represent about a third of our total workforce and have over 300,000 patient contacts each year. They usually look after people in their own homes and help people with a very wide range of needs.

We’ll also have a presentation about the Care Quality Commission and Monitor; the organisations that make sure NHS Foundation Trusts operate safety and sustainably. The event will be held at St Catherine’s Health Centre, Derby Road, Tranmere, CH42 7HA in training rooms 3 and 4 between 2.00pm and 4.00pm.

Member survey

This follows our successful quality inspection by the Care Quality Commission last September, when we were rated as ‘Good’. Monitor will focus on how the trust is managed and our financial sustainability. The inspection will last 4-6 months.

As this is the last part of the foundation trust application process, we will soon be holding elections for trust governors, so that we have a Council of Governors formed and ready to begin as soon as we are authorised as an FT. For more information about any of the above, or if you would like to attend the next members event, please contact the Membership and Engagement Team on 0151 514 2451 or email to: foryouwithyou@wirralct.nhs.uk

5000 is the magic number!

We were delighted to welcome our 5000th member to the trust last month. Keith Ryan, who works at Ashville Lodge in Birkenhead, for Wirral Society of the Blind and Partially Sighted, said: “I’m really pleased to be the 5000th member of Wirral Community NHS Trust. It’s important that people are able to influence their health services. I’m really looking forward to being part of it”.

Many thanks to all those who completed our membership survey in the last edition of the magazine. The results are available on our trust website. Key points were that most people who responded: • found membership useful for keeping up to date with trust news and the wider NHS • thought member events in the afternoon were most convenient • would like to see member events about trust services, staying healthy, our plans and the wider NHS

Pictured left to right are: Bob Giles, Volunteer, Keith Ryan our 5000th Volunteer cutting the cake and Cathy Gallagher, Membership Team.

International Wheelchair Day

International Wheelchair Day

by Sharon Hanna, Higher Clerical Officer, Wirral and West Cheshire Wheelchair Service

International Wheelchair Day on 1 March saw wheelchair users across the world celebrate the positive impact wheelchairs have on their lives, and highlighted the great work many people do to support those with mobility issues.

The wheelchair service showed their support by trying to get a better understanding of some of the challenges wheelchair users face. Four members of our team spent part of the day in wheelchairs; an invaluable experience that gave them a brief insight into the daily challenges wheelchair users face, and the benefits of having the correct wheelchair and accessories.

Our Rehabilitation Engineer assessed us in various wheelchairs before setting us up in individual wheelchairs according to our capabilities. We also spent a short amount of time in an unsuitable wheelchair to understand the difference the correct wheelchair would make. I was given a self propel wheelchair first which I used for a short time, and although I found it manageable to use, it aggravated an ongoing shoulder problem and my hands

became painful while using the hand rims, due to arthritis in my hands. Because of this I was given a powered wheelchair to try instead. I found this much better, although I needed tuition to ensure I could use it safely.

Using the wheelchair around the office proved quite a challenge as I had to think about where I wanted to go before I moved, so I could see what I needed to do to get there, and what obstacles might be in the way. Going through doorways was particularly difficult as I had to manoeuvre the wheelchair to ensure enough room to go through without hitting the door frame.

I had to ask for assistance from my colleagues too, as there were certain things I just couldn’t manage on my own, like reaching high shelves and carrying certain things.

I went in the lift to go upstairs and again I had to think about how I would enter and exit, and ensure I had enough room to reach the buttons. Reversing out was difficult due to the risk of hitting someone or something

Chris Billington (standing) and Sharon Hanna marking International Wheelchair Day.

as I couldn’t see properly - I had to use the mirrored wall in the lift for guidance.

While in the wheelchair, I felt self-conscious and sometimes invisible, as I noticed a lot of people would walk by without giving way, although some people went out of their way to try and help. Spending time in the wheelchair made me realise how difficult it can be to manage day-to-day activities; it highlighted how much planning is involved and how reliant you are on others.

I think it also highlighted that even though you are in a wheelchair you can still have quite a full and active life with the right wheelchair for your needs; it shows that by thinking and planning ahead you can achieve quite a lot. I can now empathise more with wheelchair users as I have experienced a very small taste of what they have to overcome on a daily basis. It also highlighted the importance of having a wheelchair service which prides itself on trying to ensure all users are provided with appropriate equipment to help make their everyday life more manageable.

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A day in the life

A day in the life:

Ken Price

Team Leader (Biomechanics Specialist).

I am a full time Podiatrist based at St Catherine’s Health Centre where I combine two working roles, one as a Team Leader and the other a Biomechanics Specialist.

I have eight members of staff in my team and I am also part of a small yet highly specialised biomechanics team of podiatrists.

My day begins around 6.30am which allows me enough to time to travel from North Wales to St Catherine’s.

