Cascade Winter 2010 - Plymouth Hospitals

The staff magazine for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
with Ali Davey
Awards and Achievements
Four pages of your triumphs
In the Dungeon...
SDU come clean
Issue 3
2010
Winter

Message from the Editor
Welcome to this, slightly later then planned, jam-packed edition of Cascade. Featuring news and
articles from right across the Trust there’s something for everyone!
Cascade is reliant on monies raised through advertising to fund its production, in these challenging
financial times we were unable to secure the necessary revenue to enable us to print the usual amount
of magazines. Rather then use valuable Trust funds the Communications Team took a decision to
issue the magazine electronically and to supply printed copies on an as requested basis. If you would
like a printed version of the magazine, for your staff room etc. please email
kim.cazaly@phnt.swest.nhs.uk with your name, the number of copies required and your location.
I hope you enjoy reading this edition of Cascade. I would love to hear from you, so let me know what
you are doing, what you are acheiving or how you are fundraising and I’ll do my very best to
accommodate your stories.
Kim Cazaly, Editor
Contents
In the Dungeon
Find out more about the work of the Sterilisation and Disinfection Unit
News from around the Trust
4 - 9
Alcohol Awareness Day; Doctors’ Assistants; Healthy Plymouth; Associate Artists;
Project Search; Pathology Goes Lean; Transport Team; Cycle Derriford; Electronic
Blood Tracking; Medical Device Link Practicioners; AHP Leadership Challenge;
Sharing Expertise
10 - 11
Major Incident Exercise; Health Tsar Visit; Learning at Work Day
Staff Fundraising 12 - 13
Awards and Achievements 14 - 17
The Early Bird Diabetes Study 18
The Big Interview: Ali Davey 19
Counter Fraud Awareness 20
Energy Efficiency on the Agenda 21
Around the World Update!
22 - 23
Masanga; Malta; Operation Hernia in Ecuador
Retirements 24
In Memory 25
3
2

In The Dungeon
by Peter Heard, Head of Department SDU
Toiling day and night below the Emergency
Department are more than 100 hard working souls
who bring you all manner of sterile goods
wrapped in that fetching purple or blue wrapping.
The Sterilisation and Disinfection Unit’s (SDU)
business is decontamination. Decontamination is
the term used to describe a combination of
processes, including cleaning, disinfection and/or
sterilization. Together, these processes can render
reusable medical devices safe from contaminants.
Success in decontaminating medical devices is
dependant on the successful completion of each
stage of what is referred to as the
decontamination lifecycle. This cycle stretches
right from the purchasing decisions used to
acquire a medical device through to its eventual
disposal.
To ensure equipment is treated in the correct
manner we have to:
• Have effective, tight administrative processes
– this is essential to make sure instruments are
inventoried and to control the decontamination
process.
• Track and trace instruments, in the first
instance you need to know where your sets are
and second who they have been used on.
Tracing surgical instruments to sets is vital so
there is no migration of equipment between
instruments sets.
• Have a quality system in place to deal with any
bugs in the system!
Sin ce 1997 we have received external funding to
upgrade the SDU, providing a Clean Room to
international standards and upgrading washers,
disinfectors and sterilisers to comply with national
standards. To be able to place our product on the
market, SDU has to be registered under the
Medical Devices Directive EEC 93/42. This allows
us to offer our services to the health industry and
manufacturers; at present there over 80
establishments outside of Derriford Hospital that
use the SDU sterile services, providing income for
the Trust.
• Improvements in the buildings and
environment with improved lighting and an
increase in production capacity.
• Clear lines of accountability. Consistency in
who we are responsible to (ISO 13485:2003)
SGS (External Audit) and MRHA the outside
bodies and Internal NHS Risk Management,
Care Quality Commission and others all
intended to keep up the SDU standards.
• Our yearly customer satisfaction survey helps
us improve standards and allows us
to action any suggestions for service
improvements.
• Comprehensive technician training to NVQ
level and higher if appropriate.
The SDU process some 600 instruments set per
day and 700 separate instruments each day.
Running 24 hours a day weekdays and eight
hours a day at weekends, this highly regulated
service, staffed by
very dedicated and
experienced people,
is the largest sterile
services unit in the
south west.
Over the past two years there has been
• Improvements to training and education with
National Decontamination online training.
3

News from around the Trust
Alcohol Awareness Day
Staff Nurse Vanessa Pritchard and Louise Dunn,
Alcohol Hospital Liaison practitioner held an
alcohol awareness day on Monday 12th July, in the
main entrance of Derriford Hospital. In the six
months prior to the event Vanessa undertook ‘the
recognition and management of drug and alcohol
problems’ course in Exeter which has enabled her
to gain a greater insight into drug and alcohol
problems, which can now be applied to her clinical
practice, the course also raised Vanessa’s
awareness of the dangers of alcohol.
The Department of Health states that over a
quarter of the adult population in England (nine
million adults) drink above the Government guidelines. The guidelines being 3-4 units a day for a man
and 2-3 units a day for a woman, a pint of 5% lager = 2 units, while one 175ml glass of wine = 2 units.
Vanessa said: “It’s so easy to exceed your units by having a glass or two of wine a day, and by doing so
you are more likely to develop high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes and some forms of cancer.
Since 1997, the NHS admission for alcohol related illness has doubled, so the main aim of the day was to
raise the awareness of alcohol, the dangers, provide screening tools and generally provide education and
support for anyone who feels they would like to reduce their alcohol intake.”
Doctors’ Assistants Represent Innovative New Approach to
Patient Care
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust is one of only two
NHS trusts in the UK to employ Level 3 Healthcare
Assistants in the role of ‘Doctors’ Assistants’. The
Doctors’ Assistants are deployed by the Department
of Orthopaedics and their role involves performing
certain tasks such as venepuncture, cannulation,
catheterisation, vac dressings and a host of
competency based orthopaedic skills that assist the
Senior House Officers.
The idea for the Doctors’ Assistants came from Mr
Mark Westwood, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
and together Sue Timmins and Amanda
Cole-Quarrell, Orthopaedic Matron, brought this innovative post into being. There are currently 3.5
whole-time equivalent members of staff working as Doctors’ Assistants within the Orthopaedic
Directorate, with one assigned to each orthopaedic ward. The Doctors’ Assistants also cover all
orthopaedic outliers at the Trust. They are managed by Sue Timmins, who is presently auditing the
monthly workload and together with Mr Westwood hopes to show correlations between the effective
services undertaken and reduced discharge delays.
Sue Timmins said: “We have already received many positive comments from patients about the care that
they have received from the Doctors’ Assistants. We have also received very positive feedback from ward
staff and we are hoping that the project will be expanded and developed further.”
4

