Autumn 2008 - Homerton University Hospital

VIEW FROM THE TOPA word from the chief executiveThe past few months have flown past,yet so much has been going on it’sdifficult to choose where to start.We managed to pick our way through thefew sunny days to enjoy a number ofmemorable occasions to celebrate the NHS60th birthday and I would like to thank allthose of you who took part in the variousevents and functions highlighted in thisedition of life.We have also seen real progress in ourcapital projects, with the opening of the IVFUnit above the main entrance, and the longawaited beginning of construction work onthe Perinatal Centre.Both these important schemes have beendeveloped very much with the future inmind and we are sure that they will bothplay a key role in meeting the needs ofHackney’s mothers, partners and babies formany years to come.accreditation in the new pilot CNST maternityclinical risk management standards. Anotherservice which fits this bill will be our EastLondon Obesity Service which will be takingshape – if you will pardon the pun – over thenext few months.These services, along with our rising profile asthe designated hospital for the LondonOlympics, will ensure we are kept in thepublic eye over the coming months and years.Our reputation has gained a further boostwith the publication of the annual HealthCheck from the Healthcare Commission. Weare one of an elite band of hospitals toachieve the prestigious double ‘Excellent’scores for both the quality of our services andthe strength of our financial management.These tremendous scores could not havebeen achieved without the hard work ofyou all and I would thank you again forensuring that Homerton stays ahead of thefield for performance.survey questionnaire took the time to fill it inbecause we value your comments and takethem on board when planning policies andstrategies for the future.The national patients’ survey has beendisappointing for us in previous years andwe believe that a number of factors weighagainst us and other hospitals with similarpopulations. We are working with the otherTrusts to change the format of thequestionnaires to our patients. In themeantime we have been forging ahead withother alternatives – such as the PET handheld computer – and it was gratifying thatthe Secretary of State for Health took thetime to come along recently and see howthe trackers are working on our wards.I hope you find this edition of life aninformative and entertaining read and Iwelcome any feedback on the magazine andany issues raised in it.They will also go a long way to embellishingour reputation for developing services whichare relevant to our local population as is ourrecent achievement in gaining Level 2We still have a number of challenges, notleast the results we get from nationalsurveys. I hope those of you who received a Nancy Hallett Chief ExecutiveNew dignitycode for olderpeople islaunchedA new multi-agency code, aimed atrecognising the dignity of olderpeople, has been launched with afull endorsement from key careorganisations across the City andLondon Borough of Hackney.The code has been developed by the OlderPeople’s Reference Group for City andHackney which is made up of older residentsand reflects their views and suggestionsabout what dignity means to them.The code has been endorsed by the localauthorities and the local NHS and hasalready been developed as a qualityindicator for commissioning contracts inthe Borough for this year.The reference group, which is ‘serviced’and supported by the local Age Concern,reports to the Borough Older People’sPartnership Board.Jenny Negus, the Chair of the Board andDeputy Director of Nursing for HomertonHospital, said: “The code lays down solidfoundations for what older people feel arethe key areas to ensure that they areJennie Negus withCynthia White,Chair of the OlderPeople’s ReferenceGroup addingtheir signatures tothe older people’sdignity code.treated with dignity and due respect inevery aspect of their contact withcaring organisations.“This borough wide approach ensuresthat we are all signed up and fullycommitted to addressing older people’sconcerns and meeting their aspirations.”Homertonlife 2008 3

