Clare carries the torch for Homerton - Homerton University Hospital

Nursing awardsRoll of Honour:Nurse of the Year:Egle Mattar, Nursery Nurse,Neonatal Intensive CareEgle was nominated by colleagues for her care of babies onthe unit and, in particular, her work with those babies needingadoption has been outstanding. One such baby – 16 weekspreterm – was on the unit for many months and Egle took himunder her wing.She began a diary with photographs of his progress in theunit showing him being ventilated, starting to feed and grow,having his first bath and being cherished and nursed by theteam. Thus the baby left the unit with a memory book whichis his for life. Other diaries have followed. This work has beendone in her own time and created fantastic memories that willtravel with the babies for their future lives.Runner-up – YusufHossenbaccus, Charge Nurse,Outpatients DepartmentYusuf was nominated by colleagues for his consistent andconsiderate care of patients. His high quality levels of care havebeen noted by many colleagues and senior staff in other wardsand areas of the hospital.Egle Mattar with her certificate (left) and above, Yusuf Hossenbaccuswith his certificateThere were three OutstandingTeams of the Year, one for each ofthe Trust’s clinical divisions.The teams were:Main OutpatientsAcute COPD Early Response TeamSexual Health ServicesHomertonlife Summer 2012 5

Preparing for the OlympicsClare carries the torchon Olympics eveClare Parsons has been intraining for the past few weeksto ensure she is in shape for aonce in a life time experience.On Thursday July 26, the day before the opening of the 2012Games, Clare will take her turn in joining the 8,000 privilegedpeople who will carry the Olympic flame.Clare, who is a Specialist Speech and Language Therapistworking with local children at Hackney Ark, will take her turnto carry the torch on the Islington lap during the flame’s journeyfrom Camden to Westminster (via Peckham!).Said Clare: “I am absolutely thrilled to be carrying the torch onits progress through Islington and I hope to raise attention forthe Lucy Faithful Foundation – a nationwide child protectioncharity – and Doctors of the World.“My manager put me forward for the run and though I amnot known for my sporting abilities, I hope I can manage tokeep the Olympic spirit alive – and the flame alight - for afew minutes. I am sure that as this will be the day before theopening of the Games, there will be a great deal of excitementand expectation in the streets as the flame goes by. This really isa once in a life time experience.”If you want to give to either of Clare’s charities go to:http://lucyfaithfull.org/http://www.medecinsdumonde.org.ukPhysio teamboost sportsserviceHomerton’s physiotherapy team have recently acquired newequipment for rehabilitation of patients with sports injuriesas part of its Sport Injury Service. The team are picturedwith the new equipment.10 Homertonlife Summer 2012

Homerton overseasA&E Staff Nurse Angela Cave(right) gives an insight into hertime spent caring for patients inthe SudanAngela Out of AfricaDuring my year away from HomertonI spent 10 months working in Gogrial,Warrap State in the new South Sudan forMedecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).This included being present for theindependence of the new South Sudan inJuly 2011.MSF is an international nongovernmentalmedical relief organisation.I have actually worked with them onsix ‘missions’ and I considered myselfextremely lucky to take one year out frommy job as a staff nurse in A&E to join theteam in the Sudan.Working in South Sudan was verychallenging and I certainly faced manydifferent situations which challenged allmy skills. I also learnt many new skills.My job title was ‘Nurse Supervisor’, but inreality, as is often the case when workingin rather primitive conditions, I was calledupon to do a number of other things.I was in charge of the nursing of the 30+bed PHCC (Primary Health Care Centre).We had a surgical element and thereforethere were lots of patients, includingchildren, who needed surgical care. I wasin charge of the sterilisation department.We had a 90 litre electric sterilizer, whichran one or two cycles every day. All thesurgical sets and instruments needed tobe hand washed and disinfected beforebeing packed in crepe paper ready tothe 2 hour cycle. I was also in charge ofthe dispensary, where all the outpatientmedications needed to be packedinto little plastic bags and given to thepatients.We saw anything from 100 to 200outpatients per day!I also ran the outpatient treatmentcentre for children with malnutrition.This included a once a week mobile clinicwhere we saw over 100 young patients.This was started from scratch during mytime and enabled many children to avoidsevere acute malnutrition by giving themweekly ready-to-use therapeutic food,health education and a piece of soap!I was heavily involved with the hospitalhygiene, which was very challenging,due to the fact that most patients are notculturally used to using a pit latrine!My main task though, was beingfully responsible and in charge ofthe pharmacy. This in effect meantmanaging ALL hospital supplies, drugsand material.We were supplying 13 end user pointsout of two warehouses for weeklydistribution and had over 1000 differentitems to manage, and at least half ofthose all had expiry dates to monitor.Supply was very precarious and generallyarrived either on a truck after five daysof travel or on a small plane. The mostimportant thing to do was make surethat there was absolutely no wastagebecause we would never know when thenext supply would arrive.Working in such conditions with suchresponsibility was tiring but extremelyrewarding – and made me foreverthankful for what we have at Homertonwhich we often take for granted.I had an extremely interesting andrewarding experience and can’t wait togo again.Homertonlife Summer 2012 11

