patients rate poole hospital`s nurses amongst best in uk

G r a p evin e
Summer 2013
In This Issue…
03
Patients benefit from
new cutting edge cancer
treatment
04
Volunteers thanked with
cream tea
Health minister Dr Dan Poulter praised services at Poole Hospital on a visit in May, saying what he’d seen was
“fantastic in terms of a patient-focused approach”. Read the full story on page 2
09
Patients rate Poole Hospital’s
nurses amongst best in UK
Patients have rated nurses at Poole Hospital
amongst the best in the UK in a major
national patient survey.
The Care Quality Commission’s national
inpatient survey rated the trust as the only
acute non-specialist hospital to have two
better ratings in the section on nursing –
specifically patients having confidence and
trust in the nurses treating them and getting
answers they could understand from nurses.
The trust was also amongst the best in the
country for patients feeling they did not have
to wait a long time to get a bed on a ward.
The survey, which measures patient
attitudes to a wide range of aspects of
their hospital experience, also painted
a healthy picture of high quality care,
confidence in ward staff and respect for
patient privacy and dignity. In nearly 75%
of questions, the trust scored above the
national average, including:
l privacy in A&E
l support to eat and drink at mealtimes
l privacy when being treated or examined
While no areas were rated as ‘worse
performing’ nationally, the survey found
areas in which performance could be
strengthened. These include ensuring the
views of patients about the quality of their
care is sought, making information on
how to complain clearer and the number
of occasions in which an operation or
procedure’s date was changed. Patients
also highlighted the use of mixed sex
accommodation and bathroom facilities.
Martin Smits, director of nursing and
patient services for Poole Hospital, said the
Staff champion Festival of
Running
report presented an overall positive picture
that hospital staff and the public can be
proud of.
“Our staff should take due credit from
the strong performances highlighted by
our patients, and the public should also be
assured that their local hospital can stand
shoulder to shoulder with some of the best
hospitals nationally in a range of key areas.
“We’re absolutely not complacent, and
the areas which our patients have told us
should be improved will receive appropriate
focus and attention.
“We’ve worked hard to reduce the
number of patients having to share
accommodation with people of the
opposite sex, for example, and there is
clearly more work to do to reduce this
number still further.”
Health minister visit showcases
nurses’ ‘patient-focused approach’
Health minister Dr Dan Poulter visited
Poole Hospital in May to learn more
about the innovative and extended
roles nurses are undertaking in caring
for patients with a range of medical
conditions.
He visited the medical investigations unit
(MIU), one of only a handful in the UK led
entirely by specially trained nurses, which
Dr Poulter talks with patient Bob Miller
offers treatments for a range of conditions
including multiple sclerosis, a range of
cancers and haematological conditions.
Patients with diagnosed or undiagnosed
conditions are assessed by nurses, who
then make decisions about the clinical care
needed, including prescribing medication.
During his visit Dr Poulter praised the unit
saying it is an example that others could
follow. “What I’ve seen today is fantastic in
terms of a patient-focussed approach,” said
Dr Poulter.
“The way patients can influence and give
feedback is a very good model of how
things should be, and is what we want to
see elsewhere in the country.”
Bob Miller is a long term patient of the
MIU, attending around every five weeks.
Bob said: “I’ve seen this unit grow over
the years, and it has become very valuable
to me. The staff have been absolutely
wonderful – they are very good here and I’d
give the service 10 out of 10.”
The tour of the unit was led by matron
Geoffrey Walker, alongside senior sister
Shelley Pasamar and sister Joy Peeke.
“I’m incredibly proud that nursing staff
here on MIU were able to talk through
their extended roles face-to-face with
the minister, who took a real interest in
developments here. We’re leading the
way in providing nurses with the skills and
techniques so that they can in turn deliver
the very best care possible to our patients.”
The health minister then moved on to the
Rapid Access Consultant Evaluation unit,
which is staffed by doctors, nurses and
therapies’ professionals seven days a week
to ensure elderly patients receive prompt
and comprehensive care, reducing the time
patients spend in hospital.
Dr Poulter talks with nurses on MIU about
their extended roles
Chief Executive’s Column
Welcome to the summer edition of
Grapevine. This edition is jam-packed
with good news stories including
the shortlisting of one of our
innovative pathways for a national
award and the introduction of new
cutting-edge cancer treatment for
the first time in Dorset.
Since the last edition of Grapevine, the
Francis Report has been widely shared
and discussed across the trust. Clinical
divisions have considered the report and
its implications for the trust with both
staff and patient representatives.
A number of listening events have been
held through which staff have identified
key priorities for action, including
improving communication with patients
and family and reducing the burden of
paperwork. You can read more about this
on page 9.
Our merger plans are currently being
reviewed by the Competition Commission
(CC) and we continue to respond to their
02 • Grapevine
queries. We now expect to hear their
final view before October. Subject to the
CC’s feedback, our regulator, Monitor,
will then scrutinise the merger bid. As
I write, the soonest authorisation may
occur is at the end of this financial year.
