HOMERTON LIFE OCTOBER 2004 - Homerton University Hospital

Catch up with all the latest news and events...
HomertonLife
Watch out, new uniforms unleashed - see page 4
F or all staff… OCTOBER 2004
Homerton’s frontline given a smart new image NVQ graduates step out
NHS childcare wins award Buildings, buildings, buildings Do you have a good
attitude? Fundraising at Homerton - new initiatives The Homerton Oars
A nurse’s view on nurse prescribing Are you a future leader? Summer events

AfC asks
QWhat will happen if I am assimilated to a pay point above the second gateway?
AThe gateways will not be operational until October 2006. If you are assimilated at a
point above the second gateway, it will be because of the level of experience that you
already have. If you have passed this second gateway before October 2006, you will not have
to demonstrate the evidence according to the KSF outline. Once you have passed through a
gateway you do not have to pass through it again.
QI’m concerned that staff not
experienced at being appraised will
be disadvantaged when the KSF is Are you up-todate
with all
introduced. How can you reassure me?
AThe mandatory KSF training day will include the latest
learning around appraising and being AfC news?
appraised. It is important to remember that this
is a two way process between post holder and
manager. There are groups of staff who have had
no experience of being appraised in the past and
the KSF team will be offering them their full
support. The process is fully evidence-based and
no-one will be disadvantaged by their lack of
experience or skills at being appraised. There will
be a robust and transparent KSF policy designed
to ensure that the system always remains fair. The
principles of the KSF will ensure the professional
development of all staff, this will include the skills
of both appraiser and appraisee when participating
in the process.
QI work for ISS, how will this affect me?
ASome aspects of Agenda for Change will be
introduced for staff working for ISS. We will
establish a working party that will include trade
union members to determine exactly what the position is and negotiate changes in
partnership that meet the national guidelines.
QWhy are the statistics around pay protection from the Department of Health
so much more positive than the information circulated from the early
implementer sites?
AThe review from the early implementer sites has estimated that 7.5% of staff across the
whole NHS will require pay protection. This figure is much lower than some of the
statistics that have been previously circulated. The main reason for this is simple; until you
have the full data set, statistics can provide misleading information. The changes within the
proposed agreement that relate to decoupling the unsocial hours and on-call aspects of AfC
for further review, and the provision of an acceleration of incremental points to avoid the need
of pay protection for staff that relate to changes in the
way that London weighting is paid, has also made a
significant difference.
QI am nervous about all this talk of
modernisation, is my job at risk?
AThe modernisation aspect of Agenda for Change is
about improving the quality and the effectiveness
of service provision. Jobs are being evaluated for the
sole purpose of assimilating posts into the new pay
scale. No jobs within the Trust are at risk by AfC.
•
Do you have a question about
Agenda for Change, if so email
agendaforchange@homerton.nhs.uk
If not …
•
look at the AfC
section on the intranet
•
read the Q&A column in every
edition of Homerton Life
•
look at the noticeboard outside
Chatters for regular updates on AfC
events
•
read the ‘essential guide’ available
from the intranet or the AfC office.
If you have a particular question …
•
call the AfC office on ext 5224/5223
• email
agendaforchange@homerton.nhs.uk
Do you have a news story or article idea for
a future issue of Homerton Life. If so get
in touch - the deadline for submissions to this
year are:
Deadline for
Publication date
articles & ideas
21 October 1 December
29 December 1 February
21 February 1 April
Events
diary
October
Lupus awareness month
until 2005
‘Stratum’ exhibition in the
Education Centre
10 October
World mental health day
13-18 October
BackCare awareness week
20 October
Osteoporosis day
25 Oct - 5 Nov
Infection control awareness
week
7-13 November
Mouth cancer awareness week
10 November
Quality day and long service
awards
15-19 November
Indoor allergy week
17 November
World COPD day
1 December
World AIDS day
3 December
Xmas ball at West Ham football
club
17 December
Beauty and the Beast
pantomime, 6.30pm in Chatters.
Contact Carol in Switchboard
Publicise your events –
contact Lee Jones on x5035
or via email
All ideas for articles should be sent to the editor Lee Jones (on ext
5035 or via email) at least one week before the deadline date. Articles will
be given space on a first come, first served basis and all articles are subject
to editorial agreement.
