NUH News SPRING 2017

More documents

Recommendations

Info

4 SpotlightOn Did you know? 5,000 is the estimated number of doors across QMC The brave families who give the gift of life You can be an organ donor at any age; Charlotte Chevli was the youngest of three daughters, the family joker, and known for her kind attitude towards others. Despite her sudden death in 2014, aged just seven, her family believe something positive has emerged from the tragedy. Charlotte, who lived near Lincoln with her two sisters Eleanor and Sophia, mum Kate and dad Bob, became an organ donor, which gave the gift of life to four people after her death. Her lungs went to a girl aged around 10; her liver went to a one-month-old baby boy; one kidney and pancreas to a woman in her thirties, and her other kidney was donated to another woman who was also in her thirties. Charlotte’s father, Bob Chevli, said the donors have described how “transformative” this experience had been for their lives. “This really was uplifting,” he added. Reading about the effect of Charlotte’s donation, “had a big impact on us” said Bob, who explained that the family had decided to donate organs because, “it seemed like doing something positive, out of a wholly negative situation." When Charlotte was taken into Paediatric Intensive Care at Nottingham Children’s Hospital, Bob says: “It was a terrible situation but (organ donation) was something we could do to help other people." Charlotte, who was a pupil at Potterhanworth Church of England Primary School in Lincolnshire, suffered a cardiac arrest in September 2014. Among many other things, the Chevli’s youngest daughter is remembered for being “kind, helpful and funny; always laughing” and having an “incisive wit”. She loved dancing and attended several after school clubs. Her father Bob, who works in the defence industry and was previously a distinguished RAF pilot, said: “Our motivation was to do some good. There was a net positive because the small amount of pain and difficulty we had to experience going through the organ donation process was more than outweighed by the positive effect of hearing the recipients’ stories.” Sign up to save lives in 2017 Over the last five years in Nottingham, 123 people have donated their organs to provide the gift of life to others, after their deaths. However last year, nine people died in Nottinghamshire because there wasn’t a suitable organ available when they needed it. Every day in the UK, around three people who could have benefited from a transplant die because there aren’t enough organ donors. Nationally in the UK there are over 6,500 people waiting for an organ, with most – over 5,000 of these people – waiting for a kidney transplant. Last year in Nottinghamshire there were 148 people were waiting for a kidney transplant. Now for 2017, NUH is asking patients, Joyce’s story Teacher and mother Joyce Francis, who lives in Nottingham, had a second successful kidney transplant in June 2015 at City Hospital. After being on dialysis for two years - which saw her hooked up to a dialysis machine for almost nine hours a night, seven nights a week – Joyce said, “I feel I am coming back to life. I have more energy and feel much better in myself. Since my transplant, I have completed a Master’s Degree in Theology which I would not have been able to consider before. As a parent, I have the health and freedom to be fully involved in family life. “I have a new lease of life; it’s amazing what I have achieved. I’ve also been able to go out and socialise with members of my church, friends and family, particularly on special occasions such as birthdays. Before, while I on dialysis, I was almost a recluse.” Joyce strongly urges people to sign the organ donor register. “You have the potential to help individuals who want to do amazing things, and your legacy will continue.” visitors and local people to help more people to transform their lives. There is something that every one of us can do to increase the numbers of patients who can be helped – and it is as simple as logging on and signing up to the NHS Organ Donation register. Joining the Organ Donation Register means that your wishes and preferences will be officially recorded, so that your organs can be used to help save lives in the future. By signing up to the register, and sharing your decision with your family so that they are aware, you could be helping to save more lives. NUH is the regional centre for organ donation and the specialist team based at QMC works tirelessly to ensure that all suitable organ donations go to help Organ donation – how it changes lives Janet’s story Janet Tilford became ill at the beginning of May 2015 with a liver problem which it shortly became clear was a serious condition, resulting in liver failure. Janet explains how, given just days to live, her life was transformed thanks to a liver transplant: “I had a very rare liver condition. My family had to watch me get worse and the only thing that could save my life would be a transplant. “It was a traumatic time for them, but because someone had decided to be on the donor register, and their family agreed, my life was saved.In fact the donor potentially saved or changed 4 peoples lives. “These sort of things seem to happen to other people, but it could be anyone of us needing a transplant – look at me!! I am sharing my story in the hope that you would consider going on the Donor Register, talk to your family and join online.” Janet says, “I am so lucky and grateful to be alive.” patients waiting for transplants here in Nottingham, and across the country. City Hospital is a specialist centre for kidney transplants, with many lives transformed and saved thanks to people who make the commitment to donate. Lorraine Hogg, Specialist Nurse-Organ Donation at