Winter 2008 - British Cardiovascular Society

B.A.N.C.C. NEWS
Editors: Azeem Ahmad
Jane Butler
Jan Keenan
Winter 2008
Vol 6 issue 1
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Page: 1 - 2
- President’s Letter
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
Page: 3 - 4
- BANCC Council
Elections 2008 -
Nominations
- BANCC Council
2007-2009
Page: 5
- Engaging
members in
research
collaboration
Page: 6
- BANCC Research
Network contacts
- Cardiac Nursing
Awards 2008
- Professional
Development and
Support Fund
Page: 7
Non-Medical Cath
Lab Staffing
Page: 8
- Building a better
BHF
Plus…Key dates for
your diary, Website
Links and how to
contact BANCC!
Dear BANCC members,
As you will see from this newsletter and from receipt of papers in the post, it
is election time again. I urge you all to consider coming forward to
represent your colleagues on council. If you think BANCC could do better –
now’s the time to influence this!
BANCC remains the key cardiovascular nursing association in the UK but
works hard to foster links with others. Nurses working in specialist areas
such as heart failure, arrhythmia care and adult congenital heart disease (to
name but a few) may find that they obtain important clinical information and
support via more specific associations, some affiliated to BCS (e.g. HRUK,
heart failure, BACR). However, often the number of nurses within these
associations is quite small and therefore cardiovascular nursing issues may
be marginalised by basic science, technological or medical agendas. To
this end, many nurses (including me!) find themselves subscribing to more
than one association so that a strong nursing influence is upheld through
BANCC.
This is acknowledged by the BCS and at their council meeting in October,
where all these affiliated groups are represented, BANCC were asked to
lead a review of coronary care units (CCU) around the UK. The society had
been made aware that several smaller units were threatened with closure
due to new `heart attack’ centres being perceived as taking the traditional
patients from CCU. However, as we all know, patients who have had an ST
elevation MI are the minority of MI patients.
Continues on Page 2
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President’s letter continued
Since July 2007, we have been networking with the Royal College of Nursing Cardiovascular
Nursing Network, the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgeons nursing representative, the ACHD
nurses and the Society of Vascular Nurses. Ultimately, as briefly outlined at our last AGM, I hope
that BANCC will be able to act as an `umbrella’ organisation, bringing together these specialised
groups to develop a strong, representative cardiovascular nursing voice, perhaps by expanding
the BANCC council to allow each organisation to be formally represented. In particular, we hope to
establish regular study days in collaboration with these organisations outside the annual session
at BCS scientific conference with reduced fees for BANCC members. I would be interested in your
thoughts on these initiatives.
We have spent considerable time during council meetings discussing how we can ensure that
membership to BANCC represents value for money. Besides the benefits outlined on the
membership renewal form, BANCC members are also eligible for reduced subscription to the
British Journal of Cardiac Nursing and access to the new British Heart Foundation cardiac nursing
module developed with Salford University (see inside for details). In addition, any nurse
considering applying to the European Society of Cardiology for Nurse Fellowship MUST submit a
letter from their national society in support of their application. As you will see from the article by
Professor David Thompson, we are also trying to develop the research network to enable any of
you with project ideas to benefit from the considerable expertise that exists in cardiovascular
nursing research in the UK. This is a genuine offer and could perhaps help you to identify others
around the country who may be involved in similar work or assist you in refining your idea and
giving pointers for identifying local support for your work.
I hope you will get a taste for some of the work that the council and some BANCC members are
conducting on your behalf and decide that you want to be more involved. These are very exciting
times for cardiovascular nursing and by standing for council, you could really make a difference.
We look forward to welcoming you at the AGM in June!
Best wishes,
Jenny Tagney, President BANCC
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You will have received in the post by now, nomination papers for the upcoming BANCC Council
Elections. This year BANCC are recruiting for the following posts:
• Junior Treasurer
• Ordinary Council Member (which became vacant last June 2007, after the elected
candidate was unable to take up the post)
If you feel you want to contribute to the running of your Association, then please do apply to
become a member of BANCC Council. The successfully elected candidates will officially join
BANCC Council at the BANCC Annual General Meeting, held during the British Cardiovascular
Society Annual Scientific Conference, 2 - 4 June 2008, Manchester Central.
