January 2013 First baby born at Queen's Birth Centre - Barking ...

The magazine for Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
January 2013
First baby born at
Queen’s Birth Centre
Baby girl born in one of
our new birthing pools
See p4

Keep well this winter
With the cold weather
taking hold, people are
being asked to help
keep norovirus out
of hospitals.
The diarrhoea and
vomiting bug takes
hold during the colder
months – which is why
it’s also known as the
Winter Vomiting Disease.
This year the Trust has
launched a comprehensive and preemptive
campaign to try and keep its
wards free of the virus – and it is
paying dividends.
The Trust has appointed Dr Ian Hosein,
the first Director of Infection
Prevention and Control in the UK. He
is leading the work with staff at
Queen’s and King George hospitals,
reinforcing key practices including
optimal hand hygiene.
Dr Hosein said: “Norovirus is one of
the most infectious agents that we
face in the NHS, and it causes
significant disruption to the services
hospitals can provide. The virus
always begins with spread in the
wider community and then it gets
into hospitals.
“Our staff are being optimally
trained to prevent, contain and
ultimately defeat this threat. But, we
do need the help of the wider
public. They could bring the
virus into a hospital with
them if they have recently
been ill, or bring in
contaminated food items.”
Key points the Trust is
asking people to bear in
mind are:
1. Be careful with food
hygiene. Think about how
you prepare food for
yourselves and where you eat.
2. If you get symptoms of
vomiting or diarrhoea, do not
come into hospital to see your
friends or relatives. You may give
the virus to them as well as other
patients and staff. The virus
continues to shed from you even
after you feel better so leave at
least two days after you have
stopped feeling unwell before
you consider coming into hospital
as a visitor.
3. Do not bring in food for your
relatives unless pre-wrapped and
from a recognised commercial
source.
4. Hands must be washed when
you get to our hospitals at sinks
on the wards.
5. Use the alcohol gel provided
frequently. Dispensers are
located throughout the
hospitals.
Dr Hosein said: “Helping us to
defeat the winter vomiting virus
means that we will have as many
hospital beds available as possible,
and we will be better able to care for
those who need our help.”
The measures being taken at our
hospitals are working, with the Trust
faring far better that some other
hospitals.
We have halved the level of
disruption from last year, bucking
the national trend. From September
to December we lost 89 bed days
due to norovirus. In 2011 that figure
was 225.
Get the jab - get
FLU-SAFE
Those at greatest risk from flu are
still being asked to protect
themselves and their families, and
get a free flu jab.
Flu is a highly contagious
infection that anyone can catch,
and it can be a really serious
illness for some. Those at greater
risk from flu include people aged
65 or over, pregnant women, and
those with health conditions such
as severe asthma, chest or heart
complaints and diabetes.
Antibiotic Awareness Day
Pharmacists at King George and Queen’s hospitals have been speaking
to staff and patients about the importance of using antibiotics
correctly.
To tie in with European Antibiotic Awareness Day, they were reinforcing the
message that, if you use antibiotics unnecessarily, it could lead to you
becoming immune to the drugs.
Used correctly antibiotics can treat life threatening illnesses. But antibiotic
resistance increases patient morbidity and mortality.
Trust pharmacy staff manned stands in the atriums of the hospitals giving
general information to the public, and encouraging them not to ask for
antibiotics when they do not need them.
They also worked with hospital nurses and doctors, reminding them to be
prudent when prescribing antibiotics to ensure they remain effective in
treating serious illness and to prevent overuse.
• Teresa Woodburn and Sofia Azad from the Trust’s Pharmacy team.
2 H O S P I TA L L I F E

New endoscopy suite
at King George
A brand new facility has been
opened for patients at King
George Hospital.
The Juniper Endoscopy Suite is a
state-of-the-art unit offering the
very latest imaging equipment.
It will allow staff to carry out a full
range of diagnostic and
therapeutic procedures.
