Outline Newsletter - The new Acute Angle

September 08
The staff newsletter of the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Chief Executive’s
Welcome
‘I am delighted to welcome you to this first edition of
Outline, our new staff newsletter.
This month marks the start of a new chapter for
the Trust, with a set of Values chosen by staff and
endorsed by the Board.
At its heart, this work is about being clear why we
exist as an organisation, what is important to us and
how we want to behave towards patients, carers,
visitors, stakeholders and each other.
It is only when we are explicit on these issues
that we can measure how we are doing and have
conversations with individuals who choose to behave
in ways which are not consistent with the Vision,
Mission and Values of the organisation.
The feelings behind the Values won’t be new to most
of you. The Trust Board is committed to helping
teams to work differently so that every patient who
comes through our doors can say that the service
they received was excellent.
As a Board
we have
already used
the Values
into Action
Toolkit to look
at the Value
of ‘listening’ and we will continue to look at all of the
Values to make sure that as a Board we are doing all
we can to make them a reality.
I look forward to hearing what your teams are
planning and believe that everyone across the Trust
must get actively involved in the Values sessions
because this is one area where everyone should
have a voice.
I look forward to meeting many more staff in person
in the coming months.’
Dr Frank Harsent
Chief Executive
Values into Action Toolkit
To make our Values ‘real’ we need to look at the way we behave
and that includes everyone from Board members right across all
staff groups.
A Values into Action Toolkit has therefore been produced to help
managers to discuss the Values with their teams.
Teams will look at the each of the Values one at a time and decide
on the simple actions they can take to help them to follow the
Values. The Trust Board were the first to use the Toolkit, see P 3.
Making Our Values Real
Many of you were involved in developing the Values
for the Trust, during the People First programme.
This work aimed to put together a set of values that
we would all be happy to follow in our day to day
work.
This month, as promised, the results of that work
bear fruit, as we begin to use the Values and a new
visual identity across the Trust.
Already you will have seen the new visual identity
appearing on the Trust’s Intranet, Website and
screensaver.
LISTENING
Listen to understand
Our patients said:
The Values, captured in single words in the Values
‘bar’, which can be seen at the foot of this page,
came from staff and patients.
The ‘Values’ were developed so that all staff know
what behaviour we can expect of each other, what
people can expect from this Trust and so that our
patients can say that the service they receive is
consistently excellent and a reflection of our aim to
provide services that are ‘Better for You’.
We asked patients what kind of behaviour and
experiences they expect from us, and this is what
they told us.
HELPING
Valued Staff with a Helpful
Attitude
Our patients said:
“Please acknowledge me,
even if you can’t help me
right now, show me that you
know that I’m here.”
IMPROVING
2
“Please ask me if
everything is alright,
and if it isn’t, be willing to
help me.”
UNITING
EXCELLING
Committed to Excellence
Our patients said:
“Don’t just do what you
have to. Take the next step
and go the extra mile.”
CARING
Learn to Improve
Work Together
Here for Patients
Our patients said:
Our patients said:
Our patients said:
“I expect you to know what
you’re doing and be good
at it.”
“Be proud of each other
and the care you all
provide.”
“Show me that you care
about me as an individual.
Talk to me, not about me.
Look at me when you talk
to me.”
Values into Action the Trust Board will...
The Trust Board was the first ‘team’ to use the Values into Action Toolkit at their
seminar session in September. They looked first at the value “listening”. Sally
Pearson, Director of Clinical Strategy who facilitated the session, said:
“Using the toolkit stimulated a very different kind of discussion in the Board. We
recognised that we could listen better not just to each other but most importantly to
staff, patients and people in other organisations we work with. To help us to achieve
this we agreed that it was important for us tackle three key areas:
zz providing more opportunities for others to be heard
zz checking that we have understood what they have said
zz letting them know what we have done as a result of what they said
To provide more opportunities for others to be heard we would like to try:
zz listening to patient stories at Board discussions and linking these with the results from our
patient and staff surveys
zz continuing the recent successful series of themed public meetings
zz visiting areas of the Trust to meet with staff
zz encouraging staff to fill the two vacancies for staff governors on the Council of Governors
We have agreed to discuss the remaining five values between now and June of next year and will let people
know what we have agreed to change through similar articles in Outline.”
Visual Identity and Corporate Guidelines
An important part of making the Values memorable
is the introduction of the new visual identity, the
intertwined figures and the colour coded words.
Corporate Guidelines have been produced which
explain more about the visual identity and how
it should be used whenever you are producing a
document, poster, leaflet, newsletter or any other
published or electronic material.
Welcome to Outline
You can download the Corporate Guidelines and all
new templates for letters, faxes and documents from
the Intranet.
If you have not already done so please delete your
now out of date templates and replace with these
new ones.
If you have any queries about how to use the visual
identity, please contact the Communications Team
on Ext 4733 or Ext 3563.
Welcome to the first edition of Outline, the new-look staff newsletter for
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
We hope that you like the brighter, modern design and enjoy reading about the
impressive achievements of your colleagues.
We have kept the features, like Spotlight on Services and All About Us, which you
told us you liked, and of course the advertisements, which are popular.
Please continue to send us your stories and photographs, we always want to hear
your news and help you to share it with colleagues across this large and vibrant
organisation of ours.
Send your articles and any suggestions or comments about Outline to
yvonne.pirso@glos.nhs.uk
September 08
The staff news
letter of the
Gloucestershir
e Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trus
t
Welcome to
Outline
Welcome to the
first edition of
Outline, the new-lo
Gloucestersh
ire Hospitals
ok staff newsle
NHS Foundation
tter for
Trust.
We hope that
you
about the impres like the brighter, modern design
sive achievement
and enjoy readin
s of your colleag
g
We have kept
ues.
the features,
like Spotlight
which you told
on Services and
us you liked and
All
About
popular.
of course the
Us,
advertisements,
which are
Please contin
ue to send us
your stories and
want to hear
your news and
photographs,
we always
help you to share
this large and
vibrant organi
it with colleag
sation of ours.
ues across
Send your article
s
yvonne.pirso@glosand any suggestions or comm
ents about Outline
.nhs.uk
to
For find out more
about our new
to pages 2 and
Values and Visual
3.
Identity, please
turn
3
TV and DVD
A 40-inch flat screen television and DVD player
have been installed at Cheltenham General
Hospital’s Battledown Children’s Outpatients area to
entertain youngsters while they wait
for appointments.
The £800 worth of equipment, funded by The Pied
Piper Appeal, adds to entertainment currently laid on
by play leaders.
Modern Matron for Children’s Services at
Cheltenham General Hospital Debbie Killman said
staff wanted to make youngsters’ experiences of
hospital as cheerful as possible.
“The play leaders are very popular, but we do get
some patients who don’t want to play, possibly
because they feel a bit shy or are too poorly,”
she explained.
“A survey we carried out among children and young
people coming showed that a television would be
very popular.
“Battledown has recently seen patient numbers
rising to between 40 and 60 a day following the
decision to move child health, physiotherapy and
occupational therapy to the site.
“The number of children, parents and siblings
coming here has doubled,” said Sr Killman.
Battledown is now a one-stop shop.
“The area has recently been redecorated and
the new TV and DVD player makes it even better
because it gives children a choice.
“We are very grateful to The Pied Piper Appeal for
funding this equipment.”
The Pied Piper Appeal supports sick children in the
county by providing child-friendly play and learning
equipment and facilities.
These help to ease children’s fears, makes
hospital a less traumatic experience and speeds
their recovery.
Over the past 16 years it has donated almost
£2 million to provide equipment and facilities
within Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham
General hospitals.
New housing package available
They say the Government has made it clear
that these loans will be allocated on a first come,
first served basis and advise NHS staff do
everything they can to position themselves at the
front of the queue.
Health workers interested in benefiting from the
Government’s new first aid housing package are
being advised to act quickly.
NHS Mortgage Services – part of NHS Discounts
- is advising interested staff members to register
early expressions of interest, to avoid missing out
on the Government’s £300 million ‘HomeBuy Direct’
scheme pledged for first time buyers.
4
The company is fully authorised to assist NHS staff
gain access to equity funding aimed at key workers
through the existing Government-backed HomeBuy
schemes. It is now offering country-wide seminars,
to explain the implications of the Government
package, and help untangle the complex world of
equity funding for prospective housebuyers.
NHS employees can also register their interest at
www.nhsdiscounts.com/homebuy to receive
regular updates and advice as details emerge on the
new housing package.