2

Under the mistletoe
Remember the fun last year… the
Christmas ball will be held at West
Ham football ground on Friday 3
December. Raffle prizes, three
course dinner and dancing ‘til late.
More information throughout
October.
Oh yes we are …
holding a children’s pantomime.
Beauty and the
Beast comes to the hospital
on Friday 17 December at
6.30pm in Chatters. All
tickets are £3.00. Contact
Carole Allen on ext 7299
for more details. Suitable
for children 3 years and
over.
News in brief
DON’T FORGET QUALITY DAY 2004
The key note speaker for this year’s Quality Day on 10 November has
been confirmed as Niall Dickson, former BBC health correspondent and
current chief executive of the King’s Fund.
Additional presentations will be made from the winners of last year’s
and this year’s quality awards, showcasing quality improvements in
clinical or service provision.
The day will finish with the annual long service awards, congratulating
staff who have worked in Hackney or Homerton hospitals for over 25
years.
•
CHATSWORTH ROAD FESTIVAL
Christmas may still seem a long way off, but a
group of people living in and around Chatsworth
Road have their eyes firmly fixed on Saturday 4
December. Why? Because that’s the date of the
third Chatsworth Road Market Festival, a
revival of the oldest street market in
Hackney.
Previous years have involved local
shops, businesses, artists, musicians,
residents groups and schools, in
addition to street entertainment
and children’s activities, attended
by hundreds of people from
around Hackney. This year’s
theme is communication and
the festival hopes to host an
exhibition of artwork by
patients from the Regional
Neurological Rehabilitation Unit (RNRU).
For more information see
www.chatsworthroade5.co.uk.
Nominations for the long service awards close on
18 October, call Ruby on ext 7034 for more details.
Congratulations to Louise Olley
who will start as senior nurse for
medicine and rehabilitation in
November, taking over from Jennie
Negus who became deputy director
of nursing in August. Louise, who
joined the Trust in 2001, was
previously a modern matron for the
directorate.
The Department of
Health’s website is
now speech enabled to
make accessibility easier
for those who are
dyslexic, have learning
disabilties, have mild
visual impairment, or
where English is not their
first language.
www.dh.gov.uk, now
includes the package
‘Browsealoud’, which
when plugged in reads
webpages aloud,
highlighting text as it
goes.
Have your say...
This month 850 randomly selected staff will receive a copy of
the NHS National Staff Survey. This is your chance to feedback
about what you think about working at Homerton - what you
like, dislike and where you think the Trust needs to improve.
If you receive the survey, please take some time to complete it. It is
only by getting robust feedback from staff that the Trust can hope to make the
improvements to everyone’s working life that we all want to see. All responses to
the survey are completely anonymous and any feedback the Trust receives is nonidentifiable.
Following last year’s survey and the feedback received from staff, the Trust has:
•
expanded the number of nursery places available to NHS staff
improved induction especially around health and safety and risk
achieved junior doctors hours targets
worked to improve staff safety and security
invested in front line staff.
•
If you have any queries about the survey please contact Iain Patterson,
Associate HR Director on ext 7243.
Neuro OTs and physios have been settling into
their revamped premises, which now provide
more of a joint working base for the two
teams. Ward manager for Graham Stroke
Unit Gertie Christie, senior neuro physiotherapist
Kerry Walker and senior occupational
therapist Simone Coetzee officially opened the
new offices (still based next to the physio
gym).
3

Staff try out their ‘new look’.
Homerton’s
frontline given
a smart new image
The public face of Homerton is about to dramatically change, with
the launch of new ‘designer’ corporate wear for staff.
Those who hold administrative or clerical positions and liaise with
patients or the public as part of their everyday job have been gearing
towards the implementation of a smart new uniform. Provided by the
Trust, at no charge for individual staff members, the uniform
consists of a collection of tailored black skirt or trouser suits
and a selection of lilac shirts, blouses, t-tops and ties.
Many frontline A&C staff provide a service that puts them in
constant contact with patients and the public, but unlike
clinical staff they are not provided with an identifiable
uniform. With the launch of a new corporate look, this
problem will be rectified.
