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Editorial
Welcome to the latest edition of
our staff newsletter. We have all
been going through difficult times
in recent weeks, as we work hard
to ensure that our patient care
is consistent across the hospital
in readiness for the CQC’s next
visit. Everyone is taking this
very seriously as we all want our
patients to receive the best possible
care – see page 7 for the latest
update.
In this issue Peter Franzen,
our Interim Chairman, gives us
his thoughts on what he has to
offer to the role over the next few
months. We were very sad to say
goodbye to John Hemming who
resigned in early November after
10 years. He has written some
reflections on this time here.
What I hope we don’t lose
sight of is all the good work that
is happening here and reflected
in this issue – and the individual
members of staff and their
contribution. As a Communications
Team, we are very aware that we
can’t cover anywhere near as much
as we would like to, but we are
working on it. So if you have some
good news, let us know about it.
We might be able to do something
with the local media. We are
particularly concerned about staff
communication which needs to be
much better so you know what
is happening and you are able to
express your views. See more on
page 5.
I hope you enjoy this issue. Do
keep your articles coming – this
is what makes it such enjoyable
reading.
Have a great Christmas and
New Year.
Ann Filby
Head of Communications,
Engagement and Foundation
Welcome
The last few months have been difficult for everyone involved
in the Trust and I must begin by thanking all our staff for their
commitment over this time.
Being under the spotlight for a prolonged period has been
challenging, especially when the entire organisation is criticised.
Everyone has put tremendous effort into making changes, working
together to make improvements and to meet the measured
standards.
Wendy Slaney
Implementing changes across many wards and departments takes
time but we have the common goal of ensuring we provide a high standard of care, at
all times, to all our patients.
We said farewell to John Hemming in November. John was a fine Chairman and a
great champion for our patients and staff. His commitment and contribution has been
of the highest order and I know he will be greatly missed by staff throughout our
hospitals. We wish him well for the future.
I must also thank the large number of patients and visitors who have contacted me
personally, departments or the local media, to offer their support and thanks to the
staff at this hospital. It has been very much appreciated and further endorsement that
most of the time we get things right.
Congratulations to those staff who received Remarkable People Awards. Their
contribution to patient care fully deserves the recognition they have received.
There have been many positive achievements in 2011 as well as challenges to
be met. We want to ensure that we celebrate the good things and respond to the
needs of staff and patients in a changing NHS. Please share your good news or service
developments with our communications team so they can be published in future
editions of Making Waves.
Thank you all for your hard work and commitment. My best wishes for the festive
season and for the New Year.
Wendy Slaney
Chief Executive
Interim Chairman Peter Franzen
As a resident of Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, I might ask: “What
does a former newspaper editor know about helping to run my local
hospital?”
It’s a fair point, and one that I hope can be answered positively.
So for a start, let’s get one thing clear, the chairman of the hospital
trust does not have any part in the direct care of patients: that’s
obviously the role of the doctors and nurses. But the chairman and
the board can make their job easier by providing strong leadership
Peter Franzen and helping the hospital to run efficiently, so the medical and nursing
staff can concentrate on the patients.
To successfully deliver high quality patient care in a safe hospital needs good
leadership and teamwork, and these foster high morale and help build a virtuous circle
of success. Of course, all this must be underpinned by a sound financial basis.
Make no mistake; the James Paget is a good hospital with fine, professional staff
who deliver first-rate care. But sometimes things get in the way of doing this all
the time for every patient. And it is this lack of consistency that has caused the Care
Quality Commission (CQC) to raise important concerns regarding nutrition and dignity
in the care of some elderly patients.
Although we took very seriously the points made by the CQC, we must take
responsibility for not getting to grips with the issues as quickly as we should have done
and that some improvements are taking a while to complete.
The Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, visited the JPUH to see for
himself what is being done. During his visit, Mr Lansley was thorough and probing
with his questioning, but he also spent a great deal of his time listening and absorbing
feedback from staff and patients at this hospital. He said that the James Paget
University Hospitals staff, “have done great work, are doing great work today, and will
do great work in the future”.
We are meeting the challenge with a whole host of changes in the way we look
after our patients, including our matrons regularly auditing the paperwork of every
patient in the hospital to make sure no one slips through the net.
Peter Franzen OBE
Interim Chairman
Page 2 Making Waves Newsletter December 2011
www.jpaget.nhs.uk