NEWS IN BRIEFThat was the summer that was…The summer months weremarked with a number of eventsmainly around celebrating the60th birthday of the NHS.These pictures reflect some of theactivities during that time.Nancy Hallett makes herself heardas she announces the names of ourlong servers.The certificates were handedout prior to a barbeque tocelebrate the 60th birthdayof the NHS.The Trust’s own birthdaymugs to commemorate thecelebrations were verypopular and staff soon clearedthe table when the mugs werelaid out for collection. ChiefExecutive, Nancy Hallett andsenior colleagues had their handsfull as they handed out over 1,200mugs to staff at a celebrationafternoon team which alsoinvolved staff each getting aslice of celebratory cake.Bugs in all shapes andcolours were the starswhen author andenvironmentalist GermaineGreer visited us to formallyopen ‘Close Encounters’,an exhibition ofphotographs byDr Dan Tunstall Pedoe.See page 11.We wanted togive staff somethingto remember thismilestone for theNHS and the mugs,complete with the60th birthday logoon them, seemedto fit the bill.Nancy Hallett4

The Trust is seeking ways to ensurethat we improve the patients’experience of staying in hospital.Medical Director John Coakley said: “We have had a disappointing patients’ survey for thepast couple of years and we know that there are a number of factors which work againstus and other hospitals with similar diverse populations when the national survey is sent topatients. Not least the very complexity of the survey which ensures that many patientsjust don’t respond. We are continuing to talk with the organisers of the survey abouthow this can be remedied in future.”Meanwhile the Trust is using its own approaches to seeing our services through thepatient’s eyes.Trust seeksviews of A&EpatientsPatients have been asked to givetheir views of what it’s like to betreated in our A&E department.Over 75 per cent of the responseswere positive. Below are some of thecomments received.They treated me very nicely, all thestaff are very helpful, and thedoctors will see anybody.Staff were very friendly, caring andconsiderate.Two separate doctors saw me andreferred me straight away. Theywere very caring and sympathetic.I was seen very quickly. The hospitalhas improved, seems clean and staffat reception are welcoming. Seatingarrangements are better and it wasexcellent to see the children havetheir own secure area.The speed and competence withwhich I was treated was very good.I had expected quite a wait andwas seen within five minutes.Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson recently visited the hospital to find out more about thetrackers for himself with Sister Angela Davy on Halley Ward.Working to get it right for patientsLast year, the Trust launched a pilot to ensure we gained rapidfeedback from patients about issues such as cleanliness andquality of service they receive.The PETs were introduced throughout the hospital a year ago as a pilot scheme togauge how useful they might be in gaining rapid feedback on patients’ experiencesduring their stay.Deputy Director of Nursing, Jennie Negus, said: “The trackers enable us to collectup-to-date data on key areas such as the attitude of staff and the quality of care.They have proved invaluable in providing us with the information we need to getthings right for our patients and empowered our patients with the knowledge theycan tell us what they think whilst still on the ward.”The speed at which I was seen was apleasant surprise. The lady whotreated me was professional, politeand thorough in her examination Iwas very impressed with the wholeexperience.I was never left longer than 10minutes without being told whatwas happening. Even though I hadquite a long wait and needed to goback for a second x-ray, I never feltI had been abandoned! I was veryimpressed by the staff.The space provided for disableddrivers has greatly improved and alsothe waiting area for picking up hasalso improved. Generally it is a verygood and clean environmentcompared with the former layout.Homertonlife 2008 5

HAPPENING AT HOMERTONOpening its doors to the local community…Homerton Hospitalnursery relaunchesThe popular Roundabout Nursery, which cares forchildren of staff at Homerton Hospital, is openingits doors to new clients from the local community.Trust introduces new programmeto allow staff more…A new programme of work which aims to change the waystaff in wards and departments throughout the hospitalwork is being introduced.The Time to Care model has been drawn up by NHS Innovations and aimsto produce a ‘productive’ ward environment with less clutter and newsystems which help staff to become more patient centred.Margaret Howat, Acting Head of Practice Development, who is leading theproject with Beavle Scantlebury, Matron for Maternity Services, said: “Theprogramme helps staff release more time to spend with patients by takingout unnecessary activities and repetitive processes in wards anddepartments.”The aims of the programme are for staff to: be innovative and practical continue to make the patient the centre improve reliability, safety and efficiency focus on the processes of care increase time provided to the direct careof our patients improve the ward experience – for staff and patients save time, effort and money.Opened back in 1991 on the ground floor of the nurses’home at the old Hackney Hospital, the nursery has caredfor hundreds of babies and infants whilst their parentswork in the local NHS.Manager Margaret Bingham-Crisp said: “We cater forchildren aged from three and a half months to five yearsold and are open from 7am in the morning to 6.30pmevery evening during the week, 52 weeks of the year.