Rooms with a viewNew Fluoroscopy room opensA new fluoroscopy room has recentlyopened in the hospital’s ImagingDepartment.The room and its equipment isdesigned to provide continuousimaging (fluoroscopy) which is the x-rayequivalent of ‘a video’.The new room has the latest technologyin that it is digital, has a vast arrayof automatic programmes, and canundertake an examination at oneseventhof the radiation dose of theprevious unit. This is extremely importantespecially with women of child bearingage or children.Colin West, Head of Radiology, said:“The unit undertakes examinations on‘radiology’ patients, but also providesa service to our colleagues in the painclinic, fertility centre and speech &language therapy. All the teams seempleased with the performance!”Cath Clerkin, FluoroscopySuperintendent Radiographer, has beentraining staff to use the machine. Shesaid “The new equipment has made avast difference to our everyday workloadas it is much easier to operate andimages can be automatically transferredto our PACS(picturearchivingsystem) thusensuringradiographers’time is usedmore efficientlyand effectively.“The machineis very compactallowing moreroom forequipmentmanoeuvresespecially whenexaminingpatients arrivingon beds,trolleys andwheelchairs. It is also much more userfriendly and smaller than the 14 yearold machine and not so intimidating forpatients, especially children.”Cath Clerkin carryingout the procedureNew process means greater fertility successA new state of the art process which identifies the spermwith the best chance of successfully fertilising the egg isnow being used in theHomerton Fertility Centre.The process calledIMSI (IntracytoplasmicMorphologically SelectedSperm Injection) enablesthe Centre’s embryologistsfar stronger magnificationand allows them to spot anyabnormalities in individualsperm. Homerton is one of onlya handful of fertility centresusing the new equipment.Consultant Mr Anil Gudi said:“By looking at sperm using much higher magnifications,coupled with a digital imaging system, it is now possible toidentify structures within thesperm head known as vacuoleswhich cannot be seen witha normal microscope. Thepresence of these vacuolesindicates poorer DNA qualityin the sperm and thus thesesperm are not used fortreatment.“By selecting the best spermwe are able to gain betterembryo quality, higherpregnancy rates and lowerrisks of miscarriage.”Laboratory Manager Hasmukh Joshi using the machine12 Homertonlife Summer 2012

London Rooms with 2012a viewSeeing through the smile‘Cone Beam Computed Tomography Orthopantomogram’ is avery long name for a very clever machine.This recent introduction into the imaging arsenal is dedicatedto dental and maxillo-facial examinations.The original machine undertook panoramic dental imaging(the whole jaw and all teeth were shown on one image) andthe new machine continues to offer thisservice but with the additional facilityof being able to undertake a CT of themaxillary sinuses and even individualteeth!The unit operates by completing a 360degree rotation around the patient’shead. The x-rays are detected by a‘plate’ – which is a sophisticated pieceof imaging equipment costing £50,000- and then converted into digital data.This data can then be manipulated anddisplayed as images.The highly sophisticated computer programme associated withthe unit can calculate exactly where in the patient the x-raydata came from - a process called ‘back projection’ for thoseof you with a PhD in Physics). It is then possible to manipulatethe data (just as we do in CT) to give images in ‘slices’.Apart from being wonderfully ‘techie’, the unit is incrediblyuseful in giving clinicians very accurate images of, for example,small fractures in the facial bones, and permits very accurateassessment of bone density prior to dental implants.Lead Reporting Radiographer Denise Harris,who has been leading the training on thisnew machine, said: “This new equipmentis making a real difference to patientsrequiring CT imaging of the jaw, facialbones and sinuses.“In the past these patients had to be givenbooked appointments to be scanned on ourfull size body CT. The new CBCT scanneris dedicated for maxillary facial work andpatients can be scanned standing up. Scantimes are fast, the radiation dose is low and3D reconstructions are achievable in seconds.“We have the ability for a walk in service so the clinician canobtain a diagnosis or planning assessment within a singleclinic session. The equipment is user friendly and the feedbackfrom the radiographers has been really positive.”Radiographers Jen Callanan and Jennie Clarkson with the new equipmentHomertonlife Summer 2012 13

