5. The Swan newsletter April 2010 - Become an NHS Foundation ...
5. The Swan newsletter April 2010 - Become an NHS Foundation ...
5. The Swan newsletter April 2010 - Become an NHS Foundation ...
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NEWSEver met a SimM<strong>an</strong>?Well neither had m<strong>an</strong>y of our junior <strong>an</strong>aesthetists <strong>an</strong>d doctors until he arrived at his new home. Hebreathes, cries, sweats, bleeds, even urinates <strong>an</strong>d c<strong>an</strong> be turned off at a flick of a switch.What more could you ask for?<strong>The</strong> SimM<strong>an</strong> is a ‘portable patientsimulator’ with realistic <strong>an</strong>atomy whichhelps clinici<strong>an</strong>s to practice varioustreatments <strong>an</strong>d decision-making in a r<strong>an</strong>geof patient situations. SimM<strong>an</strong> is controlledby a laptop <strong>an</strong>d some very clever software<strong>an</strong>d c<strong>an</strong> really get the adrenaline racing ashe goes in to crisis.Martyn Ezra, a trainee <strong>an</strong>aesthetist who hasused SimM<strong>an</strong>, told the <strong>Sw<strong>an</strong></strong>: “It’s amazing.<strong>The</strong> fact that you c<strong>an</strong> pause the simulationat <strong>an</strong>y time me<strong>an</strong>s you c<strong>an</strong> step away <strong>an</strong>dreflect on what you are doing”.Consult<strong>an</strong>t <strong>an</strong>aesthetist Stephen Snyderwas the first doctor in Europe to be trainedto control this version of the SimM<strong>an</strong>. “Youc<strong>an</strong> make it as easy or difficult as you like.<strong>The</strong>re are sensors in the face <strong>an</strong>d arm thatc<strong>an</strong> detect if <strong>an</strong> oxygen mask is being puton, <strong>an</strong>d students c<strong>an</strong> actually injectmedicine substitutes, which SimM<strong>an</strong> c<strong>an</strong>register if the correct dose has been given”.SimM<strong>an</strong> has his own special training room<strong>an</strong>d every session is filmed, allowing aprocedure to be played back <strong>an</strong>d discussedwith the particip<strong>an</strong>t to identify <strong>an</strong>y learning.SimM<strong>an</strong> in action with staff membersHome screening successA simple home testing kit sent out to men <strong>an</strong>d women aged60-69 is proving a powerful weapon in the fight againstbowel c<strong>an</strong>cer. Part of a national screening programme, it isnow being offered in Bucks for the first time.Men <strong>an</strong>d women in the right age r<strong>an</strong>ge registered with aGP <strong>an</strong>d covered by Milton Keynes <strong>an</strong>d BuckinghamshirePCTs have the opportunity to take the test. With 400 newcases of bowel c<strong>an</strong>cer each year in Buckinghamshire alone,the aim is to identify bowel c<strong>an</strong>cer as early as possible,when it is most treatable.Je<strong>an</strong>ette Tebbutt, Trust lead c<strong>an</strong>cer nurse, is enthusiastic:“People are often too embarrassed to talk about theirbowels, <strong>an</strong>d this simple test kit allows them to accessscreening in the privacy <strong>an</strong>d comfort of their own homes”.Since the programme beg<strong>an</strong>, over 16,000 people in thecounty have been invited to participate. Over the past fourmonths, 56 particip<strong>an</strong>ts have been called in for acolonoscopy <strong>an</strong>d of these, 10 have been referred tosurgical teams.For <strong>an</strong>yone with <strong>an</strong> abnormal result, specialist services areavailable at Stoke M<strong>an</strong>deville <strong>an</strong>d Milton Keynes hospitals.<strong>The</strong> centres provide endoscopy services <strong>an</strong>d specialistnurse-led screening clinics.Bowel c<strong>an</strong>cer screening team at Amersham HospitalNow wash yourh<strong>an</strong>ds…We did our bit for GlobalH<strong>an</strong>dwashing Day which was toencourage children to use theright h<strong>an</strong>d washing techniques.Along with a special glo-box to testwhether their h<strong>an</strong>ds were cle<strong>an</strong>,patients on the children’s ward alsopainted posters to help promotegood h<strong>an</strong>d hygiene.Sc<strong>an</strong>nappeal targetsearly detectionSc<strong>an</strong>nappeal is seeking to raise£100,000 for a new diagnostictechnique for breast c<strong>an</strong>cer in itslatest fundraising drive forWycombe Hospital.OSNA (One Stop Nucleic AcidAmplification) speedily detects thespread of c<strong>an</strong>cer to lymph nodes,enabling radiotherapy or chemotherapyto start much earlier. National trials areonly just underway but Sc<strong>an</strong>nappeal iskeen to start fundraising now.Sc<strong>an</strong>nappeal is asking local people toback the project with a donation, byorg<strong>an</strong>ising their own fundraising ortaking part in a ladies-only WycombeW<strong>an</strong>der Midnight Walk this July.Details c<strong>an</strong> be found atwww.sc<strong>an</strong>nappeal.org.uk, by phoning01494 734161 or emailinginfo.sc<strong>an</strong>nappeal@buckshosp.nhs.uk.Giles Cunnick, a breast c<strong>an</strong>cer 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 <strong>an</strong>agonising wait for results”.<strong>The</strong> project is part of the C<strong>an</strong>cerFighting Fund, launched two years ago.This has already generated £350,000 ofequipment for Wycombe to diagnose<strong>an</strong>d treat lung, prostate, bladder <strong>an</strong>dbowel c<strong>an</strong>cers.4 Give us your news - phone the communications team on (130) 4959 or email communications@buckshosp.nhs.uk
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