“We have built up a very good reputation with our NHSclients who have brought their children here and we havegrown to adapt to staff needs such as flexible hours. Wealso offer extremely competitive charges to parents.“Our staff are committed to providing high quality childcare which has helped us to maintain an Ofsted rating ofGood since 2004.Beavle said: “We have adapted thecentral messages of the NHSInnovations model to dovetail with ourown ethos here at Homerton ofdeveloping posters and leaflets whichreach out to both our staff andpatients. We are also in the leadnationally in introducing theprogramme into maternity andchildren’s wards. We believe that thisprocess will help us all to becomemore productive and better managersof our time. This can only benefit bothstaff and our patients.” If you want toknow more about Time to Care,contact either Margaret or Beavle.“We are now looking to expand our client base and takein children not only for hospital staff, but also other localfamilies who need nursery support andwould be delighted to hear fromlocal people. We will beplanning a series of openevenings during theautumn to allow parents anopportunity to come andsee us.”For more information, email:roundaboutnursery@homerton.nhs.ukThe message to parents onthe latest Time to Care posterYour child isimportant tous here inStarlight WardWe are changing the way weorganise the ward so that we canspend more time with your child.If you want to know more aboutwhat we are doing and why –please ask the ward staff who willbe happy to explain.Taking time to care for your child6

IVF service movesinto new premises…The popular In Vitro Fertilisation Centre atHomerton Hospital has moved into its new premises.We are delighted tobe in our new home whichwill provide a far morecomfortable setting for ourstaff to work with couples.Jenny ClacyCentre ManagerMr Gudi with Sue Hollins and Norman Sharie and their five-month-old twins Esmee and Isabella and Marcelline Charles-West and Laron West with nine week old Ariarne.The Centre was formally opened by the LadyMayoress of London Theresa Lewis in a openingceremony attended by former friends andsupporters of the Centre along with currentstaff and some very satisfied customers.The Centre opened in 1995 offering a fullrange of fertility services and treatments. Itwas established by Richard Howell and nursecoordinator at that time, Sallie Rumbold, whostill works for the Trust as Deputy Director ofOperations. Thousands of local people havebeen counselled and treated by the Centreand thousands of babies have been bornfollowing the IVF treatment.The Centre has been based in portacabinson the hospital site for the past 13 years.Its new premises is in the former TrustHQ above the main entrance. The costof the conversion work was £1.3millionand the Centre now has its ownreception area, counselling rooms,treatment rooms and laboratory.Lady Mayoress of London, Theresa Lewis cuts the ribbon to declare the new IVF Centre open with (ltor) longestserving member of the IVF team Sonal Patel, Mrs Lewis, Richard Howell, Anil Gudi, lead consultant and Jenny Clacy.Year milestones1995 Foundation of the Fertility Centre1995 First pregnancy1995 First IUI treatment cycle1995 Embryo freezing Introduced1995 First donor inseminationtreatment cycle1996 First live birth1996 First twin birth1996 First IUI baby1996 First donor insemination baby1996 First frozen embryo transfer1997 First frozen embryo birth2001 First ICSI treatment cycle2002 First ICSI baby2008 New facility2009 Centre of Excellence2009 ISO accreditationHomertonlife 2008 7

