April 2010 - Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals

Talk back
All the latest news from BSUH
PLUS THE LATEST NEWS FROM

New Acute Medical Unit
opens at the County

Hurstwood Park’s new
angiography room

BSUH launches Hospital
Stars staff awards
APRIL 2010
Chief Executive’s
message
Caption competition
Thanks to everyone who took
the time to send in captions to
go with the picture above.
The winner of the competition
is Clinical Site Manager Alice
Edmondson with:
,,
“
Don’t lose the
habit
A £25 M&S voucher is on its
way to Alice.
For this edition, another
voucher is up for grabs for the
best caption to go with this
picture of Sally Goodman,
Paula Tucker and Sherree
Fagge taken at a recent NHS
Innovations event at Stamford
Bridge, the home of Chelsea FC
Email your answers to:
communications@bsuh.nhs.uk
New facilities and ways of working are the theme of this edition
of Talkback. Our Acute Medical Unit opened at the Royal Sussex
County Hospital at the beginning of the year, transforming the
experience of patients in our Emergency Department and the
working environment of the staff who spend their days and
nights caring for them (page 3).
Hurstwood Park Regional Centre for Neurosciences has also
benefited from a new addition, with the opening of a replacement
Interventional Angiography Room in March (page 9). This new
facility allows complex interventions to be carried out through a
patient’s arteries, rather than having to open their skull for
direct surgery.
Following the appointment of our new Chief Nurse, Sherree
Fagge, in February, Ward Working Wednesdays are now happening
every week in our hospitals and clinics (page 4). Senior nurses
and midwives, including Sherree herself, spend every Wednesday
morning working on wards delivering practical patient care
under the supervision of a ward Sister. In doing so they aim to
support and mentor frontline colleagues while gaining a deeper
understanding of the challenges they face and the practical dayto-day nursing issues that need addressing.
Further support for nurses is being provided by Suzanne Rolphe,
our very first Preceptorship Facilitator. ‘Preceptorship’ is all
about making sure that newly registered nurses don’t feel
‘dropped in the deep end’ during their transition from student
to experienced nurse. Read about the package of measures
Suzanne has introduced for newly-qualified BSUH nurses, both
on and off the ward, on page 4.
Finally, I am delighted to announce another first for BSUH —
our Hospital Star Awards 2010. Run in association with The Argus
newspaper, our very own ‘hospital Oscars’ will be awarded to 12
winners this summer, along with prizes donated by local
businesses. Find out how to nominate on page 5.
DUNCAN SELBIE
On the cover: Practice Educator Linda Hooper and AMU
Manager Sarah Goodhew at the opening of the County’s new
Acute Medical Unit (AMU) in January. See page 3 for more
on what AMU offers BSUH patients
Our new Acute
Medical Unit
A new 36-bed Acute Medical
Unit (AMU) opened in January,
adjacent to A&E at RSCH,
replacing the hospital’s MASU
(Medical Assessment Unit). In
contrast to MASU, the AMU
benefits from natural
daylight, more beds and two
side rooms with en suite
bathrooms. “The opening of
this new unit is an immensely
important moment for BSUH
as we step up to being, and
looking like, a teaching
hospital. It will transform the
patient and staff experience
and I cannot sufficiently thank
everyone involved in making
this happen,” says Chief
Executive Duncan Selbie.
Linda Hooper (left) and AMU Manager Sarah Goodhew at the opening of the
County’s new AMU in January; the unit benefits from two siderooms with
en suite bathrooms, natural daylight and a bright, modern interior
 Following ongoing consultation with local
residents, and discussions with English
Heritage and Brighton & Hove City Council’s
planning department, we have made some
alterations to our 3Ts design. The new design
addresses concerns raised about the height of
the development and its compatibility with
neighbouring architecture. The new design
reduces the height of the hospital and adds
features more in keeping with surrounding
Regency architecture. It also features more
green spaces and garden areas, which will be
visible from surrounding streets.
