Issue 39 - Southern Health and Social Care Trust

3 RCN Nurse of the Year Awards
2
Up date
Staff newsletter
Issue 39 July 2011
Minister Praises Services
for Patients at Daisy Hill
Health Minister Edwin Poots praised the
standard of care provided to patients at Daisy
Hill during a recent visit to the Hospital.
The Minister toured the refurbished Accident
and Emergency facility and the upgraded
maternity unit at the hospital as well as the
hospital’s new recently installed CT scanner,
worth £600,000.
Since Mid-October 2010, the Trust has
invested over £3.5m in essential refurbishment
work to upgrade the infrastructure on the
Daisy Hill site. There has been a wide range
of work undertaken on the site ranging from,
for example, the demolition of the Hospital
Chimney to an upgrade of a range of facilities
within the Hospital including the refurbishment
of the Accident & Emergency Department and
the relocation of Gynaecology and Antenatal
out patients departments. There has also
been considerable work done to upgrade the
electrical and heating infrastructure which will
lead to long term savings and a reduction in the
carbon footprint of the Hospital. The work will
completed by summer 2011.
Minister Poots said: “I am very impressed by
the enhanced facilities at Daisy Hill hospital
and the Southern Trust’s commitment to
providing the people of the Newry and Mourne
area and further afi eld, with the very best of
care in a modern state-of-the-art setting.
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Mairead McAlinden, Southern Trust Chief Executive
(left) and Southern Trust Chair Roberta Brownlee
welcome Health Minister Edwin Poots to Daisy Hill
Hospital
“I have seen the new multi-slice CT scanner
which provides a much improved range of
diagnostic scanning, reducing the need to
transfer patients to Craigavon, and I have
heard about the Trust future proposals
for Daisy Hill particularly in the treatment
of seriously ill patients. I welcome the
achievements of the Trust and its dedicated
staff.”
GPs and Libraries join up in self-help book scheme
The Trust has launched the third and fi nal phase of
the ‘Bibliotherapy Scheme’ which prescribes self-help
books for individuals experiencing diffi culty with their
mental health.
The scheme aims to support GPs and health
professionals in the treatment of mild depression and
anxiety. Angela Corr, Senior Health Promotion Offi cer
for Mental Health, explains, “If you are experiencing
diffi culties, your doctor can support you to identify a
self-help book from a pre-selected list as part of your
treatment. You can then go to your local participating
library and borrow from a range of books, leafl ets
and DVDs covering topics such as addiction, anger
management, bereavement, depression, and stress
management.”
Dr Peter Beckett, the Trust’s Associate Medical Director
for Primary Care, added that there is evidence to suggest that the prescribing of self-help books
is an effective way to support people with a range of mental and emotional problems.
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Health Minister Edwin Poots visiting the new CT
scanner at Daisy Hill Hospital
Standing: Angela Corr, Senior Health Promotion
Offi cer for Mental Health; Julie Russell, Health
and Mind Project Libraries NI; and Evelyn Hanna,
Area Manager Libraries NI; (seated) Mairead
McAlinden, Chief Executive; Dr Peter Beckett, GP
and Associate Medical Director for Primary Care;
and Irene Knox, Chief Executive Libraries NI
In this issue
2 A Director’s Take
2 PhD in Life and Health
Sciences for Ruth
3 Queen’s University Belfast
visit Craigavon
4 Chair Visits

Director’s Take: Paul Morgan
Paul Morgan has recently taken up post as
Director of Children and Young People’s
Services. Paul has over 30 years’ experience in
a range of Child Care Services and over 12 years senior
management experience. He qualifi ed in 1979 with a
BA Hons Degree in Social Work. He was Acting Director
in the Craigavon & Banbridge Community Trust from
2004-2007 and has been the Southern Trust’s Assistant
Director for Safeguarding and Family Support since April
2007. Paul chairs the Southern Trust Child Protection
Panel, as well as being a member of the Regional Child
Protection Committee. He has signifi cant experience of
service reform and represents the Trust on the Regional
Reference Group for Safeguarding Board NI and the
Regional Reforming and Modernising Children’s Services
Implementation Group
A Director’s take on: your recent appointment
I am really pleased to be appointed as the Director of
Children and Young People’s Services. My entire working
career has been spent in the area of Child Care Services
and I am delighted and privileged to have this opportunity
to work as Director, in driving forward the services we
provide.