Healthy Plymouth Event
Staff from Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust joined
colleagues from NHS Plymouth and representatives
from the Local Involvement Network (LINk) at the
Healthy Plymouth Event in the City Centre on
Saturday 9 October 2010.
Representatives from the Trust’s Infection
Prevention and Control Team were on hand to
share and celebrate the reduction in Health Care
Associated Infections at the Trust and to share
information on how they manage outbreaks of D&V,
particularly during the winter period.
The Team also took along their their glo box to
demonstrate the importance of good hand hygiene,
allowing members of the public to discover just how
clean (or not!) their hands are!
Also in attendance was one of the Trust’s Learning
Disability Liaison Nurses who provided information
on her role within the hospital and also staff from
Patient Services who were interactively capturing
people’s thoughts on what matters most to patients.
ASSOCIATE ARTISTS
Simon Ryder
Photography & Video
(image of a rhubarb leaf
made using a nuclear
medicine scanner)
Simon Ripley
Printmaker
(image printed directly
from a gingko leaf)
“We are funded by the Arts Council and will
be working with staff and patients throughout Derriford Hospital
over the next year, organising workshops, exhibitions and a staff arts clubs,
whilst producing new work for permanent display in the hospital. We bring very
different skills to this job: Simon Ryder works digitally, using the equipment he finds
around him; whilst Simon Ripley uses traditional printing skills to engage everybody in the
creative process of image making. If you would like us to visit your department and get involved
in this project, or just be kept informed of our activities, then visit www.zestarts.org.uk”
5

News from around the Trust
Project Search
Derriford Hospital staff are making a life changing difference by
supporting young adults with learning disabilities to experience
working life and move them closer to paid employment as part of
Project Search. Staff, including some from Serco, are providing work
placement opportunities, known as rotations, to eight young people in a
wide variety of hospital settings.
Human Resources Officer for Equality and Diversity, Jayne Middleman,
the business lead for Project Search, has been overwhelmed by the
support from staff saying: “Our staff have reported gaining as much from
the interns as they have from the rotation. It’s proving to be an exercise in
inclusion that has produced dividends in many ways.”
In the first ten weeks intern Jevan Bartlett has proved himself to be eminently
employable as a patient porter following his experience in Imaging under the
guidance of Michelle Rowe, who was one of the first managers to embrace
this initiative. Commenting on his work experience Jevan said: “I had only
been there two or three weeks, when I felt like one of the team. I want to
thank all the staff who have helped me understand the way the department
works and the needs of the patients. I hope after being on the Project Search
course to get a paid job in the hospital.”
Project Search started in the USA 15 years ago and is now active in 14
areas of the UK. The four Plymouth partners are Derriford Hospital, City
College Plymouth, Pluss and Serco. Following a recent visit from Project
Search, UK lead, Anne O’Bryan wrote: “I really enjoyed getting to know
everyone and seeing how much you have accomplished in your first
term. Your progress is excellent and I look forward to hearing (and seeing)
your developments over time.”
Pip Critten, Pluss Employment Advisor, has praised Derriford and Serco
staff’s commitment to the young people’s success. “It can be quite daunting
working with an adult with learning disabilities for the first time but, without
exception, the managers and mentors have given 100% which has made this
an inclusive and positive experience for everyone.”
As part of Project Search, interns are completing a vocational qualification with
City College Plymouth. College tutor, Zenta Zubka-Hill has been impressed
with the commitment of Derriford staff from the outset: “Everyone within the
hospital has been so supportive of the project, the interns and project staff.
They have freely given their time to improve the interns’ experience.”
An intern’s mother commented: “He’s much more outgoing and confident, talks more and has made
friends in the group. Other people have noticed too.”
Feedback has been extremely positive with Derriford Hospital Chief Executive, Paul Roberts saying: “It’s
fantastic to have the interns coming to work at the Trust and it is great to work in partnership on this
initiative.”
The interns are currently looking towards their second rotation, where they can further build on the skills
that Derriford staff have helped them develop.
6

Pathology Goes LEAN
With increasing pressure to save money
within the Trust, Staff in Derriford Combined
Laboratory have been focusing on improving
the many processes that take place on a
day-to-day basis within the department. The
aim is to increase productivity, eliminate waste
and, ultimately, improve the service that we
provide to our users. We have already made
a lot of progress in this area by implementing
LEAN work practices following the 5S training
sessions provided by Steve Mumford and the
productive ward programme team.
Recently, the laboratory has been working in
conjunction with Roche Diagnostics Ltd on a
process mapping project. This has seen staff
from each area of the laboratory look at the
tasks they undertake. Process mapping is a
tool used to identify, in diagrammatic form, all the steps and decisions that take place within a process;
this can be anything from receiving a telephone call and answering a query to the decisions involved in
reviewing results before authorising and releasing them to service users.
In the first session with Roche, the team were given an introduction to the concept and guidance on how
to construct process maps. With their new skills the team set about recording existing processes,
breaking them down into actions, decisions, delays, movements or transport, storage and filing. The
team was given six weeks to go away and produce 38 maps.
In the second session the team reviewed the completed maps, talking through the processes and
reporting back valuable findings. A brainstorming session was held to determine how to reduce some of
the delays, eliminate errors and focus on the essential tasks that add value to each process. This
session was very productive and generated ideas for efficiency savings.
As part of the project, Roche are evaluating the process maps drawn up by the lab and will provide a
report detailing their findings, making suggestions to help the lab go forward in improving our work
practices.
Transport Team
Back in June a newly formed team
took over responsibility for
organising patient transport. The
team, Debbie Ackland, Kay
Braddon and Maria Smith staff the
phone lines from 8.00am to 8.00pm
and are happy to answer any
queries relating to patient transport
and can be contacted on ext
53511, for urgent requests bleep
0768. The Team works closely with
all wards and departments around
the Trust as well as the service
providers: South West Ambulance
Trust, TAPs , St Johns, Crusader
and Plymouth Central.
7

