Winter 2013

Two of our patients did extremely well in the medals tally, whilst three others were justifiably pleased to be contenders in the 2012 Paralympics.

Josie Pearson - discusNine years ago, Josie aged 17, was treated on the Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries (MCSI), following a car accident in Wales, which left her with a broken neck with weakness in the arms and hands and complete paralysis below the neck.

With encouragement from the team at MCSI, Josie decided to take up wheelchair rugby. She was the first ever female wheelchair rugby athlete selected to represent GB at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008.

Paralympian Success - Patients Take Gold!

In this issue, we are appealing for your support to help raise £500,000 towards a new £2million Bone Cancer Centre to be built at the hospital in Oswestry.

The new Centre will be designed to treat bone cancer patients in a dedicated care environment On Thursday 13th December, at the Appeal launch, a film was shown to explain the needs of this group of patients. Families, patients and staff were involved in making the 4 minute film which can be viewed at: www.rjah.nhs.uk/bonecancerappeal

At the launch, sales of appeal wristbands and badges raised over £300, with the raffle bringing in £464, in addition to appeal Christmas card sales. Online donations have now begun on the Just Giving site: www.justgiving.com/Oswestry-bone-cancer-centre

A number of events have been organised including coffee mornings, 25 running for the Appeal in the London Marathon and a sponsored walk around the Chirk Castle estate.

Delivering Outstanding Patient Care

She subsequently moved to wheelchair racing and then turned to discus. At London 2012, by winning discus gold, she helped take the GB track and field gold medal tally from two in Beijing to an incredible10 inLondon (34 overall)!! Her Consultant, Prof El Masri said, “I am delighted for Josie - the team at MCSI are very proud of her. We regard this gold medal as a huge reward from Josie for looking after her”.

Lee Pearson - dressageCoincidentally sharing the same surname, ORLAU patient Lee Pearson, CBE is, at 38, a 10 - gold mark medallist having represented British para-equestrianism in Sydney, Athens, Beijing and most recently in London 2012, where he won gold in the dressage team event plus a silver and a bronze medal. Lee returned to Oswestry in October as a patient, bringinghis recent medals haul with him. Lee was born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenital, affecting the muscles in his arms and legs.

The Greek flag carrier for the Paralympics and swimmer, Andonis Tsapa-takis, was also a patient at Oswestry in 2007. Patients Richard Davies and Ryan Cockbill made their debut in the target shooting team. One of the Channel 4 presenters throughout the Paralympics was Arthur (Art) Williams - another ex patient of MCSI who has made it in the media world having exhibited his excellent skills as a commentator.

In this Issue p2 p2 p2

• Nurses Volunteer Abroad • Top Scores: Family and Friends• Welsh Lessons for Staff

• New Consultants & Board Member • Amazing Patients and Families • Fundraising - A Seasonal Gift

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Bone Cancer Centre Appeal Launched!If you would like to donate, please complete the slip or go online. Alternatively text 70070, then as the message put: OBCC78 and the amount you wish to give.

To get involved in fundraising, please contact Appeal Director Gwilym Owen on 01691 404661 or gwilym.owen@rjah.nhs.uk

At the launch, Wendy Farrington Chadd, RJAH chief executive, Miss Gill Cribb and Mr Paul Cool, consultant oncological and orthopaedic surgeons with bone cancer patient Kate Deboo.

Connect - Foundation Trust Members’ Bulletin - Winter 20132

Nurses Volunteer Abroad!Rachel Leonard is a children’s nurse working in Recovery. On 1st September, she went to Sofia in Bulgaria for two weeks to work as a volunteerin a home for abandoned children with learningdifficulties. The volunteering scheme is run byThe Bulgarian Abandoned Children’s Trust. Rachel became involved after hearing about the cause and finding out a bit more about their history and the work they do because she has always wanted to do something outside the UK with the opportunity of giving something back.

The following Saturday, 8th September, two nurses from RJAH headed off for a fortnight on a military training exercise in Germany. Sister Rebecca (Becky) Warren from MCSI and Theatre nurse Margot McCrone (members of the Territorial Army with 202 (Midlands) Field Hospital) worked alongside American and German Army officerson a medical field training exercise entitled Exercise RHINO SERPENT, during which they specifically practised medical evacuations.

Based near Paderborn, they built a field hospital and then worked within it, treating the exercise as if they were in a war zone. The construction took just five days. However it wasn’t all work and they took part in two days of adventurous training, including a hike up a mountain and enjoyed cultural visits around Germany.

Becky Warren said, “What I most enjoyed was building the field hospital as it’s something I’d never tried before and it was a great experience!” Both Rebecca and Margot added that they gainednew skills which they can bring back and use at work.”

Governor Spotlight The Revd Adrian Bailey has strong community links, as he is a part time Hospital Chaplain, Vicar of Gobowen and Selattyn and the RuralDean of Oswestry. These roles provide him with the opportunity to listen to a wide range of people through local and county forums.

