Acute Angle: June 2008

Staff Newsletter l June 2008

www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk

Acute Ang le

A c ute A n g l e 1

Julie’s sponsored walk

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The peregrines are watching

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All about Gilly

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Introducing the Department of Critical CarePatients requiring intensive care will benefit from a new, state-of-the-art critical care unit at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital from Monday (19th May).

The Trust has redeveloped the first floor of the tower block to create a brand new department with space for 13 beds in a £2.9 million scheme.

The project combines the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and High Dependency Units (HDU) to provide a modern, clean, spacious and more efficient department to treat the most critically ill patients.

The completion of ‘phase one’, the opening of the ward to critical care patients, is the first big step

towards the complete opening of the facility in September when the High Dependency Unit will move over.

Liz Maggs has been working alongside the Planning Department on this development for the last two years. Although she recently retired from her position as Clinical Nurse Manager, Liz will continue to work on-site until September.

“Building work started last June and not only have we have increased our beds, capacity from 10 to 13 beds but there is much more space and light, it is easier to keep clean and all equipment is off the floor so there are no trailing cables.Continues on page 3

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Meet the Communications Team

Yvonne Pirso Associate Director of CommunicationsTel: 08454 224733 Email: [email protected]

Sarah Aspinall Communications Specialist Tel 08454 224722Email: [email protected] Ria Morrison Communications OfficerTel: 08454 223563Email: [email protected]

Susan BradleyCommunications SpecialistTel: 08454 223120Email: [email protected]

Do you have a story for Acute Angle?

We are always on the look out for new stories and would love to hear from

you if you have some news.

Perhaps you or your department would like to feature in our Spotlight on Services or All About Us sections?

If so, please give us a call on any of the above numbers.

Our deadlinesIf you would like to appear in Acute Angle please send your article to us by the following dates:

July 30th June

August 31st July

September 29th August

Farewell presentationBob Curtis, Information Consultant, will be retiring at the end of June after over 30 years with the NHS.

For those of you who have known and worked with Bob over the years, donations towards a leaving present can be sent to Sue White in the Information Unit together with a completed label should you wish to include a message in Bob’s leaving card.

A farewell ‘do’ is being held on Friday 27th June from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm in Meeting Room 1, 2 College Lawn.

Following the excellent idea from Tim Tomlinson’s presentation, we are also collating a photo album for Bob and would be grateful if you could provide any photos you wish to be included by 20th June.

Celebrating SuccessSend those nomination forms in!

Last month in Acute Angle we included information about the Celebrating Success Staff Awards 2008. These are taking place on 22 September.

Posters and nomination forms have been sent to Trust wards and departments.

Check out the Trust intranet for more information on all the categories and prizes to nominate electronically.

You can also email Michele Pashley in Human Resources via [email protected] for information and extra paper nomination forms.

For extra posters, please ring the Communications Team on ext 3563 CGH.

The deadline for all nominations is 25th July 2008 so nominate your team or colleagues now!

Patient’s thank you

I was admitted to Gloucestershire Royal on April 29th this year for surgery and discharged on May 1st. I was extremely impressed with everyone I came across, from the nurse in Out Patients at my first appointment, to the staff on the admission suite and those on Ward 9a. All were professional, efficient and friendly. I spent my last half hour at the Hospital in the Discharge Lounge where a very kind lady volunteer kept us supplied with drinks and biscuits. I am a nurse myself, I am full of praise for the care I was given and wish to let you know and pass on my thanks.

Yours Sincerely, Kate Longstaff

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“Staff had coped really well with the changes when decanted to a different area and HDU is currently adjacent to recovery. We have made use of a big notice board with all information as it happens. Staff posted questions on the board and the development team also put on the answers and took on board suggestions”.

The new unit is the only ward to have an open plan layout. When phase two is complete staff and patients will have a dedicated entrance with visitors entering from a separate entrance with a reception area. The unit has more side rooms and two dedicated pressurised isolation rooms which can help when treating patients with infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.

They also have their own dedicated blood chutes as well as the only ceiling-mounted television in the hospital. The idea for the television came to Liz when she worked with a paraplegic teenage patient who was unable to watch conventional televisions.

Each of the service pendants includes cardiac monitors and ventilators and the only electrical sockets on the walls are there for cleaners or x-rays.

The windows are heat reflective and have integral blinds, something that is likely to come into its own in the summer temperatures. Combine this with the individual temperature controls and air conditioning, and the ward will prove comfortable for staff and patients whatever the weather.

The ward has a dedicated spacious preparation area, an essential feature when one considers the large amount of pharmacy stocks.

The Central Sterile Services Department stores will be moved across and has been designed to ensure there is no excuse for cardboard boxes to be left on the floor. Sensor taps make hand washing a breeze and there are no fewer than 11 clocks in prominent places across the ward.

IT have been heavily involved in the development and

the hubs on the ward enable cardiac arrest alarms and nurse call buttons on each pendant, panic alarms on nurse stations and visitor entrances as well as security screens on the ward.

Capital Planning Commissioning Officer Richard Thomas said:

“Built to last the next 30 years, the development is part of a long programme of refurbishment in the tower block.

“This project demonstrates the Trust’s commitment to being a good corporate citizen, minimising our impact on the environment. Refurbishing existing facilities, where the basic fabric of the building is in good condition has far less impact on the environment than demolition and a new build. In this project the Trust has worked in partnership with local designers and local contractors.”


Preparing for take off!

The peregrine falcons born at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital are getting ready for take off.

The chicks have been busy flexing their wings and walking up and down a ledge over recent days and staff believe it won’t be long before they take their first flights.

Compliance Manager Terry Cockburn said the chicks still had a little of their initial down feathers but were getting ready to move on to the next stage in their development:

“They are up on their legs and we see them exercising their wings daily. They are very mobile

and sometimes they come right up to the window to take a peek inside. The mother has been bringing them various things to eat – including a few starlings and a pigeon.

“The chicks are now able to feed themselves rather than have it put in their beaks. I should think by the second or third week in June they could be taking their first flights.”

Peregrine falcons were first spotted by Terry in December 2003 and have since been officially registered as they are a protected species and

it is against the law to disturb or interfere with them.

The peregrines were once endangered due to the widespread use of DDT as an agricultural pesticide, which affected eggshell thickness and resulted in poor hatching success. Adding to this, nests were robbed and young birds illegally taken for falconry. Many falcons’ nests are still being targeted by egg collectors and although numbers have recovered, the birds are still a rare sight.

In 2007 the Staff Lottery Fund financed a £750 CCTV camera system to provide staff and patients with exceptional views of the birds.

Help us name our feathered friends!

What do you think we should call our peregrine falcon chicks? E-mail Sue Bradley with your suggestions on [email protected]

Kabul appealSister Heather Fletcher is appealing to Trust staff to support her niece by sending packages of hope to some of the poorest people in the world.

Captain Elizabeth Winchester of the Royal Highland Fusiliers is currently deployed in Kabul where she involved in helping to bring security and welfare aid to its people.

Heather says people back in the UK can help Elizabeth’s efforts by sending packages containing the following items:

General stationery: pens, paper, rubbers and lnotebooks.Toiletries: toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap and lshampoo.Simple toys: Russian dolls, balls, chalks, playing lcards, cars.

Food: tinned or sweets. lWinter and summer clothing and shoes. l

The Royal Mail will carry all parcels destined for Afghanistan weighing 2kg or less for free.

“Elizabeth is working to bring much needed help to the very poor people in the area she is based,” said Heather who works in the eye outpatients department of the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital’ .

“As a large organisation I hope that employees might be interested in sending a free parcel to Elizabeth so that she can pass on small gifts that would be useful and bring some small pleasure.”

All packages should be sent to:

The CIMIC Officer, CIMIC package, 2 SCOTS, Op HERRICK 8, Camp Souter, BFPO 758.

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Gilly Whittingham Stroke Co-ordinator/ Stroke Specialist Nurse at GRH


I have worked in this Trust since I qualified in 1996. Since then worked in a variety of jobs at Cheltenham General Hospital, of which the last

six years were spent on Woodmancote Ward as a sister. At the end of April I took up a new post as Stroke Coordinator/Stroke Specialist Nurse at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

Q.What do you like most about your job?

