Superstar! - Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

For Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust staff and volunteers
July/Aug 2012
Superstar!
Warm congratulations to domestic assistant Jim Burns our first Hospital Hero. Nominated by two of his colleagues on
Neptune ward, Jim received a glowing testimonial:
“Jim takes time to learn the interests of
the children, to make them laugh and
to put them at ease……some of our
long-term patients even fondly refer to
him as ‘Grandad’!
“Arriving early for work each day, Jim is
an enthusiastic team member and
always supportive of his colleagues.
Parents too appreciate the fact he takes
the time to learn their names, make
them tea and sometimes to offer a
shoulder to cry on.”
Jim is a shining example of the values of
the Trust: everybody matters, everything
counts and everyone is responsible.
But it was a close-run contest with an
overwhelming number of nominations,
said chairman Alan Tobias. So close that,
for the first month, two special
commendations were also awarded
(see page 11).
Don’t forget to nominate you hospital
hero – details are on STAFFnet. And the
NHS has just launched its own national
quest for NHS Heroes to big up those
employees who show ‘exceptional
compassion, kindness and skill above
and beyond the call of everyday duty,
giving healthcare at its very best’.
Attention!
Information systems manager,
David Jon, from our MEMS
department, left his civvies in
the wardrobe and turned up
here in full combat order to mark
the Ministry of Defence’s
‘Uniform at Work Day’.
David is one of a number of armed
forces reservists amongst our staff. In
his spare time, Lieutenant Jon is a
commissioned officer with the Essex
Army Cadet Force – a youth
organisation sponsored by the MoD
where young people can get involved
in all sorts of ‘character building’
activities and enhance their leadership
skills. David is responsible for all training
and public events for eight Essex units
under his charge and was about to
embark on an annual two-week training
camp which he helps organise.
He said: “I am proud and honoured to
represent something so worthwhile. I
know I have gained a huge amount from
being involved in the armed forces and
learned skills such as leadership, selfconfidence and the ability to perform
well under pressure – all of which are
enormously helpful in all walks of life.”
EverybodyMatters Everything
By royal
appointment
Patients recovering from a
stroke have been in festive
mode, creating a massive
Jubilee crown to adorn the
entrance to the unit.
But the giant undertaken has seriously
depleted the group’s stock of
materials, so now OT Sam Pitman has
appealed for donations of scraps of
material, paper, scissors, tissue paper,
glue, stickers, jewels and buttons to
help build it up again and keep them
all in business to be able to continue
the craft group for the long term. The
current project is on the Olympics.
Call Sam on ext 6592 or bring stuff
along to the neuro gym at the back of
Paglesham ward.
Some of the artisans are pictured here
with rehab assistants Nickii Seaton
and Angelique Rosario.
Quality team
Our occupational health unit
has become the first service
in Essex to receive
accreditation from the Royal
College of Physicians’ Safe
Effective Quality
Occupational Health Services
(understandably SEQOHS for
short).
The accolade – the ‘kite mark’ of the
occie health world - followed a visit
from the RCP audit team earlier this
year and is, says boss David Maslen-
Jones, a reflection of a lot of hard
work from the whole team.
David adds: “Recent surveys continue
to rate satisfaction levels with our
service at more than 90% within the
Trust.”
In addition to looking after all of
us, the OH team also
provides services to
nearly 20,000 other
NHS workers as well
as to local factories,
care homes and other
organisations.
Supersnax for chemo patients
Close collaboration between the
chemotherapy unit, dietitians and
caterers Medirest mean that patients in
the unit do not go hungry.
Oncology dietitian Henry Wood presented a certificate
in recognition of the teamwork which has ensured
twice-daily deliveries of nutritious and tempting snacks
are delivered to the unit, where patients may spend up
to eight hours.
He added: “The staff there have done an excellent job
in referring appropriate patients to help prevent weight
loss which could affect their health and treatment.”
2
g Counts Everyone’s Responsible
Cold
turkey
sandwich
anyone?