A Director’s take on: the best bits of the job
The best bits of the job are working with a diverse range
of staff who have a vast amount of knowledge, skills
and experience. We couldn’t provide services without
them. I value the input and dedication of all staff working
in the Directorate to ensure that we continue to deliver
high quality services for children, young people and their
families.
A Director’s take on: the worst bits of the job
With the demands of the post, means that I have less
time to meet with staff and receive direct feedback from
those staff providing frontline services. Also the endless
number of e-mails.
St Luke’s Hospital Gala Ball
Over 400 people attended the Gala Ball at Armagh City
Hotel recently to celebrate healthcare provision at St
Luke’s Hospital from its foundation in 1821.
The Ball, which marked the 190th anniversary of the
Armagh hospital, was organised by St Luke’s Social and
Recreational Club and coincided with an exhibition.
Speaking at the Ball, the Chief Executive Mairead
McAlinden said, “Since its foundation in 1821 as the
first purpose built hospital of its kind in Ireland and the
Western world, St Luke’s Hospital has provided a centre
for innovation in the care of people with mental illness.
St Luke’s shows that the models of care developed here
have led the way and shaped the provision of mental
health hospital treatment in Northern Ireland, nationally
and internationally.
A Director’s take on: the
challenges facing Children
and Young People’s
Services
A major challenge is the
current economic climate and
the financial issues that the
Trust and the entire Health
and Social Care family faces.
We all recognize that there
is a need to make further
efficiencies while at the same
time providing a wide range
Paul Morgan
of services that make a real
difference to the lives and
futures of young people and
their families. They are our focus and priority.
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A Director’s take on: the future of Children and
Young People’s Services
Early intervention and prevention is key in Children’s and
Young People’s services and we need to further develop
partnerships with the community and voluntary sector
to deliver on promoting and supporting these goals.
We need to continue to provide a range of universally
accessible services for Children and Young People but
continue to deliver on new innovative specialist services
for specific groups, such as children with autism. We
need to ensure that young people and their families and
carers have access to information on and contribute
to services provided by the statutory, voluntary and
community sectors at local and regional levels.
A Director’s take on: relaxing away from work
I currently manage the under 16 football team in my local
community. I enjoy playing golf and walking my dog,
Toby. I have also started running again after recently
taking part in the Belfast marathon.
“Buildings don’t provide care, people do, and we have
been fortunate that so many people working in the service
based in St Luke’s Hospital and in our communities have
had the vision and drive to improve care and treatment for
mental health.
“We must pay tribute to these staff, past and present, who
have been at the cutting edge of mental health care, and
who have continually shaped and infl uenced the policy,
strategy and model of care for mental health care. The
purpose of St Luke’s has changed over the years, but
the ethos and values that drove its establishment 190
years ago have not changed. They are to provide the best
possible care for people with mental illness and to treat
them with compassion and humanity.”
Congratulations, Ruth
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Ruth Carroll, Health Visitor Team Manager based in Dungannon,
graduated on 2 July with a PhD in Life and Health Sciences. The subject
of Ruth’s research was the Health Visitor’s response to family violence
and abuse – a grounded theory study, and although relevant to Health
Visiting practice it can be adapted by other professionals. Ruth was
runner-up in the RCN Chief Nursing Offi cer’s Award for Patient Safety
2010. Ruth and her team were nominated for the work they carried out
in identifying a number of non-English speaking clients who had been
victims of domestic violence and offering them support on accessing
services and developing personal safety plans.
Julie McConville, Head of Health Visiting and School Nursing; Francis Rice, Executive
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Director of Nursing; and Ruth Carroll, Health Visitor Team Manager

RCN Nurse of the Year Awards
Four nursing staff have scooped awards at this year’s RCN
Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Awards. Kay Donegan
and Joan O’Hagan, from Daisy Hill Hospital, won the Chief
Nursing Officer’s Award, while Vera Kelso, Lead Midwife,
Community Midwifery Services, won the Public Health
Award. Joint Runner-up of the Patient’s Choice Award was
Mary McNicholl, Community Mental Health Nurse, who is
based at South Tyrone Hospital.
