Connections p01

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THE NEWSPAPER FOR NHS LOTHIAN STAFF MAY/JUNE 2009 ISSUE 32
Connections
YOUR AWARD-WINNING NEWSPAPER
A NEW ERA IN
MATERNITY CARE
WIN A FANTASTIC
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PAGE 8
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RAISING
THE BAR
Staff in NHS
Lothian to learn
from world’s best
PATIENT care in NHS Lothian
is set to be improved by a new
investigative scheme allowing
staff to learn from the world’s
best healthcare systems.
The new initiative, 5x5x5, will
create five new multidisciplinary
teams who will be given the
time and resources to develop
and introduce improvements in
how NHS Lothian delivers five
key themes.
The teams will not include any
executive management team members
from NHS Lothian and each fivestrong team will be drawn from
frontline doctors, nurses, health
professionals and other key NHS staff.
Each team will have one partnership
representative, drawn from NHS
Lothian’s staff associations and
unions.
The initiative follows the success
of NHS Lothian’s Lean in Lothian
programme, which has delivered faster
patient care by empowering frontline
staff to make lasting changes in how
they do their jobs.
Professor James Barbour, chief
executive of NHS Lothian, said: “The
Lean in Lothian programme has taught
us a huge amount about how our trust
in staff will be rewarded if we let go
from the top and empower people with
opportunities to make a difference.
“We are up there with the world’s
best in some areas but not in all
and we recognise that there are
areas where we could and should be
doing better.
“This new initiative is an
investment, and an act of faith, in
our people and it will take us closer
to achieving our aspiration of being
ranked within the world’s top
25 healthcare systems and create
We are up there
with the world’s
best in some areas
Chief executive James Barbour
25 of tomorrow’s healthcare leaders.”
The five main themes and
sponsoring directors are:
■ the world’s best clinical quality –
Charles Swainson, medical director
■ patient experience – Melanie
Hornett, director of nursing
■ cost and quality in the new
economic context – Susan Goldsmith,
director of finance
■ building community capacity to
tackle health inequalities – Alison
McCallum, director of public health
■ demand management, focussing on
unscheduled care – Jim McCaffery,
chief operating officer, university
hospitals division.
Fuller details on the scheme will be
released later this month. The team
leader will be selected by the
sponsoring executive director.
The leader of each team will be free
to choose their team, and resources
will be made available to release people
from their current jobs so they can
concentrate on developing proven
innovations.
Prof Barbour added: “The condition
is that each team will then have to
provide a credible action plan capable
of being delivered in the economic
circumstances we currently face. We’ll
also need their recommendations very
quickly, because we want to introduce
whatever innovations are identified
as soon as possible to get the
greatest return for our patients.”
NHS Lothian’s pioneering
modernisation programme, Lean
in Lothian, has already
delivered major improvements
for patients, including faster scanning
for patients, swifter diagnostic test
reports and a one-stop shop for women
with suspected breast cancer.
Help
for
our
war
heroes
PROUD MOMENT:
veteran Jason Wallace, a
founding member of the
veterans’ advisory group,
takes time to reflect at the
launch of Veterans’ F1rst
Point support scheme.
Turn to page 2 for full story>>
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2
NEWS
Comment Jenifer Stirton
NHS Lothian is
proud to be a
UK innovator
W
elcome to Connections,
your staff newspaper. In this
issue, we’re delighted to
report that NHS Lothian is once
again leading the way in innovative
new services for local residents.
On our front page, you’ll read about
the launch of Veterans F1rst Point,
a new service which offers vital
support to ex-military personnel.
The project has the backing of a
number of veterans’ organisations
and we are proud to be involved in
this, the first dedicated centre of its
kind in the United Kingdom.
NHS Lothian will also pilot a project
to help first-time parents and single
mothers give their babies a healthy
start to life.
Based on a successful scheme in
New York, the nurse family
partnership will offer families
guidance on a range of subjects,
including breastfeeding, parenting
skills and diet information.
Read more about this exciting
development on page 5.
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
In addition to investing in new
services, NHS Lothian is also
making a major commitment to
new facilities.
Our recent announcement of a
£1bn capital investment in
hospitals, premises and equipment
will not only bring significant
benefits to residents, but will also give
much-needed support to local
businesses and employees.
These ambitious developments will
cement NHS Lothian’s reputation as
a leading healthcare provider and
ensure we remain at the forefront of
medical services in the UK.
Of course, in these difficult
HELP FOR OUR
WAR HEROES
economic times, it’s important that
we make best use of our supplies –
and two enterprising members of
staff are doing just that by setting up
a dressings “recycling” scheme
which will benefit sick people
around the world.
It’s a simple idea – donating
out-of-date or unwanted dressings
to medical charities – but is an
indication of the type of bright
ideas that are often put forward by
our staff.
RECOGNITION FOR STAFF
It’s this kind of initiative that NHS
Lothian is seeking to reward with the
launch of the staff awards scheme.
If you know of someone who
deserves to be recognised, why not
nominate them for an award?
The closing date is 20 May, so don’t
miss this opportunity to give praise
where it’s due.
We value your views and comments
on Connections, so please take time
to fill in our reader survey. Find out
more on page 4.
Enjoy this issue.
Jenifer Stirton, editor
Connections
Editorial board:
Jenifer Stirton, Robert Aitken, Gillian Amos, Morag Barrow,
Duncan Blyth, Alexis Burnett, Shona Cameron, Stewart Cameron,
Noreen Clancy, Grahame Cumming, Eddie Egan, Wendy Fenemore,
Anne Gilchrist, Linda Haggarty, Shirley Johnston, Anne Laing, Angela
Lindsay, Sue Lloyd, Gordon Lynch, Aislinn McGrane, Dave Proudfoot,
Lesley Reid, Kathryn Sinclair, Tom Waterson, Sally Westwick.
Contact the editor:
lothian.communications@nhs.net
0131 536 9432/9355
0131 536 9013
Staff Newspaper, Communications Dept, Deaconess House,
148 Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9RS
EDITORIAL AND PRODUCTION:
Connections is written, designed and produced by:
Connect Communications, Studio 2001, Mile End, Paisley PA1 1JS
0141 561 0300 0141 561 0400 www.connectcommunications.co.uk
Printing:
Scottish County Press
May/June 2009 Connections
SUPPORTING OUR WAR HEROES: the Veterans F1rst Point team at the launch of the new service
A PILOT project that offers vital support for veterans
has been officially launched in Lothian.
The initiative – the first of its kind in the United Kingdom
to offer a dedicated service under one roof – is targeted
at issues affecting veterans including mental and social health,
education and welfare. The service is funded by the Scottish
Government, NHSScotland and the MoD.
Scottish public health minister Shona Robison was joined
by NHS Lothian chairman Dr Charles Winstanley and UK
veterans minister Kevan Jones to unveil the Veterans F1rst
Point (V1P) service in Edinburgh.
V1P has been designed by a veterans’ advisory group,
which was established by Dr Claire Fyvie, consultant
psychologist at the River Centre for traumatic stress, Royal
Edinburgh Hospital. The service is in Edinburgh’s west
end and operates on a drop-in basis six days a week.
Paul Hayllor, Veteran’s F1rst Point co-ordinator, said:
“Veterans are becoming an isolated and socially excluded/
hard to reach group in society.
“This project is designed to break down any barriers
ex-military personnel have in accessing mainstream medical,
social or support services.”
Clinical sessions will be provided by clinicians from the
Edinburgh Traumatic Stress Centre at Royal Edinburgh
Hospital, who will work in close partnership with veterans’
organisations, such as the charity Combat Stress, the MoD
and also local authorities.
A key component of the V1P will be volunteers, and
there are opportunities for NHS Lothian staff who would
like to get involved.
Jason Wallace spent seven years in the Armed Forces
and now works as a peer support worker at V1P.
He said: “I’ve been involved in this project from the
start and it has been great for me. I’m also trying to do
some good for the service people who can’t communicate
or who have been hiding away for too long because of
their own experiences.”
E For information, contact Paul on 0131 220 9920 or
paul.hayllor@lothian.scot.nhs.uk
Helping protect adults at
risk in our communities
NHS LOTHIAN has joined forces
with the City of Edinburgh Council
and Lothian and Borders Police
to help identify adults who may be
at risk.
In the first campaign of its kind
in Scotland, the council is asking
everyone to be more aware of adults
at risk and to let someone know
so that they can be protected
from harm.
The Adult Support and Protection
(Scotland) Act 2007, which came
into force in October 2008, aims to
provide ways in which support and
protection can be offered to people
with disability and illness, where
these affect the person’s capacity to
protect themselves.
Multi-agency guidelines have
been developed for investigating and
managing situations of neglect or
abuse of vulnerable adults. Abuse
can happen in different ways – it can
be physical or psychological harm,
neglect, theft or intimidation, or
behaviour leading to self-harm.
Councillor Paul Edie, health
and social care convener, said: “Too
often people are taken advantage of
and hurt and our aim is to prevent
this from occurring.
“I would ask anyone who is
worried about someone they know
who they think is at risk of harm
to get in touch so we can make sure
that they get the appropriate
measures to protect them or to help
them protect themselves.”
Melanie Hornett, director of
nursing at NHS Lothian, added:
“Protecting vulnerable adults is of
fundamental importance and we
remain committed to continually
improve adult protection services.
“We are working closely with our
multi-agency colleagues including
the City of Edinburgh Council and
Lothian and Borders Police to
ensure that both the public and staff
are aware of the issues and know
where they can turn to for support.”
Staff in the relevant organisations
have been receiving training in adult
protection in the new adult
protection procedures and general
awareness. Members of the public
are asked to make contact if they
suspect that someone they know or
work with may be being abused.
Once a concern is reported, staff
from the health and social care
department, together with police and
NHS Lothian, will form a plan to
assist the adult. They will work with
them and their family and carers,
taking into account their wishes
when deciding what to do.
E For more information, visit
www.edinburgh.gov.uk/
adultprotection
Training for adult support and
protection – turn to page 12 >>
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NEWS
Connections May/June 2009
3
Health board’s announcement of
£1 billion in capital investment brings
welcome boost to Lothian businesses
ECONOMY BOOST: NHS Lothian communications officer Aislinn
McGrane with Alastair Purves, director, right, and Douglas Naysmith,
senior printer, at Scottish County Press
AN investment of almost
£1 billion in new hospitals,
premises and equipment by
NHS Lothian over the
next 10 years will create
work for companies
employing thousands
of Scots and boost the
local economy.
Investment
for patients
NHS LOTHIAN’S new 10-year capital
investment programme will bring a
new hospital for children and young
people, a new medicine for the
elderly hospital, a new hospital for
Midlothian, a new primary care
centre in East Lothian and a number
of new and refurbished health
centres across Lothian.
■ The new £150m plus Royal
Hospital for Sick Children will be
built next to the Royal Infirmary of
Edinburgh (RIE).
■ The new children and young
people’s hospital will be linked to
but separate from the RIE. It will be
almost twice the size of the existing
Victorian Sick Kids, which dates
from 1895.
■ St John’s Hospital in Livingston is
to have a revolutionary £8.2m short-
Now’s the
time to
stub out
the habit
INVESTING
IN LOCAL
ECONOMY
ABOVE: the new Midlothian
Community Hospital
stay elective surgery centre.
NHS Lothian will treat patients
from all over Lothian in the new
unit, which has been designed to
reduce waiting times and
cancellations and boost operating
theatre efficiency.
■ Work is under way on a new
health centre and community
campus at Fauldhouse. The new
£7.2m partnership centre will offer
integrated health, social care and
community services for the local
community.
ARE you thinking of giving up
smoking?
NHS Lothian used the recent
No Smoking Day on 11 March to
remind smokers of the wide
range of free NHS services
available to help people quit.
Did you know that smokers are
four times more likely to quit with
NHS help than by going it alone?
That’s the message special
information stalls at locations in
NHS Lothian’s acute hospitals
were providing as well as giving
details of what help was
available to smokers at a time
Professor James Barbour,
chief executive, NHS Lothian,
said: “NHS Lothian has a
m a j o r ro l e i n s u p p o r t i n g
economic growth during this
difficult time.
“Our investment plans are
being given further impetus by
current economic conditions and
we are working with the Scottish
Government to ensure we play our
part in creating jobs and supporting
families through our building
programme.”