Amerjit Halaith is a receptionist in radiology and has been
given one of the new uniforms, she comments: “I think the
uniforms for frontline A&C staff were a really good idea. It will save
me money as I won’t need to buy clothes for work and it will also
mean that I do not have to spend ages deciding what to wear every
morning. Wearing a smart suit and seeing others do the same,
provides me with a sense of pride in what I do.”
Manager of outpatients Janice Kelly said of the new uniforms: “We
have had a dress code in place in outpatients for some time now and
it has really improved the public’s perception of the staff that work
here. When people look “business like”, the perception of them is
that they are being dealt with by a professional and this, in turn,
results in them feeling content and happy with the service they
receive. Since the dress code has been adopted here, the incidents of
rudeness or derogatory behaviour towards staff have drastically
reduced.”
The uniforms were first launched at the IWL open day last month and
by the end of October almost 180 members of frontline A&C staff will
be wearing their new uniforms with pride. It is hoped that a second
group of A&C staff will also be provided with uniforms next year.
NEL offer best stop smoking
services in the country
North East London achieved the biggest increase in quitters in
England during 2003/4, with almost 5,500 stopping smoking –
between 400 and 600 more people than in any other sector.
Free training on the referral process is still available for all
healthcare staff, full details are available from the stop smoking
service administrator Tycie West on 020 7683 4040.
The CHTPCT stop smoking team can also provide information
relating to the service at any upcoming event or meeting that is
being held. For further enquiries, call Ian Quigley (Manager) on
020 7683 4047 or Aisling Murphy (Community and Training) on
0207 683 4036.
You can refer yourself or any member of your family to the
service at any time, for staff support please call the stop
smoking team 0207 683 4040, for all others referrals call
the free number 0800 169 1943.
Babyloss
awareness week
People whose lives have been touched by the loss of a baby
during pregnancy or just after birth, are uniting with others
across the UK to show their support for Babyloss Awareness
Week 2004, which runs from October 9 to October 15.
During the week information about miscarriage, stillbirth
and neonatal death will be available in the Health Shop. A
baby memorial service, remembering all babies who died
before, during or shortly after birth, will also take place in the
Sanctuary on Friday 15 October at 8pm
For more information about the week
contact bereavement support
midwives Anne or Tracy on ext 7317 or
air call via the switchboard. For
information about the memorial
service contact chaplaincy team leader
Nadia Pfaff on ext 7773.
Web
update
new
this
month
Would you like to add a page to the intranet or web site?
Both sites are growing daily. New to the intranet this
month:
the critical care outreach team
acute pain service
safe medicine action group.
•
The ‘staff handbook’ section has now changed to ‘your
working life’ with lots of new information about life at
Homerton; and don’t forget you can check the intranet for up
to date information on EPR (quick links on the home page).
Remember to add your telephone details to the directory on
the intranet. Click on the phone book, press ‘add new’ and
enter your details. Press the ‘insert button’. This will be
updated by the administrator within 3-5 working days.
For further information on this or if you would like a page,
•
contact Tonya Chalker on ext 5154 or via email.
4

NVQ graduates step out
By Vilma Sindac, HCA Trainer and NVQ coordinator
Congratulations to the NVQ candidates on their recent
achievements! Five nurse cadets and six healthcare assistants who
started their NVQ training in September 2002, have successfully
achieved NVQ Levels 2 and 3 and are on the way to becoming qualified
nurses. They will now be seconded to City University for further training
and will return to work here as qualified nurses.
In addition, 22 newly qualified assessors who worked towards the
Training and Development Lead Bodies competencies in D32/D33 and
A1, have proven that they are competent to coach and assess
candidates who are in turn working for a National Vocational
Qualification (NVQ). They now hold appropriate assessor qualifications
as approved and specified by the regulatory authorities.
NVQ is a nationally recognised qualification, providing people with high
quality training and a structured framework within which they can
develop. The delivery of NVQ in Health and Social Care Programme
continues to grow from strength to strength since 1998 when
Homerton became an accredited City and Guilds centre. The Trust
maintains support for staff education in training and development in
order to continue with the delivery of high standard of patient care.
For HCAs interested in joining the NVQ programme, please
complete a in-house application form and meet with your ward
managers and NVQ
centre coordinator.
If you are a school
leaver and have
always wanted to
train to be a nurse
then you can join
the cadet scheme.