All About Us
I am a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Cheltenham
General Hospital, also doing clinics in Hereford, treating
breast, lung and brain tumours. I sit on the Ethics
Committee, am doing an MA in Medical Ethics and have
an interest in the Medical Humanities. I’ve been in post
for two and a half years now.
Sam Guglani
Q.
A.
What do you like most about
your job?
Medicine, perhaps particularly
Oncology because it affords us an
impressive view of humanity. I find this
astonishing and inspiring.
Q.
As a child, what did you want to be
when you grew up?
A.
Lots of things. An astronaut
particularly.
Q.
Now you’re ‘grown up’, what would
be your dream job?
A.
One day perhaps a writer. Medicine
and literature are enmeshed things,
both turning around the still point of
people, the human condition and
stories I think. Who knows,
one day….?
Q.
If you could change one thing
about your job, what would it be?
A.
I’d ask for more time.
Q.
A.
How do you relax?
I read, run (like the wind) without
an i-pod, stare for long periods at
dramatic skies, sip single-malt
scotch, listen to music, escape,
escape, escape…
Q.
What’s your favourite place in the
world?
A.
Venice. In the winter.
Q.
What’s your favourite meal and
who would you like to have it with?
A.
A large bowl of chips, sprinkled with
salt, a tall glass of Shiraz with Alison
Q.
Which person, living or dead, do
you find inspirational?
A.
The poet, T.S. Eliot, for the beauty of
the writing, which is music on
the page
Do you have a colleague who would make a good ‘All About Us’ interviewee?
Please let us know on Ext 3563.
5
The Katherine Felix Award
Rewarding Excellence in Nursing
and Healthcare Practice
As a senior nurse and manager in GHNHSFT for
many years, Katherine Felix made a significant
contribution to nursing and the organisation as a
whole. She was totally committed to encouraging
and supporting nurses to improve and develop
themselves and their contribution to quality patient
care. Following Katherine’s death it was agreed
that the collection of money be used in her memory
to reward excellence in nursing and healthcare
practice. It is hoped that this will be an annual
award and all of the Divisional Directors of Nursing
are committed to ensuring that this will be possible.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
is delighted to invite applications for the Katherine
Felix Award in the following areas:
zz Award for Developments in Practice that
Improve Patient Care
zz Award for Nurse-Led Care
zz Award for User Involvement in Care
zz Award for the Evaluation of Healthcare Practice
Overall Aims of the Awards
zz To reward healthcare practitioners who are able
to demonstrate achievement or excellence in
developing practice
zz To raise the profile of practice development
zz To share innovations in practice that improve
patient/client care
The awards are open to all healthcare practitioners
working in any practice setting and at any level.
Applications can be from individual practitioners or
healthcare teams.
Application Process
Type of applications
We are looking for small, focused practice
development projects/initiatives that:
zz relate to your area of practice
zz are underpinned by good research,
evidence and knowledge
zz demonstrate that patient/client care
has improved
zz are completed or are ongoing,
sustainable initiatives
Allocation of the Prize Funds
The Katherine Felix Award will be allocated
according to merit and the decision of the judging
panel is final. It is anticipated that the award
money of £500 will be used specifically to support
the ongoing development of the initiative and/or
healthcare team rather than being absorbed into
funding for general use within the Trust.
For further information and/or an application form
please contact Shân South, Assistant Director
of Nursing, Policy and Practice Development,
Nursing Department, Alexandra House, Cheltenham
General Hospital. Telephone number 08454
224164.
The closing date for applications is
Friday 31st October 2008.
6
Eye technology accolade
Two cutting edge advances in eye
care developed in Gloucestershire
are in line for a prestigious
healthcare accolade.
Rob Johnston’s quest for
paperless clinics and Professor
Andy McNaught’s work in using a
Hyper Spectral Imaging
Camera for diagnosing eye
disease have been shortlisted in
the Ophthalmology section of
the 2008 Medical Futures
Innovation Awards.
The winning entry, to be
chosen after Dragon’s Denstyle presentations to a panel of
experts, will benefit from a cash
injection, along with the critical
endorsement and recognition of
some of the country’s leading
surgeons and physicians and
business investors.
Rob has been developing
electronic medical records with
the software company Medisoft.
His work, which could make
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust’s Ophthalmic
Department the first in the country
to run paperless eye clinics, offers
clinical as well as environmental
and economic benefits.
The software presents information
about patients in a clear format
and performs complicated
calculations to show rates of
deterioration and other factors
that would take hours to carry
out manually.
It also enables surgeons to carry
out audits of clinical outcomes, so
that they can identify and address
any weaknesses.
“A growing band of us don’t ever
write in patients’ notes – we are
entirely electronic in terms of data
entry,” said Rob, an ophthalmic
consultant with the Trust for
eight years and medical director
of Medisoft.
“We just type in a patient’s
hospital number and can instantly
look at their diagnosis, treatments
and details of recent examinations
rather than having to flick
backwards and forwards through
their notes.
“It has made me much more
efficient and means I can see
many more patients per clinic.
“The quality of care is much better
and the cash saving potential for
being paperless is enormous:
Gloucestershire has had 40,000
outpatient visits for eyes this year
at an administrative cost of £8
to £10 per visit. We want to
move it to £1 a visit.
“Medisoft has been
called an
exemplar of how a specialist
system can link in with a national
system.”
The Hyper Spectral Imaging
Camera was invented for military
use by physicist Professor Andy
Harvey but is being developed as
a tool for diagnosing eye diseases
by Professor Andy McNaught.
He is using it to measure the
oxygen levels in patients’ retinas
and hopes it will eventually
replace the need to use dyes
and other invasive tests when
diagnosing conditions such as
diabetic eye disease, glaucoma
and macular degeneration.
“The technology uses rays of light
to focuses on the colour of things
– we use it to find blood carrying
oxygen,” said Andy.
“It tells us about the delivery of
oxygen to the retina and how
much is used.
“We built the equipment into a
conventional retinal camera in
2001 and have been developing it
into a commercial prototype using
funding from sources such as
the Gloucestershire Eye Therapy
Trust, the Department of Trade
and Industry and the NHS
NEAT (New and Emerging
Technology) Programme.
“Patients from Gloucestershire
have helped us to develop this
technology: we have taken
photographs of about 150 eyes
with various conditions – along
with normal ones as well.
“Only three other centres in the
world have a camera like this –
one of which is NASA – but we
believe ours is the best.”
The overall winner is due to
presented at a ceremony and gala
dinner on 3rd December.
7
UTOPIA September 08
D id you know?
Of all the patients we see in a
year 73% admissions (excluding
day case work) come in through
the emergency route.
UTOPIA
We are living in an aging
society and patients in
Gloucestershire are increasingly
admitted with complicated,
multiple medical needs.
H ow can you help to provide a better service?
This has a major impact on the
overall running of the hospital and
the use of our time and resources.
Demand on services and beds
at the hospital has never been
higher and we need to change
the way we work to meet these
needs, which is where you
can help.
UTOPIA (improving the Unscheduled
Treatment Of Patients In the Acute sector) is aimed
poorly. Care would be more focused and the length
of time patients have to spend in hospital would be
reduced.
A series of conversations with staff across our
hospitals informed the following suggested
improvements.
Many frontline staff members have already worked
with UTOPIA lead Jenny Lewis and sponsor Sean
Elyan throughout the early discovery phase of the
programme. Their input has proved invaluable in
terms of establishing the fundamental changes
required to the structures and arrangements we
currently work with to provide real benefits for patient
care.
Programme
at improving the care we provide for patients from the
moment they are admitted for emergency care until
they leave hospital.
Practically speaking, each patient’s individual needs
would be assessed on arrival by a member of a
team of specialist consultants and the patient journey
planned.
This would ensure patients will have each of their
needs addressed at an earlier stage, irrespective of
the time of day or the day of the week they become
You can shape the way care will be delivered in the
future by looking at the suggested UTOPIA approach
and to offer practical advice and guidance on how
the suggested pathways could work in reality.
H ow could the suggested pathways work?
Under UTOPIA, a group of clinicians with a range
of specialist expertise would be based in the
Emergency Departments and assessment areas of
each hospital.
These clinicians would form part of an Unscheduled
Care Team (UCT) and they would provide
consultants responsible for assessing and stabilising
all emergency patients, directing more junior
members of the team to ensure the right care is
provided and appropriate tests being requested.
There would be input from specialist teams
co-ordinating their care until they are sent home or
admitted into the care of the specialist departments.