We welcome interest from anyone who is a current BANCC member and would like to join the
council. Please note that you will need to be proposed and seconded by current members of
BANCC. The council is made up of 4 ordinary council members and 6 officers and meets
approximately four times a year, excluding the AGM. Each Council member takes on the work
generated at the meetings, may be asked to represent BANCC with external agencies (e.g. BHF,
NICE) and is allocated a distinct role eg. newsletter production, training and development fund. As
a member of the Council you will be in a position to influence how BANCC represents its members
and cardiovascular nursing.
The prerequisites for a Council member are that you are motivated and committed to
cardiovascular care. We need enthusiastic people who are willing to provide a commitment
to BANCC, not only by attending council meetings but also taking an active role in the
association.
If you would like to informally chat about a nomination please contact me on 020 8983 2239 or
email jane.butler@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk or alternatively email me at bancc@bcs.com.
The deadline for returns is 5pm, Friday 29 February 2008.
Jane Butler
Honorary Secretary
BANCC Council Elections 2008 – Nominations
BANCC Council 2007 - 2009
Jenny Tagney
President
Current Role: Consultant Nurse in Cardiology, Bristol Royal Infirmary
Areas of special interest: Developing evidence-based care for patients with Implantable
Cardioverter Defibrillators. Acute coronary syndromes and chest pain assessment.
Jayne Mudd
President-Elect
Current Role: Specialist Nurse in Arrhythmia Management, James Cook University Hospital
Areas of special interest: Cardiac rhythm management
Jane Butler
Honorary Secretary
Current Role: Consultant Nurse in Heart Failure, London Chest Hospital
Areas of special interest: Heart failure and cardiac education.
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Jan Keenan
Junior Secretary
Current Role: Consultant Nurse in Cardiac Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital
Areas of special interest: Cardiac nursing
Sanjay Ramdany Treasurer
Current Role: Senior Nurse Cardiology, Research and Heart Failure, London Chest Hospital
Areas of special interest: Heart failure and cardiac research
Junior Treasurer – to be filled June 2008
Ordinary Members
Roger Gamon
Current Role: Primary PCI Clinical Project Manager, Greater Manchester & Cheshire Cardiac
Network
Areas of special interest: Cardiac care
Mary Currie
Current Role: Service Director for Innovation, Business Development and Performance,
South West Essex PCT
Areas of special interest: Cardiac diagnostics, heart failure, arrhythmias, prevention
Helen Cox
Current Role: Senior Lecturer in Cardiac and Critical Care Nursing; University of the West of
England
Areas of special interest: Predominately specialised in cardiac care over the last 20 years,
teaching and research interests include cardiac and pre-hospital care, telemedicine and heart
failure. Other areas of interest which have developed are managing critically ill patients both in
high dependency and general ward settings.
1 post vacant – to be filled June 2008
Non voting Members
Ian Jones
Current Role: Lecturer in Cardiac Nursing - School of Nursing, University of Salford
British Heart Foundation representative to be confirmed
Jan Procter-King
Current Role: Department of Health representative. CVD practice nurse- Bradford, Editor in Chief
for The British Journal of Primary Care Nursing, Senior Tutor for the Primary Care training Centre
– Bradford, Primary Care Cardiovascular Society (PCCS) Board member and European Primary
Care Cardiovascular Society (EPCCS) Board member
Areas of special interest: Primary care management of CVD - Education and Communication.
Honorary Member
Professor David R. Thompson
Current Role: Professor of Cardiovascular Nursing, Department of Health Sciences & Department
of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Lead for BANCC research network
Areas of Special Interest: Cardiac rehabilitation, quality of life
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Engaging members in research collaboration
BANCC is committed to enhancing cardiovascular nursing research, and though there are pockets
of nurses doing research projects, many work in isolation and often have little knowledge of, or
access to, other nurses working across the UK. This is a shame because it often results in
promising work being unfulfilled or not reaching its true potential as well as duplication of effort.
Networking is important as it provides an opportunity for learning about different perspectives,
exploring issues, sharing ideas and discussing potential collaboration. Such collaboration can
facilitate involvement in the entire research process from the conception of the idea to the
development of a proposal. The benefits of such collaboration may include increased capacity
and capability, shared resources, minimised duplication and improved consistency, though there
are challenges such as competing agendas and vested interests.
