5. The Swan newsletter April 2010 - Become an NHS Foundation ...

NEWSHealthchecksuccessOur most recent annual health check result from the Care QualityCommission marks a real turnaround for the Trust in just two years.We have been rated ‘good’ after a ‘fair’ result in 2007/8 and ‘weak’in 2006/7.We hope to improve on this ratingagain in this year’s health check,released in the autumn. For thesecond year we have declared fullcompliance in our self-assessmentagainst the 44 care standards. Theself declaration monitorseverything from infection controlto clinical training and dignity andrespect in patient care. We arealso pleased that for the secondyear running we passed anunnamed CQC inspection underthe hygiene code.Audit Commissionpraises trainingOur training programme Treat me, not my knee, has wonrecognition from the Audit Commission.Praised for its challenging andinnovative approach, the coursehelps staff to recognise theparticular needs of patients withlearning disabilities and specialneeds. Our partnership withlocal charity Talkback indesigning and delivering thecourse was commended, aswas using people withlearning disabilities as tutors. So farmore than 140 staff members from25 clinical and non-clinical areashave completed the training. Stafffeedback has been really positive.The full Audit Commission reportcan be viewed on their websitewww.audit-commission.gov.uk.Major boost for women andchildren’s servicesThe new women and baby centre at StokeMandeville Hospital, known as the ClaydonWing, is winning support from patients andstaff. Open since October 2009, the multi-millionpound centre offers dedicated facilities,including en-suite delivery rooms and anexpanded neonatal intensive care.Much work has gone into explaining why the newcentre is necessary. Adverts in the local press, doorto-doorleafleting and contact with relevant localorganisations has all helped raise the centre’sprofile, along with a tour for the local media.Integration newsAs you will be aware, theTrust was named as thepreferred provider forCommunity HealthBuckinghamshire (theprovider arm of the PCT).Keep up-to-date with the latest newsby reading our special integrationnewsletter, available via email and onthe intranet. If you have anyquestions, emailintegration@buckshosp.nhs.uk.The Trust has also contacted local GPs to explainthat a range of facilities will still be available atWycombe Hospital including outpatient clinics,day surgery, antenatal services, a midwife-led birthcentre and children’s ambulatory unit.Facilities at the Claydon Wing emphasise the fullrange of birthing options available for women.Celina Eves, head of midwifery, says the new centrehas been long awaited: “After years of planning,we’re now offering high quality services from a firstclass unit.” Staff, now all on one site, are workingwell together and enjoying much improved facilities.In the newsBuckinghamshire hospitals are never far from the headlines.Here’s a round up of some of our recent coverage.Local media, including the Bucks Free Press and Bucks Herald,reported on our annual health check result in October, declaring a‘Good rating for hospital’s yearly check-up’.The women and children’s move was highly publicised and gainedmixed coverage, including headlines such as ‘Maternity servicesreborn’ in the Bucks Herald and ‘First look at your new baby unit’in the Bucks Free Press.Sterling efforts made by our staff during the adverse weather over Christmas were reported in theBucks Free Press, with headlines such as ‘Our hospital team is just wonderful’ and ‘Nurses trek anhour through snow’.‘Three babies born on January 1 at the midwife-led birth centre’ were reported in the Bucks Free Press,with all three mums commenting on the first-class care they received at Wycombe Hospital.The Trust’s success in the Community Health Bucks bid to manage community services was widelyreported in the media, and continues to make headlines as we continue with the approval processes.2Give us your news - phone the communications team on (130) 4959 or email communications@buckshosp.nhs.uk