HAPPENING AT HOMERTONCMO talkson clinicalauditSir Liam, with Mark Griffiths, John Coakley andBob Ghosh who is the Trust’s Clinical audit lead.Chief Medical Officer,Sir Liam Donaldsonwas the guest speakerat a packed lecturetheatre recently whenhe gave the keynote speech forthe Trust’s Clinical Audit andEffectiveness Day.The event focused on promotingClinical Audit as a tool to improvepatient care.Mark Griffiths, Clinical Quality Managersaid: “We were delighted by the turn outfrom clinicians throughout the hospital.”Prizes were also handed out to staffmembers for the best projects carriedout during the year that improvedpatient care. Our picture shows DrLuisa Cabrero-Moreno, AntibioticsPharmacist who won first prize for theaudit of antibiotics prescribing in thehospital during a typical day.Work begins on new centrefor mothers and babiesBuilding work has begun on theinnovative multi-million poundMother and Baby Unit atHomerton Hospital.The new unit will consist of a new deliveryunit and hospital at home birthing suite,specialist fetal medicine department, neonatalintensive care unit and special care baby unit.Trust Chief Executive, Nancy Hallett, said:“The diggers have moved in to prepare thefoundations for what is going to be a keypart of our services for women and babiesof Hackney in the future.”vielife has now been running since Juneand we have registered over 300members of staff.Nancy Hallett and Medical Director, John Coakleyviewing the building site.vielife – have you joined up yet?Homerton is one of only eight NHS Trustsin the country to be chosen to lead onthis pilot scheme.Think you’re healthy and don’t needto sign up? This is for everyone andgives an insight into lots of differentareas of your health and well being.Sign up and find out your scores.You may be surprised.If you would like to sign up visit theintranet http://homertonlife/vielifeor emailtonya.chalker@homerton.nhs.uk orcall ext 51548

SPOTLIGHT ON THE OLYMPICSThe countdown beginsThe clock has started ticking down towardsthe launch of the London Olympics in 2012.life will keep you up to date on howHomerton is preparing itself for thegreat event. But first we look back tothe Beijing Olympics… A&E ConsultantLaurence Gant reflects on lessons learntand experiences gained during his factfinding trip to China…I was one of tens of thousands of people todescend on Beijing for the 29th Olympiad.But unlike my fellow travellers from allaround the world, I wasn’t to see any eventsduring my two week stay (although I didmanage an hour of tennis, 30 minutes ofboxing and a similar amount of time forbeach volley ball – the men’s event! Norwould I see any gold medals being handedout to athletes, cyclists, rowers or swimmers.My job, as the head of a team of cliniciansassigned by the London OlympicOrganising Committee, was to glean asmuch as we could about how to care forthe many thousands of people whosuddenly turn up to stay for a fortnight.We would be watching the behind thescenes arrangements made by clinicalcolleagues in Beijing being put into action.Much of our attention was focused on theSino-Japanese Friendship Hospital which wasplaying the role of main Olympics Hospital, arole that will fall to Homerton in 2012. Wespoke to clinicians and patients at thehospital and found, as expected , thatduring the week pressure on the hospitalwas no greater than normal.Much of the activity went on at the venuesthemselves and we visited the polyclinic atthe Olympics village and met the staff whowere caring for the needs of over 15,000athletes. We also visited the medical facilityat the press centre – you have to be mindfulthat there were 20,000 plus journalists atthe games and not all of them are fit andhealthy former sports people.The main message which comes acrossfrom our observations was that thoroughpreparations across all health care facilitiesis crucial to dealing with such largenumbers of people. But that thesepreparations ensure that the caseload forany one facility never becomesoverwhelming.Medical Director, John Coakley said: “Plansare already being drawn up to improve andincrease local service provision to ensurewe are not swamped by the influx ofvisitors.“Clinics will be set up at the OlympicVillage, sporting venues and hotels wherethe competitors are staying and a polyclinicwith other diagnostic services usually foundin a hospital, will be set up to provide careto people attending the games – and toremain as a legacy to the local communityafterwards.”We considerthis a tremendousopportunity to putsport and sportingactivity very muchin the minds of ourlocal people, whereobesity isan issue.John CoakleyMedical DirectorHomertonlife 2008 9