Visitors to a stop smoking
event in the ed centre were
offered tasty cold turkey
sandwiches. But, with so much
support at hand, there is no
need for anyone wishing to
kick the habit to go
cold turkey.
A campaign, being run in conjunction
with the PCT’s stop smoking service
and the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, is
aimed at helping our staff increase
referrals to the stop smoking service.
Any patient expressing a desire to give
up will be given a ‘ticket to quit’, half
of which will remain with the patient
while the other half goes into a
special box. Stop smoking advisors will
empty the boxes at least weekly and
contact the patients to provide the
help they need.
Consultant in respiratory medicine, Dr
Sohail Ansari, who is our ‘stop
smoking champion', said: “It only
takes seconds to ask patients if they
are interested, issue them with a
ticket and drop the other half in the
box – but it could make a dramatic
change to their life. Advisors are
waiting to help, and it has been
shown that people are four times
more likely to quit if they do it with
the support of an NHS stop smoking
advisor than by going it alone.”
Stop the clot
Cupcakes decorated with bright red icing ‘blood clots’ might not be
everybody’s cup of tea but they helped make staff and patients
aware of the dangers in National Thrombosis Week.
Led by the VTE (venous thromboembolism) link nurses, lots of wards joined in the
prevention drive by putting up posters, making badges – and, of course, the
tasteful cupcakes. And there were giveaway goodies for staff who answered VTE prophylaxis questions correctly.
VTE lead, Debbie Cavin, said: “Most people know of the dangers of long-haul flights but you are 1,000 times more at risk
of VTE coming into hospital, due to acute illness or surgery on top of reduced mobility. Risk assessment is vital for patient
safety – and this should be followed up as the patient’s condition may change.”
We are hoping to gain ‘exemplar status’ in the next few months – awarded by King’s Hospital to those gaining excellence
in this area - so need to get doctors and nurses carrying out risk assessments on all admitted patients and giving them lots
of information both on admission and when they leave hospital.
Southbourne puts the
flags out
Staff on Southbourne ward ensured their patients and their
families did not miss out on the Queen’s Jubilee festivities.
The ward was festooned with bunting – and, of course, there was no
shortage of cake. Kathy Maloney, MSK matron, said: “We created a street
party atmosphere on the ward to make sure our patients could feel part of
the celebrations.”
3
Medical
professionalism
in action
Our doctors must show that they are
meeting the standards set by the General
Medical Council (GMC), which include:
• Making care of the patient their first
concern
• Keeping their professional knowledge
and skills up to date
• Working with colleagues in ways that
best serve the patient’s interests
• Recognising the limits of their
competence
• Treating patients considerately and
respecting their confidentiality
• Giving patients the information they
want in a way they can understand
• Being honest and open and acting with
integrity
• Raising any concerns about patient safety
• Ensuring they are familiar with relevant
guidelines and developments
• Taking part in educational activities
to maintain and develop their
competences and performance
• Arranging adequate cover
when necessary
Dr Grahame Tosh as he will be the ‘responsible officer’ who
reviews his colleagues’ appraisals and makes
recommendations to the GMC for the individual’s licence to
be renewed. He will be appraised and revalidated by
someone from outside the hospital.
In a fast-changing world, we naturally expect
doctors treating us or our families to be up to
speed with the latest developments and
competent in all their practice. Now, a new
national approach to medical regulation will
give patients the reassurance that all our
doctors are fit to practise.
Blanca said: “It assures us and our patients that our doctors
are fit to practise and up to date. There will be feedback
from both colleagues and patients and doctors will have to
produce evidence of their medical practice in all the areas
they work For example, if I went to a conference and
learned something new or interesting which made me
change how I practise, I would use that as a point of
evidence. Revalidation will give everyone a chance to reflect
on how they work.”
Charged with the hefty responsibility of making sure this
happens is consultant anaesthetist Blanca Boira who is our
associate medical director for revalidation. Blanca is working
closely with newly appointed appraisal and revalidation
manager, Lisa Bemister who is tasked with ensuring that the
relevant systems are in place for nearly 300 doctors (all those
in non-training posts) to be regularly appraised by their peers
and their licence to practise revalidated.