He added: “The BioQuarter
development will see the creation
of a world-class cluster of
biotechnology enterprises in
very close proximity to both the
and place to suit them.
Shoppers at Edinburgh and
West Lothian were also urged to
kick the habit on the day, while
an information display was also
in place at the Jewel and Esk
Valley College campus.
Helena Connelly, the smoking
cessation co-ordinator at NHS
Lothian, said: “Help is available
for people who want to stop in
all sorts of ways.
“We already provide help
through GP practices and many
community locations and help is
also available from all
DID
YOU KNOW
One of the largest NHS
developments currently under
way in Lothian is the new £21m
health centre in Musselburgh,
expected to be completed by
2011. It will have space for
three GP practices and
other services
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh,
the new Royal Hospital for Sick
Children and the University of
Edinburgh’s Medical School.”
NHS Lothian plans to spend
almost £900m by 2018/2019 on
new hospitals, health premises and
equipment.
Professor Barbour said:
“In addition, as the area’s
largest employer, we are
playing a role in creating
d i re c t e m p l o y m e n t a n d
expanding our apprenticeship
programmes.”
NHS Lothian is developing a
new £850,000 apprenticeship
scheme, providing training for 12
apprentices.
Meanwhile, staff newspaper
Connections and Health Link, the
paper for patients and the public,
have moved to Midlothian-based
printer Scottish County Press.
“We receive considerable public funding
and we will ensure that we spend a
fair share of it locally while getting
value for money for our patients”
Professor James Barbour, NHS Lothian chief executive
community pharmacists
throughout Lothian.
“We want to be there to help
whenever anyone makes the
decision to stop. We appreciate
that sometimes people are
working and they want help at a
time that is convenient for them
without having to book ahead.
“Our open access services
help people make the move from
planning to stop to stopping.”
E For more details on services
close to you, please call
Smokeline on 0800 84 84 84.
ABOVE: Helena Connelly
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4
NEWS
Tell us your
views on
Connections
May/June 2009 Connections
BOOST FOR CHILDREN
Olympic medallist Sir Chris Hoy opens new unit at Sick Kids Hospital
YES, it’s that time again, time to take
part in the Connections survey.
We want to make sure that
Connections is a newspaper you
want to read, which is why your
contribution to the survey is so
important to us.
You are probably aware that
Connections has won, and continues
to win, awards for its design and content.
That is due in no small part to the input
of staff – those who sit on the editorial
board, as well as many other staff who
contribute stories and ideas and who
provide us with feedback through our
regular Connections surveys.
The latest survey is now available on
the home page of the intranet and all
those taking part will be entered into
a prize draw. We are giving away several
prizes, including the main prize of £100
of John Lewis vouchers.
To complete the survey, please
visit the intranet and either e-mail the
completed form to lothian.
communications@nhs.net or post to
Connections Survey, Communications
Department, Deaconess House, 148
Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9RS.
E Your views are important
to us. Connections is your
newspaper and we need
your contribution to
continually improve it.
STAR VISIT: Sir Chris meets patients and staff at the new research unit at the Sick Kids Hospital
FOUR-TIME Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris
Hoy MBE opened a research unit at
Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children
recently.
The unit will accelerate work to improve
treatment for children with leukaemia, asthma,
cystic fibrosis and other conditions.
During his visit, Sir Chris met children and
families affected by these conditions. The
children are taking part in ongoing research
at the hospital, which has a strong
relationship with the University of Edinburgh
in pioneering research to improve the lives
of sick children.
The Children’s Clinical Research Facility
has been made possible thanks to a
donation of £67,000 from the Sick Kids
Friends Foundation, a £50,000 investment
from the University of Edinburgh, and ongoing
funding worth in excess of £20,000 a year
from NHS Lothian’s Research and
Development Fund.
Sir Chris said: “The Royal Hospital for Sick
Children in Edinburgh has a strong reputation
for providing world-class paediatric care and
research and this new unit will help deliver
the kind of breakthroughs that will make a
massive difference to the lives of children and
families now and in the future.”
Previous research has taken place in the
hospital’s open wards, but the new two-bedded
facility and consulting room will ensure that
children taking part in trials are seen in a
welcoming and private environment.
NHS Lothian’s new
nurse director
sets out her goals
THE new nurse director of
NHS Lothian, Melanie Hornett,
has recently taken up her post.
Melanie said: “I am delighted
to take up my new post and
would like to say thank you to
everyone for the very warm
welcome I have received.
“Since I trained as a nurse in
London, I have slowly worked
my way northwards and always
hoped I could make it as far as
Scotland, a place which holds
very happy childhood memories
from summer visits to see my
family!”
Melanie’s previous post for
four years was as director of
nursing and patient services at
the Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Hospitals NHS Foundation
Trust.
She is now an executive
director at NHS Lothian with a
place on the board and has
responsibility for a number of
key areas, as well as providing
leadership for NHS Lothian’s
nursing and allied health
professional staff.
TAKE HEART: the cardiac rehabilitation team is helping patients’ quality of life
Cardiac patients benefit
from unique programme
ABOVE: nurse director Melanie Hornett
Melanie said: “Over the next
few months I hope to be able to
visit as many different parts of
NHS Lothian as I can.
“I am keen to meet staff and
hear directly about their
successes and the challenges
they face on a day-to-day basis.”
A UNIQUE programme designed specifically for
patients with chronic heart failure is being
developed by staff in NHS Lothian’s cardiac
rehabilitation service.
The programme incorporates exercise and
breathing retraining to improve mobility and
breathlessness, but equally importantly, it
includes a range of behavioural and psychological
strategies designed to promote acceptance of
limitations and a focus on quality of life.
Dr Iain Todd, consultant in cardiovascular
rehabilitation, explained: “Patients with chronic
heart failure are frequently excluded from exercisebased cardiac rehabilitation programmes.
“While supervised exercise programmes have
been shown to relieve symptoms and improve
quality of life for some patients with heart failure,
there are concerns that inadequate supervision
may lead to worsening heart failure, and that the
benefits are rarely maintained after discharge from
the programme.”
Among the strategies being used by the team
is one called “Mindfulness Based Stress
Reduction”, or MBSR. This includes innovative
techniques borrowed from eastern religions, which
teach the patient to focus more on enjoying the
“here and now” rather than looking back to how
they once were or forward to an uncertain future.
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NEWS
Connections May/June 2009
5
GIVING BABIES A
HEALTHIER START
CLEVER IDEA: a child ambulance restraint
Wanted: bright ideas to
improve patient care
DO you have a great idea that
could make a difference to
patient care? Then speak to the
people who could make it a
reality – and become an
inventor in the process.
Scottish Health Innovation
Ltd (SHIL) is urging NHS
Lothian staff to share their ideas
for new products and processes
that could help patients.
And if an idea hits the
market, it wouldn’t just be the
patient that sees the benefit –
both the health board and the
inventor would see a return.
Already, the organisation has
helped develop products
including an ambulance child
restraint and an adventure
storybook to prepare young
children for X-rays.
April Kelly, SHIL’s business
development manager at NHS
Lothian, said: “You never know,
your idea could make a big
difference to patient care.
Even if it is not necessarily an
idea for a product, but rather
an issue that you feel needs a
solution, your involvement
could add real value to current
ideas in development.”
E Contact April on
0131 242 3339 or
april.kelly@shil.co.uk or
visit www.shil.co.uk
HELPING FAMILIES: Nicola Sturgeon with Roberta Holder-Mosley of the nurse family partnership in Harlem
Key research appointment
A KEY new appointment has
underlined NHS Lothian’s
commitment to pioneering
medical research.
Professor David Newby, right,
an eminent consultant in
cardiology and research, has
taken the role of NHS Lothian’s
director of research and
development following the retiral
of the previous office holder,
Professor Heather Cubie.
Promoting medical research is
one of NHS Lothian’s key
priorities and it has a range of
partnerships with universities,
charities and other organisations
carrying out clinical research.
ELECTION
HONOUR:
Scott
McLean
is the
youngest
president
elect of
BANCC
MEDICAL RESEARCH:
Professor David Newby
AN innovative nationwide project
to help first-time parents provide a
better, healthier start in life for
their children will be piloted in
Scotland by NHS Lothian.
The pilot will see dedicated nurses
forming a nurse family partnership
(NFP), with nurses visiting expectant
first-time parents or single mums in their
own homes every one or two weeks
during pregnancy, and throughout the
first two years of the baby’s life.
NFP nurses will offer guidance on
breastfeeding, child development,
parenting skills, future pregnancy
planning, preventive health measures
such as help with alcohol or cigarette
dependency, better diet information,
advice on better financial planning, and
NHS Lothian will pilot
scheme to support parents
during their child’s early years
advice for mothers wanting to go back
to education or employment.
The introduction of the scheme to
Scotland was announced by health
secretary Nicola Sturgeon during a visit
to a similar project in Harlem, New York,
where she met the NFP’s founder,
Dr David Olds, professor of paediatrics
and director, Prevention Research
Center for Family and Child Health,
University of Colorado.
Ms Sturgeon said: “The basic idea of
dedicated nurses working alongside
vulnerable young mums, not just
during their pregnancy but also through
those first vital years of a child’s life, is
exactly the kind of support I want to see
in time across all Scotland.
“It is not without very good reason
that President Obama has just
announced a major funding commitment
to widen the NFP in the USA.”
Election honour for nurse consultant Scott
CARDIOLOGY nurse consultant
Scott McLean has been named the
youngest-ever president elect of the
British Association of Nursing in
Cardiovascular Care (BANCC).
Scott, who works at the Royal
Infirmary of Edinburgh, was
informed of his election in April.
He will be welcomed formally at
the British Cardiovascular Society
(BCS) annual conference in
London this July.
The appointment is for two years,
prior to serving a two-year term as
president. The presidential role also
includes a seat on the BCS Council.
Not only is Scott the youngest
person to receive this accolade, he
is also the first person outside
England to take up the role.
He said: “I’m tremendously
honoured to be made president
elect. It’s particularly satisfying as
I’m the first person working outside
England to be appointed. This
award gives Scottish cardiovascular
nursing a heightened profile at a UK
level and allows us to further
influence the national agenda. It
lets other professionals in the UK
see what’s being done in Scotland,
so also benefiting BANCC.”
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NEWS
May/June 2009 Connections
New measures by NHS Lothian have resulted in a marked decrease in cases of infection
EFFORTS
TO TACKLE
C DIFFICILE
PAY OFF
IN LOTHIAN
A “TRIPLE whammy” of changes to
prescribing, new cleaning methods
in some areas and increased training
for staff is paying off in NHS
Lothian’s efforts to prevent c difficile
infections.
A paper discussed at a recent board
meeting detailed recent reductions in
the number of c difficile cases
across Lothian. National surveillance
data shows a 30 per cent drop in
c difficile infections from October to
December 2008, compared with the
previous quarter.
Dr Alison McCallum, director of
public health and health policy, NHS
Lothian, said: “These figures confirm
that we are on track to achieving our
target of a 30 per cent reduction in
c difficile by 2011.”
She added: “We have introduced
a package of measures which are now
showing their effectiveness.
“These include new guidelines on
prescribing for older people, changing
“These figures
confirm we
are on track
to achieving
our target
of a 30 per
cent reduction
in c difficile
by 2011”
Dr Alison McCallum,
director of
public health
and health policy
REDUCING RISK:
handwashing is crucial to
helping reduce infections
some of the chemicals used in
cleaning and continuing with
education initiatives aimed both at
staff and visitors.”
C difficile is linked with prolonged
antibiotic use. The infection involves
bacteria in the gut which flourishes
when antibiotics destroy the bacteria
which normally keep it in check.
The latest figures show the rate in
Lothian of c difficile infection as 0.92
cases per 1000 occupied bed days
(this records the period of time spent
by people in hospital).
This is lower than the Scottish
average of 1.15 for that quarter and
30 per cent lower than the NHS Lothian
figure for the previous quarter.
Join Radio Lollipop for a celebration New support for
of 20 years of fun and entertainment women offenders
CELEBRATIONS: Radio Lollipop has been providing a popular service to patients for the last two decades –
and is now inviting patients and staff to help celebrate its 20th birthday with a party at the Sick Kids Hospital
RADIO Lollipop Edinburgh
is planning a big party at
the Royal Hospital for Sick
Children to celebrate its
20th birthday.