A single point of clinical contact for all unscheduled
GP referrals to our hospitals would provide a service
for GPs with stronger links established with the
ambulance services. This would ensure that patients
8
are directed to our hospital services that are best
able to meet their needs, provide our clinicians with
all the immediate information they require to manage
the patient when they arrive. It will save GPs the
frustration of making multiple calls to arrange a
hospital admission and transportation.
This will also allow our clinicians in the Unscheduled
Care Team to focus on the patient when they arrive
rather than handling numerous GP calls.
Critically the UCTs would be supported by regular
input throughout the day from experienced
specialists, county-wide specialist on-call rotas where
required and 7 day surgical theatre lists.
The UCTs would also be responsible for patients who
may unexpectedly deteriorate part way through their
care on specialist wards.
An unscheduled care service providing 7 days a
week on-site consultant assessment and treatment
from early in the morning until late into the evening
would be put in place.
Improved training is a significant element of the
proposed programme with experienced on site
consultants directing juniors on the key aspect
of each patient condition much earlier in the
patient pathway. Ultimately, once the core UCT is
established, nurses could have the opportunity to
rotate through the UCT to learn the critical skills
required to manage sick patients in order that they
can take these skills back to their specialist wards.
H elp to get this right
We are organising a series of events to encourage
more staff, governors and members of the public
to help us to ensure we are making changes that
will guarantee we are able to meet the increasing
complexity of patient needs.
Two staff sessions have taken place at
Gloucestershire Royal Hospital on Wednesday 17th
September from 12:00 - 13:30 at room G1 at the
Redwood Education Centre and more are being
planned.
Meanwhile staff at Cheltenham General can find
out more on Wednesday 24th September between
12 and 1.30pm at the Lecture Hall at Sandford
Education Centre
The Gloucester locality session took place at
Ribston Hall High School on Stroud Road from
7pm on 2nd September.
The Forest of Dean session will take place
at the Forest Hills Golf Club in Coleford from
7pm on 30th September.
The Stroud session will take place at
Stroud College on Stratford Road from
7pm on 7th October.
The Cotswold session will take place at
Cirencester, Deer Park School on Stroud Road,
Cirencester from 7pm on 23rd October.
The Tewkesbury session will take place at
the Tewkesbury Library on Sun Street from
7pm on 12th November.
The Cheltenham session will take place at the
Sandford Education Centre, Keynsham Road,
Cheltenham from 7pm on 27th November.
T he UTOPIA timetable
This is an early stage of communication and we
aim to do all we can to ensure general updates
take place on a regular basis for all staff across the
Trust. In addition to this we will endeavour to provide
more ‘targeted’ two way communication for the staff
impacted by the suggested changes.
We will work to find ways of sharing the potential
changes with you and provide you with the
opportunity to shape the ideas and ensure we listen
to your views.
In June Trust Board gave their full support to
enabling more staff to be involved in working up the
details of the suggested improvements and funding
for 2 consultants to free up key doctors to work
on the programme and backfill to enable others to
engage has been agreed.
We are currently in the process of practically finding
ways of releasing staff to work on the programme.
We aim to have a significant number of lead
clinicians and managers in place by the end of
September so they can then start to work with other
staff to develop the potential improvements in
more detail.
How do I find out more?
This newsletter will provide updates as we develop the programme. Meanwhile more information about the
proposals, the team behind the work and opportunities to provide feedback will be available on our intranet
and website.
9
September Works update
Gloucester:
zz Plans for the £29.1 million Women’s Centre
have been approved by Gloucester City
Council and site demolition work is due to start
next month.
zz Staff due to be based at Hope House have had
the opportunity to view their new accommodation
which should be fully operational in the next few
weeks.
zz Nursing Administration and Service Delivery are
to decant into the Tower Administration Offices
Portakabin, while Domestic Supervisor Support
Service Staff will move to the old Transport
Office adjacent to the Porters Lodge Area.
zz Feasibility proposals are being drafted for the
relocation, reconfiguration and refurbishment
of the Gynaecology Inpatient Ward in the
Tower to meet modern health building guideline
standards.
zz Medical Photography Administration will move
into Bungalow A.
zz Work is about to start on installing
Robotics and a Centrifuge Room in
Pathology. Meanwhile a plan to put in
Robotics in the new Pan Area is on going
and work has started on a new lift access.
zz Work continues on Phase Two of the
Department of Critical Care, with Ward
1A undergoing reconfiguration works
to improve administrative support and
reception and waiting areas.
Cheltenham:
Planning Team members.
zz Work to extend the Endoscopy and Oncology
building continues. Steels are now in place and
floor construction is underway. Brickwork is
progressing well around the bunkers.
zz Feasibility proposals are being drafted for
the reconfiguration and refurbishment of
Hazelton Ward to provide greater flexibility and
meet modern health building guideline standards.
zz Bad weather has failed to hamper progress on
Phase II of St Luke’s Wing. Internal partitions
are being put in and some are already being
“closed up”. Most windows are now in place
and roofing work is almost complete. The final
two ‘breakthroughs’ to the adjacent buildings are
due to start soon.
zz Work has started to convert the area vacated by
Microbiology ready for Histopathology to move
in. It is likely that Histology will co-locate by the
end of this year.
zz Design and planning work continues on a
proposal to expand breast screening and
outpatient services from within a dedicated
centre at the Grade II listed Thirlestaine Court.
For more information see the Planning Department site at: http://ghnhstsites/sites/capitalplanning/default.aspx
10
Gold award for Medical
“It wasn’t a
Photography
pretty picture to
look at but they
say beauty is in
the eye of the
beholder and
those in the know
really liked it!”
An image of a carcinoid tumour has earned
Steve Moore a gold award from the Institute of
Medical Illustrators.
Steve, the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital’s Medical
Photography Manager, said he was “really chufffed”
to receive the prestigious accolade at a banquet.
“I was asked by Professor Shepherd to photograph
the tumour, which came from a colon,”
explained Steve.
“It wasn’t a pretty picture to look at but they say
beauty is in the eye of the beholder and those in the
know really liked it!”
Steve has been a medical photographer since 1991
and worked at the GRH since early 2000.
He takes photographs for a variety of departments
and these are used for patients’ medical records,
teaching purposes and, in the case of opthalmology,
to aid diagnosis.
“We work alongside specialist nurses in clinics,” he
said.
“It is especially rewarding to be involved in the
diagnostic process.”
Steve is due to give presentations during a medical
photographers’ training conference in Durham this
September.
Renal Service collaboration
Twenty years of Gloucestershire’s renal service is to
be celebrated with a glittering ball in December.
sparkling wine reception in the 1873 Lounge from
7pm and dinner in the Star Suite from 7.30pm.
Guests will dance to music from The Fabulous Top
Mix and a supporting disco during the event which is
being organised by Ward 7B at the Gloucestershire
Royal Hospital.
Black tie is optional.
The ball is due to take place at Gloucester Rugby
Club on Thursday December 11 and starts with a
Tickets, at £35 a head, are available from Karen
Williams on Ward 7B, telephone number 08454
226890, or through GKPA. Contact Karen to discuss
concessions or any dietary requirements.
11
Breast Clinic Work Begins
WORK has started on a new
state-of-the-art breast cancer
clinic at Thirlestaine Court in
Cheltenham.
The Gloucestershire Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust is working
in partnership with the Cobalt
Appeal to provide the county
with a new breast screening and
symptomatic clinic.
The build costs of the £5 million
facility in Thirlestaine Road,
between Linton House and
Cheltenham General Hospital,
are being funded by the Appeal
with the Trust funding the capital
costs for the upgrade of existing
analogue to digital equipment.
Howard Crooks, Dr Frank Harsent and
Professor Iain Lyburn.
The new clinic is set to have
nine consulting and examination
rooms along with ultrasound
scanning technology, four digital
state-of-the-art mammography
X-ray suites, three interview
and quiet rooms and space
for nurses, radiographers and
ancillary accommodation.
It is hoped that the new centre
will be open by next autumn.
More information about the
cancer clinic and the Cobalt
Appeal can be found at
www.cobaltappeal.com
Infection Prevention Update
Clostridium difficile.
New antibiotic policy
The Trust continues to do well, with cases of
Clostridium difficile (Cdiff) for July and August
being below the target set by the Department of
Health. However, we are setting ourselves a more
ambitious target – a 50% lower rate than that being
required of us by the DH – so there is no room for
complacency.