One example of an approach to try and harness potential is that taken by the European Society of
Cardiology Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professions (CCNAP). I chair the
Science Committee and we have UNITE (Undertaking Nursing Interventions Throughout Europe),
an initiative founded in 2000. It is a collaborative research study group whose principal aim is to
promote and organise research in the field of cardiovascular nursing in Europe that is likely to
have a significant impact on the care of cardiac patients. The major focus is those patients who
have poor quality of life and poor symptom control. Membership of UNITE comprises nurse
researchers from different countries in Europe.
Although a number of key individuals have comprised the UNITE team since its inception, it has
always been the aim that membership would be fluid and would depend on the commitment and
input of individuals. In other words, individuals who propose a study should, once it has been
agreed by the UNITE team, be expected to take the lead in conducting it and writing it up, with
appropriate support, guidance and input from other members of UNITE.
Each year (at the Spring meeting and Congress) the UNITE team meets to discuss progress and
plan action. To date, the initiative has been successful and yielded around half a dozen
publications in the house journal, the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. Though the
UNITE research study group has been active to date it is important to periodically review its
progress and action plans to avoid stagnation and to ensure it maintains its strategic direction. In
order to do this there is a need to consider a number of issues: momentum, commitment, new
members and ideas, organisation, visibility and funding.
This is one example of research engagement and collaboration and there is no reason why we
could not take this approach in BANCC. Indeed, it would be welcomed.
As you will be aware, individuals with different research experience and expertise around the UK
volunteered to be regional contacts for those with research ideas but without strong links to
Universities and formed the BANCC research network. Since my return to the UK, I have been
co-opted to lead this network. These individuals have been sadly under utilised yet there is HUGE
potential for national collaboration.
If you are interested in becoming involved in such collaboration, please get in touch via Azeem
Ahmad at BANCC - BCS offices or via the President, Jenny Tagney.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Professor David R. Thompson
University of Leicester, Dept of Health Sciences & Dept of Cardiovascular Sciences
Lead for BANCC research network
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BANCC Research Network contacts
Scotland Ing Marie Logie logies.tiggy@btinternet.com
Karen Smith
karen.smith17@nhs.net
N West & Ian Jones i.jones@salford.ac.uk
N Ireland Christi Deaton mcdeaton@manchester.ac.uk
N East Alun Roebuck alun.roebuck@chs.northy.nhs.uk
Yorkshire Felicity Astin f.astin@leeds.ac.uk
Staffs Chris Keighley c.j.keighley@staffs.ac.uk
West Mids Tom Quinn t.quinn@coventry.ac.uk
East Hannah Waterhouse mcxhw@nottingham.ac.uk
South West Jenny Tagney jenny.tagney@ubht.nhs.uk
John Albarran
john.albarran@uwe.ac.uk
South East Jill Riley jillian.riley@imperial.ac.uk
S. Coast Martha Wrigley Martha.Wrigley@asph.nhs.uk
Wales Linda Edmunds Linda.Edmunds@CardiffandVale.wales.nhs.uk
Just a last minute reminder that the closing date for applications is approaching fast next Tuesday
18th February 2008 and the awards ceremony is planned for 25th April 2008 in London. These
awards are organised jointly between BANCC and the BJCN to highlight the achievements of
cardiac nurses. Please think long and hard about cardiac nurses you know (it may be you!)
working in clinical practice, education or research (or perhaps a combination of all three areas)
who you feel are exceptional in any of the 11 categories identified and then get busy writing your
supporting statements to nominate them!
Last year’s ceremony was a really special event, with nurses being truly proud to be
acknowledged by their peers. I’m sure this year’s event will build on this early success but we do
need you to be actively working on your nominations. We know there is a lot of good work going
on out there so now’s the time to have it acknowledged!
To view the flyer now, please click on the below link:
http://www.bcs.com/documents/CARDIAC_NURSING_AWARDS.PDF
Jenny Tagney
Cardiac Nursing Awards 2008
Professional Development and Support Fund
Applications are still welcome and will be considered at the next BANCC Council meeting on
22 April 2008, prior to this year’s Annual General Meeting. Applicants will be notified in writing of
the result of their request and successful applications will also be mentioned in a future newsletter.