SPOTLIGHT ON…Offering hope –a local surgeon’s experienceson the Mercy Ship in AfricaLocal surgeon, Leo Cheng, normallyuses his skills as an oral andmaxillofacial surgeon to help thepeople of Hackney in his position asa Consultant at Homerton Hospital.But for two weeks of the year for thepast four years, he has travelled at hisown cost to West Africa to join aunique team of surgeons, nurses anddedicated volunteers, to offer his skillsto provide life enhancing andsometimes life saving treatment topeople, young and old, suffering fromdisfiguring facial tumors, cleft lips,goitres and war wounds.Leo, who is sometimes accompanied byhis Methodist Minister wife, Hilary, workson the state of the art hospital ship AfricaMercy which visits countries along a coastof Africa, which has some of the mostpoverty stricken countries in the world.Leo said: “For the patients I see on thiswonderful ship, life is one of grindingstruggle just to get a clean mouthful ofwater. And often, even drinkable wateris impossible. So the people, many ofthem very young, get infections andabscesses in their mouth and on theirfaces which develop into disfiguringtumours and growths.“These are so unsightly that the patientsare cast out from their communities orhidden away in sheds with the livestock.“With the skills we have, we can givethem back their appearances and allowthem to be accepted back into theircommunities. For some we are savingtheir lives before the tumour actuallysuffocates them.”Everytime the Mercy Ship docks at aport with its six fully equipped theatresand 80 beds and a crew of 450 aquarter of whom are top surgeons andsurgical back up, several thousandpeople queue patiently to be assessedMr Leo Chang (left) operating on the Mercy Ship.for the free treatment. Said Leo: “Weassess those we can treat and those – saywith end stage cancers – who we can’t.Even cancer patients though are givenpalliative care support.During my two weekstay, I will perform between15 and 20 operations, someseveral hours long.“It is hard work but so uplifting to see thechildren who can smile again or the youngwoman who knows she will be able to livenormally and marry. Or the old lady whohas spent decades hidden away because ofher appearance.”Leo has been to Africa on the Mercy Shipfour times – to Benin, Ghana and twice toLiberia.Added Leo: “We look forward to newchallenges and experiences during our visitand to meet up with the othertremendous individuals who give uptheir time and money to work on theship. People often say that the doctorsare like heroes – but the real heroes arethe volunteers who go out into thebush and drill for wells, enablingvillages to have 20 years of cleandrinking water and thus go some wayto ensuring that perhaps we may haveto treat fewer patients with awfuldeformities in the future.”Mercy Ships is an international charityproviding floating hospitals to servethe poorest of the poor in thedeveloping world. The Africa Mercy isthe largest non-government hospitalship in the world. All crew andclinicians on board are volunteers.Mercy Ships has treated more than300,000 people in village medicalclinics, performing 35,000 surgicalprocedures and 110,000 dentaltreatments.For more information visitwww.mercyships.org.uk10

Close Encounters:an exhibition of photographsby Dan Tunstall PedoeAuthor and environmentalist Germaine Greerformally opened ‘Close Encounters’ –a unique and spectacular photographicexhibition to commemorate the 60thanniversary of the NHS at HomertonHospital this week.The exhibition, by retired cardiologistand physician Dr Dan Tunstall Pedoe,includes over 100 colour photographs– mostly close-ups of Suffolk insectsand the alien world of arachnids.Professor Greer is President ofinvertebrate conservation charityBuglife and was approached personallyby Dr Tunstall Pedoe to open theexhibition.Homerton Hospital Chief Executive NancyHallett, said: “This is one of several events weare planning at Homerton Hospital to mark the60th anniversary of the NHS. Dr Tunstall Pedoehas been involved with the NHS in Hackney for32 years and it is only fitting that his exhibition,including photography spanning over 50 years,is part of the celebrations.”Professor Greer said: “It is an honour to launchthis splendid exhibition.“Dr Tunstall Pedoe’s work is, I believe, a pointerto the future as it shows us all a new way ofcollecting these wonderful creatures forposterity. Any child in the future can pick upa decent digital camera and, with patienceand growing experience, put together aDr Tunstall Pedoeshows GermaineGreer his work.butterfly collection without harming or killinga single insect.”Dr Tunstall Pedoe said “I am delighted thatHomerton has chosen to host this exhibition asboth these photographs and the NHS havebeen a large part of my life for more than 40years. My macro photos give a new perspectiveon creatures and I challenge everyone to lookfor the beauty in each picture.”This is the 29th exhibition hosted by the Trust.Germaine Greer withChief ExecutiveNancy Hallett andDr Tunstall Pedoe.Homertonlife 2008 11