This was issued to all new doctors on 1st August
and is intended to further reduce antibiotic
prescribing generally. It is particularly aimed at
minimising the use of those antibiotics associated
with the development of C.difficile infection. In order
to ensure its effective implementation and to ensure
effective antibiotic prescribing a dedicated antibiotic
pharmacist has been appointed. Delyth Ahearne
took up her position in the Trust in August and
covers the Cheltenham, Gloucester and Delancey
hospitals.
MRSA.
The MRSA bacteraemia rate is moving in the
right direction. More patients than ever are being
screened for MRSA carriage, allowing the organism
to be eradicated before it has the chance to cause
clinical infection. This screening programme,
although already one of the most ambitious in
the region, is being further extended to include
patients undergoing procedures as day-cases
following a DH letter sent to Trusts at the end of
July. A computer screensaver has been developed
to remind staff how many days it has been since
we last had an MRSA bacteraemia (bloodstream
infection). Let’s see if we can get to three figures!
12
Infection Control Policies
A number of these have been recently revised
(for example the MRSA policy) or are undergoing
revision. Keep an eye on the Trust intranet for
further information on policy changes.
Staff changes
The Infection Control Team is sorry to say goodbye
to two of its stalwart members – Nikki Tandy and
Maria Tredinnick. We wish them well in their new
jobs and thank them for their endeavours to keep
infections under control during the past year.
Making patients’ views count
Starting in October, patients will be able to provide instant feedback on their experiences on our wards
thanks to the use of an innovative patient survey system using a portable wireless device.
Although the Trust collects information about what our patients think, the patients often have to think back
and try to remember - this new system will allow us to collect the information whilst they are with us. Up-todate information from patients will enable us to acknowledge what we are good at and identify areas for
improvements.
Approved NHS survey contractor, the Picker Institute, has been selected to help us undertake this work.
How does it work?
Each device is lightweight, easy to use and comes pre-loaded
with the Trust-specific survey. The anonymous questionnaire will
take approximately fifteen minutes and will have a maximum of
thirty questions.
The device uses wireless technology and is set to be in ‘flightsafe mode’ until the information is ready to send. This could be
at the end of the day, or after each questionnaire is filled out.
Results are updated each time the data is sent from the device
and are available immediately via a secure server.
Specially trained volunteers will play a vital role in the project
by introducing and supporting patients in their completion of
the survey. They will be on hand to enter the responses onto
the devices and answer any queries - this is designed to put
the patients at ease and will help to make completion of the
questionnaire trouble-free.
Patients will be asked to report their experiences on different
aspects of their care. Questions include topics such as privacy
and dignity, cleanliness, information provided and involvement
in their care. This provides actionable feedback to enable the
Trust to make sure that patient experience is at the very heart of
decision making in our hospitals.
A series of awareness events have been arranged throughout
September for all staff with further sessions being planned
for October.
Celebrating Success Staff Awards 2008
A booklet will be printed and distributed around the Trust shortly
focusing on the winners and achievers who were awarded at The
Celebrating Success Staff Awards 2008 ceremony.
The celebratory evening was held at Cheltenham Racecourse on 22nd
September with Trust Chair Dame Janet Trotter giving a presentation
and handing out certificates for Excellence/Improving Working Lives
Awards, Long Service and Training & Development awards.
Thank you to all who took part in the important event.
Watch this space for details about next year’s awards!
Karen Plumridge.
13
Western Challenge Accommodation Manager Gemma Holder with members of the Cheltenham team in a garden in Mervagh Close.
Spotlight on
Accommodation
Having somewhere to live is a big consideration for
hospital workers.
The Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation
Trust has more than 300 units of staff
accommodation across its Cheltenham and
Gloucester sites and all staff, including admin and
support workers, are entitled to benefit from this vital
service.
The accommodation is leased to the Western
Challenge Housing Association which manages
it and has recently carried out an extensive
refurbishment programme.
“We work in partnership with Western Challenge,”
said the Trust’s Contracts Manager Jane Evans.
Staff names are put forward to the housing
association by way of a simple application from the
Trust Nominations Manager Vanessa Rose, who is
the point of contact for hospital workers who wish to
14
submit an application or need more information.
Typically Vanessa processes 40 applications a
week and, as well as working with hospital staff,
liaises with local universities, the Gloucestershire
Academy and anybody else interested in using the
accommodation. Her most frequently asked question
is “can I apply for hospital accommodation even if
I’m not Clinical staff? the answer is yes, anyone who
works for the hospital can apply”.
“I try to assist with any housing related enquiries,
and give advice on other agencies if not within our
remit,” said Vanessa.
“I enjoy helping people source accommodation at
short notice, sometimes in very difficult personal
circumstances”.
Western Challenge Manager Gemma Holder
and her team typically deal with 50 calls per day,
although this number can easily triple during rotation
– when doctors change over.
Last May, for example, they
issued 145 sets of keys.
Rooms are fully equipped with
furniture, bedding and linen,
along with crockery, cutlery, pots
and pans so that they are ready
to move into.
“The idea is that all you need is
an overnight bag!” said Gemma.
Gemma said her staff got to
know many of their residents
well.
“Quite often we have residents
call in just to say hi,” she said.
“Its great as we get to know
frequent stayers and, when they
book accommodation, it’s nice to
get an update on how they are.
“We installed another washing
machine in the laundry room at
Gloucester and we now open our
office between 7.30am to 6pm
every Monday, in order to be
accessible to all our residents”.
More details about the
accommodation service can be
found on the Trust intranet under
‘Accommodation’.
A “frequent stay - short stay”
option was recently introduced
to enable those staying regularly
for one or two nights to return
to accommodation without
having to continually fill in a new
form. This new option, which
cuts down on paperwork, has
proved to be convenient and
popular and invaluable in difficult
circumstances, such as the
floods.
gemma.holder@
westernchallenge.co.uk
“We get lots of thank yous
and we have a very full wall of
thank you cards which is very
motivating”.
In addition, the accommodation
service has been updated
to include intranet on-line
enquiries and applications with
a dedicated e-mail address. The
eventual plan is to develop on
line applications.
An extensive buildings
refurbishment programme,
carried out by Western
Challenge when it took on the
lease for staff accommodation,
has already made a huge
difference to the units.
Common queries include those
from non-clinical workers over
whether they can use staff
accommodation. The answer is
yes - anyone who is employed or
training within the Trust can use
the service.
The initial phase of this work
is now complete and, following
on from this, accommodation
in Cheltenham is currently
undergoing a furniture
replacement program and
extensive garden works and
a number of bathrooms in
Gloucester have been upgraded.
As for the future, Jane
says there will be further
improvements.
Meanwhile a number of
additional improvements have
come about as a result of
‘feedback’ from tenants.
“We continually review our
services – such as our office
opening times,” said Gemma.
“We asked residents to complete
a short questionnaire and two
immediate changes took place
based on feedback.
Western Challenge Office –
01242 570107
Trust Nominations Office –
08454 22 6631
trust.accommodation@glos.
nhs.uk
Vanessa Rose.
“The accommodation is
managed by an efficient and
professional team used to
dealing with a wide range of
enquiries,” she said.
“Our aim is to work in
partnership to continue to
provide comfortable, affordable
and convenient accommodation
for the maximum number of staff
whatever your job in the hospital.
If you think it may benefit you –
give us a call or send an e-mail”.
Accommodation Manager Gemma Holder and
Senior Accommodation Officer Sally Partridge.
15
Thanks to Joan King
“I have enjoyed
my nine-and-a-half
years being part of
the team here.”
No day was ever the same for Joan King during her
nine-and-a-half years in the Gloucestershire Royal’s
sewing room.
“I also used to fit pregnant members of staff with
their maternity clothes and many came back to see
me with their babies a few months later!
Altering uniforms, covering wedges and seeing to all
sorts of stitching requests all went with the territory
for the hospital’s seamstress.
“No two days were ever the same.”
Joan, who has just retired, was one of the first faces
that many new members of staff saw during their
first visits to the GRH.
“Altering uniforms has been a big part of the job,”
she said.
“Staff come in all shapes and sizes.
“I especially remember seeing many of our
overseas nurses who needed to have their trousers
shortened.
16
Joan’s arrived at the GRH with impeccable sewing
credentials: one of her previous jobs had involved
making shirts for the Prince of Wales.
She hopes retirement will allow her to devote
more time to her hobbies of walking and cooking,
alongside looking after her elderly mother and young
grandchildren.
“I think I shall miss the hospital,” she said. “I have
enjoyed my nine-and-a-half years being part of the
team here.”