A.I am enjoying the autonomy that goes with this role and

the opportunity to develop and build on the service that is currently provided for stroke patients. It is hoped that as many patients as possible who have had a stroke or transient ischaemic attack will be cared for, or have access to specialist stroke care. As I have only been in post for a very short time I am still finding my feet and getting myself known around the hospital. No-one who reads this will be able to say that they haven’t heard of the stroke coordinator now!

Q.What is your proudest professional achievement

to date?

A.I think that qualifying at the age of 41, as a single mum

with four children rates quite highly. My Dad definitely felt proud of me, though sadly he has since died. I sure he would be happy with what I have achieved in the intervening years.

Q.As a child, what did you want to be when you grew

up?

A.Like lots of little girls I wanted to be a ballet dancer, and

after lots of nagging, I managed to get my parents to let me have ballet lessons. I really enjoyed it but

it was never going to be a career move, my feet were too big. Later on I quite liked the idea of being a school teacher but actually ended up working in a bank when I left school.

Q.Now you’re ‘grown up’, what would be your dream

job?

A.I have two dream jobs. One would be as a garden

designer and be able to spend lots of other people’s money on wonderful plants. I would love to be able to design a garden for either Chelsea or Hampton Court Flower Show. My other dream job would as a photographer. I enjoy taking architectural pictures, particularly close ups and surprise surprise, photographs of plants and flowers.

Q.If you could change one thing about your job, what

would it be?

A.It is quite difficult to think about what I would like to

change at this stage as I am still developing the role. However, a few more nurses for the stroke ward would be a good start.

Q.How do you relax?

A. Gardening and photography! I find reading very relaxing

and also cooking. At home Steve (my husband) and I will often spend a whole evening getting a meal ready and enjoying it with a bottle of wine. Although technically not relaxing I love to go walking in the countryside.

Q.What’s your favourite place in the world?

A.Difficult to choose but over the last few years I have

fallen in love with Italy and had wonderful walking holidays there. In 2006 Steve and I spent our honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast which is beautiful. We go back to a small cottage in Great Langdale in the Lake District for a week each year. It is an amazing place and in spite of the sometimes very wet and windy weather it is a relaxing spot with good walking. And there is very little mobile telephone reception which is always a bonus.

Q.What’s your favourite meal and who would you like to

have it with

A.I would like to ask Lawrence Johnston who set out Hidcote

Manor Gardens in the early 1900s, an inspiring garden. Also Chris Beardshaw, a modern day garden designer who lives in Worcestershire who has also recently been doing some work at Hidcote to reinstate some of Johnston’s original plans. I could get lots of ideas from them both.

Q.Which person, living or dead, do you find

inspirational?

A.My father was a great inspiration to me. I have

inherited his love of gardening and photography. In my professional life I always found the late Katherine Felix an inspiration to me because of her professionalism, fairness and caring attitude


Wheelchair walkRugby-loving hospital worker Julie Darwin raised more than £300 after taking part in a sponsored walk in her wheelchair.

Julie and her husband Neil covered 45 miles in memory of Bram and Chris Lane who died while pumping out Tewkesbury Rugby Club during last summer’s floods.

The couple, both 31, joined scores of other Gloucester and Wasps fans for the first two days of the fundraising event, which took them from the Kingsholm ground to Stow on the Wold, before rejoining them for the final leg from Chinnor to Adams Park.

They also helped to win corporate sponsorship for the event and collect raffle prizes.

The entire walk, organised by Barney Burnham and Bob Fenton, is estimated to have raised more than £6,000 for the Salvation Army and Breast Cancer Care – the two charities nominated by the Lane family.

Julie, who lives in Abbeymead and works as a bio medical scientist in the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital’s psychology department, said the walk had a terrific atmosphere.

“It was great fun,” she said. “I pushed myself which meant my hands were a little bit sore at the end.

“While everybody else was asking for ice for their feet, I wanted ice for my hands! It rained the first two days so I felt a bit stiff because of that too.”

Julie has used a wheelchair for 16 years after suffering a spinal injury.

Last year she joined a similar sponsored walk to raise money for rugby player Matt Hamson who broke his neck while training with the England Under 21s.

Special events will be taking place during National Falls Awareness Day on Tuesday June 24th to arm pensioners with the knowledge they need to enjoy life.

The Falls Awareness Day is aimed at encouraging older people to identify opportunities to take part in physical activity and to demonstrate that falls are not an inevitable part of getting older and it’s never too late to start reducing the risk of a fall.

Zoe Spencer, Falls Prevention Officer at GRH, said: “Some 90% of hip operations carried out by the trust are the result of a fall. Falls can have major implications on a person’s quality of life, causing both physically and psychologically damaging effects, so it is of the utmost importance that we try to prevent falls.

“We work with GPs, social services, intermediate care teams, emergency departments, fracture clinics, nursing and residential homes, and other health care groups, to identify those most at risk of falling.

“We may invite the person to attend one of our falls prevention clinics, where they will receive a comprehensive medical assessment and are given

advice on how to prevent further falls.

“They may then be asked to attend our Active Balance Classes to improve balance, strength and confidence; see an occupational therapist regarding home safety; be referred for further investigations or to other agencies.

“We also want to stress the importance of healthy bones and treating osteoporosis. We are keen to ensure that patients who have suffered a fracture, particularly of the hip, wrist or spine are assessed and if appropriate commenced on treatment for their bones. Results of national audits show us that this is one area that is usually neglected.”

Falls Awareness will be promoted in the Atrium at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital on Tuesday June 24th and on posters at other hospitals in the county.

Meanwhile, the Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal hospitals have appointed Fracture Liaison Nurses to work with patients who have suffered a fracture after a fall. These new members of staff are due to start in July 2008.

Preventing falls


PLANNING TEAM June works updateGloucestershire Royal Hospital

PathologyThe first key milestone of this multi-phase project will soon be reached with the co-location of all microbiology laboratory services at GRH. The planned date for microbiology to move from CGH to GRH is the weekend of 20 - 22nd June. The logistics of this move are currently being planned. As soon as microbiology have moved from CGH the builders will begin refurbishing the vacated space to enable the centralisation of histopathology services at CGH.

GRH Distribution HubWork started on the 19th May installing the staircase, and first floor works started on the 27th May to create the admin offices for Support Services. The scheme is due for completion at the end of June 2008.

Women’s Services redevelopmentDesign & Planning work is continuing on programme with service users, architects and project management teams. This involves a significant amount of planning around service relocations and unavoidable decants to enable the demolitions of the existing buildings that are in the way of the new Women’s Centre to be carried out later this year.

WZR5The steelwork for this new building is being raised at the moment and this will be followed by installation of the floors. Those who will be occupying the building will soon asked to engage on interior design. The programme indicates a completion date in the middle of November and it is anticipated that the building will be occupied in early December.

GRH Office MovesA series of office/service moves at both CGH & GRH are continuing to be planned with users to enable delivery of the wider capital development programme.

Critical Care ServicesWork has now started on Phase 2 of the Department of Critical Care in the GRH Tower - Ward 1A is

now having reconfiguration works to improve administrative, support & reception/waiting areas (these functions are currently decanted and operate from within the new Critical Care Unit on Ward 1B) - this work is anticipated to complete late summer 08 when these functions will transfer back from Ward 1B to a newly reconfigured and improved area.

Thirlestaine CourtDesign & Planning work is continuing on the proposal of expanding breast screening and outpatient services within a dedicated centre at Thirlestaine Court, a Grade II listed building situated between Linton House and Cheltenham General Hospital. It will house both Screening Services currently based at Linton House & also Symptomatic Breast Services from the Acute sites. The scheme build cost is generously being funded by the Cobalt Appeal Fund, with the Trust funding the capital costs for the upgrade of existing analogue to digital equipment. Full construction work is anticipated to start in July 08 with completion scheduled for August 09.

Cheltenham General Hospital

St Luke’s Wing, Phase 2The construction of the main steel frame and concrete floors has been completed and works continue to make the building weatherproof.