For further details
contact Vilma
Sindac on ext 7665
or Sharon Prince
on ext 7097.
NHS childcare
wins award
By Helin Taylor-Greenfield,
Childcare Development Manager
The Pan-London Childcare Initiative has won the ‘4Children Employer Achievement
Award’ for staff childcare. The judges were overwhelmed by the dedication and
commitment demonstrated by the childcarers nominated in the variety of ways that they
bring fun, laughter and friendship into children’s lives; providing the childhood
experiences and memories that will travel with them into adult life. The NHS plays a big
role in this; we work closely with a large number of childcare service providers aiming to
offer good quality, affordable and accessible childcare to help support working parents.
What they had to say about us …
The NHS now provides more childcare support for staff than any other – and the NHS
Strategic Health Authority/Workforce Development Confederation in London have created
many new childcare places, including: 660 new nursery places and 716 holiday playscheme
places have been created since 2003; bringing the total to over 2000 nursery places and
1000 playscheme places for NHS staff in London – with many more being planned.
Every member of staff now has access to an NHS Childcare Co-ordinator (there are 59 in
London), working closely with early years and childcare teams in local authorities, childcare
providers and voluntary organisations to help staff to find and afford the childcare they
need.
•
For further information contact Helin Taylor-Greenfield via email
helin.taylor@chpct.nhs.uk.
What do you know
about the medicines
you are taking?
Between 1 and 6 November staff from
Pharmacy will be on hand in the main
reception and pharmacy waiting area to give
people a chance to ask about the medicines
they are taking, as part of national Ask About
Medicines Week.
The week, which is supported by the Safe
Medicines Action Group, will focus on choice
and will inform people that they are entitled
to be involved when deciding what medicine
is best for them; that people should be able
to get information to help make decisions
about the medicine; and that healthcare
professionals are there to help and support
people when making
these decisions.
For further information
about the week contact
medicines information
and surgical directorate pharmacist
Margaret Brown on ext 7000 or via email.
5

You may have spotted a lot
of building work onsite
over the past year or so,
with cranes and lorries,
and areas cordoned off for
contractors of various
sorts. Here we speak to
Andrew Panniker, Director
of Environment at the Trust, to reveal what
has been happening, what is being built
and what is coming soon...
buildings
buildings
buildin
Brooksby House
Major changes have happened in Brooksby House this summer with
a £3 million building project. In June, a new Sterile Services
Department was opened, supplying the sterile equipment used in our
operating theatres, wards and departments. This is the first time that
this service has been available onsite, which means we can be sure to
have the right equipment at the right time.
This building project also resulted in changes to the procurement
(supplies) department and distribution centre (stores), which is now
also in purpose built premises on the ground floor of Brooksby
House.
MRI
The MRI scanner - our first - was installed at the beginning of the
year. It was a major event to lift the scanner (effectively a powerful
magnet) over the building and into place in the X-ray department.
You may have seen the large crane brought on site specifically for this
purpose.
Our patients are now benefiting for the new onsite service five days
a week, rather than relying on the previous off-site service we had
used for some years.
Ward upgrades
Patients in the maternity and gynaecology wards, in RNRU and
Graham ward have benefited from new bathrooms and other
improvements as part of an ongoing programme to refurbish our
ward areas.
Gardens and gardeners
This summer we are sure that you will have noticed that the
gardeners have worked really hard on our gardens and courtyards,
and many of you have commented on how lovely they look and what
a difference it makes.
Work is now ongoing in the courtyard areas – the jug and bowl
sculpture in the courtyard on the blue corridor is again working and
the courtyard near cardiology has had a makeover after several
months “in the dark” with building work going on overhead.
Planning ahead, we are considering a landscaping “master plan”,
perhaps even themed gardens for our patients and staff – contemplative,
quiet, sensory, play.
Operating theatres
On the way to the canteen you may have seen (or heard) the building
work going on for the new operating theatre and recovery area. Due
to be completed very soon, this provides us with a fifth theatre, sterile
supplies room, accommodation for the anaesthetics team and a new
recovery area. The whole project is costing around £3 million.