You will know by now that Monitor
is investigating our forecast financial
position. This decision to look into our
financial sustainability comes as no
surprise – it follows our own forecasts
for the next two years which illustrate
the anticipated situation at the hospital
should the proposed merger with the
Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch
Hospitals not go ahead.
I’d like to stress that this investigation is
not a reflection on the quality of services
we provide – we’re rightfully proud of
our staff and services and both staff and
patients can remain confident in the
healthcare provided at Poole Hospital.
Remember, you can keep up to date
with the latest news by reading the
weekly staff bulletin and attending the
open staff briefings held every quarter.
In the meantime, if you have any
questions please email
communications@poole.nhs.uk
Chris Bown, chief executive
Poole Hospital patients benefit from
new cutting edge cancer treatment
Prostate cancer patients at Poole Hospital are the first in
Dorset to benefit from innovative radiotherapy treatment.
The new technology allows cancer specialists to pinpoint the
location of a tumour with greater accuracy, accounting for its
movement within the body, reducing side effects and increasing
cure rates.
Mike Bayne, clinical director for oncology services, said. “For
the first time in Dorset we can deliver precision radiation therapy
treatments two to eight times faster than traditional methods.
By leaving less time for tumour motion during dose delivery, the
radiation dose can concentrate on doing what it does best – killing
cancer cells.”
Two of the trust’s four linear accelerator (linac) machines now
incorporate the latest technology – Image Guided Radiotherapy
(IGRT), which pinpoints the position of a tumour within patients
immediately prior to treatment, and Intensity Modulated Arc
Therapy (IMAT) which allows dose distribution to be shaped
to cover the tumour, meaning higher doses can be given more
accurately in a faster time.
Without these developments at Poole Hospital, patients would
have to travel to London and other radiotherapy centres for
treatment.
Patients with prostate cancer will be treated with the new
technology initially, but it will be introduced for other types of
cancer, such as head and neck cancer, later in the year.
Mike continued: “Technical advances in radiotherapy have
transformed what is possible over the last ten years. 2011 was the
‘Year of radiotherapy’ and there has been increasing momentum
Mike Bayne, clinical director for oncology services, displays the IGRT
and IMAT technology
behind initiatives to ensure appropriate levels of investment so that
more patients can receive curative treatment.”
The investment was made possible following a grant of £1.3m
from the Department of Health early last year and £400,000 from
the Government’s national Cancer Radiotherapy Innovation Fund
(RIF) at the end of 2012.
Trust shortlisted for
prestigious national award
An initiative which helps patients
with terminal illnesses return home
sooner has been shortlisted for a
national award.
The initiative, Rapid Discharge Home to
Die (RDHD) pathway, sees staff working
with other agencies to enable patients who
are dying, and have expressed a wish to
die at home, to leave hospital quickly with
appropriate care and support.
It is one of nine shortlisted from 49
entries into the Health Service Journal’s Care
Integration Awards End of Life Care category.
Clive Hunt, palliative care clinical nurse
specialist, said: “Whilst the majority of
people nearing end of life express a
preference to die at home, in reality, most
deaths still occur in hospital.
“There has been a perception that the
rapid discharge home of a dying patient is
impractical and therefore impossible due
to the time it takes to put the necessities
into place.
“This pathway challenges those ideas
by providing a structured approach to coordinated working across multiple agencies
from health, social and voluntary sectors,
creating an infrastructure that can provide
immediate response.”
The RDHD pathway was developed by
staff across the hospital in collaboration
with patient groups, charities, NHS
community health services and
commissioners, and local authority social
services, as part of a broader initiative to
improve care quality at the end of life.
It sees hospital staff working with
GPs, community care providers and
social workers to put appropriate care
plans in place quickly, so patients can be
discharged from hospital within hours
rather than days.
Initial feedback from patients and carers
using the RDHD is extremely positive. In
a thank-you to the hospital one family
member of a patient said: “Mum wanted
l-r, back to front: Andi Stone, palliative
care clinical nurse specialist; Mandy Leigh,
discharge matron; Sarah Palmer, senior
physiotherapist; and Clive Hunt, palliative care
clinical nurse specialist
to be at home where she could relax and
be in familiar surroundings.
“She knew she was at home – this meant
the world to her and it also meant the world
to me. I had promised her I would do my
best to keep her at home and to care for her
and the scheme allowed me to do this”
The winners of the 2013 Care Integration
Awards will be announced in July.
Find Grapevine online at: www.poole.nhs.uk/publications
The mayor of Poole, Cllr Philip Eades and
Madam Mayoress presented the volunteers
with their certificates
Cream tea and
thanks for volunteers
The hard work of Poole Hospital’s
volunteers was celebrated with a
special cream tea in June.
The event, organised as part of National
Volunteers Week, saw more than 80
volunteers enjoying a strawberry cream
tea in the hospital grounds before they
were presented with certificates from the
worshipful mayor of Poole, cllr Philip Eades,
and Madam Mayoress.
Amanda Colman, head of patient
experience, said: “We have an army of
volunteers working across all areas of the
hospital, be that directing visitors, serving
refreshments on the wards, organising
paperwork or simply offering patients a
friendly ear.