An endoscopy involves examining
the inside of someone’s body
using a medical device consisting
of a long, thin tube which has a
light and a video camera.
Images of the patient’s body can
then be seen on a screen, with
the endoscopy also recorded so
that it can be checked again.
An endoscopy might be
recommended if people
experience symptoms such as
difficulty swallowing, persistent
nausea, unexplained weight loss
or vomiting blood.
The new suite has hugely
improved patient care with
dedicated preparation rooms,
brand new equipment, and
aftercare provided by specialist
endoscopy nurses.
It should also reduce waiting
times, with GPs able to refer
patients directly to the unit.
Students put Queen’s pathologists
under the microscope
Students have donned white coats and
visited the laboratories at Queen’s
Hospital to mark National Pathology
Year.
Thirty-eight students from Redbridge College,
St Edwards’s School and Frances Bardsley
School were given the chance to get some
hands-on experience in the labs – checking
out samples of brain and lungs.
National Pathology Year aims to raise
awareness of pathologists’ role in the
diagnosis and management of illnesses.
Funmi Akinlade, Principal Clinical Scientist for
the Trust, organised the event for the sixth
form science students.
"National Pathology Year gives us a great
opportunity to highlight the many career
options available. We showed the students a
number of different roles in our labs, ranging
from those which are ideal for those without
a university level of education, to others
needing a science or medical degree."
Workshops were organised to show the students that Pathology is not just
about dead bodies, but more about diagnostic testing such as blood sampling
and biopsies. The budding scientists also received a tour of the laboratories,
seeing first-hand the work that healthcare scientists do on a daily basis.
• Pictured are science students visiting the laboratories at Queen’s Hospital
J A N U A RY 2 0 1 3
3

First baby welcomed at
Queen’s Birth Centre
Ellena Kelly delivered her baby girl in one of the birthing
pools in the new unit, just hours after it opened this month.
The new arrival made history as the
first to be delivered in the midwifeled
unit at Queen’s Hospital.
Ellena and husband Richard, from
Great Gardens Road in Hornchurch,
received one-to-one care from a
midwife throughout the labour.
Ellena said: “It was such a good
experience and exceeded all of our
expectations. We wanted a
waterbirth, and our midwife was
supportive and positive, creating a
really relaxed environment.
“It didn’t feel like a hospital – more
like a home.”
She added: “We had so much space,
and the baby was born very relaxed.
I can’t recommend it enough. The
midwives were brilliant and everyone
was so helpful and friendly.”
Their daughter is a
real honeymoon baby
– born nine months
to the day after their
wedding.
The new family were
presented with a
bouquet of flowers
and a “nappy cake”
to mark the
occassion.
“I’m really proud to
be the first person to
give birth in the new
unit,” said Ellena,
who didn’t use any
pain relief during the
delivery. “It’s
wonderful that we
had such a good
experience.”
The Queen’s Birth
Centre is midwife-led,
and designed to
promote natural birth.
It has eight delivery rooms, two of
which are fitted with large birthing
pools. Portable birthing pools are
also available in the other rooms.
There are also post-natal beds, and
comfortable hotel-style rooms with
double beds so that partners can
stay over after the baby is born.
The unit is designed to care for
women who are expected to have
straight-forward births in a homely
environment.
They are cared for by midwives, with
no involvement from doctors. Pain
relief is provided by labouring in
water, with gas and air also
available.
However, if any complications arise –
or if a woman decides she would like
stronger pain relief that needs to be
administered by a doctor – they will
be transferred straight to the labour
ward on site for specialist care.
The centre was designed with the
input of local mums to make sure it
provides everything that women
need.
The Queen’s Birth Centre is integral
to plans to reconfigure maternity
care in the area. More information
about the birth centre is available on
www.bhrhospitals.nhs.uk/ourservices/queens-birth-centre
• Pictured right, Ellena and Richard
Kelly with their newborn daughter in
the Queen’s Birth Centre.