The majority of my working week is concentrated on delivering clinics in biomechanics, but I also undertake nail surgery sessions, take part in management and governance meetings and deal with matters arising within my team leader role.

As a team leader I am also responsible for organising things like service & development meetings, appraisals and ‘back to work’ interviews.

In a typical session of biomechanics, I can assess patients who present with a variety of painful symptoms including hip, knee and ankle pain. There may also be added complications from various autoimmune diseases such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. These symptoms can be alleviated or reduced by individually bespoke, specifically manufactured in-shoe orthotics.

My assessment of the patient includes an examination of their gait pattern and then determining their particular ‘foot type’ by weight bearing and non-weight bearing examination of various joints of the lower limb, including the hip, knee and foot. Once the assessment is complete and I have reached a diagnosis I am then able to take the next ‘step’ (apologies!) to producing a specifically designed orthotic device.

We use the latest high technology computer-aided design/manufacturing (CAD/CAM) equipment for this stage of treatment, called an Amfit System. The patient stands on a Contact Digitizer where a digital impression of the entire plantar surface of the foot is taken. This gives me the precise data to then make very accurate functional foot orthotics.

The software also allows me to adjust the insole to suit a particular condition, for instance if a diabetic patient presents with a history of a plantar foot ulceration, I can reduce the risk of further tissue breakdown by what is known as off-loading, which is taking away the pressure that caused the lesion.

One of the main advantages of this process is that the patient is assessed, diagnosed and fitted with appropriate insoles on the same day, and the devices are ‘saved’ on the software and can therefore be accurately reproduced for repeat prescriptions. We are getting very positive feedback from the patient’s point of view and I find it really rewarding to be part of a treatment process which helps to reduce their painful symptoms and prevent complications in the future.

Our service boasts over 30 members of staff from Administration staff and Podiatry Assistants to Band 5, 6 and 7 Podiatrists all working together and delivering a very high standard of foot care to patients.

The department runs Nail Surgery Clinics at St Catherine’s and Mill Lane Health Centres, delivers foot care to 10 sites on the Wirral and also has a substantial domiciliary caseload. We have expanded out into areas of Liverpool and undertake delivering highly specialised diabetic foot care at Arrowe Park Hospital. In fact, five of our Podiatrists who work regularly at Arrowe Park are due to travel to London for a week in June to complete an update and further training in caring for the high risk diabetic foot. This shows their commitment to consistently deliver highly skilled diabetic foot care.

I enjoy working for the NHS and how my job has developed. I feel lucky to be working alongside skilled and dedicated professionals and I particularly like making a difference to patients’ lives.

Foot Facts: • each foot has 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 tendons, muscles and ligaments • one quarter of all the bones in the human body are in your feet • there are over 7,000 nerve endings in each foot • feet have 250,000 sweat glands • if you need to see a podiatrist, don’t forget to ask your GP to refer you to Wirral Community NHS Trust!

What role would you like to learn more about? Email your suggestion for ‘A day in the life’ to: communications@wirralct.nhs.uk 10

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Staff Awards

Staff Awards 2015 The ‘For You, Thank You’ Staff Awards 2015 at the Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, gave us the chance to recognise the great work and achievements from people throughout the trust, including our new Patient Choice Award!

With 10 awards to present and celebrate, our staff and members were in for an excellent night.

We received lots of nominations this year and the standard was exceptionally high, so for everyone who was nominated and to all those who were runners up and winners – WELL DONE!

Spring 2015 foryou

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Staff Awards

West Kirby Community Nursing team receiving their Clinical Team of the Year award, with compere Billy Butler (left) and trust Chairman, Frances Street (far right).

Naimh McTague collects the Patient Choice award from the Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Steve Foulkes with compere Billy Butler.

The atmosphere was buzzing in the Floral Pavilion and the excitement mounting.

The guests had arrived and were busy chatting and networking when the doors to the main room opened; it was time for staff to find out whether or not they would walk away winners.

Radio Merseyside’s Billy Butler got the ceremony in motion, inviting Trust Chairman Frances Street and Chief Executive Simon Gilby to give everyone a warm welcome.

Before the awards got underway Sandra Christie, Director of Nursing & Performance,

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Community Dental service receiving their Clinical Team of the Year award, with compere Billy Butler (left) and trust Chairman, Frances Street (far right).

launched the #Hello my name is campaign.

(Find out more about the campaign on page 19).

The first award of the night was the Customer & Patient Care award - the winners were the Integrated Specialist Palliative Care Team. Recently praised by the CQC, the team had introduced a remembrance service and bereavement cards which had been really valued by the families they help.

Next was the Best NEW Initiative award.

Sponsors Wirral Chamber of Commerce presented the award to Sarah Jones from the Community Nursing West Kirby Team.

