Hospital Life March 2010 - Barking Havering and Redbridge ...

New chairman
takes the reins
Sir David Varney has been
appointed as the Trust’s new
Chairman.
Guiding the Trust Board, Sir David
brings with him a broad range of
experience. He was Chairman of HM
Revenue and Customs between
2004 and 2006 as well as being
President of the Chartered
Management Institute from 2005 to
2006.
Most recently, he was the Prime
Minister’s Adviser on Public Service
Transformation.
He said: “I am thrilled to be joining
the Trust at what is an incredibly
challenging yet exciting time. The
Trust has recently undergone
immense changes and has made
huge progress, but there is still much
more to do.
“The focus will very much be on
improving services, particularly
emergency care, to ensure that we
continue to put quality care for
patients at the top of the Trust’s
agenda.”
Chief Executive John Goulston said:
“I am delighted that Sir David has
agreed to lead the BHRUT Trust
Board. I am confident that his strong
leadership and vast experience will
be a very welcome addition to the
top team.”
Barbara Liggins has stepped down
from her role as Acting Chair and
returned to her role of Non-
Executive Director.
John added: “I would like to
thank Barbara for all her hard
work and for holding the fort so
competently following the sad and
untimely death of our previous
Chairman, Eric Nath.”
Sir David’s role is one of four new
appointments.
• Deborah Wheeler has joined the
Trust as Executive Director of Nursing
from the Whittington Hospital NHS
Trust where she was Director of
Nursing and the Acting Chief
Executive.
• Robert Royce has joined the Trust
on secondment as the new Director
of Strategy and Planning.
• John Coakley is working with the
Trust on secondment from the
Homerton University NHS Foundation
Trust as Director of Clinical
Improvement.
The focus will very much be
on improving services,
particularly emergency care . . .
Hospitals
tackle winter
vomiting bug
Visitors are being asked to stay
away from hospitals if they have
any symptoms of the winter
vomiting bug.
Norovirus is a regular problem at this
time of year, but seems to be
particularly virulent this year.
This Trust has an extremely good
record of infection control, and has
introduced stringent isolation
procedures to stop the bug
spreading among patients.
As there is no specific treatment for
the infection, the only way to
prevent it spreading is to limit the
number of people who come into
contact with those who have been
effected.
The Trust keeps wards closed for 72
hours after the last case to ensure
there is no reoccurrence.
Senior Infection Prevention and
Control Nurse Corinne Cameron-
Watson said: “The norovirus, or
winter vomiting bug, is particularly
virulent this year. Every hospital has
been affected, as have nursing and
residential homes and schools.
“We would ask anyone who has had
symptoms of the bug within the
previous three days not to come into
hospital to visit friends and relatives
if at all possible.”
She added: “People who are
affected should stay at home and
take plenty of
fluids to avoid
dehydration. If
your diarrhoea
and vomiting
does become
very severe and
persistent,
however, then
we advise you to
telephone your
GP or NHS Direct
on 0845 46 47.”
Special signs
have been put
up at the main
entrances and in
the A&E of both Queen’s and King
George to reinforce these messages.
2 H O S P I TA L L I F E