Grape 06 07 - Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust

The Royal United Hospital Magazine June 2007
INSIDE
Message from the Chief Executive
P9
P16
P20
Reducing waits for
patients
Community wide fund
raising efforts result in
delivery of second scanner
Staff are stars in our eyes
I am delighted to have joined the trust
and am very much looking forward to
working with you. Until 31 May 2007 I
was the chief executive of Yeovil District
Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and had
been for eight years.
In recent months, I have made several
visits to the RUH and have already met a
number of you who have made me feel
very welcome. I have been struck by the
number of people who are clearly
passionate about their work and about
ensuring that everything we do is for the
benefit of our patients.
I strongly believe that if we are to
make further improvements to patient
care we must do this alongside efforts to
value and support staff. I appreciate there
will be a lot of work to do in this area,
particularly since many staff are feeling
stretched having worked so hard in
recent years to deliver quality care whilst
under pressure to improve the hospital’s
financial position.
Happy and valued staff will support
our ambitions to maintain the already
high standards of clinical care, to
improve the patient experience and to
reduce waiting times – whether that is in
A&E or for surgery. The recently
appointed change consultants (The
Health Works) will also help us to achieve
these ambitions, but the major effort will
be as a result of staff getting involved and
contributing their ideas for
improvement.
I am planning to visit every area of
the hospital at some stage in the future
but clearly to do this well, will take some
time. I will, however, be regularly
dropping in to see staff on a more
informal basis to find out how things are
going. I also hope to meet a number of
RUH new chief executive James Scott
you at the open staff meeting on 26 June,
from 1pm-2pm in the PGMC lecture
theatre."
James Scott
Chief Executive
RUH Welcomes
New Chief Executive
James Scott took up his post as the new
chief executive of the RUH on 1 June
2007. James takes over from Mark Davies
who led the trust for three and a half
years before leaving at the end of March
this year.
RUH chairman James Carine says:
"We are delighted to welcome James to
Bath. His experience in meeting financial
challenges and taking Yeovil District
Hospital into Foundation Trust status will
bode well for the RUH in the future.
continued on page 2

RUH Welcome’s New Chief Executive
continued from page 1
"The RUH has worked hard towards addressing its
financial difficulties and breaking even at the end of the
last financial year. James has arrived at a time when staff
now have the opportunity to step back, and consider what
changes can be made so that we can provide more
effective and efficient patient care whilst remaining in a
financially stable position.
‘I would also like to acknowledge the contribution that
John Williams has made to the trust as finance director
for over three years and more recently as acting chief
executive. On behalf of the many staff here, I would like
to wish him well in his new role as finance director for
Wiltshire Primary Care Trust."
During James’ time at Yeovil, he successfully led the
hospital from a period of financial instability to become
one of the top NHS Foundation trusts. Working closely
with staff, James achieved lasting improvements in
hospital performance. These saw the trust gain the top,
three star rating for three years in a row which culminated
in the hospital becoming an NHS Foundation Trust in
June 2006.
2
Farewell from Acting CEO
and Director of Finance
John Williams
Having handed over the reins to James Scott and headed
off to further challenges at Wiltshire PCT, here are some
thoughts and good news I would like to leave with you.
I am delighted that after a hugely successful
fundraising campaign though the Forever Friends Appeal
the new CT scanner has arrived. The response from the
Deadline for news for the next
edition: w/c 2 July 07
Editor: Anita Houlding
Communications Office, Royal United Hospital
NHS Trust, Combe Park, Bath BA1 3NG
Tel: 01225 825799
Fax: 01225 824304
Photography: Courtesy of communications
office, medical illustration, Bath Chronicle
and/or individual contributors.
If you would like to share news of what’s going on in
your department, please contact Anita.
public and former radiology
patients to this appeal has been
fantastic and I would like to
congratulate and thank all
those who have been involved.
One of the last events I
attended as acting chief
executive was the League of
Hospital Friends AGM. During
their 50 years of dedicated
service, the Friends have offered
their valuable time and
financial support to the RUH,
helping patients and relatives, assisting staff and
improving amenities and comforts. Their presence is very
much valued across the whole hospital and we are
eternally grateful for their support. At the celebration staff
and volunteers paid tribute to Tessa Berridge who has
retired as the League of Friends chairman. Tessa is a
fantastic advocate for the RUH and the good news is that
we will still be seeing her in and around the hospital in the
future.
Most of you will associate my time at the RUH with
tackling financial challenges and the ongoing need to
achieve savings. I’m pleased to be leaving the RUH at a
point where we can celebrate a real turn round in our
financial position and breaking even last year. We do
however need to keep the pressure on as we still have to
make further savings to repay our loan and also pay for
other investments such as CT and PACS that will help us
towards achieving the 18 weeks target. Interviews are
taking place in June for my successor but in the meantime
Jennifer Howells will be in the hot seat for finance and I
know I can count on your continuing support.
With finances under control we can now have
confidence about the way forward. The most exciting
development in the trust for many years was approved by
the board in May. The existing pathology and pharmacy
buildings will be replaced with new buildings in the area
currently occupied by Widcombe ward and extending
back towards Bath & Wessex House. The new buildings
should be opening in two or three years time.
I would like to take this opportunity of thanking you
all for your support and efforts during my time here. The
last few years have been particularly difficult for staff and
the organisation as a whole, many of you have
commented on this to me as I have walked around the
hospital’s wards and departments. As director of finance,
it has been necessary to take a firm line, but together we
have achieved the near impossible. Aside from the hard
grind I have also had the privilege of meeting and working
alongside some really excellent people across all parts of
the trust and had a lot of fun along the way. I wish James
all the best for the future - this is a great hospital and I can
assure you that I will keep a watchful eye on the RUH from
my new hot seat in Wiltshire.
John Williams

Team Brief and The Bulletin: Informing and Listening to Staff
April saw the first complete cycle of
the new monthly team brief system
and the first issue of The Bulletin –
our new monthly newsletter for staff
which was distributed with pay slips.
The three team brief messages
that acting chief executive John
Williams shared with management
board at the end of March were
cascaded to a large number of staff
who had the opportunity to feedback
their views.
At the end of April, The Bulletin
was issued to all staff, repeating
highlights from those key messages
and relevant feedback from staff. It
also gave lots of staff news and an
opportunity to feedback on the
newsletter to help ensure that the
information that will be shared each
month is relevant to staff.
Feedback on both initiatives has
been mostly positive, ranging from
"Team brief will help make sure staff
are better informed and give them
the opportunity to have there say", to
comments about there being lots of
trust and staff information in The
Bulletin so staff don’t need to look
for these themselves, to concerns
about paper wastage when it was
distributed.
Both the team brief system and
The Bulletin were created in response
to staff feedback that we need to
improve two-way communication
within the trust.
Goodbye - G’day
Some of the radiology secretaries wish Wendy Bon Voyage!
Staff reported that email is not
generally the preferred method of
communication and that it should
only be used to support, rather than
be the main method of
communication. Comments
included: "Communication via email
makes people feel even less
motivated."
The original idea to produce the
newsletter and to distribute it with
payslips came from facilities staff.
The aim is to provide staff news as
well as trust news so that key
information and dates reach
everyone. Staff can share savings and
efficiency ideas, information about
staff discounts, an inspiring
compliment that their department
has received and dates for
department open days.
The important thing is that news
should be relevant to a large majority
of staff and – to make the best use of
The Bulletin - staff are encouraged to
feedback their ideas on what
information will be relevant and
what isn’t.
If you have any feedback about
how you would like the newsletter
to develop, please email Jane
Farmer or write to Jane in the
communications office.
Team Brief: How it Works
1. At the end of each month, the
chief executive shares key
information with senior
clinicians/managers – this is
cascaded through their
clinicians/managers to staff
throughout the trust.
2. This means that before the 3rd
week of each month, your
manager will brief members of
your team, adding their own
items and will ask you for
feedback. If you are not present
at your department team brief
meeting you can ask your
manager for a copy of the key
messages so that you can still
feedback.
3. There are three ways that you
can feedback:
a. Directly to your manager
b. Comments box at main
reception desk
c. ‘Team Briefing Feedback’
email address.
4. A response to constructive and
relevant feedback may be given
by your manager or will be
published in this monthly
newsletter, along with
summaries of the team brief
messages.
Personal assistant and medical secretary Wendy Smith is
about to embark on a new life in South Island, New Zealand
with her family and wants to say thank you and goodbye to
all her colleagues in radiology.
Wendy says: "I would like to thank the consultants for
their valued support, co-operation and patience whilst we
worked under difficult circumstances, particularly during
the installation of the new PACS/CRIS systems.
"There have been some vast changes since I joined the
radiology secretariat, including different ways of working
and the restructuring of the secretariat in order to improve
patient care and the working lives of all concerned.
"I will miss all the friends I’ve made over my time at the
RUH, it has been great working with them all and I wish
them all every success for the future."
3