On Wednesday 3 June,
Radio Lollipop volunteers
will take to the wards to
give every child in the
hospital a birthday present
as part of the celebrations.
The party will include
activities for the children
and their families to take
part in, as well as visits by
special guests.
When Radio Lollipop
Edinburgh was launched in
1989, the first song played
was “The Only Way is Up”
by Yazz. Radio Lollipop
Edinburgh chairman John
Macaulay has been with the
charity since the beginning.
He’s looking forward to
the party.
“Radio Lollipop exists to
provide comfort, care, play
and entertainment to
children in hospital. Radio
Lollipop in Edinburgh is
proud to have been
providing this service for 20
years at the Royal Hospital
for Sick Children and wants
to celebrate with the
hospital – with the staff,
patients and their families.”
The party marks the
official start of the birthday
celebrations that will go on
throughout the year.
Lollipop volunteers are
already wearing new 20-year
T-shirts and major
improvements have been
“Radio Lollipop in Edinburgh is proud
to have been providing this service
for 20 years at the Royal Hospital
for Sick Children and wants to
celebrate with the hospital”
Radio Lollipop chairman John Macaulay
made to the Lollipop studio,
with a new text and e-mail
request service available for
friends and family of the
patients to use.
Volunteers from
Edinburgh also went on tour
to Radio Lollipop in Dundee,
their sister station, to
celebrate with the
volunteers and children at
Ninewells Hospital in April.
Later in the year, the third
annual Radio Lollipop Black
Tie Ball will take place and
will have a focus on
celebrating the last 20
years. The ball is taking
place on Friday 2 October at
the Roxburghe Hotel in
Edinburgh. Tickets for the
event will be on sale shortly.
A NEW health improvement
programme aimed at
women offenders in the
capital is being launched at
the end of May.
The Willow Project,
based at SACRO, in
Nicholson Square,
Edinburgh, will work with
women involved in the
criminal justice system.
The new service, created
using funding from the
Edinburgh Community
Safety Partnership, will help
women to:
■ improve their self-esteem
■ be empowered
■ address the impact of life
experiences
■ improve their health
■ have fun.
The new service
will be provided by
NHS Lothian health
improvement and clinical
psychology workers, who
will work closely with
SCRO, NECS, Apex
Scotland and other
agencies.
It has three elements –
living skills, access to
therapeutic resources
and education and
employability.
Jessica Evans, senior
health promotion specialist
for women offenders at
NHS Lothian said:
“According to recent
evidence, women offenders
are more likely to have a
history of violent abuse
stretching from childhood
into adulthood.
“They suffer greater
financial inequalities, have
poorer mental health – with
a greater risk of suicidal
behaviour – and more
substance abuse problems
as well as low self-esteem.”
The new service will offer
a number of services
including a trauma recovery
programme provided by the
Edinburgh Traumatic Stress
Centre, cookery/nutrition
classes and financial
management and household
management advice.
E For more information,
contact Jessica Evans at
0131 662 7526 or e-mail:
jevans@lothiancjs.
sacro.org.uk
Sick Kids appointment
A KEY external adviser has
been appointed by NHS
Lothian in another step
forward for its £150m plus
new children’s hospital.
Cost consultants
Thomson Gray will be
helping the board drive a
hard bargain with
construction partners on
the new hospital, set to
open in late 2012.
The Edinburgh company
has been appointed as cost
advisers to the NHS team
planning the replacement
for the current Victorian
building. The new Royal
Hospital for Sick Children
will be located next to the
Royal Infirmary of
Edinburgh at Little France.
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NEWS
Connections May/June 2009
7
Helping
healthcare
workers
support
unpaid
carers
HERE TO HELP: Marjory and
Ruth with a Romanian friend.
Above, squalid living conditions
CHARITIES around the world are
to benefit from an innovative project
to “recycle” unused dressings and
bandages from NHS Lothian.
The bright idea was suggested by
Marjory Thrusfield, an emergency nurse
practitioner at Lothian unscheduled care
services in Midlothian, and Ruth Aird,
a practice nurse in Inchpark Health
Centre, after they saw the terrible
conditions that injured or sick and
homeless people in Romania endure.
The nurses were invited to Romania
last summer to look at the possibility
of setting up a minor injuries clinic at
a day centre run by Scottish
missionaries Kenneth and Kathryn
Cloke. The centre, in Arad, is called
Vis de Copil, which means “a
child’s dream”.
During their week there, they
visited the shanty town of Kekec, where
they treated members of the local gypsy
community for ailments including leg
ulcers and wounds.
Marjory explained: “In Romania,
people who are treated in hospital don’t
get given any supplies such as
bandages. In many cases they don’t go
to hospital at all because they have no
money to buy bandages or medicines.”
As well as giving practical help,
Ruth and Marjory donated £950
they had raised in Scotland to
plaster the walls of the day centre,
but they soon realised there was
another simple way to give aid.
Marjory said: “When we came
home, we realised there are a lot of
unused supplies in the community. For
example, boxes of dressings that
have a patient’s name on them but are
no longer needed or are out of date are
Nurses set up dressings ‘recycling’ scheme for charity
FIRST BAND AID –
NOW BANDAGE AID!
wasted. We thought ‘Romania has
nothing, could we not do something
about this?’”
They have now set up a scheme
where practice and district nurses who
have unused dressings can place
them in a special colour-coded bag and
leave them at their health centre.
These will then be collected and taken
to Edenhall Hospital, where Ruth and
Marjory will check the dressings,
destroying any that are of no use, and
then offer them to any charity working
overseas.
“People in Romania often don’t go to hospital because
they have no money to buy bandages or medicines”
Marjory Thrusfield, emergency nurse practitioner
Trak community and AHP
system, which will go live
in June.
The community specific
functionality is an addition
to the current Trak system
used within acute hospitals.
The overall aim is to
support patient care whether
the care takes place in the
acute or community setting.
Some of the functionality
being implemented will
support caseload
management, referral
management, and
healthcare professional
diaries.
Community and AHP staff
will have access to up-to-date
patient information that has
been collected during any
hospital stay. They will
add community specific
information to the record and
enable this to be shared with
other healthcare staff in the
community setting, for those
staff that have the required
right of access.
The initial implementation
replaces the current systems
used across Lothian and
West Lothian and the Tiara
system used by AHPs in East
and Midlothian CHP.
E To view the new
website visit
www.carers.org/
professionals
Meanwhile, Marjory and Ruth are
returning to Romania in May where
they will continue their work by helping
to run a clinic at the day centre and
carry out home visits.
E Charities which would like
donations of dressings can e-mail
marjory@thrusfield.freeserve.co.
uk or ruth@reaird.plus.com
To read more about the work of
Vis de Copil, visit www.visdecopil
arad.blogspot.com
Allied health professionals
to introduce Trak system
NHS LOTHIAN is aiming to
deliver an incremental adult
and corresponding child
electronic health record.
These developments will
keep patients and children at
the centre of care.
Community nurses and
allied health professionals
(AHP) such as occupational
and physiotherapists, and
speech and language
therapists, will be at the
forefront of this exciting
development.
District nurses in East
Lothian will be the first
community staff to use the
A WEBSITE designed to
help professionals who
work with unpaid family
carers has been launched.
The website, developed
by The Princess Royal
Trust for Carers, offers
specialist information for
those who work with
carers in the health,
education and social
care sectors.
The website can help
professionals identify and
support unpaid adult and
young carers.
Carole Cochrane, chief
executive at The Princess
Royal Trust for Carers,
said: “Professionals in
health, education and
social care sectors are
often the first point of
contact and we are
confident that this
website will give them
access to the latest
information and thus be
instrumental in making a
difference to the lives
of carers.”
EASY ACCESS: clinical staff can access patients’
records electronically through the new Trak system
WIN!
Win a night’s
B&B at the
Macdonald
Marine &
Spa Hotel.
Turn to page 19
for details >>
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16:13
Page 8
NEWS
Protecting
our children
NHS LOTHIAN, in
partnership with
Edinburgh Napier
University, is to host
the next annual Child
Protection Conference
on 10 June.
The conference
theme is “Intervening
early to protect
vulnerable children”
and once again a
number of renowned
speakers in the field
will be attending.
This is a free multiagency event held
at Edinburgh Napier
University Craiglockhart
Campus.
May/June 2009 Connections
Extra staff and a birthing centre are among plans across NHS Lothian
BIRTH OF A NEW ERA
IN MATERNITY CARE
A NEW birthing centre and a boost to
staff numbers are just two
recommendations in new proposals for
NHS Lothian’s maternity service.
The Maternity Services Strategy,
which closed for public consultation
on 30 April, aims to deliver major
improvements for patients and help
relieve pressure on staff.
Among the recommendations is a
new midwife-led birthing centre at the
Simpson Centre for Reproductive
Health which could serve up to 1500
expectant mothers a year.
The proposals also include an
increase in medical, midwifery and
support staff and the upgrading of
facilities at St John’s Hospital.
Maria Wilson, chief midwife of NHS
Lothian, said: “This is all about
offering women choice about how and
where their baby is born and making
them feel more involved and in
control of the process.
“Childbirth is a significant life
event for women and their partners and
it is important that we get it right
for all.”
Even though the formal consultation
has closed, staff and users will continue
to be involved in the implementation.
E To book online, visit
http://conventions.
nss.scot.nhs.uk
and select Child
Protection or for
further information
contact Jill Hopper
on 0131 275 6497 or
jhopper@nhs.net
CHILD SAFETY
ON THE AGENDA
– SEE PAGE 10
Improving
our stroke
services
A REVIEW is currently
under way that is
expected to spark
improvements in
NHS Lothian’s stroke
services across hospital
and community
settings.
The review, which
builds on the valuable
work the Lothian
Stroke Managed
Clinical Network has
undertaken, began in
October last year.
As part of the review,
a stroke development
session was held by
the stroke redesign
steering group on
26 March which sought
the views of people
who provide stroke
services across
healthcare, social care
and voluntary sector
settings, as well as
hearing from service
users and carers.
Their feedback
will help shape the
recommendations
that are expected to
be considered at the
Improving Care,
Investing in Change
Committee in May.
Katie McWilliam,
strategic programme
manager, said: “This
review aims to provide
equitable services
across NHS Lothian.”
E For more information, contact
WELCOME ARRIVAL: new maternity services including a birthing centre are planned for NHS Lothian
John Thomas, strategic programme
manager, on 0131 536 9099
or john.thomas@nhslothian.
scot.nhs.uk
Helping mentally ill patients
back into the world of work
NEW START: participants in the OT group have gone on
to take part in adult education and employment schemes
A GROUP of occupational
therapists have created a
training course that supports
both NHS Lothian staff and
acute inpatients with
mental health problems in
understanding how people can
benefit from the world
of work.
The programme, which deals
with vocational rehabilitation,
was the work of Susan Bradford,
Orchard Clinic, Maria Cavin,
Wo r k Tr a i n i n g P ro j e c t ,
C a m b r i d g e S t re e t , a n d
Melanie Brown, occupational
therapy rehabilitation unit,
Ballenden House.
The staff-training package was
designed around three central
concepts:
■ work is an important part of
recovery
■ early intervention is key
■ the right work is good for your
health.
The training package outlined
government drivers, social
policy and OT perspectives, and
emphasised various approaches
to vocational rehab, with
practical examples of local
support services.
The same three concepts were
used to develop a “work
matters” group for acute inpatients at various stages of
recovery.
The group aimed to increase
awareness of the importance of
various forms of work in the
recovery process, and to develop
an action plan with goals to help
achieve long-term aspirations.
It also set out to identify
personal strengths, preferences
“Everyone felt
the group helped
them make plans
towards their
future work goals”
Susan Bradford
and abilities in relation to
work.
In the mixed patient
group, some people were
working, while others hadn’t
worked for many years.
Following group attendance,
most went on to volunteer, or
engage in Lothian OT work
projects, and others commenced
adult education or supported
employment schemes.
Susan Bradford said:
“Feedback was positive with
86 per cent of participants saying
they felt the group increased
awareness of the importance of
work as part of their recovery.
“And 57 per cent said
the group helped them
think about their own skills
and preferences in relation
to work.
