Summer 2015
RD&E news
Index
04 R&DE volunteers recognised at Chairman’s teaparty
05 Cardiac arrest survival rate double the national average at RD&E
07 Focus on falls for our Patient Safety Programme
08 RD&E helped me patient feedback
12-13 Focus on Fertility find out more about our Fertility Exeter clinic
14 Annual Members Meeting find out more about this year’s event
16 Sophie’s happier and healthier now she’s quit the habit
17 Living with and beyond cancer learn more about staff training
19 Work Observation Week pupils consider NHS career options
22 Crohn’s and Colitis Committee donate vital equipment
Welcome
Welcome to your summer edition of RD&E News, bringing you a roundup of all the
latest news, activities and achievements at the RD&E.
This May we launched our rebranded Fertility Exeter clinic, which unifies the RD&E fertility
services with the previously independent Peninsular Centre for Reproductive Medicine
(PCRM). The new clinic, which is based in Heavitree hospital, prides itself on providing
clinically excellent fertility services combined with compassion and empathy.
Leia Morales from Exeter experienced this first hand when she became the mother of the
first baby to be born under the new clinic. You can read more about Leia’s story and meet
some of the faces from behind the scenes at the clinic (including our front cover stars
Embryologists Sarah and Joanne) on pages 12-13.
TELL US YOUR NEWS!
We’d love to hear about your projects, achievements and successes. Get in touch if
you have a story idea that you would like including in the next edition of RDE News,
and don’t forget we love pictures too so send them in!
Copy deadline for the next issue is 17th September 2015. The next RD&E News will be
published in November.
To get in touch, contact a member of the Communications Team:
James Garnett, Communications Manager 01392 402833, jamesgarnett@nhs.net
Gwen Powell, Communications Officer 01392 406941, gwenpowell@nhs.net
Or email rde-tr.RDEComms@nhs.net
Unsubscribe from RD&E News?
If you are a Member and would like us to remove you from our mailing list please
contact the Engagement Team on
01392 403977 or email rde-tr.foundationtrust@nhs.net
#DoSomethingNew for Dementia Awareness Week
Staff and patients have been trying out new skills during this year’s Dementia Awareness
Week (17 - 23 May). The national campaign, organised by the Alzheimer’s Society,
encouraged everyone to try something new and to share it via social media.
The RD&E arranged a whole host of activities for patients including biscuit decorating,
creative colouring sessions with Age UK, ward visits from Pets as Therapy and storytelling
with the Alzheimer’s Society. A group of patients also got to enjoy a special cream tea in the
hospital’s Devon Garden.
Meanwhile staff from Torridge, Kenn and Bovey Wards held charity cake sales, X-Ray
organised a raffle, the Surgical Outpatients team held a craft competition, and volunteers
from the South West Comms Band performed on the wards.
Consultant Nurse for Older People, Debbie Cheeseman, said: “It is really important to
encourage patients with dementia to try out new things or maintain their hobbies because
all activity, however small, stimulates the mind and encourages interaction with others. In
hospital this is particularly important as people with dementia are more likely to become
disorientated by their experiences.”
www.alzheimers.org.uk/remembertheperson
Membership Enquires
If you would like to know more about becoming a Member of the RD&E or have any
questions please contact our Engagement Team on 01392 403977 or email rdetr.foundationtrust@nhs.net
RD&E wins top national hospitals award
The RD&E has been named as one of the 40 best-performing Trusts in England at an
awards ceremony. The Trust has won the CHKS Top Hospitals 2015 award, one of
several categories set up to recognise the achievements of hospital staff.
CHKS Ltd, part of Capita plc, is a provider of healthcare intelligence and quality
improvement services to the NHS and independent healthcare sector and its Top
Hospitals award is based on the evaluation of over 20 of the RD&E’s key performance
indicators covering safety, clinical effectiveness, health outcomes, efficiency, patient
experience and quality of care.
Suzanne Tracey, the RD&E’s Deputy Chief Executive/Chief Financial Officer, collected
the award at a special ceremony in London. She said: “We are delighted to receive
this award and proud that the talent, hard work and dedication of all RD&E staff to
provide our patients with the best possible care has been recognised.”
Jason Harries, managing director, CHKS said: “These awards recognise outstanding
performance in those areas which we believe are critical to delivering good patient
care. We are delighted that the RD&E is one of our Top Hospitals 2015.”
Our new Caldicott Guardian – Dr Mark Daly
Dr Mark Daly, Associate Medical Director Surgical Services, has taken over the role of
Caldicott Guardian following the recent retirement of Medical Director Martin Cooper.
The Caldicott Guardian acts as the conscience of the Trust, and provides a focal point
for patient confidentiality and information sharing issues.