Work has commenced on forming the access locations with St Luke’s Wing and College Road Wing. An initial trial breakthrough has been carried out in the basement corridor of College Road Wing. Further works will be discussed and agreed with affected departments prior to starting. The building is still on track for completion in March 2009

LEN - Endoscopy and Oncology ExtensionThe project is now into its third month. The base for the Linac bunkers is down and the walls are being constructed. This is three weeks ahead of schedule due to enormous efforts on everyone’s part to ensure things go as smoothly as possible with minimum disruption.


Microbiology move updateFrom the weekend of 21st/22nd June 2008 all microbiology services undertaken by the Trust will be delivered from a single laboratory at Gloucestershire Royal.

The Microbiology move is the first of a series in the reorganisation of the Pathology Department between now and the end of 2009. A part of the reconfiguration of services, Microbiology at GRH and Histopathology and Cytology at CGH will be centralised, providing more appropriate space for the various pathology specialties. This will make more effective use of staff and resources and will improve the working environment.

The Cytology and Histopathology services will ultimately be based in Cheltenham and Haematology and Clinical Chemistry will continue to be delivered from both sites.

The clinical liaison and infection control service will continue to be delivered as before, with 2 Consultants and an Infection Control Team based as now in Cheltenham & 3 Consultants & the GRH Infection Control team based in Gloucester. The Community Infection Prevention and Control team will remain in Gloucester.

Specimens for Microbiology will continue to be collected on both sites, however internal transport has been re-organised to ensure

Innovators wanted!Do you know if one of your colleagues has come up with a novel solution to a problem that could benefit staff, patients - or both? The solution could be a gadget, a product, an e-learning package, IT software, or it may be in some other form. It may be jotted down on paper or just something which they have said in passing – but it could be a winner!

If you know of someone, and they are happy to be nominated, then either go to the NHS Innovations South West website, on www.nisw.co.uk, and complete and submit an entry electronically, or contact Catherine Boyce, who is the Trust link with the NISW, for further details and an application form.

Catherine can be contacted on 08454 222800 (Internal - Cheltenham 2800) or by e-mail [email protected]. Completed forms can also be sent to Catherine. Entries will be treated confidentially, and NISW will not share details with any third party without first seeking permission. They might contact you to ask for a little information to help them assess the idea.

If you have an idea yourself, then just ask someone else to nominate you.

Remember - if the person whom you nominate wins the NISW “Innovator of the Quarter” award, they will be presented formally with a cheque for £500, and you would also receive a prize for nominating them.

You are not limited to one idea – the more the better! Don’t be bashful!

Closing date 14th August 2008

that all specimens will be delivered to the laboratory at GRH.

Contact details for the team will remain the same throughout the move via the switchboard. Existing weekend and out of hours service will continue as normal.

CGH reports will be printed at GRH and then collected together and sent to Pathology reception at CGH for distribution via the normal systems.

Users should be aware that the report format is changing and will in future look similar to the Chemical Pathology and Haematology reports.

Staff are asked to take note that it will be essential that the bar code labels from BACTEC battles are NOT removed and put into patient’s notes as we will require these in the lab.

Arrangements for the urgent specimens from 21st June as follows:

The Laboratory (or on call lBiomedical Scientist, via switchboard out of hours) should be notified as now by the doctor, ward or department that the specimen is on its way.All details (including contact ldetails for the result) should be completed on the request form and the specimen marked urgent)The specimen should be lsent urgently by a porter (GRH site)

For the CGH site a lcolour sticker must be attached to the form and completed, and the

ward should contact a porter who will ensure that the specimen is transported to the GRH laboratory.


Hospital recycling and waste updateNew paper recycling contractA new contract for the collection and disposal of paper waste will start Trust wide on 1st July. It will include all types of paper, envelopes, glossy magazines, telephone directories and the cardboard outers for pharmacy blister packs as well as confidential paper.

All wards and departments will be issued with green bins which will have white plastic bag liners. All paper waste should be placed in these and they will then be emptied by the domestic services staff at the same time as the black bag waste is collected. The white bags will be placed either in disposal holds with the other types of waste or taken directly to special bins located around the site.

All paper will be treated as confidential. Paper will be shredded, sent for pulping and eventually made into recycled paper products.

This will increase the amount of waste which the Trust recycles and reduce the amount sent to landfill.

The green bins are made of plasticised corrugated card and are 550mm high x 370mm wide x 275mm deep (approx 22ins high x 14ins wide x 11ins deep). The bins are the same style and size as those currently used in CGH and Delancey hospitals and therefore existing bins should be kept for use.

The bins will be delivered to wards and areas by the Environmental Team prior to the start of the contract. For more information email them at [email protected]

Recycled plastic bag trialFollowing the successful brief trial of recycled black bags in three ward areas earlier this year, the Environmental Team are to work alongside Domestic Services at GRH to run a longer trial before the final decision is made about implementing biodegradable black bin bags across the Trust.

The six week trial will test bags made of high quantities of recycled material and results will be fed back to the environmental team for evaluation to ensure they are fit for purpose.

Further recycling measures to be consideredThe Environmental Team are looking into the possibility of recycling other materials including some plastic bottles and cans as part of a new waste contract. The GRH catering department have volunteered to take part in a trial, but this is still at an early stage. More information will follow in future editions of Acute Angle.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment WEEE is a relatively new aspect of the Trust’s waste management procedures. WEEE items i.e. anything powered by a battery or electricity cannot be disposed of in the domestic waste stream any more. If you have any WEEE to dispose of contact the [email protected] and you may then need to request the porters to remove it. See the waste management website for more information.

Waste Management CoordinatorsMost staff should be aware that the Trust has undergone a major change with respect to waste management. A major help in implementing this change has been the Waste Management Coordinators. They fulfil a role that is essential for the Trust to be able to achieve its legal obligations in regard to waste management. The coordinators provide a link between the Environment Team and the wards and departments around the hospitals.

The rules and regulations surrounding waste management are constantly changing so it is important to have reliable staff contacts, who can work with the Environment Team to implement changes, provide feedback and advise on how the updates fit in to the day-to-day running of the ward.

The coordinators are in charge of ensuring that waste management is carried out effectively in their department. This entails identifying areas to improve on, being involved in recycling projects, training new staff and being proactive in maintaining their existing team members’ high standards.

Challenges such as the introduction of new waste streams are ongoing and impact on everyone, so anyone wishing to use their expertise to ease and assist in the implementation of these changes would be warmly welcomed. It is an excellent opportunity to expand your professional horizon and personally have a positive effect on the way your department is managed.


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Patient ExperienceImproving the quality of patient experienceA new post of Head of Patient Experience, accountable to the Chief Executive, will be created in order to progress the Trust’s commitment to improving patient experience within our hospitals.

The Operational Team will look at the introduction of an ongoing patient survey system next month. This would complement the work of the PPI team, providing the Trust with real-time information on the views of patients. This would in turn enable the Trust to act where possible to improve the patient’s experience while in our care.

The ‘Improving the Environment’ programme is under way with improvements being made at both CGH and GRH. This is expected to both improve patient experience and increase staff morale. Work is due to be complete by the end of May and includes improved lighting, redecoration, new furniture and curtains, new waste storage facilities and modernised bathrooms. Larger works will follow from next month, including structural alterations to improve working conditions, for example, the commissioning of a new design of nurses station / reception desk in numerous wards.

Recurring funding has been secured to allow supervisory working of ward sisters. The wider vision is to have ward sisters working core hours per day. This will support ward sisters in providing high standards of patient care, better staff leadership and management.

Nursing Directors will soon be more visible on the wards in new uniforms as part of a series of

Frank Harsent Chief Executive

The Improving the Environment programme is under way with improvements being made at both CGH and GRH

clinical visits aimed at reassuring staff and patients that senior nurses are involved in and aware of activity on the wards.

There will be a new post of Director of Safety accountable to the Chief Executive. This role will drive improvements in safety, both for patients and staff.

18 week waitThere was been considerable achievement against this target in March and good on-going performance in April and May. The Trust is now on track to achieve the target of 90% of admitted patients beginning their substantive treatment within 18 weeks of referral and 95% of non-admitted.

Scanners have been installed within all community hospitals to allow the electronic transfer of all diagnostic referrals to departments at GRH and CGH. This means that referrals are received on the same working day, significantly faster than previously.

StaffNHS 60th AnniversaryIn celebration of the 60th anniversary of the NHS, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will be working in partnership with other NHS colleagues in Gloucestershire to arrange a family fun day for staff at Cheltenham Racecourse on 5th July.