Speaking at the event, Health Minister Edwin Poots
said that nurses are ideally placed to develop new and
innovative ways of delivering care: “You are there for the
patient, whether it be day and night. You are available
to listen to the patient’s story, and have the privilege of
experiencing the patient’s journey. You are the people
who know what needs to be done and how we might do
it. Driving up quality of services and outcomes for patients
is my priority and will guide all that I do. That is why I will
promote greater involvement of professionals in decision
making and service development.”
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Martin Bradley, Chief Nursing Offi cer, DHSSPS; Kay
Donegan, Joan O’Hagan and Janice Smyth, RCN
Chief Executive Mairead McAlinden adds: “Mary supported
the patient when he underwent brain surgery at the Royal
Victoria Hospital in Belfast and continued to support him
through his follow-up treatment. Mary was nominated
by the wife of a patient who was suffering from anxiety
and depression following his discharge from Craigavon
Hospital. Vera was nominated for being an outstanding
example of commitment to public health by a midwife
in promoting and facilitating the vaccination of pregnant
women against H1N1 (swine fl u) and seasonal fl u. Kay and
Joan were nominated for their contribution to patient safety
through their work in lowering catheter-related infections
in haemodialysis patients within the renal unit at Daisy Hill.
Their project has delivered savings in laboratory time and
cost, and in treatment with antibiotics or antimicrobials. I
want to congratulate Kay, Joan, Vera and Mary on their
achievements and for the well-deserved recognition of their
work given the calibre of entries in the competition.”
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Eddie Rooney, Vera Kelso and Janice Smyth, RCN
Addressing an audience of around 300 health service
leaders, politicians and RCN members, the Minister said,
that it was right to celebrate the excellence that exists
within healthcare and within nursing in Northern Ireland.
An event to mark the offi cial launch of University Teaching
Hospital status was held recently at Craigavon Hospital
and was attended by a number of senior staff from
Queen’s University Belfast. A plaque was unveiled in the
main hospital as part of the event.
Craigavon and Daisy Hill Hospitals are among seven
acute hospitals in Northern Ireland that have been
designated as ‘Queen’s University teaching hospitals’ in
recognition of their major contribution to medical education
in providing high quality clinical placements to medical
students.
The event marked the launch of establishment of the
Southern Trust Sub-Deanery in conjunction with Queen’s
University Belfast. The Southern Trust Sub-Deanery, led
by Dr M McConnell has responsibility for the co-ordination
and delivery of undergraduate clinical educational
programme.
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Queen’s University Belfast visit Craigavon
Frances Barrett, Mary McNicholl, Pauline Haslett and Janice
Smyth, RCN
said: “The creation of educational sub-deaneries and
teaching hospitals provides an integrated framework
which enables academics and clinicians to work together
to deliver the highest standards of medical education.
These developments also recognise the role of Northern
Ireland’s acute hospitals, such as Craigavon Area
and Daisy Hill Hospitals, which perform a critical role
in delivering high-quality clinical placements for our
students.”
The sub-deanery in the Southern Trust has been up and
running since August last year, improving the collaboration
between Queen’s and The Trust, enhancing the student
experience as they join us as part of their placement.
The Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University, Professor Sir
Peter Gregson,
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Mairead McAlinden, Southern Trust Chief Executive; Professor
Patrick Johnston, Dean, Queen’s; Mairead Boohan, Deputy
Director, Queen’s; Roberta Brownlee, Southern Trust Chair,
Professor Sir Peter Gregson, Queen’s University Vice-
Chancellor; and Dr M McConnell, Southern Trust
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Staff Profile
Name: Dawn Gibson
Dawn Gibson >
What is your Job
I work as a Clinical Coder in South Tyrone Hospital, Dungannon.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I live in Lurgan and I am married with three children aged: 17, 15 and 8.