NEWSSnow heroesStaff made heroic efforts to get into work during therecent snow. Here are just some examples of staff‘going the extra mile’:• walking into work through the snow and ice, from places likeWycombe, Amersham and even Chesham!• we also let visitors and members of the public stay overnight in ourmain entrance at Wycombe after they were stranded in the town• staying overnight, sleeping at the hospital at the end of their shift tobe ready for the next day• helping clear snow and ice to make it safe for patients and visitors.Chief executive Anne Eden said: “It was really heartening to see staffcoming together to ensure services were maintained during the prolongedsevere weather we experienced. I have received many compliments fromstaff, patients and visitors, thanking everyone for their dedication. Peoplereally went the extra mile, and it was very much appreciated”.A big thank you to staff…from one happy patientThis letter was sent to us and the Bucks Free Press after the snow:I was scheduled for a top femoral bypass operation onWednesday 6 January and on Tuesday down came thesnow. I thought that’s it then, no operation.My truly Samaritan neighbours got me to the hospitalon time and a kind doctor carried my bag up to theadmission suite, where I waited to be sent home, Iwas sure that nothing would happen. All the medicalteams suddenly appeared, assessed their patients andsaid that they were operating as normal.The operation was successful and I was transferredto ward 12A. The amazement is that, despite the awfulweather, nearly all the staff were able to get to thehospital to look after their patients. Only due to theirtotal dedication did this happen, walking in fromeverywhere and a large number sleeping in the hospitalafter their shifts were over. We in the green bay inward 12A are truly humbled by the wonderful care,kindness, cosseting and humour received from theawesome staff throughout the hospital.Once again, my heartfelt thanks go to the wonderfulpeople that make up the Wycombe Hospital team.Richard JC EnglishThank youSir JimmyForty years of support to the NationalSpinal Injuries Centre is no mean feat.So Bedfordshire University has ‘Fixed It’for patron Sir Jimmy Savile, awarding himan honorary degree. Through relentlessfundraising, Sir Jimmy has raised £20mfor the centre over this time.NHSLA successAn assessment by the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) on thequality of our risk management has given the Trust level 1 – passing46 out of 50 standards.It means we can now progress through the remaining two levels, withthe next assessment in 2012. The Trust achieved 10/10 for having acompetent and capable workforce, and also did well in assessments ofgovernance and clinical care.Onward and upward –ex-patient wins national awardDarren Mitchell, a 26 year old teacher and former patient of theNational Spinal Injuries Centre, has won the Daily Telegraph-Aviva Sports Teacher of the Year award 2009.Darren contacted us after the award to thank staff for his 11 monthsof rehab. He broke his neck in a holiday swimming accident and is nowin a wheelchair. Not that his accident is holding him back – he is backat his old school teaching and coaching, and showing pupils thatdisability does not mean the end of your career.He is now in training for the 2012 paralympics, and is already in the GBwheelchair rugby elite squad playing a recent international in Brazil.“Ironically it seems likely that I will achieve more in a sport as a result ofthe accident than I would have otherwise. And now I am in training forthe Paralympics. Thanks to the wonderful work of OT and physio I lefthospital and since have achieved some pretty impressive things.”Spinal patient awardedGuinness World RecordThe National Spinal Injuries Centre were surprised with some goodnews in October, when an ex-patient was awarded a Guinness WorldRecord certificate for becoming the longest living quadriplegic,having been paralysed for more than 50 years.Rosemary Levin was involved in a car accident at the age of 28, breakingher neck and suffering severe spinal cord damage. After beingtransferred to the NSIC and having known Professor Ludwig Guttman,she was encouraged to participate in the games that were organised tohelp with the rehabilitation of spinal injured patients.In 2009, she reached fifty years as a 5/6 cervical complete lesion survivorand was honoured by the Guinness World Records for her bravery andsurvival.Spring 2010 Issue 5 The SWAN 3