News from around the Trust
Electronic Blood Tracking
by Simeon Green, DCL Operations Manager
Staff working on the Haematology wards based
on Level 8, are currently involved in piloting a
web-based electronic blood tracking and bedside
transfusion management system. The
implementation of this technology started its pilot
phase on Monday 15th November 2010, which
was also the start of National Patient Safety
Week.
The implementation of this cutting edge system is
the result of a 12 month project involving IM&T,
laboratory staff, transfusion practitioners and
healthcare technology specialists at MSoft.
The procurement was managed by Kath Dennis,
Senior Category Buyer from the Peninsula
Purchasing Supply Alliance and the contract was
awarded to MSoft on behalf of Royal Devon &
Exeter Foundation Trust, South Devon Healthcare
Foundation Trust as well as Plymouth Hospital
NHS Trust. This Trust is the first of the three
Trusts to pilot the system.
The electronic blood tracking system will control
access to and from all blood fridges within the
Trust. The bedside transfusion management
system allows each barcoded blood unit to be
matched with the patient’s barcoded wristband.
Staff will use a combination of handheld devices
and computers on wheels at the patient’s bedside.
In keeping with National Patient Safety Alert
requirements, the MSoft system, BloodHound,
provides further enhanced security and safety by
ensuring that only trained and competency
assessed staff are allowed to access the system.
BloodHound provides positive patient
identification of users and patients as well as in
depth auditing of all bloods across each and every
stage of the tranfusion process – to ensure the
right blood is given to the right patient. In order to
meet Blood Safety and Quality Regulations and
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory
Agency compliance each transfusion record,
includes evidence that each unit has been stored
correctly along with it’s final fate. These records
will be kept for the regulatory requirement of 30
years.
It has taken the project team only seven months
to get from awarding MSoft the contract to the
implemention of the pilot. To enable this to be
done, the team were dependent on other projects,
mainly barcoded patient wristbands and barcoded
staff ID badges being rolled out ahead of the
blood tracking project.
Catherine Murphy,
Senior IM&T Project
Manager and her
colleagues in IM&T
have provided
excellent support
throughout the project.
Level 8 ward staff are
now working hard to
test and adapt the
system as well as their
working practices prior
to it piloting in Mount
Gould in early
January. Once this
system has been
proven at one of our
remote sites, we will
commence the roll out. The next phase of the
project will involve the wards in the remainder of
the Tower block above Level 8.
Should you have any queries relating to the new
system or would like the opportunity to view the
system please contact:
Greg Malcolmson, Nicky Pethic and Cathy Hall on
extension 31487
Amanda Keane on extension 52404
8

Medical Device Link
Practitioners Set Sail at the
Mountbatten Centre
The Mountbatten Watersports & Activities Centre was the
venue for a study day for Medical Device Link
Practitioners. The day was open to all staff who perform
the essential role of Medical Device Link Practitioner.
The day was started by Karen Grimshaw, Director of
Nursing, who spoke about why training on medical devices
is such an important issue for the Trust. There then
followed many interesting sessions looking at topics
including clinical skills training and what a Care Quality Commission inspection will mean for clinical staff.
Jonathan Plumb, Nursing Advisor for the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
provided an interesting session describing the work of this important government agency. Andy Flood,
Project Lead for NHS Training for Innovation E4e Programme, described the progress being made to
develop national e-learning training for medical devices.
In the afternoon there were practical sessions. Kirsty Bowden, training rep for KCI, did a workshop on the
VAC wound closure system, with delegates able to carry out dressings on each other! Ellsa Mealing,
Assistant Practitioner in MEMS, then conducted an unusual exercise involving suction equipment. Each
table were given a box of suction components and a list of what parts were needed to assemble it
correctly. A competition was then held between the tables for the first group to assemble the equipment
correctly and have it in working order – the prize was a home-made cake provided by Ellsa. It was an
enjoyable exercise that brought home a serious subject to the delegates, showing them it may not be as
easy as they assumed. The day finished with a look at reporting incidents with medical devices, delivered
by Craig Bibby for the Trust. It concluded the day by giving delegates a reminder of the importance of
medical device training to the safety of patients. The day was evaluated highly by those attending, and it
is hoped to follow it up with another date in 2011. Jacqui Connell (Education & Development Practitioner)
is very grateful to her colleagues on the Clinical Skills Team, Sue Frost and Louise Walker, for their
assistance with the day and to the various reps who supported the event financially.
Allied Health Professional (AHP)
Leadership Challenge
Congratulations to physiotherapist Donna Pike and
dietician Vicky Chudleigh for being part of the team that
won the Allied Health Professional Leadership Challenge
2010 which took place in July. Donna led the team and
both Donna and Vicky were described as having
contributed significantly to the team’s success!
Ten teams from the South West region initially competed
in a two day AHP leadership challenge in June to represent the region at national level. The principal aim
of the leadership challenge was to give AHPs an opportunity to recognise their existing leadership skills
and to identify further development needs, empowering them to take on leadership roles in the future and
therefore enhance the quality of healthcare delivered in the region.
Assessment of the teams’ performances was based on the NHS Leadership Qualities Framework. The
dimensions that featured most prominently were: collaborative working, effective and strategic
influencing, intellectual flexibility and political astuteness. Feedback from the assessment process was
given to each team individually by their assessor.
9

Sharing Expertise
Major Incident Exercise:
Responding to a Chemical Incident
Staff from Derriford Hospital participated in a mass
decontamination and lockdown live exercise on 30th June
2010 to test hospital and multi-agency plans. Over the last
year, Emergency Department nursing staff have been trained
in the use of personal protective equipment and erecting the
decontamination tent – much to the amusement of staff
observing the ‘bouncy castle’ while waiting for the park and
ride bus. However, this equipment is essential to the safety
of our staff and care of patients in the event of a chemical
incident.
As part of the exercise, our Emergency Department staff
received ‘contaminated’ casualties, assisted them in
undressing and getting into the glamorous orange suits, prior
to entering the decontamination facility. Having progressed through decontamination the casualties
re-dress in green re-robe suits, before exiting the tent and are now recognisable as being clean. As
with any similar incident, the major incident control room was established, with senior staff
co-ordinating the associated impact upon the hospital. As the exercise developed, support was
requested from Estates, Security, Serco, clinical teams and others, to minimise the potential spread of
contamination and impact upon patient services. Due to the number of ‘casualties’ involved, the
emergency services also were deployed, bringing with them their mass decontamination kit, to manage
greater numbers of people presenting at the hospital. A triage nurse was also deployed at the exit to
the mass decon structure, to ensure that no-one had clinically deteriorated during the process.The
hospital decontamination tent was erected within six minutes – a fantastic achievement undertaken in
record time. Lockdown of the Emergency Department was also achieved well within the required 15
minutes. Elsewhere Security and Portering staff were briefed on the cordon requirements at key points
in the hospital, to minimise the movement of people around the affected areas.
Everyone involved undertook their role seriously and genuinely appeared to enjoy participating.
Leadership and real teamwork were demonstrated throughout the exercise, with good humour
maintained in response to the ever-changing challenges presented. The whole exercise certainly
tested key elements of our plans and provided a great opportunity for us to work with the emergency
services and other agencies, who would be involved in an actual chemical incident response.
A big thank you and well done to everyone involved.
Miriam Smith, Emergency Planning & Liaison Officer
The MERIT Team also participated in a exercise on Dartmoor
with the Dartmoor Rescue Group in early July. This enabled the
team to gain experience in working in the pre-hospital setting
with other agencies. A casualty clearing station was established
and some members of the team were called forward to assist in
the care of casualties nearer to where their 'injuries' were
sustained. Again this exercise proved a very useful opportunity
to put into practice skills developed on training courses, with
different challenges than those normally experienced within a
hospital major incident response setting.
10