For further details on how to apply, please read through the information on our website
http://www.bcs.com/pages/page_about.aspPageID=374 or contact me at bancc@bcs.com. The
deadline for applications for this current membership year is 31 March 2008.
Jane Butler
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Jane Butler
Non-Medical Catheter Lab Staffing
Back in the autumn a meeting was held in London related to the British Cardiovascular Society
Working Group Report on Non- Medical Catheter Lab Staffing. As can perhaps be guessed from
the title, the subject was the pertinent issue of shortages in ‘cath lab’ staffing. The particular aims
of this interesting meeting were:
a. to establish a consensus that the recommendations set out in the non-medical catheter
laboratory staffing working group report of the BCS (i.e. to expand the non-medical catheter
laboratory workforce and explore the development of a multi-skilled workforce) are the right way
forward
b. define as far as possible the next steps in terms of how these recommendations will be
implemented.
The discussion (and a number of excellent presentations) centred on a number of issues:
National co-ordination of training
Should we be looking towards a national standard of training accredited by the BCS or individual
local training schemes – do we need to involve universities It is necessary to understand what
you are able to do and give credits up to European standards. Need to incorporate transferable
skills and accreditation. This would involve setting national standards, incorporating accreditation
with CPD, flexible syllabus and a modularised approach.
Models of training or Educational delivery
Which method of training is the most viable, a greater emphasis on theoretical based training or
hands on experience Do we need to involve universities or should we explore the BCS
accrediting a program Perhaps best to go down a recognised award body route as in-house
training programmes are neither marketable nor transferable. It is nice to be able to bring all
students together for mixed learning however not always possible and therefore it may be
necessary to offer online training for theory with practical work done at hospital unit. RITI
programme offers online distance learning.
Piloting and developing local models of NMCL multi-skilled worker
Should we begin training multi-skilled workers locally and use the experience to develop a working
model Perhaps need to look at the BHF Arrhythmia Management approach whereby one
partners with like-minded universities that have similar structures.
To what extent will this address the current understaffing of NMCL’s
Will this help to balance the problem of only 2000 NMCL workers when the projected need is 3000
– 3600
Is a Multi-skilled Non-Medical Cath Lab Workforce the way forward
YES!
The conclusion of the meeting was that the BHF and BCS will continue to move this venture
forward and set up a working group to decide on the most appropriate course of action both
nationally and locally.
Roger Gamon
Primary PCI Clinical Project Manager, Greater Manchester & Cheshire Cardiac Network
Ordinary council member, BANCC
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Building a better BHF
In 2007, the BHF conducted a survey of approximately 50 BHF staff and external experts
regarding ways in which the BHF can strive to achieve their aim and become the charity “by
which others judge their effectiveness”. From this survey common threads emerged.
According to the opinions of those surveyed, the BHF had excelled in key areas such as
developing educational materials, `pump priming’ of projects, big heart health campaigns,
administration and governance. Areas for further consideration were highlighted such as
measuring effectiveness, the ratio of spending on research and prevention activities and the BHF
attitude towards risk and innovation. The sheer number and breadth of projects that the BHF
supports was acknowledged but concerns were also raised regarding resources with the need to
prioritise future projects. It was suggested that more time was required to effectively plan and
co ordinate projects with the need to ensure appropriate dissemination of the outcome and impact
of BHF activities. The survey also highlighted the issue of fundraising with the need for a higher
profile to raise awareness and funds.
Following on from this the BHF Senior Management Team gave serious consideration to the
areas highlighted and summarised that the current structure of the BHF was fit for purpose, but
areas identified for further development included:
• The need to overhaul the annual review process.
• Defining formatting and publishing a straightforward set of effectiveness measures.
• Investigation of a Graduate Scheme possibly to start in September 2008.
• A drive to attract and recruit talented individuals from outside the sector by demonstrating
what the BHF can offer was acknowledged as was with the need to consider an appropriate
work life balance for all staff.
• Green issues were also considered as was the need prepare a specific policy in relation to
this and BHF operations.
The BHF thanked everyone who were involved in and/or contributed to this project. It is good to
know that the BHF remain concerned that they are meeting the expectations of the general
public.