Lisa, who has been working in medical HR for the past two
years, took over the reins from project manager Denise
Moffat and will be managing the day-to-day running of the
new system.
Quality outcomes measures are being defined by the royal
colleges which are setting the standards for their individual
specialties. Meanwhile, here at Southend, training for the
new system is now underway and an appraisal toolkit is in
the pipeline.
She says: “It will be a gradual implementation but over the
next five years every doctor not in training (for example,
consultants, specialty doctors, clinical fellows) has to be
revalidated. By March 2016, everyone will have had
their review.”
Lisa said: “There were concerns that the new system would
be more complicated, but we have tried to keep it simple
and user-friendly. We have also used a standardised structure
across the Trust so the same system applies to everyone,
whatever their specialty.”
we have tried to
keep it simple
and user-friendly
Blanca added: “With the other neighbouring Essex hospitals,
we have created the Essex Revalidation Network and have
been hosting meetings to set similar processes across Essex.”
The process is really an
enhanced version of our
current peer appraisal which
has been in operation since
2004. First up will be
retiring medical director
You can find the appraisal and revalidation policy now on
STAFFnet.
4
Here’s
looking
at you
Have you
booked your
free eye test?
Business at our new mobile
eye clinics has got off to a
brisk start with more than
700 members of staff
booking in during the first
month of operation.
The two units are tucked round the
back of the hospital, between the
education centre and the eye unit,
with optometrist Elizabeth Agrippa at
the helm. She can offer you a range
of more than 800 frames from budget
(a basic pair of specs will set you back
only £25) to designer names.
One satisfied customer is occupational
health trainer Mick Moring (inset) who
popped in for a routine eye test and
came away with a BOGOF deal. He
said: “I had a very thorough check
with more modern equipment than I
have had in the past. And it was a
very quick service – both pairs of
glasses were ready in a week.”
To book an appointment, phone 5304
or go to
www.southendeyecare.co.uk/stor
e/disp.cgi?page=lnkin.html&u=sou
thend&p=semp2012
Towards a paper-light organisation
If a three-month trial for orthopaedics is a success, we could be on
our way to shedding some of the reams of paper which are such a
part of the hospital environment.
Just imagine – no more trolleys heaving with sheaves of folders and no more
cluttered desks in clinic consultation rooms.
The medical records department has been scanning all admission documentation for
Castle Point and Shopland wards as well as all orthopaedic referrals onto the clinical
electronic documentation (CED) system. This means about 50 pages per patient can be
stored electronically and be instantly accessible to clinicians.
Health records manager, Ross Harrison, said: “Our vision is to have noteless clinics
and a paper-light, if not paper-free, organisation.”
Andrew Currie, web applications developer, added: “It will mean staff won’t have to
locate missing notes and will reduce paper administration costs. It will also provide
additional space in consultation rooms, greater security as information will be stored
electronically and a better environment for staff and patients.”
Health records
admin support worker
Michelle Billham scans
in another health
record, helped by
manager Ross Harrison
All documents have first to be approved by the clinical records action group (CRAG) before they can be loaded
onto the CED – these include letters from other hospitals and tests results which cannot be kept on ICE.
5
Safe
delivery
Mum Leah Walker’s wish to
give birth naturally a second
time was thwarted when little
Sonny was 12 days overdue,
his heartbeat was dropping
and he was becoming more
distressed.
Following an emergency
caesarean, he arrived safely
and is now thriving at
home with parents and big
sister Eva.
Many mums of two small
children would be too
absorbed to give much thought
to the delivery team. But Leah took
time out to write a long letter of thanks
to the professionals, with a special
mention for consultant Dr Abraham
Foroughi and midwife Alex Woods.
She said: “My husband Richard and I
both agreed that without all the
excellent care and skills that the team
showed, we may not have had the
same end result of a healthy perfect
baby boy. We are very thankful to
everyone involved in the labour and
delivery of Sonny and so very grateful
that we had such a great team of
people to take care of us.