Health Tsar Visits Pioneering
Plymouth Diabetes Service
Dr Rowan Hillson MBE, National Clinical Director
for Diabetes at the Department of Health, visited
Plymouth on Thursday 20th May to speak to local
health professionals about the innovative diabetes
services that they provide in the city. Dr. Hillson’s
time in Plymouth involved a visit to Derriford
Hospital to meet the team dealing with both
inpatients and outpatients with diabetes, as well as
meeting with health care staff who are responsible
for diabetes care in the community.
Plymouth Hospitals NHS
Trust is a pioneering site in
the UK for care of patients
with the condition, with a
specialist team onsite who
are solely responsible for
managing patients with
diabetes. The team includes
Nurse Specialists,
Healthcare Assistants and
Consultants, whose job it is
to ensure that patients
suffering from diabetes at
the Trust have their
conditions managed
effectively. This includes
making sure that their
diabetes is properly
controlled by specialists and
that patients are given the
right type and dosage of insulin at the right times.
This minimises the chance of errors being made,
promotes safe and effective treatment and can
reduce a diabetic patient’s length of stay in
hospital. The Trust’s diabetes team are also a
national exemplar for their work in helping to
prepare people with diabetes for surgery so that it
can safely be carried out as a day case procedure,
without needing admission.
A recent audit with NHS Diabetes showed that
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust is performing
extremely well in terms of management of patients
with diabetes. The Trust scored way above national
averages for providing appropriate blood glucose
testing and for the management of patients with
diabetes by specialist teams. Additionally, the
number of prescription and management errors
amongst diabetes patients by the Trust is far below
the national average.
Dr Daniel Flanagan said: “We are very proud of the
diabetes service that we provide here at Plymouth
Hospitals NHS Trust and Dr Hillson’s visit is
testament to the extremely hard work of our staff in
ensuring that the care we prov ide is of the highest
standard.”
Learning at Work Day
The 'Learning at Work Day' is part of the National Adult Learners Week held every year. This year local
training providers were invited along as well as all staff, local companies and members of the public to
come along and see the connections Derriford has with reference to Training amd Learning in Plymouth.
The theme this year was 'Creating Connections' and intended to show staff that it is not just us who can
train and guide them in their learning, and that it does not necessarily have to be in conjunction with their
jobs, it may be something quite unrelated, but we recognise the connections in home and work life and
creating the best possible balance.
The day was a resounding success with taster sessions on such things as Indian Head massage and
Forensic and Medical Science.
11

Staff Fundraising
Children in Need 2010
Amongst fundraising activities around the
Trust in aid of Children in Need, the Central
Admin team raised over £1,000! The team
organised a children's TV/film character fancy
dress day, a cake sale and raffle where the
top prize included an Xbox. Perhaps the
most unusual fundraising event was the brain
freeze competition (i.e. who can drink the
slush puppy the quickest!)
The x-ray porterering team also donned fancy
dress and looked quite spectacular moving
around the Trust.
The Marathon Cup Challenge 2010
Eleven teams from around the Trust competed for this year’s
Marathon Cup Challenge. The top five times from each team’s
Plymouth Half Marathon were added together, the team with the
best time being named as victors and lifting the sought-after
trophy. This year’s winning team came from the Anaesthetics
department with a combined time of eight hours 35 minutes
and 45 seconds, pictured here receiving the trophy from Chief
Executive Paul Roberts. Wavell Viggers from the Imaging
directorate chalked up the quickest time at one hour 23
minutes and 4 seconds!
The full list of teams who took part this year: Anaesthetics, Cardiothoracics, Chief Executive’s office,
Child Development Centre, Imaging, Intensive Care Unit, Junior Doctors Mess, Maternity, Microbiology,
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Trauma.
Hearty congratulations to all who took part, if you’re interested in entering a team in next year’s
competition contact the Press and Communications Office on extension 31240, 31149 or 53300
12

A Marathon Effort by Jo Skelly
Hi, My name is Jo I have worked for the Trust for 16 years, I am a recovery
practitioner based in the main theatres on level 4. In August 2008, I started
experiencing problems with a mild heart arrhythmia. Gradually my symptoms
became much worse until every day was a struggle, eventually in June 2009
my line manager said for my own safety I could no longer work.
Then I was referred to my saviour Mr David Thomlinson, consultant
cardiologist. I remember weeping when he said he could fix my heart, such a
relief. Whilst waiting for my operation I asked to be redeployed as staying at
home drove me mad and
Chestnut
Marathon
Runner
On Sunday 30th May,
Third Year Medical
Student Henry Murphy
ran the Plymouth Half
Marathon 2010 on
behalf of the Chestnut
Appeal, in order to
raise awareness of
Prostate Cancer.
Henry ran the 13.1
miles in 1 hour 41 minutes and managed to
double his fundraising target to just over
£300, thanks to the generosity of friends,
colleagues and family.
Marlborough pre-op staff
were wonderful. In
December 2009 I was to be
the first person at Derriford Hospital to have the new
ablation tool. I left the hospital just 24 hours later with
a normal heart rhythm for the first time in 16 months!
I don’t think I realised how poorly I was until I felt
better and I wanted to do something that would say
thank you to the Trust and also give me my
confidence back. So, having never run before, I
decided to run the Plymouth Half Marathon for the
Cardiology Deaprtment. On Sunday 30 May I
completed the race in 2 hours 12 minutes – fab!
I would like to thank all my colleagues, friends and
family who have all helped me through one of the
most, if not the most, difficult time in my life. Special
thanks to David Thomlinson and the whole Trust for
making me a new person. Next year under two hours
hopefully!
Chestnut Appeal
The Chestnut Appeal for Prostate Cancer is the only local
prostate cancer charity covering Devon and Cornwall, and the
work we do is unique. We not only provide funding for clinical
nurse specialists; called Chestnut Nurses, but we provide the
latest technology and treatments that are not available on
the NHS.
During 2010 we helped to kit out the Chestnut Unit on
Level 7 with a comfy area, to allow patients a more
relaxing environment to sit in when discussing their
cancer treatments. We also provided funding for a
second Chestnut Nurse, Jane Ripley, who joined the team
and is a welcome partner to Vanessa Wilcox.
As if that wasn't enough we also funded a LuxTec Pro
headlight which gives surgeons the true colour distinction
needed in surgery and is in use by the prostate cancer team, in particular with keyhole procedures.
All of this support costs money and without support from people like yourselves we would not be able
to continue this work in the region. If you would like to find out more about the charity or lend a hand
please pop in and see us on Level 6, next to Tavy Ward or check out our new and improved website
www.chestnutappeal.org.uk
13