RUH 2010 Change Programme
Gearing up to Deliver Improvements
I am sure you are all fully aware of the
hospital’s intention to use this year to
review and improve the way that we
care for our patients, reduce the
amount of time people wait for
treatment and improve our efficiency.
This programme of work will be wideranging
and will apply to both
clinical and non-clinical areas of the
hospital.
Over the last month we have been
working with our change consultants
(The Health Works) to begin to
understand where the opportunities
for improvement exist within the
hospital. The Health Works has
already identified a number of
opportunities after reviewing hospital
information and meeting with many
members of staff to gain a greater
understanding of our processes.
The Programme Board for the RUH
2010 Change Programme that I lead,
met on Wednesday 23 May to review
the results of the last month’s work
and to make a decision as to whether
to progress. I am pleased to say that
we decided that sufficient
opportunities for improvement had
been identified for us to move to the
next phase on the change programme
and to begin work on making those
improvements. We are therefore
setting up a number of projects (13 in
total) that will make the necessary
changes and improvements
throughout the hospital. The project
areas are:
Patient Care Priorities
Admission and discharge of patients
Making better use of beds
Improving pathways for planned
patients
Making better use of outpatients
Support Services
Better value from non-pay costs
Improving diagnostics and therapies
Ancillary
Align corporate support and
divisional management
Estates rationalisation
Additionally, The Health Works
has identified further opportunities to
improve the following processes and
we will also set up some projects in
these areas:
Critical Success Projects
Capacity Planning
Workforce Planning
Performance Management
Communications
As you can see almost every area of
the trust is included within one or
another of these projects.
In moving forward with this
programme I wish to emphasise three
things:
1. This programme offers the biggest
opportunity for you to be involved
in improving the way we work. Its
success is dependent on staff
participating and taking the
driving seat in making the changes
that need to be made.
2. It is inevitable that individual staff
will be affected by changes. We are
committed to working with staffside
to ensure that the changes
that need to take place are
managed properly and staff are
supported. Where support needs
to be offered it will be. We are
working with staff-side
representatives to establish an
agreed way of working that will
guide us through the programme.
3. Like all organisations in the NHS
we need to create a way of working
that is about continual
improvement. Patients will
increasingly be able to choose
where to receive care. If we
provide an excellent service they
will choose us, if we don’t,
patients will go elsewhere and we
will see the hospital contract.
Whilst we are good at some things
such as the proportion of planned
work undertaken as day case and
our overall mortality figures, we
are less good at others such as the
length of time patients wait in
hospital beds before being taken
to theatre – this programme is
about ensuring the organisation
operates in a ‘joined up’ way and
makes improvements across the
board. We need to be known as a
high performing hospital by
patients, the public, staff and the
NHS community.
We will discuss the programme and
its projects again at our next open
staff meeting (1pm - 2pm, Tuesday 26
June in the PGMC) and a full
communications and involvement
plan will be put in place so that you
know what is happening and how to
get involved.
I cannot stress enough how
important it is that we drive these
projects ourselves.
It is imperative that staff at the
RUH are involved in the
improvements and I want everyone
to feel that they can contribute. In
the meantime, if you have a
suggestion for improvement or wish
to be involved in any of the above
projects, please drop an e-mail to
Brigid Musselwhite.
I look forward to working with
you on this.
James Scott
Chief Executive
4

RUH in CHKS 40 Top-performing Hospitals for Third Year
CHKS CEO Graham Harries, RUH head of performance and contracts
Jeremy Martin and Niall Pearson who heads up the Kings Fund
The RUH has been named as one of the 40 top performing
hospitals taking part in a recent national study carried out
by CHKS (an independent healthcare performance
company). CHKS has revealed that patients treated at any
of the CHKS Top Hospitals are safer and less likely to pick
up hospital acquired infections such as MRSA.
The RUH is one of only three hospitals in the NHS
South West Strategic Health Authority to be rated so
highly in the CHKS results; it is the fourth year that the
trust has participated in the survey and the third year
running that the hospital has made it into the top 40.
This accolade is awarded on the basis of 20 expertlydeveloped
performance indicators that cover mortality,
MRSA rates, cancelled procedures and complications.
Welcoming the award for the third year RUH deputy
medical director Tim Craft says: "Ensuring the safety of
our patients is part of our approach to providing top
quality clinical care and remains our highest priority.
Gaining the CHKS award for a third year running is a great
tribute to our staff and recognises their contribution
towards these priorities. The findings are consistent with
other national assessments of patient care at the RUH; the
2006 Dr Foster Hospital Guide rates the RUH amongst the
best performing hospitals in the UK for safety and quality
of care, and the RUH recently received a top ten rating in
the intensive care national audit."
CHKS chief executive Graham Harries says: "Hospitals
using our benchmarking tools are working to achieve
targets in a very challenging environment. Good news
stories in the NHS are often overshadowed and we are
proud to be able to highlight and reward some of the best
practice and excellent work done in the NHS. These
success stories should not only give patients faith in their
health service but also reward staff for their dedication
and efforts to improve their performance and provide the
best possible service."
Staff Rise to the Challenge and Reduce
Waiting Times for Cancer Patients
The RUH staff caring for patients with cancer, are
celebrating their success in achieving the challenging
national cancer waiting time targets - to see, diagnose and
treat cancer patients quickly.
At the end of the 06/07 financial year, 99.5% of
patients referred by their GP with suspected cancer had
their first appointment within 14 days. 97% of those
patients referred by their GP with a suspicion of cancer
received treatment within 62 days. Patients are referred to
the RUH cancer teams in a variety of ways for diagnosis
and treatment and an impressive 99.8% of all patients
diagnosed with cancer were treated within 31 days of the
decision to treat.
Cancer services manager Sarah Hudson says: "We are
delighted with our success in meeting the national cancer
waiting time targets. These targets were introduced to help
improve the quality of patient care and clearly, our
patients are benefiting, thanks to the dedication and hard
work of hospital staff."
Did you know that nationally one in three people will
develop cancer at some time in their life and one in four
will die from it? Caring for patients with cancer is a
substantial part of our work at the RUH and as people are
living longer with cancer, these numbers are likely to
increase.
These facts require the trust to consider how, in the
longer term, we can ensure that all cancer patients receive
appropriate care. As a result, we have worked closely with
our local healthcare partners, patients, staff and other
healthcare professionals to develop a cancer strategy.
This strategy outlines the priorities and developments
for the care of people with cancer and will help to ensure
that the RUH continues to provide appropriate and
sensitive care to cancer patients now and in the future.
5