Prior to joining the clergy, Adrian had experience working in the Civil Service in London. This has helped him to gain an understanding of political sensitivities and complex legal documentation. When asked about his role as governor, Adrian answered, “I am passionate about providing a first class hospital for patients which will attractand retain the very best staff, despite the difficult financial climate.” Since becoming a governor, Adrian has regularly attended governors’meetings and has brought the concerns of some Shropshire residents to the attention of hospital management. Rev Adrian BaileyPublic Governor Shropshire

Top Scores in Friends and Family TestIn the first six month’s, RJAH has consistently appeared at the top of the table in a new hourly real-time survey of what patients think of their hospital. At the end of their treat-ment, over 22,000 patients from the 46 acute hospitals across the east of England and the East and West Midlands have been asked “how likely is it that you would recommend this service to friends and family?”

Chief Executive, Wendy Farrington Chadd, was delighted with these results from the pilot study, which are consistent with several other patient satisfaction surveys undertaken for the hospital. “Recommendations to friends and family represent a real ‘acid test’ for quality of care

20

40

60

80

100

Apr 2012 May 2012

Friends & Family Test - Net Promoter Scores April - September 2012

%

Jun 2012 Jul 2012 Aug 2012

Key

RJAH

Average

92.44% 90.57% 89.59% 92.46% 94.66%

69.33% 70.11% 72.52% 72.66% 73.97%

86%

74.56%

Sep 2012

experience and we have been asking our patients this question in the national surveys, which also show consistently high results. Any feedback from patients, particularly ‘real time’, is extremely valu-able in supporting continued improvements.”

Welsh Lessonsfor Staff!From late September, Bangor University provided an introductory 10 week Welsh language course (onsite) for clinical staff to improve communications with patients. Staff were given the chance to study Welsh in the evenings in their own time and the first course was over subscribed.

Due to our location close to the border with Wales, we see many patients from Wales (nearly 40%) and have already invested in bi-lingual signage around the site. The new course is aimed at putting both younger and older patients, who may prefer to speak Welsh, at ease. The Welsh Language Board has previously recognised RJAH for its bi-lingual work when it was the first hospital in England to submit and win an entry for the Welsh Language in Healthcare Awards in 2010.

NHS DiscountsMembers are eligible to join NHS Discounts, where you will receive a monthly list of offers by email.

To sign up, please go to:www.nhsdiscounts.com

Margot McCrone and Sister Rebecca Warren

Web: www.rjah.nhs.uk / Tel: 01691 404082 / Email: ft@rjah.nhs.uk 3

New Consultants

In the Autumn, the Knee and Sports Injury team has been joined by Mr Andrew Barnett and Mr Pete Gallacher. The Upper Limb team has had an additional consultant in the form of Mr Richard Potter and most recently, Mr Benjamin Burston has joined the Arthoplasty team (Hip and Knee Replacement).

InformationFilmsNow that more than half of the operations we perform are Day Cases, we have a film for patients specifically about the Menzies Short Stay Surgery Unit. This can be viewed via our website: www.rjah.nhs.uk/menzies-unit And to show younger members the opportunities for work experience and apprenticeships available at the hospital, please see: www.rjah.nhs.uk/opportunities

Amazing Patients’ FundraisingWe are constantly amazed by the wealth of support from former patients and their friends and families. The following represent just some of the lengths that patients go to in support of the orthopaedic hospital.

Despite having scoliosis (curvature of the spine), 17 year old Bethany Ashworth from the Stockport area, did a tandem skydive in July raising over £500 for RJAH. Her consultant, Mr Trivedi, commented, “I wish to extend my sincerest thanks to Bethany for her brave feat and for raising money.”

In mid October, osteoarthritis patient Louisa Evans from Machynlleth, raised in excess of £840, by running the Cardiff Half Marathon. Louisa spent 15 days as a patient at RJAH last February and set herself the target whilst in hospital.

On 21 October, former spinal injury patient Rachel Burrows, completed the Birmingham Great Bupa Run half marathon, raising over £1000 for RJAH to support MCSI. Rachel said,

Health and Wellbeing DayOn 15th of October, many staff took part in a Health and Wellbeing Day, which was held in the new conference suite. The aim was to promote the benefits of positive health and wellbeing, as well as to highlight how some simple lifestyle changes can reduce long-term health problems.

Staff had the opportunity to try out a number of different activities including, Wii-fit games, reflexology and taster massage sessions. There were free mini health checks, analysing heart rate, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. A number of external organisations came to the hospital to give information and advice to staff, including Slimming World, Peak Performance Coaching and the Lion Quays Country Club.

A number of stands offered advice and information, including guidance about weight management, counselling and stopping smoking.Marian Baskerville, the Stop Smoking Sister commented,

“As NHS staff, we are all very focused on the health of others, but no matter

how busy we are, we deserve to give some priority to our

own health and future”.