Looking back over 60 years
The Renal Service
The Gloucestershire Royal was at the vanguard of
progress when it became one of the first district
hospitals in the country to offer kidney dialysis
treatment.
Until 1992 people from the county with kidney
failure faced a trip to Bristol, Oxford or Birmingham
three times a week for the life-saving procedure.
Now patients can use machines at two sites in
Gloucester, and an additional satellite site is
currently being planned elsewhere in the county.
Consultant Renal Physician Dr Richard Banks
joined the GRH in 1985 and oversaw the
introduction of dialysis.
not well in the first place.
“Today we are able to offer dialysis in two
units. We also look after people after they have
transplants, which are carried out at Southmead
Hospital in Bristol.
“Over the years we have seen transplanted kidneys
lasting much longer – mainly due to advances in the
drugs that are used.
“The other major advance has been in our ability
to make our diagnoses with different scans and
x-rays.”
The Trust’s renal department has grown in size and
seen a marked increase in patients over the last
two decades – a trend Dr Banks attributes to the
level of care given in Gloucestershire.
“We treat our patients too well!” he said.
“When I first came here it was just the ward sister,
Jackie Folley, and I here.
“Now we have five consultants and Jackie has
a dedicated team of nurses all with different
responsibilities.
“I came here from a big renal department in Bristol,”
he said.
“Our renal department has developed into a
very big unit, even though it started off in a very
small way
“At that time patients needing dialysis sometimes
faced a 120-mile round trip three times a week
which was a tremendous strain on people who are
“Advances in dialysis means people are l
iving longer.”
Marion’s 37 years at Gloucestershire Royal
Marion Daniels helped to provide the administrative
backbone of the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital for
37 years.
During that time she was a member of the unseen
team in the medical records department who
organise files on behalf of doctors, surgeons and
nurses – and put them away in the correct position
afterwards.
Marion’s work for the hospital underwent several
changes as computers and other technologies
advanced over the years.
But she says her colleagues’ professionalism and
sense of camaraderie did not alter.
“I was looking for a job because I wanted to save
for a deposit for a house and down at the job centre
I saw a job for a night filer in medical records
advertised,” she recalled.
“I started in Great Western Road in January 1971
and my hours were 5pm to 9pm.
“We had to put away the medical records, file X-ray
reports and make appointments as well as send out
notes to the accident unit.
“Sometimes we used to pull notes out of files for
clinics.”
Marion later moved to Southgate Street where
she prepared notes for clinics and helped on the
reception desk.
She stayed there several months after the old
hospital closed and subsequently moved to the new
Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
17
Green Transportation is listening!
Staff using the Route 99 Shuttle bus at Cheltenham
General will soon get an additional comfort whilst waiting
for the bus.
The Green Transportation Implementation
Group is funding the installation of a bench
after staff provided feedback about the
service.
Graham Marsh, Director of Property
and Medical Engineering:
“Overall staff have been extremely
positive about the free staff travel,
the service and reliability but many
passengers highlighted the need for
a bench.
“Following popular demand, we are
pleased to announce that the bench is
due to be installed in mid-September.”
On your bike!
Following the successful trial of the OYBike
Scheme at Cheltenham General, the Green
Transportation Implementation Group have
decided to commit to the scheme on a long-term
basis.
How to use the system
The OYBike system is a street-based rental station
network that allows you to hire and return a bicycle
via your mobile phone.
The existing temporary docking station at CGH
is based at the St Paul’s Maternity Entrance and
links up with docking stations across Cheltenham
at key locations.
Each bike stand is equipped with a specially
developed electronic lock operated through a
keyboard and LCD display. This lock holds the
cable secure until that bicycle is rented out.
Director of Property and Medical Engineering
Graham Marsh:
“We are delighted with the uptake and are pleased
to support the scheme. This is a part of a wider
Trust strategy to provide alternatives to using
the car.”
These bicycles are secured to their bike stands
using cables that are attached to the bicycle and
which double as security locking cables when the
bicycles are on hire.
An OYBike registered user select an available
bicycle and the locks display a code, the user then
calls the OYBike call centre and gives them that
code.
A unique pin code is then read out to the user
and sent back by text messaging. This pin code is
entered into the lock to release the bicycle. After
use the bicycle is locked into any empty port on an
available OYBike station.
A unique pin will appear on the lock display that
must be sent back to OYBike to end the hire period.
OYBikes are free to use for up to 30 minutes a
time. To find out more visit www.oybike.com
18
To use the OYBike system you will need to preregister with an initial usage credit of £10. Optional
theft insurance is available at additional cost.
Deafblind Awareness Seminar
participants wearing blindfolds and earplugs to
experience something of how it feels to lose the
use of two senses and special glasses which
showed the effects of various sight impairments.
Block and manual alphabets were also
demonstrated.
First hand information on living without being
able to see or hear was given to Trust staff
during a special awareness seminar.
The PPI department joined forces with
DeafBlind UK raise awareness of the condition.
Janice Tillett, who is deaf and blind, and
Christine Hardy travelled to the Gloucestershire
Royal Hospital to lead the seminar which was
attended by staff from various departments.
There was information about living with
deaf blindness and a practical session with
The seminar provided a small sense of what
it means to be deaf blind and was enjoyed by
everybody who attended, all of whom said it
exceeded their expectations and that they would
recommend it to a friend.
Comments received by attendees included:
“Practical part, different types of communication
available”
“Wearing glasses and being blindfolded etc was
very revealing”
“Practical sessions, Janice’s personal insight”
“All very useful – it raised my awareness 100%”
The PPI department plans to organise more
awareness events in the future.
Gloucestershire County NHS Plus Occupational
Health Service
New Gloucestershire Occupational Health Satellite Clinics
In addition to your existing 5 day-a-week services in Cheltenham General Hospital and Gloucestershire
Royal Hospital, Gloucestershire County NHS Occupational Health Service will be offering new satellite
services in the following community hospitals, from September 2008;
Moreton-in-Marsh Hospital
Lydney Hospital
Dilke Hospital
1st Tuesday of the month
09:00 -13:00
Immunisation checks/
immunisations
Managements/self referrals
1st Tuesday of the month
09:00 -11:00
Immunisation checks/
immunisations
Management/self referrals
1st Tuesday of the month
12:00 -15:00
Immunisation checks/
immunisations
Management/self referrals
These will be in addition to the established locality service in;
Cirencester Hospital
1st Wednesday of the month
09:30 -12:30
Immunisation checks/
immunisations
Management/self referrals
If you want to book an appointment or discuss your
Occupational Health needs in more detail, please contact
Gloucestershire Occupational Health Service on
08454 225165 between 08:30 and 16:30, Monday to Friday.
19
Annual Baby Loss Services 2008
“So Dearly Loved, So Briefly Known”.
Services aimed at providing support for those who
have been affected by the loss of a baby are to be
held by hospital chaplains this autumn.
‘So Dearly Loved, So Briefly Known’ are services
which provide an opportunity for space and
reflection to remember those babies who have died
at any time from conception into the early stages of
life.
The two services are conducted by hospital
chaplains and other staff and open to anyone who
has been affected by a loss, including parents or
siblings, grandparents or relatives, hospital staff or
friends.
Losses may be recent or have happened many
years ago.
Bereavement support midwives and other members
of staff will be available following the service.
Organiser Reverend Mark Read said:
“These services are an opportunity for you to
remember your baby and to meet other people who
understand because they have also lost babies that
they loved.
“The services are conducted by the hospital
chaplains and supported by other members of staff
who will be around to talk with you afterwards.
“Although they follow a broadly Christian pattern
of worship, it doesn’t matter what faith background
people have. All are welcome to attend and each
year there are a large number of people who come
along because they appreciate a safe and open
place in which they can acknowledge and remember
their children.”
There are two services, one in Cheltenham and one
in Gloucester so that people can choose which one
they attend.
Gloucester:
Cheltenham:
Friday September 26 2008
from 7pm
The Chapel
Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
Great Western Road
Gloucester
GL1 3NN
Friday October 3 2008
from 7pm.
St. Luke’s Church
College Road
Cheltenham
GL 53 7HX
For further details please
contact the chaplains on
08454 22 6200/4286, the
bereavement support midwife
at GRH on 08454 22 5526 or
Sr. Sue Williams at CGH on
08454 22 2312.
Nominate a Citizen of Gloucester
Gloucester City
Council is calling for
nominations for the
Citizen of Gloucester
Award 2008.
Anyone can nominate
someone who is making a difference in Gloucester
and it would be great if staff could be highlighted
and recognised.