“All 100 per cent felt the
group helped them make
plans towards their future
work goals.”
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NEWS
Connections May/June 2009
Improving
pharmacy
services
A SCOTTISH pharmacy
initiative that provides
health services in
community pharmacies
is being piloted by
NHS Lothian.
The Scottish
Government’s
“Pharmore” initiative
will run till 2010 and
a total of eight
pharmacies in five
Scottish health board
areas are taking part.
NHS Lothian’s
Pharmore co-ordinator
Deborah Zuckert said:
“The plan is to explore
what services can be
offered to the public in a
pharmacy setting.”
The two pharmacies
in Edinburgh are the
Inch pharmacy at Walter
Scott Avenue and
Boots the Chemist at
Shandwick Place.
Each has been
refurbished, with a
treatment room to NHS
specifications installed.
Boots will operate a
minor illness and injury
clinic with some out-ofhours provision and will
be staffed by nurse
practitioners employed
by Lothian Unscheduled
Care Service.
It should be in
operation by the end
of May, and four
pharmacists are being
appropriately trained to
take over the service.
Deborah added: “At
The Inch, as well as a
treatment room, two
smaller consultation
rooms are available,
allowing the pharmacy
to continue providing
sessions run by South
East Edinburgh Drug
Assessment Clinic.”
9
NHS Lothian is ensuring a better service
for patients by meeting waiting list targets
ON TRACK
TO DELIVER
EVEN FASTER
TREATMENT
ON TRACK: waiting times in NHS Lothian for patients who
are not in need of emergency care have fallen significantly
E Visit www.scotland.
gov.uk/Pharmore or
contact deborah.
zuckert@nhs.net
How staff across NHS Lothian have
been working to meet the targets
FOLLOWING an 18 weeks
referral to treatment event in
January, all services have now
developed action plans to help
them work towards the referral
to treatment standard. Some have
already held events to involve
frontline staff in service redesign.
FOCUS ON OPHTHALMOLOGY
An event to identify issues in the
current cataract pathway was held
in March. Nursing and
administrative staff joined forces
to discuss and prioritise solutions,
and create an action plan.
ALL EARS IN ENT
Clinicians and administrative staff
met to learn more about Lean
management and began mapping
the otology pathway with a
view to reducing delays.
UNIQUE CARE PATHWAY
NUMBER (UCPN)
The UCPN will be a number in
Trak that links the patient
journey together. This will enable
the patient wait to be calculated
across outpatients, diagnostics
and inpatient/day case.
Trak was updated in April to
include the UPCN and this will
be piloted in cardiology with the
full roll-out generated in the next
few months.
THE staff of NHS Lothian have done
brilliantly in delivering fast, safe, highquality care for our patients.
Over the last few years, hard work,
dedication and creativity have paid off,
with waiting times tumbling for those
people not in need of emergency care.
The latest achievement is meeting the
12-week maximum target for referrals to
consultants for non-emergency patients.
This target was met in March 2009, just
as the board succeeded in hitting
the previous targets of 26 weeks and 18
weeks on this measure. It’s also worth
remembering that many people on the
lists are seen well before the maximum
waiting time.
By 2011, NHS Lothian will be
delivering significantly faster access to
treatment for our patients. By then, the
maximum wait for eligible patients will
be 18 weeks from referral, through
consultant appointment, diagnosis and
testing, the decision on suitable treatment
and the start of this treatment course.
Jackie Sansbury, director of strategic
planning, NHS Lothian, said: “We have
got a good group of people in NHS
Lothian who are creative and flexible, and
we’re rightly proud of our achievements
in making things better for patients.
“However, we appreciate that the new
target of 18 weeks from referral to actual
start of treatment represents a challenge
to us all. We have a group of experts
working with us in the 18 weeks team
and they will support all services to
Top tips for achieving
18 weeks referral
to treatment
■ develop one-stop clinics
■ know and react to capacity
and demand
■ use telephone advice where
appropriate
■ reduce the number of queues
■ reduce DNAs (did not attends).
redesign their pathways to deliver
speedier access to treatment.”
Key to success will be using the Trak
administration system to its full potential
in recording clinical decisions. This helps
track the progress of patients through the
many stages involved in delivering care.
By July, the outcome of all outpatient
consultations will be recorded in Trak.
Jackie added: “I’d like to thank all staff
involved in making these changes.
Sometimes it can be hard to understand
just how important getting the data input
right is.
But the system is only as good as the
information being supplied and your work
is absolutely vital in delivering faster care
for our patients.”
E The 18 weeks team has a
comprehensive minisite on the
intranet, at http://intranet.lothian.
scot.nhs.uk/nhslothian/corporate/
a_z/e/eighteen_weeks_rtt.aspx
Police do ‘summit’
special for St John’s!
ARMADALE and Bathgate police
officers popped in to donate a
cheque to St John’s children’s ward
recently. The guys raised £1060 by
climbing the highest mountain in
Glencoe, Bidean Nam Bian.
The money raised was split
evenly between the children’s ward
and Care of Police Survivors
(COPS) in memory of police
colleague Alan McMurray, who was
killed on duty in 2006.
Craig Beveridge said: “A few
years ago while stationed at
Livingston, I decided to organise a
sponsored hill walk of Ben Nevis,
with the proceedings going to the
children’s ward at St John’s
Hospital.
“My own daughter, Jessica, spent
some time in the ward when she
was a toddler. We managed to raise
over £1000.
“We’ve done a few other events
over the years and this year we will
be taking on the Three Peaks
Challenge, which involves
ascending and descending the
highest mountains in Wales
(Snowdon), England (Scafell Pike)
and Scotland (Ben Nevis) in one
continuous 24-hour period.”
DEAR
DONORS
WE would like to thank
everyone who helped
with the blood donor
session when we visited
the Western General
Hospital on Thursday
24 March.
A total of 114
volunteers offered to give
blood. There were 17
new donors. We are
grateful for your help.
Your sincerely
WELCOME ARRIVAL: Davie Edwards and Mike Potter, right, hand over
the cheque to two of the youngsters at the children’s ward in St John’s
Scottish National Blood
Transfusion Service
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10
HYGIENE
IN BRIEF
Iain takes up
chairman’s post
May/June 2009
HANDS UP IF YO
WAY TO HELP MI
NEW ROLE: Iain Whyte
NHS LOTHIAN non-executive director
Iain Whyte has been appointed
chairman of the East Lothian
Community Health Partnership.
Iain is a councillor in Edinburgh and
convener of Lothian & Borders
Police Board. Born and raised in
Edinburgh, he has worked in the
NHS, is a governor of Fettes
College and a director of the
Edinburgh International Conference
Centre Ltd.
Iain said: “I am delighted to be
more closely involved with
healthcare in East Lothian, particularly
with a number of exciting new
developments in progress at the
Musselburgh Primary Care Centre,
the planned new East Lothian
Community Hospital and the
public consultation on joint
older people’s strategy with East
Lothian Council.”
Child safety
on the agenda
CHILD safety has been put at the top
of the agenda for healthcare workers
in NHS Lothian following the
introduction of the revised NHS
Lothian Child Protection Procedures.
The procedures, which were
implemented from 1 April,
supplement the Edinburgh and
Lothian Interagency Child Protection
Procedures (2007) and provide
more detailed guidance for health
professionals to that which already
exists.
Hard copies of the procedures are
currently being circulated to all bases
and GP practices and over the next
couple of months, a series of
briefing sessions will be held for
targeted groups across Lothian to
raise awareness of the revised
procedures.
Staff should note that the
procedures, which are also available
to view via the Child Protection
website, should be placed at the front
of the Edinburgh and Lothians
Inter-agency Child Protection
Procedures (2007), replacing the
“Health Section” from the previous
Edinburgh and Lothians Child
Protection Guidelines.
E For further information,
contact Anne Neilson, nurse
consultant vulnerable
children, on anne.neilson@
nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk or
0131 316 6670.
HANDS UP: staff test how
clean their hands are under
the special UV light boxes
Washing your hands properly is just one of the ways healthcare staff
can help cut the risk of hospital acquired infections in our hospitals
WHEN Ann McQueen took on the role of hand
hygiene co-ordinator, she initially thought it was
an impossible challenge. But within two years, NHS
Lothian’s audited compliance with hand hygiene
practice has risen from 66 per cent in January 2007
to 94 per cent in March 2009 – well above the
national target of 90 per cent.
However, Anne cannot sit on her laurels quite
yet. The bar has now been raised further – right to
the top – as Nicola Sturgeon, cabinet secretary for
health and wellbeing, has called for a zero-tolerance
approach to non-compliance with hand hygiene
standards to be adopted across all healthcare settings.
This approach is a core element of the Scottish
Government’s National Healthcare Associated
Infections Action Plan.
Ann is not alone in promoting hand hygiene,
as she is supported by NHS Lothian’s infection
control team and, of course, the cleanliness
champions who have responsibilities
for implementation of infection control policies
and best practice guidance at local level.
She said: “Over the past few years, we have focused
on hand hygiene in the hospital environment, but
now the emphasis is rolling this programme out to
community healthcare settings.”
To help promote the hand hygiene campaign
further, Ann has ordered a further 35 ultra-violet
light boxes to distribute to cleanliness champions
around NHS Lothian as these have proved very
effective in showing the dirt (and germs) left behind
by poor hand washing.
“People are always surprised when the ultra-violet
light shows up the unwashed areas of their hands
“Over the past few years, we have
focused on hand hygiene in the
hospital environment, but now the
emphasis is rolling this out to
community healthcare settings”
Ann McQueen, hand hygiene co-ordinator
even when they think that they have applied a good
technique with soap and water. It’s very interesting
to see people’s reactions and it is a very effective
way of bringing the hand hygiene message home.
“While initially I was daunted by the enormity
of the challenge when I first started this role back
in January 2007, it’s been very worthwhile to see
the positive results of this programme.
“Ironically, now we have such high compliance
levels, the work actually gets harder to maintain and
improve on these levels.”
How will Ann and her colleagues achieve zero
tolerance? “It’s quite straightforward really. It’s
all down to education, training and constant
auditing to ensure everyone is taking personal
responsibility for reminding colleagues, and
informing patients and visitors of their responsibilities
to ensure that good hand hygiene practice is adopted
at all times.
“Oh, and it takes a lot of hard work and
persistence!” added Ann.
a
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009 Connections
HYGIENE
11
OU KNOW THE RIGHT
MINIMISE INFECTION?
Presenting a professional image to the public
NHS LOTHIAN’S policy on dress code has been developed
to ensure that we give a positive, professional and
consistent image to our patients and members of the
public. It is there to ensure that our clothing meets the
needs of the different jobs we do – and it is also as much
to protect us as our patients.
Chief nurse Carol Crowther said: “There is a public
perception that healthcare personnel could be spreading
infection where they are seen in uniform outside the
healthcare environment – such as a nurse in uniform taking
a break and eating in a café, or someone travelling to work
in uniform on a bus.
“Our uniform policy and dress code is all about making
sure that clothing is appropriate for the work being
undertaken and we have protective clothing and equipment
available so that people can carry out their duties in
accordance with health and safety procedures.”
Carol added: “The uniform policy is there to protect us,
our patients and members of the public and to present a
professional image of modern healthcare that people can
recognise, trust and respect.”
“Our uniform policy and dress code is
all about making sure that clothing
is appropriate for the work being
undertaken and we have protective
clothing and equipment available”
Carol Crowther, chief nurse
Simple tips for
everyday hygiene
HERE are some reminders from the
uniform policy and dress code that
have been developed to minimise the
potential for cross infection.
GENERAL APPEARANCE
Individual appearance must reflect a
high standard of cleanliness and
hygiene:
■ hair washed and brushed, and if it is
long tied up away for the face
■ men should be clean-shaven or have
trimmed beards or moustaches
■ hands should be clean and nails
short and manicured with no nail
polish or nail jewellery/art. Nails,
including chipped nail polish, can
harbour potentially harmful bacteria,
which could then be transmitted to
those who are receiving care.
d
g
e
e.
y
k
e
CLOTHING:
e
d
o
s
t
al
d
s
d
d
DRESS TO IMPRESS: staff in all areas of NHS Lothian
are expected to follow the uniform policy and dress code
■ clothes must be clean and tidy and
in a good state of repair
■ all clothing must allow for full range
of movement
■ short sleeves are preferable for
people who wear their own clothes
for clinical work involving hands-on
patient contact
■ if long-sleeved shirts/blouses are
worn, then they must be rolled up prior
to engaging in hands-on clinical work
and prior to hand washing. Long
sleeves impair the ability to wash
hands and may become soiled (or
contaminated particularly when
washing with soap and water following
contact with body fluids or with a
patient colonised or infected with
Clostridium Difficile.