Sarah had been instrumental in the introduction of the automated ‘Doppler Assessment Machines’ for leg ulcer care, which has resulted in better treatment for patients. Her innovation saved huge amounts of time, reducing an assessment that usually takes an hour to just three minutes. Sarah said: “I felt very proud; I didn’t expect to win, I just see it as doing my job and improving patient care. It has given me the motivation to take it further and already work on the next initiative with Q&G.”

The Volunteer of the Year award is to recognise the huge contribution volunteers make to the trust. This year’s winner was Pat Gill from the Speech and Language Therapy Team. Nominator Rebecca Smith said: “She has been a great asset to our team over the past 12 months supporting clinicians to deliver care to younger clients who have experienced an acquired brain injury inspires positivity and puts these patients at ease. Pat gives her own time willingly and her encouraging, positive nature helps draw out the best in patients.”

To celebrate the excellent leadership we have in the trust the next Inspirational Manager / Team Leader of the Year award went to the individual who had inspired their team or displayed excellent management & leadership skills. Toni Shepard from the Health Visiting Service won. Her team described her as: “Supportive, perceptive, motivating and empowering.”

By now the evening was in full flow, with rapturous applause for the winners so far, and anticipation building to see who were the remaining winners. Sponsors Hill Dickinson presented the Outstanding Achievement award to Judy Fairbairn in

“ Pat Gill, Volunteer of the Year collects her award from Chairman, Frances Street.

I felt very proud; I didn’t expect to win, I just see it as doing my job and improving patient care.

Sarah Jones, Community Nursing

Toni Shepherd, collects her Inspirational Manager / Team Leader of the Year award from Chairman, Frances Street.

recognition for the huge contribution she has made to Sexual Health Wirral.

Judy said: “I can’t believe I’ve won, it feels really great to be recognised by the trust, and makes all the effort I put into my job so worthwhile when I know it is appreciated and making a difference.

Outstanding Achievement feels very special and I am totally thrilled to have been awarded this category.”

The Promoting Equality & Diversity award was made to recognise the members of staff who put in the extra work to make an outstanding contribution to the communities or individuals they work with.

The Equality Champions Group won the award; group representatives Helen Lundy and Ewen Sim went up to collect the award on the group’s behalf.

The pressure was now on with only three categories remaining, including the brand new patient choice award. Competition is always tough, especially when it comes to Non-Clinical team of the Year.

The SystmOne project team topped the list for their exceptional support in the adoption

Staff Awards

of the new technology which helps underpin leading clinical care.

Taking everyone by surprise, it was then announced that this year there would be joint winners in the last of the staffnominated awards. Both the West Kirby Community Nursing Team, and the Community Dental service took the much coveted Clinical Team of the Year.

Both teams demonstrated how they provide excellent service and always strive to provide the highest level of patient care.

Sarah Jones from the West Kirby Community Nursing Team said: “We’re absolutely chuffed to be part of Clinical Team of the Year. The whole team has worked hard over the last 3 years to instil changes in team, practice and service delivery and to now have the recognition for what we have been doing as part of community nursing has made the hard work worthwhile. I feel the recognition has boosted the team. It wasn’t till the nomination was read out we realised what we had done to be nominated ie students, mandatory training etc. We come to work for the benefit of the patients, when we are

”

having a ‘down’ day we look at our awards and think we have done it once we can do it again and re-motivate ourselves.”

Que the glitter bomb - it was time for the last award of the night. Unlike the other prestigious awards of the evening, this award was going to a member of staff or team, nominated by the patients they care for, and judged solely by members of the public. To present the Patient Choice award Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Steve Foulkes took to the stage. And the winner was… Niamh McTague, Advanced Community Dietitian. Niamh said: “I feel privileged and honoured to have received the first ever patient choice award; this was something I never expected. This award has helped increase the profile of the community dietetic service in the Wirral.

It also demonstrates the importance of patient feedback to the service. I would like to thank Mrs Gould and her family for the nomination and I would like to acknowledge the support received from my colleagues; this has been an award for the service not just for me.”

With an explosion of glitter and a round of applause the night was over!

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Staff Awards The awards bring another successful year to a close for the trust. They recognise individuals and teams that have gone above the call of duty, and it’s brilliant to have this opportunity to say thank you. It’s great to see so many staff nominating each other and acknowledging teams outside of their own. A big thank you to all who were involved.

Recognition doesn’t stop with the staff awards. We can congratulate and thank colleagues and teams for a job well done on a daily basis. Think about how you can celebrate one another throughout the year and make sure you get your nominations in for the ‘For You, Thank You’ awards 2016!

The Integrated Specialist Palliative Care Team on stage with their well deserved Customer Care award.