What is Clinical Coding
It is the way in which every condition, diagnosis,
operation or clinical procedure is logged, stored and
shared. It is a method of confi dentially comparing the
costs, quality and safety of our hospital care across
Northern Ireland, and nationally. This helps hospitals
report on patient safety, cost effectiveness and quality of
care so that any variations can be investigated to make
improvements. Mention clinical coding and most people
are likely to wonder whether or not it’s a postcode for the
nearest health centre but Clinical coders in the Southern
Trust make a vital contribution to this worldwide process!
How did you get started as a Clinical Coder
I worked as a secretary before applying to become
a clinical coder. I worked in Lurgan Hospital, before
transferring to South Tyrone Hospital last year. It takes
two years to become a fully qualifi ed coder, with initial
training provided regionally, and supported through on the
job training and regular refresher courses.
Describe the type of work done by you and the rest
your team
There are three coding teams based in: South Tyrone,
Daisy Hill and Craigavon Area Hospitals. There are 15
staff as well as one manager.
Clinical Coders receive every patient’s casenote after
they are discharged from hospital or as a daycase and
they ensure that every condition, diagnosis, operation
or procedure from every individual patient is coded on
the Patient Administration System. I have wards and
specialties for which I am responsible, and it is my job to
Chair Visits
The Trust’s Chair, Roberta Brownlee, has made her fi rst visit
to Newry, Bessbrook and Mullaghbawn to meet with staff and
service users.
She met staff and service users at Millview Resource Centre,
and staff from the Physical Disability Social Work Team and
the Sensory Impairment Team. Within Learning Disability, the
Chair visited staff and service users at the ARC, Clougharaven
Road, Bessbrook, a joint project with the USPCA. There were
visits to Ardaveen Manor in Bessbrook and Teach Sona in
Mullaghbawn, the Laurels and Windsor Day Centre.
The Chair visited Cloughreagh House, Orchard Day Centre,
Newry and Mourne Social Work Team for Older People and
Newry and Mourne Trust Homecare Team. Mrs Brownlee
review the notes, extract each individual diagnosis and
conditions which affect their stay in hospital, allocate
a code and then record on PAS. There are around
110,000 inpatients and daycases discharged from the
Southern Trust hospitals each year, which means that
each coder codes around 7,300 patients’ treatment per
year and includes the vast range of conditions treated
and managed within our hospitals!
Is your job difficult
It can be complex and time consuming – for instance
it can be diffi cult to assign a code to some complex
diagnoses and innovative new procedures. In those
cases, we have to alert the regional co-ordinator who
in turn works with colleagues nationally to agree a new
unique code. That ensures that our staff are credited
with the innovative and progressive work being done
across the Trust. The World Health Organisation
produce a comprehensive reference book for coding –
it runs to over 1200 pages and shows what a detailed
and comprehensive process it is!
Is your job satisfying
Coders are a vital support function in the health
service. We have our own set of performance targets
– 95% of coding should be complete with 30 days
of the patient’s discharge from hospital with 100%
complete within 60 days. It is satisfying to know that
our work is part of a vital national support system for
the health service and that the job we do is part of an
internationally recognised process which helps improve
our understanding of health issues.
met Dromalane House staff and visited the two
residential homes for young people in Newry.
Speaking about her visits Mrs Brownlee said,
“I am delighted to have met so many dedicated
and enthusiastic staff providing services to older
people, young people, and those with learning
and physical disabilities. Community facilities in
Newry, Bessbrook and Mullaghbawn are important
to meet the needs of service users, groups and
carers and provide individuals with independence,
control and choice in their lives. It is my intention
to visit as many facilities in the Trust area and
meet staff and service users over the next year.”
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Millview staff Darren Campbell, Leon McShane, Andrew Smyth,
Allyson Steenson, Roberta Brownlee, Gemma Sloan and Philip
McGhee
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Service users Edith McGinn, Francie Kearns, William Morris
and Brendan Murphy with (back row) Orchard Centre
Manager Maureen Smith; Roberta Brownlee; Marie Quinn,
user; John Hollywood, user; Helen O’Hare
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