Changes to Nursing Management
There has been an important change to
the nursing management structure
within the RUH in response to the
changing demands of both the
National Health Service and the
hospital.
The introduction of government
initiatives in Patient Choice and
Payment by Results, changes to policy
and governance and the need for
greater focus upon the patient
experience and efficiency has changed
the requirements and demands upon
senior nurses.
Director of nursing Francesca
Thompson says: "Nurses are brilliant at
coping with change and at the same
time keeping their focus upon what is
important, which is the patient and
the teams nurses work with. The health
service is constantly changing and we
do need to change the way we work in
response to that.
"We are developing our nursing
practices, nurturing our staff and
encouraging leadership and making
the most of all their skills and
experience. We are also introducing
the exciting and pioneering NHS
Institute and Improvement
Programme for the productive ward:
Releasing time to care. This is specifically
designed to critically appraise the
delivery of ward based care in order to
increase the proportion of time spent
on direct patient contact, reduce all
forms of waste and improve the safety
and staff well being.
"Within the restructure we are now
reinforcing the importance of the
matron roles with the aim of
maximising their ability to influence
and strengthen the standards of care
and cleanliness trust wide. We have
also introduced new clinical manager
roles in some specialities which will
also focus upon clinical leadership in
addition to wider service development
and business planning. I see each of
these senior nursing roles as a
fundamental and expert resource that
Assistant directors of nursing: Jan Lynn, Sharon Preston and Cath Williams
will contribute to how and where
decisions affecting patient and staff
care, get made.
"The creation of three new posts has
been a key part of the restructuring
process. I am delighted to confirm the
substantive appointments to three
assistant directors of nursing posts for
surgery, medicine and productive
ward."
The assistant director of nursing
posts for surgery and medicine retain
key divisional nursing priorities but
will also include a trust wide nursing
responsibility for strategic work.
Jan Lynn is assistant director of
nursing - surgery.
Jan says: "I am really delighted
about this new role and I am looking
forward to developing my experience
and working closely with Francesca. I’ll
be taking on new projects such as
policy development, workforce
development and discharge planning.
I am particularly interested in
workforce development - this stems
from my previous experience within
the strategic health authority on the
Changing Workforce Programme.
"The most important role I’ll be
undertaking initially is around
discharge planning. Getting patient's
discharge right first time and reducing
the time patients stay in hospital is
important to the success of the trust
in terms of achieving the patient
access targets and financial balance.
Whilst I acknowledge the work which
has already been done and that
lengths of stay have already reduced -
there is still more to do. I will be
looking for support from staff both
internally and externally to assist in
this very important work."
Cath Williams is assistant director
of nursing - medicine.
Cath says: "My new role is still very
much based within the medical
division leading, developing and
supporting the nursing workforce. In
addition, I will be developing my
experience working on more strategic
nursing issues and supporting
Francesca in her role.
"My first piece of work is going to
be around recruitment and retention,
6

which will incorporate workforce
planning and development of new roles
to support the service, especially out of
hours. I’m looking forward to taking on
this new role working more closely with
staff across the organisation and in the
local community."
Sharon Preston is assistant director
of nursing - productive ward. Sharon is
leading the Productive Ward project and
undertaking corporate responsibilities.
The Productive Ward programme is an
NHS Institute project that focuses upon
improving the patient experience and
job satisfaction of staff here at the RUH.
It has been developed to look at
individual ward settings and the
processes of care within them.
Sharon says: "My new role is an
exciting opportunity to make a
difference to both the patients and
nursing staff at the RUH.
"I’ll be leading the Releasing Time to
Care - Productive Ward project. This
project has been developed following
recent research, which identified that
nurses in acute settings spend on average
only 40% of their time providing direct
patient care. The project reviews ward
organisation using improvement
techniques and empowers nurses to
bring about change on their wards for
the benefit of all concerned. A pilot has
been running for the last year in four
other acute trusts in England, where
these techniques have been tested.
"I’ll be attending the first
introductory event run by the NHS
Institute in June prior to rolling out the
programme. It’s essential that the project
is owned by the wards and so I’ll be
working closely with Jan and Cath and
the matrons to recruit wards onto the
programme. I will facilitate the
implementation of the project and will
be assisted by practice development
manager Pete Fox to address any
development needs of the ward team."
The Strategy for Improving
Patient Experience at the RUH
A new strategy called ‘Improving Patient Experience at the RUH’ is being
taken to the trust board in July. It has been developed following wide
consultation internally and with external bodies including the Patient
and Public Forum (PPI) and the Patient Experience Group.
The strategy provides a framework to enable the trust to actively seek
and respond to patients’ views and then harness this feedback to guide us
on improving services. Feedback will be sought through patient
interviews at the time of discharge and patient questionnaires.
The strategy has a clearly identified action plan, outcome measures
and methodology for performance management.
The Patient Experience Group will play a major role in overseeing the
implementation of the strategy.
A formal launch will take place one the strategy has been approved.
New Role for
Deborah
Many of us will be sad to say
‘goodbye’ to deputy director of
nursing Deborah Gray. Deb is
leaving us to take up a new post as
director of nursing and clinical
services at Shepton Mallet
treatment centre.
Deborah joined the RUH just
over seven years ago as a clinical
manager for surgery,
gastroenterology and oncology.
She was also our deputy of nursing
for a period and the acting director
of nursing and has provided a high
level of nursing leadership.
Director of nursing Francesca
Thompson says: "One of the key
pieces of work that Deborah has
most recently been instrumental
in, is her leadership in the
development of the RUH patient
experience strategy. Although we
are at the start of this very exciting
journey, it should not be
underestimated how significant
Deborah’s contribution has been.
"Undoubtedly as the launch of
the strategy unfolds we will
increasingly see our staff and
volunteers having a better
understanding of our patients'
experience and how they feel
about this hospital - well done to
Deborah for an inspiring piece of
work.
"We are extremely grateful to
Deborah for the significant
contribution she has made to
nursing here. She leaves with
many achievements and I am sure
you will all join me in wishing her
every success in her new role."
7

Patients’ Feedback Helps Improve Services
National Inpatient Survey Results
The Healthcare Commission recently published the
results of the latest national inpatient survey. Our survey,
which was carried out by the Picker Institute, relates to
patients discharged from the RUH in June, July and
August 2006.
Patient surveys are just one of the many ways that we
encourage patients to tell us what they think about their
care at the RUH. Whilst positive feedback is a great boost
to staff, we also welcome feedback when things don’t go
according to plan as this helps us to review and improve
our services and better meet the needs of patients and
their relatives.
As part of a new initiative our senior nurses will be
interviewing a significant number of patients as they
leave the hospital. Patients will be asked many of the same
questions as the annual survey so that we can gain a better
understanding throughout the year of how they rate their
care, any areas of concern and where we are improving.
Matron Yvonne Pritchard gathering important feedback on a patient’s
experience at the RUH
Overall we were pleased that, in line with national
findings in the survey, nine out of ten inpatients at the
RUH rated their care here as ‘good or better’. We were also
encouraged that the majority of those who responded to
the survey had trust and confidence in our doctors and
nurses treating them and believed that we care for our
patients with dignity and respect. For the second year
running patients also highly rated how quickly and
effectively we controlled their pain at the RUH.
We had significantly improved in a number of areas
compared with last year. This included fewer patients
saying that they should have been admitted sooner for a
planned operation and also fewer receiving care in a
mixed female and male environment.
There are still areas which remain a challenge which
we must take seriously. There are issues where our patients
say they would like to see change and where we scored
below the national average. Our priorities for action
include: reducing the length of time patients sometimes
have to wait to get to a bed on a ward, providing more
privacy when discussing a patient’s condition or
treatment and improving the way information is given to
patients about their care.
We are also working hard to improve the way that we
manage patients leaving hospital as more patients than
we would have liked experienced delays around discharge,
were waiting for medicines or wanted better information
about their medication.
The survey also highlights that levels of hand washing
amongst our doctors and nurses and cleanliness were
below the national average. As staff will be aware, tackling
hospital infection has since become a top priority for the
trust and we have run major campaigns to highlight the
importance of good infection control practice. I am
pleased that we are now seeing higher levels of hand
hygiene amongst clinical staff and I would urge all staff to
continue to make this a priority. Levels of cleanliness have
also improved around the hospital and we have recently
agreed to fund the next stage of an intensive rolling
programme of deep cleaning to all our wards.
Nationally patients in the survey said that they were
rarely asked to give their views about the quality of their
care or how to complain. This is another area which we
have already started work on. As part of our aim of putting
patients at the heart of everything we do, we are
launching a new strategy for ‘Improving Patient
Experience’ which focuses on listening and responding to
patient views. The strategy will help us ensure that patient
feedback is systematically used to inspire and encourage
quality initiatives and service improvements across the
RUH.
The full survey results can be found on the Healthcare
Commission website.
Francesca Thompson
Director of Nursing
8