Just a few of our fantastic runner-ups, good luck for next year!

The winners!

Customer & Patient Care Integrated Specialist Palliative Care Team Best NEW Initiative Sponsored by Wirral Chamber of Commerce Sarah Jones, Community Nursing Introducing new technology to improve leg ulcer care

Nurie Lamb, Livewell.

Allyson Davies, Maria Hughes & Jay Hughes, Tissue Viability.

Steve Wittingham, Volunteer.

Kerry Taverner, Livewell.

Julie Norman, Community Nursing.

Clare Williams, Community Nursing.

Volunteer of the Year Pat Gill (Speech & Language Therapy Service) Inspirational Manager / Team Leader of the Year Toni Shepherd Health Visiting Team Leader Outstanding Achievement Judy Fairbairn Sexual Health Wirral Promoting Equality & Diversity Equality Champions Group Non Clinical Team of the Year SystmOne Project Team Clinical Team of the Year Sponsored by Hill Dickinson West Kirby Community Nursing Team & Community Dental Service Patient Choice Award Niamh McTague Advanced Community Dietitian

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Rhodri Morgan and Richard Lacey, Livewell.

Trust news

Thank you Friends! For she’s a jolly good fellow!

Members of the delighted Physio team with some of their new equipment.

Thanks to the League of Friends at Victoria Central walk-in-centre, teams have been able to buy equipment and furniture that will benefit patients.

• electrical stimulation system to stimulate calf muscles when walking (for Multiple Sclerosis / Stroke sufferers)

The League of Friends so kindly donate their valuable time to offer drinks and snacks to patients and staff in Wallasey, whilst raising thousands of pounds to support services based in the local area.

This year, the funding has been used to purchase:

• trampet (for bariatric patients)

For Physiotherapy: • Body Blade (to help patients develop core stability, especially those recovering from shoulder conditions) • anatomical models of shoulders and knees (to help explain to patients what their condition is and how it affects them) • laptop, projector, exercise mats, gym balls, and ‘mother and baby’ edition of physio tools (for physiotherapy antenatal class)

• two facial stimulators (for facial palsy patients)

Jo Chwalko from our Health Visiting service has been recognised nationally for making a real difference to the health outcomes of children and their families.

Jo Chwalko went down to London to receive her Fellowship of the Institute of Health Visiting (FiHV). The Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) Fellow scheme recognises the professional achievement of exceptional health visitors, creating a new country-wide group of expert and confident health visitor leaders.

• skeleton (to help explain to patient’s about their condition)

Other: • equipment for singing group – Water Street Clinic • Dopplex Ability machine • outside seating at Victoria Central • toys for the health visiting public waiting area • 10 cameras to enable community nurses to take clinical photography wounds • combi microwave for the X-ray department staff room • enuretic alarms for children (continence service) A huge thank you to the League of Friends for all your continued support.

Breaking the cycle Last month the trust took part in a Wirral wide initiative called ‘Breaking the Cycle’.

The week-long programme saw us working alongside health and social care colleagues from Wirral University Teaching Hospital, Wirral Clinical Commissioning Group, Wirral Council, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership Mental Health Trust and North West Ambulance Service to try and prevent back-ups in the emergency department at Arrowe Park and blockages to admission. Breaking the Cycle also aims to reduce turnaround times for hospital discharge. Assessing the results from Breaking the Cycle will help us to change behaviour and identify where health and social care organisations can work together better.

L to R: Debbie Haydock (FiHV) Senior Lecturer University of Chester, Jo Chwalko, Helen Carr (FiHV) Deputy Head of Department, Community Health and Wellbeing, University of Chester and Sandra Christie, Director of Nursing and Performance.

Tweet!

Don’t forget if you’ve got things going on in your service that you’d like to tweet about – just email your tweet to communications@wirralct.nhs.uk and we’ll send it out via our @wirralct account to all our followers.

Perhaps you’ve an event you want promoting, a course or class you would like to tell people about, or even if you just want to let people know what you and your team are doing today – get in touch!

140 characters max and photos welcome.

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Spotlight

Smok ng Two people in Wirral will die today because they smoke. Another two people tomorrow.

And the next day. And the next.

It will kill nearly 80,000 people in England this year.

FACT:

Half of Wirral smokers will die because of their addiction.

Despite all the warnings, nearly one in five adults smoke in Wirral.

Yet it remains the number one cause of preventable death.

people, so whether you’d prefer one-toone sessions, group support or telephone support, they cater for everyone.

Quitting with the Livewell Service will give you: • a free, personal quit plan, tailored to your needs • prescription stop smoking medicines to help beat cravings, from nicotine patches and gum, to nasal sprays, inhalators and tablets • motivational tips on how to stay on track

• the chance to use a carbon monoxide monitor, to see your recovery in action • the support option that you want and that fits with your lifestyle And it’s not just cigarette smokers we can help. Our staff can also help people who use ecigs to quit.