Mammography suite
Our first mammography service is due to be launched later this year
and building work is underway in X-ray 2 to provide a dedicated
mammography service for our patients. This is an exciting
development and welcome addition to our radiology service. The
cost of the project is over £0.25 million.
Lecture theatre and academic centre
This autumn we begin building our long awaited lecture theatre
complex on to the eastern end of the Education Centre; a £2.5 million
programme. The Education Centre opened in 1986 and despite the
major increase of teaching onsite, up until now there has been no
additional classroom space. This will give us a much needed 150 seat
tiered lecture theatre with all the modern audiovisual facilities we
need. In addition the entrance to the Education Centre will move to
the other end of the building and security will be improved. On a
social note, we will also be opening a café-bar for daytime
refreshments and lunches and a meeting place for staff in the
evening. A patio area is also being included for those warm summer
evenings!
6

gs
Artist’s impression of the new lecture theatre.
Primary & Urgent Care Centre (PUCC)
This spring the PUCC opened adjacent to A&E, to provide primary
care-type facilities on site, working in partnership with A&E.
Currently this is happening in the existing building but, very soon,
major building work is due to start on the grassed area behind the
wooden fence next to the A&E entrance. The building programme
for this is costing £1.5 million and is funded by City & Hackney TPCT.
It will include a new entrance to A&E, a joint reception area – with
much more light and space in the patient waiting area, as well as all
the clinical and office areas needed for this primary care service,
which will include a GP service for new patients.
Longer term...
Office space
As many of you will know, office accommodation is always a
problem for us so next year we are looking into the possibilities
of building a second floor on some parts of the building,
which could provide office accommodation for over 60 people.
Main entrance
Even more longer term we will be considering improvements
to the front entrance and driveway, to improve both the
appearance of the hospital and the safety aspects.
So we can see that there is a lot of work
going on and being planned. There are likely
to be contractors on site for some time yet but
it is good to see improvements benefiting our
patients in this way.
Artist’s impression of the entrance to the PUCC.
7

Do you have a good attitude?
By Guy Young, Director of Nursing and Quality
“The team could not have done more; everyone was nice
and sensitive to my needs”.
This comment comes from a recent survey.
Wouldn’t it be great if all our patients felt like this?
Unfortunately, we know that we don’t always get things right, as demonstrated through
formal complaints, PALS enquiries and patient surveys. The majority of the concerns
expressed are related to the way that we communicate with our patients and their families.
Some patients also feel that they are not treated with dignity and respect.
These concerns led to the development of a Trust ‘Code of Behaviour’. Whilst this code clearly lays out our expectations, it will
not in itself change negative attitudes and behaviour. Enter Good Attitude, a new training DVD designed to help staff to better
understand the need to communicate effectively. Working with a professional video company, we have produced a training
tool that can be used in a variety of ways.
Consisting of poor practice/good practice scenarios, based on the nine points of the Code of Behaviour, the DVD can be used
to help staff see the negative effects of poor communication. Importantly it also shows how to get it right. The Trust is rolling
out formal training sessions using the DVD, but individual wards and departments can also use it. A learning analysis section
even allows self-directed learning, although we think the best results will be achieved in small groups who are able to discuss
the scenarios in more detail.
•
Please contact Training and Development or Nursing Education if you would like to know more or if you would
like to borrow a copy.
New City
governors
join council
We are pleased to welcome two new governors representing the City
of London on the Trust’s Council of Governors, following an election
held in the area in July. Geoffrey Rivett and Steve Stevenson both have links
with the NHS; Geoffrey has been a GP, a medical civil servant and a historian
of the NHS. Steve Stevenson is also a City resident with an active involvement
in social and health care and he too has links with the hospital. He was an
independent member of our last Patient Environment Inspection Team.
In the news …
The focus on infection control has continued with the BBC’s “should I worry about” programme,
shown last month. The programme featured Homerton’s Dr Anne Marie Karcher in
Whiteley’s shopping centre randomly swabbing the noses of 100 passers-by,
and then explaining the process to presenter Richard Hammond …
Meanwhile Prof Kate Costeloe and staff on SCBU and labour wards
featured in a Panorama special, looking at really premature babies. This
also included media appearances for Prof Costeloe on Richard and Judy,
Radio 5 Live and the Daily Mail …
Chairman Andy Windross was interviewed by local Kurdish paper Bizim
Gunes about what it means to be a Foundation Trust …
RNRU staff were featured in BBC Two’s “This is my family”, exploring one
family’s experience of stroke ...