• Pictured below, staff celebrate the
opening of the new centre.
4 H O S P I TA L L I F E

Praise for Maternity Services
Maternity care at Queen’s
Hospital has received a glowing
report this month after an
unannounced visit by the Care
Quality Commission.
In the past the CQC has expressed
concerns about the maternity
department at the Trust, but has
now given the service a clean bill
of health.
In a positive report, it confirmed that
the service met all of the below
standards:
• Care and welfare of people who
use services
• Safety, availability and suitability of
equipment
• Staffing
The report comes after a two-day
unannounced visit by inspectors in
December.
As well as looking at the personal
care and treatment records of people
using the maternity service, they
observed how people were being
treated at every stage of their care.
They also spoke to women using the
service, their family members and
staff.
The report said: “Queen’s Hospital
has made a range of improvements
and the care of women has
improved.
“Women we spoke to were
unanimous in saying that the care
they had received was of a high
standard.”
Director of Nursing Flo Panel-Coates
said: “I am absolutely delighted that
the CQC has recognised the
enormous improvements we have
made to our maternity services.
“But, more importantly, I am pleased
that the feedback of women who
are having their babies with us has
been so positive.
“We know that we are providing
women with the high-quality one-toone
care they deserve. We are on a
journey and remain focused on using
every opportunity to improve
services, including the opening of
our new Queen’s Birth Centre.”
The CQC report highlights that
women are seen more quickly in the
maternity triage area when they
arrive at the hospital, and also if they
need to be seen by an obstetrician.
The Trust also performs less
caesarian sections than most other
hospitals in London.
A survey carried out of women using
the maternity department showed
that 96 per cent would recommend
it to family and friends.
The report goes on to confirm that
Queen’s has 321 midwives, allowing
it to maintain a midwife to birth
ratio that is better than the target
for London. Data also shows that
100 per cent of women receive one
to one care in labour.
“There were sufficient experienced
midwifery and medical staff to
ensure women received care that
met their needs,” said the report.
“All women in labour had a midwife
with them all of the time.”
The findings of the report are
particularly important with the
planned closure of the labour ward
at King George Hospital by the end
of March.
The move is part of the Health for
North East London plans to improve
healthcare in the area.
Women who are likely to be affected
by the move have already been
contacted, and detailed plans are in
place to make the transition as
smooth as possible.
J A N U A RY 2 0 1 3 5

Working to make
our hospitals better
The aim of King George &
Queen’s Hospital Charity is simple
– to make our hospitals better.
While the NHS provides funding for
the necessities, the generous support
of the local community enables us to
pay for projects that enhance and
compliment the services of the Trust.
In November, the charity underwent
a name change and was given a
fresh look - including a new logo
and website.
Since changing the name - previously
BHR Hospitals Charity - we haven’t
looked back. More people are
discovering just how much of a
difference we can make.
With the fantastic support of the
local community, we have been able
to fund our biggest project to date
which will forever change the way
cancer patients in our local area are
treated.
A phenomenal £480,000 was raised,
allowing us to purchase and install
RapidArc technology (pictured right)
onto one of the radiotherapy
machines at Queen’s Hospital.
The new life-saving technology is an
‘add on’ above the remit of the NHS
and allows small radiation beams
from many angles to be delivered
only to the tumour. Not only does it
make treatment times eight times
faster, but it can also drastically
reduce the side effects normally
associated with radiotherapy.
We are extremely
grateful to everyone
who takes time to
fundraise for us, or
chooses to donate
to the charity.
The Neurosurgical
Unit at Queen’s
Hospital has
recently received
two donations
from current
patients of the
department.
The first came from
Derek Smith
(pictured below)
who donated £450
specifically to be used
for the Neurosurgical
Research Fund. Derek suffers from
cervical dystonia - which can cause
involuntary contracting of the neck
muscles, leading to abnormal
movements.