NUH, said: “Whilst we encourage people to register their wishes on the Organ Donor Register, it is important to inform family and friends of your wishes. Many donor families say that donation helps with their grief and they feel enormous pride knowing that their loved ones have gone on to save lives after they died. This also makes the decision to support organ donation easier at an emotional time, knowing your loved ones wishes.” If you needed an organ transplant, would you have one? If so, please help those in need of a transplant by opting to donate organs and tissue. The reality is that any of us are more likely to need a transplant than we are to become a donor. It is Important to make a decision about organ donation in life and to share that decision with your families and friends. Keith Rigg, Consultant Transplant Surgeon, City Hospital Infobox It takes just two minutes to join the NHS Organ Donor Register. Register online at: www.organdonation.nhs.uk Or call 0300 123 23 23 @nottmhospitals facebook.com/nottinghamhospitals
5 SpotlightOn It’s time to nominate Everyone likes to receive a thank you for a job well done. So – what better way to express your appreciation for the dedication and care shown by our NUH nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives than to nominate them for a prestigious award? Nominations for the Nurse and Midwife of the Year 2017 Awards open at the end of February. We’d love to hear from you whether you’re a patient, carer or family member who has received exceptional care in our hospitals in the last 12 months. NUH staff can also nominate colleagues as part of the annual awards, now in their fourth year. We’re looking for individuals who have made a real difference to you, by showing outstanding care, dedication and going the extra mile to help. It’s easy to nominate. There are eight categories to choose from right – covering the different aspects of nursing, healthcare and midwifery at NUH. To qualify for the awards, each person nominated must work at NUH. You can make your nominations at any time before Sunday 12 March. A panel of experts will then narrow down the nominations to the three shortlisted entrants in each category, before a public vote decides the winner of each category. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 18 May. The overall winner, who will have the honour of having a tram named after them, will be the person with the most public votes. Last year the overall winner chosen by the public was staff nurse Aprille Jones, who also won the International Nurse or Midwife of the Year category in 2016. Born in the Philippines, Aprille works in the theatre recovery ward at QMC, helping patients get fit again after often life-saving or life-altering procedures. She explained why she enjoys working for NUH: “At first it was a culture shock because the NHS is completely different to what we have learnt back home. “But once you have time to settle in it’s fantastic. There’s only one place I’d like to work, and that’s QMC. “It’s not easy at QMC because the standard is high. You need to keep up, do your best and be committed to what you do. They never stop looking for improvement and giving the best quality of care to the public.” Aprille summed up what had made the difference to her patients: “You just have to give your best possible care and make them feel as comfortable as possible and put them at ease. Sometimes you need to be a good listener but other times you just have to hold their hand.” Mandie Sunderland, Chief Nurse at NUH, said that as 2017 marks the 40th anniversary of QMC, the awards are a great opportunity to recognise the many years of dedicated service that nurses and midwives at NUH have provided. We also have a dedicated 'QMC 40th Anniversary Award' category this year recognising a nurse or midwife who has made an exceptional contribution over the last 40 years. “From the next generation of nurses and midwives to colleagues who have provided sustained and dedicated service over the years, we truly want to recognise the fantastic contributions across adult and children’s services at NUH made by our nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives. ‘We are so grateful for the support of our sponsors and partners who make these awards possible. We have heard from our previous winners what a real boost it gives them to know that their work is appreciated by their patients and their colleagues. “I’m personally so proud of all that we do at NUH and it means so much that once a year we get to focus on what really makes a difference to the care we offer our patients. “Please take a few minutes to nominate someone who has made a difference to you – it means so much to our nurses and midwives to know that you appreciate them.” This year’s awards are again being run in conjunction with the Nottingham Post with main sponsors Nottingham Express Transit (NET). Categoriesinfo • Children’s Nurse of the Year • Midwife of the Year • Adult Nurse of the Year • Student Nurse or Midwife of the Year • Healthcare Assistant of the Year • International Nurse or Midwife of the Year • Nurse or Midwife Leader of the Year • QMC 40th Anniversary Award – this recognises a nurse or midwife who has made an exceptional contribution over the last 40 years • Overall winner – the person who receives the most public votes from the shortlisted candidates
Page 1 and 2: Page / 3 Tram entrance coming soon!
Page 3: 3 NewsBites Building a bridge Helpl
Page 7 and 8: 7 NewsBites Carole Devenport Experi
Page 9 and 10: 9 year with us in 2017 bringing ott
Page 11 and 12: 11 NewsBites Did you know? 300,000
Page 13 and 14: 13 CharityNews Nottingham Children'
Page 15 and 16: 15 DiaryPage Membersnews An excitin

NUH News SPRING 2017

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?