Keep up-to-date with
the latest NHS and
healthcare news with “Media
Watch” available under the
‘News’ section on the
intranet.
And Sharmen Thompson, senior staff nurse on Graham Ward was featured in Nursing
Standard about her role in setting up a support network for Montserrat nurses living in the UK, which
also provides distance learning to those still working on the island.
8

A Day in the Life of ...
Mohammed Araeen
Some people might be under the
impression that we have a group of
elves working at the hospital; because on
the wards when stocks are running low
they are magically replenished and when
admin staff fill in a requisition form and
fax it off, the goods turn up without ever
having to speak to somebody. But as
Homerton Life found out, there is a whole
group of people based in Brooksby House
who do all that work for us.
In charge of that group is Mohammed Araeen, a goods and receiving
officer in the distribution centre (formally known as stores). His job is
to check and place orders sent by wards and departments, ensuring
that we receive cost-effective and quality goods, and that ordering is
consistent. His team also visit wards to check stock levels, ensuring that
there is always enough medical and non-medical equipment. As there
is no actual storage facility in the distribution centre, the team has to
order sensibly so that they don’t have too much stock for the wards,
but making sure there is enough so that stocks don’t run out.
Every day is
different - I see
different people
and sort out
different problems.
Time flies so there
is no time to get
bored.
Goods and Distribution Officer
The department is constantly busy; on a
typical day they will receive about 100
non-stock order forms, 200 non-stock
deliveries and about 1,000 top-up
deliveries for wards, including syringes,
gloves etc. This is nothing compared to
Christmas though, when the department
will see the equivalent of three to four
days deliveries come through on the
same day.
Mohammed explains: “You have to get to
know wards and departments buying
habits so that you can pre-empt what
their needs will be, especially during busy
times like Christmas - we can’t allow
stocks to run out. This can prove to be
quite a difficult balancing act, ordering
the right amount of stuff and ensuring
that they are sent to wards and
departments as soon as they are
delivered. Every day is different - I see
different people and sort out different problems. Time flies so there is
no time to get bored.”
It is clear that this is a job that Mohammed enjoys; having joined the
Trust in 1995 he worked in the distribution bay until 2001 when he
started his current position. Mohammed comments: “Before joining
Homerton I had never worked for the NHS, I had been in the
construction industry working on the jubilee line extension in Canary
Wharf. Now I can never see myself working for a private company
again, I really enjoy the NHS. The best thing is that everyone working
at the hospital is there to provide a service, which in the end is helping
patients and the community. I feel part of that service and feel that we
all support one another.”
Fundraising
at Homerton
On line donating
You can now donate safely and securely online via the
website
http://www.homerton.nhs.uk/services/1082038464.html
Payroll giving or give as you earn is open to staff and nonstaff
to make a regular contribution to the hospital.
Remember every penny counts.
http://www.homertonnhs.uk/services/1091779899.html
Recycling
A new recycling partnership with Office Green Technologies
means that other companies can now see us on the Office
Green web site and choose to recycle cartridges and toners
with the money all coming to our hospital.
http://www.homerton.nhs.uk/services/1092925395.html
http://www.officegreen.co.uk/charity-list.html
Monthly raffle
We are now running a monthly raffle for all staff. The
prizes are donated from various sources so hopefully at one
stage during the year there will something that you want to
put your £1.00 towards.
Last month’s prize was a signed football. This month is a
stereo system and at Christmas you can win a mountain
bike. Who knows what the New Year will bring.....
Sponsored events
If you or any of your friends,
family or patients would like to
take part in sponsored events
to raise money for the hospital
please let us know as we can
help with the sponsorship
forms and advertising.
Anyone wanting to help out with fundraising or for
more information on any of the above contact the
fundraising manager on ext 5154.
9

The Homerton Oars
Last month five mad members of staff: Guy Young, Tracey Fletcher, Susan Acott, Richard
Gourlay and Jennie Negus met at Richmond Bridge armed with a picnic, cushions and
workmen’s gloves. They climbed aboard their rowing boat loaned to them by the
Docklands Scout Project and started to row!