The award has been set up to enable the city
council to recognize the outstanding contribution
made by individuals (especially on a
voluntary basis) to enrich the lives of local people
in the areas of caring, business, environment, good
20
neighbours, public service or sports.
The successful person will receive the award in
January 2009 at an evening civic reception hosted
by The Mayor in the North Warehouse.
A commemorative plate and framed certificate
will be presented in front of invited guests and
councillors.
The closing date is Friday 31st October 2008 so get
those entries in!
Further information and nomination forms are
available online at www.gloucester.gov.uk/cga or
phone 01452 396396
Nutrition News
A Lead Healthcare Assistant is taking proactive action to ensure
patients are properly nourished.
Angela McFarlane has been
attending Essence of Care
meetings over several years and
regularly obtains information on the
benchmarks that are important for all
members of multi-disciplinary teams.
Since March she has been sharing
updates with her colleagues through
an eye-catching display board on
Rehab Ward 1 at the Gloucestershire
Royal Hospital.
“I have had lots of comments
regarding my display from
staff and other wards.”
In the future she has plans for similar
boards to bring new benchmarks for
“communication” and “privacy and
dignity” to the attention of colleagues.
NHS Retirement
Fellowship
Celebration
Mind Appeal
People who have suffered mental health problems
are being sought by the charity Mind.
Members of the Cheltenham branch of the NHS
Retirement Fellowship are celebrating the 30th
anniversary of their organisation.
The organisation wants to hear from individuals
from all walks of life who would be interested in
sharing their stories and influencing its work.
The group, which inspired the establishment of
similar branches throughout the country, will be
marking the milestone with a party in October.
Mind works for better mental health for everybody
through its campaigns, policy and information work.
The NHS Retirement Fellowship offers a varied
programme which includes monthly talks, regular
walks, coach outings and theatre visits – besides
the opportunity to catch up with old friends and
colleagues.
For more information go to the group’s website on
www.cheltenhamnhsfellowship.webs.com.
Its network Mind Link has 1700-plus members who
use their experiences in a variety of ways, including
writing articles for magazines and directing
consulting on NICE guidelines.
To get involved call 0208 215 2207 or e-mail
mindlink@mind.org.uk. The postal address is
Mind, Freepost (WD2336), 15-19 Broadway,
London. E15 4BQ.
21
Little Apples rewarded
Trust nursery Little Apples, based at Delancey, has
just received a very positive Ofsted report.
and with the parents to provide a good standard of
care.”
The nursery was rated overall ‘Good’ for care
provided and was
congratulated for
recent improvements
made.
Little Apples has been running for five years. It
has capacity to look after 72 children with 18 staff
members and is open 7am - 6pm.
Deputy Manager,
Lisa Szostek
said:
“We are very
proud of all the
staff here who
have worked so
well as a team
Children from three months to five years are catered
for with pre-school facilities. Three huge gardens
and modern equipment make the nursery an
attractive facility.
Little Apples is provided for Trust staff only with
subsidised rates and flexible hours for parents
who work shifts. More details are available on the
Trust intranet, click on A - Z listings and then C for
childcare.
Cardiac rehabilitation pilot
In collaboration with Gloucestershire Heart
Failure Service, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Service
has been working towards the development of a
unique multi-disciplinary Cardiac Rehabilitation pilot
programme specifically for patients with Chronic
Heart Failure (CHF). The pilot was unique due to
the high degree of psychology input, with the team
psychologist present at each of the rehab sessions.
Dr Gail Bohin, Clinical Psychologist involved in
setting up the programme said:
“There is good evidence that psychological factors
are predictive of both morbidity and mortality in
Coronary Heart Disease and Chronic Heart Failure
and that including psychological input into cardiac
rehab improves outcomes.
“We devised the programme to increase patient
confidence and to help them feel more in control
of their CHF, not just with regard to exercise but in
terms of their lives in general.
“We are working towards securing further funding
to deliver the programme across the county on
a permanent basis but unfortunately, until this
happens CHF patients in Gloucestershire will not
have access to group rehabilitation. It was however,
really inspirational to see how well the group
responded to the pilot and to see them achieving
their goals.”
22
Trust staff have been particularly pleased with the
feedback provided by patients. One example left
on a feedback form
summed it up for
“Coming here has really
Gail and the team:
“Coming here
has really pulled
the curtains back
and given me the
confidence that I
can do things and I
can have a life”
pulled the curtains
back and given me the
confidence that I can do
things and I can have
a life”
Calligraphy Appeal
FOCUS is planning to have a leatherbound memorial book to record
donations from families and friends in
memory of their loved ones and they
are hoping to have the dedications
beautifully written.
Do or do you know someone with this
talent? If so call Pat Barlow from the Cancer
Information and Support Service at CGH on
extension 4414 for further details.
Kambia experience
GP Dr Gail Haddock vowed to return to Sierra
Leone after spending two years working in the
country at the outbreak of its devastating civil war.
Seventeen years later she fulfilled her promise with
her husband and three young children in tow.
Serabu Hospital, where Gail worked for two years
from 1990, was subsquently destroyed by fire
during the fighting but she continued supporting
people in the world’s poorest country by getting
involved with the Kambia Appeal.
Come her return to Sierra Leone, however, she
found her new workplace to be “officially closed”
after the departure of the last District Medical
Officer.
“This was no problem – I had reopened Serabu
after a six week evacuation during the rebel
incursion, so I was uniquely qualified in reopening
Salonean hospitals!” she said.
Once word had spread of the arrival of a doctor,
patients began arriving in droves.
“I had been busy all week, including two
laparotomies with the help of the excellent theatre
nurses, but Kambia was still officially closed,”
she said.
“On our sixth day we had a ministerial visit: A huge
procession of jeeps and motorbikes drove into the
compound to start a day of discussions with the
staff and community reps, resulting in the promise
of a District Medical Officer and Medical Officer by
the following week.
“The MO never appeared, but we mustn’t be
greedy for in my final week, Dr Labour, the new
DMO finally arrived, as did Dr Tom Rawlinson, my
replacement from Skye, and Kambia Hospital was
up and running once more.”
Gail said she was cheered to find the people of
Sierra Leone remained as friendly and optimistic as
ever, against a backdrop of burnt out buildings and
precautions against rape, and pleasantly surprised
by standards of education.
Patients still had to pay for treatment, although
free medication was now provided for children and
pregnant women, but there was no electricity or
running water.
23
Positive view after NHS visit
SO many negative things are written about the
NHS. After I spent a couple of nights in the
Maxillo/Facial ward at Gloucestershire Royal
Hospital, I thought I would express my opinion.
Thank you to wonderful staff
I was recently admitted into the Medical
Assessment Unit at Cheltenham General
Hospital, and would welcome the opportunity of
publicly thanking the staff for providing the most
professional care and attention one could ever
wish for.
I have nothing but praise for everyone from the
surgeon Mr Godden and his team, the nursing
staff – night and day, the food and of course the
ancillaries. The wards were spotless. The care
after my operation was excellent.
If the rest of the NHS could attain the levels of skill,
dedication and hard work I witnessed during my
stay we would have a National Health Service to be
proud of.
Too much criticism is paid to faults and not enough
praise to the good things of which there are many.
Letters, The Citizen, 04.09.08
Letters, The Gloucestershire Echo, 08.09.08
Patients say
thank you
A&E treatment was excellent
THE article saying patients in need of emergency
medical attention could be seen quicker under a
new hospital (Echo, September 4) prompted me to
write about my experience.
My wife was helping me upstairs to bed as I was
unwell. We reached the landing, I overbalanced
backwards and both of us went down 12 stairs.
The ambulance medics were with us in a short
time and took us to Cheltenham A&E. The
treatment was excellent, both from the nurses
and doctors.
Husband’s care was just
superb
MY husband has been a patient in the Stroke
Unit at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital for several
months.
I would like, through your pages, to thank the
consultant, Dr Hellier and her excellent team for all
the devoted care he received.
During my overnight stay I had numerous
temperature tests and blood pressure taken, two
The standard of cleanliness and care was
ECG tests, a full chest X-ray.
second to none and far superior to that which we
My wife had her leg bound with the latest
experienced in a French state hospital where he
material.
was first admitted.
We are recuperating with excellent attention
I would like to include the staff and everyone who
from our own Bredon Hill Surgery. We had
greeted him as he roamed the corridors.
fantastic treatment throughout.
Letters, The Citizen, 08.09.08
Letters, Gloucestershire Echo, 12.09.08
24
Diversity day
A department with a truly global perspective held
a special event to celebrate the multi-national and
cultural diversity of the Gloucestershire Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust.