Our teams also offer other activities to support other lifestyle changes such as losing weight, improving wellbeing, eating healthily and increasing physical activity.

Whatever your aim, Livewell can help.

Giving up can be hard. But evidence proves you are four times more likely to quit with the help of NHS stop smoking services.

We all know someone that smokes. So whether it’s a family member, a patient you care for or a friend; tell them about our Livewell Programme today!

Our Livewell teams have already helped thousands of people in Wirral quit. They offer different types of support for different

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The Livewell team with Director of Finance and Resources Mark Greatrex (third from left) and Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation (third from right), who were out and about on National No Smoking Day supporting people to take the first step to becoming smoke free.

Spotlight

10 reasons to quit...

1. The quitting timeline...

6. Live longer

• 20 minutes - blood pressure and pulse return to normal • 24 hours - lungs start to clear • two days - your body is nicotine-free and your sense of taste and smell improve • three days - you can breathe more easily and your energy increases • two to 12 weeks - circulation improves • three to nine months - coughs, wheezing and breathing improve • one year - your heart attack risk is half that of a smoker • 10 years - your lung cancer risk is half that of a smoker

Half of all long-term smokers die early from smoking-related diseases, including heart disease, lung cancer and chronic bronchitis. Men who quit smoking by 30 add 10 years to their life. People who kick the habit at 60 add three years to their life. In other words, it’s never too late to benefit from stopping. Quitting not only adds years to your life, but it also greatly improves the chance of a disease-free, mobile, happier old age.

2. Financial benefits Cigarettes per day

Your savings 6 months

12 months

10 years

5 per day

£360

£720

£7,200

10 per day

£719

£1,438

£14,381

20 per day

£1,436

£2,873

£28,726

40 per day

£2,873

£5,745

£57,451 www.nhs.uk/smokefree

3. Improved fertility Non-smokers find it easier to get pregnant. Quitting smoking improves the lining of the womb and can make men’s sperm more potent. Becoming a non-smoker increases the possibility of conceiving through IVF and reduces the likelihood of having a miscarriage. Most importantly, it improves the chances of giving birth to a healthy baby.

7. Feel less stressed Scientific studies show that people’s stress levels are lower after they stop smoking. Nicotine addiction makes smokers stressed from the ‘withdrawal’ between cigarettes. The pleasant feeling of satisfying that craving is only temporary and is not a real cure for stress. Also, the improved levels of oxygen in the body means that ex-smokers can concentrate better and have increased mental wellbeing.

8. Improved smell and taste Kicking the habit gives your senses of smell and taste a boost. The body is recovering from being dulled by the hundreds of toxic chemicals found in cigarettes.

9. More energy Within two to 12 weeks of stopping smoking, your circulation improves. This makes all physical activity, including walking and running, much easier. Quitting also boosts your immune system, making it easier to fight off colds & flu. The increase in oxygen in the body makes ex-smokers less tired and less likely to have headaches.

4. Younger looking skin/whiter teeth

10. Protect your loved ones

Stopping smoking has been found to slow facial ageing and delay the appearance of wrinkles. The skin of a non-smoker gets more nutrients, including oxygen, and can reverse the sallow, lined complexion that smokers often have. Giving up tobacco stops teeth becoming stained, and you’ll have fresher breath. Ex-smokers are less likely than smokers to get gum disease and lose their teeth prematurely.

By stopping smoking you’ll be protecting the health of your non-smoking friends and family.

5. Breathe easier People breathe more easily and cough less when they give up smoking because their lung capacity improves by up to 10% within nine months. In your 20s and 30s, the effect of smoking on your lung capacity may not be noticeable until you go for a run, but lung capacity naturally diminishes with age. In later years, having maximum lung capacity can mean the difference between having an active, healthy old age and wheezing when going for a walk or climbing the stairs.

Passive smoking increases a non-smoker’s risk of lung cancer, heart disease and stroke. Second-hand smoke doubles the risk of children getting chest illnesses, including pneumonia, croup (swollen airways in the lungs) and bronchitis, plus more ear infections, wheezing and asthma.

They also have three times the risk of getting lung cancer in later life compared with children who live with non-smokers.

Now you know the facts, make the next step – call the Livewell Programme on 630 8383 and book your first appointment in your plan to quit smoking.

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Trust news

A fond farewell

Staff at the Heart Support service Flu fighters bid a very fond farewell to two are top of incredible people earlier this year. the table!

We are the best community trust in the country for protecting ourselves, our families and our patients against flu.

The flu vaccination uptake figures released by Public Health England show that a massive 71.6% of our eligible workforce were vaccinated this year – making us the top performing community trust.