There will also be a touring reminiscence project, looking back with patients and staff over 60 years of the NHS in Gloucestershire, and a photographic record celebrating the Trust in its 60th year which will be available to staff as a 2009 Calendar.


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Development of Our ServicesPlanning for the futureA substantial amount of work is underway to achieve the necessary reduction in waiting times by the end of March 2009. In order to meet these targets the Trust must increase the number of patients being seen across a range of specialties and diagnostic departments, also consider its plans for the winter period. Agreement has been reached with Gloucestershire PCT on activity for the next two years.

Working in PartnershipEmergency Department TargetsIt has been agreed that the Gloucestershire health community must work together as a whole to ensure that its Emergency Departments meet their 98% targets. A multi-agency action plan has been agreed and there will be renewed focus internally to enable the Trust to hit the 98% target on a consistent basis.

Clinical ExcellenceInfection ControlMonitoring of MRSA bacteraemias and C-difficile continues to be a priority for the Trust. Thanks to considerable efforts across the Trust, year on year cases continue to decrease with one case of MRSA bacteraemia for April.

C.Diff: A countywide strategy for the management of C.Diff is being developed and will be presented to the Board in due course.

MRSA Screening: From April there has been routine screening of all

A substantial amount of work is underway to achieve the necessary reduction in waiting times by the end of March 2009

emergency and elective inpatients, this is a national requirement for elective inpatients and a recommendation for non-elective inpatients, therefore the Trust is ahead of the national target.

In promoting the reduction in healthcare associated infection, the Infection Control Nurses have recently started visiting acute inpatient areas, and hope to extend these visits to outpatient areas in the near future with the expansion of the team. Alongside mandatory education, this is another positive way to support colleagues in the clinical areas.

Finance and EfficiencyWork on the closure of the 2007/2008 accounts is underway, but current indications are that the financial performance in March and April has replicated those in recent months.

Dr Frank HarsentChief Executive


Last year it was agreed that an additional £¾ Million would be spent on maintenance and decoration. Staff are encouraged to speak to their managers/directors about maintenance and decoration issues

Terry SmithDirector of Finance

Face to Face

Director of Finance Terry Smith and Service Delivery Director

(Diagnostics and Specialties Division) Adrian Bamford met with staff at GRH on 15th May 2008. Here’s what was said…

Assistant Director of Human Resources Dr Mike Seeley and Director

of Service Delivery Steve Peak met with staff at GRH on 15th May 2008. Ten staff members attended. Here’s what was said…

Q Can the starting time of these meetings be altered,

as it is not always possible for clinical staff to attend?

A These meetings will certainly be re-evaluated

as attendance is not as high as in previous years. The Directors’ Group can look at the schedule and decide if improvements can be made to encourage more staff to attend.

Q Can more specific meetings be held between

directors and their departments/divisions?

A This is a good idea and will also be taken to the

Director’s Group for discussion. It may be easier and more relevant for staff if directors visited specific areas for meetings.

Q Radiographers working in different areas of

Gloucestershire have been banded differently (under Agenda for Change.) Is this being addressed?

A Yes, this is being addressed and it is hoped that staff

will be banded equally, where appropriate.

Q Why in April did staff who work nearly 30 hours a

week only receive a £50 bonus compared to staff working just over 30 hours a week receiving a £100 bonus?

A This was always going to be difficult, but unfortunately

there had to be a cut-off point somewhere. It would have been impossible to tailor the bonus payment to suit every individual‘s

circumstances, so a decision was made that any staff working below 30 hours would receive £50.

Q Some of the toilets at CGH are in a poor state of

repair – particularly the toilets near fracture clinic. This gives a bad impression to patients and visitors. Can something be done about this?

A Last year it was agreed that an additional £¾

Million would be spent on maintenance and decoration. Staff are encouraged to speak to their managers/directors about maintenance and decoration issues.

Directors can then prioritise areas for work and put schedules and processes in place

Q In Radiography department in particular,

lots of equipment is now due for renewal, are there plans in place to do this?

A Yes, there is a replacement programme running that will

address this problem over the next 4 years.

Trust-wide the plan is to spend around £35m per year on capital programmes which include new equipment, new building work, refurbishment of existing areas and IT developments.

Q What is being done to stop construction workers

smoking on-site?

A MS: This will be brought to the attention of Graham

Marsh’s team. This is a No Smoking Hospital and when


As an organisation we are taking our role as a good corporate citizen extremely seriously. Following a recent trial on our wards we have found 98% recycled bags which are up to standard and we will soon be replacing the old bags.

Steve PeakDirector of Service Delivery

contractors are on-site they must abide by our rules. There will be many more contractors coming on site in the future so this must be nipped in the bud.

Q The Occupational Therapy department is in the

process of moving and it has become clear there are no facilities for recycling. What can be done?

A We are in the midst of a tender arrangement

designed to replicate the recycling facilities at CGH. Unfortunately the contract may come a little too late for the OT department so we will arrange immediate support for your department and any others that need it in the meantime. Graham Shaw is the project lead for these moves and we will ask him to include this requirement in the plans for each new move in advance.

Q We were told by the porters that there were

no confidential waste bags so we should put this in black bin bags. Is this right?

A SP: This will be stopped immediately. It is not

appropriate fro confidential waste to be placed in black bin bags and should any staff be asked to do so, I would ask that you refuse. I will approach the Porters department and make sure appropriate bags are made available.

Q Will the new Chief Executive be doing the

rounds?

A Dr Frank Harsent is currently visiting wards and

departments across the Trust in an unofficial capacity to get a real feel of the organisation and to introduce himself. He has already visited every ward in the Tower Block this week and will visit everywhere, but it is a big organisation and this will inevitably take time.

Q We have just been told that fans are not to be

used on desks in wards due to infection control. What can we do to make the hot weather bearable for staff and patients?

A This is something that comes up every year, will

need to confirm the position and balance the risk of infection with health and safety legislation. Some areas of wards or side rooms are to get areas with air conditioning for patients but I am not sure about general ward areas. Will look into this.

Q The Health Records Department were

moved six years ago into a temporary building and have not been moved since. What is happening?

A There are no plans in the current capital planning

programme to replace existing facilities.

Q Will all floors get upgraded to the same

standard as ward 1?

A We plan to upgrade every ward in the tower block

over time and have made some provision in our current capital programme to continue upgrading wards, however, we have to balance the need to decant to undertake the upgrade and also available funding.

Q We have been having a great deal of problems

with the estates helpdesk – getting through to them in the first place and then getting the jobs done. We still have outstanding jobs from two months ago and we are not kept updated on the status.

A SP: I will raise this with Graham Lloyd and find out

what can be done to rectify this.

Q When will we start using recycled bin bags.

A As an organisation we are taking our role as a

good corporate citizen extremely seriously. Following a recent trial on our wards we have found 98% recycled bags which are up to standard and we will soon be replacing the old bags with these.

The next meetings will take place on 19th June and 17th July 12:30 – 1:30pm


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Spotlight on MicrobiologyA myriad of bugs and germs come under the microscope at the Trust’s Microbiology Department.

Teams from the Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General will come together on to one site at Gloucester this month.

The Microbiology Department identifies illnesses and treatments and advises the Acute, PCT & 2together trust’s hospitals on infection control.

The team consists of some 50 people, including consultants, biomedical scientists, laboratory assistants and secretarial and administrative staff.

Those working in the department’s laboratories aim to provide a speedy and accurate diagnostic service.

Specimens, which include blood, urine, faeces and sputum, along with tissue, wound swabs and joint fluid, are usually accompanied by descriptions of a patient’s symptoms so that organisms causing infections can be narrowed down.

Reports are sent to lead clinicians once a problem has been identified and, when appropriate, a profile is drawn up to determine the best anti-biotic to treat it.

In parallel with the laboratory work, the department offers an infection prevention and control service.

Its expertise is critical when it comes to identifying and dealing with outbreaks of bugs such as sickness and diarrhoea and MRSA.

The department also gets involved in investigating incidents of food poisoning within the county.

Microbiology is on call 24 hours a day and it is certainly a job that keeps its staff on their toes: known organisms can often mutate, while previously undiscovered illnesses can sometimes emerge.

