Linking up for first anniversary! - Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS ...

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2 TrustNews November 2008 News in brief Infection Control news Generous gift Televisions, an X-Box 360 console and a table football game were among the donations to the paediatric assessment unit at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary by the Huddersfield Pendragons. The money was raised by a collection at the funeral of the Pendragons’ former chairman David Gillibrand at the family’s request. His wife Pat attended the presentation. Also pictured are, from the left, patients Joe Eastwood and Alexander Forsyth, play nurse Stephanie Dunn, chairman of the Pendragons Richard Foster, Mrs Pat Gillibrand, Craig Williams of the Pendragons and play nurse Karen Foster. Handing over the cheque for £336 are James Watson and pub landlady Lynn Morrison to Sister Karen Lockwood (left) and staff nurse Sarah Croft (right) Chest wax for charity! A sponsored chest and leg wax has raised hundreds of pounds for the intensive care unit at HRI. James Watson, of Longwood, Huddersfield, had his chest waxed at the Spotted Cow pub in Salendine Nook, Huddersfield, and encouraged his friend Tom Pearson to have his legs done – all in a good cause. James wanted to raise the money in memory of his father who died at the unit nearly two years ago. A helping hand The Halifax-based charity the Cancer Laryngectomee Trust has donated funds for a specialist storage trolley for Ward 8c at Calderdale Royal Hospital. The £450 trolley will be used to store equipment and supplies which can be transported to the patients who have undergone laryngectomy operations and throat surgery and will replace a central storage cupboard. Carole Stainton, one of the trustees, said: “We offer grants to our members and to care providers for specific equipment and we are particularly pleased to be able to support the Trust.” One of the major steps to battle infection this year has been the introduction of a new team to help with central lines. The Central Venous Access Device team is currently ninestrong and works across site helping care for central lines. A central line is used for a whole variety of things, including giving antibiotics, blood and blood products and various medications. The tip of the line or tube sits in a vein just above the patient’s heart. Because the line breaks the skin hygiene is extremely important to protect against infection and the Patients and visitors at Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary were reminded about the importance of washing their hands as the simplest yet most effective means of infection control. Information and advice stands were in place in the foyers at both hospitals throughout National Infection Prevention and Control Week last month. Wash them properly SPECIAL COMMENDATION A DIETITIAN based at Calderdale Royal Hospital has been given a special commendation for her work with coeliac patients. Lisa Green was nominated by one of her patients for Dietician of the Year and learned last month she had been given a special commendation award from Coeliac UK. She said: “I am very flattered to have been nominated for this award and proud that my enthusiasm and hard work has been given recognition.” Coeliac disease is an allergy to gluten and affects the absorption of nutrients in the small bowel. Symptoms include severe Jennie Dunkerley and medical technical officer Andy Gale Meet the team Who do you call – the CVAD team! chance of MRSA bacteraemias (bloodstream infections). Liz Park, a nurse on the team, said: “As soon as a line is inserted we are informed by either the ward staff or theatre staff and from that moment we take care of the line and the area around it. However in an emergency others may access the line, for example if life-saving drugs are needed.” The team covers all areas except intensive care, coronary care, oncology and paediatrics. To find out more please contact team leader Carol Gallacher on 07733 380934 or CVAD Sister Liz Park on 07748 920439. anaemia and other nutritional deficiencies. Lisa has worked as a dietician for 11 years and is currently on maternity leave following the birth of her daughter Elena Mae this year. Conference USA The Poison IV team – winners of Celebrating Success 08 – have been in America attending a worldwide conference about invasive devices. Sian Bloomfield, Beverley Waller and Bernie Coll, our invasive devices clinical nurse specialists, were among 750 delegates from all over America, Canada, Australia and Europe at the Association for Vascular Access conference in Savannah, Georgia. Sian, said: “The conference was a great opportunity to network with colleagues from throughout the world, sharing our experiences and learning from each other. “The theme of the conference was the ‘Prevention Of Catheter Related Bloodstream Infections’ and it was packed with presentations supporting current and future clinical practice, research and technology. We arrived home with lots of plans, ideas and worldwide contacts.” The team - dubbed the cannulae police - collected the Gordon McLean £5,000 bursary at Celebrating Success this year. They won the award for their work creating new documentation, standardising equipment and setting up a dedicated IV trolley specifically to target cannula use and bring down the number of infections linked to them. New matron role leads the way A couple’s campaign to improve hospital care for people with special needs or learning disabilities has led to a new role. We were urged by Roy and Barbara Morgan to look again at how we could improve care for people with special needs following the death of their son Nik, aged 22, at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary in 2005. As a result we have appointed a matron dedicated to co-ordinating