InsideStory_TEMPLATENovember07:Layout 1.qxd - University ...

Caring for carers
UCLH will be highlighting carers’ rights
on 7 December, national Carers’ Rights
Day.
The day will be used to highlight the
rights carers are entitled to and the
specific support available to carers at the
trust, and will also be launching the
UCLH carers’ policy. This sets out a
framework to enable clear and effective
communication between patients’ carers
and staff. The policy also aims to raise
staff awareness around carers’ issues
and inform good staff practice when
identifying carers’ needs.
On the day, carers and visitors will be
offered a leaflet with information about
claiming benefits for carers and
accessing practical support. The UCLH
welfare rights advisor and family and
carer support workers from the Camden,
Islington and Westminster Carers’
Centres will be available to give personal
advice sessions. UCLH’s multi-faith
chaplaincy will also be available to offer
pastoral and spiritual support.
Michael Lee, carer representative on
the UCLH governing body said: “UCLH
has done more than most other trusts to
recognise the important role that carers
play in maintaining the health of patients,
and the importance of assuring the
physical and emotional well-being of
carers themselves. The newly-approved
carers’ policy will help to ensure that this
recognition is translated into action.”
NEW faces @UCLH
Jacqui is a counselling psychologist based at Oasis. Before coming to UCLH
she worked for an eating disorder service, and in primary care
assessing people for psychological services. She also has 15
years’ experience in human resources management and
thought she’d combine her skills to work in staff counselling.
“There’s a stigma attached to counselling services. People
think they’re being weak or self-indulgent if they ask for help,
but the truth is that the randomness of life can deal us any
type of predicament.”
Khadine has started working with the medical specialities and
therapies team as an information analyst, and her first project is to
analyse clinic cancellations with a view to reducing the numbers.
She comes from the University of East London, and is looking
forward to gaining NHS experience and the flexible working policy
which gives her time to look after her two-year-old daughter.
Stephan lives within walking distance of UCLH and is glad to be rid of the
morning commute. “I no longer have any excuse for being late,” he says.
Stephan joins the Jules Thorn telemetry unit as a staff nurse at
the NHNN, and his job is to assess patients with seizures, who
are admitted for a five-day observation and videotaped for 24
hours. He likes to swim and go to the theatre. At the time of
writing, he had just watched the 400th performance of the ballet
Romeo and Juliet at the Royal Opera House and declared it
“definitely worth waiting for”.
Your views count
The staff survey is your chance to have
your say. UCLH needs to hear your views
about your job and working environment.
If you receive a questionnaire please
complete and return it as soon as
possible. Questionnaires will be returned
to an external contractor, so no one in the
trust will be able to see individual
responses. The deadline for completing
the questionnaire is 7 December.
Get your season ticket now!
Season ticket holders: beat the price rise! Most ticket prices
will go up from January 2008. To ensure that you receive your
season ticket warrant in time to buy your ticket at 2007 rates,
send in your form by 7 December, and collect your warrant by
21 December. Watch out: if your form arrives later than 7
December, it cannot be guaranteed that your warrant will be
produced in time. Make sure you use the new application form,
available in the Staff Room section of Insight. For details,
contact Carron in the trustees’ department on ext. 9743, or
email carron.lindsay@uclh.nhs.uk.
Cleanyourhands
The cleanyourhands campaign is about to begin its third year
in all NHS hospitals in England and Wales. This is an initiative
from the National Patient Safety Agency to promote the
importance of hand hygiene. A reduction in hospital-acquired
infection rates of 10 to 50 per cent can be achieved just
through compliance with hand hygiene principles. Posters and
campaign materials have previously only been delivered to
wards at UCLH but from this month, all wards and clinical
departments will automatically receive a range of posters.
Please alternate them regularly to alert staff and visitors to this
important message. For details visit www.npsa.
nhs.uk/cleanyourhands or contact Duncan Burton, divisional
senior nurse and UCLH cleanyourhands campaign lead.
Martin Bruce, charge nurse for the infectious diseases unit,
says: "We work hard to enforce good practice: getting basics
right and following guidelines. It's about keeping side room
doors closed, keeping sleeves rolled up, not wearing a
wristwatch, washing your hands at appropriate times. Infection
is massive at the moment in the press, and in the public and
political eye. We don't want to be the next Maidstone. If we do
this well, it shouldn't be a chore—it's just part of our job."
Front page: Gary Lineker with Julia Solano, Radiotherapy and Yvonne Delane, Fight for Life