The department deals with samples from the Acute Trust, 2gether and general practices in Gloucestershire and parts of South Worcestershire.

Every day it receives phone calls from GPs as well as clinicians, midwives, hospital consultants, junior doctors and nursing staff from within the Trust.

Microbiology deals with approximately 400,000 specimens a year, which amounts to hundreds a day.

Urinary tract infections are among the most common problem presented to the department, along with pneumonia, which becomes more prevalent in the winter months, and septicaemia.

The department doesn’t deal with Ebola and other haemorrhagic illnesses, however, cases of which are sent to level 4 containment units in Bristol or London.

Blood samples are usually dealt with within a 24-hour time slot, while lumber puncture specimens taken from patients with suspected meningitis are processed as soon as they are received.

The Microbiology Department now has machines which incubate blood samples and alerts staff


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Spotlight on Microbiologywhen organisms begin to grow so that biomedical scientists can immediately take a look at them.

Sometimes it can take longer to get results from other samples because a certain period of time is needed for organisms to grow, although in recent years a number of new processes have been introduced to speed up identification.

Advances have also been made in testing blood serums for infection.

It is hoped that this month’s move, which will bring staff and equipment on to one site, will bring all the expertise on to one site and further improve the efficiency of the service.


Marathon manCancer survivor Rob Lynch is counting his sponsorship money after completing the London Marathon.

The fabrications specialist, who ran the 26-mile course to thank hospital staff who helped him overcome Hodgkin’s Disease 14 years ago, finished in a time of three hours and 47 minutes.

Afterwards Rob, pictured at mile 25, said he felt fine “apart from slightly sore legs!”

The 36-year-old, from Cheltenham, ran the marathon for FOCUS – the Fund for Oncology Users and Supporters in Gloucestershire.

Rob was 19 when he was first diagnosed with Hodgkin’s

Disease and had to undergo further treatment for the cancer at 22.

Despite receiving two intensive courses of treatment, Rob successfully completed his mechanical and manufacturing HND at Gloscat and a first class mechanical engineering honours degree at Coventry University.

“I’ve now been clear for 12 years and I wanted to try and give something back to the oncology department after having received so much from them,” he said.

“Supporting the FOCUS Fund is my way of thanking the staff in Clinical Oncology, Radiotherapy, the Lilleybrook Ward and Dr Sean Elyan

Donations can be made online via the Charity Giving website. Go to www.charitygiving.co.uk and select ‘give online now’, then ‘Robert Lynch London Marathon 2008 FOCUS Fund’ from the ‘choose a charity selection’.

Smoker supportHelp and support to give up smoking is being offered to patients by a new team of lead health care assistants.

Training provided by the Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust through the Gloucestershire Smoking Advice Service (GSAS) has enabled 18 workers to learn new skills so that they can support smokers on their wards.

They will complement the work of Annette Edmunds, a GSAS Specialist Adviser for Secondary Care who already attends both sites to provide weekly ‘stop smoking’ clinics for staff and patients. She also visits patients on wards to offer help and the new lead health care assistants will support this work.

Kate Gegg, the manager of GSAS, said the team of lead health care assistants was an excellent example of true partnership working between the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Gloucestershire Primary Care Health Trust.

“This is the way forward,” she said.

“Health care assistants provide a very good service in primary care and it was felt that this would be the same here in the Hospitals’ Trust.

“They are ideally placed to offer smoking cessation support.

“To be able to give up smoking or to be able to cope with withdrawal from nicotine while in hospital is something smokers needs help with and this should provide that support whenever someone is admitted. “

Paul Garrett, Deputy Nursing Director, said: “It is fantastic that we can provide an enhanced role for our lead healthcare assistants in helping smokers.

“The Lead Healthcare Assistant job is very much about patient assessment and support, utilising the “Essence of Care” benchmarks.

“This initiative fits very well into their daily working.”

If you or anyone you know wishes to give up smoking or for more information about this new initiative please call GSAS on 08454 220040. (24 hour answer phone )


Women’s Centre PlansA £29.1 million centre dedicated to birth and women’s health will put Gloucestershire at the vanguard of 21st Century maternity care.

The new facility, due to open in Gloucester in 2011, will bring together obstetric specialists and equipment to look after women and babies with more complex needs in a purpose-built environment.

The centre will be complemented by three midwife-led maternity units.

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has sought to meet latest guidelines for childbirth, including those from the Department of Health and Royal College of Midwives, along with its own 2006 maternity services consultation, when bringing together the design of

the new women’s centre.

Dhushy Mahendran, the Divisional Medical Director for Women’s and Children’s Services, said the idea of basing the county’s obstetric specialists and special care

facilities in one dedicated centre had been one of the conclusions of the 2006 consultation.

The new centre will have two delivery theatres which will allow an existing planned list to run alongside unplanned, emergency

surgery.

Another benefit of the new unit is the close link between the delivery theatres and

Gloucestershire Royal’s intensive care unit – essential if there are serious complications.

The Women’s Centre will have a neo-natal unit for premature and poorly babies which will provide round-the-clock intensive care and high dependency support using the latest specialist equipment. There will also be a new transitional care unit to avoid the separation of mothers who have had babies prematurely or slightly smaller than expected but who don’t require the attention of special care nurses.

Basing neo natal facilities on one site means there will be an increase in the number of cots available in the county, from eight to 10, along with easier access to specialists at the GRH’s paediatric centre.

The obstetric delivery unit will have 12 standard rooms, along with three dedicated to women who have high dependency and an induction/admissions suite.

The ground floor will house a range of Outpatients departments, including ultrasound, gynaecology and ante and post natal care.

Gloucester’s new midwife-led maternity unit and the obstetrics inpatients ward will be located on the second floor.

The new Women’s Centre is due to be built next to the tower block at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. Work is expected to start this Autumn.


Gloucester’s maternity hospital

Gloucester’s midwife-led maternity hospital is heading for a new home but will keep its very special identity.

The unit is due to move to the second floor of the new women’s centre in 2011 but will have its own entrance and name.

It will have a total of seven rooms with en suite bathroom facilities, including two fitted with birthing pools. Each of the rooms has been designed to Labour Delivery Recovery Post Partum (LDRP) standard, which means women can remain in the same environment throughout their stay in hospital.

The second floor will also house a 46-bed Ante Post Natal Ward with 18 single side rooms and seven four-bedded bays – all of which will have en suite facilities.

Divisional Medical Director for Women’s and Children’s Services Dhushy Mahendran said the new unit would build on the success of Gloucester’s existing midwife-led facilities.

“It will be a calm and relaxed environment designed by patients and staff with women in mind,” he said.

“We want it to feel like a home from home that celebrates pregnancy and natural childbirth.

“Creating the right environment is incredibly important as surroundings have a huge influence on the way people feel. Fixtures and fittings will be very important.

“We are currently working with mums using the current unit, and staff, to ensure that the new unit is the best we can possibly provide.”

Divisional Director of Nursing and Midwifery Vivien Mortimore said the feedback received from women was that they wanted to give birth in a homely environment.

“This new unit will give us an exciting opportunity to create the home from home that women are asking for,” she said.

“Many women are keen to use water during their labour and when giving birth and the plans to install two birthing pools as a result of user feedback has been well received.

“At present we make every effort to create a homely environment at the maternity unit in Gloucester and to provide birthing aids but we are constrained by the current environment.

“In addition, we have a great team of staff with well developed skills in terms of caring for women giving birth in a low tech environment.”

* The search has begun for a name for the midwife-led unit at Gloucester. The person who comes up with the best suggestion will be invited to the opening ceremony for the new unit. Send your ideas to the Communications Office at Trust Headquarters, 1 College Lawn.


Natural birth plans for Cheltenham Maternity UnitThe planned midwife-led maternity unit at St Paul’s is set to be a trailblazer for natural births.

The facility is due to open in 2011 once obstetric care moves to the proposed women’s centre in Gloucester and will cater for mums and babies who are not expected to need medical interventions.

Trust directors envisage Cheltenham becoming a beacon for natural labour and birth, in line with guidance from documents such as the Department of Health’s Maternity Matters paper.

To achieve this they want to make the environment of the unit more homely, with all unnecessary clinical equipment removed, to help mums feel relaxed.