“Volunteers play a vital role in supporting
us to provide the best services possible and
their efforts are invaluable to both staff and
patients.”
The trust is fortunate to have more than
200 enthusiastic volunteers working from
two hours a week to as many hours as
they can spare. The hours and duties are
adapted to fit in with the lives and the
interests of the individual volunteer, with
some working during the days, evenings or
at weekends.
Angela Schofield, trust chairman, offered
thanks to the ‘fantastic’ volunteers for their
hard work across all areas of the trust.
She said: “The results of our most recent
inpatient survey pay testament to the highquality services at Poole Hospital.
“A huge part of that quality is our
volunteers, who provide that extra
dimension of care and support for patients.
“We all know how precious time is, and
we’re incredibly grateful you so graciously
give your valuable time for the benefit of
the trust.”
To find out more about volunteering at
Poole Hospital, contact Joy Janati, voluntary
services lead, via joy.janati@poole.nhs.uk
Charity’s legacy for Poole’s
respiratory patients
A Dorset charity which has supported
respiratory patients in Poole and
Bournemouth for more than two
decades handed over its final cheque
to Poole Hospital in June.
The Dorset Respiratory Group, which
started out as the British Lung Foundation’s
largest regional branch with 500 members
in 1992, became the Dorset Respiratory
Group in 1995. It disbanded earlier this year
after a decline in membership.
Ann Maskell, chairman, handed over the
group’s final cheque – for nearly £15,000
– to Arne ward respiratory consultants Dr
Simon Crowther, Dr Mark Allenby and Dr
Sugamya Mallawathantri.
Ann said: “We came together with the
goal of providing support for people with
chronic respiratory disease in Dorset, and
we unanimously agreed to disband the
04 • Grapevine
group in order to protect this legacy and
bow out on a high.”
The money will be used to buy additional
equipment for patients with cystic fibrosis
and other respiratory illnesses, such as
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD).
This equipment includes two new
electronic spirometers, which are lung
function testing machines that record the
amount and rate of air breathed in and out
over a set time.
The new spirometers will give consultants
more detail about patients’ lung function
than the current machines, as well as a
memory to store this data.
The respiratory team is also looking to
buy two portable ventilator machines which
will be used to assist patients who have
chronic respiratory disease.
Dr Simon Crowther, left, received the cheque
from Rob and Ann Maskell, seated front
Dr Simon Crowther said: “The group has
donated a large amount of money over
the last two decades which has helped us
improve the care we provide to our patients
and our patients’ experience. We are
extremely grateful to all their members for
their support.”
Critical care
patient reunion
An event which sees former patients reunite
with staff who cared for them while they
were in Poole Hospital’s critical care unit
was a celebratory scene in May.
The reunion, which was formed following
feedback from the critical care follow-up service,
offers patients follow-up care on general wards
after they are discharged from the critical care unit.
Tracy Hawksworth, senior staff nurse on the
critical care unit, said: “Recovery from critical
illness can be a long and difficult journey which
often does not end when the patient leaves
hospital.
“The critical care follow-up clinic has been
a great success in supporting the physical and
psychological recovery of critical care patients.
The reunion is a celebration of survival.”
This critical care follow-up clinic at Poole
Hospital is currently the only one of its kind
in Dorset. It also offers patient access to the
ICUSteps Poole patient support group, which is
a support group run by ex-patients with support
from the critical care nurses.
Martin Davis is a former critical care patient
who helps run the ICUSteps Poole support group.
He said: “The reunion is our opportunity to get
together to say ‘hey I’m still here – look what the
hospital did for me!’
“If it wasn’t for all the skill in Poole Hospital
most of us wouldn’t be here now – but we’ve all
gone down the same track and survived, and we
can help each other through that.”
To access the follow-up clinic, run by Dr Chris
Loew, consultant in critical care; Tracy SlaterHawksworth, senior staff nurse; and Gemma
Turnbull, staff nurse; call the critical care unit on
extension 2404/8590.
Make you voice heard –
become a staff governor
Have you ever wondered what goes
on at board level? Do you want to
impact change and have yours and your
colleagues’ voices heard? Then why not
stand in the staff governor elections
this year?
There are two staff governor seats
available – one representing clinical
staff (open to all clinical staff) and one
representing non-clinical staff (open to all
non-clinical staff and volunteers of the trust).
These seats are available alongside an
election for six of our twelve public governor
seats, with the term of office starting on the
1 November 2013.
Anita Bonham, business manager in the
company secretary’s office, said: “As a staff
governor you’ll be a direct link between the
trust board and staff members in your area.
You’ll listen to colleagues and ensure their
thoughts are heard at board level through
the council of governors to develop plans for
the future of the trust.”
A term of office would normally be three
years however, due to the merger plans, this
term of office could be significantly reduced
as you would act as governor until the date
of any merger.
A prospective governor event is being
held for staff and members of the public
interested in standing in the elections at
3pm, Monday 5 August, in the board room.
If you want to go along, please email
members.contact@poole.nhs.uk or if you are
unable to attend this session use this email
address to request an information pack.
