Autumn 2008 - Homerton University Hospital

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