Delicious food from across the world and colourful
national costumes were in evidence during the
Ophthalmology Department’s second Diversity Day.
Liz Hansford, Karen Chater and Kathryn Traynor
gave relaxing feet and Indian head massages to
holders of lucky tickets and there were games on
a recycling theme, including skittles played with
empty plastic bottles, and a quiz.
Eye theatre nurse Wei Chee Tan said the event was
an enjoyable and fun day.
“A very big thank you to everyone who came,”
she said.
“There was a fantastic variety of food as many staff
brought their national or signature dishes to share,
including sernik from Poland and pancit from the
Philippines.
“Some staff came in their colourful national
costumes – the Indian ‘delegation’ was especially
resplendent in their exotic saris and shalwar
khamis.
“We want to say a special big thank you to our
reflexologists and Indian Head masseurs.
“Some staff were so chilled out that they had to be
prised off the recliners after treatments!
from left to right: Joyce Jacobs (staff nurse, eye theatres), Catherine
Parcon (staff nurse, eye theatres), Gerald Gumban (staff nurse, Eyford
ward), Khorshed Batki ( staff nurse, eye clinic) and Wei Chee Tan ( staff
nurse, eye theatres)
“Thanks also to Jane Johnson for St Luke’s
Church Hall, the Staff Benefits Committee for their
contribution to the event and those who helped to
set up the hall and clear up afterwards.”
The ophthalmology department has staff from all
corners of the world, including India, Malaysia,
Egypt, Barbados, Poland, Sweden, South Africa,
Australia, Philippines, Nigeria and Romania – along
with people from England, Ireland, Wales and
Scotland.
Arabic, Bahasa Melayu, Cantonese, French,
Gujarati, Hindi, Malayalam, Mandarin, Polish,
Romanian, Swedish, Tagalog, Tamil, Urdu, Welsh
and Zulu are just some of the languages spoken.
Eye walker
Nurse Rosemary Bird will be putting her best foot forward in October to walk
the Cotswold Way.
Rosemary, who works within the ophthalmology department on the Eyford
Ward and in the Outpatients’ Department at CGH, plans to trek the 100 miles
between Bath and Chipping Campden between October 22nd and 26th.
In doing so she hopes to raise money for the Eye Therapy Trust and the
Gloucestershire County Association for the Blind (GCAB).
Rosemary, who had previously planned to do the walk in May, would be
pleased to hear from anybody who would like to sponsor her or join her on
the Cotswold Way.
25
Garden party
Two women who have played
major roles in the development of
the maxillo facial service
in Gloucestershire were
honoured with invitations to a
garden party at Buckingham
Palace.
Theatre sister Jackie Sills and
Associate Specialist in Oral
and Maxillo Facial Surgery
Caroline Harvey donned
their hats and posh frocks
and rubbed shoulders with
several members of the
royal family during a sunny
afternoon in London.
Jackie, who has worked for
the NHS for 37 years, said
the event was a “fantastic
day to remember”.
Caroline Harvey and Jackie Sills.
“The royals were very elegant indeed,
mingling in the crowd: it all had a very
relaxed and classic English garden
party feel with the bands playing and tea
served on the lawn.”
Jackie, who specialises in head and neck
surgery, has been in Gloucestershire
for 32 years and manages the three
theatre suite currently undertaking
ophthalmology and maxillo facial surgery.
She has been involved in several major
projects including the centralisation of
Ear Nose and Throat and Ophthalmology
services within Gloucestershire. She
set up an ophthalmology diagnostic and
treatment centre at Tewkesbury and the
mobile unit activity at Stroud.
Caroline has worked in Gloucestershire
for 24 years and is a familiar face in its
hospitals.
Cheque
presentation
Super-fit Rob Lynch called into the Cancer
Information Centre to present a £2,000 cheque to
FOCUS.
The 36-year-old fabrications specialist took part in
the London Marathon to say thank you to staff at
Cheltenham General Hospital who helped him keep
his studies on an even keel while he was fighting
cancer.
Rob was diagnoised with Hodgkins Disease when
he was 19 and in his final year of a mechanical and
manufacturing HND at Gloscat.
Despite having to undergo nine months of
chemotherapy, including a session on his 20th
birthday, Rob sat all of his final exams and received
a distinction.
The cancer struck again in November 1993
during Rob’s final year studying for a mechanical
engineering honours degree at Coventry University.
26
Rob is pictured with his partner Jacqueline, mum Pat, sister Sarah,
nephew Patrick and Chair of FOCUS Anne Welsh.
Despite this he continued with his studies and went
on to receive a first class honours degree.
Rob tried for four years top get a place in the
London Marathon.
“I’ve now been clear for 12 years and I wanted
to try and give something back to the oncology
department after having received so much from
them,” he said.
A great adventure
Dr Malcolm Savidge with Acute Pain Nurses at Wellington Hospital..
The warmest New Zealand summer for a decade
awaited as I touched down in Aotearoa – the
country’s Maori name which means ‘the land of the
long white cloud’.
The opportunity to work in Wellington arose when
one of our Registrars moved to New Zealand and
the possibility for an exchange emerged. In the
end, with the help and goodwill of my department,
I went as a locum for six months. First impressions
were of a relaxed culture (no ties at work), pleasant
surroundings and a very inclusive society of Maori
and Pakeha (white Europeans). The quality of
light seems much brighter, either due to the light
reflecting off the sea or the lack of pollution.
Wellington Hospital is a similar size to GRH and
also seems to have a perpetual building programme.
Its services include cardio-thoracic, neurosurgery,
transplant and paediatric surgery - along with those
with which I usually assist in Gloucester. The ICU
has 15 beds (no No.13) and is usually Bedlam! The
14 theatres are always busy and the emergency
workload unremitting. The equipment, drugs
and techniques are familiar but with some
exceptions. The service is not so well
developed as in the UK. It is under-funded,
less well organised and I experienced
two trainee doctor strikes. My work
was a mixture of surgical cases including
neurosurgery and I regularly led the acute
pain round.
The natural beauty of New Zealand is striking. We
travelled at weekends and the most memorable
places were Doubtful Sound, Franz Josef Glacier,
Akaroa, Nelson and Marlborough Sound in the
South Island. Napier, Wanganui, the Kapiti Coast,
the Martinborough wineries, Rotorua, Mount
Ruapeho and the Coromandel peninsula in the
North Island. We also managed a week in the Cook
Islands - paradise on earth!
It was a great adventure and we feel very privileged
to have had the opportunity, although we would not
wish to live there due to the difficult economic and
social problems and a relatively small population. I
have returned refreshed and with a new perspective
on both my life
and my work.
Everyone
gains from
sabbaticals.
Dr Malcolm Savidge and the largest patient he has ever had to anaesthetise.
27
Meet the Countywide IT
and Systems Training Team!
The Countywide IT and Systems Training Service provide IT and systems training for the whole county.
It offers specific IT training sessions on a regular basis including:
zz Introduction to Computers
zz Introduction to Outlook email
zz Introduction to Word
zz Introduction to Outlook scheduler
zz Introduction to Excel
zz Intermediate Word
zz Introduction to PowerPoint
zz Intermediate Excel
zz Introduction to Access
zz Intermediate PowerPoint
The service also offers qualifications like ECDL and Microsoft Office and can provide ad hoc training when
required. There are also many e-learning packages available so you can complete the learning in your own
time. There is more information on the e-learning platform at www.glos.nhs.uk/elearning/. Mail merge is
available on e-learning. Contact Bobby Spencer on 01452 891176 for further information. There is a training
pathway to help you decide what level of training you need on the Gloucestershire Academy website
www.gloucestershireacademy.nhs.uk.
28
Fatigue conference
Issues associated with cancer related fatigue will be
discussed at a study day for medical, nursing and
allied health professionals on Friday November 28.
Speakers at the event, at the Sandford Education
Centre at Cheltenham General Hospital, will include
Dr Paul Perkins, Consultant in Palliative Care,
Sue Ryder Care, Leckhampton Court Hospice; Dr
Fiona Cramp, Principle Lecturer at the University
of the West of England and Katie Brooks, Senior
Physiotherapist at St Peter’s Hospice, Bristol.
The range of topics due to be covered will include:
zz What is cancer related fatigue?
zz Physical activity and cancer related fatigue
zz Development of a fatigue management
programme
zz Affects of sleep on cancer related fatigue
zz Debate – “Is fatigue all in the mind?”