In focus
The trust’s non-executive directors
bring fresh insight and perspectives
to the work of Poole Hospital. In this
month’s ‘In Focus’ column, Grapevine
talks to Ian Marshall.
Ian became a non-executive director in February 2011 after
he and his wife, Carla, moved to Poole a few years earlier and
had been looking for a local role. He said: “I’d always worked in
London so when we moved to Poole we wanted to get involved
in the community – the hospital is a very important part of that
community.”
A trained accountant, Ian sits on the finance committee and
the audit and governance committee as well as the trust board.
He said: “As a non-executive director you are responsible for the
governance of the organisation. Often the key issue is how the
hospital balances the financial targets that Government guidelines
require without impacting the quality and safety of the service.
Timeline for
the October
2013 staff
governor
elections
21 August
Notice of Election published
and nomination forms
available from the election
company (details will be
made available on trust notice
boards, intranet and website)
5 September
Deadline of submission of
nomination papers to the
election company
10 September
Final date for candidate
withdrawal
24 September
Notice of poll is published
25 September
Voting packs despatched
by the election company to
members
15 October
Election closes
16 October
Results are shared with the
trust and candidates notified
“I’m also interested in the general running of the hospital and
take the chance to get out and about when I can – in May I took
the opportunity to go along and see Gully’s Place.”
Ian, who splits his time between London and Poole, has
plenty to fill his week. Not only is he the chairman of Markel
International, a specialist insurance company, but is also honorary
treasurer for children’s charity Barnardo’s and is a senior advisor
to the Bank of England.
On top of all this, Ian also runs a social enterprise farm in east
Africa, which ploughs money into its local community.
“I have little down time but I am lucky to have a really
enjoyable mix of occupations – it’s more like a hobby. I feel very
lucky that at the age of 66 I probably have more going on than
when I was 30!”
Ian also attends Poole medical investigations unit (MIU) as a
patient. He said: “I’m hugely impressed by everybody I meet
there – I’m always so surprised by how long people have worked
at the hospital.
“Poole Hospital always has a very professional, stable feeling – I
really enjoy being part of that.”
Find Grapevine online at: www.poole.nhs.uk/publications
Trust staff share
knowledge internationally
This spring staff members across
the trust took their expertise on the
road to share with the international
community.
In this edition we hear from MacMillan
breast clinical nurse specialist Michelle
Pidgley, who joined in the Femmes Dans La
Ville festival in France.
We also hear from Meggitt bursary
winner, specialist registrar in general surgery
Nigel D’Souza, who tells us about his trip to
the American Society of Colon and Rectal
Surgeons 2013 meeting in Phoenix.
Breast care nurses go
on the road
The trust’s breast clinical nurse specialists
were invited to speak at a festival called
Femmes Dans La Ville in March by Poole
Twinning association.
On a wet Saturday at the end of March
Michelle Pidgley, MacMillan Breast CNS
and Caroline Macphearson, travelled to
Cherbourg to meet ‘the pink ladies’ – ex
cancer patients.
The ladies took the opportunity to ask
questions and share information. Michelle
said: “All were keen to find out about our
role, treatments and support that was
provided at Poole Hospital.
“Although breast cancer services are
similar across the three countries they do
not have the benefit of specialist nurses.”
After a successful meeting, the pair were
invited to return later this year with the aim
of visiting the local hospital to meet medical
and nursing staff there.
Poole’s breast
clinical nurse
specialists joined
Femmes Dans
La Ville to share
information
about their role
in the UK
Meggitt funds
colorectal society
meeting attendance
Mr Nigel D’Souza, specialist registrar in
general surgery, was named winner of
the Meggitt Bursary in the Poole Hospital
Awards 2012/13.
The bursary helped Nigel to attend the
American Society of Colon and Rectal
Surgeons 2013 meeting, in Phoenix Arizona.
The meeting, of the oldest colorectal
society in the world, had more than 2,300
attendees, of which 1,600 were surgeons.
Presentations were made by speakers from
more than 60 countries and there were also
workshops and tuition on the latest new
surgical techniques in the field.
Nigel was surprised to learn that only
30 per cent of colorectal resections in
America are carried out by laparoscopic
(keyhole) means and only 50 per cent of
laparoscopically trained surgeons in America
practise laparoscopic surgery once they
qualify as consultants.
Nigel said: “In the UK, 44 per cent of
colorectal resections are now performed
laparoscopically and at Poole Hospital, three
out of four colorectal surgeons routinely
offer patients the option of laparoscopic
surgery, with a lower mean length of the
stay than the US average.
“It was reassuring to see that the UK
is ahead of the USA in the adoption of
technology that has been shown to have
positive benefits for patients.”
Nigel now hopes to return to the US to
present some data showing the quality of
the work being performed at Poole Hospital.
Recruitment fair is just the job
More than 50 potential new nurses, scientists and allied
healthcare professionals visited Poole Hospital in June as
part of a major recruitment event.
Attendees to the job fair heard from a range of staff – including
scientists, consultants, matrons, therapists and trust directors –
about their experiences of working at the hospital.