Around HomertonJoy celebrates her big dayLong serving Friend of the hospital,Joy Geary was joined by friends andcolleagues when she recently celebratedher 90th birthday.Joy who has been with the League ofFriends for 25 years said: “It was a lovelyparty and I had lots of friends helping mecelebrate. When I retired in 1987 I didn’tstop working.”Joy helps out a few days a week withthe League of Friends’ tea bar near theoutpatients department.Homerton links up withacademia to set upLondon’s first UniversityTechnical CollegeLondon’s first ever University TechnicalCollege, specialising in Health and DigitalTechnologies is opening in Shoreditch thisSeptember.Hackney UTC will offer an exciting,employer-led curriculum, wherestudents take part in a range ofemployer-led projects. The emphasiswill be on technical, vocational andemployability skills – ensuring that allstudents will go on to get great jobs!Homerton Hospital is one of the keypartners and has influenced anddeveloped the health curriculum.Students will gain the skills they needto access further and higher educationor an apprenticeship or full timeemployment.The new state of the art college willinclude a dedicated Health Tech suiteand Homerton has provided expertinput to the layout and design. Thenew suite will offer A&E triage area,hospital ward beds, rehabilitationequipment, alongside an extensiverange of health and social careequipment and resources. There really isno other school like it.Admissions are now open for studentscurrently in Year 9, going into Year 10in September, and you can apply byemailingutc@hackney.ac.uk – or via theirwebsite,www.hackneyutc.co.uk.Follow us on Twitter @hackneyutc andlook out for us onFacebook Hackney UTC.Update fromthe StopSmokingServiceSomething must have been in thewater last year as it was a verysuccessful year for those wantingto Quit Smoking. Many staff camethrough our doors and collectivelyachieved a quit rate which was doublethat of the national average!If you have tried before but havebeen unsuccessful why not give itanother go and get into the Spirit of aHealthier Life Style for the Olympics!!We have the new mouth spray mistavailable which is proving to be reallyhelpful.Here’s what some of the staff who quitwith the service had to say:‘Having smoked for over 18 years Idecided to try and give up for goodand went to the stop smoking service.This time I used the patches andnicotine mouth spray which workedfor me. I feel so much better for it andam hoping that I can stay feeling thisway”.‘I have smoked for 16 years andcontinued because I was addicted, andmisinformed that it helped with stress.I knew I had to quit, my daughterwas very concerned about what shehad heard about smoking in primaryschool. I have now been smoke-freefor three years and the difference forme was the amazing support I receivedfrom the Homerton adviser, andusing the medication properly. I takeeveryday as it comes, and I am nowreally happy”.To find out more email: christianna.kyriacou@homerton.nhs.uk /Christabel.balogun@homerton.nhs.ukOr leave the team a message on ext7248Looking forward to hearing from you!14 Homertonlife Summer 2012