It’s a fantastic achievement, compared to the national figure of 54.9% of frontline staff vaccinated and to other community trusts.

Malcolm and Carol Allanson have been familiar faces at St Catherine’s since they began volunteering at the cardiac rehabilitation unit in 2001.

Malcolm had attended the unit as a patient in 2000 after suffering a heart attack.

A year later, Carol also found herself using the service, after developing diabetes.

It was then she decided she would like to give something back, and began by helping out in the office, before enlisting Alan too when he retired!

Since then they have both worked tirelessly, helping with every aspect of clinical filing and assisting the admin team.

Frieda Rimmer, Service Lead said: “Malcolm and Carol truly became part of the family that is heart support. Coming

three times a week rain or shine they lifted the mood, brightened the atmosphere and provided invaluable help and support.

Perhaps their greatest contribution was during the move from the old building to the new, when they even came in at weekends in order to be able to work when the unit was quiet and they wouldn’t disturb too many staff.

Having worked in heart support for nearly 20 years, I can honestly say I have never come across any volunteers of the calibre of this dedicated and selfless couple who never ask for anything in return”.

After more than 13 years, Malcolm and Carol decided it was finally time to retire!

Staff held a lunch and presentation for them, as they bid them a very fond farewell.

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to this figure, including the Infection Prevention and Control Service which coordinated the campaign, the Flu Champions and admin staff who go above and beyond their day job to ensure staff have local access to the flu vaccination, the communications team for all their support in advertising the vaccination sessions, and to the service leads and Heads of Service who promote the campaign so well at team meetings and release staff to attend.

Well done all!

Diary Dates Save Lives - Clean Your Hands Awareness Day 2015 Tuesday 5 May 2015 International Nurses Day Tuesday 12 May 2015 Dying Matters Week 18 - 24 May 2015 For more details on these events visit StaffZone and look out for the weekly Staff Bulletin.

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Volunteers Carol and Malcolm Allanson receive their presentation from Heart Support.

National Breastfeeding Month - programme of events: 1 June – Eastham Big Feed, Eastham Woods Visitors Centre, 10.30am – 12.30pm 5 June – Teddy Bears Picnic, Birkenhead Park Visitors Centre, 12noon – 2.00pm 6 June – Breastfeeding Roadshow: ‘Why breastfeeding, why me?’, Marine Point, New Brighton,10.00am – 4.00pm 11 June – Leasowe Big Feed, Leasowe Childrens Centre, 1.30pm – 3.00pm 16 June – New Brighton Big Feed, venue TBC, 10.00am – 11.30am 22 June – Pensby Big Feed, Pensby Children’s Centre, 10.30am – 12noon 22-26 June – Hospital Activity Week 25 June – UK Premier of ‘Tigers’ film, the Light Cinema, New Brighton, 6.00pm For further information about any of the events, please contact either Clare Whitehead, Infant Feeding Lead, or Siobhan Morris, Infant Feeding Support on: 0151 514 2354.

Trust news

Are you a nurse?

Make sure you know about revalidation!

Revalidation is a process that all nurses and midwives will need to engage with to demonstrate that they practise safely and effectively throughout their career.

All nurses and midwives are currently required to renew their registration every three years. Revalidation will strengthen the renewal process by introducing new requirements that focus on: • up-to-date practice and professional development

We are delighted to have joined the national ‘#Hello my name is...’ campaign spearheaded

by Kate Granger, a doctor with terminal cancer.

Kate became frustrated with the number of staff who failed to introduce themselves to her when she was a hospital patient.

Her Twitter campaign is to get all NHS staff to introduce themselves at the start of each and every patient contact, and is inspiring clinical and non-clinical staff across the NHS.

We know that most of our staff already do this, but we wanted to show our support for Kate’s campaign. We launched our involvement at this year’s staff awards, enlisting the help of dozens of staff from across the organisation. We sent out a request for people to send us their ‘#Hello my name is...’ pictures and were thrilled with the response - dozens of photos and videos came flooding in from those wanting to pledge their support.

The trust has also used charitable trust funds to purchase ‘#Hello my name is...’ name badges for staff to wear, so that patients can easily see what a staff member’s name is. You can find out more about the national campaign at bbc.co.uk

• reflection on the professional standards of practice and behaviour as set out in the Code, and • engagement in professional discussions with other registered nurses or midwives Revalidation is a continuous process that nurses and midwives will engage with throughout their career.

Nurses and midwives need to start preparing for revalidation now.

Here’s how: 1. Make sure you have an NMC Online account. If you don’t yet have one, refer to the NMCs step-by-step guidance on setting up your account.

