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

The magazine for Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust April 2010Surgeons wincoveted awardInvention in worldwide useTurn to page 8

Hospitals registeredunder new systemThis Trust - along with all othersin the country - has now beenregistered with the Care QualityCommission.Being registered was a legalrequirement from the beginning ofthis month, and to do so we have toshow that we meet new essentialstandards of quality and safety.The new standards cover importantissues for patients such as treatingpeople with respect, involving themin decisions about care, keepingclinical areas clean and ensuringservices are safe.We have been registered with someconditions in some areas, so theCQC will check that improvementshave been made.The areas mostly concern trainingand appraisals for staff - and wealready had actions plans in place totackle those issues.Deborah Wheeler, the Trust’s Directorof Nursing (pictured right), explained:“The registration process is carriedout using self-assessment, so we hadhighlighted the areas where we werenot coming up to scratch, and werealready taking steps to improve thesituation.“The conditions cover training andappraisals for staff, and a newprogramme is in place to ensure thatall staff receive yearly appraisals andmandatory training.“We are also working to boost thenumber of permanent clinical staff inthe organisation, and have hadsuccessful recruitment drives toincrease the number of Trust nurseson the wards.”The CQC is stepping up the numberof inspections made of hospitals, andalso says that, under the newsystem, trusts will be judged on theoutcomes and experiences ofpatients, not just whether there aresystems and processes in place.The Trust is supportive of the newsystem which should give you, thepatients, more up to dateinformation about hospitals ratherthan relying on historical data.Cash boost forChildren’s WardYoungsters at Queen’s Hospital will haveplenty to keep them entertained thanksto a generous charity donation.Essex and Kent Medical Aid – which hasbeen supporting the Trust’s hospitals formany years – handed over £3,500 to TropicalLagoon.The cash will be spent on buying ten flatscreen televisions and DVD players whichcan be used by the patients to watch theirfavourite films or play computer games.The remainder of the money will be used tobuy equipment for the play servicethroughout the year.• Pictured with a cheque from Essex andKent Medical Aid are two-year-old ReecePorter and his mum Donna Goodey fromHarold Hill, and staff nurse Geena Brown2 H O S P I TA L L I F E

Rugby staron the ballRugby player MattDawson waltzed ontothe wards at Queen’sto have a look athow a busy hospitaloperated.The sporting star - alsofamed for his winningways on CelebrityCome Dancing, AQuestion of Sport andCelebrity Masterchef -has become anambassador of Sodexo,who provide supportservices for theTrust.Luke Taylor with Matt DawsonHe came to Queen’sto be shown the ropes,and also took the time to chat with patients and staff.Amber A - a trauma and orthopaedic ward - playedhost to Matt, who met patients including Chris Storeyand Luke Taylor.Patient Chris Storey chatted to the starMatt meets staff from Amber A wardTrust hosts national chemotherapy eventA special chemotherapy clinic setup for patients at Queen’sHospital has proved so successfulthat doctors and nurses fromaround the country are coming tosee what we do.The Trust set up a clinic specificallyfor patient who are using oralchemotherapy, rather thanintravenous drugs, back in 2006.Chemotherapy Nurse PractitionerClaire McGregor explained: “Wedecided that people who were usingoral chemo needed a better service.It had been seen as a ‘soft option’compared to IV chemo, but itactually allowed people to be treatedin their own homes with the sameclinical outcomes.“We wanted to make sure thatpeople having oral chemo were justas supported as those who werecoming into hospital for treatment,so we set up specific clinics.”Patients attending the clinics everythree weeks are given all theinformation they need about theirtreatment from chemotherapytrained nurses, who also ensure thatthey are taking their drugs correctly.They have access to the same 24-hour helplines as otherchemotherapy patients, and have alltheir follow up appointments withthe same specialist nurses.Hundreds of patients have now beenthrough the clinic, with patientsatisfaction surveys showing thatpeople are very pleased with theservice.Two years ago, the National PatientSafety Agency issued guidelines to allTrusts on how to look after patientswho were having oral chemotherapy.“They said that patients having oralchemo at home were not assupported as those coming intohospital for IV chemo, even thoughthey faced the same risks,” saidClaire.“We had realised that two yearsearlier, and already had the clinic inplace to address that, so we were anexample of best practise. OtherTrusts now come to see what we aredoing here so they can learn from usbefore they set up their own clinics.”The Trust is hosting the study day onsetting up an oral chemotherapyclinic on April 28th, with nationalspeakers as well as specialist doctorsand nurses from the Trust.A P R I L 2 0 1 03