The study day takes place between 9am and 4.50pm and costs £20, to include lunch and refreshments.
To receive a registration form contact:
Trudie Hook, PA to Nurse Director, 3 Counties Cancer Network, Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust, Sanger
House, Brockworth, Glos GL3 4FE
Email : trudie.hook@glos.nhs.uk
Tel: 01242 215054.
Policy Patrol Update
Recently approved policies such as guidance on nursing patients in single sex wards, the positive
identification of patients and formula feeding are now available on our intranet.
The policy team explained that the site has been experiencing some difficulties, but they assure us that all
problems are currently being addressed by IT.
Recently approved policies also include:
zz A0260- Protocol for Supporting Smoking Cessation in Secondary CareTo ensure appropriate respond to an in-patient who requires Nicotine
Replacement Therapy (NRT) with specialist support and advice where
appropriate
zz A0248- Transfer of Inpatients to the Imaging Department- To ensure
that all inpatients attending the Imaging / Radiology Department are
safely transferred with relevant documentation
zz MAT- Obstetric Ultrasound – 20 Week Anomaly Scan- This guideline
informs staff working in the ultrasound department of the minimum
standards for completion of a 20 week anomaly scan
For more information about non-clinical policies contact Bev Williams at bev.williams@glos.nhs.uk. For all
clinical policy inquiries contact Shan South at shan.south@glos.nhs.uk
29
Adverts
To place an advert,
please contact
Ria Morrison on ext
3563 (CGH) or email
ria.morrison@glos.
nhs.uk.Alternatively,
place your advert on
the ‘Staff Classifieds’
section on the
intranet (under useful
pages)
Accommodation to rent
Student female nurse or qualified
female nurse to share rented
accommodation in a house share.
1 single bedroom for rent in
luxury house in the popular area
of Kingsway. Bedroom is fully
furnished and will include utility bills
@ £90 per week. Please call Heather
Scott on 07795113125.
Need a house in Gloucester to rent
for a short term period?
I am looking for a suitable person/s/
family to rent and look after my house
for 4months (November 2008 to
February2009)as I will be abroad.
It is two bed room Bungalow with a
large driveway and garden ,situated
in a quite arear of Abbeydale , close
to all amenities .all fixtures /fitting
and furniture included for £500/-pcm
(all bills included except phone).
No pets please. Feel free to contact
me for more information. malini@
blueyonder.co.uk or 01452418212
Holiday Accommodation
Do you have a story
for Outline?
We are always on the
look out for new stories
and would love to hear
from you if you have
some news.
Perhaps you or your
department would like to
feature in our Spotlight on
Services or All About Us
sections?
If so, please give us a
call on any of the above
numbers.
Our deadlines
If you would like to
appear in Outline please
send your article to us by
the following dates:
October
30th September
November
31st November
30
Traditional Italian House in Monte
Sant Angelo Located 5 mins. walk
from the town centre, the Basilica and
Castle, have fantastic mountaintop
views of the sea. Monte Sant
Angelo is a place of pilgrimage for
Catholics from all over Italy, situated
in Gargano, at the southeastern part
of Italy.20 min. drive to the beach, this
self-catering house can accommodate
couples with their 2 children, has a
small kitchen and a shower room.
Rate £280 p/w. check the web site
www.exploregargano.com For
details call: 01452 865997
Tenerife North - San Marcos 2 bed
roomed apartment with fabulous
views down the coast and overlooking
fishing harbour. Beach 50 metres.
Large lounge/dining room, fully
fitted kitchen, separate cloakroom
and bathroom, balcony. Washing
machine, microwave, TV, video player
and cassette/CD radio. All linen, just
need beach towels. £250 p/w all year.
Email Philippa.jones@glos.nhs.uk
or tel. 01453 547520
Lake Kournas, Georgioupolis,
Western Crete - 3 bedroom holiday
villa with private pool for rent,.
Secluded location with stunning
views of the mountains and lake area.
Sandy beaches and village facilities 5
minute drive. Tavernas and lake shore
5 minute walk. Sleeps up to 6. Large
terrace areas. Air conditioning, fully
equipped. Villa featured by James
Villas. Book direct with the owners for
a discount on normal prices. www.
rimampela.dsl.pipex.com Tel 01452
700146
Orlando, Florida. Silver Palms Villa
- Luxurious 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom
airy Orlando vacation home with
its own private heated swimming
pool and games room, beautifully
furnished and ideally positioned only
minutes from Disney, close to
several championship golf courses,
restaurants and minutes away from
serious shopping. Located within a
gated resort with fantastic facilities
free for our guests to use including a
clubhouse, resort pool and spa, gym,
children’s play areas, free broadband
internet, games arcade, sundry shop,
sand volley ball, putting green and
soccer field - only 200 yds from the
villa. Sleeps 2-10. From £450 pw. Contact Mike Tel: 01452 525891,
www.oursolanavilla.com
Adverts
Yorkshire Dales Cottage. Sleeps
4-6 + One good dog! Very cosy with
fires and well equipped (washing
machine, + tumble dryer, micro-wave,
double oven) Wonderful walks/ bike
rides from the door. One mile from
village, with good pubs, cafés and
shops. Very quiet valley with great
countryside. Easy access to the
lakes, without the over crowding.
Heating and linen included. Weekend
lets November to end March. Rest
weeks starting from Saturdays.
Contact Simon Ackroyd - simon@
simonackroyd.plus.com, or tel
01242 242192
Bushido
Services - NHS Staff discounts
All lessons are taught privately (max
group size of 4 people). Improve your
fitness and stamina, develop greater
confidence and awareness. Book a
free taster session and a free first
lesson. For More information call Vic
Laurel on 07726 224 920 or Richard
Trafford on 07931 575 339 Or go to
http://www.bushidocheltenham.
com/Site/Welcome.html
(Lessons offered in Self Defence,
Karate, Aikido-Te, Sword and Oriental
weapons)
Bare-faced Medical Aesthetics.
Our Cheltenham-based Clinic
specialises in non-surgical medical
aesthetic enhancement. Therapies
include Botox, dermal fillers,
medical skin care products, peels,
microdermabrasion, and pulsed light
therapy for skin rejuvenation and
permanent hair reduction. We treat
acne, rosacea, thread veins, fine lines,
wrinkles, sun damage and unwanted
body hair. Initial consultations are
free - 10% discount for all NHS staff.
01242 222690
Are you the parent of a bright
teenage son/daughter?
Is it a concern that good exam grades
do not guarantee success at job
interview?
Successful candidates are memorable
candidates.
Can my course help? I can’t promise.
I don’t know your kid. To find out more
phone me: Barry Jackson, B.Sc.,
Human Development: 07795-288490.
ABC Services are pleased to offer
the following services to all NHS Staff:
7 day MOT Testing 7.30am – 9pm
(MOT Test Ministry set fee) Servicing
& Repairs (all makes and models)
Tyres / Exhaust / Batteries Body
Repairs CSS – Car Hi-fi & security
department We offer all staff a free
collection & delivery service within a
7 mile radius All vehicles will receive
a wash & vacuum FOC *To qualify
for this benefit you must inform the
reception staff that you work for the
NHS when booking your vehicle in.
Tel: 01242 525555 (Located opposite
Cheltenham Train Station)
Colonial Gardens: Design and
Construction Original ideas from
traditional to contemporary, quality
assured construction, maintenance
programmes, expert shrub/border/
small tree maintenance, problem
solving. Excellent references
available. Any job considered. 10%
discount for NHS employees.
Phone Bryan on 07717 510376 /
01452 790310
Physio Staff Self
Referral
Did you know that,
as a member of staff
you can refer yourself
to Physiotherapy? All
main hospitals offer
this service. All you
need to do is visit the
Physiotherapy Intranet
site and complete the
on line self referral
form. Alternatively,
you can contact your
local Physiotherapy
Department where you
will be asked to complete
the same form by hand.
An appointment will be
made for you, as soon as
is appropriate.
Staff benefit
subsidised
reflexology &
massage
REFLEXOLOGY
Tuesday 1.00 pm –
4.00pm Delancey
Hospital
Tuesday 5.30 pm – 8.30
pm (West Block OPD,
CGH)
Wednesday 5.30pm –
8.30pm (West Block
OPD CGH)
To book Phone Elaine
Greenwood – 01285
-650579
Price - £16 per hour
MASSAGE
Mondays & Thursday
6:30pm – 8:30 pm (West
Block OPD CGH)
To book Phone
Samantha Franklin,
07870 656 181
Price - £16 per hour
31