Human resources director Sarah-Jane Taylor said the event, in the
boardroom and postgraduate centre, had been really positive with
lots of interest expressed in working for the hospital.
“It was a fantastic turnout, with some really impressive
information displays,” she said. “We’ve had some great feedback
from candidates.”
One potential employee was Claire Maber, who found out about
combining ongoing education with a nursing career.
“It’s really useful to see various routes to higher education
on display,” said Claire, who was impressed with the hospital’s
introduction to nursing programme, known as a preceptorship.
06 • Grapevine
l-r: Isabel Moore, senior occupational therapist; Sarah-Jane Taylor,
director of HR and organisational development; and Martin Smith,
emergency department matron
Attendees also heard presentations from Chris Bown, chief
executive, and matron Geoffrey Walker, recently named as the
British Journal of Nursing’s nurse of the year.
Team gains
‘excellent’
accreditation
l-r: Geoffrey Walker, MIU matron; Marie Cleary, equality
and diversity lead for workforce; and Sarah-Jane Taylor,
director of HR and organisational development
Equality, diversity and
human rights week
The trust marked the second annual equality and diversity week in
May with an information stand in the restaurant.
The stand, run by the trust’s equality and diversity lead for workforce
Marie Cleary, aimed to raise awareness of the role equality and diversity
plays across the trust.
Marie said: “We wanted to show staff, patients and visitors that equality
is part of everything we do at Poole Hospital, from improving the quality of
services for our patients to improving the quality of working life for our staff.
“We also wanted to make staff aware how equality and diversity might
relate to them in their everyday work and get them thinking about equality.
“For example, we could be treating a transgender patient but find issues
with which ward to place them on. We want to encourage staff to consider
how equality and diversity issues might arise on a day-to-day basis.”
The team is also looking for equality and diversity champions across the
trust to help ensure we provide a personal, fair and diverse NHS. “It’s about
ensuring we run our services while taking these sorts of issues into account,
and helping staff to understand what they might need in order to provide
an open and equal service to all,” continued Marie.
If you’d like to join the equality and diversity group, contact Marie on
extension 2820.
Poole Hospital’s liaison psychiatry team was
celebrating after achieving accreditation with
excellence from the Royal College of Psychiatrists,
Psychiatric Liaison Accreditation Network (PLAN)
in May.
The liaison psychiatry team provides mental health
care to inpatients at Poole Hospital and people who
attend the emergency department. It works closely
with the staff in the hospital and in other mental health
teams to ensure patients receive high quality assessment
and on-going care for mental health problems while
they are in hospital.
The accreditation came after a comprehensive review
of the service against national standards, a survey of
patients, carers and referrers to the service, a peer
review day and review by national committee.
Dr Jim Bolton, Chair of the PLAN Accreditation
Committee, said: “The team’s commitment to continually
improving the care they provide was very impressive
and this award of excellence is well deserved. We look
forward to continuing to work with them in the future.”
The team is part of a Dorset Healthcare service also
covering Royal Bournemouth Hospital, and was one of
only seven teams to achieve excellence out of 50 liaison
services reviewed in the country.
Jan Matthews, team leader, said: “We are delighted
to receive this national recognition for the service we
provide. We are all very proud of the hard work we do.”
Nutrition awareness week – winners
Staff on Portland Ward were named winners for their efforts in
making nutrition interesting and informative as part of nutrition
and hydration awareness week in March.
As part of the week Chris Bown, chief executive; Angela Schofield, trust
chairman; and Martin Smits, director of nursing and patient services, took to
the wards to deliver patient meals.
Angela, who is a trained mealtime companion, said: “I was pleased to be
invited to help to serve lunch to patients on the wards – the patients said
how very much they appreciated the choice and quality of the food and they
also told me that they were receiving wonderful care from the ward teams. “The staff on Portland Ward put together an interesting exhibition
including a quiz which provoked discussion and was good fun. Many thanks
to all those involved in making this a successful week.”
Portland ward was named winner for its
interesting exhibition about nutrition and hydration
07
Picture perfect on Lilliput ward
A new mural at the entrance of Lilliput
ward is providing a warm welcome for
patients and visitors.
The image, of sand dunes at a Dorset
beach, is the first thing patients and visitors
see when they go onto the ward.
Ward sister, Sarah Gilling, organised the
erection of the image. She said: “Many of
our patients are local so we wanted to have
a picture that would be recognisable – it
reminds them of the area they live in and
they respond to that.
“It’s only been up a short while but
patients do stop and look at it and having a
familiar environment is quite calming.”
The ward has been introducing changes
used on Lulworth ward as part of the
Dignity in Dementia programme, and will
South coast heart
failure meeting
The fourth south coast heart
failure meeting took place at
Sandbank’s Haven Hotel in April.
The meeting, now the largest annual
cardiology meeting on the south
coast of England, is hugely popular
and has grown every year attracting
consultants and other specialists with
an interest in heart failure.
National and international speakers
delivered talks at the one-day event,
and there were also two large
exhibition areas where innovations,
08 • Grapevine
medicinal products and other
developments within heart failure
and the wider cardiology field were
displayed.