“Alex is such a brilliant and natural
midwife. I could not wish for a better
person to help me through the whole
experience. She was with us every step
of the way and ensured our baby got
here safe and sound.
“We cannot put into words how
thankful we are.”
Sustainability slot
Barbara’s journey is a tiny part of the
work we are undertaking this year to
try to calculate and reduce our carbon
footprint.
Barbara Hitchcock, from
facilities, used to get a lift to
and from work three times a
week – that’s 360 miles a year.
We calculated that her
commute produced around
110kg of CO2 emissions
annually.
Inspired by our Bike Week events,
Barbara has got herself a brand new
bicycle, ‘Betty’, and is doing her bit to
save the planet. If all our 4,000 or so
staff reduced their weekly commute by
just eight miles, around 400,000kg
(400 tonnes) would be saved each year.
Interesting fact – it takes two hectares
of trees about 40 years to capture that
amount of CO2.
Calculating the CO2 output of
6
Barbara said: “Yes – I am still biking
today, and still saddle sore. But the
backpack I won for being a new cyclist
is so handy – I can get loads in in. Betty
is now my partner every day for work,
whatever the weather!”
To find out more about cycle training,
salary sacrifice bikes, on-site training
facilities, local cycle routes or
calculating your own carbon footprint,
contact Caroline Hanghong at
Travel.office@southend.nhs.uk
or call extension 8051.
Pathology’s big beasts
In our ongoing drive to provide top-notch pathology support for our local population, we
have introduced two ‘big beasts’ to the labs.
The Genprobe ‘Panther’ is a polymerase chain reaction
analyser which detects chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HPV via
their DNA. It is faster and more accurate than the nine-yearold analyser it replaces and is capable of processing up to
500 samples a day – so patients will get their results more
speedily. We have never tested for HPV before – anything
untoward spotted down a microscope would simply come
back as an ‘abnormal smear’ result. The equipment went
live on July 2.
Meanwhile, our biochemistry lab has been totally
redesigned to accommodate a total automated system –
The Roche ‘Cobas 8000’ which encompasses the preanalytical, analytical and post-analytical aspects of the
sample pathway. It is in operation 24/7 and is capable of
performing 82 different tests from thyroid function to
tumour markers and kidney function to cardiac markers. As
requests are received on our ICE system, they are
downloaded via the lab computer to the Cobas instruments
which read the barcode identifier and perform the tests
requested.
Biomedical scientist Sarah Edmondson with the Panther
The Cobas 8000 is capable of processing around 400 samples an hour – far more than its predecessor so patients should
notice a faster service here too.
Go, Alex!
One of our senior
physiotherapists, Alex
Quinn, has been selected to
carry the Olympic flame on
its way to the 2012 Games.
Alex was nominated by colleague
Gina Porteous for his enthusiasm and
motivational skills, and was one of
only 20 NHS employees to be selected
to help carry the flame on its 70-day
journey.
Gina explained: “He leads by example,
encouraging other team members to
improve personal fitness as well as
achieve greatness in their day-to-day
professional lives. He has organised a
team from the hospital to complete a
gruelling 24-hour endurance race,
mud runs and competes weekly in
the department’s five-a-side football
7
team.”
In addition, she says, he is ‘one of the
nice guys’.
“He is approachable, supportive and
represents all that is good about
Southend Hospital and the NHS in
general.”
A modest Alex, who’s running in
Kent, said: “I feel extremely privileged
to have been selected and am very
excited about the forthcoming day. I
don’t think I am in the league of some
of the stories I have read regarding
other torchbearers, but am very happy
that the Olympics committee has
selected some people who maybe
don’t have the most exciting or
inspiring stories. And I will absolutely
love being a small part of Olympics
history and legacy.”
Simply the best
Highlights included the hospital’s
wound management team, whose
efforts in pressure ulcer management
have successfully halved the overall
number of limb amputations. Also high
on the list of successes was the
introduction of the enhanced recovery
programme, designed to get patients
fit and ready for discharge much
sooner after surgery.
Our nurses, midwives and
healthcare assistants
showcased their work and
shared best practice at an
inaugural conference in
Billericay.