Gastro Team Reducing Waiting Times for Patients
Congratulations to the gastro team who are May’s team of the month
The gastroenterology team was
nominated for team of the month in
recognition of the tremendous job
they have done in turning round
waiting times and making better use
of resources.
This has involved streamlining
their referral and booking process,
working closely with the PCTs,
particularly the referring GPs, as well
as liaising closely with patients
themselves.
Last June the picture looked grim
with over 3,300 patients on the
endoscopy waiting list, nearly half of
whom had been waiting over 12
months. A challenging plan was put
in place to reduce waits to 9 months
by the end of March 07.
The team swung into action with
endoscopists, nurses and admin staff
committed to the task. Most of the
patients were validated with the PCTs,
and progress was tracked by the
business intelligence unit. Capacity
was increased and robust booking
processes introduced to make sure
that patients were treated fairly and
quickly. Patients were involved in
choosing their date of admission and
extra Sunday sessions offered to
further speed up the process. Patients
were then followed up to check they
were happy with their appointment
time and to ensure they would
attend.
The end result is that they are now
on target to achieve waiting times of
just 13 weeks by the end of May and
making progress towards reducing
this further during the year.
Well done to all concerned.
Introducing the IT Service Desk
You may know them as the IT support desk, or the help
desk, but these days, they are called the IT service desk.
The name change reflects major changes that the service
desk is making to the way it operates, and we hope that
you find them beneficial.
The role of the IT service desk is to assist all users of
computers and printers across the RUH. Around 87% of
calls are resolved straight away, but if the problem needs
further attention it will be passed to an IT technician or,
in some cases, a third party supplier.
The changes include the way the service desk handles
calls. A service desk analyst will aim to answer the phone
within 15 seconds, offer you a call log number if your call
is not resolved while you’re on the phone and explain the
priority your call has been given.
IT support team manager Kelly Smith says:
"Additional information about the priorities we allocate to
different types of calls and our target resolution times for
them, can be found on our intranet web pages
Information services Keep an eye on these pages in the
Service desk staff: (l to r) Sean Kitson, Sam Gallagher, Chris Webb,
Hayley Turner, Karl Watson, Gerry Doyle, Julie McKay, Barry Deacon
(not pictured).
coming months as information and advice on how to
resolve problems and issues will continue to be added.
"If anyone has any comments about the service desk or
suggestions for improvement, we are always happy to
receive feedback. Staff should complete the online
questionnaire or email service desk team leader
Karl.Watson@ruh.nhs.uk ."
9

Essence of Care: We Are Listening
Staff, patients and visitors can hear
all about the hospital’s good practice
in communication at a week long
event from 11-15 June in the
hospital’s Lansdown foyer.
The Essence of Care
Communication Group, which
includes representatives from the
RUH patient forum, will host a ‘We
are Listening’ week. They’ll be
demonstrating their passion for, and
highlighting the significance the
hospital places on effective
communication. The event will also
showcase examples of good practice
gathered by the group.
Chair of the Essence of Care group
Tricia Mills says: "Throughout the
week, staff, patients and visitors can
talk to a variety of healthcare
professionals and members of the
patient forum. We’ll happily share
with them examples of good
communication we have found in
our hospital."
Members of the group are keen to
promote communication that
anticipates patients’ needs, enhance
the quality of care and facilitate
interaction between patients, carers
and staff.
The group gathered evidence of
good communications practice in
several different ways. These
included some formal training on
undertaking the ‘observation of care’
method and how to feedback their
observations. Following the training,
participants split into pairs and
visited certain clinical areas to
observe how we encourage patients
and their carers to communicate
their healthcare needs.
The Essence of Care group also
collected examples of thank you
cards and letters from patients,
which reflect how they feel about the
care they receive at the hospital. For
example a patient in the emergency
department said: "The treatment and
care I got was excellent and through
the whole process of examination
and investigation I was kept well
informed…." The group also collated
feedback gathered by the patient
forum during their visits to the RUH.
Communication forms an
essential element of the work the
RUH is carrying out as part of the
Government’s Essence of Care
initiative. This good practice guide
focuses on the patient and identifies
ten key areas to be monitored, to
ensure quality improvement to
patient care. These key areas include
communication, food and nutrition,
privacy and dignity, continence, oral
care, safety of patients with mental
health needs in an acute hospital and
health promotion.
If staff would like to find out
more, they can contact Tricia Mills
on ext. 1124 or Heather Devey on
ext. 5580.
New System for Paying Staff Goes Live
The National Electronic Staff Record (ESR) HR and payroll
system was implemented in the RUH on June 4 2007.
This system ensures that personal details are correctly
transferred for those staff changing jobs between NHS
trusts. It will also help with reporting on staffing numbers
and qualifications, etc., as well as allowing the transfer of
data to other systems such as the Pensions Agency,
occupational health and NHS jobs.
Staff will be paid via the ESR system on June 28 and
there will be a new look and layout to payslips. An
example of this new payslip was sent out to staff with their
payslip last month.
Future projects involving ESR will see the introduction
of ‘self service’ to managers and staff, enabling them to
complete and approve changes to job roles, training and
exit interviews.
ESR is a national, integrated human resources and
payroll system, which will be used by all NHS
organisations throughout England and Wales.
Further information on ESR can be found on the HR
web pages or you can contact project manager Holly
Clark on ext. 4451 if you have any queries.
Moving ESR forward: members of the payroll & HR team Jamie Wotley,
Lindsay Gilleland, Holly Clark, Shahrom Zohrehie and Andrew Howse
10

Life-saving Defibrillators for the RUH
The RUH Hospital Friends recently donated a magnificent
£360,000 to purchase 68 new, state-of-the-art
defibrillators. The defibrillators will be used in all clinical
areas of the hospital.
Defibrillators deliver a high voltage shock to the heart
which can restore an abnormal heart rhythm back to
normal. They are the singular most important item of
equipment in saving peoples lives after a cardiac arrest
(when the heart suddenly stops working).
The new defibrillators have different capabilities to
meet the new UK resuscitation guidelines and are more
efficient. Combined with the new basic life support
guidelines, which have already been implemented, the
new defibrillators should improve the chances of recovery
after cardiac arrest.
Lead intensive therapy unit (ITU) clinician and
consultant anaesthetist Jerry Nolan says: "We are
absolutely delighted that the League of Friends agreed to
fund these defibrillators.
"The new defibrillators are shock advisory, which
means that they explain to ward staff what needs to be
done. The defibrillator analyses the heart rhythm and
advises on the correct course of treatment. This means
that staff can deliver an electric shock to the heart straight
away, without waiting for a doctor to arrive. These
defibrillators also charge up rapidly, which enables a
shock to be given quickly. The faster a shock can be given,
the more likely it is to be effective."
On average the RUH has around one call per day to the
cardiac arrest team. These new defibrillators enable the
patient to receive improved care before the arrival of the
Volunteer Ann Turner, former League of Friends chairman Tessa
Berridge, ITU clinician and consultant anaesthetist Jerry Nolan and
resus officer Eleanor Tytler with a new defribillator
team. They will also enable patients to be monitored in
the acute phase of an illness leading to more immediate
treatment in the event of a cardiac arrest.
This new equipment will help us to maintain or
further improve our nationally recognised position as one
of the safest hospitals in the country.
Chairman of the Hospital Friends Tessa Berridge says:
"The Friends were seeking to finance some urgently
needed medical equipment, during our 50th Anniversary
year. We were delighted to respond to the request for the
life-saving defibrillators, which will be placed in every
ward. This is one more thing for the Friends to celebrate
in supporting the dedicated care given to patients in the
RUH."
Thanks also to the staff involved in the tendering,
evaluation and purchasing process to obtain these new
defibrillators. They included resuscitation officer Eleanor
Tytler and staff from MEMS, purchasing, anaesthetics,
medical physics and resuscitation.
Thomas White from Bristol had a cardiac arrest
whilst attending a routine appointment at the
hospital earlier this year. Thomas says: "I am so
pleased that the RUH has been able to buy the new
defibrillators. Without this vital equipment and the
excellent care of the cardiac arrest team, I wouldn’t
be here today. My wife and I can’t praise the staff
highly enough for all their care, then and afterwards,
we are indebted to them. They performed a miracle
as far as we are concerned. We’d like to say a special
thank you to Dr Mansfield and Dr Kirsten for their
care and attention."
Thomas and Judy White: A defibrillator helped save Thomas’ life
11