NEWSEver met a SimMan?Well neither had many of our junior anaesthetists and doctors until he arrived at his new home. Hebreathes, cries, sweats, bleeds, even urinates and can be turned off at a flick of a switch.What more could you ask for?The SimMan is a ‘portable patientsimulator’ with realistic anatomy whichhelps clinicians to practice varioustreatments and decision-making in a rangeof patient situations. SimMan is controlledby a laptop and some very clever softwareand can really get the adrenaline racing ashe goes in to crisis.Martyn Ezra, a trainee anaesthetist who hasused SimMan, told the Swan: “It’s amazing.The fact that you can pause the simulationat any time means you can step away andreflect on what you are doing”.Consultant anaesthetist Stephen Snyderwas the first doctor in Europe to be trainedto control this version of the SimMan. “Youcan make it as easy or difficult as you like.There are sensors in the face and arm thatcan detect if an oxygen mask is being puton, and students can actually injectmedicine substitutes, which SimMan canregister if the correct dose has been given”.SimMan has his own special training roomand every session is filmed, allowing aprocedure to be played back and discussedwith the participant to identify any learning.SimMan in action with staff membersHome screening successA simple home testing kit sent out to men and women aged60-69 is proving a powerful weapon in the fight againstbowel cancer. Part of a national screening programme, it isnow being offered in Bucks for the first time.Men and women in the right age range registered with aGP and covered by Milton Keynes and BuckinghamshirePCTs have the opportunity to take the test. With 400 newcases of bowel cancer each year in Buckinghamshire alone,the aim is to identify bowel cancer as early as possible,when it is most treatable.Jeanette Tebbutt, Trust lead cancer nurse, is enthusiastic:“People are often too embarrassed to talk about theirbowels, and this simple test kit allows them to accessscreening in the privacy and comfort of their own homes”.Since the programme began, over 16,000 people in thecounty have been invited to participate. Over the past fourmonths, 56 participants have been called in for acolonoscopy and of these, 10 have been referred tosurgical teams.For anyone with an abnormal result, specialist services areavailable at Stoke Mandeville and Milton Keynes hospitals.The centres provide endoscopy services and specialistnurse-led screening clinics.Bowel cancer screening team at Amersham HospitalNow wash yourhands…We did our bit for GlobalHandwashing Day which was toencourage children to use theright hand washing techniques.Along with a special glo-box to testwhether their hands were clean,patients on the children’s ward alsopainted posters to help promotegood hand hygiene.Scannappeal targetsearly detectionScannappeal is seeking to raise£100,000 for a new diagnostictechnique for breast cancer in itslatest fundraising drive forWycombe Hospital.OSNA (One Stop Nucleic AcidAmplification) speedily detects thespread of cancer to lymph nodes,enabling radiotherapy or chemotherapyto start much earlier. National trials areonly just underway but Scannappeal iskeen to start fundraising now.Scannappeal is asking local people toback the project with a donation, byorganising their own fundraising ortaking part in a ladies-only WycombeWander Midnight Walk this July.Details can be found atwww.scannappeal.org.uk, by phoning01494 734161 or emailinginfo.scannappeal@buckshosp.nhs.uk.Giles Cunnick, a breast cancer surgeonat the Trust, is clear about the benefitsthe new equipment will bring:“Patients usually have to wait twoweeks for the result of a lymph nodebiopsy. Being able to test the biopsyimmediately will save women anagonising wait for results”.The project is part of the CancerFighting Fund, launched two years ago.This has already generated £350,000 ofequipment for Wycombe to diagnoseand treat lung, prostate, bladder andbowel cancers.4 Give us your news - phone the communications team on (130) 4959 or email communications@buckshosp.nhs.uk

MEMBERSHIPMembers’ eventattracts 8080 members attended our last membership eventwhere Dr Faeqa Hami, consultant in palliative care,presented on end of life care. In addition,presentations were made about our cancer servicesby Jeanette Tebbutt, divisional lead nurse, and JanetLinacre, lead cancer nurse.Discussion groups were held with members to talkabout the issues around end of life care. These willinform the development of our local strategy. Formore information on all membership events, visitour website.12,000 andcounting!Our membership has exceeded the 12,000 mark,almost a year ahead of our target.0 0 0Made up of staff and the public, the figure reflects agreat deal of hard work in recruiting membersthrough the past year. Building our membership is