HOMERTON PEOPLETwominuteswith…Dr Mary Namnyak,Rheumatology1. What was your first job?Shelley’s Shoes, as a salesassistant at their old CoventGarden store. I think all themania around hitting salestargets and making sure everycustomer left the storesatisfied has prepared me wellfor a career as a doctor!2. What did you want to bewhen you were growing up?It was a toss up between BluePeter presenter and a doctorI’m afraid.3. Who is the person you mostadmire?There are so many people -family members, friends,colleagues, seniors, writers,politicians etc that I can’tchoose just one. I think I’m ata stage in life where I findinspiration from nearlyeverybody I come into contactwith. Maybe the list willnarrow down once I becomeolder and more cynical!4. What was your mostembarrassing moment?I’m not sure where to startand it would take more thantwo minutes!5. What is your biggestindulgence?Any skin lotion or potion.I love moisturisers andcleansers and facemasks.6. What would you do if youwon the national lottery?Keep it a secret then becomea “mysterious benefactor” tothe NSPCC and MSF7. What was the last:book you read?Notes on A Scandal.CD you bought?Deep Cuts by The Knife.Film you watched? Gomorrah.8. What dish would you like tosee in the hospital canteen?I wish I could afford to eatthere… If I won the lotterythen maybe I would subsidisea Sushi bar.12A day in the life…David makesa return callDavid Bridger recently started his new jobas Head of Governance at the hospital butinstantly found himself in familiar surroundings.David has returned to Homerton having workedfor the past three years at the Health ProtectionAgency as a research nurse.Said David: “It’s good to be back at Homertonand to see some old and new faces. My newrole certainly is different from what I have beendoing at the HPA which involved researchingdeaths following MRSA infection and workingon the national mandatory surveillance of MRSAand C.diff in hospitals.“As Head of Governance for the Trust, I am nowresponsible for ensuring that all the corporatepolicies are up to date and in place and ‘to ensurethat the Trust complies with the requirements ofthe Health and Social Care (Community Healthand Standards) Act 2003, and the Terms ofAuthorisation. This all sounds rather dry, but whatit really means is that I have to ensure that theTrust is meeting all its obligations as a FoundationTrust and continuing to meet the high standardsrequired of us by the independent regulatorybody Monitor, our FT members and our patients.”David’s other role is to support the Trust’sGovernors and to keep them informed andIn the news…for our hand gelHomerton Hospital found itself in thenews when hand gel kept on goingmissing from wards.The Trust took a positive stance over thethefts by telling the press and public ofthe missing bottles and dispensers, andtaking the opportunity to raiseawareness about the dangers ofdrinking the hand gel.There have been a number of deaths causedby consuming the hand gel over the summerand the hospital was able to say on theLondon Tonight programmewhat the risks were.David Bridgerengaged with what is going on in theorganisation.He added: “We have 26 Governors on ourCouncil and they are all fully committed toHomerton Hospital. I am looking forward to thechallenge of getting to know each and everyone of them and to ensure they feel activelyengaged with the work of the Trust.”David is also responsible for the growingnumber of Freedom of Information requests theTrust gets from members of the public and inmany cases, political parties and the media.“Having spoken to other Trust managers whodeal with FOI requests they have said that thenumbers have grown considerably in recentmonths and with local and national electionslooming sometime soon, the pile on my desk isonly going to get larger. So I’m making my pleato you all – if I come your way with an FOIrequest in my hand, please do me a favour anddon’t run the other way.”David is based in the Education Centreand can be reached on ext 5221.Deputy Director of Nursing,Jennie Negus said: “We wereable to get the messageacross that individuals whoare drinking handgel – whichconsists of over 70 per centproof alcohol – are puttingtheir lives at risk. We werealso able to show how wehad installed new dispenserswith a foam gel to deterwould be thieves. It certainlyappears to have workedbecause we have gone from losing up tofour bottles of gel a day earlier this yearto having no thefts at all in the pastcouple of months.”www.homerton.nhs.uk