Michelle is Chosen andBooked for awardPatients are now able to choosewhen and where they would liketo receive treatment if they arereferred to hospital by the GP.To be able to do this, people need tohave access to a Directory ofServices, to see exactly what isavailable.The Trust has been praised forhaving the best Directory of Servicesin the capital, and now MichelleKuhn, the Choose and Book teamSupervisor, has won our Employee ofthe Month Award.Michelle was nominated not only bysix of her colleagues, but also byCEO, John Goulston.John had received a letter from theDirector of Performance at NHSLondon congratulating the Trust onachieving the best quality Directoryof Services in London. Michelle hadplayed a vital part in this piece ofwork, dedicating long hours andhard work to ensure the taskwas done.In a surprise ceremony in thechoose and book office atQueen's, Non-ExecutiveDirector Barbara Ligginspresented Michelle withflowers, vouchers and acertificate.Michelle’s colleagues hadbought a celebratory cake andbubbly and had put upballoons and banners aroundthe office.Michelle's colleagues hadwritten about her tireless work,how she is always at her deskearly in the morning and late atnight. One colleague wrote: "I havenever seen someone soconscientious, she doesn't go homeuntil her work is done and nothing istoo much trouble for her."Another wrote: “The speed andaccuracy at which she performs herrole is second to none, she lends usa hand but still manages to stay ontop of everything, Michelle alwaysgoes above and beyond the call ofduty.”• Michelle is pictured with her awardVolunteer thanked for hospital helpA surprised helper at Queen’sHospital has been presented witha Volunteer Appreciation Awardfrom the Trust.Janet Hudson helps out on theinformation desk in the atrium of thebusy hospital, escorting patients toclinics, dealing with enquiries andoffering a friendly ear to patientsand visitors who just need a chat.She was nominated by Patient andPublic Involvement Officer PeterSmith who said: “Janet always goesthat extra mile and is happy to sortout more complex patient enquiries.This is matched with decisive actionand kindness. Janet is a true assetand a real credit to the organisation.”Janet, who started volunteering aftertaking early retirement from theRoyal Mail, was presented with acertificate, flowers and vouchers byFinance Director David Wragg.She said: “There are so manyreasons why I volunteer here. Youget to meet people from all walks oflife and it gives you a chance tomake new friends.”• Volunteer Janet Hudson is picturedwith colleagues6 H O S P I TA L L I F E

Easter treatsBrain Surgeons winNational AwardTwo neurosurgeons from Queen’sHospital have won a covetedaward for innovation.Harith Akram and Ian Low inventedand developed a positioning aidwhich will help physicians treatpatients’ brains.A stereotactic frame is attached to apatient’s head using pins to keep itin a fixed position while they receivetreatment.The positioning aid invented by MrLow and Mr Akram holds the framein place and allows minuteadjustment, so it can be fitted morequickly and accurately than everbefore.Using their new invention the frames- which are regularly used aroundthe world - can be fitted in just tenminutes and by only one member ofstaff. Previously it would have takentwo or three members of staffsignificantly longer.The pair were awarded the Cutlers’Surgical Prize and the Clarke medaland the annual Surgical AwardDinner.The prize was instituted in 1981 topromote innovation in the designand application of surgicalinstruments and techniques.Chief Executive of the Trust, JohnGoulston, said “This is a magnificentachievement. It is testament to MrLow’s and Mr Akram’s dedicatedwork and drive to innovate toachieve major breakthroughs inhealthcare.”Youngpatients atQueen’s andKing Georgeweren’t shortof Eastertreats afterseveraldonations ofchocolate eggs.Local businesses and charitiesdonated a selection of eggs toTropical Lagoon and Clover, whichwere enjoyed by youngsters whowere staying in hospital over thelong weekend.• Pictured are the team from Time107 radio station handing out eggson Tropical Lagoon at Queen’sParamedicPractiseStaff from Accident andEmergency at Queen’sHospital are teaming up withuniversities to giveparamedics a taste of a busycasualty department.Two Paramedics from SouthEast Coast Ambulance Serviceand Kent Air Ambulancecompleted practice placementsin the A&E as part of theCritical Care Paramedic Coursefrom the University ofHertfordshire.The department is hoping thatthis will become a regulararrangement, with paramedicsexposed to a wide range ofpatients.Contact us: If you would like to see a particular service featured in Hospital Life, contact Niki Eves on01708 435314, or email nicola.eves@bhrhospitals.nhs.uk