Dr Christopher Boos, consultant
cardiologist at Poole Hospital,
organised the event. He said: “The
conference serves as an excellent
opportunity for learning, ideas for
clinical service development and
networking, and is registered for
continuing professional development
by the Royal College of Physicians.”
soon be changing colours of bathroom
doors and using more local images around
the ward.
“We do have a high percentage of
patients who have cognitive impairment
but these sort of improvements are also
nice for those who don’t. It’s really about
softening that clinical aspect of the hospital
environment.”
Trust receives
open doors award
The trust has been recognised with an
Open Doors Award from the national
charity Livability.
The award recognises the trust’s good practice,
excellent levels of access and customer service to
disabled people.
The Livability Open Doors Award certificate
scheme rewards organisations which are seen to
go above and beyond the norm to welcome and
cater for disabled people.
An award is made based on recommendations
from disabled people or groups who have
experienced excellent service.
Running
success
at festival
Almost 2,000 people took on a
challenge at the 32nd annual Poole
Festival of Running in June in a bid
to raise money for the Dorset Cancer
Centre.
The centre, named this year’s beneficiary
by event organisers Poole Runners and
Borough of Poole, will benefit from
sponsorship from all the day’s races.
For the last three years the festival has
raised funds for the maternity unit at Poole
Hospital. Event chairman, Mike Towner, said:
“Every year, we like to support a well-known
local charity and the Dorset Cancer Centre
seemed like the obvious choice because of
all its hard work in and around the area.”
More than 400 children took part in the
minithon races, while around 350 runners
took on the 5k and more than 1,000
runners braved the 10k race.
Penny and Reece Jarvis
after completing their races
Among them was a team from the Dorset
Cancer Centre – Mike Bayne, Josh Naylor,
Karen Bew, Ben Meigh, Sarah Northeast
and Ruth Williams – who took on the 10k
and 5k races.
Karen Bew, brachytherapy superintendent,
rallied the team of runners when she found
the centre had been named beneficiary. She
said: “I have worked at Poole Hospital for
24 years and I’ve always believed in getting
involved and supporting local charities. I care
very much for our patients, and anything we
can do to improve their experience through
treatment and into survivorship is good.”
Penny Jarvis, from the health Information
Centre, raced the 5k while grandson Reece
Jarvis took on the 1.5k minithon – both
raising funds for the centre. Penny said: “Just
about every family is touched by cancer
somewhere along the line, mine included, so
raising funds for the Dorset Cancer Centre is
something very dear to our hearts.”
It’s not too late to donate – sponsorship
money will be collected until the end of July,
when the grand total will be revealed.
For details call the fundraising team at
Poole Hospital Charity on 01202 448449.
The team from the Dorset Cancer
Centre, accompanied by charity
runner Karl Whitfield, front left
The Rowe family on the day
Looking to the future – the Francis Report
Earlier this year staff across
the health service awaited the
outcome of a report outlining
recommendations for improvement
across the entire NHS, based on
a review of failings at one NHS
organisation.
The Francis Report, published earlier
this year, has now been widely discussed
across the trust and a detailed analysis
of the recommendations has been
carried out.
A number of listening events have
been held so staff could meet with board
directors to raise any issues they wished.
The sessions highlighted the following
priorities for action:
l Improving communication with staff and
patients, relatives and carers
l Creating time and space to allow
compassionate care
l Reducing the burden of paperwork
l Ensuring staffing levels are suitable for
the work required
l Refreshing the environment
l Supporting education and training
l Maintaining the ‘Poole Approach’
There have also been discussions about
the implications of the Francis Report with
patient and public involvement groups, as
well as feedback from patients and relatives
via PALS and the complaints system.
Martin Smits, director of nursing and
patient services, said: “In the wake of
the terrible stories emerging from Mid
Staffordshire it is all too easy to forget
the excellent work that staff in the NHS
undertake every day and night.
“In Poole Hospital we have had the Poole
Approach embedded into the organisation
for many years and this philosophy of
care has ensured that the ‘insidiously
negative culture’ found by Francis in Mid
Staffordshire is absent in Poole.
“The trust will take the lessons from the
Francis Report very seriously; however, we
need to recognise the excellent work that
is already being done by staff at all levels in
the trust.”
Find Grapevine online at: www.poole.nhs.uk/publications
The Big Ask – survey now online
NHS trusts across Dorset launched The Big Ask – a listening
exercise seeking the views of people across Dorset and West
Hampshire on a whole range of NHS services – in June.
Poole Hospital has joined forces with NHS Dorset CCG; The
Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation
Trust; Dorset County NHS Foundation Trust; and Dorset HealthCare
University NHS Foundation Trust for the project.
This is the first time that NHS organisations across the county
have come together on an exercise of this scale. More than
12,000 people have been invited to complete a postal survey from
the Bournemouth University (BU) research team, which is leading
the research.
The survey includes questions about what people value the most
and what can be improved, including GPs, out of hours’ services,
community services and hospital care, is now available online at
www.bournemouth.ac.uk/thebigask and has been made
available to all foundation trust members throughout the hospital,
online and in local GP surgeries.
