HOMERTON LIFE Nov - Homerton University Hospital

NVQ successes for staffBy Vilma Sindac, NVQ coordinator/HCA trainerPictured are healthcare assistants andcadet nurses who have recently beenawarded National VocationalQualifications (NVQs) in A1 assessorsaward and care award levels 1 and 2.NVQ is a qualification that really makes adifference. This training has been offered to ourstaff to develop a skilled workforce in the Trust. It allowsstaff to gain a nationally recognised qualification, whilstcontinuing to work.The Trust offers a range of training opportunities for allstaff at every stage in their career. We have been recentlyapproved by City & Guilds to offer two new NVQqualifications in health and social care and health NVQ,levels 2 and 3.For our successful candidates,good luck and all the very best inthe future.• For further information pleasecontact Vilma Sindac on ext 7665or cadet scheme coordinatorSharon Prince on ext 7097,alternatively they can be bothcontacted via email.Name changefor East WingThe East Wing, based onHomerton's site but run by EastLondon and the City MentalHealth Trust, has changed itsname to City and HackneyCentre for Mental Health. TheJohn Howard Centre also basedin Hackney has been renamed tothe Centre for Forensic MentalHealth. New signage will appearon both sites and staff will beusing the new name in allcorrespondence from now on.Please amend your contact listsaccordingly.What do youknow about themedicines youare taking?Between 7 and 11 November, staff from the pharmacy departmentwill be on hand in the pharmacy waiting area to give people achance to ask about the medicines they are taking, as part ofnational Ask About Medicines Week.People are being encouraged to ask questions about themedicines they are given, so that they can make more informeddecisions and also ensure that they use their medicines safely andeffectively. Key questions that people should ask when prescribeda medicine include:•What does this medicine do?•Why is it important that I take this medicine? Are thereany other treatment options?•How long will I need to use it?•How and when I should take it?•What are the possible risks and side effects – and whatshould I do if they happen to me?•Where can I go for further information?Further information and advice about medicines and prescriptionscan be found through the medicines information centre on ext7000, or contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647.Trust office secretary Ruby Daly was the lucky recipient ofa very large basket of fruit after winning a ‘know yournumbers quiz’ organised by the hypertension nursespecialists as part of National Blood Pressure AwarenessWeek in September. Ruby said: “I am quite food consciousand, like most people, know that we should try to eat fiveportions of fruit and vegetables every day, but I didn’tknow I knew as much about good diets and bloodpressure as this!”Web updatenewthismonthNew to the intranet this month is:•‘Happening at Homerton’, all the latest social news can befound under the ‘your working life’ section of the intranet. Staffcirculation emails are a thing of the past!•KSF and e-KSF (knowledge and skills framework), the latestinformation, guidance and toolkits•patient information bank, a number of leafletscovering a range of medical topics, available indifferent languages.And on the web:•the Centre for Laparoscopic Surgery,information about the range of key-hole surgeryon offer at the hospital, including usefulinformation about MRSA and hand hygiene.For further information about the intranet or internet, or if you•would like a page, contact Tonya Chalker on ext 5154 or via email.4

Governor elections 2005At this year’s Annual Members’ Meeting, four newly-elected governorstook their place on our Council of Governors.We extend our sincerest thanks to our four outgoing governors,Mark Edwards, Ken Hanson, Andrew Bridgwater and Julien Quest, fortheir dedication to their local hospital and place of work, and for beingamong the first governors of a hospital. Our new governors, who willjoin the other 23 governors, are:Tanya Reynoldsstaff governor - clinicalTanya has worked in A&E at Homerton since 1995;as a Nurse Practitioner, a Lecturer Practitioner andcurrently as an A&E Nurse Consultant.Dr Michael Craftpublic governor - HackneyMichael is a local resident in Hackney, a patient anda health professional with many years of experienceand expertise.Katie Lloyd-Thomaspublic governor - HackneyKatie had her preterm son delivered at Homertonand was cared for in SCBU for 24 weeks last year.Katie is a Hackney resident of 10 years, a lecturer atthe University of East London, an architect and amental health sector volunteer.Sarah Weisspublic governor - HackneySarah is a teacher and a founder member of theInterlink Foundation, which supports voluntarygroups and organisations. For 14 years, Sarah hasbeen part of a team that works with health, socialwelfare and educational groups.• For more information contact theFoundation Trust office on 020 8510 5221 or emailmembers@homerton.nhs.uk.Need a room in theEducationCentre?As part of our determination toimprove the Education Centre andits facilities, we are developing aroom booking system which willbe viewable on the intranet. Thiswill allow everyone to checkavailability and existing bookingsbefore contacting the centre. Watch this space!New procedures for booking rooms in the centre have alsobeen put in place. From now on, to book a room in theEducation Centre please e-mail the following address only withyour request: EducationCentreBookings@homerton.nhs.ukThis will allow us to centralise all requests and deal with themmore effectively. Please remember to let us know if you no longerneed a room as soon as possible so someone else can benefitfrom it.•For further information, contact commissioningmanager Nuria Arias on ext 5903 or via email.Success forHomerton’s secondAMMApproximately 200 people attended the hospital’ssecond Annual Members’ Meeting in September.The meeting gave members of the foundation trust achance to hear about what has happened at the hospital overthe past year, as well as plans for the forthcoming year.Members, made up of staff, patients and the public, werealso able to question the Council of Governors and Board ofDirectors about issues that matter to them. Topics raisedincluded, parking, disabled access, finance, mixed-sex wardsand the Olympics.Prior to the AMM, members also took part in three forumstackling hygiene in the hospital, staff/patient communicationand smoking. Members were able to provide their thoughtsand feedback on initiatives already in place at the hospital, aswell as give new ideas. Some thoughts included: new rulesfor visitors to wards to try and help with hygiene problems;clearer communications to patients from staff; and moreenforcement of the no-smoking policy on the hospital site.• More in-depth information about the issuescovered at this year’s AMM is available in the latestmember’s newsletter, which can be downloadedfrom our website. Contact the Foundation Trustoffice on 020 8510 5221 to become a member.Pictured is Sue Osborn, joint chief executive of theNational Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) with Lloyd Wardhousekeeper Jessie Barnett. Sue spent a day at thehospital, with various members of staff to get acomprehensive overview of a NHS hospital, and to seehow NPSA campaigns work at ground-level. She spent amorning shadowing Jessie to experience what life is likeworking on a ward and the challenges both staff andpatients face. In addition, Sue went on a ward roundwith a matron, attended a risk management meetingand had a food tasting session in the hospital kitchens.Talking about her visit Sue said: “During my visit toHomerton, I was struck by not only the obviouscommitment for patient safety, but also by the way thatstaff had translated this commitment into tangible andpractical improvements to patient care. We are acutelyaware that our work at a national level will only beeffective where it is backed up by local action. It wasinspiring to see the progress that has been made atHomerton, and I would like to thank all the people I metfor making me feel so welcome.”5

Safety andsecurityat workMaking asafer hospitalSecurity is an important feature in the lifethe hospital, but it largely operates in thebackground and is not seen until anincident occurs. The most visible aspect ofsecurity is the constant patrolling,undertaken by security officers around theclock and is provided to protect staff,patients, visitors and property.Security plays an important role inproviding an environment from whicheffective healthcare can be delivered andthis is the responsibility of Les Green, thesite services manager. MITE Trident SecurityLimited are our nominated security provider,who under contract supply the Trust with asite based contract manager, threesupervisory staff and 19 security officers, whose role it is to monitorand react to security issues on behalf of the Trust.In addition to site patrols to ensure areas are safe and secure, thesecurity team also check that the hospital is as free as practicallypossible from risk of fire, theft and flooding. To achieve this, 131strategically located CCTV cameras are monitored across ourpremises from a centrally located control room in the main entrance,whilst mobile security officers constantly check doors and windowsare secured when areas are unoccupied.The Trust knows that its responsibility does not cease at the siteboundary or when a member of staff leaves at the end of a shift; andwe are keen to involve both internal and external stakeholders in theprovision of its security service. A strategic security group comprisingof the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), the Learning Trust,Hackney Community Safety Team and the hospital has beenestablished. The group focuses on the external aspects of securityand how this can be provided by working in partnership, whichincludes reviewing policies and procedures, as well as identifyingfunding for initiatives of mutual benefit. Internally, there is a securityworking group consisting of representatives from differentdirectorates and the MPS, which looks at the issues affecting staff intheir workplace.•We are always happy to encourage more staff to getinvolved with the security working group, so if you areinterested in being a representative please contact siteservices manager Les Green on ext 7754 or via email.Have you noticed security officers walking around the site andswiping a tool across a security check point device near your areaor department? This is an electronic system, which monitors thesecurity patrols. Last month alone our officers swiped 40,500points across the site. They also locked or unlocked over 7,800doors, parked over 2,000 visitors in the drop off/pick up anddisabled bays, completed 73 security reports, issued over 130Trust I.D badges, assisted with a large number of general enquiresand assisted in a number of emergency responses to fire alarmsand STAT team alerts.Did you know...that the front car park is open tovisitors after 6:00pm Monday toFriday and all weekend? Plus staff whodo not have a parking permit can bringtheir cars on site via gate one after5:00pm Monday to Friday andover the weekends!A word from thecommunity safetyteamKarl Winter is a police inspector who hasbeen seconded to Hackney Council’scommunity safety team. He explains:“This project started in February 2005 andwas designed to look into better safety for staffand the community in and around the hospital.We met with the hospital to discuss how wecould improve safety for all and we decided toinvite partners to monthly meetings anddevelop an action plan in consultation withstaff and the community.“The project is addressing safer routesfor staff to and from work. Workingwith the council’s lighting andhighways departments has allowedus to make improvements to thearea, designing out crime andmaking people feel safer. CCTV,entrances and exits have all beenexamined and improved to create a saferenvironment. Our police safer schoolsofficer has also been to schools tospeak to students about theirbehaviour in and around the hospital.We are reviewing the reportingprocedures for staff, as well as personalsafety training. There is still plenty ofwork to do but early indications are thatsafety is improving in the area. ”6

Coming soon...In a new collaborativeproject, all of the Trust camerasare soon to be linked to HackneyCCTV Control Centre, which will allowthe security department to beam liveimages to the MPS via the CCTV ControlCentre for live viewing and quicker policeresponse. As part of this project thesecurity control room is to berefurbished and should becompleted by mid-December2005.Counterfraud and security management servicesIn 2003, the Department of Health issued instructions to alltrusts to nominate a local security management specialist(LSMS) with responsibility for all policy and operationalmatters relating to the prevention, detection and investigationof crime and the management of security within theNHS. The LSMS will also work with the Counter FraudManagement Service (CFMS) a newly formed body, looking toreview both verbal and physical aggression towards NHS staff.Our site services manager Les Green is our LSMS and he isundertaking a vigorous and intensive training course, whichwill help the Trust in giving consideration to undertakingprivate prosecutions where perpetrators may get awaywithout prosecution.•It is important to report all incidents that cause youalarm and distress, including those relating to personalsafety when travelling to and from work, or whilstworking in the community. All security incidents shouldbe reported using the Trust's unusual occurrencereporting system.In January 2006, building will start on a new police base that willaccommodate three ‘safer neighbourhood’ teams serving theChatham, Kings Park and Leabridge areas, known as Wards, andwill initially run to 18 officers. This is a joint venturebetween the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)and the Trust, and is the first significant buildproject to be driven forward from theCommunity Safety Project Groupassembled and coordinated by thehospital.As well as the normal ‘beat duties’, theoffice will provide a regular police presenceonsite and will be open from 10am to12midday, Monday to Friday, for staff toquestion, report incidents and consult withofficers. In addition, there will be regular ‘surgeries’held by the Chatham Ward officers (who have specific responsibilityfor the hospital) on issues relating to measuring, planningand reducing local crime and disorder.The base is primarily there to serve the three surroundingwards, so the MPS cannot commit to responding to all incidentsreported to them from the Trust. The expectation is that whenofficers are in the base and they are made aware of an incidentwithin the hospital that requires a police response, that they willrespond to those incidents quickly. The overall view is that theChatham safer neighbourhood teamHomerton’s safer neighbourhoodFreepersonal attackalarmsPlease take advantage of the FREEpersonal attack alarms offered to allstaff. You can get these on productionof a valid Trust I.D. badge from themain security office, located inthe main entrance.presence and quicker response to incidents will reduce crime andfear of crime on the hospital site, and build on the goodcommunity partnerships that have been formed.The new base will open for business in summer 2006.NEWPOLICEBASE•For more information or if you havecomments about the proposed changes tothe main entrance and driveway pleaseemail front.entrance@homerton.nhs.ukTim Barfoot, neighbourhood inspector for Hackney Police Stationcomments:“Homerton is one of our priorities, which is why we are keento move the Chatham team to the new police base in thehospital grounds. The police interact with the life of the hospitalon a number of different levels. We obviously have to respondto serious incidents, where victims are often taken to Homertonfor treatment. We are constantly monitoring the crime patternsin and around the site to detect those responsible and to findways to reduce the levels of crime – and we are involved inworking groups to discuss the concerns of staff andmanagement and to try to find solutions to problems that areraised. We are now running regular surgeries and crimeprevention days at the hospital to give staff and patients theopportunity to tell us about any problems they are experiencing,as well as provide security advice. ”7

Have your say ...Last month 850 randomly selected staff will have received acopy of the NHS National Staff Survey. This is your chance tofeed back about what you think of working at Homerton - whatyou like, dislike and where you think the Trust needs to improve.If you receive the survey, please take some time to complete it. Itis only by getting robust feedback from staff that the Trust can hopeto make the improvements to everyone’s working life that we allwant to see. All responses to the survey are completely anonymousand any feedback the Trust receives is non-identifiable.As a result of feedback from last year’s survey we have madeprogress in a number of areas. We have:expanded the number of nursery places availableto NHS staffimproved induction for new startersachieved junior doctors hours targetsworked to improve staff safety andsecurityinvested in front line staffimplemented agenda for change and theconsultant contractincreased the number of benefits available to youincreased staffing and reduced vacancy rates.• • • •• If you have any queries about the survey please contactIain Patterson, associate HR director on ext 7243 or viaemail.(pictured top row: Richard Ansell, Chris Skilbeck, Lee Isidore, FoulahBarrett. Bottom row: Tor Barrett, Ron Patterson, Marie Barrett.)A team from Homerton took part in special 5-a-sidefootball tournament for NHS trusts in north east Londonlast month.Members of workforce planning were in one of 16 teamswho took part on the day, each team required at least twomen and two women to be on the pitch throughout.Homerton put in a good performance, making it to thesemi-finals but losing to the eventual winners East Londonand the City Mental Health Trust.The Bryning Unit was host to presenters Eddie Nestor and Kath Melandriin September, when the duo turned up to broadcast their BBC LondonRadio drive-time show live from the hospital. The two-hour show was a‘NHS in London’ special and also their two-year anniversary, so where betterto broadcast but from our hospital! Chief executive Nancy Hallett was one ofthe programme’s guests, along with RCN director of nursing Alison Kitson andHackney MP Meg Hillier. A reporter from the programme also interviewed A&Econsultant Laurence Gant, consultant midwife Jane Kennedy and consultantneonatologist Shad Husain for two special reports about Homerton’s A&E andmaternity services.In the news …Discovery Health followed patient and comedian/presenter JackieClune, as she prepared to give birth to triplets. ‘3 x a baby’ followedJackie as she attended appointments at the hospital with consultantKatrina Erskine and also showed her caesarean birth at the hospital …Keep up-to-date withthe latest NHS andhealthcare news with “MediaWatch” available under the‘News’ section on theintranet.Going with the baby theme, Dr Erskine was also interviewed for ITN news followinga report by the Royal College of Midwifery about staffing levels in maternity units …The role of the hypertension nurse was examined in Nursing Times and nurse specialist Laura Elwoodprovided her thoughts on the subject, as well as discussing some of the exciting initiatives in place withGP surgeries and local schools to try and manage hypertension …Following the evaluation report of Hospital at Night, medical director John Coakley was interviewed byHospital Doctor and BBC news online about Homerton’s experience in implementing the programme …And finally, did you listen to BBC London Radio’s live two-hour broadcast from the hospital inSeptember? See above for more details.8

A special for Breast Awareness Month ...A Day in the Lifetalks to...Madhu AgarwalMacmillan cancer information managerYou may have spotted the breast screening mobile van in the car park nearBrooksby House, or even read in magazines, on television or on the backsof buses that October was breast awareness month. In this edition we findout what that actually means, by talking to our Macmillan cancer informationmanager, Madhu Agarwal. Madhu is based in the hospital’s Health Shop andis on hand every day to deal with the increasing numbers of queries andquestions about cancer.Q: What is breast awareness month ?Every October is national breast awareness month – but that’s not only aboutbreast cancer. It’s a hectic time of year when the breast care team and I gointo schools, shopping centres and community groups to help ladies learnmore about their breasts, what’s normal and what’s not normal – and to beable to overcome their embarrassment in talking about it.Q: And cancer in general … do people want to know?With much more publicity about cancer, it isn’t a taboo subject anymore.About a quarter of our enquiries come from men, which is fantastic. Peoplegenuinely want to know the facts, and we have patients who return time andtime again for support and information. I really enjoy getting to know themand their families – although it’s sometimes difficult to remember everyonewhen you meet them in Tesco’s!Q: How are you linked with Macmillan Cancer Relief?The cancer information manager post was originally established with fundingfrom Macmillan. Today, they provide me with support and training and are atpresent helping me to recruit and train some volunteers. There are a wholehost of cancer information specialists around the country and it really helpsus to share best practice and learn from each other.Q: What are you working on at the moment?We had a review of cancer services earlier this year, which praised our cancerinformation service, but treatments and technologies are forever changingand we are now looking at establishing a counselling service and supportgroup. Plus publishing more and better information leaflets about the manyaspects of cancer.Q: And in your spare time …?Well, this one is related to work really.Some time ago I was involved in setting up a charity called Cancer Equality,of which I am treasurer and Patrick Casey, our senior nurse for cancer services,is chairman. The charity aims to help minority ethnic patients andcommunities to have information about cancer relevant to their owncommunities and cultural needs. It’s going well.Q: And one last message for breast awareness month?It has to be: “Think pink …….look, check and feel.”Patientchoicebecomesa realityStarting from the 1 January 2006, all NHSpatients must be given the choice of whereand when they wish to have their electivesecondary care treatment.Choice will be offered by the GP using the newnational ‘Choose and Book’ software, whichmany of you in the hospital have heard aboutalready. Choose and Book is the tool that willenable the GP to assist the patient in selectingtheir choice of hospital and appointment electronically.Homerton has been working for the past year toenable the smooth implementation of Chooseand Book into our systems. This has includedgaining detailed information about each servicethat is offered and publishing it in a nationalDirectory of Services (the selection tool of thesoftware).We have successfully ‘gone-live’ with five clinics:general paediatrics, general haematology, breastclinic, oral maxillo facial surgery and generalgynaecology. A big thank you to all staff involvedin the pilot, we could not have done it withoutyour hard work and support. Our two largest Cityand Hackney GP practices, Barton House andSomerford Grove have been referring into theseclinics since September, and more practices will be‘going-live’ (i.e. using the choose and booksoftware) over the next few weeks.Over the next two months we will be working hardto reduce waiting times so that all our outpatientclinics are ready to go live on the Choose and Booksoftware by the end of December 2005.•For further information contact CrissySnow, associate project manager forbooking and choice on ext 5261 or viaemail.9

“I want to survive, Iwant to win, I wanttomorrow”Homerton’s director of the Centre for theStudy of Sexual Health and HIV Dr JaneAnderson was one of three researcherswho recently published the results of thefirst ever study into the experience ofAfrican men living in London with HIV.The report, entitled ‘I want to survive, Iwant to win, I want tomorrow’ written incollaboration with Queen Mary Universityof London and the University of Bristol,provides first-hand accounts of what it islike for African men who have HIV. Theirstories give new insights into the ways inwhich men’s lives are affected by HIV andprovide a basis to explore their particular needs for health and socialcare. Interviews were carried out between 2004 and 2005 with menwho were attending specialist HIV services at Homerton, Newham, StBartholomew’s and the Royal London hospitals, as well as men usingthe peer support group The Organisation of Positive African Men(OPAM).Dr Jane Anderson explains that men have responded to HIVinfection in a variety of different ways and many still feel optimisticabout the future. However, one of the key themes in the accounts isthat of loss, across many areas of life. Most face significant challengesto their sense of themselves as African men. Many do not have the jobsor the money they had planned to acquire. Whilst some do not havethe relationships with wives or children that would give their livesmeaning and connect them with past and future generations.Of the 480,000 people of black African origin living in England andWales, almost 80 per cent live in London. In 2003 it was estimated that16,200 people of African origin were living with HIV in the UK, andthat 48 per cent of new HIV diagnoses were in people of African origin.The authors hope that the research findings will inform health andsocial care provision for people living with HIV in the UK. A number ofpolicy recommendations, including the importance of supporting andbuilding on the pre-existing strengths of men from Africanbackgrounds have been discussed as a result of the research.•A full copy of the report is available on our intranet andwebsite.The Centre for the Study of Sexual Health is a partner in agrant awarded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) for anew study into the ways that sexual health services inBritain are meeting, or failing to meet, the sexual healthneeds of Black and Asian men who have sex with men(MSM).The 30 month national study, which is a collaborationbetween City University London, Homerton, the Universityof Bristol, Terrence Higgins Trust and other communitygroups, will examine access to, use of, and satisfaction withsexual health services (both treatment and prevention)across the UK for this group of service users. Researcherswill examine sexual risk behaviour, condom use andperceived STI/HIV risk among Black and Asian MSM inBritain, as well as stigma and its impact on the disclosure ofsexuality and sexual behaviour among this group. Inaddition, the extent that sexual health services are aware of,and respond to, the sexual health needs of Black and AsianMSM will also be examined.10What doyou do withgifts?Early each new year we send staff who have budgetresponsibilities the guidelines on receiving gifts andhospitality from patients and suppliers ... butremember these guidelines apply to all employees ofthe hospital.Throughout the year patients often offer hospitalstaff gifts. It is OK to accept small gifts or tokens ofgratitude from patients and relatives, up to the valueof £25. However, if you are offered money you shoulddirect the giver to the cashiers, one of the hospitalcharity boxes or the fundraising dept on ext 5154.You should never accept gifts of money yourself.Low value gifts such as diaries and calendarsoffered by suppliers may be accepted, but any othergifts or hospitality should be declined. And any gifts,whether accepted or refused, should be notified inwriting or email to the Hospital Secretary in the TrustOffices.•For further details see the Standards ofBusiness Conduct policy in the ‘guidelines andpolicies’ section of the intranet.Open Hands inGambiaKenneth Njie is a staff nurse in the Day Stay Unitand is originally from Gambia, where he and hiswife Femi ran a pharmacy and food store. Childrenwould come to their store after school looking for‘goodies,’ where they would receive food items.This led to the beginning of the Open Handscharity two years ago.Band members from HM Collingwood inFareham, who were visiting Gambia, saw whathappened outside Ken’s shop and wanted to help.The band regularly play at venues in the UK to helpraise funds for the charity and have made over£3,000 so far. This money pays for school fees,uniforms, books and medical supplies for childrenand poor families.Homerton has also been involved with thecharity, donating theatre gowns, sterilising traysand gifts of new clothing which were bought in bystaff.Future plans for the charity include building amulti-purpose centre and the purchase of agenerator, which will contribute to the education,health and social needs of poor families inGambia. Kenneth says: “we welcome any helpfrom medical or nursing staff, to help achievethese goals.”•If you would like to be involved with theOpen Hands charity you can email Kenneth Njie.

Tailored service fororthogeriatricsConsultants from surgery and elderly care have been involvedin streamlining the journey for elderly patients who arebought into the hospital with a fractured hip.Traditionally, elderly patients would come into the hospitalas an emergency case following a trip or fall at home. Theywould then be put under the care of an orthopaedic surgeon,who would continue to be the lead clinician for the patientuntil they were discharged. Elderly care consultants wouldalso be involved in the patient’s care, but only in an advisorycapacity.However, these elderly patients generally have othermedical problems in addition and undergoing an operationtends to make them sicker, frailer and have more complications.So, to improve post-operative care and rehabilitationfor patients, elderly care consultants have agreed withsurgeons to take over lead clinician duties four days aftersurgery.This means that patients over the age of 65 years, whohave had surgery for a fractured hip and are not suitable forearly discharge with the HOOT team, will be transferred toeither Cass or Defoe Ward to receive rehabilitative andmedical care. Orthopaedic surgeons will continue to see thepatients post transfer until wound healing. Nurses andtherapists in these areas have received extra training onwound care, infection control and moving and handling.These changes are geared to lead to more consistent care,rehabilitate patients to their maximum potential, as well as toimprove the overall patient experience.Almost ten years ago thismonth Homerton newswas reporting…•HRH The PrincessRoyal returnedto Homerton toofficially open theDay Stay Unit, 10years after officiallyopening the wholehospital! As wellopening Day Stay, ThePrincess Royal toured anumber of otherdevelopments including A&E, the CT scanner andRNRU.•Another opening, this time RCN general secretaryChristine Hancock opened new nurse-led Cass Ward.She also toured the minor injuries unit in A&E.•40 artworks from the ‘Arts on Legs’ tour, producedby patients on the RNRU, were put on permanentdisplay in the staff coffee shop.•Homerton was host to over 60 nurses, nurselecturers, physiotherapists and social workers for anational study day for lung cancer, which wasorganised by the hospital’s palliative care team.•Plus a special feature on the work of the League ofFriends, who had worked at the Hackney Hospitalssince the 1960s. Did you know in 1996 they wereselling 350 rolls and 130 buttered buns every day?!How much does it cost torun Homerton?More than you think! Every month we spend …Salaries (including bank staff, tax and pensions) £7,250,000Agency staff (nursing, techs & locum doctors) £425,000Agency staff (admin & clerical) £100,000Electric £45,000Gas £10,000Telephones incl mobiles £30,000Stationery £25,000Catering & domestics £390,000Purchase of drugs by pharmacy £500,000These are the basic costs of keeping the hospital runningevery month; by 31 March 2006 we will have spent£131million on staff costs, general and medicalpurchases plus overheads.Please think before you spend!Two minuteswith…Anne Chandler, recruitment advisor1 What was your first job?Apprenticeship in “Flour ConfectionaryDesign & Decoration”, which is acomplicated way of saying cake decorator.2 What did you want to be when you weregrowing up?A vet.3 Who is the person you most admire?My best friend who is a full time carer – I don’t think anyonecould possibly imagine just what this entails.4 What was your most embarrassing moment?It was a hot summer’s day back in the seventies when boobtubes were the fashion and mine slipped while running for abus.5 What is your biggest indulgence?Family, friends and pets.6 What would you do if you won the national lottery?Buy a large, fully adapted home in the country, not far fromthe sea with enough ground for an animal sanctuary.7 What was the last:book you read?I don’t get to read much these days, but when I do it’s usuallya whodunit, Ellis Peters, Lilian Jackson Braun and AgathaChristie are my favourites.cd you bought? – Days in Avalon by Richard Marxfilm you watched? – Benny & Joon8 Reality TV … what would be your one luxury item?There is no way that I would ever consider being a part ofReality TV.11

IWL successAs many of you are aware the Trust underwent validation forImproving Working Lives (IWL) Practice Plus status in September. Wehave now been informed that the Trust has been recommended forPractice Plus and are awaiting ratification of that recommendation.Thank you to everyone that attended focus groups and/or 1:1sduring the validation process. We would not have achieved PracticePlus had it not been for your continued support to the IWL agenda.A number of good practice areas were highlighted in the reportincluding:forums for nursing assistants and administrative and clerical staff•Good Attitude training DVD, which links staff development and clinicalgovernanceteam briefing to cascade information to all staff and direct access to the chief executivean active Minority Ethnic Group and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender/sexual GroupKSF training for all staff, which links to the appraisal system•using ‘Careware’, a computerised, self-rostering system to enable flexible working.The validation team also highlighted areas that, in IWL terms, would benefit the Trust and our servicesto patients if further improved. This included:•implementing and publicising the Equality and Diversity Strategy and Harassment andBullying Policycontinuing to improve safety and security at the hospital•developing measures to tackle long working hours.Our commitment to IWL does not stop here. We will continue to build on the work we have done sofar, as we start our journey to obtain ‘model employer’ status.•For further information about IWL initiatives or Practice Plus status contact head ofrecruitment and employee support Fiona Myers on ext 7949 or via email.On yer bike!By Jane O’Connor, matronI don’t wear bicycle helmets - they make my hair flat anddon’t look cool. Anyway I’m off the road for most of myjourney, so it’s unlikely that I’ll come off. However, Irecently decided to start wearing one, which proved tobe a lifesaving decision...One night I swerved to avoid some pedestrians andskidded on gravel. I flew off my bike and my headbounced on the concrete. When I looked at my nowbrokenhelmet, with scratches all along it, I realisedthat my skull would have been shattered and mybeautiful face would no longer look so cool!We know that many staff ride into work and we hope that youall follow basic bicycle safety, particularly as winter sets in andwe are not so visible in the dark! We are hoping to try andestablish how many members of staff cycle into work, so wecan ensure that the needs and safety of bike riders are considered.•If you cycle into work please contact IT trainingofficer Brian Leveson on ext 7748or via email.12Published by the Press and Communications Department,Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation TrustContact the editor Lee Jones on x5035 or lee.jones@homerton.nhs.ukVisit our website www.homerton.nhs.uk for all the latest news about the Trust.Designed & produced byAndrew Younger & Associates020 8995 8787