Awards and Achievements
Credit for Critical
Care Skills
On May 19th Sharon Russell,
Partnership Manager,
presented certificates at a
ceremony held at the Postgraduate
Medical Centre, for
cohort 15 and 16 students who
have recently completed the
Level One university
partnership module for caring
for the critically ill adults in
acute care areas, gaining the
extra re-validated 40 credits.
The course was designed in 2001 by Su Jameson, Module Leader, Julie Hendry, former Module leader,
and Christina Quinn, Associate Director of Workforce, along with clinical staff across the Trust and
peninsula. Over 280 staff have completed the course, gaining academic credits and certificates of
competence. The course, which is designed for registered practitioners to recognise and manage the
critically ill adult in acute care areas, is run over 12 days (one day a week) with six days theory based
and six days practice based. Learning is achieved through many teaching strategies including lectures,
role play, practical scenarios, small group work, problem solving, reflection and the chance to work in
other acute clinical areas to enhance their learning.
In order for the students to gain 40 academic credits they have to complete observed scenario clinical
examinations (OSCE), competencies, 2500/3000 word academic assignment critiquing a patient
scenario and a presentation.
Outstanding Foundation Doctors
Awards were recently presented to Outstanding
Foundation doctors (for training year 2009/2010) who were
nominated by their peers and consultant colleagues.
The awards were given to trainees who have gone above
and beyond the requirement of their foundation training.
Outstanding F1 was awarded to Helen
Grimsmo-Powney
Outstanding F2 was awarded to Rachel Clancy, with a highly
commended F2 award for Laura Dunn.
The doctors were presented their certificates by Dr Hiu Lam,
Director of Medical Education and the outstanding award
winners have had their names added to the awards board in
the main concourse in the Postgraduate Medical Centre.
14

2010 Technologist Award for Services to
Nuclear Medicine
At the spring meeting of the British Nuclear Medicine Society (BNMS) held
in Harrogate, Sally Farrell received the ‘2010 Technologist Award for
Services to Nuclear Medicine.’ Sally currently works as a Consultant
Technologist in Nuclear Medicine at Derriford and is the first technologist
in the country to achieve consultant status. Sally has been a member of
the BNMS Technology Group Council since 2002 and secretary since
2004. The award was presented at the conference dinner by Dr Gill
Vivian, President of the BNMS, where Sally was described by the Chair of
the Technology Group ‘as the glue that holds them together.’
Before coming to Derriford, Sally was superintendent radiographer in
Exeter and gained an MSc in 2001. She travels to council meetings in
London in order to raise technologists’ issues and education at a national
level. Other special interests include non-medical reporting and sentinel
node imaging. Well done Sally much deserved!
Medal Presentation
Sargeant Holly Chambers and Warrant Officer 2
Adam Roy were presented with their Afghanistan
medals on Tuesday 30th November 2010 by Air
Vice Marshall Morris.
WO2 Roy served in Afghanistan between March
and June 2010 in the role of Officer in Command
of an X-ray Department. He has now returned to
work alongside his civilian and military
colleagues in the x-ray department at Derriford
Hospital.
Sgt Holly Chambers deployed to Afghanistan between July and October
2010 as the Deputy Aeromed Liaison Offiger (DAELO) and since
returning she has resumed her role as an intensive care nurse in the
Intensive Therapy Unit.
Outstanding Educational Supervisor
Every year an award is presented to the outstanding foundation
programme educational supervisor. This award is presented to
the educational supervisor who has the best feedback from the
trainees.
This year the award has been presented to Dr Sarah Rawlinson
by Dr Hiu Lam, Director of Medical Education.
15

HCA City and Guilds Level 2 Awards
Congratulations to the first group of Health Care Assistants who have completed the “City and Guilds
Level 2 Award in the Prevention and Control of Infection”. This three month course was run by Practice
Education in collaboration with the Infection Prevention and Control team. Well done to Lucy Greer,
Sherone Jones, Jackie Wheeler, Anna Cowler, Kirsty Proctor, Dan James, Tracey Tapper, Dee
Holbrook, Linda
Knowles, Christine
Taylor, Alison Johns
and Rachel Head who
have all successfully
completed the course.
If you would like
information about this
course please contact
Lynn Sugg on ext
55167
Congratulations Karen!
Congratulations to Karen Jones, formerly
of the Post Room, who has recently
started in her new role as medical
secretary in the Histopathology
department. Karen, who has been at the
Trust for five years, has been studying
towards her Medical Secretary Diploma in
her spare time passing some modules
with distinction.
Talking about her new role Karen said: “I’m going to miss the post team and rapport we all have, the
support they have given me is incredible. I’m looking forward to the challenge of my new role and a
change of uniform!”
16

Awards and Achievements
Rachel Wins First Prize
Dr Rachel Clancy, FY2 doctor at Derriford Hospital was recently awarded first prize for her presentation
on Day Case Breast Surgery at the Annual Meeting of the British Association of Day Surgery held in
Portsmouth. Her presentation was entitled “Wide local excision and sentinel node biopsy for breast
cancer – feasibility of day case surgery” and was based on work done by Mr Roger Watkins,
Consultant Surgeon in the Primrose Breast Care Centre.
Over the last three years a very successful day case pathway has been developed for patients
requiring breast conservation surgery for breast cancer. In addition to the excision of their breast
cancer, patients undergo the removal of one or more lymph nodes from the axilla on the affected side.
Any drains inserted at the time of surgery are removed prior to
discharge home. No unplanned re-admissions in the
port-operative period were noted. Previously such patients had a
one to two night hospital admission.
Previous work, which incorporated a patient satisfaction survey,
was presented in November 2009 at the Association of Breast
Surgery Annual Scientific Meeting in London and had shown that
the day case pathway was very acceptable to patients. Over the
last twelve months the number of patients successfully completing
the day case pathway has increased significantly. Additional
developments are planned to improve the pathway still further.
Plymouth Core Midwives nominated for Team of the Year
Every year the Royal College of Midwives make five awards nationally and many hospitals enter the
different categories to try and win a prestigious award.
Angela Roberts, Maternity Midwife, nominated the Core Delivery Suite midwives for the team of the
year award for our team work and combined hard work in implementing and rolling out the Triage
system now in place on delivery suite.
Having written a supporting nomination paper the team recently found out that they had been short
listed from many larger hospitals to the final three. Angela and Kate Bickerstaffe were invited to London
to give a short presentation on behalf of the team to support our nomination for the award and the
results will be announced in London in January. The winners will accept the award from H.R.H Princess
Anne or the current Secretary of state for health.
Speaking after the news that they had been shortlisted Angela
said “This is such a huge thing for Plymouth Midwives as we
were up against big sexy teaching hospitals and to get down to
the final 3 is amazing in itself. Kate and I have presented locally
but never on the National stage before. It was a great
opportunity to showcase Plymouth and what we do.”
17

