May 2012 - Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

In the news
Supporting ovarian cancer
awareness month
THE symptoms of ovarian cancer were highlighted by a team of gynaecology
Macmillan nurse specialists at the Trust as part of an awareness raising drive
during ovarian cancer month in March .
More than 6,500 women in the UK are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every
year . It is most common in women over 50, but can affect all ages . Symptoms
can include persistent pelvic and abdominal pain, swelling of the abdomen and
bloating, difficulty eating and feeling full quickly .
Women should alert their doctor if they are suffering from these symptoms or
if there are two or more cases of ovarian or breast cancer in their family, as
ovarian cancer can sometimes run in families .
Nurse specialists Julie Dale, Jean Sellars and Amanda Storey held information
events and poster displays at the Trust’s hospitals promoting the signs and
symptoms of ovarian cancer and gave advice on where people can seek more
information and help .
Amanda Storey, gynaecology Macmillan clinical nurse specialist based at The
Royal Oldham Hospital, said: “It is important that if you develop any of these
symptoms and they occur on a regular basis, you need to get them checked
by your doctor . We are encouraging women, if they are not happy and things
continue after seeing their GP, they should go back again for more advice . Do remember many of these symptoms are common
to other conditions so experiencing them does not mean you have cancer . However, if they persist then it is important that they are
checked appropriately . The earlier any cancer is diagnosed, the greater chance there is of survival .”
Women who are worried that they may have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, because of cancer in their family,
can be referred to a genetic counselling clinic . Women are advised to speak to their GP, or they can self refer to Oldham Cancer
Family history clinic by calling 0161 909 8537 . More information about ovarian cancer can be found online at
www .macmillan .org .uk or call 0808 808 0000, or www .targetovarian .org .uk or www .ovacome .org .uk
Your skin matters - successful study day
OVER 90 health care professionals
attended the ‘Your Skin Matters’ study
day at Fairfield’s education centre last
month .
Bringing together staff from nursing
homes, hospital wards, community
nursing teams, podiatry and tissue
viability services, it concentrated on the
theme of achieving harm-free care in
relation to pressure ulcers .
Chaired in the morning by director of
nursing, Marian Carroll and in the
afternoon by associate director of nursing,
Vic Crumbleholme, the day provided a
packed and varied agenda .
Nigel Meadows, Manchester
Coroner, opened the meeting
with some thought-provoking
cases where patient care
had fallen below an
acceptable standard .
Claire James, director
of the Your Turn
campaign, described
how raising public
awareness of pressure
ulcers is fundamental to
the quality agenda .
Rachel Charlesworth and
Jackie Heatley, medical
matrons, shared first hand
experiences of promoting enhanced
skin care and taking forward quality
improvement initiatives . Joanne
Conway, lead nurse tissue viability,
Stockport Foundation NHS Trust, gave a
frank insight into the highs and lows of
tackling pressure ulcers in her organisation .
The afternoon included a talk by
Sue Smith, head of safeguarding,
where pressure ulcers were examined
in the context of potential neglect .
Vic Crumbleholme, spoke about
pressure ulcers as part of the quality
agenda focusing on QUIPP, Safety
Thermometer, CQUINs and Nursing
Quality Indicators .
An insight into the challenges clinicians
face when recording pressure damage
was provided by Judy Harker, nurse
consultant tissue viability . The final
presentation from Michelle Proudman,
lead nurse tissue viability, community
services, covered the process of root
cause analysis and the role of the Care
Quality Commission .
13
The study day was supported by
sponsors where a variety of nutritional,
wound and skin care products /
innovations were exhibited .
Staff provided positive feedback,
including comments such as “a
very informative day”, “a
good variety of speakers title with good information to
relay
“If you
back
suand
to staff
The
on
Christie
the
ward”,
saved my
and
life
“overall
and I can’t
I
thought
thank them
study
enough
day was
.”
good and touched on
important Photo courtesy issues of that MEN we .
might not find out on
the wards, like the safety
express information .”
Due to the success of the
day, it is going to be made an
annual event .