Friends for 50 years: Hospital Friend
Friends chairman Tessa with her sons and the gifts she received from
her friends and colleagues at the RUH for her retirement
In May, the Hospital League of Friends held an anniversary
party to celebrate their 50 years of fundraising and support
at the RUH.
During the last financial year, the Friends donated over
£400,000 to provide vital amenities needed throughout the
hospital to benefit patients and relatives. In their 50th
anniversary year they have already donated £360,000 for
68 new defibrillators.
At the AGM, staff paid tribute to Tessa and to all the
volunteers. Speaker sister Gill Capon says: "We are
tremendously grateful to the Friends for all their hard work
and efforts in raising funds which provide vital equipment
or improve patient comfort and amenities. Where would
we be without them?
"I’d particularly like to pay tribute to Tessa for her
ongoing support and friendship and for her dedication to
our hospital - she is an amazing lady. Tessa is modest about
her achievements and as she says, it is not just her but all
the generous, warm-hearted and tireless volunteers and
supporters that we have to thank."
Tessa also spoke at the meeting, reminding everyone of
just how much the Friends have achieved together for the
RUH and its patients. She reminisced about the ‘black ice
day’, when ambulances queued outside A&E and extra
volunteers were called in to serve endless cups of tea. How,
even during the £14m modernisation works, the hospital
never closed and the Friends kept open too and how the
RUH geared up to receive possible casualties of the
Falklands war, just like it did in World War II.
Tessa welcomed Mike Roy, who is taking over as Friends
chairman, Gwen Stoaling as new vice chairman and June
Weir as the new treasurer. Among those she thanked were
Gill Capon, a Friends founder member Marjorie Berry,
who is 101 years of age, volunteer co-ordinator Jayne
Cresswell and Friends secretary Susan Moore and all of the
volunteers for their wonderful spirit.
Soon to be a full house; people arriving for the AGM
The party followed the Friends’ AGM, which also
marked the retirement of chairman Tessa Berridge. During
her 30 years with the Friends, Tessa has worked tirelessly as
secretary, volunteer coordinator and chairman.
The Friends offer their valuable time and financial
support to the RUH. Volunteer Friends assist with patient
refreshments, act as hospital guides, run a seven-day service
in the hospital shop and serve refreshments to patients,
visitors and staff in the conservatory coffee shop. They also
fundraise throughout the year, organising events such as
the annual fete, jazz evenings, tabletop sales, raffles, coffee
mornings and a Christmas fair.
Mayor of Bath, Councillor Carol Paradise with Marjorie Berry and Gwen
Stoaling at the anniversary party
12

s celebrate their 50th Anniversary
thanks, was overwhelmingly generous. It was the best
possible send-off I could possibly have had.
My heartfelt thanks go to all the dedicated staff at the
RUH. Keep up the good work! The Hospital Friends with
their volunteers will continue to give their loyal support
in every way they can.
Tessa Berridge
Chairman of the Friends (newly resigned)
Sister Jill Capon with volunteers Mercedes Ares and David Hayward
She also introduced guest speaker Graham Walton,
who entertained the audience with his experiences as
father of the only all girl sextuplets in the universe!
A final message from Tessa
"This will be my last ‘message from the chairman’ before
I resign and hand over the reins to the new chairman, Mike
Roy.
I have seen so much change at the hospital and it has
got better and better, with a new, modern building. We
tend to forget how much thought and planning has gone
into these vast improvements and the dedication behind
the care given to thousands of patients coming to the
hospital each year.
I gave a talk to a local group last week and I am
convinced that a lot of the community have no idea what
it costs and what it involves to keep the RUH operating 365
days of the year. The audience found some of the facts and
figures mind boggling. It inspired me to continue with
these ‘talks’ to bring about a better understanding of the
vast amount of care, thought and dedication which has
gone into the RUH and is still very much there today.
As Friends of the hospital we have gone from strength
to strength over the years, responding to whatever the need
has been, with our volunteers and donations.
The run-up to our AGM was, as always, fraught! They
always are, but this time, being our 50th, we had a tight
schedule. We had an uplifting report for the past year,
which has been particularly successful.
Nothing prepared me at the end, for the absolutely
beautiful bouquet of flowers and photographic collage
presented to me by the acting chief executive on behalf of
the hospital. Sister Gill Capon’s tribute, in her vote of
Tessa with Majorie Berry and League of Friends new chairman Mike
Roy
Some of the awards presented to the
Hospital League of Friends over the
years include:
2007 - Chairman of BANES Council Community
Awards
2002 - MBE presented to Tessa Berridge, chairman
and volunteer co-ordinator
2000 - National Association of League of Friends
Premier Award - Regional winner for England, South
West in recognition of outstanding voluntary
achievement in the field of health and social care
1999 - National Association of Hospital Friends &
Community Friends commemorative certificate
1988 - Wessex Regional Health Authority in
recognition of an outstanding contribution to the
National Health Service.
13
photo courtesy Bath Chronicle

New Fitness Suite for Staff
We are delighted to announce that a
brand new fitness suite will open in
the former RUH sports and social club
from July 2007.
The trust has agreed a contract
with external fitness management
company Working Health to install a
fitness suite that will contain brand
new, state-of-the-art fitness
equipment. The new equipment will
include two treadmills, two bikes, two
cross trainer machines, two rowing
machines and four multi-stations.
Working Health, who will provide the
equipment, will also provide a fitness
centre manager/trainer one day a
week.
The trust is providing the capital
investment to update the club, which
will include conversion of one of the
existing squash court to house the
new gym and include improved
changing facilities and a new coffee
lounge area. The trust is boosting
these new arrangements this year,
with a contribution to the cost of
staffing the reception area and
cleaning.
The old reception area is stripped out ready
for the new reception
For a membership fee of only £15
a month and a one-off joining fee of
£10, members will be able to use the
fitness suite from 7.00 am to 8.00 pm
Monday to Friday. Weekend
availability could be provided if
demand is sufficient.
14
The existing social club building is
currently closed as the first phase of
refurbishment works takes place.
These works, which are being
managed by the RUH estates team,
are due to be completed by 22 June
and the building will re-open on 2
July 2007.
Work is well underway on the new fitness
suite
The swimming pool will be
unaffected by these changes and will
continue to be open from May until
September.
Director of HR Lynn Vaughan
says: "We are really pleased that
refurbishment of the social club is
now underway. We value our staff
and this is a first step forward to
improving leisure facilities for them.
"Working health is a national
recreation, sports and health and
fitness provider. They will be working
closely with trust steering group led
by consultant occupational health
physician Colin Payton to keep staffup-to-date,
develop other activities
and classes and to build up
membership."
Colin Payton says: "I’m delighted
that we are opening a new and well
equipped fitness suite for staff on the
RUH site. I cannot emphasise enough
The changing facilities are being updated
the health benefits of regular exercise.
It is the best way to lose weight and
has beneficial effects on the heart, on
cholesterol and strengthens muscles
and bones. It reduces the risks of
conditions such as cancers and
strokes and is beneficial for people
with long term illnesses such as
asthma and diabetes. It also helps to
combat the effects of stress in many
ways including lifting mood by
increasing levels of brain chemicals
such as endorphins and serotonin.
The social benefits of exercise are also
important in controlling stress.
"In occupational health we have
promoted many programmes over the
years to encourage staff to take
exercise, including the RUH half
marathon teams and more recently
the introduction of Cyclescheme.
“The new fitness suite will be an
excellent addition to staff facilities
and I hope will encourage many more
staff to get into and continue with
regular exercise."
The steering group will now start
to work up the ideas for a further
phase of development, which could
include refurbishment of the former
social club function room, the garden
and terrace to provide ‘bookable’
space for trust and social functions,
therapies and other types of fitness
classes. This will be dependant on
whether appropriate funding and
management arrangements can be
identified.