Ties:
■ no ties should be
worn when
delivering direct
patient care
■ however, where
staff choose to wear a tie, this should
be clean and should be tucked in/taken
off when carrying out clinical
procedures.
White coats:
■ wearing a white coat (clean and in
good repair) over personal clothing
does not negate the need to adhere to
this dress code.
Aprons:
■ when staff are involved in direct
patient care, but do not have a uniform
routinely provided, then aprons must
be worn
■ disposable single use plastic aprons
must be worn when exposure to blood
and other body fluids might occur
■ aprons must be changed when
moving between patients.
Footwear:
■ practical shoes should be worn and
shoes should be clean and in a good
state of repair.
Jewellery:
■ this is discouraged for all staff
involved within the clinical
environment, but is permissible for a
staff member’s religious observance
■ for staff providing direct clinical care
or involved in the preparation of food,
rings must be a plain band
■ in clinical areas, all hand jewellery
inclusive of wristwatches, charity
bracelets and rings (except plain
bands) should be removed prior to
hand washing.
ID security badges:
■ the cloth lanyard holding the
badges must be clean and washed
regularly.
Wearing uniforms
outside of work
Staff must not wear their uniform
outside NHS Lothian premises,
unless, of course, on specific duty
ie community staff, for example
community midwives, district
nurses and AHPs.
Where staff are escorting patients for
ongoing care and are required to return
by public transport, suitable
arrangements (including where the
staff member will change, leave any
clothing etc) prior to departure should
be made to enable staff to travel and
return in appropriate clothing.
It is acknowledged that some
staff when working in the community
may have to visit shops or petrol
stations. This is acceptable;
however, staff should not routinely
be shopping while in uniform.
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12
Professor
post for Pat
PAT MURRAY, director of
pharmacy at NHS Lothian,
has been recognised by
the University of Strathclyde
for her long-standing
contribution to education.
Pat, above, became a
visiting professor of the
Strathclyde Institute of
Pharmacy and Biomedical
Sciences in April.
Pr o f e s s o r G r a h a m
Coombs, head of the
Institute, said: “Pat is highly
respected and influential
in pharmacy education
and research.
“She ensures her staff at
NHS Lothian work closely
with the Institute to deliver
high-quality clinical
pharmacy education.”
Pat said: “I see my
appointment as an
opportunity to augment the
valued work which
already exists through
developing stronger
partnership links.”
Alan’s a
jolly good
Fellow!
CONGRATULATIONS to
human resources and
organisational development
director Alan Boyter, above.
He’s been appointed as an
honorary research fellow in
the Faculty of Law, Business
and Social Sciences at the
University of Glasgow.
Alan, whose career has
included posts in nine health
authorities in England and
Scotland, joined HNS
Lothian in 2007.
He is a non-executive
member of the board of
Dundee College, has a
masters degree from
Strathclyde University’s
Business School and won
the AON/Chartered
Institute of Personnel and
Development HR director of
the year in 2004.
NEWS
May/June 2009 Connections
MAKING AN IMPACT ON
LONG-TERM CONDITIONS
Edinburgh CHP long-term conditions management 2008/09 – preventing escalation of health problems,
supporting people at home and reducing the risk of admission to hospital
Community
respiratory team
Anticipatory care
Edinburgh IMPACT service
(IMProved Anticipatory Care
and Treatment)
PATIENTS
WITH
LONG-TERM
CONDITIONS
Communication with the
primary health care team
CARERS OF
PATIENTS
WITH
LONG-TERM
CONDITIONS
Pulmonary
rehabilitation service
Section 17c
Practice admission
prevention project
Rapid response
carer support pilot –
VOCAL
EDINBURGH Community Health
Partnership (CHP) is involved in a
number of projects to improve the
treatment of long-term conditions.
Ruth Burns, long-term conditions
project manager, explained: “Edinburgh
CHP developed a three-year action
plan for long-term conditions in
association with the acute sector,
social care, voluntary sector, MCN
partners and the long-term conditions
steering group.
“A package of measures was devised,
some led by the CHP, some in
association with other services within
NHS Lothian and in partnership with
other organisations. Three strands have
been prioritised by the CHP:
■ improved care of patients with longterm conditions and prevention of
escalation of health problems
■ development of an anticipatory care
LINKS WITH PARTNERS:
• Out-of-hours services
• Acute division
• City of Edinburgh
Council
• Intermediate care
services
• Voluntary sector
• Public partnership
groups
• Long-term conditions
collaborative
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS:
• Self-management
• Augmented community
nursing service
• Telehealth / telecare
• Falls prevention
Case management system helps
Edinburgh CHP offer an effective
and wide-ranging service to patients
model within primary care
■ reduction in unnecessary admissions
and support to enable early discharge
where admissions are unavoidable.
This has resulted in the development
of anticipatory care and case
management where patients with longterm conditions who would benefit
from this approach are cared for by
nurse case managers. This service –
Edinburgh IMPACT (Improving
Anticipatory Care & Treatment) – has
the following aims:
■ enhanced clinical assessment
■ a single point of contact for
Health in Mind
notches up
two awards
HEALTH in Mind, the Edinburghbased charity funded by NHS
Lothian which offers a range of
mental health and wellbeing
services in the city, scooped two
out of five Scottish categories at
this year’s inaugural Principles
into Practice awards event.
Health in Mind’s information
resource centre and its mental
health information website,
(www.edspace.org.uk) won the
award for providing high-quality
information for mental health service users in
Edinburgh, while its Orchard Centre services won
for participation and service user influence.
The awards were created by the Mental Welfare
Commission (MWC) to recognise and celebrate
services and projects that demonstrate best
practice in applying Mental Health Act principles.
patients and carers
■ work with patients and carers
where required to improve their
understanding of their condition
■ improve compliance with
medication and treatment,
recognise and identify early signs and
symptoms that their condition may be
worsening, and develop an agreed
self-management plan
■ work with all involved with the
patients e.g. specialist nurses, GP,
consultant, community respiratory
team, patient and carer to develop an
agreed anticipatory care plan which will
This was MWC’s first year of awards and the judges
chose winning projects that demonstrated practice
that others could learn from.
Linda Irvine, NHS Lothian’s strategic programme
manager for mental health and wellbeing, was
delighted with the national recognition the award
gave the partner charity.
She said: “It highlights our commitment to valuing
best practice and shows that we all
have a role to play as partners
in providing healthcare services
across the area.
“The edspace project is a
great way of letting people
have access to mental health
services in Edinburgh and giving
them information to make
informed choices about treatment
and care.”
Edspace was created through
partnership working between the
City of Edinburgh Council, NHS
Lothian, Edinburgh Crisis Centre,
Edinburgh Choose Life, CAPS/Edinburgh User
Forum, Edinburgh Carers Council, Patients
Council and Health in Mind.
Orchard Centre services, in Bonnyrigg, offers a
preventative, community-based recovery focused
model of support and care throughout Midlothian.
be shared widely to prevent
unnecessary admission to hospital
■ work in partnership with specialist
colleagues and refer for specialist advice
and support when required.
“In addition, the CHP recognised
that there was a priority in addressing
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD), and now the community
respiratory team (CRT) and community
pulmonary rehabilitation service
(CPRS) are fulfilling this function,”
said Ruth.
Mairi McCrae, the domiciliary
physiotherapy lead clinician at
Edinburgh community physiotherapy
service, said: “These teams
operate separately but cohesively
within Edinburgh targeting patients
with COPD.
“CPRS is an outpatient service for
those primarily at the mild to moderate
end of the COPD spectrum and aims
to improve the functional ability and
quality of life for those able to attend
the six-week, twice-weekly programme
of exercises, education and selfmanagement strategies.”
The pulmonary rehabilitation
programme is currently offered at three
sites across the city. The team
comprises physiotherapists,
occupational therapist and dietician
with input from medical, clinical
psychology and smoking cessation
colleagues.
E For information, contact Mairi
McCrae, domiciliary physiotherapy
lead clinician, Edinburgh
Community Physiotherapy
Service, Aileen Kenny, clinical
nurse manager, Edinburgh
IMPACT team, or Ruth Burns,
long-term conditions project
manager at Edinburgh CHP.
Raising awareness
of bowel cancer
POSTERS highlighting the
importance of screening to
detect bowel problems are
being sent to GPs and
community pharmacies
across NHS Lothian.
The NHS National Services
Division’s Scottish Bowel
Screening Programme is
aimed at men and women
aged between 50 and 74.
All of the country’s health
boards will join the
programme by the end of
this year.
When implementation is
complete, more than 750,000
people will be issued with
home test kits every year, and
individuals will be screened
once every two years.
The
posters
and
accompanying flyer are
designed to target low-uptake
groups highlighted by an
earlier pilot study.
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STAFF AWARDS
Connections May/June 2009
HELP US TO
CELEBRATE
SUCCESS!
And here’s an
example of
how our staff
make a
difference –
courtesy of
one grateful
patient who was
inspired to put
pen to paper!
Going the
rounds in 114
Ago
Round came the doctors,
apprentices with master
the secretive language of
cure or disaster
the patient, like marble,
lay still on the bed
hoping for cure from the
big talking head.
Nominate your colleagues for the
first NHS Lothian staff awards
“What is wrong with this
patient, nurse?” the High
Priest inquired
“Your Right Worshipful
Member
of the British Medical
Association, and
Fellow of the Faculty of
Surgeons,
Chair of the Medical
Council and
Associate Professor of
Interdisciplinary
Medical Ethics
Consultant Cardiologist
and
all-round very good
chappy,
in the time it has taken
me to be
in awe of your massive
intellect,
diagnostic genius and
commanding bedside
manner… this patient’s
expired.”
THE first-ever staff awards
for NHS Lothian is
launching this year – a
chance for people who
make a difference to get the
recognition they deserve.
The Celebrating Success
Awards aims to recognise
the people who go the extra
mile to make services
better for patients and
staff.
Alan Boyter, HR &
organisational development
director, explained: “Every
day of every week of every
year, staff go the extra mile
to provide first-class
services to patients.
“Our Celebrating
Success Awards will be an
opportunity to recognise
the contribution of people
who are the shining stars
looking after patients.”
“Very good, nurse…
next!”
The apprentices looked
at the corpse of their
task… how did it die?
No one could ask.
Now
Round came the docs
in their shirt sleeves and
jeans
like roadies at work at the
Sick Fest Scene
like women approaching
the whole task of labour
they rolled up their
training and got stuck in
together.
The red socks and
shoes on the Nurse
of the Night
filled the heart attacked
patient with a simple
delight
more potent than statins
it cracked through the
fright and bathed the
whole
ward in a soft healing
light
You Medics who work
at the coal face of
health
You Miners of Medicine
and hunters of cures
No wonder Diana the
Huntress was yours.
Barbara Gardiner,
admitted 6 January,
discharged 9 January.
13
Staff across NHS
Lothian are being invited
to nominate an individual
or team as one of 10
categories (see below).
The deadline for
nominations is 20 May.
“It’s important that
people are nominated
because the encouragement
people get just from being
nominated drives them to
do the best they possibly
can,” Alan said.
“If people don’t nominate
their colleagues, then we
won’t get the chance to
showcase the excellent
work that people are doing
every day of the week.”
Alan continued: “It could
be a frontline doctor or
nurse who has developed
a new service for patients,
or it could support staff
Nominate now!
THE only way your colleagues
can get recognised in the first
Celebrating Success Awards is
if you nominate them.
Don’t delay in sending in a
nomination form so you can
THE CATEGORIES
TEAM OF THE YEAR
In this category we are looking for
evidence of excellent performance
across the team as a whole.
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
For this nomination we are
looking for someone who gives
freely and willingly of their time
to improve the health and
wellbeing of patients.
MOST INNOVATIVE
INDIVIDUAL/TEAM
In this category we are looking
for evidence of an individual’s or
team’s excellent performance in
their role in either a clinical or
non-clinical area.
STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR
For this nomination we are looking
for an individual who “goes the
extra mile”, but who perhaps does
not have a high profile within their
team/department/service.
LEAN IN LOTHIAN AWARD
For this nomination we are looking
for a team who has in the past
year utilised the learning from the
Leading and Managing Process
Improvement programme to
implement service change which
has resulted in improved patient
experience.
CLINICAL SERVICE REDESIGN
In this category we are looking for
evidence of excellent redesigned
service delivery. For example, the
individual or team may have helped
redesign a service incorporating
the views of patients, service users
and/or the wider community.
MOST INNOVATIVE APPROACH
TO COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN
STAFF AND PATIENTS
In this category we are looking for
evidence of an innovative approach
that has improved communications
between staff and patients.
IMPROVING PATIENT ACCESS
For this nomination we are looking
for evidence of excellence in
the non-clinical aspects of the
patient’s journey.
BEST EXAMPLE OF
PARTNERSHIP WORKING
Many activities across NHS Lothian
involve working with organisations
outside the NHS, such as local
who have gone out of their
way to make the healthcare
environment more suitable
for patients – there are
plenty of examples of
where staff strive to do
their best. We want to hear
about it.
“While some people who
go the extra mile don’t
expect to get recognition
and thanks, as an employer,
NHS Lothian would like
the chance to say thank you
for the great work that
they do.”
The awards ceremony
will be held on Thursday
25 June.
Those staff and teams
who are shortlisted will be
invited to the awards
ceremony, which will
include a drinks reception
and dinner.
ensure that the people who go the
extra mile get the praise they deserve.
E For a copy of the nomination form,
visit the intranet or contact
Sheila Clark on 0131 536 (8)9038
or e-mail sheila.clark@nhslothian.
scot.nhs.uk
authorities and voluntary groups. In
this category we are looking for
evidence of excellent performance
from an individual or team from a
partner organisation which has
greatly improved the patient
experience or team working
environment between NHS Lothian
and its partner organisations.
MOST INNOVATIVE APPROACH
TO EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
Equality and diversity cut across
everything NHS Lothian does,
whether it is about the way we
employ people or how we deliver
services. The person or team
nominated for this award may,
for example, lead improvements
in the way a team or a service
embeds equality and diversity in
its day-to-day work.
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14
NEWS
May/June 2009 Connections
Continuing
success for
Lean in Lothian
DERMATOLOGY and paediatrics will
come under the spotlight as the “Lean
in Lothian” programme enters its
fourth year.
Much of this year’s work will
be on projects that support the
national 18-week referral to
treatment target, including further
work with plastic surgery and
the roll-out of day hospital redesign
and other work to support
unscheduled care.
Libby Tait, head of modernisation
at NHS Lothian, said: “The board’s
executive management team has
agreed that to harness the skills and
enthusiasm of staff in applying
Lean thinking, those who have
already taken part in Lean in
Equality and
diversity
WORKSHOPS designed
to help NHS Lothian
staff to address equality and
diversity issues began in
March.
These will run at various
venues during this year and
next.
An equality and
diversity/equal opportunities
in recruitment and selection
module along with a rapid
impact assessment module,
both designed for NHS
managers, are now running.
A consultant recruitment
and selection review
workshop aims to update
managers and consultants,
who will chair or be
involved in an advisory
panel appointments
committees, on recent
changes to the procedure
for appointing consultant
and staff grade
medical staff.
Equality and diversity
courses suitable for all
NHS Lothian staff are
also being run during the
year at various venues.
These include disability
equality and lesbian gay
bisexual and transgender
(LGBT) health inequalities.
E For further
information on any
aspect of training
and development,
please contact Jim
Paterson at 0131
537 2119 (e-mail
jim.paterson@luht.
scot.nhs.uk) or Neil
Punton on 0131 537
3220 (neil.punton@
luht.scot.nhs.uk).
Lothian training should make sure
they include involvement in a project
to put their skills into practice in their
2009/10 personal development plan.”
Hundreds of staff have already used
Lean management techniques to
improve services to patients.
In the past year, the Lean in Lothian
team have facilitated a wide range of
Kaizen workshops that have
revolutionised some health and
wellbeing services.
They include:
■ Future models of psychiatry for
older people, including the provision
of more flexible and accessible
community-based services, betterutilised resources and opportunities
for staff development
LEARNING: delegates at a plastic surgery (hands) service workshop
■ General medicine outpatient
department, where a Kaizen resulted
in an improved patient experience, a
same-day triage process and increased
availability of urgent appointments
■ Social work allocation and
assessment process improvements at
Liberton have helped reduce delayed
discharge of patients from hospital
■ The wheelchairs and seating
project introduced one-stop clinics to
cut assessment to provision time for
80 per cent of adult patients from up
to 52 days to same day
■ Plastic surgery (hands) service
introduced same-day referral letter
receipt, triaging and appointments
across plastic surgery and the
initial planning of a future “tingly
finger clinic” is under way which
will allow possible carpal
tunnel patients to be seen and
have their nerve conduction test in
one visit.
Other redesign projects currently
under way include dermatology, St
John’s theatre, and orthopaedic
trauma clinic.
Also ongoing is a prescribing
project, with improvement ideas
currently being trialled by pilot
practices and improvements expected
to be confirmed by the end of May.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
TO IMPROVE SKILLS BASE
Workshops and courses for all levels
of staff are launched by health board
TRAINING: a workshop is being held for NHS Lothian staff
who are in contact with vulnerable adults and those at risk
A SERIES of training courses covering adult
support and protection (ASP) have been
organised over the next year by NHS Lothian
and their partners at City of Edinburgh
Council and Lothian & Borders Police.
The courses, which will also look at the
Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act,
will be offered at various venues between
now and December 2009.
Neil Punton, learning and development
practitioner at NHS Lothian, said: “Level
one courses are suitable for all NHS Lothian
staff, and they will introduce attendees to
the ASP (formerly Protection of Vulnerable
Adults) interagency guidelines, related
legislation and what to do if they witness,
suspect or receive information about abuse
or harm involving an adult at risk or
vulnerable adult.
“Level two courses are for line managers
and staff who have significant contact with
adults at risk or vulnerable adults. They
involve a full-day workshop presented by
NHS Lothian, City of Edinburgh Council,
and Lothian & Borders Police, and provide
an in-depth overview of content, implications
and challenges of the ASP guidelines and
related legislation along with group work and
case studies from the partnership agencies.”
Level three courses, said Neil, are aimed
at senior line managers, senior staff in the
new mental health community teams,
clinical nurse managers and others.
“They are presented over two days and
look at the roles and responsibilities of council
officers and other specialists.
“They include a detailed knowledge of the
Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act,
the requirements of implementation and an
understanding of its practice implications.
Mandatory courses for non-clinical staff
A NEW series of mandatory training
modules covering such issues as fire
training, health and safety and food
hygiene has just been launched for
NHS Lothian staff.
Every employee who works in a
non-clinical area (one that does not
involve them in day-to-day contact
with patients) will complete a halfday’s training every 18 months.
The new training involves a mix of
face-to-face coaching and e-learning
using the board’s internet resources.
NHS Lothian’s head of learning,
Jim Paterson, said: “The new training
resource is directly linked to the
knowledge and skills framework
(KSF) and is the opportunity for staff
to meet and keep their KSF profile up
to date. We’re looking at providing
7500 training places each year.
“The mandatory session begins
with fire training, and then an
introduction to e-learning where
staff will learn how to use our
internet resources.
“They’ll begin working through
modules on manual handling, health
and safety, food hygiene, healthcare
associated infection, equality and
diversity, public protection (adult
and child, level 1) and management
of aggression.”
NHS Lothian staff are not, of
course, expected to complete all the
modules during the half-day session
– they should however, spend five
hours online on self-directed training.
Because NHS Lothian’s e-learning
system is available on the internet, it
means people can learn where – and
when – suits them, either at home, in
an internet café or at work.
A learning management system
will monitor who’s logged on and
completed the learning to meet the
requirements of staff governance and
mandatory training.
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NEWS
Connections May/June 2009
15
Working towards
better patient care
LOOKING AHEAD:
optometrist Lyndsay
Brown provides a lowvision assessment
MAKING EYE CARE
MORE ACCESSIBLE
Review team aims to create more community services
A SCOTTISH Government-funded
project will provide people with low
vision treatment closer to home under
a new service from NHS Lothian.
Funded by the Government for a
year, the community eye care review
team, based at the Princess Alexandra
Eye Pavilion, aims to provide services
closer to people in the community and
tackle inequalities on access to eye
care services.
One of the main aims of the project
is to operate a network of community
optometrists – often found in high
street locations – across Lothian. A
selected group of optometrists will
provide low-vision assessments and
supply low-vision aids, without the
need for patients to attend specialist
services in hospital. This network is
expected to be launched in May.
Bill Hannah, project development
worker, and a member of the review
team, said: “It’s important to detect
eye conditions early for prevention
and intervention.
“An added benefit of this project is
that it should help reduce waiting lists
in the Princess Alexandra Eye
Pavilion and St John’s as people are
directed to appropriate services on the
high street.”
Another key strand of the project’s
work is to make eye care services more
accessible to people from black and
ethnic minority groups in Lothian,
among whom there is a higher
prevalence of certain eye conditions.
HAPPY RETIREMENT: Dr
Alison McCallum, director of
public health and health
policy, presents Caron with a
bouquet of flowers
SHEENA WIGHT has been
appointed to the newly created
occupational therapy manager
post covering East and
Midlothian CHPs.
This is part of the AHP
services for East and
Midlothian and will collectively
contribute towards better
patient care overall.
The occupational therapy
service has input to inpatients,
outpatients and day services,
including three day hospitals.
This covers directly
managed services for older
people’s mental health,
physical services and
continuing care, adult mental
health, physical rehabilitation
service, discharge and
rapid response service,
learning disabilities, plus
professional accountability
for hosted services, currently
substance misuse.
Sheena has a wide range of
clinical experience, spanning
health, social care and the
voluntary sector.
Sheena, who has recently
returned from a full-time
UNDER REVIEW: Sheena
Wight will develop Lothian OT
secondment as lecturer at
Queen Margaret University,
is not new to East Lothian,
having been an occupational
therapist at Edenhall
Hospital. She is now based at
Bonnyrigg Health Centre.
Over the next six months,
she will be leading a full
service review, supporting
local redesign and service/
role development.
The project, in partnership with a
wide range of black and ethnic
minority groups, aim to conduct focus
groups by the summer with people to
establish how they access eye
services and find ways of breaking
down any barriers.
Bill explained: “There is a greater
prevalence of diabetes within the Asian
population, and the eye problems
associated with that condition, and
the Afro-Caribbean population has
higher instances of glaucoma than the
general population.”
The team is being supported by an
advisory group and includes
representation from a wide range of
agencies working with people with
sight problems.
Caron bids a
fond farewell
after almost
three decades
of service
COLLEAGUES and friends
gathered recently to say farewell
to Caron Taylor, who has taken
early retirement.
Caron, who worked in NHS
Lothian’s health protection
service as a surveillance
officer, has made remarkable
progress after having a stroke
18 months ago.
At the presentation in
Deaconess House, public health
director Alison McCallum, left,
wished Caron a long and happy
retirement after her 28 years
working in NHS Lothian.
Nursery nurses help raise
awareness of child health
NHS Lothian is helping to provide
care and support to children and
families through its team of
community nursery nurses.
The nursery nurses complement
the work of public health nurses and
health visitors, working with teams
responsible for improving the health
and social wellbeing of children,
families, groups and communities.
They help to raise awareness of
health and social wellbeing, and
influence the wider issues that can
affect people’s health. The aim is to
encourage people to improve their
own health and work together
with other agencies to tackle health
inequalities.
The nurses have been working in
health visiting teams for more
than 15 years in Edinburgh and are
qualified to HNC/NNEB level,
having completed a two-year
specialist course in child health and
education.
Among the services they provide
are parenting support to families,
baby clinics, health promotion,
group work in specialist skills such
as infant massage, sleep clinics,
speech and communication,
weaning and feeding support.
They also assess children’s
development and refer people on to
appropriate agencies if necessary.
Health visitor Margo Hayes said:
“We really value the skills and
expertise of our nursery nurses and
they contribute significantly to the
service we offer local families.”