He became one of the first patients
in the world to have electrodes
inserted into a specific part of the
brain to try and combat his
symptoms.
His condition improved almost
immediately after surgery at Queen’s
and his neck movements are now
near-normal.
The second donation to the unit
came from Malcolm Buckley. He
donated £5,500 which will be used
to purchase an Ojemann Cortical
Stimulator - a piece of equipment
which can ‘map’ areas of the brain,
making brain tumour surgery much
faster and safer. It also enables more
tumour tissue to be removed.
Malcolm and his wife Sylvia began
raising money for the unit after their
son, Chris, developed right sided
weakness and severe speech
problems due to a brain tumour. He
was operated on at Queen’s last year
under local anaesthetic, so he was
awake while more than 95% of the
tumour was removed.
King George & Queen’s Hospitals
Charity would like to thank everyone
who has supported us.
More information about the charity
and the projects it has funded is
available at
www.supportyourhospital.org
If you would like to find out what
you can do for the charity, please do
not hesitate to contact us. You can
do this via email at
hospital.charity@bhrhospitals.nhs.uk,
call 01708 435 000 ext 2922
or write to us: King George &
Queen’s Hospitals Charity,
Management Accounts Office,
Queen’s Hospital, Rom Valley Way,
Romford, RM7 0AG.
6 H O S P I TA L L I F E

Incredible achievement
for our nurses
Staff at our hospitals have played
a key role in a national cancer
project.
Macmillan Cancer Support has
launched the Older People’s Project –
to ensure patients over 70 are
receiving the treatment they need.
This Trust was one of 14 in the
country to take part in the pilot
project.
Figures show that cancer mortality
rates in the over 70s aren’t dropping
as rapidly as in the younger
population, and Macmillan teamed
up with the Department of Health
and Age UK to find out why.
BHRUT recruited an impressive 50
patients to take part in the scheme,
and tested new models of care,
including:
• New methods of clinical
assessment of older people with a
cancer diagnosis
• Delivering short-term practical
support packages to people having
treatment
The Queen
at Queen’s
Her Majesty the Queen has been
given pride of place in the
hospital which bears her name.
Romford MP Andrew Rosindell
visited Queen’s Hospital to hand
over a specially commissioned
portrait of Her Royal Highness to
commemorate the Diamond
Jubilee.
The portrait is displayed in the main
atrium of the hospital to welcome
visitors and patients. Receiving the
framed picture, Chief Executive
Averil Dongworth said: “It is only
right that there is a picture of the
Queen in Queen’s Hospital to
celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.”
Mr Rosindell donated hundreds of
the portraits to schools and
organisation across the borough to
mark the milestone
• Promoting age equality to address
age discrimination in cancer services.
Now the Trust has been
congratulated on its hard work and
dedication to its patients in recruiting
so many people to take part in the
scheme.
Clinical Nurse Specialists worked
closely with their patients to see if
they could benefit from the project,
and recruited more people than any
other Trust in the area.
Dr Jackie Bridges, who is leading the
research for Macmillan, said: “This is
an incredible achievement,
particularly given the small amount
of clinical nurse specialists involved.
“In addition to the benefits to
patients who took part, the
contribution of these individual
nurses means that the findings from
the study will be used to benefit
other older patients during their
cancer treatment.”
More information about the Trust's
cancer services is available on our
website www.bhrhospitals.nhs.uk
• Andrew Rosindell presents a portrait
of Her Majesty the Queen to Director of
Midwifery Wendy Matthews and Chief
Executive Averil Dongworth at Queen’s
Hospital
Support
for cancer
patients
Patients being treated for
cancer at Queen’s and King
George hospitals are being
supported by a special service.
Macmillan has teamed up with
the Trust to offer benefits and
welfare support to patients –
ensuring they can access any
financial help they need.
The charity ran the project at our
hospitals during 2012, and has
now agreed to fund it until
December 2013.
Divisional Nurse Director Judith
Douglas said: “This is fantastic
news for our patients.