animportant way of involving local people withdevelopments at the Trust. Tracey Underhill, head ofmembership and engagement, says it is “a significantachievement for the Trust, my sincere thanks toeveryone who has contributed”.Keep up withthe newsThe latest edition of themembership newsletter isnow available.The newsletter is promotedthrough the staff bulletin and youcan view the most recent copy onthe intranet. Those withoutelectronic access can receive hardcopies by emailingft@buckshosp.nhs.uk or calling ext (130) 4405.Events diary2010 membership involvementFor the latest news and event information please visit our websitewww.buckinghamshirehospitals.nhs.ukAre we delivering our patient promises?An event for patients with a learning disability – let us know your views19 April (PM),Wycombe20 April (AM), Amersham21 April (PM), Stoke MandevilleThe events will be run and supported by Talkback, but staff are neededto help facilitate. Interested? Call Tracey on ext (130) 4405.Service standards – our service, your careYour views matter20 May (PM), Aylesbury Please book to attend*We will be asking patients to let us know their views and experiences.Are we meeting these standards and where do we need to improve?Come and hear first hand. Book your place now.The new complaints process – help shape thedevelopment of our policy17 June (PM), Wycombe Please book to attend*If you would like to learn more about the revised national complaintsand PALS process, the changes and their impacts, this event willbe of interest to you. An opportunity to share your views to informpolicy development.Young at heart7 July (early PM), King’s Centre, Wycombe Please book to attend*This will be an interactive event for older people and their family, carersor those who run clubs and activities for this group. Includes a ‘sing foryour life’ session, as well as a host of information about services forolder people from health and social care organisations including:NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental HealthNHS Foundation Trust, Adult Social Care, Community HealthBuckinghamshire, plus a range of voluntary and charitable organisations.Patient safetyNovember Further details TBCFind out more about the key work we do and let us know your views.* To book – contact Tracey on ext (130) 4405.EVENTSSpring 2010 Issue 5 The SWAN 5

IN DEPTHPatient care in tTaking a fresh look at urgent careDelivering the right urgent care to our patients has never been more important. Longwaits in overcrowded A&E departments are no longer seen as acceptable, and peopleexpect to be assessed and treated with the minimum possible time in hospital. If anyfollow-up care is required they want this to be as close to home as possible.With such changes in the culture of healthcare, combined with ever growing pressures onresources, the Trust has looked afresh at its urgent care services. How can we both deliver whatpatients want whilst also operating more effectively?The patient is the driving force behind all the urgent care reforms. And more specifically the patient’s journey through the Trust. Thereforms have looked at every step, from the moment a patient arrives at our front door to the moment they return home. To succeed, anychanges have to be interdependent, creating better pathways of treatment for patients. So for example, enhanced weekend radiology andtherapy services can assist the new patient pathway facilitators and the medical teams to help patients get home even sooner.The proposed changes inmore detail:Treatment Initiation Streaming (TIS):Behind the technical language lies apotentially enormous change for patients. Itwill mean senior decision-making A&Edoctors being involved in assessing,investigating and streaming patients from themoment they arrive.Patients will be placed in a clinical decisionunit for assessment or short-term observationby doctors whilst a decision is taken onwhether to admit or treat and discharge.Pilots across both sites have proved verysuccessful in directing patients to theappropriate specialist doctor much more quickly.Progress to date: Consultation on the TIScontinues and we hope to finalise theseduring 2010.Patient Pathway Facilitators (PPFs):See page 7.Weekend radiology investigations andtherapy: Providing enhanced weekendservices - meaning patients can be assessedimmediately and go home straight away ifappropriate, without waiting until Monday oreven later for assessment.Progress to date: The weekend radiologyservice