The findings will be available early in October and will be fed
back to staff later in the autumn.
Charity round-up
Friendly face for child development unit
A friendly new face joined the child development unit in April much to
the joy of children and staff.
The tactile caterpillar wall panel is designed to encourage children to
have fun while exploring sensory interaction.
Caroline Fawcett, lead play specialist, said: “Tactile sensation is a
fundamental part of a child’s overall sensory experience, enhancing their
understanding of the environment around them.
“Children learn about safe and dangerous tactile experiences through
coming into contact with the materials around them – they do this by
exploring and learning about the properties of materials within safe
parameters.”
The wall panel, which cost nearly £900, was donated to the unit
by local resident Wendy Taylor, who raised the money through a
sponsored spinathon.
Wendy, whose daughter works in risk management at the hospital,
has previously raised £3,500 to provide equipment for the sensory room
by organising ‘Spin 65’ when she turned 65.
She said: “My daughter had been to the unit and was inspired, so
when I asked what I could do to help she suggested raising money for
this unit.”
Caroline continued: “Interactive mural wall panels make a very strong
statement. They are something the child can physically engage with and
will give them a much stronger personal link with the places they are
visiting or spending time – perfect for hospital settings.”
Haven Hareem and Madwives take on
moonwalk
A team of staff from the Haven Birthing Suite and community and
postnatal areas took on the 16th annual Moonwalk in April to raise funds
for Walk the Walk, a grant making charity.
The team power walked 26.2 miles around London overnight in
decorated bras.
Liz Abbott, team leader, Haven Birthing Suite, said: “We pestered our
colleagues for sponsorship in the past so this year we raised funds by
holding a soup sale and a cake sale. We then organised a ‘pretty in pink’
party which was very successful.”
So far the team has raised more than £1,500 for Walk the Walk charity
which grants funds to various breast cancer projects and charities.
Liz continued: “Participating in the Moonwalk commands much
dedication for training and many hours off duty have been spent power
walking around the local area.”
10 • Grapevine
This tactile caterpillar wall panel encourages children to
explore sensory interaction
Staff took on the Moonwalk challenge to raise funds for
breast cancer projects and charities
the original revue show band – consultant
geriatrician Dr Philip Rushton; consultant
radiologist Dr Angus Wood; staff nurse
Keith Chambers; health care assistant in
endoscopy, Alan Leese; and John English –
decided to form a proper working band.
Over the years the band has acquired new
members including registrar geriatrician Dr
Naomi Jayanetti, paramedic Alistair Simpson
and sister in oncology research Louise
Heckford.
The band has performed at various events,
including Battle of the Bands, helping to raise
more than £8,000 for Poole Hospital Charity.
Local children get
creative for hospital
emergency department
Children at St Mary’s School in Poole put on
their thinking caps to come up with designs
for a new children’s waiting area in the
emergency department (ED).
There were more than 30 entries for the
competition, including ideas for murals,
designs for how the finished room might
look, suggestions for furnishings and toys
and some poems.
Staff from the trust and school got together
to shortlist the designs, and five winners were
chosen. Elements of the winning designs
will be incorporated into the new children’s
waiting area by Merlin Entertainment group.
Emergency nurse practitioner Vince House
said: “Around 16,000 children are treated
in Poole Hospital’s ED each year so it is really
important to involve children in helping us
to make their time in the department as
comfortable as possible.”
The new waiting room will cost around
£8,000 and fundraising is already underway.
Motorcycle club bring
gifts a-plenty
More than 100 motorcyclists descended on
Poole Hospital in April - all for a good cause.
Members of the New Forest H.O.G.s
(Harley Owners Group), complete with
‘Harry Harley’, the mascot of Southampton
Harley Davidson, and the AFC Bournemouth
mascot, joined forces to deliver toys to the
children’s unit at Poole Hospital.
“The children and their parents were
thrilled with the toys and goodies,” said sister
Karen Fernley.
“We are always delighted when we are
offered presents for the children as it gives us
an opportunity to brighten up the children’s
London to Brighton –
Sunday 8 September
day, some of whom have been in hospital for
some time. The gifts were so thoughtful and
a lovely gesture from the New Forest HOGs.”
24-hour cycle relay
raises huge amount for
charity
A team from BNY Mellon took on an epic
cycle challenge in March to raise money for
the Dorset Cancer Centre.
The team of 11 cyclists was set up by
Andrew Lewis, business analyst, after they
lost a colleague to cancer. He said: “In
January 2013, we lost our dear friend and
colleague Zoe Gooch to a rare and aggressive
form of cancer.
“It was immediately clear that we had an
opportunity to raise some money for cancer
treatment and help make a difference to
other cancer patients in the future. And so an
idea was born.”
He set a challenge for the team to cycle
more than 230 miles from Land’s End to Poole
in a 24-hour relay taking in A roads, B roads,
dusty tracks, hills, valleys and a disused railway.
The team completed the challenge in 24
hours and 43 minutes. “It was not an easy
undertaking but I’ll not forget this weekend,
nor any of its participants.