New Senior Chaplain Appointed
The Reverend Alastair Davies has been appointed as
senior chaplain to head up the chaplaincy team at the
hospital. Alastair comes to the RUH from the Royal Air
Force, where he served as chaplain to the RAF's main
headquarters at High Wycombe. Previously he was the
senior chaplain and the team leader at two of the largest
operational bases, at RAF Brize Norton and Lyneham,
where he oversaw the repatriation of service personnel
from hostilities overseas. He has served in Europe,
including Berlin, the Middle East and the Falkland
Islands. He is now looking forward to a period of
consolidation and the challenge of working in a new
environment.
Alastair says: "Working with colleagues Linda Brown
and Margaret Joyce and a strong team of chaplaincy
volunteers, I hope to bring fresh insights to the hospital,
utilising my leadership and management experience
gained in the services."
Alastair is passionate about listening to people's own
stories and promises to journey with patients and staff in
partnership, in whatever circumstances, to offer
encouragement and support.
Alastair continues: "The chaplaincy has built a strong
reputation, being held in high regard by patients and staff
alike, as a friendly and accessible resource for spiritual and
pastoral care. We’re looking forward to winning the team
of the month award!"
Alastair lives in Bath with his wife Helen who also
plans to work at the RUH and his two teenage daughters.
New Chapel Banners
If you are passing the chapel, just pause and look
inside at the new banners. They are a culmination of
a year’s work by eight women from villages close to
Bath. The designer and leader of the team is Ursula
Brooke from Southstoke who says that the images
evolved from photographs, drawings, ideas and
experiences.
The banners show four flowers symbolising the
four gospels. In the centre banner a tree trunk
represents a road or footsteps.
The team wanted to keep the images open to
interpretation so that anyone visiting the chapel may
be able to draw solace, consolation and strength from
the banners. The biblical works on the banners have
also been carefully chosen so that people of all creeds
or none can relate to them.
15

Forever Friends Appeal News
Musical feast al fresco
Consultant radiologist Simon Malthouse, senior radiographer Di Pressdee, head of
fundraising for the Appeal Tim Hobbs and development officer Sue Tucker welcome
the delivery of the scanner
12 16
Second CT Scanner
has arrived!
The Forever Friends Appeal and
hospital staff are thrilled with the
arrival of the new state-of-the-art
CT scanner, which was bought
solely as a result of fundraising
efforts of staff, local organisations,
the public and our patients.
Senior radiographer Di
Pressdee says: "We are absolutely
delighted that the scanner has
arrived. This particular model uses
the lastest technology to produce
quick and clear images that enable
our clinicians to make accurate
assessments of the various
conditions that are being
investigated."
The Forever Friends campaign
for a second vital CT scanner went
from strength to strength. A major
£150,000 boost from Trowbridge
based Virgin Mobile, funds raised
through Ted’s Big Day Out! and
the direct mail campaign to
patients, raised sufficient funds for
the equipment to be purchased
and installed. The direct mail
campaign, which raised well over
£160,000, involved writing to
radiology patients asking for their
fundraising support. It is thanks to
the generous support of hundreds
of RUH radiology patients, that
the Appeal team has been
nominated for a prestigious
national award by the Institute of
Fundraising.
Head of fundraising for The
Forever Friends Appeal Tim Hobbs
says: "It is wonderful to see the
arrival of the new CT scanner that
we have been campaigning to raise
funds for over the past two years.
Our success would not have been
possible without the tremendous
support received from so many of
the public. I would like to take
this opportunity to thank
everyone who helped us towards
our target of purchasing this major
piece of equipment for the
hospital.
"The Appeal team are now
looking ahead to July this year,
when we launch our exciting new
campaign for premature babies."
Popular tenor and champion of The
Forever Friends Appeal Tim Pitman is
topping the bill at an open-air
musical evening at Coombe Lodge in
Chew Valley on Sunday 8 July.
Coombe Lodge has kindly adopted
The Appeal as its nominated charity
and agreed to open its gardens to
present an extended musical
programme. The performance will
begin in the afternoon and continue
through until mid-evening, staged
against a back-drop of views right
across the Chew Valley. Other artists
in the line-up include the Avalon
Wizards jazz band and jazz singer
Erica Leigh.
Concert-goers can bring picnics to
help them enjoy the summer
evening’s entertainment, although
Coombe Lodge will be providing a
hog roast and an outside bar
throughout the event. Tickets are on
sale at £15 with part of the proceeds
going to The Forever Friends Appeal
to support the exciting new project
for premature babies.
Tenor Tim Pitman

Focus on Neurology
What is Neurology? According to the medical
dictionary, neurology is the study of the structure,
functioning, and the diseases of the nervous system
(including the brain, spinal cord and all the peripheral
nerves).
We are fortunate to have a neurological team at the
RUH, based on the Medlock unit, who care for patients
living with neurological conditions such as Multiple
Sclerosis (MS), Motor Neurone Disease, Myasthenia
Gravis, Epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease. The Medlock
unit also cares for stroke patients.
Neurologists Dr Paul Lyons and Dr Nicola Giffin are
supported by a team of health professionals. These
include specialist registrar Justin Pearson, neurology
nurse specialist Sharon Grainger, clinical assistant Toby
Cookson, clinical physiologist in neurophysiology Jon
Whittington as well as nursing and therapy staff.
The neuro team also has close links with specialist
neurology nurses Bev Bowers, Liz Wheelan and Alison
Stephens from the primary care trusts and elsewhere in
the acute sector.
Sharon Grainger says: "The neuro team manage clinics
within the RUH and in the community hospitals. We deal
with a multitude of neurological conditions and the
challenges they can bring.
"Many of our patients can be managed effectively as
outpatients, but if their condition deteriorates, they’ll be
admitted so that we can stabilise them. Sometimes certain
conditions, such as Guillain-Barre Syndrome (a disease of
the peripheral nerves in which there is numbness and
weakness in the limbs), will involve an extended stay in
hospital. During this time we establish a very close
relationship with the patient and their family.
"By working closely with the PCTs and GPs in the area,
we have improved the service we offer. For example we
have just developed a relapse information pack which we
have distributed to GPs. Many patients with Multiple
l to r: Dr Justin Pearson, Dr Nicola Giffin, Dr Paul Lyons, Jon
Whittington, Dr Toby Cookson, Raymunda Ndlovu, Bev Bowers, Shirley
Ogunnaike, Rebecca Flack, Sharon Grainger and Maria Buckle
Sclerosis will experience a relapse in their condition at
some point. This information pack clarifies what is meant
by a relapse and outlines the treatment necessary. A
number of new care plans have been developed and I have
just completed the new Management of Seizures care
plan, which is available to our nursing staff on the
Intranet.
"During the last decade, our increased understanding
of the needs of patients who live with neurological
conditions has transformed the way those conditions are
managed.
“Patients are also so much better informed and are
encouraged, where possible, to manage their own
condition. A patient who has been diagnosed with MS, for
example, will attend a clinic with a nurse specialist to
discuss their diagnosis and how to manage symptoms.
They will consider diet, work and pregnancy and ways of
prioritising. Clearly MS will always be a part of their life,
but the aim is to not allow it to govern everything.
Patient’s can contact the team at any time for advice,
which helps them to feel more confident about managing
and living with their condition.”
A focus on the work of the stroke team was featured in
the April Grapevine.
People Moves
Some of the latest people moves include:
Gavin Jennings is a consultant trauma & orthopaedic
surgeon, specialising in arthroscopic (keyhole) shoulder
surgery. Gavin has worked at the RUH as an SHO and a
locum consultant. Before he came here, he spent time in
Canada and South Africa.
Anthony Holbrook is a consultant in general surgery.
Antony has worked at the hospital for many years, first as
a staff grade and as a locum consultant.
Hilary Robinson is a consultant in paediatrics. Hilary was
a registrar and a locum part-time consultant at the RUH.
She previously worked at Southampton hospital.
Dr William Hubbard has been appointed chair of medical
division, a role previously carried out by Dr Chris Dyer.
The trust is indebted to Chris for his hard work and
commitment to this important divisional role and looks
forward to working with William.
17