Keynote speaker was East of England’s
chief nursing officer, Ruth May,
pictured here with chief executive
Jacqueline Totterdell and director of
nursing, Sue Hardy.
Sue said: “Our nurses and midwives do
a truly fantastic job, and the success of
the
initiatives
presented at
the conference
clearly
demonstrates this. My
trust board colleagues and I are
incredibly proud and we were
delighted to celebrate these
achievements alongside the staff
responsible for their success.”
Our nurses
and midwives
do a truly
fantastic job
We asked for your nursing stories….
…to mark International
Nurses’ Day and HCA Emir
Hampton came up trumps.
Emir knew she wanted a hospitalbased job after spending many spells
on the other side of the sheets when
she was growing up. Emir was born
with neurofibromatosis, a genetic
condition where tumours grown on the
nerve tissue. The youngest of six, Emir
was the only one to inherit the
disorder: “It was a mutant gene
unfortunately.”
She was born with a small lump on her
right eye and has developed other
tumours including one near her brain
and another in her ear. She has had a
series of operations including one to
remove a tumour which grew into her
cheek and gums. Now she is ecstatic to
I am so
happy here.
Orthopaedics is
so interesting..
learn that surgery may be possible on
the large growth near her eye.
Despite having a hard time at school
where cruel jibes and name calling
were everyday challenges, Emir refuses
to let the painful condition get her
down.
“My family brought me up not to dwell
on it and just act as if I didn’t have the
condition.
“After spending so long in hospital I
first wanted to be a doctor, but was
not clever enough. So I thought I
would do the next best thing and I am
really happy. I don’t mind the dirty jobs
at all. It is a way of giving back to the
nurses who helped me so much when I
was younger. And, as an HCA, I spend
a lot of time with the patients which is
what I want to do. I love listening to
people’s stories, especially their love
stories – and I hear a lot of those!”
She has been based on Castle Point
ward for the past two years and knows
she has found her niche.
“I am so happy here. Orthopaedics is
8
so interesting, I have amazing work
colleagues and, better still, lovely
patients.
“I probably would not be doing this if I
did not have NF. I have no room in my
life to be sad – I have this wonderful
job, a fantastic family and great partner
(James Allman, a student nurse on
Neptune ward).
Making a name
for herself
Sexual health clinic manager, Alison Keefe, still gets
a thrill from seeing her name in print – despite
having had a whole series of articles published
nationally.
Over the last three years, Ali has been a regular contributor to
the monthly magazine Nurse Prescribing, informing about the
sexually-transmitted infections which she sees as a matter of
routine in her work. She has covered the whole gamut of
conditions, from chlamydia and syphilis to herpes and genital
warts and, most recently, the newly discovered LGV
(lymphogranuloma venereum).
Ali says: “The articles are aimed at practice nurses and
are written in a not-too-technical style. It is all about
raising awareness in the community because there are
lots of symptoms which might not readily be linked to
a sexually-transmitted infection. The clinic has strong
links with other specialties, as patients can present
with joint, urology or eye problems.”
Ali’s flourishing publishing career stems back to the
dissertation on nurse-led clinics she completed for her
health and social care degree back in 2004. On the
back of that, she was asked to speak at a Royal College
of Nursing conference and then to pen some expert
articles.
She says: “It is quite time consuming, but I enjoy
having a project and having to meet a deadline. And
the fact that you are writing for an interested audience
makes it really worthwhile.
“I try to show the human side, and include the
communication skills that nurses use on a daily basis.
We try to put everyone who comes to the clinic at their
ease as that is good medicine.
“Our nurse-led clinics have enabled us to meet our
targets of seeing patients within 48 hours of
contacting the service, and we have a walk-in nurse-led
clinics four days a week. Many patients go through the
service without ever seeing a doctor.
“Sexual health is a specialty which is ideally suited to
nurse-led clinics and the Trust has been very supportive
of them.”
Early detection
of dementia
Patients aged 75 or over who
are admitted to our medical or
surgical wards are now
routinely being assessed for
dementia if carers or nursing
staff believe there is a need.