2. Find out your renewal date - you can find out your renewal date by checking your NMC Online account

Book your place at this year’s Tissue Viability Study Day

3. Learn about what you will need to do

If you’re involved in wound care then don’t miss out on this year’s tissue viability study day. Packed with information and exhibits, and talks from industry experts the day will cover:

All nurses and midwives need to familiarise themselves with the revalidation requirements and start to develop their portfolio from October 2015.

• • • •

burns and scar management the importance of vitamin D for bone and muscle health caring for radiotherapy damaged skin the legal aspects of wound management in court

The study day takes place on Friday 12 June 2015, 9.00am - 4.15pm (lunch and refreshments included) at Hulme Hall, Port Sunlight.

Make sure you know your renewal date and how you can prepare for revalidation by visiting www.nmc.org.uk

The day is aimed at all health and social care professionals, at all levels. Places are FREE if you’re a Wirral CT Community Nurse or just £20 for other attendees. Please remember to check with your line manager before you book. To book your place, or to find out more about the event contact Maria Hughes, Tissue Viability Lead on Tel: 0151 643 5308 or email maria.hughes@wirralct.nhs.uk

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Equality & Diversity

Equality and Diversity ...what’s it got to do with me? long ambition by saying “ooh Betty” (well it amused me anyway!).

by Tony Griffin, E&D Manager

There have been lots of things happening since the last article in January!

February flew by as LGBT History Month when we had a series of events on varying issues facing the everyday lives of Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender people. We started the month exploring the health issues facing people who had been diagnosed as HIV Positive and others who had been subjected to reparative therapy (‘treatment’ which aims to change sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual). We heard how their lives had been deeply affected on so many levels, none more so than when they had sought help and support from NHS, only to have been let down and failed because of lack of awareness and understanding.

LGBT History Month ended on a high with the first showing of a new play by Lipstick Divas performed at St Catherine’s. It was heart-warmingly funny, and we all laughed out loud at the startled expression and teaspilling of Betty the Café Owner, played with dead-pan humour by the trust’s very own Ellie Watts. I also got to fulfil a life-

But hidden beneath the humour were serious messages, including that we must never assume that people are aware of the importance of good sexual health, and the risks they can face. Staff who attended are now aware of some of the risks lesbian and bisexual women face, and by sharing the knowledge with colleagues, we empower ourselves and the patients we support.

Then came March! It might have come in like a lamb but it also brought the roar of International Women’s Day (IWD) with Clare Campbell, artist and colourful and irreverent Director of Wild Woman and Big Love Sista CIC (which run arts in health projects in local communities).

This year’s IWD theme was ‘Make it Happen’. Despite legislation, women still face challenges and barriers in so many areas of their everyday lives.

None perhaps more so than in regards to mental health; anxiety, depression and eating disorders are all more commonly reported among women.

For the past 20 years Clare has worked as a creative activist – in mental health, with survivors of sexual abuse, in prisons, schools, hospitals, homeless shelters and with young offenders. She is currently creating a huge art project collecting 1000 x 6 foot self-portraits of women across the world.

Equalities Training The new equalities training programme is gathering pace for staff that are likely to be involved with undertaking equality analysis or collecting patient information. The sessions explain why we collect equalities data and how we can use it to shape services. By asking patients about their race, religion, age, sexual orientation etc, we can begin to have a better understanding of people’s needs, and see which groups of people are accessing our services, and which aren’t. We can then tailor services to meet people’s needs and try to overcome the barriers some people face. The information can also help us to understand the needs of our workforce. The Equality Analysis training covers why and how we need to undertake equality analysis, to ensure that we don’t just assume things, but rather have good engagement, evidence and monitoring, so that we can develop good practice.

The trust’s E&D strapline, ‘Getting it right for everyone’ epitomises this; one of the biggest barriers that Equality & Diversity faces is that it is perceived as being only for ‘some people or groups’. In fact we ALL have one or more of the protected characteristics so equality and the Equality Act is for each and every one of us, and if you are patient-facing, or involved in writing any policies or service proposals, then equalities training is for you!

Clare brought a big dose of wild medicine to our equality event… with her gorgeous poetry, stories, moving mini films about her work; she also brought along some of the 6 foot self-portraits and free ‘goddess cards’ and glitter for all!

Diary dates:

Staff pictured at the recent International Women’s Day event held at St Catherine’s Health Centre - it was a fantastic event which was well attended.

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We are currently planning our next series of events for 2015/16. They will focus on topics and challenges facing people from across our communities.

The final event for 2014/15 will be part of NHS Equality & Diversity Human Rights Week, 11 - 15 May 2015.

Details will be available on StaffZone and in Staff Bulletin.

Who would you like us to put questions to next time?

Email your suggestions to communications@wirralct.nhs.uk Spring 2015 foryou

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Health and wellbeing

Vegetable Biryani

Recipe provided courtesy of the Livewell Programme, Healthy Cookery Course.