The Early Bird Diabetes Study
Now in its 11th year, the EarlyBird
Diabetes Study is investigating factors
in modern day childhood that lead to
diabetes and metabolic disease.
EarlyBird is an National Institute of
Health Research (NIHR) portfolio
study, carried out by a research team
from the Peninsula Medical School, but
hosted by Derriford hospital.
What’s the problem?
In the UK, one person is diagnosed
with diabetes every three minutes and
three die from its cardiovascular
complications every hour. A disease
that a generation ago was regarded as
‘maturity-onset’ now afflicts children. If
the present trend continues one in five of
our grandchildren will become diabetic during their
lifetime.
The problem is insulin resistance, which underlies
not only diabetes but also heart disease, blood
pressure, high cholesterol, stroke and even
infertility - together referred to as the metabolic
syndrome. Insulin resistance, largely driven by
obesity, is the commonest cause of premature
death in the Western World - and one of the most
preventable. An understanding of the factors
responsible will better inform health strategists in
the task of prevention, and childhood must be the
focus for prevention because the process clearly
starts early in life.
What is EarlyBird doing about it?
EarlyBird is trying to establish the ‘Who, When
and Why’ of insulin resistance. Which children are
susceptible, when do they develop it, and what
are the factors responsible? For the last ten years,
from the age of 5 years, some 300 healthy young
volunteers from Plymouth schools have been
annual visitors to the EarlyBird clinic where they
undergo a range of sophisticated measurements,
scans and tests. The blood tests are crucial,
because they tell us how far down the road
towards diabetes each child has travelled, and are
helping us piece together the factors responsible.
Three of the youngsters have already become
diabetic and others are not far behind.
The Early Bird Diabetes Team
What has EarlyBird found to date?
Many of EarlyBird’s findings challenge popular
assumption. For example, the average child today
is no heavier than a generation ago. The problem
appears to be largely confined to offspring whose
same-sex parents are obese - a recycling of
obesity from parent to child, irrespective of wealth
or social status. What’s more, the trajectory that
leads to obesity seems to be set well before 5
years (and Jamie Oliver’s school dinners). Focus
on the education of obese parents-to-be could
break the cycle. Crucially important – fatness
leads to inactivity in children, rather than inactivity
to fatness, suggesting that calorie reduction,
rather than physical activity, is key to weight
reduction. Active children are fitter, but activity
does not reduce their weight!
In a recent letter to the EarlyBird team
Professsor Wilkin wrote:
“I want you to know how much impact EarlyBird is
having around the world. The data that is
emerging, which could have real impact on the
way we view childhood obesity, is unique and
Linda and I are immensely proud to be part of it.
We are nevertheless very aware that EarlyBird is
nothing if not your hard work. We may be the
ambassadors, but remain very conscious whose
study it really is.”
18

The Big Interview: Ali Davey
What do you do?
Well, my title is Clinical Nurse Specialist for
Vulnerable Adults. I work in the Emergency
Department looking out for people who could be
deemed vulnerable, such as those with dementia,
anyone with a carer, older people who are alone
and isolated, those with mental health issues,
those who misuse substances.
What is the purpose of your role?
To identify those people who are vulnerable and
make sure that their care plan is about reducing
the risks that they face. A lot of what I do is about
information gathering and sharing with other
agencies such as social
services, the police and the
ambulance service.
How long have you been
doing your job?
Three years in this particular
role.
How did you get into
nursing?
My mum had MS so from an
early age I helped look after her.
When I was 14 the local care
home was looking for someone
to do a few bits and I wanted
pocket money. My experience
caring for mum got me the job and it’s been
nursing all the way ever since.
Ali Davey, pictured right
What is your single biggest achievement?
On a professional level, it’s got to be the work I do
that has been recognised by the Home Office. I sit
on a few partnership forums in the city, working
alongside staff from the police, fire service, the
city council, social services etc.
One of the groups I sit on is called the Crime
Detection and Prevention Partnership. We have
set up the sharing of information in such a way
that it hasn’t cost anybody any money and we are
providing data that other trusts are paying
thousands for. Our system is incredibly flexible
and extremely cost effective. I have been asked to
present on this several times to the Home Office
and they have been to visit us twice. At the end of
February I have been invited to go and present to
government ministers. Yikes!
On a more personal level, getting my band seven
was a personal achievement for me because I got
there in quite a short space of time.
What do you like most about your job?
All of it. I really do. I love it.
What do you like least?
There’s too much work and not enough hours in
the day.
If you weren’t a nurse, what would you be?
Oh, that’s easy – an estate agent for Stags. I’d
drive a really posh car and wear glamorous high
heels.
What is the most important
lesson that you have learned
from life?
Not to judge people. When I was a
student nurse I was on placement
and I drew the short straw – to take
a drug addict for a Picc line into
their neck. When I was sat waiting
with him we got talking. It turned out
that he has lost his dad at an early
age and his mum had not coped
with it at all and she has taken a
series of men in. The last one
severely abused my patient and so
he had run away from home at the
age of 11. I saw him in a totally different light and
that changed my mind about how you respond to
people when you first meet them.
What’s on your Christmas list?
Ummm, perfume would be nice. I always like to
smell nice, it can be really important given some
of the less pleasant and, to be honest, sometimes
smelly places I have to go and visit. But the gift I
want most of all this Christmas is for my three
sons to be at home. The middle one is 18 and in
the army so to have us altogether on Christmas
Day would be wonderful.
Tell us something about yourself that no-one
else would know
Well, I have got into camping a bit and now I
wouldn’t leave home without my SheWee. If you
don’t know what one is – google it. I can highly
recommend them for female campers. I’m a
convert!
19

Counter Fraud Awareness
by Tracy Wheeler, Counter Fraud Officer
I have been the Local Counter Fraud Specialist
(LCFS) for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust since
2003. I report to the Director of Finance and each
year produce a counter fraud work plan which is
presented and monitored by the Audit Committee.
I am responsible for raising awareness of the
types of NHS fraud, investigating any referrals
received and undertaking local exercises in areas
where there are perceived areas of weakness
which may give the opportunity for fraud.
Fraud in the health service diverts valuable
resources from patient care.
Fraud is often seen as invisible crime, hiding
behind descriptions such as “white collar”,
“victimless” and “difficult to prove” but by
dedicating time and resources to combating the
problem an anti fraud culture can be developed
within NHS organisations.
One of the issues we came across within
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust is staff working
whilst off sick. Following LCFS investigations and
by working with the Human Resources Team, the
Trust has now implemented robust procedures:
return to work declarations, updated sickness
absence policy and the introduction of a
secondary employment policy.
Last year the LCFS undertook a local proactive
exercise looking at how good the Trust was at
identifying overseas patients and ensuring that
they paid for their care which is not funded by the
NHS. The non identification of individuals not
entitled to free NHS care and not registered as
private patients meant that the Trust was losing
valuable income. As a result of this exercise the
Trust has now appointed an Overseas Visitors
Officer Chris Pitts ext 37055, who is raising
awareness amongst staff and looking at improving
current systems to identity patients who should be
paying for their treatment.
and hospitality@phnt.swest.nhs.uk) to ensure the
declaration of any conflict of interest or receipt of
hospitality.
The NHS Counter Fraud Service (CFS) has
responsibility for preventing, detecting and
investigating fraud against the NHS and each year
they assess the adequacy of counter fraud
arrangements in NHS Trusts across England and
Wales. For two consecutive years (2008/09 and
2009/10) Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust has
achieved the highest level in this assessment –
Level 4 – performing strongly.
There is a NHS Counter Fraud site on Plymouth
Healthnet which gives details of current risks and
also access to the “Fraud Counts” local
newsletter.
If you would like to receive a fraud awareness
presentation please contact Tracy on 431378 or
tracy.wheeler@pnht.swest.nhs.uk.
Further information on NHS fraud can be found at
www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk
To ensure employees comply with the NHS
Standards of Business Conduct and be impartial
and honest in the conduct of their official
business, Plymouth Hospitals has introduced two
email addresses (interests@phnt.swest.nhs.uk
20