At the same time the range of alternative therapies already offered at St Paul’s is to increase and aids such as birthing pools will be available.

Mums who have previously had babies at the unit, and staff, are getting involved in influencing the future direction of the hospital with aspects such as decoration and lighting in addition to the facilities on offer.

The new-look maternity hospital will bring the total number of midwife-led units in Gloucestershire to three, with Gloucester and Stroud in the west and south of the county.

Dhushy Mahendran, the Divisional Medical Director for Women’s and Children’s Services, said it was hoped that Cheltenham would build an enviable reputation.

“We want to create a birth unit for the women of Gloucestershire which is a centre of excellence for midwifery care,” he said.

“The environment is being designed with women in mind. We want it to be a home from home

environment.

“We want both mums and staff to be involved in its design. We want it to be a unit that everybody is proud of.

“We will be visiting centres across the country to see best practices and decide how these can be implemented.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to have a unit that reinforces how normal it is to be pregnant and how normal labour is. We want to make this unit the one women want to go to because they want the birth of their child to be a natural and fulfilling experience.

“To do this we have to midwives with the confidence, expertise and ability to provide that kind of care.”

Mr Mahendran said the Trust was keen to hear from women who had given birth at Cheltenham to hear about their experiences.

The new Cheltenham unit will feature Labour Delivery Recovery Post Natal (LDRP)Rooms which means patients can remain in the same environment throughout their stay in hospital.

Divisional Director of Nursing and Midwifery Vivien Mortimore said the proposed changes to the system represented exciting opportunities for staff who wished to specialise in various areas of childbirth.

Meanwhile training would be available to any midwife wishing to extend their skills.

“Work to develop the skills of our midwives has already started,” she said.

“For example, Andrea Robertson a well known active birth teacher, recently led a two day workshop for midwives to develop skills in promoting normal birth, and preparing and supporting women during labour and delivery without

interventions such as epidural pain relief.

“The development of the new women’s centre and midwife-led units means opportunities for staff to work in a wide range of settings, whether these are in consultant-led or midwifery-led care.”

Can you think of a good lname for the new midwife-led maternity unit in Cheltenham? Send your suggestions to the Communications Office and be in line for a special invitation to the grand opening.Do you have any questions labout the changes to maternity services operated at the GRH and CGH? Send them to the Communications Office and we’ll publish a selection of answers in future editions of Acute Angle.

2 0 A c u te A n g l e

Chaos in Kambia

I was surprised to be summoned to hospital to assist, not with a female obstetric problem but a young boy who had fallen out of a tree and perforated his abdomen with a stick. The stick was still in evidence! The Community Medical officer had arranged the opening of theatre and he was sure my expertise would be helpful. I was out of my depth but we had to try. We were able to excise the stick and found the large bowel had two small perforations, which we were able to over sew. Miraculously he made a great recovery and was none the worse for his adventure. This was not the case for a man who fell out of a palm tree and who was paraplegic on admission and sent to the Freetown Emergency Hospital. Another lad was also sent to Freetown after being “mistakenly” shot by a hunter who thought he was a “monkey” stealing oranges!

Local motorbike riders were being trained to drive the Life Cycles which had been provided by the Kambia Appeal. These had a combination stretcher / side car to expedite moving emergency patients either to a local clinic or to bring then into the main hospital. The idea is that each community becomes responsible for the ongoing maintenance and expense of this service, and I was invited to go to a peripheral unit for a hand over ceremony of the first Life Cycles. After many speeches I was presented with a live goat in appreciation of the support Kambia Appeal had given.

Back on the female ward we found a CS was required on another VVF patient. We found that she had had a

“classical” caesarean section which apparently is quite common where there is no training to carry out the safer “lower segment” procedure.

The next problem presented as another intrauterine death after a long labour. Vacuum extraction delivered the foetal head but then the shoulders became stuck (shoulder dystocia) and no manoeuvres made any difference until we got to theatre and eventually vaginal delivery was achieved with anaesthetic relaxation, at least further operative procedure was avoided.

On the paediatric ward the situation was very primitive but nurses used their skills as best they could. Many children were admitted in extremis with malnutrition and infection. One mother lost her third very young child in a row without any signs of neglect or malnutrition. The children who were most at risk were nursed in the outside corridor in what one assumes is cooler and where they can be more easily observed.

A UNICEF sponsored campaign commenced to give tetanus immunisation within the community for all children and women between 15-49 years. one in 20 mothers will die of tetanus mostly because of native practices of dealing with the umbilical stump.

Another mother arrived as an emergency with eclampsia. She was moribund and died quickly despite everyone’s efforts. So far all the maternal deaths were unavoidable. Our next problem was a mother with a very large belly!! She had a multiple


pregnancy but we were unsure just how many. After some days I felt I could not allow spontaneous labour with no idea of the presentation of either twin. A CS was performed and the birth weights total 13.4 kg. The second baby had two true knots in the cord and it was doubtful if it would have survived a vaginal delivery.

In my last week I was told that one CHO and myself will be the only staff available, everyone else would be away on courses! As well as looking after the female patients I saw a lad who had had a scrotal abscess treated by native medicines and when examined he had lost all the scrotal skin ….. a disaster! I never knew the outcome. We also examined a lad who had an eroding tumour in his groin. He had previously had surgery but it had recurred. We cleaned and dressed it and we were discussing his future management when he decided to abscond. His outlook was grim.

I was very sorry when I had to leave as I could see further political problems affecting the hospital’s future and I hope the Kambia Appeal will be able to help resolve these. It had been a privilege to attempt to alleviate the suffering and danger of childbirth and I had nothing but admiration for the fortitude of the patients and staff. 19 Caesarean Sections had been performed in 6 weeks as well as many other procedures.

During the whole of my stay I was lucky to be fit and well. I arrived home a stone lighter which was an added bonus!

Again, my thanks to all who encouraged me to be involved in the Kambia Appeal project and helped to make my time in Kambia so worthwhile.

Chaos in Kambia, Obstetrics in the raw was written by former Trust employee Mike Till.

Trust staff shave heads for Kambia appealMargaret Barrett is feeling the cold after having her head shaved for charity. The staff nurse at Cheltenham General Hospital took on the challenge after a colleague was diagnosed with cancer for the second time.

Margaret, who has been a nurse for nearly 30 years, was joined in the heady challenge by gynaecological consultant Richard Kerr-Wilson.

Together the pair have raised £1,000 through sponsorship, with money going towards gynaecological cancer research in the UK and the Kambia Hospital in Sierra Leone.

Mr Kerr-Wilson was involved in setting up the hospital 15 years

ago. It enables local women to have gynaecological operations which often have social as well as medical benefits.

Margaret said: “Sometimes after childbirth the women were becoming incontinent. In some cases they are then ostracised from their villages because of this. The operation allows them to be reintegrated.”

The pair are now braving the elements after the head shave at the Exmouth Arms in Bath Road, Cheltenham.

Margaret said: “I shaved his head and he shaved mine. I now have to wear a hat to protect myself from the cold”

Onlookers in the pub also chipped in on the night, handing over £150. The rest of the money was raised by donations from friends, family and patients of the pair.

The Kambia Appeal is a UK-registered charity, based in Cheltenham, that has supported the medical district of Kambia in Sierra Leone since 1992. Over the years, they have helped to supply medicines, equipment and training for medical personnel.

To find out more about the appeal log on to the webite at: www.kambia.org.uk


Graham Attwood retires

Workshop manager Graham Attwood has retired from the Cheltenham General Hospital after 33 years – but he won’t be allowed to hang up his tools for good just yet.

A number of jobs await Graham at his Springbank home – along with a few holidays and the opportunity to indulge his interests in photography and aviation.

Graham, 60, had been working for local building firm Treble Products when he saw an advert for a carpenter at the Cheltenham General Hospital in May 1975.

“I remember my first job was fixing some skirting board on Ward Nine, which is now Guiting Ward,” he said.

Graham was promoted to Building Foreman in 1979 and Workshop Manager in 1989, which has involved him running a direct labour organisation responsible

for maintaining the Cheltenham General, Delancey, Tewkesbury and Winchcombe hospitals. Until recently his remit covered Cirencester as well.

Over the years Graham has noticed a number of changes.