the care of people with complex care needs – and the couple are urging other hospitals to do the same. Nik’s parents were concerned that adult services for people with special needs were not properly co-ordinated and very different to the service they experienced when Nik was still under paediatric care. Our medical director and consultant paediatrician Yvette Oade said: “Mr and Mrs Morgan have helped us to look again at the way we care for people who have learning disabilities and special needs and take steps to improve the way we co-ordinate that care. The appointment of our new matron, Amanda McKie, is a direct result of working closely with them.” Amanda has joined us from Marie Curie Cancer Care where she managed Marie Curie Nurses working in the community providing end of life care. She has been a learning disability nurse for the past 12 years. She started her career has a nurse at the Lindley Special Care Unit in Huddersfield. In her new role she will help adults with special needs and learning disabilities who need to access hospital services. Amanda said: “My role will see me talking to many different people in other organisations to make sure that the patient’s care is as smooth as possible and planned carefully. A major part of the job is working with families and carers too, being an advocate for them. “It can be very scary for someone with learning disabilities or special needs having to come into hospital and I hope to help them through it.” Amanda can be contacted on HRI 7111 There is now a new, single computer system in our accident and emergency departments. It went live in August at HRI and was installed at CRH in June. Project lead David Armitage, said: “Numerous people were involved in ensuring the project was a success particularly from within the Health Informatics Service (tHIS) but considerable credit should also go to the A&E clinical staff at both sites for the effort and determination they showed to make this work. “On several days in the first week following ‘go-live’ staff dealt successfully with almost double the daily average of patient attendances whilst contending with the new system and processes.” The work was scrutinised by the Strategic Health Authority to make sure contractual obligations were being realised. The benefits in data sharing and audit reporting are already emerging. A&E clinical director Andy Lockey said: “It is difficult to understand how we were managing before this new system. It allows us to keep a closer track on patient care as well as minimising risk due to doctors’ handwriting instantly becoming legible! The new system has also been warmly embraced by local GPs for the improved discharge letters they now receive.” Amanda, centre with Roy and Barbara Morgan
November 2008 TrustNews 3 On duty in Afghanistan News in brief Improving patient care Intensive care nurse Philip Stammers is back at Calderdale Royal Hospital after three months serving in a military hospital in Afghanistan. He served with the 203 Welsh Field Hospital in Camp Bastion in Helmund province. He helped provide intensive care for the international coalition security forces soldiers who had undergone surgery for gun shot wounds and blast injuries. They were brought in by Chinook helicopter. Philip, 44, said: “The whole experience was worthwhile. You do feel you are making a difference. The staff of the hospital were respected by the soldiers patrolling the highly dangerous and volatile areas of Helmund - they know from experience that if injured they will be in hospital within a short period of time receiving professional care.” The reputation of the hospital was also known by the local population and Philip often cared for children whose parents had taken them there for the best treatment. Philip, a married father-of-two, served in the Army for 14 years before becoming a nurse and said going to Afghanistan brought both careers together. He said: “For me, with both an Army and a medical background it was a marvellous experience. I am very grateful to the Trust for allowing me to go out there and supporting me through training and selection courses. “It is an experience everyone within the medical fraternity should experience. It was both exciting and humbling.” The Trust is one of several that have been accepted onto the Department of Health’s Orthopaedic Rapid Improvement Programme. We will be focussing on the fractured neck of femur pathway aiming to improve and quicken the care for patients with fractured hips. We will be looking at the whole care pathway up to an operation and beyond. David Wise, clinical director of surgery and anaesthetics, said: “There is a recognition that for those who are fit getting to an operation as early as possible is a good thing. “Lessons learned can be transferred to other orthopaedic pathways so this is a double bonus for the Trust.” Essentials Philip is pictured with youngsters seriously injured when a car bomb exploded in a market place Confirmation Hospital chaplain Sue Brooks fixed it for patient Jayne Yip to achieve a lifelong dream of being confirmed into the church. Jayne, of Honley, was due to have taken part in a confirmation ceremony at Wakefield Cathedral early last month but was unable to attend when she became ill. So Sue invited The Bishop of Pontefract the Rt Rev Tony Robinson to come to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary to perform the service in the hospital chapel. She said: “I have known Jayne for about nine years and wanted to help her out. The bishop said he would be willing to come so we arranged a service for Jayne and it was a pleasure to welcome her family and friends too for her special day.” Michaela is ward manager/ trauma coordinator on ward 20 at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. She trained as a nurse at the University of Sheffield and qualified in 2000. She held her first post at St. James’s Hospital, Leeds, on the nephrology ward then on renal high dependency unit before gaining a sister’s post at Manchester Royal Infirmary caring for patients with acute renal failure. She met her husband Cleo whilst she was at university. They married in 2005 and have a “gorgeous but mischievous” two-year-old little girl called Rae. She enjoys running and dancing and keeping people on their toes. Jayne said she had been christened but had always wanted to undergo a confirmation ceremony and make an adult commitment to her faith. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Don’t know - I never seem to be satisfied and always want more! However corny as it sounds having my family round me happy and healthy, a job that I adore and the memories that I have. What was your best ever present? Still waiting for that one but if I have to choose it would be the tacky ones I get each year that I really look forward to opening as they always make me laugh and keep me smiling every time I think about them. How do you relax? If anyone has any clues for this one with a hyperactive two-year-old and not enough hours in the day then please let me know. What is the most important aspect of your work? I became a nurse to make a difference and I continually strive to improve the patient experience. Where is your favourite place? I absolutely adore Rhodes but not a Faliraki girl. There is a square in Rhodes Top from the left Lida Brambles, Anne Woodhouse, Theresa Donnelly, Liz Hirst, Martine Stephenson, Yvonne Hobson, Julia Willox, Nikol Fitzgerald Bottom from left Anne Crowther, Emma Evans, Kathy Green, Angela Davies, Janet Hallas, Anne Smith and front Beverley Haynes Dreams come true Fourteen members of staff challenges as mountains to conquer including senior administrators, rather than mountains to climb. clerical staff and medical Chief executive Diane Whittingham secretaries attended a new attended on one of the days to address development programme those taking part. After the presentation called DreAMS (Development day, last month, Yvonne Hobson, team programme for senior leader co-ordinator in surgery and Admin and clerical staff anaesthetics, said: “I now see myself and Medical Secretaries) as part of a big picture and one I am The series of workshops was proud to be in – the NHS. I feel I am commissioned to build on their travelling on a busy but very friendly strengths and provide an opportunity road and each and every traveller I for personal development. Participants pass encourages me to go on.” were encouraged to think of Face Facts: Michaela Nyanga town lined with palm trees with a great coffee shop and if you get the right spot you can look out over the sea. Who would you most like to have dinner with and why? Girlie nights out are always the best. You can be yourself and they still love you for it. What’s the best chat-up line you ever heard? Never had one sent my way. What was your most embarrassing moment? Too embarrassing to say but I frequently do things to embarrass myself. What would be the title of your autobiography? I was going to…..! What is your most treasured possession? My family and my photographs. What is your favourite film scene? I don’t have a specific but I love the animated films and anything that will make me laugh. How far! Nutritional support assistant Jennifer Jackson notched up 34 miles on the wards in her working week helping patients on the specialist stroke care unit at Calderdale Royal Hospital. She wore a pedometer throughout Stroke Awareness Week last month to highlight the importance of exercise in keeping healthy and clocked up more than 69,000 steps. Jennifer is part of the multi-disciplinary award-winning team at the hospital, which includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, doctors, nurses and consultants. The week also included a pamper day for patients with hair, manicure and relaxation treatments, an information stand in the restaurant with a book, cakes and CD stall and a cheese and wine party where team leader Dr Irfan Shakir invited staff and patients to an informal evening to update them on the latest developments in stroke care. Members of the Lions charity organisations from Huddersfield and Todmorden donated toiletry packs to the medical assessment unit at Calderdale Royal Hospital. The packs contain toothbrushes and soaps and other essentials and will be given to patients who do not have time to pack a bag before they are admitted into hospital. Sister Mary Nolan said: “We are very grateful for them on behalf of our patients.” Awards countdown Do you know someone who has done something special that deserves to be celebrated? 2009 sees the return of the health and social care awards to celebrate the best and brightest health and social care staff in the Yorkshire and Humber region - and now’s the time to start thinking about any shining stars you know. The 2009 regional awards ceremony will be held in May but nominations are needed. Visit www.yorksandhumber.nhs.uk to find out more. Christmas Carol Service Planning is under way to celebrate the festive season with the NHS Carol Service at York Minster. The service will take place on Wednesday 10 December 2008 at 7.30pm. Tickets for the event are free to staff in the Trust and coaches will leave from Day Surgery at HRI and the A&E car park Calderdale Royal Hospital at 5pm. The coaches will leave York at approximately 9.15pm and arrive at their pick-up point at around 10.15pm. To book your place on the coach please contact Cathy Hirst at the Trust Offices at HRI on ext 2215. Patients and staff before the pampering gets underway – from the left, Anne Lees, Nellie Ludlam, Gillian Thornber, Theresa Duffy, Jennifer Jackson, Beverley Bartley, Alexis Hutton and Joanne Smith
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