 The Chief Executive of the NHS, Sir David
Nicholson, paid tribute to BSUH staff by
offering his personal thanks for their efforts in
keeping services going during the extreme
winter on a visit to RSCH in February. Sir David
visited A&E and main theatres, as well as
Donald Hall and Soloman, our stroke ward.
TALKBACK April 2010 3
Senior nurses & midwives
on wards on Wednesdays
Every Wednesday our senior nurses and midwives
are working on wards as part of frontline teams to
teach, learn and pick up issues that need addressing
Last month saw the beginning of ‘Ward
Working Wednesdays’ (WWW), with senior
nurses and midwives working alongside
frontline colleagues on wards and then coming
together afterwards to share what they have
learned and seen. Chief Nurse Sherree Fagge,
together with other senior nurses and
midwives at RSCH and PRH, now spend every
Wednesday morning working on wards
delivering practical patient care under the
direction of the Ward Sister.
The aim is to generate a deeper understanding
of the day-to-day nursing issues that need to
be addressed in our hospitals and clinics and to
use the themes that come out of WWW to
make practical improvements.
“We’ve only been doing this for a month
but already I can see improvements and the
positive benefits that this will bring in our
hospitals,” says Sherree.
Support for newly qualified nurses
Historically, newly qualified
nurses have not benefited
from organised, structured
support during their transition
from student to experienced
nurse. Buddy systems and onthe-job training have all been
in place but often new nurses
have been expected to ‘hit
the ground running’. Evidence
suggests this causes stress, a
lack of confidence, high
sickness rates and many new
nurses deciding to leave the
profession altogether.
Preceptorship at BSUH
There is now recognition that
new nurses need to receive
support in the form of
‘preceptorship’ in their postregistration period. The
Nursing and Midwifery Council
4 TALKBACK April 2010
is lobbying to make
preceptorship mandatory for
all nurses; and Suzanne Rolfe
(pictured) became BSUH’s
first Preceptorship Facilitator
in December.
“Preceptorship is all about
giving nurses the time and
support they need to develop
confidence,” says Suzanne.
Suzanne now runs a
mandatory five-day course for
new BSUH nurses. Mind The
Gap: Supporting The Novice
runs over four months and
gives nurses the chance to
discuss issues and problems
they have encountered, get
advice on coping with stress
and challenging situations,
and listen to nurse specialists
give practical advice on topics
such as end of life care and
Suzanne Rolfe, our first
Preceptorship Facilitator
discharge planning.
A qualified nurse herself,
Suzanne also spends time
working alongside each newly
qualified nurse in our hospitals,
as well as giving talks to
nursing students at Brighton
University and at careers days.
Visit nww.bsuh.nhs.uk/
preceptorship for more info.
T
his month sees the launch of BSUH’s
very first Hospital Star Awards. Run in
association with The Argus newspaper,
this annual event will recognise and reward the
efforts of clinical, non-clinical, frontline and
‘behind the scenes’ staff in all our hospitals
and clinics. Staff and members of the public
are invited to nominate individuals and teams
for the 12 award categories, either online via
BSUH’s website (see address below) and The
Argus’ website (www.theargus.co.uk), or by
completing and returning a nomination form
printed in The Argus and displayed in our main
hospital reception areas. The closing date for
nominations is Friday 28 May 2010. Winners will
be announced on Tuesday 29 June during an
evening award ceremony in Brighton attended
by BSUH staff, representatives from The Argus
and local businesses. Award winners will receive
prizes donated by local businesses and two
runners-up for each category will also be
recognised during the evening ceremony.
In association with
Submit your nominations at
www.bsuh.nhs.uk/awards
THE AWARD CATEGORIES












Nurse of The Year
Midwife of The Year
Doctor of The Year
Allied Health Professional of The Year
Healthcare Assistant of The Year
Cleaner of The Year
Support Services Star of The Year
(frontline)
Support Services Star of The Year
(behind-the-scenes)
Team of The Year
Volunteer of The Year
Outstanding Leadership Award
The Chief Executive’s Special Award
TALKBACK April 2010 5
BSUH divisions
DIVISION OF MEDICINE
DIVISION OF SURGERY
DIVISION OF SPECIALISED SERVICES
DIVISION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN
A moving collection of photos of people who have donated kidneys alongside the recipients of
their kidneys was put up for permanent display at RSCH and PRH in March to mark World Kidney
Day. Taken by photographer, Holly Cocker, each portrait is accompanied by text telling the couple's
story, including BSUH’s Ashley Adsett who donated a kidney to her brother Nick (shown above on
a beach). “We hope patients and visitors will enjoy the exhibition and that it encourages more
people to sign the organ donation register,” says Dr Stephen Drage, Clinical Lead for Organ Donation.
60-second interview
Karen Wootten CLINICAL SITE MANAGER
What do you like most about your job?
My team
beat Kubrick
– a cinematic feast!
What do you like least about your job?
Difficult people
What was the last
book you read?
Milton — ‘Paradise
Lost’. Could read it
again and again (I
love Lucifer)
What three words would your colleagues use to
describe you?
Grumpy! Stubborn, memory like an elephant
What is your greatest extravagance?
Wine
What is your most annoying habit?
Repeating myself, it’s part of the job…SLOWLY
What is the first thing you do when you get
home from work?
Check the answer phone
How would you spend an ideal day off?
In London eating, drinking and people watching
What was the last film/concert/play you saw?
Barry Lyndon (1975, won four Oscars),
remastered at the Duke of Yorks. You can’t
8 TALKBACK April 2010
Where did you last go on holiday?
Ireland – good Guinness, great food, mad
people (almost like work!)
With whom would you most like to be stranded
on a desert island?
Very boring – my other half. He makes me laugh
Where would you like to be in 5 years time?
On a beach
If you were a sandwich filling what would you
be and why?
I think I’d like to be Brie, avocado and sundried
tomato, it reminds me of warmer climates
New angiography
room opened
Staff at Hurstwood Park
Regional Centre for
Neurosciences celebrated the
opening of a new replacement
Interventional Angiography
Room in March. Specialist
consultants, nursing staff and
radiographers joined
representatives from Philips
Medical at the opening to
watch a demonstration of the
newly installed real-time
X-ray imaging equipment,
supplied by Philips Medical.
The new-look room and
equipment have been funded
by a £0.6M investment.
“This new facility will allow
us to perform highly skilled
non-surgical interventional
treatment, mainly of cerebral
aneurysms. This is done through the patient’s arteries, rather
than having to open their skull for direct surgery,” explains
Wendy Bates, Superintendent Radiographer at Hurstwood Park.
By injecting a colourless dye into arteries and taking X-ray
pictures, doctors can see if any blockages or weaknesses exist
in arteries or veins. This ‘angiogram’ provides a 3D ‘road-map’
of arteries, used to decide on the best treatment for patients.
Grateful mum creates leaflet
for patients at the Royal Alex
Helen Sadler, mum of two-year-old Josephine, has created a
BSUH patient information leaflet for young children to thank
staff at the Royal Alex for the care and treatment Josephine
received at the hospital. Monkey Goes To Hospital takes the
reader through the journey of a patient coming into The Alex for
surgery, with ‘monkey’ photographed in different parts of the
hospital with real-life staff from the Alex.
“I wrote this book to prepare us as a family for our little girl’s
major surgery. It was so daunting, and my husband Daniel and I
were very nervous about Josephine’s operations. It was helpful
to see the machines and imagine how things would feel for
Josephine. It took away the fear of the unknown for us all, more
so for Daniel and I. Josephine was totally confident and
at ease with the surroundings in the hospital as they were now
familiar to her through the photographs in this book. She enjoyed
spotting the machines and making the noises. The consultants
and nurses loved the book and offered to print it so that other
families will benefit from it,” says Helen.
Monkey Goes to Hospital is available, free, from wards and
departments in the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital
2008/09
What we have achieved
Doctors and nurses in charge of our hospitals In May 2009 we
restructured our hospital management. Doctors and nurses
now form a majority on BSUH’s Management Board. The Board
is chaired by the Chief of Clinical Operations and includes the
Medical Director, Chief Nurse, Chief of Trauma and Chiefs for
each of the four Clinical Divisions of Medicine, Surgery,
Specialised Services and Women and Children. Supporting each
of the Clinical Chiefs is an Associate Chief Nurse and Associate
Director of Operations.
Mortality rates in the top 10% nationally According to Hospital
Standardised Mortality Rates (HSMR) for all hospitals in England
our mortality rates are 20% better than the national average.
Ranked in the country’s top 5% for patient safety According to
the independent ‘Good Hospital Guide’, published in December.
Reduction of MRSA and C. difficile on our wards In 2009/10
we had 24 MRSA bloodstream infections, a reduction of 33%
on the previous year; we had 146 cases of hospital-acquired
C. difficile, a reduction of 23% on 2008/09.
For a summary of our plans and
objectives for the year ahead, read
Our Priorities 2010/2011 (below).
It is available as an e-book or pdf
from our website’s home page
(www.bsuh.nhs.uk).
To request a print version, please
email communications@bsuh.nhs.uk
Placed in top 20% of hospitals in England for hygiene after
passing two independent hygiene spot-checks. In both January
and September inspectors found no breaches of the Hygiene
Code at BSUH. The findings also highlight a continuous fall in
the number of cases of MRSA since April 2006.
Delivered 4-hour A&E standard for 99% of our patients.
Exceeded the 18 weeks standard to treat 90% of admitted and
95% of non-admitted patients within 18 weeks of referral. In
2009/10 admitted patients waited an average of 10 weeks
from referral for their treatment and the average wait for
outpatients was 5.5 weeks.
Paid off our historic debt In 2008/09 we delivered a surplus of
£9.9 million and paid off a significant amount of our historic
debt. In 2009/10 we made further surplus of £5.9 million and
paid off the remainder of our historic debt. For the first time
in six years we are starting a new financial year debt free.
Gained approval for 3Ts The Outline Business Case for our
planned 3Ts redevelopment of the County hospital was
approved in November by the South East Coast Strategic
Health Authority. We are now waiting for final approval from
the Department of Health before building work can start.
Volunteer Voice
SIAN WATKINS, HURSTWOOD PARK
Sian Watkins is a young lady with an ambition
to help others. Talkback’s Katherine Ratcliffe
got chatting to the 18-year-old student who
has been a BSUH volunteer for almost a year
at Hurstwood Park Regional Centre for
Neurosciences. Most weekends Sian can be
found helping out in reception, assisting with
the outpatients clinics, or lending a hand in
the Medical Ward
With plans to study Medicine, Sian was keen to gain some
work experience before she started University.
“I really wanted to gain some more experience of
working in a hospital and was on a volunteering website
when I discovered that more volunteers were required at
the Princess Royal Hospital so I contacted BSUH’s
Voluntary Services staff. They were really helpful and I
went along to one of the open mornings and a training
day. Just a couple of weeks later I was offered the
opportunity to work at Hurstwood Park.”
Sian says she is very grateful to have had the opportunity
to volunteer in such a specialised hospital.
“I’ve enjoyed observing the fantastic work that the
doctors and nurses do. It’s been really interesting to
learn more about various conditions, treatments and the
facilities offered.”
A MEDICAL FUTURE
Sian has thoroughly enjoyed the experience she has
gained by volunteering at Hurstwood Park. Traditionally
volunteers tend to be of an older generation — I asked
her if she would recommend volunteering to other
students?
“I would definitely recommend volunteering to anyone
who is willing to give up a little bit of their time each
week. Simple things like helping with drinks and dinners
and talking to patients really do make a difference. As an
added bonus it also looks great on your CV and is brilliant
experience if you are planning to study Medicine or
nursing.”
As far as volunteer dislikes go, Sian admits it can be
frustrating sometimes as things don’t always go to plan.
But the staff are always really quick to respond to any
problems, making sure that the patients and relatives
are helped as much as possible.
In her spare time Sian has a taste for the arts and her
musical talents include playing the piano and clarinet.
“I also love to dance and act. I’ve taken ballet classes
for 15 years and am currently completing a drama
diploma. At college I am studying Biology, Chemistry,
Maths and Latin at A-level.”
As her year at the centre is coming to an end, Sian says
she would particularly like to thank the nurses, Dr Romi
Saha and Dr Susan Lipscombe for their constant support
and kindness throughout her time at Hurstwood Park.
She adds that the best memories of her time at the
centre have come from the patients themselves.
“It is wonderful when you see someone begin to recover
from an illness. You can really appreciate how experienced
and determined the medical team are to do their best
for each individual.”
Talkback would like to congratulate Sian as a little
birdie tells us she has just received an offer to study
Medicine next year at King’s in London.
The NHS Retirement Fellowship is a registered charity open to anyone
who has worked in the NHS. Membership includes the chance to go on
outings and holidays, as well as the opportunity to meet up with old
friends and colleagues. The main objective of the Fellowship is to
promote the interests of retired staff, and this includes visiting sick
and housebound members. The local branch for BSUH staff meets on
the first Tuesday of each month from 10.15am to 12 noon in Franklands
Village Hall, Lewes Road, Haywards Heath. To find out more, contact
Jill Stevens on 01444 236852 or Mrs Barbara Powell
on 01444
TALKBACK
March457684.
2010 11
THE LATEST NEWS FROM
Brighton and Sussex Medical School has a
diverse student community, including a
number of international students who are
currently being trained on BSUH wards and
in our clinics.
Kishan Moosai from Trinidad and Tobago
enjoys the access to real-ward experience
that he gets at BSMS: “We have early clinical
exposure and get to interact with doctors and
patients on a regular basis.”
Hong Kong student Chan Ki Fung Dickson is
impressed by how the medical school
supports its students as they are learning:
“The great thing is right from day one, we
are treated like professionals.”
Others students believe that what they are
learning now will develop them and the
future of medicine both in the UK and around
the world.
“I feel like I'm making a difference to the
way medical practice will be carried out in
the NHS for years to come,” says J Libi Most
from the USA.
Nigerian Amina Buba adds that studying
here has "enlightened me about global health
issues and my training has also encouraged
me to adapt a global perspective when
dealing with healthcare issues".
Thanks to children’s charity Rockinghorse and
generous donations from local companies,
children and parents at the Royal Alex are
now given an overnight bag of essentials to
help make emergency hospital stays easier
In February local children’s charity
Rockinghorse presented the Royal Alex
with overnight bags to help make
emergency stays at the hospital less
daunting for both children and parents.
This was the first delivery of bags in
what will be an ongoing scheme set up
by the charity to ease the strain of
emergency hospital visits. The bags
are filled with all the essentials for an
unexpected overnight stay, such as a
toothbrush, toothpaste, teddy bear
and a children’s story book.
Talk back
Your Communications Team are:
Rachel Clinton Director of Communications
Martha Robinson Communications Manager
Lucie Brand E-Communications Manager
Katherine Ratcliffe Communications Assistant
Students from Brighton and Hove High School for Girls
found out more about the work of the Clinical Investigation
and Research Unit (CIRU), at the unit’s open day, held as
part of this year’s National Science Week. School parties
and members of the public were offered tours to find out
more about the unit's research projects and aims
12 TALKBACK April 2010
Please send ideas, comments or contributions to:
communications@bsuh.nhs.uk
or call 01273 664911.
Copy deadline for next issue: Friday 28 May 2010.
We try to include all contributions, but space is
limited so we cannot guarantee inclusion. Text
may be edited to fit house style — you will see a
copy before it is published.