“People with cancer often find
themselves struggling financially.
They may be unable to work,
and also face extra expenses
such as travelling to and from
treatment, expensive special
dietary requirements, and even
increased heating bills because
they are less able to tolerate the
cold.
“Relatives might also have to
give up work to care for
someone with cancer. This can
put an enormous financial strain
on people.”
She added: “This service from
Macmillan – working with the
Citizens Advice Bureau – makes
sure that people are aware of
the benefits and grants they are
entitled to and provides help
with claiming them.”
A case-worker is based at
Queen’s and King George for
two days a week, linking with a
support worker based at
Redbridge Citizens’ Advice
Bureau three days a week.
Patients can be referred to the
service by the doctors and nurses
caring for them in hospital, but
they can also contact the caseworker
directly themselves.
J A N U A RY 2 0 1 3
7

Midwives shortlisted
for national award
A team of midwives have been
shortlisted for a national award.
The midwifery bereavement team at
the Trust have made it to the last
three in the Royal College of
Midwives 2013 awards.
The midwives are in the finals of the
Rewarding Excellence in
Bereavement Care category.
The team of three dedicated staff
care for and support families who
have experienced a late miscarriage,
still birth or neonatal death.
As well as supporting the women
while they are still on the labour
ward, they also go out of their way
to visit families at home after their
loss.
The team also offers unique clinics
for mums-to-be who have lost a
baby previously.
Dedication
recognised
Outstanding hospital staff
have been thanked for
their dedication at a special
award ceremony.
The Trust has held its annual awards,
with employees from Queen’s and
King George hospitals receiving
gongs.
Hundreds of nominations were
received from grateful patients and
colleagues for categories which
included Outstanding Service,
Inspirational Leadership and Hospital
Hero.
Chief Executive Averil Dongworth
said: “Over the last year staff across
the Trust have been working
extremely hard to improve care,
deliver a better experience for
patients and address criticisms we
have faced on quality.
“The nominees and award-winners
and setting the standard for all staff
They run four clinics a week offering
specialist care to pregnant women
who have had to deal with a stillbirth
or neo-natal death, giving them
intensive support and offering them
many more scans than usual.
The Trust deals with almost 10,000
births a year, and with the latest
national figures showing that rates
of stillbirth have increased to 5.2 in
every 1,000 births, it is a busy
service.
Bereavement midwife Diane Bellanca
– who works alongside colleagues
Claire Waters and Liz Dorey - has
been based in the Trust for almost
three years.
She said: “This job can take a lot out
of you as it is obviously emotionally
draining. But the positive side is
supporting people through a
successful second pregnancy.
– delivering excellent service and
compassionate care.”
The public were asked to nominate
people to be their Hospital Hero, with
grateful patients putting forward the
names of staff members who had
given them outstanding care.
Winner was consultant neurosurgeon
Babak Arvin.
Delighted patients nominated him for
the care he gives his patients.
They described how he “personally
takes time to give positive
encouragement during rehabilitation,
and spends time with patients’
families to listen and address any
concerns and worries they have”.
• Pictured are the Award winners
“That is so rewarding.”
The feedback the team has received
from grateful patients has been overwhelming.
Their office is full of
Thank You cards and messages of
gratitude.
• Pictured are Bereavement Midwives
Diane Bellanca and Claire Waters
who have been shortlisted for a
national award
Long service awards
Members of staff who have
devoted many years of their
life working for the NHS have
been recognised by the Trust.
At the annual Long Service
ceremony, dedicated employees
were thanked for their work over
the years with certificates and
vouchers. Sixty-five members of
staff achieved 20 years service,
and 20 employees have 30 years
under their belt. There had even
been one member of staff who
has achieved an impressive 40
years with the NHS.
Contact us: If you would like to see a particular service featured in Hospital Life, contact Niki Eves on
01708 435314, or email nicola.eves@bhrhospitals.nhs.uk