Our memory team nurses are visiting
at-risk patients on the ward to give
them a simple cognitive assessment.
We are then able to prescribe
appropriate medication, refer them to
the memory clinic or signpost them
and their carers to Alzheimer’s cafes
or other helpful organisations in the
community.
Consultant physician Dr Ioannis
Liakas, our dementia lead, said:
“A large proportion of our patients
aged over 75 have dementia or
confusion as well as other the
medical condition for which they are
admitted. We are now ensuring that
everyone with a possible diagnosis of
dementia receives help.
“The object of this initiative is early
detection so that we can channel
patients appropriately and prolong
the period they are well.”
We have now agreed an integrated
care pathway with the PCT so that
9
patients can be seen promptly at the
first available appointment either
here or by the SEPT mental health
team.
Dr Liakas added: “We recognise that
some patients may be confused
simply because of being in hospital. If
there is nothing to indicate a longterm problem, we shall be asking our
GP colleagues to assess them a
couple of months after discharge.”
Welcomes, congratulations and farewells
Welcome to:
Claire Hankey,
our new head of
communications
and engagement,
who has joined us
from the Echo
newspaper where
she was features
editor for a
number of years.
Claire also has previous experience of
NHS communications and is looking
forward to the challenge of her new
role and to getting around the
hospital to chat to staff in all areas.
Iain McMillan, who
joins us as our first
commercial director.
Iain has degrees in
economics and
finance and
international
marketing and an
impressive track
record as a board director in areas
including retail and financial services
as well as healthcare.
He says: “My role is essentially to look
for new revenue streams to ensure we
continue to provide progressive and
high quality care free at the point of
access. The cash can then be
reinvested into excellent patient care,
so we can continue to attract top
surgeons, consultants and nurses.”
Colin Cadwallader,
interim director of
estates and facilities,
who joins us from a
global company
where he was
responsible for all
their UK premises. He
previously worked in
the NHS for 28 years. Colin commutes
weekly from his home in Cheshire and
admits that he ‘loves a challenge’. His
aim at Southend is to make us the
‘best in class’ – fully compliant with all
legislation and consummately
professional.
Mr Peter Acher, consultant
urological surgeon who joins us in his
first consultant post from Guy’s and St
Thomas’. After qualifying at
Cambridge and Guys Hospital, he
worked as a registrar while
completing his PhD in prostate
brachytherapy. He will be supporting
and expanding our own prostate
brachytherapy service as well as
carrying out laser surgery for prostate
and stone disease.
Miss Tulika Singh, consultant
obstetrician and gynaecologist with a
special interest in maternal and foetal
medicine. Tulika was inspired to
embark on a medical career by her
maternal aunt, also an obstetrician
and gynaecologist.
She says: “We want to expand our
services to make Southend the leading
centre for foetal medicine in Essex.”
Mr Thomas Giesen, who has joined
our hand surgery team after
previously working here as a fellow.
Born in Berlin, Thomas grew up and
studied medicine in Italy.
He soon realised that he wanted to
specialise in hand surgery and spent
some time in the prestigious Ganga
Hospital microsurgery and plastic
surgery unit in Coimbatore, India.
He has also worked in Louisville,
Kentucky, Verona and Zurich, where
he was dealing exclusively with major
hand trauma cases.
A speaker of Italian, Spanish, German
and French as well as English, Thomas
has had to give up his love of playing
rugby as he cannot run the risk of
injury. Now he is busy learning card
tricks and dreaming of piloting a
plane – his colleagues in Zurich gave
him a gift of a flying lesson which he
is now planning to take at Southend
airport.
Farewell to:
David Park,
consultant neurologist,
who has retired to ‘live
happily ever after’ with
his new wife Pamela
(congratulations to
them both!).
David first came to
work here back in 1977, when he also
had patient lists at both the London
Hospital and the old Oldchurch
10
Hospital, Romford. But gradually he
and colleagues built up the service
here to pave the way for our
renowned stroke unit. David counts
that as one of the highlights of his
time with us. The service was
originally housed in Edmund Stone
ward before being transferred to
Rochford Hospital when it was the
first stroke unit in a district general
hospital in the country.