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NEWS
May/June 2009 Connections
Images of new £9m sexual
health centre are unveiled
NHS LOTHIAN has released
images of the planned new sexual
health centre development set to
open in 2010.
The images show just how new life
is being given to the historic former
Chalmers Hospital building in
Edinburgh’s Lauriston Place.
The plans outline the scale of
n e w ex t e n s i o n s w h i c h w i l l
totally transform the building,
creating a city centre base for
new integrated family planning
and genitourinary medicines
services designed to make it easier
for people to access fast and
effective care and advice.
Patients and the public helped
NHS Lothian and the architect,
Campbell and Arnott, develop the
design of the new centre, and
there will be continuing patient
involvement in the process of
developing the new integrated
services in the new building.
David Small, general manager,
Edinburgh Community Health
Partnership, said: “We’re grateful for
the time people who use these
services have taken to give us their
views. We’ve taken account of
their comments in the physical design
and layout of the new centre.”
At present, family planning
ser vices and genito-urinar y
medicine are provided from a
“We’re grateful for
the time people
who use these
services have
taken to give us
their views. We’ve
taken account of
their comments in
the physical design
and layout of the
new centre”
David Small, general manager,
Edinburgh Community Health
Partnership
TRANSFORMATION: an artist’s impression of the new sexual health centre at Lauriston Place
number of different locations.
Providing a “one-stop shop”
approach at the new sexual health
centre should mean more convenient
care for people, with their needs
addressed by one member of staff.
The internal layout of waiting
areas and clinic rooms was changed
as a result of patient feedback.
People can now leave the building
Staff’s fundraising
ceilidh for Africa
Protect yourself
against the sun
THE sky may be cloudy, but harmful rays can still penetrate
and damage your skin.
That’s one of the important messages of sun awareness
week, which is running from 11-17 May.
“The incidence of skin cancer is expected to increase
dramatically in the next 15 years,” said Sheena Dryden, clinical
nurse specialist for skin cancers. “So the week will aim to help
raise awareness of the dangers of the sun and what people
can do to protect themselves.”
Sheena added: “The main line of defence against the sun’s
rays is clothing, and the last line is sun cream with an
SPF of at least 15 and a UVA protection level of four symbols
and above.
“A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses are also essential to
provide full protection.
“The main months to be aware of the danger of exposure
is between April and October when UVA and UVB levels are
at their highest.”
She added: “Exercising outdoors and getting essential
vitamin D from appropriate sun exposure is important, but
avoiding being out between the hours of 11am-3pm reduces
the risks of burning. Another significant danger is the regular
use of sunbeds.”
Long-term over-exposure, particularly in Celtic skin types,
can lead to skin cancers in middle and older age groups, while
shorter bursts of intense holiday sun can lead to burning of
the skin, which not only causes earlier ageing of the skin but
an increased risk of melanoma.
E For more information, visit
www.cancerresearchuk.org/sunsmart and
www.bad.org.uk
after their consultation without
having to go back through public
areas, where other people may
be waiting.
NHS Lothian is acutely aware of
the sensitivities around sexual
health and wants to make it easy for
people to seek help and advice.
The centre is on track to open
in 2010 and NHS Lothian is
committed to continuing to involve
patients as the new integrated
service is developed further in
coming months.
The £9m project involves the
demolition of parts of the rear of
the former Chalmers Hospital, a
t o t a l re f u r b i s h m e n t o f t h e
hospital’s interior and a threestorey extension to the south of
the site. The extension will have a
sedum roof.
TENDER TOUCH: disabled children often
suffer a lack of interaction in Uganda
Cutting down
the paper trail
NHS Lothian is pressing
ahead with schemes to
make administration more
efficient and cut down on
paperwork.
The first scheme, the Scottish
Standard Time System, is
A CEILIDH to raise funds for
occupational therapy training in Africa
is being organised by NHS Lothian staff
following their recent visit to Uganda.
In the last issue of Connections, we
reported how three occupational
therapists from Lothian spent a week
on a training mission with their
African colleagues. Now they’ve
organised a ceilidh on 5 June at St Bride’s
Church to raise money to help the work
in Africa continue.
Carolyn Atkinson, who is organising
the fundraiser, explained: “The image
that struck me most strongly during my
time in Uganda is of the moment my
colleague Francis picked up a ninemonth-old child and sat her in a chair.
already in place in West Lothian.
It will be introduced across the
rest of NHS Lothian on a
phased basis from May.
Advantages include
eliminating the requirement to
produce and complete
proof/duty/time sheets and
sickness absence forms (R2) and
reducing the scope for errors.
People should continue
to use Empower until they’re
“She had been brain damaged at birth
and left deaf, blind and with learning
difficulties. In a rural setting in
Uganda, what can a mother do with a
disabled child like this, and what
information do they have about how to
treat such disabilities?
“Disabled children are often left lying
all day, with minimal stimulation and
little interaction with their family and
environment. By the simple act of
providing a means by which this little
girl could sit up, Francis had given her
a face, she became part of the group.
Such a simple but powerful act.”
E Contact Carolyn on carolyn.
atkinson@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
switched to the new system.
Jan Vettraino, project
manager, said: “This system is
linked to our payroll system
automatically so there is no need
for data to be entered twice.
“This will end a duplication
of effort in administration and
cut the cost of information
handling.”
The second new system
allows expenses claims to be
submitted electronically while
protecting against fraud.
“This system eliminates the
need for paper forms and
postage and will allow people
incurring expenses on NHS
Lothian business to get their
money back more quickly in
some cases,” added Jan.
The new system, eExpenses,
will be rolled out across NHS
Lothian from May.
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Page 17
NEWS
Connections May/June 2009
17
Connections
Thank you to our
willing volunteers
NHS Lothian is saying “thank you” to all the
volunteers who have helped to make the patient
experience more enjoyable over the last
quarter of a century.
This year sees the 25th anniversary of
Volunteers Week, from 1-7 June, when events
are being held across the UK to celebrate
volunteers and volunteering.
Volunteering offers many benefits to both
patients and the volunteers themselves.
By helping other people, volunteers learn new
skills, have fun, make new friends, improve their
employability, increase confidence, become
involved in the local community and access
training opportunities.
There are many areas where volunteers can
offer their services, including befriending,
guiding and welcoming, information giving,
health promotion, helping at clinics and
events, fundraising, peer support, library,
café and shops, ward visitors, ward helpers,
transport, chaplaincy, administrative support,
research projects, organic gardening, therapeutic
care and much more!
So, as organisations across the country
prepare to celebrate Volunteers Week, from
everyone at NHS Lothian, a very big thank you!
E For more information, contact: Denise
Claxton (RHSC, Sunndach and Calareidh
Houses, Royal Hospital for Sick
Children), 0131 536 0068, e-mail:
denise.claxton@luht.scot.nhs.uk
E Agnes McKenna (St John's Hospital, St
Michael’s, Tippethill House, Maple Villa,
Beatlie School, West Lothian Health
Centres and clinics and CHCP projects)
01506 523588, e-mail:
agnes.mckenna@wlt.scot.nhs.uk
E Diane Lockhart (Royal Infirmary,
Western General, Royal Victoria,
Liberton, Eye Pavilion, Lauriston
Building) 0131 242 3389, e-mail:
diane.lockhart@luht.scot.nhs.uk
E Beth Thomson (Royal Edinburgh, Astley
Ainslie and Corstorphine Hospitals,
Findlay, Ferryfield and Ellen’s Glen
Houses, Day Hospitals) 0131 537 6686
e-mail beth.thomson@nhslothian.
scot.nhs.uk.
E Jackie Kilburn (ECHP) 0131 537 4585,
e-mail jackie.kilburn@nhslothian.
scot.nhs.uk
NEW TEAM: back row, from left: Judie Gillies, Prof Pat Murray, and Linda Wright, admin officer. Front
row, from left: inspection officers Mike Coleman and Karen Robb and data analyst Miguel Ferrand
CONTROLLED DRUGS
TEAM ESTABLISHED
A NEW team has been established
to ensure controlled drugs such as
morphine are handled in line with
government legislation.
Having launched in February this
year, the team is responsible for
undertaking inspections on sites that
use controlled drugs and investigating
improper use of them.
It will also witness the destruction
of out-of-date controlled drugs, a role
previously undertaken by Lothian &
Borders Police.
Importantly, the team is also on
hand to offer advice to doctors so
they can make sure they are meeting
the requirements of new regulations,
which came into force in 2007.
Doctors who carry controlled drugs
or keep them in their surgery in case
of emergencies will now have to meet
Group will ensure
staff adhere to rules
for handling drugs
such as morphine
national standards for storage,
record keeping and destruction.
Judie Gillies, lead pharmacist for
the team, said: “We are not just here
to inspect, we are also here to offer
advice about controlled drugs –
making the legislation understandable
and workable for people and
ensuring that it does not deter the
use of controlled drugs when
clinically required by patients.”
The new team comprises Judie as
the lead pharmacist, two inspection
officers, a data analyst and an admin
support officer. It is headed by
Professor Pat Murray, who was
appointed accountable officer for
NHS Lothian.
Pat said: “I welcome the
appointment of staff to the NHS
Lothian controlled drug governance
team. Progress will now accelerate
to address the guidance in the
new legislation.
“This development puts patient
and public safety at the focus of
our work through improved
governance of controlled drugs in
partnership with healthcare, social
care and the public.”
E For further information, call
Karlyn Brydon,
Pumpherston,
West Lothian
“If people
complain about
the food in
St John’s then
they are far
too fussy!”
Patient Karlyn Brydon
Judie Gillies on 0131 561 5547
I WA S i n t h e Ro y a l
Infirmary high dependency
unit in March 2007
suffering from Wegener's
granulomatosis and it has
taken well over a
year-and-a-half to recover
my strength.
I can only thank the
staff of the hospital for the
support and treatment I
have received from the
time I entered the Royal in
March 2007 until the
present day.
The staff in the high
dependency unit and
associated wards were
professional, attentive and
very caring, as were their
colleagues in the plasma
exchange and dialysis
departments, and this
has continued with my
visits to the outpatient
department in OPD4.
Staff mourn the loss
of popular colleague
SOUTH East LHP has been mourning the loss of Lorraine
Boyd, who died suddenly on 30 March.
Lorraine, who was 56, was a management assistant
for South East LHP based at Craigmillar Medical Centre
for the past eight years. She was known for her gentle
manner, organisational skills, wealth of knowledge of
the LHP and supporting services and staff.
Lorraine’s career with NHS Lothian spanned 27 years.
Not only did she do administration work, but she
had previously worked as an auxiliary nurse in the
City Hospital.
Lorraine is sadly missed by all her colleagues within
the LHP and many others with whom she worked over
the years.
The LHP and Lorraine’s family – husband Danny,
children Denyse and Graeme and twin grandsons Charlie
and Jack – have been touched by the many expressions
of sympathy and appreciation that have been received
via the LHP office.
I HAVE been meaning to
write for some time about
the excellent maternity
services you provide at
St John’s Hospital. I had my
first baby there in
November 2006 and my
second in 2008.
On both occasions, the
staff in the labour suite and
the maternity ward were
wonderful. You didn’t feel
like you were on a delivery
conveyor belt and all the
staff were wonderful.
I would be grateful if you
could thank Karen the
midwife and Matthew,
who was a student doctor,
for the safe arrival of
my second child on
3 September last year.
They were wonderful
and I can't praise them
enough. The staff on the
maternity ward were also
great, every one of them.
The food was lovely on
both occasions. I was in for
seven days with my first son
and two with my next and
everything was lovely. If
people complain about the
food in St John’s, then they
are far too fussy!
Yo u p r o v i d e g r e a t
maternity services and I
hope you continue to do so.
Thank you for the
safe arrival of my two
beautiful boys.
MUCH-LOVED FRIEND: Lorraine, above right, with her colleagues during a staff lunch
Paul Curry, Linlithgow
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18
LIFESTYLE
DAY IN THE LIFE OF...Phil Horne
When you need information, the library
is the place to go – just ask Phil Horne…
AS librarian at the library and
resource centre, which is
part of the health promotion
service, Phil leads the team
that helps provide current
knowledge and information,
including patient information,
to users of the facility based
at Deaconess House.