They rowed and they rowed and they rowed! In total, 22 miles, passing by the famous
landmarks and beneath the historic bridges and finally crossing the finishing line at
Greenwich.
“There’s no denying it was hard work but it was also great fun”, said Jennie. “We kept
our rhythm quite well once Tracey took control - Sue and Richard were trying to get us
going at ramming speed!” The team agreed that although amid fantastic sights the
hardest stretch was from Westminster, as the wind picked up and there was quite a swell
in the water from the pleasure boats.
The Great River Race is an annual event, dubbed ‘the marathon on the Thames’ and is a
pageant of over 250 traditional boats, from simple rowing boats to Celtic, Viking and
dragon boats, all celebrating the diverse history of life on the river.
Our intrepid five raised over £300 for the scouts and Homerton, and despite
aching arms and blistered hands have vowed to enter again next year!
Watch this space...
GET IT WRITE
•
Do you receive the fortnightly staff bulletin via email? If
not, contact Kim Hutchings and ask to be added to the staff
circulation email list. This way you can keep up-to-date with all
the latest news and offers for staff. If you don’t have access to
email, ask your line manager to print off a copy and display in
your staff area.
VOLUME
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Are you using the staff circulation email correctly? Please note that this is
•
only for important Trust wide messages to reach all staff. Please do not use
for other purposes.
Are you a
future leader?
Do you have an interest in HR, finance or
general management and feel that you
could make a difference to the NHS? If so, the
NHS Modernisation Agency’s management
training scheme could be for you.
There are three schemes (HR management,
financial management and general management)
available to anyone with a minimum 2.2 degree –
the aim of the scheme is to train, develop and
nurture future board directors and chief
executives.
Trainees are employed centrally by the NHS for
the duration of their scheme, but train in
hospitals, PCTs and other NHS organisations
throughout England. After the scheme trainees
will be able to apply for management jobs
throughout the NHS. The schemes are highly
regarded by NHS employers, so there should be
no shortage of opportunity or choice.
Kathryn Worswick is currently on the general
management scheme and joined Homerton in
September as business manager for the fertility
unit. She said of the scheme: “I have always
wanted to work in the public sector, particularly
the NHS so that I could help improve patient care.
The NHS offered the best scheme by far,
providing me with a Masters degree at the same
time. It is also really supportive with training, in
the 12 week orientation programme alone I get
to sample a whole range of jobs from receptionist
to porter, so that I get a good sense of the
hospital before I start work.”
For further information visit www.futureleaders.nhs.uk,
email mtsinfo@mts.nhs.uk
or call 0870 169 9731. Applications for the
next intake for trainees (September 2005)
will close on 13 December 2004.
A nurse’s view on nurse prescribing
By Jenny Anthony, Clinical Nurse Specialist Dermatology
As an Extended Formulary Nurse Prescriber (EFNP) I am able to prescribe from a limited formulary of prescription only medicines (POM) for a
number of conditions. Also available to me are all pharmacy only medicines and those on the general sales list.
Whilst the POM list and the list of conditions is quite limited, it does enable me to prescribe for skin diseases such as atopic eczema and acne when
mild or moderately severe, which comprises a large chunk of my workload. I am qualified to prescribe for any of the conditions mentioned in the
BNF, however I choose to restrict my prescribing to my specialist area only.
I have been prescribing for only a few weeks, but I’m already finding that my consultation times in clinic are reduced as I do not have to leave to
find a doctor to provide a prescription. Initiation of treatment is also much quicker, especially on the wards where I can ensure that the patients
get the right medication when they need it and the ward staff are not left waiting for a doctor. I have also found that treatments can be incorrectly
prescribed, due to lack of familiarity with the preparations and their use in skin disease. Being able to prescribe them myself ensures they are
prescribed correctly and I can ensure nursing staff are aware that new treatments need to be
ordered.
I believe this qualification is enabling me to provide a more holistic service for the patients I
see, ensuring they see the right person at the right time. It has also been a sharp reminder
of professional accountability and the wider responsibilities that come with taking on new
roles. It was a lot of hard work, which is not over yet.
•
There will be more nurses trained
later this year. If you feel that nurse
prescribing may benefit your service,
contact Maddy Woods via email.