is now in place at both sites.The weekend therapies service is currentlybeing consulted on with staff.Medical on-call model: The reforms proposeto change doctors’ on-call rotas so that theywork for consecutive days on-call rather thansingle days. It will mean fewer handoversbetween teams, which can sometimes delaydecisions on treatment or discharge.Progress to date: Discussions are stillunderway with changes proposed for 2010.Alternatives to admission: Some patientsare currently being admitted when it mightbe possible to offer alternative treatment.Three approaches being introduced are:more senior specialist opinion being availablewhen patients are in A&E; providing rapidoutpatient appointments; and newguidelines for all clinicians to follow prior toadmitting a patient.Progress to date: Hot clinic appointmentsand telephone access to specialist medicalMRIs are accessible at the weekendopinion are now available. Clinical guidelinesfor conditions not normally requiringadmission are under development and will beintroduced in early 2010.Estate changes to the emergencydepartments: Making better use of thespace available in A&E has been the focus atStoke Mandeville, increasing minor treatmentspace and reducing pressure on the maindepartment. A further proposal is to create anew ‘front door’ to our A&E service, with lesspatients being seen in a GP-led urgent carecentre at Wycombe where appropriate.Progress to date: Essential work to increasecubicle capacity at Stoke Mandeville A&E isunderway. Bucks Urgent Care is developingthe ‘front door’ GP service at Wycombe.Short stay ward: The Trust is creating apurpose built short stay ward (up to 48hours) for patients who do not needadmission to a general ward. Changes to themedical on-call model once finalised willmean patients being cared for by the sameteam for their entire stay. Fast track access toinvestigations and treatment, with supportfrom the dedicated patient pathwayfacilitator, will help to ensure these patientsspend as little time as possible in hospital.Progress to date: This is closely linked tochanges to the medical on call model.Jo Hockley – helping lead changeJo Hockley, Trust programme director for change and central toall the current reforms in urgent care, has been chosen to be alearning network facilitator. Part of a hand picked national teamoperating in NHS South Central, Jo will be helping clinicians andmanagers to lead service improvements across our area throughthe clinical leaders network.Jo had to attend special training along with her fellowfacilitators looking at ways to support change in areas asvaried as mental health, acute and planned care andlong term conditions. It is a great achievement for Jo andalso puts Buckinghamshire hospitals centre stage inimproving care to patients.6 Give us your news - phone the communications team on (130) 4959 or email communications@buckshosp.nhs.uk

he driving seatIN DEPTHPutting patients firstPatient Pathway Facilitators have already started work at Stoke Mandeville, ensuring that patients receive theirtreatments more quickly and more smoothly during their time in hospital. The team of three senior nurse PPFs atStoke Mandeville will be joined by a parallel team at Wycombe Hospital in April 2010.Geraldine Kirkby, PPF team leader at StokeMandeville, believes the PPF role is of benefitto both patients and staff. Whilst the PPFteams need time to settle in, “many staff canalready see the benefits and that we canactually free them up to spend more timewith patients. We are here to help anddefinitely not just to chase beds”.Geraldine believes it has been vitally importantto recruit senior nurses with a wide range ofward experience to the PPF roles: “Our clinicalexperience allows us to understand thepotential delays patients can face in their care,and to recognise the pressures which wardstaff are under.The PPF team are currently working in threekey medical areas of the hospital:• The emergency assessment unit, A&E andthe surgical assessment unit• Wards 5 and 20, acute medicine andhaematology• Wards 2 and 8, medicine for older peopleand the stroke unit.For PPFs to succeed is dependent on theother proposed changes to urgent care inmedicine. For example, by making weekendradiology and therapies available. PPFs canhelp highlight those patients needing theseservices, thus potentially speeding up theirdischarge.