HOW DID YOU COME TO
WORK FOR NHS LOTHIAN?
After completing a library
traineeship at The Law
Commission in London and
a postgraduate diploma in
Aberdeen, I obtained the
position of assistant librarian
in the health promotion
department of NHS Lothian
in 1994. I then became the
librarian shortly after the
service moved to the board
headquarters in 1997.
WHAT DOES YOUR
JOB INVOLVE?
WHAT IS THE HIGH POINT
OF YOUR DAY?
It can be varied. As well as
dealing with enquiries, I am
required to attend meetings as
the library is currently working
towards accreditation under
the Quality Assurance
Framework for Knowledge
Services Supporting NHS
Scotland. I also deal with a
large number of e-mail requests
generated by users of the
NHSScotland e-library.
The library deals with a wide
range of enquiries and it is
always satisfying to resolve
some of the more complex
requests for information. I also
enjoy taking the opportunity
to promote the library service
at open day events. Users new
to the service, such as students
or contacts through the
Healthy Working Lives
programme, are often very
positive about the range of
information and resources
available from the library.
WHAT ARE YOUR MOST
UNUSUAL ENQUIRIES?
DO YOU FEEL YOU ARE
MAKING A DIFFERENCE?
One interesting aspect is
that you can never anticipate
what type of enquiry is
coming. Some resources have
proved so popular that we
even had requests from as far
afield as Australia and Holland.
We carry out surveys to
obtain feedback from our
service users. It is encouraging
to hear that they find the
service useful and are able to
use the information provided
in their own workplace setting.
WHAT IS A TYPICAL
DAY LIKE FOR YOU?
SHIFTING PA
FOR HEALTH
RE
OF AD
FE ER
R
I manage the library service,
which is open to anyone
living, working or studying in
the Lothians. I have specific
responsibility for selecting
and purchasing resources for
the library in consultation with
colleagues from different
departments across NHS
Lothian. Current awareness
bulletins of these new resources
are prepared and circulated
widely and published on the
NHS Lothian intranet as I am
keen to raise awareness of the
service. The library also
supports national health
campaigns throughout the
year, such as No Smoking Day.
I’m also involved in the
selection and distribution of the
promotional materials.
May/June 2009 Connections
Connections has teamed up with BlindCraft
to offer NHS Lothian staff a 20 per cent discount
on the company’s range of beds and mattresses.
Blindcraft, which has a factory and shop in Peffer Place in Edinburgh, has been
manufacturing quality hand-crafted beds since 1793, and is the world’s oldest
foundation devoted to the welfare of the blind.
The company is just as unique today as it was then, with two thirds of the staff
registered disabled, and every penny of profit helps the blind and disabled.
To take advantage of the 20 per cent discount, which is available across the
company’s range of products, simply take along your NHS Lothian ID badge to
the shop at 2 Peffer Place, Edinburgh EH16 4BB.
The showroom is open Mon-Fri 10am-4.30pm, Sat 10am-5pm and Sun 11am-4pm.
For more information, call 0131 661 1205 or visit www.blindcraft.co.uk
WHILE most people are
recharging their batteries deep
in their dreams, there are
many who count the early
hours as part of their normal
working day.
Being out of step with the
normal rhythm of the day can
take its toll for these shift
workers, but there are ways to
maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Healthy Working Lives
adviser Kathryn Sinclair
explained: “Your body follows
a 24-hour clock, with your
heart rate, blood pressure and
body temperature changing to
either keep you awake or
keep you asleep. When this is
disrupted, problems can occur.”
One particular problem shift
workers may experience is sleep
disturbances, which can result
in insomnia, mental and
physical fatigue, digestive
problems and an overall feeling
Working odd hours can affect
your whole lifestyle but these
tips should help you adapt
of ill health. It can take time
for sleep patterns to adjust.
Other challenges include
balancing home life with
non-traditional hours and
getting a hold of healthy
food to keep the digestion
system complaint free.
“Many people don’t realise
that shift working will have an
effect on your body,” said
Kathryn. “It’s important for
shift workers to recognise as
well that there are ways of
adapting. Maintaining a
healthy lifestyle is critical
part of that.”
GET A GOOD SLEEP
Managing factors such as
light, dark, eating, social
interaction and noise that
affect your natural rhythm can
play a key role in helping you
get a good sleep.
It’s important to sleep in a
cool, quiet and darkened room
– ear plugs and blackout
curtains can help, and remember
to switch off your phone.
Also, develop a routine
before going to bed, such as
reading a book, and let family
and friends know your schedule
so they don’t disturb you.
At all costs avoid using
the bedroom to watch TV or
work, and cut down on
smoking, alcohol and caffeine,
which can disturb sleep.
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LIFESTYLE
Connections May/June 2009
PATTERNS
H WORKERS
19
COMPETITION
Win a night at the
Marine Hotel & Spa
HOW would you like
to spend a relaxing
break at one of
Scotland’s top hotels
– for free? We’ve
teamed up with the
Macdonald Marine
Hotel & Spa in North
Berwick to offer one
lucky reader a night’s
B&B at this historic
hotel – recently
named Scottish Golf
Hotel of the Year.
With stunning
views over the Firth of
Forth, the hotel has
an award-winning
spa, to which you
will have full access,
the 2 AA Rosette
Craigleith restaurant
and stylish bedrooms.
To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize,
simply answer the following question:
In which Scottish town is the
Macdonald Marine Hotel located?
How to enter…
Send your answer to
Connections, NHS Lothian,
148 Pleasance, Deaconess
House, Edinburgh EH8
9RS, by Friday 19 June.
The winner will be the
first correct entry
drawn from the hat.
Answer
Name
Job title
E-mail address
Work tel. no.
Terms and conditions:
This prize is for the winner and a friend/partner and is valid for six months
midweek. It is subject to availability.
For more information, visit www.macdonald-hotels.co.uk
Issue 31 competition winners
E Nails Inc. – Lyndsay Clark, development manager, north-east LHP
E Ramada Jarvis Hotel – Judith Norval, staff nurse, RIE
E Word search – Lousie Arthur, clinical guidelines facilitator, Stevenson House.
Wordsearch fitness
BE SOCIAL
Just because you work antisocial hours doesn’t mean you
can’t still keep your social life
alive. “Many people on shift
work can be frustrated that
they can’t keep in touch with
their friends and family, but
they need not miss out,”
Kathryn said.
Try organising events with
friends and family around your
shifts. And think outside the
box – what’s to say you can’t
meet up for breakfast, or go to
the cinema during the day or
at midnight? Even during a
shift, it can be important to
make time to phone home to
speak to loved ones, before
they go to sleep or after they
wake up.
EAT WELL
Shift work can affect your
body’s regular digestive
system. To keep it happy, eat
regular and smaller meals
during a shift – foods that are
high in fibre and low in fat,
such as fruits, vegetables,
pasta, cereal and low-fat
milk products.
Have a nutritious meal
before your shift and a main
meal at midday, if you are
working afternoon or evening
Travel safe
IF you are a shift worker, plan your journey home carefully. Be
aware that it you drive, tiredness can delay reaction times. A safer
alternative may be to take public transport such as the bus or
a taxi. Or you could share a journey home with a colleague.
shifts, or eat it during late
afternoon or early evening
when working night shifts.
Also, caffeine, in tea,
coffee and chocolate, which
stay in your body for five
hours, may give you that
extra bit of energy during
the day, but won’t help
when you are trying to get a
good night’s sleep.
Try switching to drinks
such as herbal teas and
snacks such as nuts, raisins
and fruit.
Can you find which word or phrase from the list is missing from the wordsearch?
There’s a £25 Love2Shop voucher up for grabs, courtesy of our publishers, Connect
Communications. Send your answer to Connections, NHS Lothian, 148 Pleasance,
Deaconess House, Edinburgh EH8 9RS by Friday 19 June. The first correct entry
drawn out of the hat will win.
THE MISSING WORD IS…
Name
Job title
E-mail
GET ACTIVE
Starting your day with
exercise can help set your
rhythm for the day. A brisk
walk, jog or swim will all do
the trick.
And during your shift, try
taking a walk during your
break and take every
opportunity to take the stairs
rather than the lift.
Work tel. no.
V
D
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I
O
I
E
T
T
A
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V
P
S
L
F
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N
L
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V
I
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X
M
H
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T
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S
Y
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Q
V
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X
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SHIFT E ASLEEP E DISRUPTION E AWAKE E TIREDNESS E DAYLIGHT
INSOMNIA E FATIGUE E PRESSURE E ROUTINE E RHYTHM E ADAPTING
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20
NEWS
May/June 2009 Connections
COLLEAGUES GO
THE EXTRA MILE
Maternity staff
plan to walk
500 miles to
help Susan
FRIENDS and colleagues of
a young midwife who suffered
a stroke just days after giving
birth to her first baby are
putting their best feet forward
to raise funds to support her
recovery.
Susan Brown, who works at
St John’s Hospital, was just 34
when she fell seriously ill on
Christmas Eve last year, a week
after her son Nathan was born.
Susan was admitted to the
stroke unit at St John’s, partially
disabled and unable to care for
either herself or Nathan.
Over the weeks, her condition
gradually improved and she was
eventually discharged in January.
But she still faces a long road to
recovery – and that’s where her
colleagues in the maternity unit
are stepping in. They are
organising various events to raise
funds for Susan and highlight
the issue of strokes among
young mothers.
Their next event is a sponsored
BEST FEET FORWARD: Susan’s colleagues put in some practice for their walk to raise funds for her
walk on 17 May titled “I would
walk 500 miles and I would walk
500 more.” The plan is that at
least 34 people will walk 16 miles
each in the Trossachs.
Those who can’t join the walk
are urged to give an hour of
their wages.
Colleague Jacquie Balfour said:
“Susan has made fantastic
progress, but there is still a long
way to go. Her mobility is very
limited and she cannot leave the
house unaccompanied – even a
short walk with the pram is a
challenge. She may never be able
to return to the job she loves.”
Jacquie added: “Costs quickly
mount up: adaptations to the
home, specialist equipment,
counselling, childcare during
appointments or for respite, as
well as the day-to-day expenses
of living with a new baby and
unexpectedly reduced income.”
Tuck in
for the
new Sick
Children’s
Hospital!
PEOPLE across the Lothians
are being encouraged to don
their pyjamas and tuck into
a tasty meal – all in aid of
the new Royal Hospital for
Sick Children.
The Pyjamas Feastival on
19 June is being supported by
the new pyjamas campaign,
which is helping to raise funds
for the Sick Kids.
People are inviting friends
to dinner or a barbecue and
asking them to pay an entry
fee. After taking off the cost
of the food and drink, the
E If you would like to support
the fundraising efforts to
help Susan, contact Jacquie
on jacquiebalfour@gmail.com
or Emma Campbell on
emmacampbell339@
btinternet.com
Cleaning up
for charity
FOR staff at the McLeod Street physiotherapy
clinic, Red Nose Day became Red Hose Day
when they donned fancy dress to wash their
colleagues’ cars for a donation.
The Edinburgh domiciliary physios – Laura
Groom, Alex Gordon and Moira Scott – gave
up their own time to raise funds for Comic
Relief. Most of the vehicles they washed were
the domiciliary physios’ pool cars and their
own cars and van, and the local community
policeman even brought along his car!
And special thanks must be given to the
workmen on the site of the new
Tynecastle High School, who
generously bought a longer
hose and attachment and also
hooked the fundraisers up to
their outdoor tap to make the
car washing a lot easier.
Other staff brought in home
baking, including Red Nose
cupcakes, which were sold
to staff.
Their efforts raised the
grand total of £214 – which is
a lot of cars and cakes!
organisers will then donate the
proceeds to the new pyjamas
campaign.
The new pyjamas campaign
is part of the Sick Kids Friends
Foundation, which was created
in 1993 to raise money for the
existing Sick Kids hospital.
The campaign will raise
funds for the new Royal
Hospital for Sick Children and
fund equipment, services and
research not paid for by
standard NHS budgets.
E If you would like to hold
WASH’N’GO: the physiotherapy clinic team don some
outrageous outfits to raise money for Red Nose Day
a Pyjamas Feastival event,
get in touch with the new
pyjamas campaign on
0131 659 7010 or go to the
networking site on http://
network.newpyjamas.org