Pets As Therapy
Jacob spending time with Muppet and Leisl
Pets as Therapy (PAT) is a national charity founded in
1983. Volunteers from the charity take friendly,
temperament tested and vaccinated dogs into hospitals
and other organisations for therapeutic visits, offering
temporary, but regular animal companionship and
comfort to patients.
The children’s ward regularly welcomes a cocker
spaniel called Muppet, a PAT dog who makes weekly visits
organised by the play specialists.
Play specialist Lyn Gardiner says: "On behalf of all the
children and families we would like to thank Leisl de
Lafontaine and Muppet for their regular visits, which are
always a fantastic and beneficial experience for many of
the patients and their families. Sick patients can often feel
isolated, so these dogs bring everyday life closer and with
all its happy associations."
Two young patients were pleased as punch to see
Muppet. Ed (aged 14) says: "When Muppet visits she
brings liveliness and a lot of happiness to the hospital. It
is very beneficial for all the patients and adds that extra
excitement to the day. We love Muppet!"
Jacob (aged 6) says: "Muppet is really great, she is quite
lovely. She is nice and furry and when I smooth her, she
makes me feel nice."
Muppet’s owner Leisl says: "I had heard of ‘Pets as
Therapy’ a number of years ago and in January 2006
Muppet and I applied, and subsequently passed to become
visiting volunteers with this fantastic organisation.
"We both really look forward to our visits to the
hospital. We have to make it past the admiring glances in
reception and through all the cuddles and strokes from
nurses and doctors on the ward before we make it to the
children! We visit everyone in turn under the guidance of
the play specialists and spend several minutes chatting
while they stroke and play with Muppet.
“A lot of the children have dogs, cats (and even the odd
iguana) at home and miss the attention, interaction and
affection they give. It is so nice being able to make
someone smile just from stroking a dog. We frequently go
home with paintings and cards for Muppet and a Bonio
treat.
"PAT is a really worth while cause and it makes such a
difference to those we visit. As an organisation PAT dogs
and cats interact with over 100,000 people a week; that is
an awful lot of smiles!"
Request to all Staff from IT - Software
Updates Require You to Turn Off Your PC
Over the coming weeks the
information services department will
be remotely applying software
updates to network PCs, in order to
get all PCs onto the same version of
various software packages.
The updates don’t take long to run
but do require a restart of the PC in
order to fully install.
Most office based staff shut down
their PCs at the end of the day and
switch on again the following
morning, so this works well for the
updating process. But staff using
shared access machines in busy
clinical areas will also need to find a
convenient time to shut down and
restart the PC.
Software such as Adobe reader
(PDF reader), Flash player (which
many e-learning packages require),
Shockwave and Quicktime
(multimedia players) will all be
updated to the latest version. The
updates will run in the background at
logon so you don’t need to worry
about doing anything.
There are no plans in the short
term to upgrade PCs to the latest
version of the Windows operating
system (Windows Vista) or Microsoft
Office (Office 2007), as there are still
some NHS-wide compatibility issues
with national systems such as Choose
& Book.
Where possible, it’s good to get
into the habit of turning the PC off at
the end of the day or when it isn’t in
use. As well as helping with the
upgrading works, it will help reduce
our energy costs.
If you have any queries or
concerns about these upgrades, please
contact the IT service desk who will
be able to make arrangements for the
upgrades to take place. Hopefully, you
will never even know that they have
happened!
Kelly Smith, IT support team
manager
18

RUH Medics on a Mission
On the 10 of July, a group of 11 RUH doctors and nurses
and 23 others from the southwest region are once again
off to Kenya, offering their precious time and valuable
expertise to work with a charity called the Kenyan Orphan
Project (KOP).
Some of the RUH staff getting ready for Kenya Sandra Elkins, Kerri
Cheadle, Anna Holdroyd, Steve Jones and Bev Boyd
Paediatric senior house officer Dan Magnus (based at
Frenchay hospital) set up the Kenyan Orphan Project
(KOP) in 2001 in response to the plight of the millions of
people affected by AIDS and poverty in Africa. The charity
has recently been added to the Charity commission’s
register.
Dan says: "We’re a small group of people who care
passionately about the people in the community we’re
working with, doing something that can be taken
seriously by people in the UK. Being a registered charity
shows we’re bona fide and valid people trying to make a
difference in a very impoverished part of the world."
Sister Kerri Cheadle who is heading up the nursing
contingency says: "I am excited about going to Kenya
again with a group of skilled and enthusiastic nurses and
doctors. The work will be hard and we are sure to meet
professional and emotional challenges but we are
determined that some small way we will make a
difference."
Each person in the team has to fund their own
transport and raise £700 towards the drugs and
equipment. More funding is needed and Dr Magnus says
the trip will cost £35,000.
If you are interested in finding out more you can
contact Dan at dan_magnus@hotmail.com or visit
www.kenyanorphanproject.org
Study Day was a Success
for Bath Orthopaedic
Nurses Group
The Bath Orthopaedic Nurses Group (BONG), a local
branch of RCN Society of Trauma and Orthopaedic
Nursing, held its annual study day in May. The day was a
great success with 55 delegates from Wales and the South
of England attending.
Sister Lyn Pearce says: "Our thanks go to all our
speakers, especially to the orthopaedic consultants, for
their continued support of the group.
"Bath orthopaedic nurses group aims to facilitate
education and personal development. The group provides
a platform for sharing knowledge and developments in
clinical practice. We provide a support network for
orthopaedic nurses and link with other orthopaedic
groups, both nationally and internationally.
"This shared knowledge and support results in an
improved experience and standard of care for our
patients."
The youngest BONG supporter came with his parents, sporting the
SOTN logo
BONG has a twin group in Atlanta and they have
invited Lyn and her colleague Neil Boyland to attend the
American National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses
Congress in St Lois, USA. Lyn will be reporting back in a
future edition of Grapevine.
Anyone wanting more information can contact Lyn
via email lyn.pearce@ruh-bath.swest.nhs.uk
19

Bath Chronicle Series
Staff may not have had an opportunity to see the recent series about the
RUH featured in the Bath Chronicle during May. This week long focus on
the RUH highlighted the patient care, services and staff in areas across the
hospital. The Chronicle has run a similar series several times in recent years
and feedback from patients, the public and staff has been really positive.
The health correspondent Laura
Matless spent three days at the hospital
talking to staff and patients. Laura aimed to
cover a range of services and departments
across the hospital, including both clinical
areas as well as some of the support staff
and behind the scenes people with whom
patients and visitors rarely come into
contact.
Unfortunately there aren’t pictures of
everyone who helped but we would like to
say a big thank you to all the staff, patients
and volunteers who were involved in the
good work reported here. We couldn’t have
had such positive reporting and interesting
reading without you.
Photographs courtesy of Bath Chronicle
The series lead with a moving story about Mike Cummin who paid
tribute to dedicated medical staff who saved his life after he had a
cardiac arrest
There is a lot of loyalty and support for the RUH as can
be seen by the many complimentary letters that are
published in the paper or sent to the hospital. We have a
good working relationship with our local daily, the Bath
Chronicle and they were keen for another opportunity to
report on the good work and excellent patient care at the
RUH.
Some of the emergency department staff involved in Mike Cummin’s
care
The Chronicle reported on the importance of art and art therapy at the
hospital. There is now a years waiting list to exhibit art at the hospital.
It also reported on the work of the education team in the children’s
centre and the play specialists in paediatrics
It looked at orthopaedic surgery, in particular an ongoing trial in hip
surgery and how advances in technology help people recover faster and
some of the work and support that takes place with patients, both pre
and post-surgery.
20