“It is still early days,” says Geraldine, “but wehave already seen improvements for patients,less administrative pressure on nursing staff andspace being freed up on some ward areas”.Another important part of the PPF role is aspatient advocate. For example, if a patient isanxious about when they will have a CT scanthe PPF nurse can find out. The nurses act asa vital link between the patient and othermembers of the MDT.Whilst the PPF team focus on patients withmore straight forward pathway needs, theyalso work closely with staff looking after thoseneeding more complex discharge support, thehospital discharge co-ordinator team.The PPFs are in touch with external support inthe community, such as GPs, district nurses,intermediate care teams and also social services.They ensure that preparations are fully inplace for a patient’s safe and timelydischarge, hopefully reducing the risk ofunexpected re-admission.So what is it like day-to-day for the PPFteam? “It can be a stressful role but isultimately very rewarding when you see apatient receive the care they need promptlyfollowed by safe discharge home to theirloved ones,” says Geraldine.How one patient journey would changeSo what will the reforms really mean for patients? Let’s follow one fictional patient as she progresses through thehospital. An elderly woman who we will call ‘Elizabeth’ arrives by ambulance at Stoke Mandeville’s A&E with acuterespiratory problems:1 Ambulance arrives at Stoke Mandeville A&Eon Friday evening. Following rapidassessment and investigations by a seniorA&E doctor and TIS team, Elizabeth is takento the clinical decision unit, where she isassessed by the on-call medical team.2 The doctor starts treatment and requeststhat Elizabeth be admitted to the shortstay ward to be seen by a therapist onSaturday morning.3 Elizabeth is assessed by the weekendtherapist and receives therapy. It is decidedthat Elizabeth is well enough to go home.4 Elizabeth is discharged on Saturdayevening, with an outpatients appointmentarranged for Monday morning.Julia Mee, head of therapies: Geraldine Kirby, patient pathway facilitator team leader: David Taylor, respiratory consultant and leader ofthe urgent care reform team:“Providing weekend therapiescoupled with the other urgent carechanges mean more patients can beseen immediately and eitheradmitted or allowed to go home. Forour staff it will clearly meanchanges to their working patterns butby providing therapies over sevendays the logjams therapists currentlyface on a Monday morning will bemuch reduced.”“Our role is to free up nurses onthe wards to help their patients.We take care of the paperworkand telephone calls needed toprogress a patient through thehospital onto discharge, whilst alsohaving the clinical expertise to dealwith any concerns.”“With these proposals we wanted tolook at the whole culture of urgentcare. How could we improve theexperience of the patient, whilst alsosmoothing the patient pathwaythrough the hospital? We believe thatstaff as well as patients will seethe benefits of these changes asthey work through and that thealready good reputation of ourhospitals will be further enhanced.”Spring 2010 Issue 5 The SWAN 7

STAFF SPOTLIGHTCelebrating the best –So many staff contribute to making Buckinghamshire hospitals what they are today that the annualthey finally announced the winners.The awards reflect the five promises to patients which areat the core of our approach to care:• Clean and safe hospitals• A caring, helpful and respectful attitude• Respect for your time• Comfortable and modern facilities• Best clinical careSome of the team who led proceedings on the nightFor the first time both patients and members of the public wereable to nominate. More than 100 staff attended the awards ceremony at the education centre, WycombeHospital with Trust chief executive Anne Eden and chairman Graham Ellis making the presentations.Clean and safe hospitalsawardMichelle Thiel, generalmaintenance manager, wonthe award for herdedication to keeping ourhospitals safe and reliablefor patients and staffalike. Michelle wasdelighted to have won. “It Michelle Thielwas a complete surpriseto me because I was nominated by one of myclosest colleagues. I was shocked that hemanaged to keep it a secret! It has made mefeel that I am truly part of a very special teamwhich goes the extra mile every day.”Respect for your time awardMaureen Ooi,specialistmidwife wasthe winner ofthis category.Receiving heraward shesaid: “I feelvery humbledby thisMaureen Ooi with Juliet Brownaward, and I would also like to mention theother staff who deserve praise and recognitionfor their hard work during the merger of womenand children’s services”.Helpful and respectful attitude awardLillian Hunter, a midwife at Wycombe Hospital was chosen for thisaward. She was nominated by a grateful patient, saying that Lillianhad shown thought, consideration and respect for a new mum andher family following a difficult time at Wycombe Hospital.Lilian Hunter with Sandra Hatton8Give us your news - phone the communications team on (130) 4959 or email communications@buckshosp.nhs.uk

STAFF SPOTLIGHTA day in the life of… John Lawrence,bereavement and chaplaincy team leaderBeing in hospital is an anxious time for both patients and their friends and relatives. At Buckinghamshire hospitals, we want tomake sure everyone receives the best possible care and feel they have the information and support they need. As part of ourcommitment, the Trust has a 24-hour chaplaincy and bereavement service, accessible to all patients, staff and relatives.John Lawrence, bereavement andchaplaincy team leader, isresponsible for a team of 30volunteers, four chaplains and fivebereavement staff, who are onhand to provide spiritual andreligious care at our hospitals.John has now been with the Trustfor 19 months. He has afascinating background, includingbeing a volunteer in an Israelihospital for 2 years, a vicar for 14years and even a qualified banker.John feels his varied backgroundhelps him answer questions aboutlife and how people cope withand feel about spirituality.“I very much like my job becausethere is a lot of variety,” John says.“It’s nice to be able to pop yourhead into a ward or office and justtalk to people who need somecomfort, or just some assurancethat what they’re feeling is normaland that there’s help available”.An important role for John and histeam is to provide support for thedying and their relatives, givingeach patient a spiritual assessmentshould they want it. Spiritualsupport is offered as well as painrelief and treatment, as part of themulti-disciplinary team’s work.John and his team are alsoresponsible for training hisvolunteers – preparing them forvisiting the wards and spending timewith patients and their families.Training includes reflective practice,helping to develop listening skills,which are so important inproviding a bereavement andchaplaincy service.In his role as a chaplain andrepresentative of the Trust, Johnoften gets invited to speak at localchurches and groups about whathe and the team do for ourpatients and how it’s important tohave a support network to aid thehealing process.John says: I’m very committed tomy work and think it’s reallyimportant to teach people thatthere’s more to our departmentthan religious advice andbereavement services. We’re hereto listen and help those who arestruggling – we offer relief”.Among some of his duties, John canbe asked to read patients their lastrites at the bedside and helpsparents to deal with the loss of theirbaby, organising services whererequired. Whilst chaplaincy visits canbe pre-arranged, John spends a lotof his time in the intensive care unit,visiting families of patients in ourcare. He helps them to make senseof the situation they are in and lendsan unbiased ear when needed.Spiritual and pastoral care isn’tjust available to our patients, butstaff too. John believes it’s vital foreveryone involved in providingcare to have access to the samesupport and comfort.“Our staff need the service asmuch as our patients and I wanteveryone in the Trust whether it isnurses, doctors, porters or adminstaff to know that they can cometo us at anytime,” says John.A current project for John isworking towards a multi-faithchapel at Wycombe Hospital –something that is already in placeat Stoke Mandeville and enjoyedby both staff and patients. Thechaplaincy team are there to helpeveryone that uses our hospitals,regardless of their spiritualaffiliations – something thatmakes the service very accessible.If you would like to know moreabout chaplaincy andbereavement services in the Trust,John would be pleased to hearfrom you. Contact him atjohn.lawrence@buckshosp.nhs.uk.Getting the right resultsBreast screening team congratulatedA recent audit of the breast screening units atStoke Mandeville and Wycombe woncongratulations from the ‘right results’inspector, who described her walkthrough asan “excellent audit”.The ‘right results’ programme, run by NHSCancer Screening Programmes, monitors trustson how they process and issue breast