Since September 2012, four new consultant orthopaedic surgeons have been appointed.

New Non-ExecutiveMrs Hilary Pepler from Chirk joined the Trust Board of Directors as a non executive in November 2012. Mrs Pepler has significant experience of working at Board level in both England and Wales and has direct experience of RJAH. Since retiring from the NHS five years ago, Hilary has become an advisor on a number of Boards including being an advisor volunteer with the National Trust.

“This half marathon was an important milestone for me as I felt it marked my full return to fitness following a challenging three years of recovery and change.”

Three years ago, 26 year old Matthew Gordon from Maesbury suffered a serious road accident which left him with spinal injuries and came to MCSI. Nine of Mathew’s family and friends com-pleted a sponsored triathlon in 2012 along the Montgomery Canal in Newtown, where they completed nearly 40 miles of bike riding, walking and canoeing. Valerie Gordon, Mathew’s mother said, “I think the canoeing was the most challenging;some people found it hard”. In total, Mathew’s family and friends raised a huge £1400.

Hilary Pepler

Sister Marian Baskerville

Bethany Ashworth

Pete Gallacher Andrew Barnett Richard Potter Benjamin Burston

The Robert Jones and Agnes HuntOrthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation TrustOswestry, Shropshire SY10 7AGTel: 01691 404082 www.rjah.nhs.uk

If you would be happy to receive your newsletter electronically, please email: ft@rjah.nhs.ukPlease note, we prefer to contact members by e-mail if at all possible, as this saves the hospital money on postage and is environmentally friendly!

A Seasonal gift... £53k!From an epic fundraising event in Mongolia, The Rt. Hon. Owen Paterson MP for North Shropshire and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and his wife Rose, handed over a huge cheque on Christmas Eve for £53,600 at RJAH. The money was given to the Midland’s Centre for Spinal Injuries and will be used to fund research.

The funds were raised from the August 2011 Mongol Derby, which is a 1000 kilometre race on semi-wild horses across the wilderness of the Mongolian Steppe. The race is the most extreme, longest and toughest horse race in the world. Both aged 55, Owen and Rose Paterson completed the gruelling adventure in just nine days, changing horses at intervals of 40km. They have a track record of teamwork and riding, for example completing a riding holiday six years ago across Turkmenistan, in central Asia.

Owen Paterson commented, “The race was certainly tough but the causes are very worthy. We encountered rivers, thunderstorms, wild animals, dehydration, sunburn, fatigue and soreness and the ever present danger of injury from potentially falling off the 25 different horses we rode.”

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Success Following SDR OperationFor over 18 years, RJAH surgeons have been performing a specialist procedure called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). SDR is an operation to reduce spasticity which is suitable for a group of children with cerebral palsy affecting the lower limbs, who have enough strength and control to be able to walk better after the spasticity is removed. Within this carefully selected group, there have been some very positive results. Originally the technique was promoted by a South African Surgeon, Warwick Peacock, in Los Angeles and surgeons from Oswestry went to LA to learn from Dr Peacock and began performing the SDR procedure in 1994, as the first UK centre to do this. For over 15 years, Oswestry was the only team in the UK to develop the procedure and proceeded cautiously and audited their results.

Consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Mr Andrew Roberts, explains, “We put a great deal of effort into deciding which children are suitable and we carefully follow up patients for many years after their operation. In the first decade we treated 20 patients, of the 70, who were referred to us to be con-sidered for SDR.” To date, 45 children have undergone the procedure which involves opening up the spine and dividing certain nerves that contribute to abnormal reflexes. Afterwards, with intensive physiotherapy, patients develop an improved pattern of walking due to a reduction in their muscle stiffness.

Actor Wesley Nelson, from Cardiff, underwent the operation at the age of 8 and now 16, appears in the second series of CBBC’s The Sparticle Mystery and has been in Doctors, Casualty and Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, and appeared at the National Theatre. He was recently filmed at the hospital speaking in Welsh for a S4C documentary in Welsh. Wesley comments, “The effects of SDR have been fantastic. Of course it doesn’t take away cerebral palsy but, compared with before, it has really improved my abilities.”

His father, Mr Simon Nelson added, “As a family, we think it is very important that people are aware of what expertise is available here in the UK because they need to know what the treatment options are for cerebral palsy.”

Don’t Forget to Donate!Please visit our Just Giving Page to donate to the Bone Cancer Centre Appeal: www.justgiving.com/Oswestry-bone-cancer-centreOr Text 70070, then as the message put: OBCC78 and the amount you wish to give. Thank you!

Back row centre Owen and Rose Paterson, with Mr Aheed Osman, Wendy Farrington Chadd and Prof El Masri. Patient Mr Goodridge in centre and the MCSI team

Mr Andrew Roberts examines actor Wesley Nelson, with dad watching, whilst being filmed by S4C