“Thank you to everyone who took part
and everyone who sponsored us. The ride, in
conjunction with the BNY Mellon quiz, raffle
and auction, has raised a huge sum of money
for Poole Hospital which will really make a
difference. A fitting way to remember our
dear Zoe.”
The teams fundraising efforts has raised
nearly £2,300 for the Dorset Cancer Centre.
Working the LATESHIFT in
name of charity
LATESHIFT was formed after the first Hospital
revue show in 2010 when five members of
We have gone cycling crazy in the UK since
the GB Olympic
team’s success last
year.
Why not jump on
the band wagon,
dust off your
wheels and take on
a cycle challenge
yourself with Poole
Hospital Charity’s
London to Brighton
cycle this September?
It costs just £40 to enter plus as much
sponsorship as you can raise to encourage
your pins to pedal 54 hilly miles (mostly
downhill) to Brighton from London.
Coastering Challenge –
Saturday 14 September
Sign up to the exhilarating coastering
challenge which will see you swim, climb and
jump off the rugged coastal terrain of Dorset.
It costs just £40 to register and raise as
much sponsorship as you can raise so you
can visit rarely explored caves, tunnels and
plunge pools.
If you would like to take part in
any of the Poole Hospital Charity
fundraising events contact the
fundraising team on 01202 448449
or email fundraising@poole.nhs.uk
Find Grapevine online at: www.poole.nhs.uk/publications
Thank you
The trust receives hundreds of letters each
year from grateful patients and relatives
regarding the care they have received at
Poole Hospital. Here are just a few.
“I want to thank the hospital for the excellent
service I’ve received – I’m extremely grateful
for the professionali sm and dedica tion of
all the staff I’ve come across. I want to thank
everybody I’ve met, from nurses and doctors to
porters and admin staff.”
“I wa s given attention from doctors
and nurses and guidance by others.
All sta ff were polite, professional and
extremely helpful.”
Later I wa s again con fron ted with a
wide selection of helpful and friendly
faces, all professional, careful and
attentive.”
I could not be more pleased with
my trea tment – thank you for looking
after me.”
Mole check
annual event
The trust’s team of dermatology experts held their
annual mole check event for staff in June.
The team saw more than 40 members of staff who
had concerns about their moles, and gave advice about
preventing skin cancer.
Juliet Hately, skin cancer nurse specialist, said: “With one
blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than
doubling a person’s chances of developing melanoma later
in life, it’s not surprising that the sunny south coast has the
highest incidence of skin cancer in the UK.
“But a few sensible precautions can really help prevent
the risk of skin cancer.”
For more information visit the dermatology department
in the Philip Arnold Unit or the British Association of
Dermatologists’ website at www.bad.org.uk
My perfect…
In the summer edition of
Grapevine, ‘my perfect’
takes on a summer theme
when we talk to Frances
Rye, senior dosimetrist,
about her perfect summer
…summer day I’d spend the day at home with the dogs,
take them out for a long walk and when I get home spend some time
garden, finishing off with a BBQ – anything to take full advantage of the
sunshine.
… BBQ My BBQ has got to have chicken – either a nice chicken salad
or a chicken kebab on the BBQ. As long as there’s good food and good
company I’m happy.
…holiday I’ve just come back from Florida – we love going there
as the sky is so big and blue. We have nine grandchildren and take the
bigger ones with us – my rule is that they have to be old enough to
remember it and big enough to be able to do all the things they want to
do, such as go to theme parks.
…night out I don’t really do nights out! My perfect idea of a
night out would be going to the cinema, which we do once in a blue
moon!
…night in Watching a decent programme or film while sitting
with my grandkids either doing my knitting or reading a good book. I’d
have no jobs – no washing or ironing – I’d just sit and relax.
...perfect dinner party guest I wouldn’t want
somebody famous to come to dinner as I’d be too worried all night that
everything was alright. I’d fill my party with friends and family – they are
more important, and anyone with a good sense of humour.
Top tips from the dermatology team
l Slip on a shirt – covering up is the best form of protection. Wear
good quality clothing that doesn’t let the light in. If you want to test
your clothes hold them up to a light – if you can see straight through
them they will not protect you against the sun. Look for clothing
with sun protection factor (SPF).
l Wear a hat that covers your face, ears and neck and wear a pair of
UV protective sunglasses
l Seek out the shade between 11am-3pm when it is sunny. Step out of
the sun before your skin has the chance to redden or burn.
l Keep babies and very young children out of direct sunlight
l Slap on the sunscreen – when choosing a sunscreen look for:
High protection SPF to protect against UVB – nothing less
than factor 30
The UVA circle logo and/or four or five UVA stars
Apply 30 minutes before going out in the sun and re-apply
every two hours and straight after swimming and towel drying
No sunscreen will provide 100% protection
Next Issue
Grapevine is now published four times a year, in the winter, spring, summer and
autumn. The deadline for the next edition is Monday 5 August 2013.
Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Longfleet Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 2JB
12 • Grapevine
View this newsletter online at
www.poole.nhs.uk/publications
© Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust