special report on the lean machine uniform fashion

NEWS FOR NHS LANARKSHIRE STAFF • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
Centre Pages
Page 3
SPECIAL REPORT ON
THE LEAN MACHINE
UNIFORM
FASHION
PROTECTED:
Dr Barry Vallance,
consultant cardiologist
and divisional medical
director (acute services)
receives the swine flu
vaccination from Craig
Graham, occupational
health nurse adviser
THE VITAL JAB
FRONTLINE NHS Lanarkshire
health staff are being urged to
take up the H1N1 vaccination.
It is strongly recommended that
frontline staff get the vaccine to
protect themselves, their patients
and their family against swine flu.
The staff vaccination
programme began at the end of
October for selected groups
of staff, and the majority of
frontline health and social care
staff will be offered vaccination
once the main NHS Lanarkshire
ALSO INSIDE
Staff urged to take up swine flu vaccination
programme starts over the coming
weeks. The Lanarkshire staff vaccination programme will be
delivered by SALUS and the local
occupational health teams will
advise managers which staff are to
be vaccinated.
Managers will then inform staff
where and when to go for the
vaccine.
Local occupational health teams
will advise managers which staff
are to be vaccinated. Managers will
inform staff where and when to go
for the vaccine.
All NHS Lanarkshire staff are
reminded that if they have swine
flu symptoms to stay at home and
speak to their GP, or NHS 24 if
calling out of hours.
D r H a r p r e e t Ko h l i , N H S
Lanarkshire’s director of public
health, said: “All frontline NHS
Lanarkshire staff are encouraged
to take up the offer of the swine flu
vaccination.
“These staff are at increased risk
of infection, so it is important for
them to be vaccinated, not only for
their own health, but also to
prevent infection being spread to
their families and to susceptible
patients.”
Dr Brian Keighley, chairman of
the British Medical Association in
Scotland, said: “Vaccination is a
decision for every individual.
However current evidence suggests
that the risk of experiencing a
complication as a result of
contracting swine flu far outweighs
the risk of receiving the vaccine.”
TURN TO PAGE 2,
NEWS ACROSS THE DIVISIONS • TRAINING UPDATE • YOUR STORIES • YOUR HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE
2 thePulse GENERAL NEWS
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
Cleanliness
inspections
Contents
OPEN: Nicola Sturgeon and
Allyson Matthews unveil a new
diabetes centre. See page 7
4-9 GENERAL NEWS
Events raise awareness of HIV and AIDS;
conference celebrates staff; waiting times fall;
recognition for breastfeeding scheme; new
diabetes centre opens; FAST stroke response;
scheme encourages children to get fit.
10-11 SPECIAL REPORT
How staff can make an impact on efficiency by
transforming processes into ‘Lean’ working.
12-14 LOCAL, DISTRICT, PARTNERSHIP NEWS
Driving volunteers; drop-in centres a success;
support for carers; oral health DVD launched.
16 PEOPLE NEWS
Staff say farewell to work and hello to retirement.
19 TRAINING
Essential guide to training dates for your diary.
20 ACHIEVEMENTS
Staff and members of the community hit the stage.
Editorial policy
As the staff newspaper of NHS Lanarkshire, The Pulse aims to celebrate
the work and achievements of staff and services. It also shares
information about the changes and issues that affect staff at work. We
would like to hear your thoughts and suggestions about the kind of
stories you would like to see in The Pulse. Contact the team (below) with
your stories, comments and ideas.
Got a story?
If you have any ideas,
stories or features you
would like to see included, or
would just like to tell us what you
think of The Pulse, please get in
touch with a member of the
editorial team...
Martin Stirling
01698 245069
Michelle Nobes
(Hairmyres)
01355 585325
Christine McNeill
(Monklands)
01236 713065
Yvonne Ross
(Wishaw General)
01698 366558
The deadline for
contributions to
the next edition
is 27 November.
AN independent inspection team
is visiting Monklands Hospital on
18 November to scrutinise cleanliness and infection control.
The new Healthcare Environment
Inspectorate (HEI), which operates
independently of the Scottish
Government and NHS Boards, will
visit Hairmyres on 25 May and
Wishaw General on 30 September
next year.
The team may ask questions of
any member of staff or patient as
part of the visit and no advance
notice is given about which clinical
areas will be inspected.
HEI audit tools will be used for
inspecting public areas, wards and
units within hospitals.
The inspection team:
q May wish to access monitoring
reports, policies and procedures
within clinical areas
q Will interview staff using a
standardised questionnaire with
supplementary questions specific to
the areas being inspected
q Will talk to patients. Staff in the
ward/unit will be asked to identify
patients willing to speak. Consent
forms must be signed by patients
prior to the discussion
q May take photographs of the environment and/or equipment for
reporting purposes. No pictures of
staff, patients or visitors will be taken
q Will provide NHS board/hospital
staff with preliminary feedback.
Inspections will usually last one
day and aim to minimise disruption.
NHS Lanarkshire medical director
Alison Graham said: “Staff have
worked hard to improve
cleanliness and reduce healthcare
associated infections.
“We need to demonstrate this to
the HEI inspection team so we can
give the public confidence.”
All staff should be familiar with
NHS Lanarkshire’s hand hygiene
and healthcare associated infection
(HAI) policies and procedures which
can be found on FirstPort.
Every acute hospital will receive
at least one planned and one unannounced visit over three years, with
extra visits as required. The public
will be able to contact the inspectorate directly to report concerns.
Further information about the visits
are available at www.nhshealth
quality.org/nhsqis/6710.140.1366.html
Experts
meet to
discuss
latest in
cancer
care
CANCER healthcare professionals
are up to date with the latest
developments in patient care
following an event at Wishaw
General Hospital.
NHS Lanarkshire staff attended
a multi-professional education
day in September where various
experts discussed the current key
issues in cancer care.
Mhairi Simpson, nurse
consultant in cancer care, said:
“The event attracted professionals
from a wide range of backgrounds. More than 70 attended.”
Topics included:
q A patient’s perspective of
cancer care
q Rehabilitation and exercise in
cancer care
q Cancer in Lanarkshire today and
tomorrow
q The financial impact of cancer
q Nurse-led cancer care.
A l a n G o w, M a c m i l l a n
community network development
co-ordinator, chaired the event.
He said: “There is a lot of
excellent work being done in
cancer care in Lanarkshire.
“Events such as this are
important to ensure the professionals working in this field are
aware of the latest developments
and can put these into practice for
the benefit of patients.
“It also helped raised awareness
of both patients’ and carers’ needs
and to highlight the importance of
the likes of diet and exercise in
addition to clinical care.”
Pictured above at the event are:
John Phelim, lead lung cancer
nurse specialist; Mhairi Simpson,
nurse consultant cancer care;
Lorna MacNicol, lead
gastrointestinal cancers clinical
nurse specialist; Dr Collette
Hawkins, consultant palliative
care, County Durham and
Darlington NHS Foundation Trust;
a n d A l a n G o w, M a c m i l l a n
community network development
co-ordinator.
Staff urged to get swine flu jabs
% CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Theresa Fyffe, director of Royal
College of Nursing Scotland, said:
“Vaccination is a simple way for
nurses to protect themselves, their
families and their patients from swine
flu, so employers must ensure that all
appropriate staff have the opportunity
to receive the vaccination.”
Dr Ken Lawton, chair of the Royal
College of General Practitioners
Scotland, said: “I would also encourage
all colleagues and front line staff to
seriously consider taking the vaccine
themselves to ensure that as a workforce, we can provide effective and
consistent service should the number
of H1N1 cases continue to increase.”
Gillian Smith, Royal College of
Midwives’ director for Scotland, said:
“We encourage all of our members to
carefully consider the information
regarding vaccination and accept the
opportunity to be vaccinated, in order
to protect themselves and the mothers
and babies they provide care to.”
For staff involved in the immuni-
sation programme, whether administering or advising, there is an online
immunisation education resource
‘Promoting Effective Immunisation
Practice’ developed by Health
Protection Scotland and NHS
Education Scotland. It is available at
www.immunisation-elearning.nhs.uk
A list of questions and answers
for staff about the vaccination
programme is available on FirstPort under
Swine Flu Information. Further details are
at www.scotland.gov.uk/swineflu
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
GENERAL NEWS
thePulse
3
IT system
is vital tool
for safety
PATIENT and staff safety has never
been higher on the agenda for
NHS Lanarkshire.
The roll-out of the electronic
incident reporting system across
NHS Lanarkshire in 2006 has
resulted in a better view of what is
happening and allows us to put
things right a lot quicker.
The system we use – Datix – is
a global supplier of healthcare
risk management software.
The system aims to help
healthcare organisations build a
culture and practice that drives
excellence in safety and risk, based
on market-leading software, NHS
Lanarkshire guidance, skills and
healthcare knowledge.
In Lanarkshire, we use the
incident and adverse event reporting
module, the claims module and the
complaints module. We are also
aiming to have the web-based risk
register module available soon.
Carol McGhee, corporate risk
manager, said: “Since rolling out the
web-based incident management
system, it has been very well
received. The move to electronic
recording of incidents allows us to
capture more information sooner,
leading to quicker investigations and
remedial actions.”
The move to the electronic
capture of incidents has also
reduced administration significantly.
Carol added: “Datix has made
recording far easier. As a result, we
now have better information on
incidents, trends and investigations
that we can share widely across our
management teams.”
20-week
scan offer
to women
FROM 1 December, all women in
Lanarkshire who book for ante-natal
care with a midwife will be offered
a 20-week anomaly scan.
The second scan will mean that
NHS Lanarkshire will offer the
20-week scan as a matter of routine,
in line with other Scottish
health boards.
Lyn Clyde, from NHS
Lanarkshire’s women’s services
directorate, said: “This is great
news for all expectant mums.
“We want to encourage them all
to take the 20-week scan because,
while the vast majority of
pregnancies are problem free,
complications can arise in others.
“The 20-week scan allows us to
spot any potential complications
and respond to them at the
earliest opportunity.”
NHS Lanarkshire currently
carries out a scan 12 weeks into a
woman’s pregnancy with a second
at a later stage when there is a
clinical need to do so.
The business case for a second
scan for all women was approved by
NHS Lanarkshire earlier this year
and additional ultra-sonographers to
carry out the scan are expected to
be announced soon.
NEW UNIFORMS
ARE ON PARADE
New national uniforms
are set to bring comfort
to staff and clarity to
patients, thanks to
better-quality garments
with limited designs
NHSScotland is introducing a
new uniform to give staff the
professional identity they deserve.
The new kit is for nurses, allied
health professionals, and catering,
domestic, portering, facilities and
estates staff – with varying colours.
NHS Lanarkshire is planning to start
a phased roll out from January 2009.
Across Scotland, there will be a
complete changeover to the new
uniform by 2012. NHSScotland staff
currently wear more than 250 different
styles of tunic in excess of 100
colours. This brought confusion to
staff, patients and the public.
The new uniform will allow patients
to identify staff and their role. It will
also be more cost effective while
providing better-quality garments that
are more appropriate to staff needs.
Staff, who were asked about the
change in a consultation, stated a need
and desire for a new uniform and said
comfort, simplicity and consistency
were key factors. Considerations such
as hygiene and comfort were noted
during the design phase.
The new uniform, designed to be
durable and stand up to the rigours of
the job, does not have zips or buttons.
Dr Kevin Woods, chief executive of
NHSScotland, said: “The new dress
code will help to refresh the visibility
of staff, while presenting a
professional corporate image.”
Useful info coming to a screen near you
PLASMA screens showing key
health messages have been
installed in three NHS Lanarkshire
sites as part of a three-year pilot.
Wishaw General, Monklands
Hospital and Douglas Street
Community Health Clinic were the
sites chosen.
A total of five screens will show
key information such as health
promotion videos, waiting times,
local news and transport
information to the public and staff.
NHS Lanarkshire’s head of
communications Karon Hamilton
said: “The screens will hopefully
help promote key health messages
to patients and visitors.
“Over the course of the
three-year trial, the project will be
department (A&E) and another
will be in the coffee shop.
At Monklands Hospital, a screen
will be located in the A&E and also
in the out patients’ department.
There will also be a screen in the
waiting area at Douglas Street
Community Health Clinic.
NHS Lanarkshire received
£25,000 from the Scottish
Government’s Public Focus and
Patient Involvement Fund for the
three-year pilot.
evaluated, and if successful, further
screens could be installed in other
NHS Lanarkshire sites.”
Two screens will be located
at Wishaw General, one in
the accident and emergency
For further information
on the initiative, contact
Alison McCutcheon, project officer,
communications department on 01698
245299 or email alison.mccutcheon@
lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
4 thePulse GENERAL NEWS
Monklands
is base for
HIV centre
THE Lanarkshire HIV, AIDS and Hepatitis
Centre is based at Monklands Hospital and
covers all of Lanarkshire.
It offers information, discussion, testing
and treatment for HIV, Hepatitis B and C
and some sexually transmitted infections.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
The centre takes referrals from any source.
For tests, the centre provides a rapid
appointment service – usually within 24
hours with results next day, except Fridays.
A full support service is available
offering both one-to-one and group
support. There are four consultant-led
treatment clinics and three nurse-led
clinics per week for all positive clients.
For more information, call 01236
712247 or 01236 712736.
DR GREGOR SMITH:“Exciting opportunity”
Did you
know?
SUPPORT: Claire
McGuire, Claire
Malone, Margaret
Stephen, Angela
Robb and Margaret
Maxwell during
Worlds AIDS Day last
year at Motherwell
Health Centre
more than
In the UK today living with
are
80,000 people ved that one
ie
el
b
HIV, but it is
with HIV are
le
p
in three peo
ource:
undiagnosed (s .uk)
www.nat.org
Projects, services
and events across
Lanarkshire are
helping to raise the
awareness of HIV
and AIDS in the
area and beyond
e A PROJECT in Lanarkshire
provides care and support for
Africans living with HIV and
Hepatitis C.
The scheme is part of the
Waverly Care African Health
Project, a voluntary organisation
providing care and support for
people living with HIV and
Hepatitis C in Scotland. It delivers
services in Edinburgh, Glasgow
and Lanarkshire.
The African Health Project was
set up in 2003 to meet the support
needs of the growing number of
Africans living with HIV in
Scotland and to help mainstream
services to deliver culturally
competent services.
This includes raising awareness
about HIV testing and prevention
with the wider community of
Africans living in Scotland.
In Lanarkshire, the project
worker is Nathan Mwesigwa,
who has been in post since
February 2009.
He works with Africans living in
Lanarkshire and also alongside
local services who are working
with Africans.
You can contact Nathan at
nathanm@waverleycare.org
Staff asked
to support
AIDS events
ALL staff are invited to wear a
red ribbon to show support for
World AIDS Day on 1 December.
The theme this year is HIV:
Reality – presenting real people and
their stories to encourage better
understanding of HIV.
And the Lanarkshire Blood
Borne Virus (BBV) and Sexual
Health Promotion team is asking
for your help to make the day
a success.
Tr a c y - A n n K i d d , h e a l t h
promotion officer, BBV and sexual
health team, said: “By dispelling
myths and misunderstandings and
communicating the facts simply
e RAISING awareness of
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and
HIV in Lanarkshire will be the
aim of an event next year.
The Hepatitis and HIV
Conference: Working Together to
halt the spread of Blood Borne
Viruses will be held by Lanarkshire
BBV Networks on 9 June.
and powerfully, the campaign
hopes to encourage safer sex and
early testing as well as addressing
the stigma surrounding HIV.”
World AIDS Day has been taking
place for more than 20 years and
has done much to raise awareness
of HIV and AIDS in Scotland.
In Lanarkshire, plans for the
event include:
q Awareness-raising events across
many of the community health
partnership localities
q Flags being flown from local
public buildings
q Terrence Higgins Trust and
volunteers from Landed Peer
For more information on local
events, contact Tracy-Ann Kidd,
health promotion officer, BBV and
sexual health team, Law House on
01698 377623. Alternatively, visit
www.lanarkshiresexualhealth.org
or www.worldaidsday.org
Trish Tougher, BBV networks
manager, said: “The conference will
raise awareness of the prevalence of
BBVs in Lanarkshire, their
transmission, the high risk groups
and include examples of work taking
place to prevent their spread.
“It will also launch the two BBV
Networks in Lanarkshire: the BBV
Prevention Network and the BBV
Managed Care Network;
highlighting new developments to
prevent BBV spreading and to
support individuals infected and
affected by Hepatitis and/or HIV.”
Look out for further information
on FirstPort and future editions of
The Pulse.
Education facilitating information
stalls in Wishaw General,
Monklands and Hairmyres
Hospitals on 1 December
q All GPs, pharmacists and dentists
receiving an information pack
q Schools and workplaces being
offered the opportunity to promote
World AIDS Day.
Super trio
are stout
fellows
NHS Lanarkshire netted an
impressive hat-trick recently when
three of its staff were selected for a
Scottish Patient Safety Programme
(SPSP) Fellowship course.
Dr Gregor Smith, medical director
for primary care; Alexa Wall, head
of Monklands pharmacy; and Dr
Sanjiv Chohan, a Monklands
consultant anaesthetist, all won
places on the programme that aims
to develop and strengthen clinical
leadership capability to improve
patient safety culture.
The trio’s inclusion was all the
more impressive given the chosen
candidates required the full support
of their employing organisation and
had to undergo a thorough selection
process which included making a
personal application.
Applicants also had to receive a
sponsorship statement from their
chief executive and medical or
nurse director as well as take part
in a structured interview.
Gregor said: “It’s an exciting
time to be offered a place on the
Fellowship programme as the
culture of patient safety will be an
integral part of NHSScotland’s
Quality Strategy.
“Much of the focus in the early
years of SPSP has been in the
hospital setting, but there’s a clear
enthusiasm for primary care to
become more involved.”
He added: “To have access to the
level of training and education that
the Fellowship provides is a
tremendous opportunity that should
further strengthen the quality of care
that we provide here.”
Alexa said: “Building a long-term
patient safety culture in
NHSScotland will be invaluable for
Lanarkshire’s patients.”
Sanjiv said: “Having three Fellows
in Lanarkshire puts us in a unique
situation, and opens up even greater
possibilities in the future.”
And NHS Lanarkshire’s Patient
Safety manager Diane Campbell
said: “This is not only a great
opportunity for the three
individuals involved, it will also have
massive positive benefits for NHS
Lanarkshire as a whole and
ultimately the patients we serve.”
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
GENERAL NEWS
thePulse
5
Better
service
with ICP
SHARING BEST PRACTICE: from left – Elspeth
Brown, practice development facilitator for older
adults; June Delaney, ward manager Wester
Moffat; Trudi Marshall, practice development
practitioner for older adults; and Wendy Drysdale,
infant feeding development midwife
EVERYONE CAN
TAKE A BOW!
H E A LT H w o r k e r s i n
Lanarkshire can be proud of
their achievements – that
was the message from the
Celebrating Lanarkshire 2009
conference.
More than 200 nurses,
midwives, allied health professionals, their students and
support workers (NMAHPs)
attended the event in August.
The annual conference, held
at the University of the West of
Scotland, Hamilton Campus,
highlights the successes of these
healthcare colleagues and allows
them to share good practices.
Guest speaker was Jason
Leitch, national clinical lead for
patient safety and improvement
at the Scottish Government.
He said: “Celebrating
Lanarkshire provides the ideal
opportunity to highlight the
achievements of NMAHPs over
the year and the progress made
in improving patient care.
“Bringing everyone together
helps promote and celebrate
CELEBRATION: from left – Paul Wilson, NMAHPs
executive director; Jason Leitch; Ken Corsar, NHS
Lanarkshire chairman, and Dr Marie Cerinus
t h e a r e a s o f exc e l l e n c e ,
and everyone can learn from
each other.”
Ken Corsar, NHS Lanarkshire
chairman, said: “This event helps
reinforce the importance of the
work staff are doing in
improving patient care.”
Presentations, posters, market
stalls, speakers and networking
are used to emphasise the
crucial part all NMAHPs play in
ensuring NHS Lanarkshire
provides the best possible care.
Dr Marie Cerinus, director of
NMAHP practice development,
said: “The Celebrating
Lanarkshire conference gives
those the recognition they
deserve for all their hard work.
“One of the key messages is
on good leadership, an
important aspect of improving
patient care. This is not just at
management level, it’s at every
level, from students to the
board.”
The Celebrating Lanarkshire
Conference is now in its
seventh year.
Save cash – switch it off
EVEN when we think we switched off our
electrics, it could still cost plenty if we leave them
on standby.
Leaving our computer monitors or printers
running overnight each week could potentially
cost NHS Lanarkshire tens of thousands of
pounds every year.
For example, in an office with 12 computers
and monitors, three printers and a fax machine,
the cost of leaving these items on standby would
be £240 for the computers and monitors, £63 for
the printers and £6 for the fax machine.
This is a total of £309 each year, from the
figures based on Energy Saving Trust Studies.
Here are some handy hints:
q Every night when finished work, shut down
your PC and switch off the monitor
q Even with the computer shut down, the
monitor will still remain on standby. Switching
the computer off at the wall will also help as the
computer utilises energy even when shut down
q Printers, photocopiers and fax machines
should be switched off at the wall and all lights
should be switched off.
e DELEGATES found the conference
an invaluable event.
Wendy Drysdale, infant feeding
development midwife at Wishaw
General, said: “Lanarkshire has the
second lowest breastfeeding rates in
Scotland so we’ve implemented
initiatives to address this.
“The breastfeeding support team
encourages women to breastfeed and
provides additional support and advice
to help reduce the number who
give up.
“Celebrating Lanarkshire helped us
highlight our work.”
Tr u d i M a r s h a l l , p r a c t i c e
development practitioner for older
adults, said: “We were able to use the
day to raise awareness about caring
for older people.
“When you are focused on your
own speciality it’s hard to see the
great things that are going on in
other areas, but the Celebrating
Lanarkshire conference gives you
that opportunity and can help us
share best practice.”
THE work to develop mental health
integrated care pathways (ICP)
within NHS Lanarkshire has been
commended by NHS Quality
Improvement Scotland (QIS).
All health boards in Scotland
have been challenged to improve
mental health services through the
use of ICPs.
A generic pathway is being
developed for all people using
mental health services and specific
pathways are being developed for
people with certain mental
disorders: dementia; bi-polar
disorder; schizophrenia; depression;
and borderline personality disorder.
ICPs are used to compare planned
care with the care actually provided.
QIS is working with NHS boards to
develop these pathways.
It has established an incremental
accreditation system, which will
support continuous improvement
within mental health services.
In the first instance, NHS boards
must demonstrate they are at
‘Foundation Level’ by showing they
have fundamental ICP standards
in place.
These standards focus on having:
q Named leads for different
mental health specialities
q Stakeholder involvement
q Process mapping
q Links to local care
governance systems
q Information management.
NHS Lanarkshire’s application
for Foundation Level accreditation
was accepted at the first sitting of
the NHS QIS accreditation panel.
A number of events and activities
have also taken place as part of NHS
Lanarkshire’s Mental Health ICP
Steering Group’s continuing work to
develop ICPs. These have included
carrying out awareness sessions,
producing an ICP newsletter and
holding a half-day event to get all of
the groups working on the ICPs
together.
Timescales for the next level of
accreditation for health boards are
due to be issued by winter 2009.
For more information, contact
Patricia Kent, ICP manager, on
01698 245029 or email patricia.
kent@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
For information on the QIS ICP
development project visit the toolkit
website www.icptoolkit.org
Staff sick days reduced
STAFF sickness rates within NHS Lanarkshire
have shown a remarkable improvement,
according to new government figures.
Between 2007 and 2008, hours lost dropped
by almost 150,000.
Lynne Khindria, HR director, said: “These
figures are very encouraging and demonstrate the
work being done to reduce staff sickness is having
a positive effect.
“This work involves implementing initiatives
to improve our staff’s health and to promote the
benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle. The EASY
service has also been helpful in supporting
managers to assist staff when they are off sick.”
The new figures show staff took off sick
975,881 hours in 2008 – down from 1,125,863
in 2007. The EASY Project – Early Access to
Support for You – provides fast access to support.
It includes occupational health advice and
assessment, physiotherapy and psychological
counselling, and health and safety advice.
Call EASY on 01236 438111 or email:
easy@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
6 thePulse GENERAL NEWS
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
Motherwell in the running to secure UNICEF recognition for breastfeeding
Did you
know?
To be aw
e MOTHERWELL is aiming
to receive international
recognition for its efforts to
encourage breastfeeding.
The locality, which has
already been awarded a
Certificate of Commitment
from UNICEF, is submitting an
entry to receive full UNICEF
Baby Friendly Initiative
accreditation for its
commitment to the long-term
health of mothers and babies
and is also set to become a
centre of excellence for
breastfeeding.
Susan Lyttle, NHS
Lanarkshire senior health
promotion officer, said:
“Breastfeeding gets babies off
to a great start. But not every
woman finds it easy, so it’s
important mothers have
plenty of support and advice
to overcome any issues.
“Working towards full Baby
Friendly status will help us
to continue to improve the
service we offer to families
in Motherwell.”
Set up in 1992 by UNICEF
and the World Health
Organisation, the initiative
works with health
professionals to ensure a
high standard of care for
pregnant women and
breastfeeding mothers
and babies.
Susan added: “There are a
number of support groups
throughout the area for
breastfeeding mums.
“They also have access to
the Community Mothers
Programme, where local
women who have breastfed
Contact the Community Mothers
their own children volunteer
their help and expertise to
Programme on 01698 377655 to
other local mums.”
find your nearest support group.
Waiting times
keep on falling
- that’s official
NHS Lanarkshire is
making great headway
to meet the challenging
target of reducing the
time patients wait
for vital treatment to
under 18 weeks
WAITING times for patients in
Lanarkshire are continuing to
fall, new Scottish Government
figures show.
From 1 April to 30 June 2009, all
patients admitted for treatment in
Lanarkshire – as an inpatient or day
case – received their first
appointment within 12 weeks of
being referred.
This is in line with waiting time
guarantees set by the Scottish
Government.
In addition, NHS Lanarkshire is
delivering the maximum wait of
12 weeks for outpatients and six
weeks for key diagnostics tests.
Dr Jane Burns, associate medical
director for surgery, theatres and
critical care in Lanarkshire, said:
“These improvements in waiting
times are the result of the hard work
of everyone in the clinical teams
and the administrative staff who
support them.’’
Now NHS Lanarkshire is setting
its sights on meeting the next set
of targets.
These include delivery for all
patients of a maximum wait of nine
weeks for inpatients and day cases
and four weeks for key diagnostic
tests by 31 March 2010.
Dr Burns continued: “We are
committed to reducing waits even
further over the next two years to
ensure that patients wait no longer
than 18 weeks for their whole
journey of care.
“That means from the time that
their GP refers them until they have
had not only their outpatient
appointment but their treatment as
an inpatient or day case patient
the total journey does not exceed
18 weeks.
“We are committed to ensuring
that patients in Lanarkshire receive
high quality care in a timely fashion.”
The latest figures show NHS
Lanarkshire has been able to
consistently bring down the waiting
times in line with Scottish
Government targets.
Over an 18-month period,
maximum waits for inpatients, day
cases and outpatients have been
reduced from 18 weeks to 15 weeks
to 12 weeks with a commitment to
further improvement.
ard
Friendly sta ed full Baby
organisatio tus, healthcare
three rigoro ns have to pass
us
carried out assessments
by UNICEF
UK staff
The Government’s figures also
show from April to June 2009, 44.1
per cent of inpatient day case
patients in Lanarkshire were seen
within three weeks of referral, and
32.6 per cent between three and
six weeks.
NHS Lanarkshire is continuing to
work towards the Scottish
Government’s 18 Weeks Referral to
Treatment target for patients to be
achieved by 2011.
The latest government figures
are available at www.isdscotland.
org/isd/5557.html
We are committed to reducing
waits even further over the next
two years to make sure patients
wait no longer than 18 weeks for
their whole journey of care”
Organ donation
group appoints
Jim and Susan
AN organ donation group
established by NHS Lanarkshire
aims to help save the lives of people
desperately waiting for transplants.
A report by the Organ Donation
Taskforce recommended health
boards set up donation committees
and appointed clinical leads for
organ donation.
Jim Ruddy, consultant in intensive
care medicine and anaesthesia from
Monklands Hospital, has now been
appointed as clinical lead for the
NHS Lanarkshire organ donation
committee. Also, Susan Hannah has
been appointed donor transplant coordinator. The committee will consist
of further staff representatives, a
member of the trust board of
governors and members of the public.
Susan said: “The committee will
raise the profile of organ and tissue
donation within all three of
Lanarkshire’s acute hospitals and is
committed to ensuring that patients’
end of life choice is respected.
“Our ambition is to achieve a
100 per cent identification and
referral rate – not just in the
intensive care units, but also in the
emergency departments and the
wards, ensuring that organ and
tissue donation becomes a routine
part of end of life care.”
Susan went on: “Transplants
depend entirely on the generosity of
donors and their families who are
willing to make this life-saving gift.”
To find out more, contact
Susan on 07590352026 or email
susan.hannah@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
All potential referrals should be
made to the on call donor transplant
coordinator on 07659594979. To sign
up to the Organ Donor Register visit
www.organdonation.nhs.uk or
call 0300 123 23 23.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
GENERAL NEWS
NEW £2m
DIABETES
CENTRE
IS OPENED
THE Cabinet Secretary for
Health and Wellbeing Nicola
Sturgeon officially opened
the new David Matthews
Diabetes Centre at
Monklands Hospital in
September.
The £2-million centre brings
together all diabetes services,
including dietetics and podiatry,
under one roof.
The building has been named
after Dr David Matthews, a
leading expert in diabetes, who
died last year.
The doctor had worked at
Monklands for more than
20 years.
As well as helping set up the
Lanarkshire Diabetes Group, he
also developed an IT system for
diabetes care that is
now used by health boards
across Scotland.
Ms Sturgeon opened the
centre along with Dr Matthews’
wife Allyson who was
joined by her children and
David’s parents.
“It was a privilege to be
asked to open this facility. I
never got to meet David
Matthews, but I’ve heard so
much about him and his work,”
said Ms Sturgeon.
“His commitment to care
improvement over the years
was second to none and it’s
fitting this new centre is named
after him.
“It’s a modern, fit-for-purpose
facility and one I’m sure David
would be really proud of.
“Speaking to some of the
patients has made me realise
we’ve come a long way in the last
60 years in the treatment of
diabetes and it’s testimony to the
work of people such as David
Matthews that we’ve come so far.”
Allyson Matthews added: “I
want to thank the people who
made the decision to name this
new facility after David.
thePulse
7
CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE: The new
David Matthews Centre opened by
Nicola Sturgeon and Allyson Matthews,
below right. Above, Ms Sturgeon
presents medals to Alan Revie, 68, who
has had Type 1 diabetes for 60 years
and George McIntosh, 62, for 56 years
“David first became involved
with diabetes in Lanarkshire
when he was asked to help set up
a volunteer group. Naming this
new centre after David now
means he will always be there
with the staff and patients.”
There was also a special
presentation to two Airdrie
patients, Alan Revie and George
McIntosh, who received their
Diabetes UK medals in recognition of their courage and perseverance in living with diabetes.
RCN special day
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Members
of the NHS Lanarkshire RCN
branch celebrate their big day
THE Lanarkshire branch of the
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has
celebrated its 60th anniversary.
The branch was set up in August
1948, holding its first AGM in 1949.
To commemorate six decades of
service in Lanarkshire, the branch
held a special AGM in Wishaw
General Hospital on 1 September.
Theresa Fyffe, director of RCN
Scotland, Norman Provan, the
assistant director of RCN Scotland,
Hugh Sweeney, healthy working
lives manager, and Lillian Macer
who took over from Hugh as
employee director in October, were
invited to the celebration.
Jan Miller, the Lanarkshire RCN
branch secretary, said: “We’re
really proud of this achievement.
“We also wanted to use the
occasion to make special
presentations to Ursula Sharma,
Mary Jarvie and Moira Campbell
in recognition of their hard work.
“Likewise, to Jane McCormick,
RCN steward and health and safety
representative, who retired from
the theatre suite at Monklands
after 32 years.”
For more information on
Lanarkshire RCN, call 08457
723148 or email jan.miller@
lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
8 thePulse GENERAL NEWS
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
Just take a
seat please
Minister
Avoid a
breach
on your
sites
PUBLIC Health Minister Shona
Robison visited Hamilton’s
new Douglas Street
Community Health Clinic in
October as part of the NHS
Lanarkshire Annual Review.
The new facility in Douglas
Street brings together a broad
range of clinical services
under one roof in Hamilton for
the first time.
The Minister visited the
clinic prior to taking part in
the annual review session at
South Lanarkshire Council HQ
on Almada Street.
Ms Robison (seated) is
surrounded by (from left)
senior salaried dentist
Philippa Baird, community
dental officer Mary Sweeney,
dental nurse Natalie Miller,
deputy clinical director of
salaried primary care dental
services Anne Moore and
trainee dental nurse Norma
Neilson.
Our high figure in
equalities agenda
NHS Lanarkshire is leading the
way in Scotland in promoting the
equalities agenda, according to
new Scottish Government figures.
Addressing ethnic inequalities in
the health service requires accurate
and complete information to help
improve services.
The latest figures, for the period
January to March 2009, show that
for Scotland as a whole, the
recording of ethnicity remains low.
Overall, only 23.7 per cent of
inpatient and day case records – and
only 14.7 per cent of outpatient
records – include a valid
ethnic code.
e CHILDREN participating in
an innovative ‘Fit for Fun’
support programme celebrated
their achievements at an
award ceremony.
Hundreds of primary school
children from across Lanarkshire,
along with parents or carers, took
part in the project over six
months to help promote nutrition
and exercise issues.
Jonathan Cavana, child healthy
weight programme manager,
said: “We’re all really proud of
the children – their attitude,
effort and desire to learn about
healthy lifestyles was
overwhelming.
“It’s fantastic to see such a nice
group of young people and their
However, for NHS Lanarkshire,
the figures are exceptional –
80.9 per cent, for inpatient and day
case records, and 65 per cent for
outpatient records – the highest of
all health boards in Scotland.
Kenny Small, NHS Lanarkshire’s
equalities lead director, said: “Only
by recording accurate data on
patients’ ethnicity can we monitor
the impact of NHS services on
different ethnic groups and better
understand the different needs of
ethnic groups.
“Accurate recording of this information is also essential to allow NHS
Lanarkshire to make progress on
families benefiting from Fit for
Fun and making some really
strong friendships. Well done to
all of them.”
To celebrate their success, the
children and their families took
part in games and activities at
Strathclyde Water Park.
The children received their
certificates – to recognise their
commitment to making healthy
lifestyle changes – from the staff
who delivered the programme.
Fit for Fun staff work with
children, and their families, and
explore benefits of eating a
healthy balanced diet and having
an active lifestyle. It is organised
by NHS Lanarkshire’s Child
Healthy Lifestyle Programme.
tackling health inequalities, both in
the long and short term and support
the design and delivery of a service
that is needs led.”
NHS Lanarkshire has made
remarkable progress in improving
the recording of people’s ethnicity.
For example, for inpatient and day
cases recording has risen from only
6.8 per cent for the period April to
June 2007 to the 80.9 per cent for
January to August 2009.
In outpatients the figure has risen
from 9.1 per cent to 65 per cent over
the same period.
Kenny said: “NHS Lanarkshire
has worked hard to improve the
recording of people’s ethnicity.
“Major factors in this improvement
include the commitment from senior
management to introduce ethnicity
monitoring and the training of staff
to ask patients about their ethnic
group and increasing the understanding of how important collecting
this data is.
“I’d like to say a big thank you to
all the staff involved in collecting
this data.”
For more information on these
figures, visit www.isdscotland.org/
isd/5826.html
STAFF are being asked to
remember their employment
and professional responsibilities when using social
networking sites such
as Facebook, MySpace,
Bebo and Twitter.
There have been examples
of serious breaches of
confidentiality and professional
and ethical concerns as a
result of staff using social
networking sites.
A new policy has been launched
with guidelines for all staff to
address this. It includes additional
guidance for staff who are subject
to professional regulatory rules
and standards.
The policy states that it is
essential that no information is
placed on social networking sites
that could:
q Breach patient confidentiality,
trust or ethics
q Constitute harassment of an
individual or group
q Constitute defamation
of character
q Discredit services provided by
NHS Lanarkshire
q Discredit NHS Lanarkshire as
an employer.
Social networking sites are not
secure and can be accessed by
the general public.
It is also important that staff
should not use NHS Lanarkshire
email addresses or access any
social networking sites from work
premises or computers.
Staff have the responsibility to
report any breach in the new
policy or inappropriate use of
social networking sites to their
own line manager.
A copy of the Use of Social
Networking Sites policy is
available on FirstPort under
Ratified HR Policies.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
GENERAL NEWS
thePulse
SAFETY AT
WORK IS
OUR AIM
EVERYONE should be safe in
their workplace – that is the aim
of NHS Lanarkshire’s occupational and health service SALUS.
Owned and operated by NHS
Lanarkshire, SALUS provides staff
with advice and support on a range
of issues which could affect
their health.
By also providing this expertise to
external organisations, SALUS also
generates income which helps NHS
Lanarkshire continue to provide
the best possible patient care.
Hugh Sweeney, NHS Lanarkshire’s
healthy working lives manager, said:
“SALUS is first and foremost NHS
Lanarkshire’s occupational and
health service and its priority is the
wellbeing of all staff.
“We can offer help and advice on
a wide range of areas including fire
safety, minimising falls, preventing
and managing violence and
aggression, and the moving and
handling of patients.
“Through the Employee
Counselling Service, NHS
Lanarkshire staff can also access
free and confidential counselling on
a wide range of issues.”
SALUS aims to:
q Provide the highest-quality
occupational health and safety
services to the NHS and industry
q Contribute to improvements in
public health by: facilitating access
to occupational health and safety
services; reducing inequalities in
health through research and development and generating income,
which supports NHS patient care.
NHS Lanarkshire’s occupational
and health service has departments
in each of the three main hospitals
in Lanarkshire and a central
department located at Centrum
Park, Coatbridge.
SALUS also hosts the National
Healthy Working Lives Adviceline.
This unique ser vice offers
employers and employees
throughout Scotland access to
advice on all aspects of occupational
health and safety.
Experienced occupational health
and health and safety advisers are
available to answer questions from
businesses throughout the country.
The service also offers free
workplace visits to any organisation
outwith the public sector with fewer
than 250 employees.
The advice line is 0800 019 22 11.
For more information or advice on
health and safety or on the other services
offered, visit the SALUS page on
FirstPort, which can be found within the
Corporate Services section. Alternatively,
contact SALUS on 01236 438181.
How SALUS supports staff
THE Healthy Working Lives Award
programme is a national project
hosted by NHS Health Scotland, in
which both external organisations
and internal NHS Lanarkshire sites,
have signed up for.
The Lanarkshire HWL team, based
at SALUS, supports employers and
employees to develop health
promotion and safety themes in the
workplace. Organisations who sign up
work through three levels of award,
from bronze to silver and then gold.
Within NHS Lanarkshire 16 sites –
both in acute hospital and primary
care sites – have signed up for
this programme.
Of these, 11 have already achieved
HWL Award status – five with silver
and six with bronze awards – and are
already aiming to achieve the
next level.
The other sites are working closely
with their HWL advisers to make
the necessary progress and aiming
to achieve award status by
next February.
In brief…
you completed
e HAVE
authoriser training
in the new electronic
expenses system?
If so, then your team
should now be using the
new eExpenses system
and no longer using the
old paper forms.
The new system brings
significant improvements
– including being able to
show you how much you
will be paid as soon as you
have entered your claim.
It also allows you a
longer time to submit your
claims. If you are in doubt
as to whether you should
be using the new system,
check whether your
manager has completed
the authoriser training.
e FOUNDATION
Year One medics
at Wishaw General had
the opportunity to receive
some expert hand
hygiene advice.
NHS Lanarkshire hand
hygiene co-ordinator
Carrie McCulloch delivered
a special session at as part
of the FY1 training
programme. They were
also joined by some work
experience students.
Carrie said: “We cover
the same key points as the
Doctors Online Training
Scheme programme, but I
give them a face-to-face
opportunity to ask
questions.”
It is the second year
NHS Lanarkshire has had
a dedicated hand hygiene
training session for FY1
medics. Sessions are also
held at Monklands and
Hairmyres.
All staff are reminded
that NHS Lanarkshire’s
“Hand Hygiene – Zero
Tolerance Approach to
Non-Compliance” policy is
on FirstPort.
e LANARKSHIRE’S
Low-Vision Project
took part in the teambuilding activity
Spymasters in which teams
pretended to be spies and
complete as many tasks in
the shortest time.
The Lanarkshire team
won and were presented
with the annual trophy.
The Low-Vision Project
brings together health,
education, community
optometrists, social
services and the
voluntary sector to help
adults and children
affected by sight loss.
Spymasters was
organised by Visibility, a
local charity providing
services for the visually
impaired throughout the
West of Scotland.
RAYMOND FAIRHURST:
The alertness of his
brother’s girlfriend
helped him to get
quick treatment
FAST action that
saved Raymond
NHS Lanarkshire’s Stroke Managed
Clinical Network is urging people in
Lanarkshire to think FAST (Face
Arm Speech Time to call 999).
Throug hout November, in
partnership with Chest, Heart &
Stroke Scotland, the network has
been working with the public,
support groups, organisations and
businesses to promote the message
that a stroke is a medical emergency
and people should think FAST and
call 999.
More than 1000 people in
Lanarkshire have a stroke every
year and it is essential people
recognise one when it is happening.
Calling 999 means victims will
reach hospital quickly and get early
acute assessment and treatment,
such as thrombolysis, which can
prevent further damage to the brain.
Early referral can also be made
to the Acute Stroke Unit which
is known to reduce death
and disability.
Strokes are the third biggest killer
in Britain after heart disease and
cancer, claiming the lives of one in
eight women and one in 10 men.
It leaves hundreds of thousands
more with some form of permanent
disability.
However, contrary to popular
myth, a stroke is not something that
only happens to older people. About
a quarter occur in the under 65s.
Take Raymond Fairhurst, a fit and
healthy 35-year-old. He suffered a
stroke at the end of August.
Raymond, who works as a roofer,
said: “I was preparing to help lift a
new settee delivered to my mother’s
with my brother, when I began to
feel really disorientated.
“I tried to tell my brother, but
couldn’t say the words.
“I then stumbled. My brother’s
girlfriend knew what was
happening and called 999.”
This quick thinking resulted in
Raymond being rushed to Wishaw
General Hospital. He has made a
full recovery with no side effects.
Ca m p b el l C h a l m e r s , N H S
Lanarkshire stroke nurse
consultant, said: “This is exactly
what the FAST campaign is designed
to do – make people react as quickly
as possible.
“Rapid treatment can make a
huge difference to the odds of
surviving or being left with longterm disability.
For more information or a
campaign pack, contact the
Stroke Managed Clinical Network on
01236 707724 or visit Chest, Heart &
Stroke Scotland at www.chss.org.uk
THE FAST TEST
The FAST (Face Arm
Speech Time to Call
999) test can be
used to recognise
a stroke. FAST
requires an
assessment of three
specific symptoms
of stroke:
q F stands for FACE. Can the person smile
normally? Does their mouth droop?
q A is for ARM. Can they lift both arms
normally?
q S is for SPEECH. Can they speak clearly?
q T is for TIME. Time to call 999 if any of
these signs are present.
Remember – think FAST and save a life!
9
10 thePulse SPECIAL REPORT
e NHS Lanarkshire’s three-
year Lean Transformation
Programme will see the
development of Lean Leaders.
These individuals will play
an integral part in the
development process and the
first three Lean Leaders have
been selected.
They are: Veronica Devlin,
programme manager,
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
emergency access
programme; Carol-Ann
Jamieson, senior nurse,
emergency and medical
division; and Lynn Sampson,
senior charge nurse,
surgical division.
More information on
the Lean Leader role can
be found on the Lean section
on FirstPort.
SPECIAL REPORT
thePulse 11
Staff show that their efforts to spot ‘Lean’ improvements are delivering big results in efficiency...
Questions & answers
It soon
became
clear that the
favourite word
of the Lean
team was ‘why’
e What is Lean?
Lean was introduced in NHS
Lanarkshire in July 2008, and
its overall aim is to identify and
implement ways in which we
can improve the patient journey,
efficiency and safety throughout
the whole healthcare system and
provide a better environment for
both patients and staff.
e How does it work?
Veronica Devlin
Proactive not reactive
Staff are encouraged to generate
improvement ideas that are tested
out during a rapid improvement
event within their work
environment. These are
followed through to ensure
they are sustainable.
Joyce Higgins, Monklands
pharmacy distribution
manager, gives a personal
account of what the Lean
process meant for her…
e Does it lead to
improvements?
A range of projects have been
successfully implemented in NHS
Lanarkshire, eg: the Organised
Ward initiative at Monklands,
pharmacy redesign at Wishaw
and Monklands, and the theatres
projects in our three acute
hospitals.
e Does it work for staff?
WORKING
TOGETHER:
Alexa Wall,
far right, with
the team at
Monklands
Pharmacy
Department
Staff involved in the process have
been really enthusiastic about it,
and both they and patients are
already seeing the benefits from
the changes made in their
relevant departments.
For more information, visit the
Lean section on FirstPort.
Carol-Ann Jamieson
“I ADMIT it was with a degree of
apprehension that I learned my
department was to undergo Lean.
“For me, Lean began when I had to
make a list of duties that corresponded to
‘a day in the life of an indent’.
“I had to ask myself ‘who writes an
indent, who receives it, who decides if it’s
correct, what do we do if it’s not correct’.
“Having to ask these questions before
we took a drug from a shelf was a huge
eye-opener. In the past we just did things
automatically without examining the
processes involved.
“This made me look at it in a whole new
light. Getting all the staff on board
was also a challenge as some were
uncomfortable with Lean, interpreting it
THE LEAN MACHINE
Lynn Sampson
MONKLANDS Pharmacy Department
underwent a Lean process during
May and June this year.
Its aim was to:
q Review current processes within
pharmacy to improve patient care and
increase patient safety
q Open up dialogue with wards
regarding pharmacy distribution
processes
q Engage wards in a team approach
to improvement steps pre and
post-Kaizen
q Develop a joint approach to
increase quality of indents and
eradicate duplicate indents/orders
from wards
q Work together to embed and
sustain improvements.
An all-embracing approach was
adopted to deliver this, and looked
at every aspect of the medicines
supply process to allow any
improvements to be effective and
sustainable.
As such, staff and the Lean team
looked at issues around missed drug
doses, stock cupboards, the stock and
non-stock top-up processes, the
drugs return process, delivery of
medicines and induction and
education.
They also looked at workflow
redesign, indent planning and daily
planning of roles and responsibilities
within pharmacy.
One of the areas where Lean had
a massive positive impact was the
pharmacy distribution area.
Prior to Lean, the distribution
team admitted it was finding it
difficult to achieve its day-to-day
requirements of supplying the
hospital with medications.
This was due to a variety of issues
including a vast workload and staffing
issues – concer ns that most
departments will identify with.
Alexa Wall, head of pharmacy at
Monklands, said: “The Change and
Innovation team helped us to identify
several processes that were slowing
us down. This included the layout of
the goods inward area and the
number of interruptions we received
for non-urgent items – and we made
impressive improvements.
“However, the biggest improvement
and the most radical change was around
the turnaround time of medicines.
“Before Lean, we had never analysed
how long items were taking to be
processed and returned to wards.
“After a spot check, we were
shocked to find that only 38 per cent
of non-urgent items were
received back in the wards within
two hours.
“The changes we instigated
have resulted in the new system
consistently achieving figures
of 80-100 per cent. The process
certainly wasn’t straightforward as we
had many action points required to
achieve these improvements.
“But, by allocating small changes
in responsibilities, and working
together as a team, we have improved
the efficiency of the department and
increased morale.”
as an attempt to ‘lean’ down on staff
or services.
“Some staff even asked me would
someone be made redundant or would
we get more staff. When the Lean team
eventually came in, we learned neither
of these would be true.
“We were immediately intrigued when
the Lean team said we’d be the ones
changing and challenging our own
standards and processes.
“Once we started, it soon became clear
the favourite word of the Lean team was
‘why’. They asked ‘why that way’, or ‘why
is that so’?
“It also became clear that we had some
of our own phrases such as ‘because’, ‘it
depends’ or ‘that’s the way we’ve always
worked’ which were all used.
“However, as we responded to
questions from those outwith pharmacy,
we began to question and assess
our methods.
“We realised we’d concentrated on
making the current system work and lost
sight of the possibilities for improvement.
“When we started challenging
ourselves, we concluded that new
inventive ways of working were needed.
It was at that point that our own staff
became the leaders of the project.
“Everyone had ideas and we became
proactive instead of reactive and tried to
work smarter not harder.
“A few changes weren’t as good as
they seemed on paper and had to be
abandoned, but some were a perfect fit
and have streamlined our processes
enormously.
“This has resulted in staff becoming
m o r e e n t h u s i a s t i c a n d m o ra l e
has increased as there’s ownership of
the changes.
“The big question now is ‘Can we
sustain this’? I hope the answer is yes.
“The Lean ethos is ‘change is constant’
and we will have to learn to keep
questioning ourselves and react to the
changes around us.
“My initial apprehension has proven
to be completely unfounded.”
12 thePulse LOCAL/DISTRICT/PARTNERSHIP
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
New Dalziel
drop-in
centres prove
a real success
SHOWING THE WAY: from left –
Lara Calder, NHS Lanarkshire health
improvement team leader; Yvonne
O’Donnell, of Tesco; Louise James,
breastfeeding development worker with
her baby Gethin; and Tracy Henderson,
health promotion assistant
Three cheers for mums’ champions
ORGANISATIONS in Rutherglen
and Cambuslang are backing
NHS Lanarkshire’s drive to boost
breastfeeding rates.
Tesco in Rutherglen was the latest
to receive a certificate from the local
health board in recognition of the
support it gives feeding mums.
Tr a c y H e n d e r s o n , h e a l t h
promotion assistant with NHS
Lanarkshire, explained the aims of
the Breastfeeding-Friendly
Campaign. She said: “This initiative
aims to increase the number of
premises in the Cambuslang and
Rutherglen locality that welcome
women who want to breastfeed in
public places.”
Under the Breastfeeding etc
(Scotland) Act 2005 it is an offence
to prevent or stop a child being fed
milk in a public place.
Tracy added: “Breastfeeding rates
in Cambuslang/Rutherglen locality
are low and this campaign aims
to encourage more mums
to breastfeed.”
Tesco received a window sticker
and certificate from the Lanarkshire
Breastfeeding Initiative. The
superstore, and the other breastfeeding-friendly organisations, help
mums by encouraging their staff to
be welcoming to those who want to
breastfeed. Their staff will support
mums who wish to breastfeed by
ensuring they are not disturbed and
make them comfortably by bringing
them a chair or glass of water.
For more information, email
tracy.henderson@lanarkshire.
scot.nhs.uk or visit www.nhslanarkshire.
org.uk/services/breastfeeding
DRIVE TO BOOST
CAR VOLUNTEERS
A VOLUNTEER car scheme –
which helps people in
Cambuslang and Rutherglen
access health services – is looking
for your help.
The CamGlen NHS Volunteer Car
Sharing Project provides a free
door-to-door service for people with
NHS appointments who do not have
a car and find it difficult to use
public transport.
Funded by NHS Lanarkshire’s
Cambuslang and Rutherglen locality
and run by the local Council for
Voluntary Services (CREATE) – the
scheme is a hit with all concerned.
Jean Gillan, of Whitlawburn,
Cambuslang, has been using the
service for several years to travel to
doctor and hospital appointments.
The 71-year-old said: “It’s a great
service and the drivers are always
very pleasant.
“They pick me up at my door,
take me to my appointment
and drive me home again. I don’t
YOUR CAR, MADAM: Robert
Wray drives Jean Gillan to
an appointment
know what I’d do without them.”
Volunteer driver Robert Wray,
from Rutherglen, said: “Everybody
should give something back to their
community, but at the same time this
is something I enjoy doing.
“It makes you feel good to know
you are helping someone.”
While the project, which is for
people living in the G73 and G72
postcode areas, is proving to be a
great success, more drivers are
needed to meet demand.
Ken Nicholson, a CREATE
volunteer and one of the founders of
the car sharing group, said: “The
people we’re helping include those
who are isolated, disabled and
elderly, and especially those who
may not have family members
with cars and struggle to access
public transport.
“The more volunteer drivers we
have, the more people we can help,
so I would encourage anyone interested to contact us.”
Jean Feenie, a CREATE volunteer,
said: “I schedule the trips and
usually book drivers at least a week
in advance
“If you have some free time and
access to a car, you can make a big
difference to the lives of local
people in your community.”
People who use the service are
referred to CREATE by NHS staff
and the drivers can take them to
various appointments, including GP,
hospital or dentist.
To find out more, contact Jean
Feenie at CREATE on 0141 641 8884.
PEOPLE in Lanarkshire with
multiple sclerosis or respiratory
and heart problems will benefit
from two new drop-in centres.
Both new services will be based
at the Dalziel Centre, Strathclyde
Hospital in Motherwell.
The Multiple Sclerosis Drop-in
Centre was launched in October
and will be held every
second Friday.
In early November, a second dropin centre, for people with respiratory
and heart problems, was launched.
Carol Murphy, team leader of the
Dalziel Centre, said: “The drop-ins
are proving very popular and we’ve
had some very positive feedback
from the people attending.
“People can meet others who
share similar experiences but there
are also complementary therapies
on offer, counselling sessions and
acupuncture, which can be used for
pain relief, relaxation and promotion
of general wellbeing.
“We can also do one-to-one
consultations with people.”
Both drop-in centres, which run
on alternate Fridays, will open
at 10am.
The Dalziel Centre is for patients,
carers and families in Lanarkshire
who are affected by a cancer
diagnosis or life-limiting illness.
To contact the centre, call
01698 245026/76.
Provost
praises new
care service
WISHAW and Shotts Integrated
Day Services for older adults which
provides health and social care
services in North Lanarkshire has
been officially opened.
The service is run jointly by
North Lanarkshire Council and NHS
Lanarkshire and is located at
Stewarton Day Centre, Wishaw.
North Lanarkshire’s Provost Tom
Curley took part in a special opening
to mark the new day services. He
said: “This is the third such centre
to open in North Lanarkshire. The
older people who use them find it
easier as they receive the care they
need at the one location.”
This combined approach to day
services is to provide the best
possible support, treatment and
care to older adults who experience
difficulties in daily living. Wishaw
and Shotts day services provide
places for up to 28 people each day.
Services provided include group
therapy, flexible support for carers,
rehabilitation and assessment.
Colin Sloey, NHS Lanarkshire’s
Director of North Lanarkshire
Community Health Partnerships,
said: “The combined social and
health care provided at our
Integrated Day Centres has proved
highly successful.”
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
LOCAL/DISTRICT/PARTNERSHIP
A NEW edition of the Home from Hospital Carers’
pack has now been delivered to all hospitals.
This pack should be supplied to family or friends
of any patient in hospital – especially those with
complex needs.
The Home from Hospital Carer’s pack contains
information to help carers such as:
q What a carer can and should expect to happen
when a person is discharged from hospital
q Services which can support a carer and the
person they care for
q Contact points where a carer can get more
detailed information and further support
q Encourages and reminds carers to
contact their own surgery and place
themselves on the GP carers’ register and
to inform carers who to contact if requiring
a carer’s assessment.
thePulse 13
LEFT: Carer
co-ordinators
Elaine Harrow
and Elizabeth
MacDonald
help to
promote the
hospital carers’
pack at an
information
stall in Wishaw
Carers need YOU!
Team is key to
the strategy
CONNECTED: The
Lanarkshire Carers
Support Team is
developing links
between hospitals,
GP surgeries and
primary care services
to avoid carers
slipping through
the net
LANARKSHIRE NHS Board
approved the Carers
Information Strategy in
March 2007.
This strategy, together with
an action plan, was approved
by the Scottish Government in
November 2008.
There has been significant
investment by the government
to assist carers within our
communities and NHS
Lanarkshire’s Carers
Information Strategy has
received funding of £970,000
over three years (2008/092010/11).
The Lanarkshire Carers
Information Strategy Group,
comprising partners from
local carers organisations,
local authorities and NHS
Lanarkshire, has responsibility
for ensuring that the outcomes
within the action plan are
achieved.
Key to this has been the
appointment of the Lanarkshire
Carers Support Team.
CARERS are vital partners in
Lanarkshire healthcare – but
they need your help.
The Lanarkshire Carers Support
Team was established by NHS
Lanarkshire last year.
Its aims include:
q Raising awareness of carers
q Providing carers with
information
q Helping to identify hidden carers
q Referring carers to relevant
support groups
q Developing good links between
hospitals, GP surgeries and
primary care services to avoid
carers slipping through the net.
However, the team members
need the help of their NHS
Lanarkshire colleagues to identify
carers so they can offer them the
support they require.
Eileen Clarke, senior nurse for
Womens, Children’s Cancer and
Diagnostic Division, manages the
carers support team.
She said: “Carers are our
partners in care and the work they
do, all of which is unpaid, cannot
be underestimated. Many of them
don’t consider themselves as
carers, such as the wife, husband,
son or daughter who are looking
after a loved one.
“Carers can be any age and you
can have children at school who
are looking after their parents
or siblings.
“By identifying carers, we can
then make sure the support
mechanisms are in place to
support them in looking after
their loved ones.”
The team has a carers’ co-ordinator at each of the three acute
hospitals: Elizabeth MacDonald at
Wishaw General, Lesley Callan at
Monklands and Elaine Harrow
at Hairmyres.
In the community, Marion
McParland is carer co-ordinator for
primary care in the north, while
Linda Craig, a carer development
officer employed by South
Lanarkshire Carers Network,
covers the south.
Elizabeth explained how the
carers support team work in the
hospital environment. She said:
“Our role is to assess and meet the
needs of family, friends and carers
while a patient is in hospital to
ensure they have the necessary
skills and access to support
following the person’s
discharge.
“We support carers in the
planning of patients’ care and
discharge, advise them of carer
organisations in the community,
and carry out follow-up calls
to carers after patients have
been discharged.
“ We also carr y out carer
awareness sessions to NHS
Lanarkshire staff in all three
hospitals and promote the Home
from Hospital pack.”
Marion, a public health team
leader who has worked for the NHS
in Lanarkshire for 33 years,
outlined her and Linda’s role in
the community. She said: “In
primary care, Linda and I are
assisting GP practices to identify
carers and develop their GP
practice carers’ register and
Contacts for carers
IF YOU wish to discuss a carer issue, or are looking
for more information on the support available for
carers, the contacts are:
q Hairmyres
elaine.harrow@lanarkshire.
scot.nhs.uk or 01355 585522
q Monklands
lesley.callan@lanarkshire.
scot.nhs.uk or 01236 748748
q Wishaw
elizabeth.macdonald@
lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk or
01698 361100
signpost to appropriate agencies.
“Some practices are providing
flu jab sessions for carers and
annual carer health checks.
“Many carers may neglect their
own health as their main focus is
q North Community Health
Partnership (CHP), North
Lanarkshire Carers Together
marion.mcparland@lanarkshire
.scot.nhs.uk or 01698 245254
or 07788 646295
q South CHP, South
Lanarkshire Carers Network
Linda Craig, linda@slcn.co.uk
or 01698 285163.
the cared for. The register will help
us identify carers, including
the hidden ones who don’t
recognise themselves as carers,
and offer them support and
information.”
14 thePulse LOCAL/DISTRICT/PARTNERSHIP
£1600 – we’ll
drink to that
THE psychiatric wards in Hairmyres
Hospital raised a fantastic £1600
when they took part in the World’s
Biggest Coffee Morning.
Held in aid of Macmillan Cancer
Support, the event was organised by
Carol Park, manager of ward 19.
She said: “A lot of the staff have
been affected by cancer either
directly or through a family member,
and many of them were supported
by Macmillan.
“All the staff and the patients got
behind our fundraising event. They
really enjoyed taking part and it was
a fantastic feeling when we realised
how much we had raised.
“I’d like to say a special thank you
to Carron Beattie and Lynne
Dunsmuir who put in a huge amount
of work.”
Money was also raised from the
sale of hundreds of homemade
cards made by a doctor from
Wishaw General.
AWARD-WINNING TEAM: back
row – Jim Rae, Maureen Graham,
Ruth Ross and Karen Watson.
Middle – Carol Hallesy and Lisa
McLaren. Front – Paul Herbert and
Kevin Morrison
eNHS Lanarkshire’s library
service achieved a national
award for the excellent service
it provides.
The library service was
awarded Quality Assurance
Framework accreditation level
one by NHS Education
Knowledge Services –
a terrific achievement.
Amanda Minns, library
services manager, said: “There
was a lot of work involved in
terms of analysing the service
and implementing changes.
But each library benefited from
working towards the award and
users of the service noticed a
difference too.
“There’s a lot of work still to
be done, but library users can
look forward to a number of
exciting developments over
the next three years as we
now look to achieve level
two accreditation.”
NHS Lanarkshire has five
libraries, one at each of the three
acute hospitals – Monklands,
Hairmyres and Wishaw General
– and there is the public health
library at Hamilton and the
Health Promotion library at
Law House.
Under the Organisational
Development department,
the libraries now operate as
one service.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
q LOOKING after your teeth is vital – that is
the message being driven home by NHS
Lanarkshire’s oral health team.
As part of their ongoing programme to promote
good oral health, the team have launched a
poster campaign.
And the educational advertisements will be
emblazoned on NHS Lanarkshire’s fleet of vans.
They include key messages, such as: “Visit your
dentist regularly”, “Brush your teeth twice a day”
and “Keep sugary snacks to mealtimes only”.
Elaine Sharp, senior oral health educator, said:
“The posters aim to target the general public
and remind them of these three key oral
health messages.
“Having the messages on the vans means they
will be seen by a wide range of groups within
Lanarkshire.”
Albert Yeung, consultant in dental public
health, added: “The idea of using the image of
the tongue comes from last year’s oral health
quiz ‘How kissable are you?, which raised
awareness of the importance of good
oral hygiene.
“The visual is meant to be eye-catching to
draw people’s attention to the oral health
messages wherever the NHS Lanarkshire vans
travel across the region.”
DRIVING MESSAGE HOME:
Albert Yeung and Elaine
Sharp show the adverts
for the fleet of vans
SMILES OF
CONFIDENCE
CHILDREN in Lanarkshire can
smile with confidence, thanks
to a new DVD and oral health
resource.
The educational DVD and
teaching materials, Smile with
Confidence, will teach children the
importance of looking after
their teeth.
Designed and produced by NHS
Lanarkshire’s health promotion
team and local schools – with local
pupils also starring in the DVD –
the new resource was launched at
an event in Bellshill in October.
It will now be incorporated into
the school curriculum.
Albert Yeung, consultant in
dental public health, said: “Smile
with Confidence will help promote
good oral health for both pupils
and teachers.
“In addition to increasing
knowledge and awareness of good
oral hygiene, and how to prevent
dental decay, the resource aims to
change the school environment in
terms of oral health and nutrition.
“It’s easy to use and will help
support school staff to improve
knowledge, strengthen beliefs and
change attitudes to oral health.”
Smile with Confidence has
already proved a winner after it led
to NHS Lanarkshire’s oral health
team receiving the Patron’s Prize
at the 2009 annual conference
of the National Oral Health
Promotion Group.
Celia Watt, senior health
promotion officer (Oral Health),
FILMMAKERS: Back from left – Kyle McLean, 14, of Caldervale High School; Jennifer Procter, 15, and Marc McGinty, 14, both
of Larkhall Academy. Front – Scott Murphy, 15, of Caldervale High School, and Kristin Smith, 15, of Larkhall Academy
said: “This new resource will help
promote the message of how
important it is to look after
your mouth.
“By working with local schools,
we identified gaps in oral health
knowledge, therefore we’re
confident it meets pupils’ needs.
“We carried out a pilot with nine
schools in Lanarkshire and the
feedback from both the pupils and
teachers was very positive. The
pupils enjoyed learning about
keeping their mouths healthy.
“This pilot also showed that
Smile with Confidence is an
effective tool to promote the
improvement of oral health.”
The Smile with Confidence DVD
and teaching materials will now be
distributed to all schools in north
and south Lanarkshire.
Special needs establishments
will also be given a Makaton
DVD, showing a method of
communication using signs
and symbols.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
TOP HEALTH ISSUES
Let’s get ready
for the winter
NHS Lanarkshire has put a comprehensive plan
in place to prepare for winter – the health
service’s busiest time of year.
All staff are asked to be aware of their own
responsibilities and ready for the extra
pressures winter brings.
Staff can get ready by making sure they know
their own service’s particular plans or
arrangements for dealing with winter pressures
and also making sure they take up the offer of a
seasonal flu or H1N1 vaccination.
They can also get ready for winter by
ensuring they know when their GP practice is
Media Watch
open over the festive period and what services
to access if they become ill.
They should also stock up their medicine
cabinet ahead of the festive period.
Leaflets with information and advice on how
to get ready for winter will be distributed
throughout Lanarkshire.
The NHS Lanarkshire website will
have a winter health section with advice
and festive pharmacy opening times at
www.nhslanarkshire.org.uk
The Pulse asked staff across NHS Lanarkshire for their great advice
on staying healthy and beating the bugs this winter season...
Hot tips for cold days
Community Nursing Team
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The Herald
in hospita
Helping
people
back to
health
Evening Times
q The community nursing team at the
Central Health Centre agreed that
maintaining a good diet was important.
“Sometimes it might be more difficult for older
people to get out for fresh fruit and vegetables in
Mary Rafferty
q Mary Rafferty is a senior health
promotion officer. She has lots of
good advice for parents.
“For parents with young children, I would say
make sure you all stay active and eat a
healthy diet.
“When outside it’s very
important that babies and
toddlers should wear layers of
warm clothing, especially a hat
as that’s where children lose
most of the heat from their body.
“For older people, I’d say
make sure you keep at
least one room in your
home at a nice warm
temperature.
“And have plenty
of hot drinks.”
thePulse 15
winter but tinned and frozen fruit and vegetables
are just as good and will help you stay healthy.
“To prevent the spread of infection use tissues for
coughs and sneezes, wash hands frequently and
remember: ‘Catch it, bin it, kill it’.”
Anne McHugh
q Anne McHugh, a district nurse, visits older
people to provide care and provides them
with advice to stay safe in winter.
She said: “We’re a lot busier in winter due to an
increase in illnesses like chest complaints but older
people are also more likely to fall.
“I advise them to wear plenty of
layers rather than just one thick
jumper, as layers help trap the air
and keep you warm.
“When I visit people in their
homes I give basic advice to help
avoid falls. Simple things such as
wearing sensible footwear
and, when indoors, they
should remove clutter
and avoid things like
telephone wires
lying over the floor.”
Diabetes
centre
honours
pioneer
BBC w
ebsite
Herald praised NHS
e The
Lanarkshire for its success in
Lanarkshire’s initiative of
e NHS
using six-foot high cardboard cut-
reducing rates of infection through the
Scottish Patient Safety Programme.
An article in September stated:
“NHS Lanarkshire has reduced rates of
Clostridium difficile in wards by around
50 per cent by ensuring regular hand
washing and cleaning and reducing
patient movement.”
outs to warn people to “Stop! Clean your
hands” was highlighted by the BBC, East
Kilbride News, Airdrie and Coatbridge
Advertiser and Wishaw Press
among others.
News, Evening Times,
e BBC
Hamilton Advertiser and other local
organised by NHS Lanarkshire’s Child
Healthy Lifestyle Programme – which
aims to combat issues around childhood
nutrition and exercise.
The Carluke and Lanark Gazette,
Bellshill Speaker, Motherwell Times
were among the newspapers who
celebrated this initiative.
newspapers covered the opening of the
new David Matthews Diabetes Centre at
Monklands Hospital in September.
Dr Matthews had worked at
Monklands for more than 20 years but
died last year. His wife Allyson and
children joined Health Secretary Nicola
Sturgeon at the opening.
e
Claire Ritchie’s appointment as a
specialist consultant in
rehabilitation was reported by the
Evening Times, East Kilbride News, and
Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser.
in Lanarkshire benefited
e Children
from the Fit for Fun project –
that proposals for a new
e News
mental health unit at Wishaw
General or Monklands Hospital had been
approved by NHS Lanarkshire’s board
were reported by the BBC, Motherwell
Times, Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser,
Hamilton Advertiser and other local
newspapers.
SHARE YOUR STORIES
q Has a patient or visitor gone out of their way to praise you?
q Is there a new service in your department you are proud of?
Contact the communications department on 01698 245069/245077 and help us
reflect the good news stories that happen within NHS Lanarkshire every day.
16 thePulse PEOPLE NEWS
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
Moving on
Long service
40 not out for Lesley
ONE of Scotland’s most
respected cancer specialists has
retired from Hairmyres Hospital.
Dr Hosney Yosef OBE, consultant
in clinical oncology, celebrated 35
years’ service with the East Kilbride
hospital in August.
Friends and colleagues gathered
to wish him and wife Sheila,
pictured, well.
Bill Thomson, who retired as a
consultant surgeon at Hairmyres in
2007, said: “I worked with Hosney
for more than quarter of a century
and was always amazed at his
capacity for hard work and the
quality and depth of his knowledge.
“He is an outstanding individual,
professionally and personally. I’m
sure I speak for thousands of his
former patients and relatives when
I wish him well for his retirement.”
HUGE THANKS
FOR HOSNEY
Hosney, who also worked at the
Beatson Cancer Centre at Gartnavel
General Hospital, first arrived at
Hairmyres Hospital as the visiting
cancer specialist in 1974.
He helped develop the oncology
unit as one of the best in the country.
Under his guidance, Hairmyres
participated in numerous national
and international clinical trials for
breast, colorectal, lung and
oesophageal cancers.
at Monklands
e COLLEAGUES
Hospital’s infertility unit bid
farewell to Margaret Johnston, above,
who retired after 26 years with the NHS.
The associate specialist nurse
celebrated at a lunch with her NHS
Hosney, who has three children,
won’t be taking things easy. He is a
director of the Kilbryde Hospice and
Ochre, the West of Scotland
oesophageal cancer charity and will
be returning to his homeland in
Egypt to do more voluntary work in
the state hospital in Cairo.
He said: “I am proud to say the
oncology services and results at
Hairmyres match the highest
standards in the UK.”
friends in October. Maureen McGuire,
infertility sister at Monklands, said:
“Margaret will be missed by everyone.”
Margaret, who started as an auxiliary
at Bellshill Maternity Hospital, lives with
husband of 35 years, Ian.
Gibson will certainly not
e ANN
be living the quiet life after
retiring from NHS Lanarkshire’s
payroll department following
24 years service.
The Hamilton woman, who
retired in September, has moved
to Aberdeen to help look after her
new granddaughter.
Ann, payroll team leader, primary
care division, celebrated her
retirement with her colleagues in
Monklands Hospital in September.
who worked with the
e ANHSNURSE
for 42 years has retired from
her job at Kilsyth Health Centre.
Jane Gray, from Cumbernauld, was
given a lunch by friends and colleagues
at Kilsyth health centre held a lunch
in September.
Jane, pictured above centre, said: “I
love my work and I’ll miss everyone here.
“I’ve no real plans for my retirement
but I’m a great reader, enjoy gardening
and love spending time with my family
so I’ll have more time for that.”
Jane completed both general nursing
training in Glasgow and midwifery
training in Aberdeen.
PAYROLL team leader Lesley Weir
celebrated an incredible 40 years’
service with the NHS in Lanarkshire.
Originally from East Kilbride,
Lesley started her working career,
aged 16, at the payroll office in
Hairmyres on 8 September 1969.
She worked in various sites within
Lanarkshire, including Hairmyres,
Strathclyde Hospital and now
Monklands, where she is responsible
for Wishaw Hospital and all
Bankaide salaries.
Lesley, who lives in Motherwell,
said: “I was only just out of school
when I started and I certainly didn’t
think I’d still be here 40 years later.
“I was very young and was scared
to open my mouth in an office where
everyone else seemed ancient.
“ I t ’s c e r t a i n l y a d i f f e r e n t
environment now and people are
definitely not afraid to open their
mouths!”
Lesley, (pictured with payroll
colleagues), continued: “Technology
has made a big difference. It makes
everything a lot quicker.”
Her colleagues marked her
magnificent milestone with a tea party.
Anne McLaughlin, payroll services
manager, said: “I’ve worked with
Lesley for 39 of those years and thank
her for her support throughout.”
On the move
outgoing members of
e TWO
the Lanarkshire NHS Board
were thanked for all their
hard work at the September
board meeting.
Hugh Sweeney and Deirdrie
McCormick, pictured above,
stepped down as non-executive
directors.
Hugh, NHS Lanarkshire’s first
employee director, was also the
joint chair of the Area Partnership
Forum, chair of the Board’s Staff
Governance and Equality, Diversity
and Spirtuality Committee.
In September, he took up a new
role as the health board’s healthy
working lives manager and will
also be working one day each
week on the National Staff
Governance Unit.
Deirdrie served as a non-
executive director for four years
and for eight years as chair of the
Area Nursing and Midwifery
Advisory Committee, four years as
chair of the Area Clinical Forum
and two years as chair of the Area
Clinical Forum Chairs Group
for Scotland.
She will continue in her clinical
role as service delivery manager
for children’s services based at
Cleland Hospital.
Lilian Macer is the new NHS
Lanarkshire employee director.
Anne Armstrong, associate
director of nursing for primary
care and community, and current
chair of the Area Nursing and
Midwifery Advisory Committee,
has been elected as chair of
the Area Clinical Forum to
succeed Deirdre.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
COMPETITIONS/PUZZLES
thePulse 17
Oh yes
you can!
WIN!
A PANTOMIME is the perfect
way to kick off your Christmas
festivities and The Pulse has two
family tickets – worth more than
£100 – to give away.
Your NHS Lanarkshire newspaper
has teamed up with the Glasgow
Pavilion to offer two family tickets,
worth £54 each, for “The New
Magical Adventures of Pinocchio”.
This year’s not-to-be-missed panto
opens on Wednesday 2 December
and runs until 30 January.
In addition to an all-star cast, there
family tickets for the opening night
on 2 December, simply answer the
following question:
is a host of brilliant special effects
and magician Chris Derosa will
conjure up some amazing magic.
The full cast is River City’s
Stephen Purdon (Pinocchio),
Clyde 2’s Dean Park (Geppetto),
Real Radio’s Cat Harvey (the Blue
Fairy), Clyde 1’s Des McLean
(Jiminy Cricket), High Road’s Derek
Lord (Stromboli), Dougie
Sannachan (Honest John the Fox)
and River City’s Joyce Falconer
(Kitty Cat).
For a chance to win one of the
Who will play Pinocchio in this year’s
panto at the Glasgow Pavilion?
Send your answers, no later than
Friday 20 November, to Martin
Stirling at: Communications
Department, Strathclyde Hospital,
Airbles Road, Motherwell ML1 3BW.
Alternatively, you can email
martin.stirling@lanarkshire.scot.
nhs.uk with “Panto Competition” in
the subject field.
Remember to include
your job title, place of
work and a contact
telephone number.
HE NOSE
YOU KNOW:
Stephen Purdon
(Pinocchio) kids
with Dean Park
(Geppetto)
The Pavilion box office
number is 0141 332
1846 and is open between
10am and 8pm Monday to
Saturday. For more details,
visit the website at
www.pavilionpanto.com
ALWAYS LET YOUR
CONSCIENCE BE YOUR
GUIDE: Clyde 1’s Des
McLean as Jiminy Cricket
Pulse Sudoku
Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one
of each digit. So must every column, and every 3x3 square.
Get the solution on FirstPort.
2
Did yo
know? u
A winning spin
CONGRATULATIONS to Roslyn May
and Sharon Simpson who won
The Pulse September/October
competition.
The duo will each receive the
fantastic new board game
“Spinawina”.
Roslyn May, secretary at
Wishaw general, and Sharon
Simpson, public health practitioner
at Bellshill locality, both answered
correctly that a spinner replaces
a dice in the general knowledge
board game.
The idea is to use your transport
peg on the spinner to reach your
destination – the centre of the
board – first.
To do this, you need to answer
questions correctly and collect your
four tokens on route.
There are 14 question categories
including music, films, science
and nature, history, true or false,
sport and TV.
A kids section is also included so
they can join in as well.
Two unique categories, Guys and
Spinawina
was invente
d
by NHS La
narkshire’s
Marilyn Ne
il along
with her hu
sband
Douglas
Dolls,
have also
been included
to add some fun and banter
between the sexes.
This means all the family have
a chance to answer questions from
their favourite category.
Patents for the game have been
granted in Britain and the US.
Spinawina is available to buy at
www.Spinawina.com for £29.99.
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18 thePulse AWARDS
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
Better staff health is just the business
IMPROVING the health of
staff has led to NHS
Lanarkshire being
nominated for a top
national business prize.
NHS Lanarkshire has been
chosen as a finalist in the
Health Work and Wellbeing
category of the National
Business Awards.
This event is the UK’s
premier cross-industr y
awards programme for both
private and public sector
organisations.
Other finalists in this
categor y include E.ON,
DV L A , A d m i r a l G r o u p ,
National Grid and Atlantic
Inertial Systems.
H u g h S w e e n e y, N H S
Lanarkshire’s healthy
working lives manager, said:
“It is a great achievement to
be chosen as finalists for this
award ceremony.
“This is testimony to all the
work carried out by the NHS
L anarkshire colleagues,
including occupational
health staff, managers and
all other staff who have
worked hard to improve their
own and other peoples’
lifestyles for the benefit of
their health.”
The Health Work and
Wellbeing category is for
organisations who have
improved the health and wellbeing of their workforce by:
q Maintaining a safe and
healthy working environment
beyond legal obligations
q Promoting healthy lifestyle
choices
q Supporting staff with a
health condition to remain in
work or to return to work
q Promoting positive
wellbeing and management
practices throughout the
organisation.
The National Business
Awards 2009 will take place
in November at the Grosvenor
House Hotel in London.
More than 1200 guests are
expected, including finalists,
judges, business leaders and
entrepreneurs.
Newsnight presenter Kirsty
Wark will be hosting the
ceremony with BBC’s
business editor Robert Peston
as the guest speaker.
MAGNIFICENT
SEVEN REACH
BIG FINALS
Stars in NHS Lanarkshire
have reached the last
stages of the prestigious
Scottish Health Awards
EMPLOYEE OF THE
MONTH: Celia Watt
Treat for top
employee...
CONGRATULATIONS to Celia Watt
who won the NHS 247’s Employee
of the Month for September
award.
The senior health promotion
officer (oral health), is the first
NHS employee in Scotland to
receive this prize.
Celia was nominated for the
award by NHS Lanarkshire
colleague Albert Yeung,
consultant in dental public health,
for her work on research projects
to improve the oral health
knowledge of expectant mothers
and secondary school pupils.
She can now look forward to a
luxurious two-night weekend
break for two in London at the
Dorchester, one of the world’s
most famous five-star hotels,
situated on Park Lane close to
both Oxford Street and
Knightsbridge and the famous
Selfridges and Harrods
department stores.
Celia said: “I didn’t know I had
been nominated and didn’t expect
to win.
“To say I was surprised would
be a huge understatement.
“It was very nice of Albert to
take the time to nominate me and
a weekend in a five-star hotel
sounds fab!
“My partner Joseph and I are
now looking forward to using the
prize over the Valentine’s
weekend.”
To see more on Celia’s award,
and to learn how to nominate
colleagues for the monthly award,
visit www.nhs247.com
SEVEN health professionals and
teams from NHS Lanarkshire
have reached the final stages of
this year’s prestigious Scottish
Health Awards.
These awards help acknowledge
the hard work, professionalism and
devotion of those who work in and
with NHSScotland to provide quality
healthcare and treatments.
The finalists from NHS
Lanarkshire are:
q The Haven, Blantyre, Lanarkshire
– Community Care Award
q Niall McShannon, Clydesdale
Community Initiatives, Lanark –
Community Care Award
q Mary Thomson, health visitor
team leader, Adam Avenue Medical
Practice, Airdrie – Unsung Hero
Award
q Margaret Sherwood, chaplaincy
volunteer, Hairmyres Hospital, East
Kilbride – Volunteers Award
q Hugh Sweeney, healthy working
lives manager, NHS Lanarkshire –
NHS Healthy Lifestyle Award
q C e l i a Wa t t , s e n i o r h e a l t h
promotion officer, Law House,
Carluke – NHS Healthy
Lifestyle Award
q Community Older People’s Team,
Royal Burgh House, Rutherglen –
Older People Care Award.
They will now attend a glamorous
HEALTH AWARD FINALISTS: The community older people’s team from Rutherglen.
Back row, from left, Alison Moodie, physiotherapist, Maureen Clements, occupational
therapist, and Morag Hearty, team coordinator. Front, from left, Elaine Russell,
district nurse, Carol Crawford, rehabilitation nurse, and Lynn Cairns, secretary
gala award ceremony at the
Edinburgh Corn Exchange in
November where the winners will
be unveiled.
As well as being in with a chance
of snapping up an award, the
finalists will receive a donation to
their nominated charity, with more
than £30,000 being donated.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and
Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon said: “I
wish to congratulate everyone who
has been shortlisted for this year’s
Scottish Health Awards. They have
all played a special part in
It’s important to give recognition
to the workers who have made an
exceptional contribution to the
NHS in Scotland”
Nicola Sturgeon
improving healthcare in Scotland.
“Staff throughout the NHS are
hardworking and dedicated to their
patients, but I believe it’s important
to give recognition to the workers
who have made exceptional contributions to the NHS in Scotland, they
have all brought enormous benefits
to the health of Scotland’s people.”
Tim Davison, NHS Lanarkshire
chief executive, said: “The Scottish
Health Awards are testimony to the
fantastic, but sometimes underappreciated, work NHS staff undertake
every day.
“On behalf of the Lanarkshire
NHS Board, I would like to congratulate all of our seven finalists.
“They fully deserve this recognition for all their hard work and
commitment to improving the
health of the Lanarkshire
community and providing the best
possible care to patients.”
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
TRAINING
thePulse 19
Engaging course
a major success
eSTAFF at NHS Lanarkshire can
lead the way after completing a
top course.
The First Line Management
programme is accredited by the
Institute of Leadership and
Management (ILM).
Delivered by Motherwell College
lecturers, the course provides an
introduction to the responsibilities
of a first line manager.
Agnes Robb, NHS Lanarkshire’s
training manager, said: “It’s a
20-week course for people who
see themselves moving into a
supervisory role in the future or
are already in that position, but not
had formal training.
“Feedback from graduates and
their line managers has been very
positive.”
Topics include problem solving,
time management, managing
stress, giving and receiving
feedback, motivation, leadership,
team building, communications and
resolving conflict.
For more information contact
Agnes Robb at Law House on
01698 377790 or agnes.robb@
lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
THE Equality and Diversity
programme is proving to be
incredibly interesting for those
taking part.
The course was specifically
designed to offer help to team
leaders when discussing the key
equality and diversity issues within
the Knowledge and Skills
Framework with their staff.
Since its launch in November
2008, 400 team leaders and 12
Public Partnership Forum (PPF)
members within NHS Lanarkshire
have attended the programme,
reflecting its success.
NHS Lanarkshire wants to ensure
its leaders have a wide understanding of this interesting, but
complex subject.
Kenny Small, director of
organisational development and
executive lead for diversity and
equality, said: “This valuable
programme will ensure our staff
achieve a high level of understanding on this subject.
“The training, and the selfreflection leaders undertake as part
of it, will ensure our organisation
continues to achieve and manage
equality and diversity within the
workplace as an employer and
service provider.
“I am delighted with the uptake for
this training and trust that those who
have attended have found this to be
invaluable, both at work and
outwith work.”
Feedback from those attending the
programme was extremely positive.
One of the PPF members said:
“This has been quite the most informative and interesting training experience I have ever attended.
“No jargon, thank goodness. The
presenters were superb.”
Gill Hannah, one of the NHS
Lanarkshire trainers, is delighted to
be involved in the delivery of this
programme. She said: “This
programme has been one of the
most interesting areas I have been
involved with for a long time.
“For me, the experience has been
excellent. It has been extremely
interesting to see how individuals
reflect on what is discussed.”
One-day training programmes are
delivered four times per month and
there are dates available until
December 2009.
To b o o k a p l a c e , c o n t a c t
Linda Firstbrook, training
co-ordinator, Hairmyres Hospital at
01355 585485.
For further information,
email gill.hannah@lanarkshire.
scot.nhs.uk or call 01236 713285.
Alternatively, email diversity and
equality manager hina.sheikh@
lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk or call
01698 206386.
Training Planner
ORGANISATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
q Induction training
Corporate Induction continues
to be delivered each week
around the four main
training sites.
Contact Lorna Galloway
01698 366765.
Contact: Agnes Robb 01698
377790 or Sue Devine
01698 377807.
HEALTH PROMOTION
Contact: Ann Moss 01698
245268 or ann.moss@
lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
DECEMBER
DECEMBER
q Pre-Retirement Course
The one-day programme is
open to all staff who plan
to retire within the next
12-18 months.
2 Dec, 9.40am-4.30pm,
Law House
Contact: Agnes Robb
01698 377790 or Sue Devine
01698 377807.
JANUARY
q Management of
Sickness Absence
A half-day training programme
on management of sickness
absence is being delivered
between October 2009 and
March 2010. This programme
provides information on key
policy areas and skills on
effective communication.
13 Jan, 9.15am-1pm, Main
Training Room, Corporate
Services Building, Monklands.
Contact: Lorna Galloway
01698 366765.
q Brief Intervention Smoking
Cessation Training
10 Dec, 9.30am-4.30pm,
Training Room 1, Law House.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Contact: Sandra Sweeney 01236
707721 or sandra.sweeney@
lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
DECEMBER
q Control Book
16 Dec, 9.30am-4.30pm,
Training Room, Ground Floor,
Hairmyres.
q COSHH
3 Dec, 9.30am-12.30pm,
Training Room, Ground Floor,
Hairmyres.
q Risk Assessment
7 Dec, 9.30am-12.30pm, Main
Training Room, Corporate
Services Building, Monklands.
LIBRARIES
The Cumulative Index of
Nursing and Allied Health
(CINAHL) database has
moved from OVID to EBSCO
suppliers on the e-library.
Each library is able to offer
all staff affected by this
change a one-hour refresher
course on using this
database. Please contact your
local librarian for booking.
Library staff are happy to
give group and one-to-one
guidance on literature
searching, use of the e-library
and using ref works
Contacts: Amanda Minns
(Hairmyres) 01355 585488/7
Lisa McLaren (Wishaw
General) 01698 366316
Paul Herbert (Monklands)
01236 712005
PaMoVA
q Whether you work in a
surgery, ward or out and
about in the community,
it is essential for all staff
working in the health service
to take care of their own
MOVING & HANDLING
personal safety and be aware
of the safety of others. In order
Access training dates
to reduce the risk of being a
in FirstPort
victim of unwanted aggression
q Manual Handling
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
or violent behaviour, NHS
The Moving and Handling
Lanarkshire provides
Advisors provide an advisory
q To provide administrative
management of aggression
and training service to
staff with the knowledge and
training for all staff.
all employees, for patient and
skills to demonstrate an
non-patient handlers. Training Contact PaMoVA advisors on
understanding of medical
courses are from three hours to 01501 824547.
terminology. Programme
consists of a half day per week two days in duration, content
PRACTICE DEVELOPMENT
depending on the needs of the
over 20-week period, starting
on 19 Jan 2010, 9.30am-12.30pm, staff group. Contact: Sandra
Contact: Rita Cloughley 01698
366581, Morag Downie 01698
Wishaw General.
Sweeney 01236 707721.
Carol Hallesy (Law House)
01698 377600/01
Grant Donaghy (NHS
Lanarkshire HQ)
01698 281313.
DECEMBER
q Searching CINAHL
Learn how to search the
biggest Nursing and Allied
Health database and find the
results you need each time.
15 Dec, 2pm-4pm, IT Training
Room, Corporate Services
Building, Monklands.
q Introduction to Knowledge
for Care
16 Dec, 10am-noon, IT
Training Room, Corporate
Services Building, Monklands.
q Using RefWorks
Learn how to use this
366575, Anne Halavage 01698
366582 or Natalie Snodgrass
01698 366590.
software to keep track of your
vital references and create
instant bibliographies.
17 Dec, 2pm-4pm, IT Training
Room, Corporate Services
Building, Monklands.
q Refworks
10 Dec, 1-3pm, IT training
room, Wishaw General.
q Searching CINAHL
10 Dec, 11-1pm, IT training
room, Wishaw General.
q Introductionn to the
Knowledge for Care
The eLibrary is changing,
come and find out
about accessing online
resources.
14 Dec, 9-noon,
IT training
room,
Wishaw
General.
q Searching Medline
Learn how to effectively
search the largest medical
database. Get the results you
need every time.
17 Dec, 1-3pm, IT training
room, Wishaw General.
q Using the Cochrane Library
Find out more about
systematic reviews and how
to search this database.
10 Dec, 3-5pm, IT training
room, Wishaw General.
DECEMBER
22 Jan, 9am-4pm, Resus Training
Room, Ward 17, Hairmyres.
q Senior doctors: Consultant
Induction and Professional
Development (CIPD)
27, 28 & 29 Jan, 8.45am-5pm
Training co-ordinators will
contact new consultants
directly regarding places.
q Senior doctors: Basic Life
Support
3
Dec, 2pm-4pm, Resus
JANUARY
Training Room, Ronald Miller
q Education programme launch Education Suite, Wishaw
(January – June 2010)
General.
This six-month programme
q Senior doctors: Equality
of courses is open to all
& Diversity
NHS Lanarkshire Nurses,
11 Dec, 9.15am-1pm, Training
Midwives, AHPs and
Room 1, Corporate Services
their support workers.
Building, Monklands.
For further information
q Senior doctors: Immediate
on the courses and dates
Life Support (ILS)
available, please visit
16 Dec, 9am-4pm, Resus
www.lanpdc.scot.nhs.uk
Training Room, Ward 17,
Hairmyres.
MEDICAL EDUCATION
Contact: Tracey Murtagh 01698
366521 or Tracey.Murtagh
@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
JANUARY
q Senior doctors: Immediate
Life Support (ILS)
Did you
know?
You can get lots more
information on training when
you visit the Training and
Development homepage
on FirstPort
20 thePulse ACHIEVEMENTS
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
What’s up, doc?
Satire, fun and drama – it’s all in a day’s
performance for NHS Lanarkshire staff playing
a part in Gilbert and Sullivan’s best production
ALL THE WORLD IS
A STAGE: Caroline
Dewey, front left,
with the Alice in
Wonderland team
MEMBERS of NHS Lanarkshire
staff past and present appeared
in this year’s East Kilbride
Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s
version of Iolanthe.
Dr Sarah Burn-Murdoch, a
community paediatrician, and
Andy Braidwood, a retired
orthopaedic surgeon from
Monklands Hospital, starred
in the operatic production
at the Village Theatre in
East Kilbride.
Another NHS member of staff,
pharmacist Val Reilly, who is the
president of the Gilbert and
Sullivan Society, herself took on a
major role as the fairy queen.
The original Iolanthe opened
at the Savoy Theatre in London
on 25 November 1882 and
ran for 398 performances.
Both Gilbert and Sullivan were
at the height of their creative
powers when they wrote Iolanthe
and many believe that this, their
seventh work together, is the
most perfect of their
collaborations.
Sarah Burn-Murdoch said: “As
with most Gilbert and Sullivan
operas, Iolanthe laughs at 19th
century institutions, in this case
the political party system. The big
men are vulnerable to the fairy
power of the ladies!"
Each year, a proportion of the
funds raised is donated to a
chosen charity; this year it was
diabetes charities.
CURTAIN
UP ON
REAL LIFE
A CAST of young actors from
Cambuslang and Rutherglen
locality recently participated
in a stage adaptation of Alice
in Wonderland.
The play, which takes a modern
approach to this classic story,
highlights a range of issues that
teenagers face in society today.
Caroline Dewey, youth health
development officer who helped
organise the play, said: “There are
serious underlying messages in
the play.
“The performance follows the
adventures of a 16-year-old girl met
by characters in her life that lurk
around every corner trying to
persuade her to take risks.
“Issues that affect young people
such as alcohol, drugs, bullying and
eating disorders are covered in the
performance.
“Whether the young person
performed in the drama or was part
of the audience, the performance
provided a powerful way to explore
health topics that affect young people.”
The play aims to empower young
people to make positive and
informed choices about their health
and wellbeing.
As well as acting in the performance, the young people also had
a hand in writing the script.
This ensured the play tackled the
contemporary issues that were
relevant to both the cast and the
audience.
The production was organised by
The Den, a youth health initiative
within Cambuslang and
Rutherglen, and Express Yourself
Arts Project.
Both organisations, which are
funded by the Big Lottery Fund,
worked in partnership to provide
an opportunity for young people
in the local area to perform in
the drama and look at health
issues that concerned them.
The Den is a health drop-in for
young people in Cambuslang and
Rutherglen locality. Young people
can come along for one-to-one
health support and advice and/or
take part in workshops on a variety
of issue-based health topics.
Express Yourself Arts Project
runs music, dance and drama workshops throughout the year for
young people. There are plans
to run another drama
production in partnership
with The Den.
Caroline added: “We
have been really lucky to
Gilbert and Sullivan
work alongside talented
collaborated on fourteen comic
and enthusiastic
operas between 1871 and 1896,
young people.”
and during the run of
Following the success
of the programme in the
Iolanthe, Sullivan was
summer, The Den and
knighted
Express Yourself Arts have
committed to run weekly drama
sessions on Monday evenings from
6.30pm-8pm at the CTEC building,
Cambuslang.
The sessions are open to all
young people interested in drama
in the local area.
Did you
know?
WELL STAGED: Dr
Sarah Burn-Murdoch
and retired surgeon
Andy Braidwood