Urgent - Bradford Teaching Hospitals

BRI Main Entrance Listening for Life Centre St Luke’s Front Entrance
BRADFORD HOSPITALS IN LANDMARK
CLIMATE CHANGE STUDY
How Bradford’s hospital buildings react to climate change is forming part of a multi-million
pound landmark design and engineering study being led by Cambridge University.
The project, called ‘The Design
and Delivery of Robust Hospital
Environments in a Changing
Climate (De2RHECC)’, is investigating
new economical and practical strategies
into how we can increase our resilience
to climate change while at the same
time meet the stringent carbon reduction
targets over the next decade.
The scheme’s fi ndings could have farreaching
national and international
signifi cance according to the Trust’s
Deputy Director of Estates, Ian Hinitt.
Ian, who is the Trust’s representative for
the scheme, said: “The research is taking
place over three years and will assist the
international healthcare community to
adapt and redesign hospital buildings to
better withstand the world’s changing
climate.”
“Bradford is exceptional as both
the Bradford Royal Infi rmary
and St Luke’s Hospital sites have
6 Trust Today | March 2011
seen continuous development
and expansion since the 1930s.
Our buildings cover every kind of
architecture and design decade
over that period, so all the
theories can be tested on one
site – making us ideal participants
as researchers can examine the
impact of climate change on our
buildings.”
“We expect the fi ndings will be of utmost
importance to architects across the UK
and indeed further afi eld. This type and
length of study has never been carried
out and it could have huge ramifi cations
for those tasked with designing new
buildings in the future.”
Data from the estates’ weather station
is being reported back to Cambridge
on a daily basis and sensors measuring
temperature, daylight and humidity
situated on the wards and throughout
the Trust are being monitored and
BRI UNVEILS NEW
MRI SCANNER
Thousands of patients will benefi t
from the latest technology after
one of the world’s most advanced
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
scanners offi cially opened at Bradford
Royal Infi rmary.
The £1 million scanner will offer faster
and more in-depth information and will
see up to 30 patients a day.
Jonathan Barber, Clinical Director for
Imaging, welcomed guests to the offi cial
launch in November and a plaque was
unveiled by former Telegraph & Argus
journalist Martin Wainwright, who is
now northern editor of The Guardian
newspaper.
Mr Barber said: “Bradford had one of the
very fi rst onsite MRI scanners installed
in 2000. This machine has examined in
excess of 100,000 patients in its time and
had to be replaced.”
“We have installed what is one of the
most advanced MRI scanners on the
market, which has capabilities that will
allow us to signifi cantly increase our
diagnostic accuracy.”
downloaded
frequently. The
data is allowing
a comprehensive
understanding of
how the buildings
perform now.
Their performance
in the future is
being modelled,
and possible
refurbishment
strategies will be
designed accordingly. These strategies
will aim to reduce energy use and save
money whilst also being resilient to
extremes of hot and cold weather.
A fi lm about the project is also due to
begin fi lming in Bradford in April.
Bradford is collaborating with other Trusts
taking part in the study, which is being
funded by the Engineering and Physical
Sciences Research Council with support
from the Department of Health.
Ian Hinitt
Martin Wainwright, the Guardian’s northern
editor, unveils the plaque
“The new MRI scanner will allow us to
offer new services to our patients in
Bradford. One area of particular interest
is MRI-guided breast biopsy, a technique
to aid the diagnosis of breast cancer.
This technique is scarce in its provision
in the UK.“
TOP AWARD FOR CARERS’ CHARITY
AFTER BRADFORD HOSPITALS LINK-UP
ABRADFORD charity, which works
closely with the Foundation Trust
to improve the patient experience
for the city’s growing number of carers,
has celebrated its fi rst birthday by
scooping a top award.
The important community role which
Shipley-based Carers’ Resource plays in
offering advice and support to carers and
other vulnerable people was recognised
recently at NHS Bradford and Airedale’s
Oscars’ ceremony when the charity’s
founder, Anne Smyth, was honoured for
her ‘Outstanding Contribution to Social
Care’.
The award took into account the groundbreaking
work Carers’ Resource has
developed successfully in partnership with
the Foundation Trust, including:
■ Supporting carers of a person
approaching end of life – the charity
secured funding for a fi ve-month pilot
project offering 25 hours of dedicated
carer support. The Trust is aiming to
raise awareness of the needs of carers
when caring for someone who is
approaching the end of their life. If any
ward staff know of carers who need
support, please contact the Discharge
Team who work closely with Carers’
Resource or Carers Resource direct.
■ Improving the outpatient
experience – as part of its membership
of this working group, the charity
has launched a ‘Gateway to Services’
information guide. The directory is
Miles Scott, David Richardson, Martin Wainwright
(seated), Dr Jonathan Barber
“In addition to the new technology, we
are delighted that we have been able to
signifi cantly re-model the department in
order to improve patient throughput.”
The patient’s journey to the scanners also
received a boost after Yorkshire artist, Ian
currently being circulated to all clinical
areas and aims to help staff better
support patients using services in areas
they are not used to. For example,
a person with dementia requiring
specialist eye treatment or someone
with a sensory impairment after a fall
with broken bones.
■ Extending its ‘Message in a Bottle’
scheme – a scheme encouraging
vulnerable people to help emergency
services by storing important
information about their medical
conditions in a plastic can kept in
the fridge. More than 3,000 tubs
containing the charity’s contact details
for people to access more help and
advice are being handed out to patients
as part of the Foundation Trust’s dignity
campaign.
■ Enhancing the healing environment
for people with dementia - this
King’s Fund-aided project currently
being developed at the Trust will
improve the environment by using
colour, artworks and increased
patient ‘way fi nding’ around the
clinical area.
Anne said: “We are determined to
draw upon our pool expertise
and knowledge to help carers
in whatever ways we can and
ensure their changing needs
are met, however complex they
may be.
From left, Dr Jonathan Barber, Gavin Bainbridge,
Nigel Lewis, Doranne Beresford and
Dr Elizabeth Loney
Beesley, was commissioned by the Friends
of the BRI to provide artwork to the
corridor which links the Trust’s two MRI
scanners.
Carers’ Resource
founder Anne Smyth
with her award
“Our work in partnership with the
Foundation Trust is a good example of
what can be achieved when there is an
understanding of the needs of carers, and
a joint determination to put them fi rst.”
For more information, contact the
Discharge Team on ext 4576 or call The
Carers’ Resource on 01274 449660.
From right, Discharge team leader, Ruth
Dixon with Carers’ Resource support offi cer,
Christine Gleave
Artist Ian Beesley with Friends of BRI
chairman, Trevor Constantine
Trust Today | March 2011
7