David says: “We had the successful
appeal for the CT scanner and then
the installation of our first MRI
scanner after another appeal. It was
opened by Princess Anne and the envy
of the other Essex hospitals.
“We also had the first botulinum clinic
in a DGH and invented botulinum
treatment for sweating and spasm
relief in stroke patients.”
Following by-pass surgery here last
year, David promises he will ‘keep
on taking the tablets’.”
Lesley Hough, right, who became
our first hospital transfusion
practitioner seven years ago and has
just retired. Lesley came to the
hospital 15 years ago as a biomedical
scientist in haematology (after doing
her initial lab technician’s training
here back in the sixties). She says she
has no immediate plans for her
retirement – just to spend a couple of
months relaxing and enjoying life.
But then she mentions volunteering
for Fairhavens hospice, devoting
more time to the gym, yoga, walking
and painting……!
She says: “I will miss all the lovely
people I have met around the
hospital.”
Lesley’s place is being taken by
Natalie Outten, left, (so
congratulations, Natalie) who has
been with us since 1995 – mainly as
a biomedical scientist in the
anticoagulation department. For
the past month or so she has been
shadowing Lesley and is taking on
the role on a four month’s
secondment. Natalie, who started her
working life with the National Blood
Service, is looking forward to the
challenge ahead but reckons she has
‘big shoes to fill’.
Congratulations to:
Clerical assistant Janet Gowers and
Bedwell ward clerk Marguerite
Dorey who both received special
commendations in our Hospital
Heroes employee of the month
award (see page 1). Janet, from
cardiology, led the way in introducing
a new reporting system and is
committed to continually improving
her knowledge and skills as well as
looking for ways to assist her
colleagues, says her manager Anne
Davey.
Marguerite is an inspiration to staff
and patients, going out of her way to
try to solve any problem with a smile.
Ward manager, Andrea Turner, says:
“If we all had a Marguerite, the
world would be a much nicer and
happier place.”
Liz Leigh, Kym Popplewell and
Kay Bell who were all successful in
the recent board of governors’
elections. Liz and Kym represent the
hospital and treatment centres while
Kay is the Brit House rep.
Dr Sarah
Mapplebeck, on
becoming a
consultant clinical
biochemist and
being promoted to
head of our clinical
biochemistry
department.
Sarah joined us six years ago as a
pre-registration clinical biochemist
,since when she has attained her
Fellowship of the Royal College of
Pathologists.
She says: “There are many challenges
facing us within pathology right now
so it is an exciting time to be
promoted. We have an excellent
team who are all very excited and
looking forward to what lies ahead.”
Senior staff nurse Emily Gaff from
SCBU and midwife Deborah-Ann
Edwards excelled themselves on the
latest NLS provider course and were
awarded ‘instructor potential’ status.
Trust staff achieved a 100% pass rate
on the course.
Our doughty IT ‘Three-Peakers’, Alan
Tuckwood, David Robinson and
Paul Tracy, who survived their
challenge to climb the UK’s three
highest peaks in 24 hours.
They climbed in temperatures
ranging between 14 and 27 degrees,
navigated through snow fields,
negotiated a night descent from Ben
Nevis, avoided crags on Scafell Pike
and finished with a last surge to
complete Snowdon. Injuries were
suffered along the way which
resulted in the team finishing just an
hour outside of their target time.
And well done to their trusty driver,
hospital service improvement
11
Obituaries
John Pengelly
17 February 1948
to
15 May 2012
Affectionately
known as ‘Little
John’, he was a
very popular and
valued member of
the building and
carpentry tem
from 1980 until his retirement in 2009.
A memorial service was held in the
hospital chapel.
Joan Storrie
13 March 1948 to
26 May 2012
Joan was a
receptionist and
host in our main
outpatients
department for 10
years until she fell
and broke her
shoulder earlier this year. Her health
sadly deteriorated and she was taken to
ITU where she died.