Energy Efficiency on the Agenda
The Derriford Occupational Therapist (OT) Team
recently received a briefing on the energy efficiency
schemes operating in Plymouth to help them identify
people who could benefit from the help that’s
available.
Katie Reville, Plymouth City Council’s Home Energy
Assistant attended the OTs team meeting and talked
about the grants and discounts available towards loft
and cavity wall insulation and heating improvements.
Katie commented:“As trusted professionals in the
eyes of their patients, occupational therapists and
other home visiting health professionals can often
encourage people to apply for the help that is
available to them. My aim was to raise the OTs
awareness of the different energy schemes
operating in our area and how to refer people onto
them in the hope that it will increase the uptake of
the grants and discounts.”
The main schemes operating in Plymouth include Cosy Devon, which offers free loft and cavity wall
insulation to every homeowner over 60 years old and those on benefits and offers amazing discounts to
everyone else.
There is also the Plymouth Healthy Homes scheme that helps homeowners at risk of cold related
illness to make their homes warmer and healthier places to live. The project achieves this by offering
grants towards home insulation, ventilation and heating improvements as well as energy efficiency
advice.
For more information on the grants and schemes available in Plymouth and Devon please contact the
Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre on 0800 512012.
New Year New Start - Big Steps for a Smaller Footprint
We need to reduce our carbon footprint, not only to save money but to stop wasting precious
resources. One of the best ways to make a big difference is for each of us to take responsibility for the
environment in a small area of the hospital.
The Trust would like to invite staff members to become environmental champions,
become the person who takes the lead in your area:
• Promoting energy and environmental awareness
• Sharing ideas and dispelling myths about energy and recycling
• Sharing the different ways we can work in a more sustainable way
• Help developing the Trust's Sustainability Plan
• Being part of energy saving events
• Providing feedback to the Environment Manager
• Look for ways to cut down energy costs and stop wasting resources
Interested? Email or call Peggie Johnson on 37011
21

Around the World Update!
Masanga - by Deborah Southon, Radiology Academy Manager
Earlier this year I had the privilege to visit a small hospital in Sierra Leone. The hospital and its
neighbouring village are called Masanga. They are situated in the heart of the country, in the middle of
the jungle; the nearest town is a 40 minute 4x4 ride away on a dirt road.
Masanga was originally a leprosy hospital set up by the Seventh day Adventists in the 1960’s and run
successfully until the civil war. In 2005 the Association of Friends of Masanga Hospital in Denmark took
over the running of the hospital, in full co operation with the Sierra Leone Government and the local
chiefs. Grace’s Fund for Masanga is a UK charity set
up to support this project. In order to get the hospital
working well and to hand it back to the local
population a fair bit of work is still needed.
During the civil war in Sierra Leone, not only were
there massive losses through death, but many were
injured, left orphaned, disabled and displaced. In
Masanga village large extended families share simple
dwellings. There is no running water and little access
to electricity or fuel for generators. Most dwellings
have a small covered shelter nearby where the family
will prepare their food. Masanga is safe and the
people seemed happy; the village has grown as many
ex patients decide to stay on there. Health care is very
limited in Sierra Leone; the health problems and
priorities are different than we face in the west.
What is Grace’s fund doing?
Grace’s fund, with its partners of Plymouth Hospital
NHS Trust and the Peninsula Medical School are trying to help to get the buildings and the services like
water, power, sewerage and waste disposal fit for purpose. Then at the same time provide skills training
not only for the hospital staff but for ancillary staff and for businesses to support the hospital economy.
How can you help?
You can donate money to Grace’s Fund, to help us in this work. If you are interested in spending
between 1 and 6 months volunteering on the ground, helping with these schemes?- talk to us.
We would love to find fund raisers to help us raise awareness and apply for grants and awards that
might help. For more information: www.gracesfund.co.uk / www.masanga.dk / www.graceturner.co.uk
Facebook groups – gracesfund for Masanga and Masanga
Malta - by Brian Coniam
I wanted to share my experience and express my
feelings about volunteer work abroad as I have
recently experienced it myself. I always wanted to
go to Malta for a holiday, and whilst planning a
holiday one year, I thought about the idea of
volunteer work in a hospital over there just for the
experience. I talked it over with family and friends
and there were some mixed opinions, some
thought I must be mad to want to go while others
were encouraging, in the end I decided to do it.
Packing all the relevant documentation that I
thought I might need; my certificates etc and
evidence that I work in the hospital and have
sufficient training and experience, I set off for my
Maltese ‘holiday’. After taking a couple of days to
settle into the hotel and finding my way around the
area I caught the local bus and arrived at St Lucks
Hospital. The building is over 500 years old and
the British used it as a hospital during the Second
World War.
22