“When I first came here the oncology car park was a tennis court and the North Sub Station was allotments that used to provide vegetables for the hospital,” he said.

“In those days there were matrons and you really didn’t mess with them at all.

“I can remember being on a ward and somebody would shout that the matron was coming and tell me to go into the sluice room or something! The matron knew everybody.”

Graham said he would miss the everyday contact with people, one of the things he most enjoyed about his job, along with his workforce of 16.

“A number of guys I have worked with have now retired and left but they still come back to visit which is nice. It’s been great here – really enjoyable.”

A large group of past and present colleagues to give Graham a memorable off. Among his gifts was a ticket to go on one of the final Dakota flights out of Cardiff.

Blood HoundNew technology for keeping track of blood components is being introduced.

The system, known as Blood Hound, is already up and running at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham’s Oncology Unit and Prescott Ward. It is due to be implemented in all other areas during the summer.

Blood Hound consists of a touch screen kiosk and barcode reader for scanning units removed from blood bank fridges.

The system is linked to computers in clinical areas so that staff can see the locations of particular units of blood and record when they have been transfused (fated).

Blood Hound will enable the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to comply with the new EU Directive on Blood Safety and Quality by providing a complete audit trail for each blood unit as required by the Medicine and Healthcare Regulatory Agency.

It will also save time and unnecessary telephone calls by providing instant computer access to the location

of specific units.

All members of staff involved in delivering and collecting blood and administering transfusions will be trained to use the new system and issued with a password.

Initial training is being carried out by the Blood Transfusion department, with every clinical area having a dedicated “champion” user responsible for passing on information to immediate colleagues.

Areas awaiting training should continue as normal until they have undergone sessions on how to use Blood Hound.

Meanwhile, Portering Services has been praised for its “great professionalism” in taking on a new role involving blood deliveries.

This means that the process of transporting blood by porters is now harmonised across the Trust.

The porters are now delivering units of blood from the laboratory to the blood banks and red cell units to the wards.

They have all undergone Blood Hound and in-house training.


Delancey NewsAs many of you will already know, Delancey Hospital is due to be sold by the Trust in March 2009.

At the present time it is unknown how the site will be used.

The Trust would like to reassure staff that redundancies are not expected and staff will be transferred.

Inpatient services will be catered for within the new St Luke’s development at CGH. This is situated near the Emergency Department on College Road.

Information about the closure of Delancey will be available on the staff intranet and the Trust website shortly and we will update staff with any developments in Acute Angle.

Frequently asked questions and answers will be printed and concerns you may have will be addressed.

Signage newsA full signage review is being undertaken at CGH, working with volunteers, staff, PPI etc.

Anyone who may have comments etc please respond to Elaine Davies ([email protected]) and a member of the Estates team will come along to meet with you to hear your views.

If you have any questions regarding Delancey, please send your query (this can be anonymous, if you wish) to:

Communications Department, Trust HQ, 1 College Lawn, Cheltenham, GL53 7AG

NHS Retirement FellowshipIf you are retired or nearing retirement, and would like to meet with other NHS retirees, please find information on this group on: www.cheltenhamnhsfellowship.webs.com or e-mail: [email protected]

Tai Chi SherriePeople with Parkinson’s Disease are using the Oriental art of Tai Chi to help them cope with their symptoms.

Occupational therapist Sherrie Raines has been leading classes in the slow motion routines at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital to help people suffering from the neurological condition.

Sherrie, who is also a qualified aerobics and Tai Chi teacher, has been leading the sessions since last year.

Consultant Physician in the Parkinson’s Disease Clinic Dr Pippa Medcalf said there was increasing evidence that Tai Chi helped PD patients with their balance.

“The patients and their carers enjoy it and, more importantly, it is good to do something positive which is beneficial in so many ways,” she said.

Timothy Shaw, who was diagnosed with PD four years ago, said he was convinced that the Tai Chi sessions were preventing his symptoms from deteriorating.

“I’m sure they are doing me some good,” said the 78-year-old retired research chemist who lives near Gloucester.

“The Tai Chi shows up weaknesses in my balance and muscle tone. In my case I haven’t stiffened up in any way – at the moment I am quite flexible and I think the Tai Chi is helping to keep me moving.

“The other people in the class are all very nice. It’s good to meet up with other people who suffer from PD. The instructress is very pleasant and competent and knows her stuff.”


Welcome DawnDawn Morrall was reunited with a few familiar faces when she started her new job in the Trust’s Women and Children’s Division.

For the new Assistant Director of Midwifery and Nursing for Maternity and Gynaecology gave birth to her first son in Gloucester 12 years ago.

Dawn, who previously worked for the North Bristol NHS Trust, was delighted to meet up again with consultant Mike Read and other staff whom she had first met back in 1996. Dawn has also worked in Cheltenham and Gloucester in the past as a midwife.

“My eldest son was delivered at Gloucester and my second was a home birth so you could say I have first hand experience of the services offered here – albeit from a few years ago!” she said.

“I have to say my first few days here have been great. I have met lots of really friendly people on both sites.”

Dawn says she is thrilled to come to the Trust at a time of exciting changes to maternity services in Gloucestershire – along with an expected rise in the birth rate.

Her new job will involve managing maternity services in Cheltenham and Gloucester, which includes the community midwifery services, and acting as the lead for gynaecology.

Dawn is looking forward to adding her considerable experience to developing the new women’s centre in Gloucester and midwife-led units both in the city and Cheltenham.

“This is an exciting time to be coming to the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,” she said.

“We’re heading for a really busy time as the birth

rate here has gone up phenomenally – an increase of 11% last year which means we’re heading for 6,000 plus births this year.

“I worked at Bristol for 15 years. In my previous job I developed co-located birth suites which were completely midwife led. The rooms were so low risk that we didn’t have beds – they had things like mattresses, birth pools and low lighting. It was completely home from home.

“I was also working on a new stand alone birth centre, which is due to open at the end of this year, and I introduced team midwifery to Southmead.”

Dawn qualified as a nurse 28 years ago and completed her midwifery training in 1986.

She is on the executive board of Midirs (Midwife Information and Resource Service) and is a Maternal Death Assessor for the South West on behalf of CEMACH (Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health)

In her spare time, which Dawn says is not a lot with two young boys, she tries to fit in visits to the gym, keeping fit, swimming , cycling and yoga.

Scoo-B-Doo, how old are you?!Scoo-B-Doo will be celebrating its 25th anniversary with a Grand Incubator Push from Gloucester to Cheltenham on Saturday June 28.

The event is due to start at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital from 10am and will be followed by a celebratory barbecue at the Cheltenham Lido from 7.30pm, tickets for which are £5 each.

Organisers of the incubator push are keen to muster support from staff and former SCBU patients from over the last 25 years.

Cotswold Care Hospice is your local hospice!The hospice is holding open afternoons to enable Trust staff to find out how we can work together to provide the best in Palliative Care on Wednesday 17 September and Tuesday 9 December from 2- 4pm at the New Education Suite at the Cotswold Care Hospice.

Come along and learn about the services provided, the referral process, patient experience, for a tour of the hospice and to ask questions.

To reserve a place contact Diane Ponting on 01453 886868 or email her at [email protected]


St Luke’s updateThe St Luke’s Wing extension at Cheltenham General Hospital is taking shape.

The state-of-the-art building, which will house intensive care and high dependency units and rehabilitation and stroke wards, is due to open in Spring 2009.

Work to lay the four storey wing’s foundations started in September 2007 and its steel framework and floors were completed in April.

Now bricks are being laid to make the structure weather proof and breakthrough links created to join the extension to the College Road and existing St Luke’s wings.

The new building, situated on the site of the old physiotherapy department off College Road, is close to other rehabilitation wards and acute services, while its proximity to diagnostic services, such as X-rays, MRI and CT scans, will make life easier for patients and staff.

The new Department of Critical Care, which includes ITU and HDU, will be closer to the hospital’s emergency and medical admissions departments.

The St Luke’s extension, which will house services currently based in various wards in both Delancey and Cheltenham General Hospitals, has been designed to be light and airy and to conform to the latest standards of modern working practice, including in areas such as infection control and patient privacy and dignity.

Spaces around each bed will be larger, in line with the most up-to-date guidance, and the number of patients in each bay on the rehabilitation wards will be reduced from six to four. There will be more side rooms and en suite toilet and shower facilities will be provided.