screeningresults. The aim is that no woman shouldreceive a normal result and then need a recall.The auditor could find no errors or gaps in the“excellent” systems used by the Trust andpraised the “professional approach” shown bystaff. All screening films are double read witharbitration for different opinions and resultsletters are double checked before being sent out.The auditor said that both units hadimplemented the quality management systemwith great success.NVQ successSince the last NVQ ceremony in May 2009,14 HCAs and MCAs have achieved theirNVQ level 3 in either health or health andsocial care.NVQs are nationally recognised work-basedqualifications. The course takes 12 months tocomplete and the key to success isperseverance, hard-work and a very supportivesister/charge nurse.Katie Butterfield, NVQ lead and facilitator forthe Trust, said: “This is a tremendousachievement for our healthcare assistants andMCAs and the Trust is very proud of them all”.Staff who were presented with theircertificates in October included: Meldy Cejar,Catrina Dalton, Jennifer Bellion, NosheenKhan, Eva Anson, Kim Beveridge, ChloeFurness, Mandy Jardine, Cheryl Lee, SarahSambrooks, Katie Tether, Samantha Tennant,Stephanie Edmenson and Lucy Vengi.Congratulations!Spring 2010 Issue 5 The SWAN 11

STAFF SPOTLIGHTSwanning around…My new year’s resolutionsSo how are you doing? How many have you kept and what happened to the rest?Patrick Kehoe, telecommunicationsmanager‘I’ve been trying to give up smoking for years,so my resolution is always the same…I’ve cutdown and it helps working in a hospital.Unfortunately the stresses of life are mybiggest hurdle so it’s not been that easy”.Claire Woolams, seniorrespiratory physiotherapist“I’m really trying to drink more water.I’m aiming for two litres a day but it’snot quite going to plan…I carry mywater bottle around and fill it up whenI can but I’m always leaving it behind!”Suzanne Wright, paediatrichealthcare assistant“I’ve been trying to lose weight and so farit’s been successful…last year I lost threestone so my resolution is to keep going! TheCambridge diet has worked for me and Idon’t feel hungry at all, I’m really pleased!”Carina Baldwin, outpatientsreception“Rosemary Connelly’s diet regime is myresolution. I’ve set myself a target to lose acertain amount and am regularly going toaerobics and salsa – it’s going well”.Rachel Young, service redesign facilitator“I set myself a goal of eating five fruit and veg a day…so far I’vestuck to it and I’m really pleased. I’m not wasting as much food andI’m being more creative with soups and smoothies!I hope to keep it going for as long as I can”.Win a CD withNHS discountsWhat our patients sayWe receive many letters each week from patients thanking staff for going theextra mile. Here’s another selection.All the staff on ward 2A, were fantastic.From the auxiliaries, the cleaners who maintainthe ward, to the nurses and doctors, who carriedout their duties professionally with a degree offriendly banter.A big thank you for a service I found quiteamazing, with care and attention beyond belief.Absolutely outstanding care and treatment received before,during and after the birth of my son. The whole teamcreated a relaxing and exciting atmosphere and environmentfor the birth of my first child.The experience fromreception staff, nurses anddoctors and we came intocontact with were veryprofessional, efficient andfriendly. I am proud to beassociated with this hospital.The care I received was firstclass.I really felt like I wasbeing looked after and the staffwere so helpful. Nothing was toomuch trouble and everyone whoI had the pleasure of meetingtreated me so well. It’s greatto know we have such peopleworking in our hospitals.Yes it’s competition time again andtogether with NHS discounts we areoffering a CD of your choice to one luckySWAN reader. Gillian Hearn fromhistopathology cracked the last issue’sanagram. Easy when you know but‘Decadence meant crying’ is an anagram ofAccident and Emergency.The key towinning thistime is toidentifywhichhospital thedetail in thismysteryphoto belongs to.Email your answers and contact details tocommunications@buckshosp.nhs.uk orsend them to communications, TrustHeadquarters, Amersham Hospital before30 April.NHS discounts offer a range of specialdiscounts to NHS staff including savings onmore than 150 high street brands.12Give us your news - phone the communications team on (130) 4959 or email communications@buckshosp.nhs.uk