Our Livewell Programme supports local people and their families to lead healthier lifestyles. Whether people are looking to eat healthier, get more active, quit smoking, lose weight or de-stress, the team offers a range of support including healthy cookery courses, Tai Chi, drop-in stop smoking clinics, weight management courses, chair based exercise classes and circuit training.

Try this tasty recipe and send us your photographs to communications@wirralct.nhs.uk or tweet us @wirralct

Ingredients

Method (Serves 4)

Few sprays or 1 teaspoon of oil 1 small onion, thinly sliced

1. Heat the oil in a large pan and soften the onion, garlic, ginger, carrot for 5 minutes

1 garlic clove, crushed

2. Add the cauliflower and beans and cook for a further 5 minutes

1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger

3. Add the curry paste, and rice and mix well

1 small carrot, halved lengthways and sliced thinly

4. Stir in the tomatoes and stock and bring to boil

100g/4 oz green beans trimmed and cut into 1/2” lengths 1 dessert spoon of curry paste 200g/8 oz basmati rice/wholemeal rice 1 can chopped tomatoes 300ml/ 1/2 pint vegetable stock/seasoning 100g/4oz cauliflower (fresh or frozen) Seasoning

5. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer, put on the lid and cook for 20 minutes or until the stock is absorbed and the rice is tender Serve with crunchy mixed salad and mango chutney.

Try adding chicken or turkey. You could add different curry pastes, balti, madras, vindaloo, bhuna (depending on taste).

Add a handful of raisins to increase your 5-a-day intake.

You could even sprinkle with cashew nuts or almonds - enjoy!

Health and wellbeing tips...

Many of us find that we rush through life, thinking about the past or worrying about the future. The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness week is mindfulness, an awareness of ourselves in the present moment. Mindfulness has been shown to boost mental wellbeing, and help us manage and react to stressful situations.

Here are some simple ways try out a mindful approach…

Go for a walk - Try and walk mindfully, noticing the sounds around you and the feel of your foot on the ground. Think about your body and the present moment, rather than what you’re going to do next.

Eat a mindful meal - Try and slow down and taste the food in your mouth. Really explore the texture, the colour, the smell. You’ll find that if you slow your actions down, your mind will slow down too.

Turn off technology - Instead of watching TV, emailing, texting, why not try switching off your screens?

Do something that allows you to concentrate on sensations in your body, like going for a walk or taking a bath. www.nhs.uk www.mentalhealth.org.uk

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BrainTraining Fun stuff for while you have your tea break.

Wordsearch Y E T N O E F T I U J V L H V N H J C K O C Y M S M W R Q S B Z

Y E E R S I L V U N R M V L V Y

V M T L L E E J E A L W M E E B

J A G O E U F U Q O A A G T Y Y

Y I R L V C T I C B J Z G A K F

V W L R L D X W D T I A T C H E N R O A W E I V H H B E A W Q Y

J A I S E E X I D R M P K D D Q

T P N B E J T F K E V U K K H L

C O V P I Y Q I K C P E O Q M H

C S S T V P N M V O N S V S N X

N O I T I L A O C U O X C L N B

B K G H I M X J N N U A L L O P

Y M I K D D Y V G T I A R C I H

Sudoku

6 3 5

A W J Q D M B E Q B A L L O T N

How many words can you find in our 2015 Election Special...

BALLOT COALITION CONSTITUENCY DEBATE ELECTED MAJORITY

MANIFESTO PARLIAMENT POLL RECOUNT SPEECH VOTE

Health & Wellbeing 3

9

Recommended websites Time to Change

2

1 6

7 2 1 4 2 5 6 8 7 7 3 1 8 6 9 2

Lots of simple, everyday ways you can support someone who has a mental health problem. www.time-to-change.org.uk

Improve your health and fitness Follow 31 simple tips to improve your health and fitness - that’s one a day for a month - become a healthier, happier you. www.ageuk.org.uk

NHS Choices Do you care for someone or know someone who is a carer? If you feel you could benefit from a break to recharge your batteries then visit the Care and Support section on the website below. www.nhs.uk

Spring 2015 foryou

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It’s time to... ESCAPE knee pain!

Do you suffer from osteoarthritis, are you over 50, are you ready to ESCAPE your knee pain?

Join our ESCAPE knee programme and benefit from improved strength, flexibility and co-ordination.

Available at both Victoria Central Health Centre and St Catherine’s Health Centre, the programme includes: a full knee assessment, 10 gym sessions, goals settings, advice on self-management and support.

Visit you GP and ask for Wirral Community NHS Trust and discover that with some simple changes you can experience long term benefits.

Expert • Local • NHS www.wirralct.nhs.uk/physio