With a nervous anticipation I approached the
reception area and explained who I was and what
I wanted to do. After a short wait the door to the
main office opened and a tall gentleman
approached me with his hand outstretched ready
to shake my hand and welcome me to the
hospital. He showed me into his office and after a
cup of tea and discussion invited me to join the
team working in outpatients. How pleased I was
with the friendly and warm welcome I received.
The experience I had there was wonderful, all of
the staff were so kind and helpful and really made
me feel like part of the team. I never felt left out or
unsure of myself. I have continued to return to
Malta four years running now. The hospital has
moved to a brand new building that is luxurious
and modern
and a
pleasure to
work in, and
not only is
the work
experience
side a great
joy I have
also made some dear friends along the way who I
meet up with on my return and spend my weeks
with.
For any of you contemplating volunteer work
abroad my advice is to go for it, it’s one of the best
things I have ever done and hope to continue to
do for many years to come!
Operation Hernia in Ecuador – by Deidre Glackin
On our first visit to the Hospital Padre Damian in La Independencia, Ecuador, we encountered a very
good sign. As Samuel Shillcutt, our organization liaison or “fixer,” was leading us on a tour of the
multi-building, rudimentary space, we ran into Jovita, the head nurse. There she was crouched in the
dressing room of the Operating Theatre, dressed in jeans, flip-flops and paint spatters, with a brush in
her hand, laying a new coat of paint on the locker doors . . . on her day off. The people we encountered
in Ecuador were the heart of this adventure. Their sense of pride in community and “make-do” attitude
are certainly what made our journey such a success.
Our ranks included Samuel, our fearless leader; Andrew
Kingsnorth (whose wife Jane, a GP, joined us a week
later), and registrar David Sanders, David Oberdorfer
and Brigid Glackin, together with myself (Deidre) and
Michael, daughter and husband of Brigid. Our
anaesthetist Lorenzo Dimpel from Derriford Hospital
joined us.
La Concordia is a town of “between 50,000 and
100,000” inhabitants, there is no real census there, nor
any type of street map beyond Google Earth- but it does
exist and it is bustling. It has two main roads and a
market abutting the main square, surrounded by a grid
of dirt, alley-type streets and, beyond that, small slum-like rows of houses.
All surgical procedures were done at Hospital Padre Damian, located in the neighboring village of La
Independencia. It houses one operating theatre, and several rooms for patients to stay during
preparation and recovery. The electricity is run by generator and the running water is stop-start, the
back-up water supply was contained in large barrels of rain water that the nurses would bale over
surgeons’ hands during scrub-in. In total we operated on 72 patients to repair 79 hernias and one
cystic lesion. 79% of hernias were inguinal, 10% bilateral, with one triple hernia. 80% of patients
received local anesthetic. The mean length of time with hernia was 9.8 years. 75% of patients were in
pain before surgery, 8% had vomiting, and 63% had daily living activity limitations.
Dr Kathia Tinizaray, the local Public Health Doctor, shared with us at our farewell dinner that she had
her own initial scepticism about the project and its prospects. She expressed great satisfaction that the
initial hectic start had been followed by “the unbelievable” overall success of the effort. The nurses of
the hospital buzzed around with a new life and energy as their empty, forgotten hospital filled with
patients and bustled with activity. I can think of nowhere else in the world where the people are more
deserving of good care nor more grateful to have it.
23

Retirements
Rob Boon
Rob Boon started at the Trust in September 1972, as a Medical
Laboratory Scientific Officer in the Haematology Department. In
the mid 90’s he was responsible for aligning the Trust with
international standards for quality in haematology. In 2002 he
became Directorate Manager for Pathology and then Directorate
Manager of Pathology and Imaging when the two departments
merged. According to his colleagues, Rob is something of a ‘sage’
or ‘wise man’ of the Trust! In his spare time he is a magistrate and
drives a French car. Rob also doesn’t drink alcohol…but he is
rather fond of chocolate!
Edna Coles
Edna started work in Histopathology (now Cellular Pathology) in June 1986 and retired on November
30th 2010 from her position as Team Leader of the Clerical Reception team. Edna is looking forward to
spending more time with her husband David and family and
walking her three dogs, watching rugby union and pursuing
her interest in Late Medieval history. Sue will be ploughing
through the vast number of books which she has amassed
over the past few years and, until now, has never had the
time to read!
Susan Stideford
Susan Stideford started work in Histopathology in November
1986 and also retires on 30th November from her position as
Clerical Officer in the Reception Team.
Left to right: Sue, Bruce Lyons and Edna
Susan recently became a grandmother for the first time with her second grandchild due in January
(she will be visiting her son in America for the event). A busy retirement incorporating a good deal of
transatlantic travel and babysitting is forecast!
Carolyn Whitting
In July, Carolyn Whitting retired from the Trust after 20 years of
service. Carolyn spent her whole time at the Trust as the Ward
Clerk on Wolf Ward. According to Carolyn, Wolf Ward has
changed a lot in the last 20 years. She said: “When I started,
there were only three consultants, whereas now there are seven.
I have made many good friends over the years, and I have
worked with so many wonderful people.”
Carolyn’s colleagues on Wolf Ward thanked her for all of her hard
work over the years and wished her all the best for the future!
24

In Memory...
Marlene Walke
Those of you who knew Marlene Walke, Diabetes Specialist Nurse, will share our sadness on hearing
that she unexpectedly passed away at home on 1st September 2010.
Marlene’s nursing career spanned over 25 years with Plymouth Hospitals, most of it in diabetes. Having
trained as an Registered General Nurse in London and then briefly working for a private hospital,
Marlene continued her nursing career in Plymouth. This included working on the diabetes ward at Scott
Hospital, plus some time as a school nurse. After having a short career break to have her children,
Marlene returned to nursing by joining the diabetes clinic at Freedom Fields, which later transferred to
Derriford Hospital.
Although Marlene saw many people in her clinics over the years, her passion was for antenatal
diabetes. She would always be at the end of a phone, day or night, for her pregnant ladies wanting
advice on how to manage their blood sugars. She was also very supportive of her colleagues, kind and
generous with her time and she would brighten the day with her tremendous sense of wit and humour,
always the practical joker. She was a very popular person, demonstrated by the huge number of people
who attended her memorial service held in the picturesque village church of Coads Green, Cornwall.
Her mother, husband, two sons and other family members were comforted to see so many colleagues
there, past and present, as well as a few past patients too.
A 'larger than life' character, Marlene always managed to fill the room with her presence and she is
sorely missed by many, but especially by the diabetes team.
Raising Awareness of the NHS Number
The NHS Number is the national unique identifier for an NHS patient, regardless of their point of entry
into the NHS. The importance of being able to correctly link a patient to their clinical and administrative
records is a major safety consideration.
At a business level staff should:
• Include the NHS Number as a patient identifier on all systems and documents which include patient
identifiable data.
• Check the NHS number is available on all patient records.
• Use the NHS Number when referring to the patient, in particular when a patient’s care is delivered
across organisational boundaries.
The NHS number will be used to uniquely identify the records of patients receiving health care within
the NHS in England and will support the safe clinical use of patient records, both within and between
health care provider organisations. Correct use of the NHS Number can greatly reduce the risks to
individual’s safety arising from lost records and inaccessibility of records across organisational,
administrative and clinical boundaries. The presence of the NHS Number on all patients’ records, both
paper and electronic, is mandatory.
On a personal level your NHS Number is unique to you and will stay the same throughout your life.
Knowing it or having it to hand will make sure that you are correctly identified by the NHS. It will help
you to receive the right care as quickly as possible, whenever you need it – now or in the future, you
should keep it and put it somewhere safe where you can find it easily.
NHS patients can access their NHS number from the GP practice they are registered with, or by
contacting a Primary Care Trust (PCT) or Strategic Health Authority (SHA).
25

f benefit in 2 ways:
Find out how to join: Internal email: Staf
f Lottery
[Healthnet/Staf
f/PHNT Staff f Information/Staff Lottery]