Piped medical gases, ceiling mounted hoists and high-low baths, along with pressurised isolation rooms in line with the Trust’s latest strategy, are all included in the design.

The new Department of Critical Care, featuring a multi-bed bay for eight patients and four single side rooms, will be situated on the ground floor.

It will replace the existing ITU and HDU wards, currently located either side of the main theatre suite, and increase the number of beds available from nine

to 12.

The combined ward will allow greater flexibility in the ability to up or downgrade patients without having to move them.

It will have negative pressure rooms for people suffering from illnesses such as MRSA and positive pressure rooms for patients to reduce the risk of infection to immune compromised patients. These rooms will also provide privacy for the terminally ill.

An overnight stay room and a larger and more comfortable waiting room, with a drink preparation area, will also be installed.

The first floor rehabilitation ward will cater for 32 patients. There will be six four-bedded bays and eight single rooms.

The second floor will be similarly designed and cater for patients recovering from strokes and other illnesses. It will have patient hoisting and space designed for acute stroke rehabilitation for physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

Service areas for each floor have been designed so that porters will have their own corridors for transporting items such as waste and dirty linen rather than having to push their trollies through wards.

Each ward will have two dirty utility rooms and increased storage space, while staff training rooms will be provided on each floor to allow multi-disciplinary teams to discuss patient cases in a dedicated space rather than around beds or nursing stations.

The stroke co-ordinator, nursing leads and therapy teams have all been heavily involved in the design of the wards, as have the infection control nurse and manual handling advisor.

“St Luke’s II will bring about changes in the way we care for patients,” said Senior Planning Manager, Debbie Armstrong.

“Modern working practices mean the design of buildings have to be changed. We have also had to contend with ensuring the new extension fits with the listed exterior of Cheltenham General Hospital.

“We have tried to use the space available in the best possible way.”


Accommodation to rentOne bedroom accommodation in Sotherby Drive in South Court next to GCHQ.

£550 per month excluding bills. One allocated parking space. Available from end of June 08 Unfurnished but includes, Fridge, Freezer and Washing Machine. Ideally looking for a Non Smoker, without pets. Please contact John on 07816 573049

Modern, unfurnished, 1 bedroomed flat now available which is on the London Rd (No 62), within easy walking distance from the hospital. This would suit a member of staff on a short or fixed term contract. Please contact my agents on 01452 505112.

NEAR CGH AND BATH ROAD FACILITIES, room to rent in terraced house with lady owner, would suit professional female, share bathroom and kitchen. Can provide meals, do washing, as and when, if required. Short term stay welcome. two weeks rent in advance. TEL: 01242 515512.

Single furnished room available £95 per week includes all bills + Broadband, off Queen’s Road, Cheltenham. Parking alongside property, 10 minutes walk Montpellier, handy buses or trains. Please call Merrilyn on 01242 529700 If Answer service please leave name, contact number and good times to call back.

Self Contained Coach House Flat Sole Tenancy

Immediate Availability, 4 Miles from Centre of Cheltenham. Quiet Country Location. Fully Furnished Open Plan Kitchen / Lounge / /Diner 1 Double Bedroom Shower-room Toilet and Sink Spiral Staircase down to Hallway

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Covered Parking Space £525 per Calendar Month (includes council tax) Oil Fired Central Heating included Electricity extra, Sky TV Available Extra. References required Contact Details: Andrea Lindsay: 07749 327100 or 01452 863616

Holiday AccommodationTenerife North - San Marcos

2 bed roomed apartment with fabulous views down the coast and overlooking fishing harbour. Beach 50 metres. Large lounge/dining room, fully fitted kitchen, separate cloakroom and bathroom, balcony. Washing machine, microwave, TV, video player and cassette/CD radio. All linen, just need beach towels. £250 p/w all year.Email philippa,[email protected] or tel. 01453 547520

Lake Kournas, Georgioupolis, Western Crete - 3 bedroom holiday villa with private pool for rent,. Secluded location with stunning views of the mountains and lake area. Sandy beaches and village facilities 5 minute drive. Tavernas and lake shore 5 minute walk. Sleeps up to 6. Large terrace areas. Air conditioning, fully equipped. Villa featured by James Villas. Book direct with the owners for a discount on normal prices.www.rimampela.dsl.pipex.com Tel 01452 700146

Orlando, Florida. Silver Palms Villa - Luxurious 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom airy Orlando vacation home with its own private heated swimming pool and games room, beautifully furnished and ideally positioned only minutes from Disney, close to several championship golf courses, restaurants and minutes away from serious shopping. Located

To place an advert, please contact Ria Morrison on ext 3563 (CGH) or email [email protected]. Alternatively, place your advert on the ‘Staff Classifieds’ section on the intranet (under useful pages)


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within a gated resort with fantastic facilities free for our guests to use including a clubhouse, resort pool and spa, gym, children’s play areas, free broadband internet, games arcade, sundry shop, sand volley ball, putting green and soccer field - only 200 yds from the villa. Sleeps 2-10. From £450 pw. Contact Mike Tel: 01452 525891, email: [email protected]

Yorkshire Dales Cottage.

Sleeps 4-6 + One good dog! Very cosy with fires and well equipped (washing machine, + tumble dryer, micro-wave, double oven) Wonderful walks/ bike rides from the door. One mile from village, with good pubs, cafés and shops. Very quiet valley with great countryside. Easy access to the lakes, without the over crowding. Heating and linen included. Weekend lets November to end March. Rest weeks starting from Saturdays. Contact Simon Ackroyd - [email protected], or tel 01242 242192

Services – NHS Staff discountsREIKI

A calming, gentle and relaxing treatment. Can help to replace stress with a sense of peace. Discount for NHS staff: £35 for a ninety-minute session (usually £42). Four sessions = £120.Contact Patricia Cullen-Smith. 01452 780203

Bare-faced Medical Aesthetics.

Our Cheltenham-based Clinic specialises in non-surgical medical aesthetic enhancement. Therapies include Botox, dermal fillers, medical skin care products, peels, microdermabrasion, and pulsed light therapy for skin rejuvenation and permanent hair reduction.

We treat acne, rosacea, thread veins, fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage and unwanted body hair. Initial consultations are free - 10% discount for all NHS staff. 01242 222690

The Station Hotel (next to Gloucester Railway Station), is under new management.Management will give a discount of 10% to all meals taken in the restaurant (not Bar meals) on production of NHS badge.01452 520022

Personal Trainer.At home, in the office or outdoors. 6 week Wedding fitness program, dietary analysis, Summer Holiday toning program. Fully qualified and insured call Jeremy on 07748 53930

Kings camps are running at Cheltenham College during the summer holidays.

We offer a special discounted rate of 15% for NHS employees. Please quote your unique code NHSGL8 at the time of booking to receive your discount. We accept all types of childcare vouchers including Busy Bees, Accor and Care 4. Please call the membership team on 08700 429 329 for full details on how to redeem these. Kings Camps are all about giving children a great time during their school holidays; in a safe, healthy and positive environment. Call 08700 429 320

Wedding Photographer

I am a very experienced wedding photographer and enjoy taking quality pictures of people’s special day. Please ring me and discuss you requirements, I am very flexible. 07949100389.

Physio Staff Self Referral Did you know that, as a member of staff you can refer yourself to Physiotherapy? All main hospitals offer this service. All you need to do is visit the Physiotherapy Intranet site and complete the on line self referral form. Alternatively, you can contact your local Physiotherapy Department where you will be asked to complete the same form by hand. An appointment will be made for you, as soon as is appropriate.

Staff benefit subsidised reflexology & massageREFLEXOLOGY

Tuesday 1.00 pm – 4.00pm Delancey Hospital Tuesday 5.30 pm – 8.30 pm (West Block OPD, CGH) Wednesday 5.30pm – 8.30pm (West Block OPD CGH)

To book Phone Elaine Greenwood – 01285 -650579

Price - £16 per hour

MASSAGE

Mondays & Thursday 6:30pm – 8:30 pm (West Block OPD CGH)

To book Phone Samantha Franklin, 07870 656181

Price - £16 per hour

Acute Angle: June 2008

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Transcript of Acute Angle: June 2008