With the numbers of nurses employed through the BHF rising year on year, perhaps we should
encourage the nursing leads to consider a nursing specific survey What do you all think
Source: Betty McBride, British Heart Foundation
(with permission extracted and summarised by Helen Cox, Senior Lecturer in Cardiac and Critical
Care Nursing, University of the West of England, Ordinary council member, BANCC)
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Key dates for your diary
• Nursing the heart 2008, 23 February 2008, London
http://www.bcs.com/pages/about.aspPageID=336
• International Journal of Palliative Nursing Awards 2008,
7 March 2008, London
http://www.bcs.com/pages/about.aspPageID=336
• Annual Spring Meeting of the ESC CCNAP, 13 - 15 March 2008,
Malmö, Sweden
http://www.escardio.org/bodies/councils/CCNAP/Eventscalendar/CCNAP-Events-Calendar.htm
• Cardiac Nursing Awards 2008, 25 April 2008, London
http://www.cardiac-nursing.co.uk/awards.shtml
• British Cardiovascular Society Annual Scientific Conference
2008, 2 - 4 June 2008, Manchester Central (formerly GMEX)
http://www.bcs.com/pages/page_conference.aspPageID=363
• BANCC AGM 2008, 3 June 2008, held during the British
Cardiovascular Society Annual Scientific Conference 2008,
Manchester Central (formerly GMEX)
(please note this in your diaries now, with further details to also
follow on the BANCC ‘nurses’ programme)
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Website Links
Internal website links:
• British Cardiovascular Society (BCS)
http://www.bcs.com/pages/default.asp
• British Association for Nursing in Cardiovascular Care (BANCC)
http://www.bcs.com/pages/page_affiliate.aspPageID=315&NewsCatID=853
====================================================================
External website links:
• British Heart Foundation
http://www.bhf.org.uk/
• Department of Health
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/index.htm
• NHS
http://www.nhs.uk/Pages/homepage.aspx
• Royal College of Nursing Cardiovascular Nurses’ Network
http://www2.rcn.org.uk/cvnetwork
• European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/622273/descriptionnavopenmenu=-2
• Heart Online
http://heart.bmj.com/
• British Journal of Cardiac Nursing
http://www.cardiac-nursing.co.uk/
• British Journal of Primary Care Nursing
http://www.bjpcn.com/
• European Society of Cardiology
http://www.escardio.org/
• Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professions
http://www.escardio.org/bodies/councils/CCNAP/
• Arrhythmia Alliance
http://www.heartrhythmcharity.org.uk/
• Coronary Prevention Group
http://www.healthnet.org.uk/
• Cardiac Risk In The Young
http://www.c-r-y.org.uk/index.htm
• National Library for Health
http://www.library.nhs.uk/Default.aspx
Disclaimer: The British Association for Nursing in Cardiovascular Care (BANCC) is not responsible for the contents or
reliability of any of the above external website links, and do not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them.
We can not guarantee that these links will work all of the time and have no control over the availability of any linked
sites. A link listing should not be taken as an endorsement of any kind, but is provided to help you find additional
information quickly and easily.
If you notice that any of the above weblinks (internal or external) are broken, it would be helpful to inform BANCC at
bancc@bcs.com and we will make further enquiries.
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BANCC NEWSLETTER
Got an idea
Doing something innovative
New ideas or initiatives
Areas of good practice
SHARE YOUR VIEWS WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES
This is your newsletter and needs your contributions.
We welcome features from our readers
Please email your news to
bancc@bcs.com
Or write to:
Azeem Ahmad,
Affiliates Coordinator,
BANCC,
c/o British Cardiovascular Society,
9 Fitzroy Square,
London, W1T 5HW
Direct Tel: 020 7692 5415
General Tel: 020 7383 3887
….and finally!
If you know of a colleague who would like to join BANCC, please contact Azeem
Ahmad now at: bancc@bcs.com, and he will provide them with details and outline
the payment options. Or alternatively, please point them in the direction of the
BANCC website:
http://www.bcs.com/pages/page_affiliate.aspPageID=315&NewsCatID=853
Just a reminder, if your contact details (esp. email as most communications from
BANCC are carried out electronically) have changed, it is important to inform
BANCC as soon as possible, so we can amend your records on our central
membership database, to ensure that you still receive communications from us.
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