Colleagues described Joan as ‘generous
in spirit’ with a smashing sense of
humour, a kind, loyal and thoughtful
friend who was always ready to help
out. Joan will be remembered fondly for
her big smile and love of holidays and
passion for clothes – always matching
her handbag to her shoes.
She leaves a husband, Henry, who has
asked that any donations in Joan’s
memory should be made to Rochford
ward where she was cared for before
she died.
manager Cath Abrahams. Thanks to
those who have already donated and
– for those who haven’t – it is never
too late. Just visit the following link –
all proceeds go to our Bosom Pals On
The Road Appeal.
www.justgiving.com/SouthendHospital-3-peaks
We are dying to know…
…what five things do you
want to do before you die?
It is not a macabre question; it is
eminently practical and sensible.
We might all live to receive our
telegram from the Palace – or we may
not even make our biblical threescore
years and ten. But it is important to
break the taboo we have built up
around death – as national Dying
Matters week sought to highlight.
There was an excellent turnout of staff
and public at an exhibition day we held
to encourage people to start talking
about death.
Wendy Warner, palliative care lead
nurse, said: “Unlike other cultures, we
are notoriously reluctant in this country
to face the inevitable so that, when a
loved one does die, we are left totally
unprepared.“ Visitors to the exhibition
were able to take away cards where
they could list the five dreams still to
fulfil as well as five things they would
want to be remembered for.
Open for business
Aspirations included learning to play
the guitar, enjoying a hot-air balloon
trip, working for the homeless, driving
across America, seeing elephants in
their natural habitat, mastering a
foreign language, getting a tattoo,
buying a house, doing a stand-up
routine and just ‘being happy’.
Being a good parent or friend, having a
great sense of humour and trying to
make things fairer featured high on the
lists of things to be remembered for.
Among those on hand to give advice
and chat at the exhibition day were
funeral directors, solicitors and willwriting experts as well as our own
palliative care, counselling and
bereavement specialists.
Visitors also had the chance to look
around our highly-acclaimed
bereavement suite and the chapel and
multi-faith room.
Wendy went on: “Death, dying and
bereavement are traditionally not
things we talk much about. But it is
important to have a discussion, not just
for ourselves but for our loved ones. It
is an added stress if they do not know
their loved one’s wishes.
“We have been doing a great deal of
work to meet the needs of patients
nearing the end of their lives and at
Southend Hospital we can be proud
that we want to do our best and
improve on our care for patients who
are dying and their families. “
Pace
yourselves!
There are going to be some pretty
inspirational feats of athleticism
going on this summer – and we
want to be part of the action.
We have just opened our first-ever
charity shop – and it’s already
doing a roaring trade for our
Bosom Pals Appeal On The Road.
Opened by champion fundraiser,
Joyce Long (pictured centre|), the
shop at 346 London Road, Westcliff
is being leased to us rent-free.
Check out the bargains next time
you’re that way, bring along your
stuff to replenish the shelves – or
you may even want to volunteer
your retail skills. Call the
fundraising team on ext 6401.
You may not be in line for a gold medal,
but you could win three months’ free
membership of Fitness First in Victoria
Avenue, Southend by entering out
Olympic Pedometer Challenge.
As everyone knows, you have to be in it
to win it, so email the name of your
team and its six members to Karen
Harman in occupational health and
she’ll get you each fitted up with a
pedometer.
As a special offer to all hospital staff,
Fitness First is also generously offering
free use of their gym during the
Olympics (July 30 to August 12) –
contact Karen on 01702 222900.
12
Diary Dates
MSK study day
Saturday, September 29
Shoulder and ankle ‘hands-on’
course in the ed centre. Aimed at
specialty trainees and anyone with
a special interest in MSK imaging.
£50 including lunch – for full
details contact Denise
Southgate (ext 5627) or Katie
Palmer on 5082.
katie.palmer@southend.nhs.uk
Children’s Acute Transport
Service (CATS) study day
Thursday October 4 – in the
education centre
Contact Julie Dibbens on ext
6372 for further details.