Around HomertonImages from around the world –through the lens of Homerton staffA display of nearly 30 framed photographs taken by theTrust’s avid ‘snappers’ has been on show in the EducationCentre’s main concourse.Staff were invited by email last autumn to submit theirpersonal photographs for exhibition and the response hasbeen overwhelmingly enthusiastic and diverse.The mostly colour photographs depict overseas travels,ethnographic portraits, landscapes, nature and abstractcompositions that play with lighting effects.Shaun Caton, the Trust’s Art Curator said: “It’s fantasticthat so many staff have responded to this exhibition andcontributed their precious images of holiday explorations andthings that are personal to them for everyone to see.”First sustainable travelweek is celebratedwith staff urged to…Get on your bikereceiving basic bicycle maintenance instruction.The most exciting aspect of the day was when the sun finallycame out for a couple of hours at lunch time and staff couldcome out and “have a go” on a bike; whether for the first timeor just to remember how!Ten staff had a go on either the LCC practice bike, a staffmembers’ rickshaw or one of the Trust’s two fold up bicyclesthat are available free of charge for all staff to book out (seecycling pages on the intranet).Staff were urged to get on their bikes as part of Homerton’sfirst Sustainable Travel Week.The London Cycle Campaign (LCC), as well as LiftShare, cameto the hospital to offer ideas and support.LiftShare was signing up staff to encourage sharing journeysinto work with colleagues who live nearby. An extra 20 peoplesigned up on the day and a number of hard copy forms weregiven out. There are now over 50 people signed up to thescheme at the Trust and East Wing. Readers are urged to log onand see how to cut commuting costs and carbon footprint inhalf. Go to: www.HomertonNHS.liftshare.comThe LCC team showed staff how to carry out basic repairs tostaff bikes (40 looked over), offering route planning advice orHomertonlife Summer 2012 15

A day in the life...Lesley Rogers – the Trust’s Headof Healthcare ComplianceDealing with the barks can stop the biteLesley joined the Trust last year and is responsible for ensuringthat the Trust meets its legal obligation to comply with theHealth and Social Care Act 2008.This means she works closely with the Care Quality Commission(CQC), a health watchdog which checks whether hospitals,care homes and care services meet the Government’s EssentialStandards of Quality and Safety.Lesley says that her role at Homerton is a case of turning thetables on her past life in more ways than one. Lesley said:“I’ve lived in Hackney for over 20 years now so my family and Ihave seen Homerton from the inside as a patient, mainly in thematernity and children’s unit, and also in the community.“I’ve also looked at the quality of health services as a lead fornational reviews and studies and a Senior Assessment Managerat the Healthcare Commission, which was one of the CQC’spredecessor organisations.”She added that these two themes of finding out how patientsexperience the services they received and looking objectively atevidence on the quality of care are constants throughout hercareer.Lesley said: “These themes do seem to have run through mostof my working life from doing a PhD at St Mary’s HospitalMedical School on how HIV alters the immune system ofsymptom free people, to helping patients make their voicesheard as a community health council Chief Officer in Newham.”Congratulations to….Dr John Thornhill who works in the Department of SexualHealth who was awarded the Ian Williams Best PosterPresentation prize at the annual British HIV Association inBirmingham. The project presented looked at the treatmentof anal intraepithelial neoplasia and the prevention of analcarcinoma. The project was a collaborative effort by DOSHteam including Dr M Nathan, Kerstin Klein, Nicky Hicky andDamiloloa Awosika.Dr David Watson, Consultant Intensivist, who is this year’sLesley is keen to bring regulation to life so that meeting thestandards is embedded in the way we deliver care to patients.She says that one way of thinking about the CQC is like anywatchdog in that they have a ‘bark’ i.e. they raise awareness ofproblems often via the media; and they have a ‘bite’ in the formof legal powers to impose fines and to even close down serviceswhere they pose a danger to patients. The CQC says this iswhat makes them different from previous health regulators.The main way that the CQC judges whether a service complieswith the national standards is by carrying out unannouncedvisits.Lesley said: “I know that unannounced inspections or spotchecks are stressful, but they have credibility with patients andthey make sense to staff too. I think it’s really positive thatsome of our lead nurses have been involved as professionaladvisers and peer reviewers in two of CQC’s themed nationalinspection programmes. We did really well in the inspectionslast year - of the hospital in March and November and at MarySeacole Nursing Home in October. We’ve got to build on thatexperience and ensure that we do as well in checks of ourcommunity based services when – not if – the inspectors callagain.’Lesley is based in the Education Centre and can be contactedon ext 7509. She is happy to come to speak to staff todemystify the Essential Standards and to visit services.recipient of the Drapers’ Award for Teaching for thoseclinicians nominated by students for the most significantcontribution to teaching.Dr Angshu Bhowmik, Consultant in Respiratory and GeneralMedicine on achieving an Honorary Clinical Lecturer title fromthe Barts and the London Medical School.And finally Chief Nurse Charlie Sheldon on becoming aHonorary Visiting Professor for the City University, London.BAINES design & print 01707 876555 Printed on environmentally friendly paper A46205www.homerton.nhs.uk 16