10

Shaun’s
‘stratum’
The tables will be turned on Art
Curator Shaun Caton next month
when the Trust opens its 21st
exhibition. Instead of sourcing and
organising artworks from local artists,
Shaun will be experiencing life from the other side as his own
pieces go on display in the Education Centre.
Running for four months, the exhibition entitled ‘Stratum’ will
showcase a style of paintings and drawings that Shaun has
been developing since 2001 following an inspirational trip to
Greece. To give you a taster of what to expect, Shaun
describes his pieces as “playful, mischievous, inventive, quirky
and affordable!”
Shaun has exhibited his work all over the world including,
USA, Russia, Holland, France, Japan, Germany, Spain and
Poland, but this is the first time that he has held an exhibition
in a hospital. Shaun said: “I’ve been exhibiting since 1985, but
due to my work at Homerton I have grown to see the hospital
as a huge gallery. It will be strange to see my work exhibited
here, but the staff photographic exhibition held earlier this
year really gave me a confidence to show my own stuff.”
The exhibition will also form a basis of a new series of patient
art therapy workshops in the RNRU. Proceeds from the
exhibition will go towards the hospital arts fund
Small grants available
for R&D
From time to time staff within the Trust have good ideas or are
provided with opportunities to undertake small pieces of work,
but are unable to take this forward due to a lack of funding.
The Research and Development (R&D) Committee has
developed a Trustwide scheme that will allow staff to bid for up
to £1000 to support studies that are registered on the Trust
R&D database. These costs can cover things like travel, statistical
advice, small pieces of kit, translation of information sheets and
occasionally the cost of investigations.
People interested in applying for such support should
contact R&D manager Bunia Gorelick on ext 5107.
Two
minutes
with…
Damian Muncaster,
Senior Chief Respiratory
Physiologist
1 What was your first job?
Well, although not quite the first, the most
glamorous was as a butter bean tickler in a local
canning factory one summer. It involved using the
‘tickler’ to ‘tickle’ the butter beans through a large
funnel to make sure the flow of beans onto the
sorting belt was even. It made Mother so proud.
2 What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Tough one, senior chief butterbean tickler held
obvious appeal but growing up it had to be a Nun or
a member of the Von Trapp Family… I loved the
‘Sound of Music’, something to do with the
lederhosen maybe!
3 Who is the person you most admire?
Difficult to choose one, loads of sportsmen - Bobby
Moore, Lance Armstrong, Maradona but if pushed it
would have to be George Foreman. Those grilling
machines are superb.
4 What was your most embarrassing moment?
Aged 13 I made the mistake of taking my mum’s
knickers instead of my Speedo trunks to my school
swimming lesson. After trying to bluff my way out
of the lesson, I was totally humiliated as I was hauled
in front of the awaiting class to hand over my
‘trunks’ to the teacher for inspection.
5 What is your biggest indulgence?
Has to be West Ham - spending too much money
and far too much time on something that provides
far too much disappointment.
6 What would you do if you won the national lottery?
Well I wouldn’t let it change me! As I was sipping
champagne, whilst being fed oysters by the cheeky
girls on my yacht in Monte Carlo.
7 What was the last:
- book you read Not the biggest reader but enjoyed
the Long Firm by Jake Arnott which was recently
adapted for TV
- cd you bought Cheeky Girls – Greatest Hits
- film you watched Doe a Deer a female deer, they
just don’t make them like that any more!
8 Reality TV… what would be your one luxury item?
I would hate to have to choose one of the cheeky
girls, so I’ll go for some kind of radio so that I can
keep track of all the goals West Ham concede.
11

A summer sizzler
This summer was one to remember at Homerton, with a
whole host of events for everyone. Including, the evercompetitive
sport’s day; a celebration of diversity that saw
the resurrection of the staff BBQ and a whole host of staff
treating us to traditional food from their countries and/or
traditional performances; even Andy Pandy had time to pop
into Starlight to greet some of the children.
Published by the Press and Communications Department,
1st Floor, Education Centre, Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Contact the editor Lee Jones on x5035 or lee.jones@homerton.nhs.uk
Visit our website www.homerton.nhs.uk for all the latest news about the Trust.
Designed & produced by
Andrew Younger & Associates
020 8995 8787
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