Highlights the RUH
Do You Want To Be A
Health Care Assistant?
It featured some of the special work going on in the older people’s unit
and interviewed patients who had nothing but praise for the staff there
The week
concluded with
a look at the
work of some
of the vital
‘behind the
scenes’ staff
who help to
keep the
hospital
running and
looked at the
efficiencies we
are making in
facilities and
estates to save
energy and,
ultimately,
money.
Healthcare assistants on the job
Anyone who is interested in becoming a health
care assistant (HCA) and who wants to find out
more, can attend a special open day on Saturday
16 June.
Health care assistants are valuable members of
the care team. They support registered nurses in
many of the daily activities involved in patient
care, such as bathing, helping at mealtimes and
recording vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse
and temperature.
This event will take place in the hospital
atrium from 10am until 2pm. Come along and
hear first hand what being an HCA is all about by
talking to staff who are already fulfilling that role.
You can also talk to the NVQ team to find out
what’s on offer in the way of NVQ level 2 and 3
training and get some practical advice on how to
apply for an HCA role from the recruitment team.
If you require further information, please
contact Richard Curtis on ext. 1142.
21

Changes in Education and Development
A recent review of the education and
development services at the RUH
concluded a need to concentrate
effort in three main areas. These are
mandatory (core) learning,
leadership, management and change
(organisational development) and
clinical skills.
Focusing on these areas will ensure
that we continue to develop and
value our staff in order to respond to
the changing needs of the health
service and, of course, the complex
needs of our patients.
Director of HR Lynn Vaughan
says: "We are delighted that we have
managed to restructure and identify
the following talented individuals for
each lead post, and maintain cost
neutrality."
Tracy Elvins has been appointed
as head of core learning. The focus of
this role is to ensure the delivery of
core training and development across
all areas of the trust. This includes
mandatory, induction and core KSF
learning. Another priority for Tracy is
to facilitate further implementation
of the Managed Learning
Environment (MLE).
Tracy is currently on maternity
leave and this role will be covered by
Linda Chapman until Tracy returns
in February next year.
Head of clinical skills Julie Blackman
delivered in an integrated manner for
all staff across the trust and that it
meets the needs of patients during
their stay at the RUH.
Head of organisational development Patricia
Mills
Patricia Mills has been appointed
head of organisational development.
This role will oversee management,
leadership and workforce
development and will include
working with the service
improvement manager Richard
Morphey and the Healthworks team.
Head of core learning Tracy Elvins
Julie Blackman has been
appointed head of clinical skills. The
focus of this role is to ensure clinical
skills training is developed and
A Smoke Free England from 1 July 2007
A reminder that there is only one
month to go before England becomes
smoke free on 1 July 2007. All
enclosed public places and work
places in England will become smoke
free.
A smoke free England will ensure a
healthier environment, so everyone
can socialise, relax, travel, shop and
work free from secondhand smoke.
22
Smoke free law:
● recognises a person's right to be
protected from the harm of
secondhand smoke and to breathe
smoke free air
● helps people trying to give up
smoking by providing supportive
smoke free environments
● reduces illness and the number of
deaths from medical conditions
caused by secondhand smoke
●
improves life expectancy because
less people will take up smoking
in the first place.
If you are thinking about giving up
smoking and need some help, then
contact the ‘Support to Stop’ service
in the occupational health
department on ext. 4064. The team
can offer free, friendly advice and
support.

More Volunteers Needed for
Bath Cancer Information & Support Centre
Comprehensive training and support is available to
volunteers. The Cancer Information and Support Centre is
open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.
If you can spare half a day a week and would like to
find out more please contact Juliet Gilchrist or Sue Littler
on 01225 824049 or email Juliet.gilchrist@ruhbath.swest.nhs.uk
or sue.littler@ruh-bath.swest.nhs.uk
Juliet Gilchrist offers advice in the cancer information and support
centre
Located in RUH north, the Cancer Information & Support
Centre offers a safe and welcoming environment for
people affected by cancer. The centre provides access to
good quality, comprehensive and appropriate cancerrelated
information as well as emotional support. People
can drop in for a cup of tea and a chat or for information
on a variety of subjects including: benefits advice
(provided through our partnership with Bath Citizens
Advice Bureau), nutrition, travel and support and
background information on cancer and treatments.
The centre is looking for new volunteers and centre
coordinator Juliet Gilchrist says: "The volunteers are the
backbone of the centre, without them we couldn’t provide
the essential information and support that is so valuable
to people, at what can be a difficult and confusing time in
their lives. Most of our volunteers have been affected by
cancer themselves; for people coming in to the centre it
can be very reassuring to speak to someone who has an
idea of what they are going through."
Volunteer Henrietta says: "It is the most fantastic
facility. I would have found a place like this invaluable
when I had cancer treatment five years ago. Instead I spent
many frightening hours casting around on the internet for
what often turned out to be generalised and dubious
information."
Around 1,900 new cancer diagnoses are made each year
in the health community area serviced by the RUH. The
centre is open to anyone, or their carer, at any stage of
their illness and is also an up-to-date information resource
for health professionals.
Sue Littler Joins the Cancer
Information Support Centre Team
Welcome to Sue, who has just joined the centre as a cancer
information and support specialist. Sue shares this role
with Juliet Gilchrist. Previously she worked on the nursing
bank at the RUH and moved to Bath from London. Sue
says: "I’m really looking forward to working with Juliet
and the volunteers and to meeting the people who use the
centre. Anyone who needs information or support relating
to any aspect of cancer, can pop in or phone and we’ll be
here to help them."
Sue Littler
Positive Action on Cancer
A new addition to the cancer information and
support centre’s services includes a free, professional
counselling service provided by Positive Action on
Cancer (PAC). The PAC counselling service is for
anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis - patient,
family, friends and carers - or bereaved by cancer. PAC
has been providing specialist cancer counselling since
2000 in Frome, Bath and Warminster. Now this
valuable service will be on offer at the RUH for one
afternoon a week, from June. For an appointment at
any of their centres, or for further information please
ring PAC on 01373 455255.
23

New Art at the RUH
Barcelona Man and Dog: Sophie White
Stonehendge: John Eaves
Adrift: Mike Newton
The RUH looks forward to more great art in June, which
will displayed in the corridors, the courtyard and the
atrium. We are honoured to include exhibits from:
John Eaves whose paintings have been purchased
for public and private collections, including the
Victoria Art Gallery, Bath. A Cast of Stones is a series of
five large scale primal charcoal drawings of Stonehenge,
also showing will be five of his more familiar colour
abstracts.
Mike Newton’s painting’s deal with memory and
loss, specifically related to his own experience as a
teenager, which he recalls as a time suspended, waiting
for something to happen. The works on paper in this
exhibition form the basis for a loose and immediate
style of painting that has a freshness of execution
despite the melancholic themes.
Perienne Christian is currently studying for her Ma
Diploma at The Prince of Wales’ Drawing Studio in
London. Themes in her work for this exhibition have
looked at inclusiveness within society, and the
breakdown of ‘community’ in parts of the western
world, and how this affects the elderly.
Photographic images by Jude Penkethman, in
which vaguely familiar objects become imbued with a
dreamlike presence. There is also photography by Paul
Bramley called Contemporary China; Brave New
World, which attempts to show the massive changes
happening to the Shaghai delta today and a diverse and
vibrant photographic record of the natural world by
Chris Williams. Chris was selected to participate in
Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2002 at the Natural
History Museum in London which toured
internationally. His current enthusiasm is to find
patterns within nature and to explore the effect of light.
A series of sculptures will appear in the central
courtyard by Sophie White, entitled Private lives in
Public Spaces. Sophie’s sculptures are observations of
human action and interaction. She is interested in
capturing a moment that is perhaps poignant or subtly
humorous and about aspects of human nature common
to us all.
Sarah Trigg presents ‘Fallen’. Sarah had worked for
medical records at the RUH and over the years collected
the mangled paperclips that have fallen from patients’
files. Each paperclip has been flattened and deformed
on the rails that run underneath the enormous sliding
shelves in the records library, becoming fascinating,
unique objects with beautifully twisted shapes. Sarah
draws a parallel between these transformed paperclips -
having originally been designed identical, perfect and
useful - and the patients (from whose records they fell),
who have undergone various transformative
experiences of life.
Two new exhibitions in the newly refurbished
Lansdown restaurant include two large prints of Martyn
Colbeck’s African Elephants and seascapes of Greece
and the UK by Anna Proctor.
For more information, please contact arts coordinator
Hetty Dupays on 01225 824987 or
hetty.dupays@ruh-bath.swest.nhs.uk
Iron: Penkethman