In his new role, Mark will ensure that the highest practical standards for handling
patient-identifiable information are satisfied and will assist with any actual or alleged
breaches of confidentiality. As Caldicott Guardian he will also represent and
champion Information Governance requirements and issues with the Board.
Spring Extraordinary People Awards winners!
Excellent Care: Rose Briers, Nurse, Torridge Ward
Rose was nominated by a relative of a patient who said: “My mother was a patient on
Torridge ward when she became gravely ill. Her attention meant that mum’s passing
was gentle and tender.”
Exceed Award: The Breast Care Team.
The team was nominated after they developed and implemented a process to reduce
waiting times for receiving routine mammogram results, which has reduced the waiting
to three to five days.
Exemplar Award: Gavin Lloyd, Consultant, Emergency Department
Senior Nurse Ginette Clarkson said: “Gavin is passionate about improving care and
the environment for patients. He regularly does ‘care rounds’ where he talks to
patients to gain direct feedback. Gavin has made a real difference to patients and the
care they receive.”
Extra Mile Individual Award: Chris McLauchlan Consultant and Tomasz Miasek
catering assistant, Ashburn
Chris McLauchlan, won the award for the support he gives to the relatives of patients
who have died in the ED. Chris uniquely offers interviews to the bereaved relatives,
offering open and sensitive explanations about the patients passing and offering
advice and support.
Tomasz Miasek was nominated by housekeeper Rebecca Price, who describes him as
an incredibly hard working individual: “He treats all patients with care and
compassion and never fails to deliver very high standards.”
Extra Mile Team Award. Emergency Department, research nurses
Research nurses, Jennie and Christine were nominated by Consultant Andrew
Appelboam, who said: “Through their commitments and efforts, an extraordinary high
standard of research activity has been achieved.”
Vote for hand hygiene!
The Infection Prevention and Control Team have been raising awareness of the
importance of hand hygiene with a very special kind of election. The team organised a
Hand Hygiene Pledge Election as part of their activities to mark Global Hand Hygiene Day
on May 5th.
The annual event is organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote good
hand hygiene practice and the prevention of healthcare-associated infections.
The team’s Pledge Election asked RD&E staff to vote for one of six Hand Hygiene
Pledges, including cleaning hands before and after glove use, promoting being bare
below the elbows and cleaning hands after contact with the patient zone or environment.
Many staff got involved with campaigning and showed their support by sharing their
#safeHANDS selfies on Twitter. Overall, approx. 450 votes were cast, with the Pink
Pledge (making patient hand hygiene a priority) emerging victorious.
Volunteers thanked at Chairman’s teaparty
The commitment and dedication of our volunteers has been recognised at a special afternoon
tea in Oasis hosted by Chairman James Brent and the Board.
There are currently over 300 volunteers who give approx. 1750 hours a month volunteering at
the hospital and with partner organisations such as ELF, Force and Hospital Radio Exeter.
They play a huge part in helping to improve the experience of being in hospital for patients
and visitors, enabling frontline, clinical and nursing staff to focus on providing patient care.
The event’s special guests enjoyed an impressive spread of sandwiches and cream tea,
whilst chatting with fellow volunteers, members of the Board and Non-Executive Directors.
The teaparty followed on from National Volunteers Week (1st – 7th June), which is an annual
celebration of the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK.
To find out more about volunteering visit
www.rdehospital.nhs.uk/patients/help/volunteers.html , email rde-tr.volunteers@nhs.net or
leave a message on 01392 406058.
Our maternity services are now on Facebook!
Expectant mums and parents with new arrivals can now follow our maternity services on
Facebook.
In May we launched a six month pilot page on the social networking site to explore a new way
of connecting with patients using the maternity services at the RD&E and those choosing to
use our Birth Centres based in Exeter, Tiverton, Okehampton and Honiton.
The Royal Devon and Exeter Maternity Services page provides information on everything
ranging from the benefits of breastfeeding to what to pack in your hospital bag. It also offers
mums-to-be an introduction to some the wards and birthing facilities and some of the
different staff members they might meet. It also gives parents-to-be the chance to seek
advice and share their feedback.
Zita Martinez, Clinical Midwifery Manager, said: “The page has already proved to be a good
alternative way for us to share important information and advice with our mums and for them
to ask us questions. Since its launch, the page has received a great response and we have
been overwhelmed with the amount of positive and constructive feedback we’ve received
from parents about their birthing experiences.”
The page will run until October, when we will be reviewing the project’s success.
Survival rate of patients suffering cardiac arrest
at RD&E double the national average
Well over a third of patients who suffered cardiac arrest at the RD&E last year
survived and were later discharged from hospital compared to 18% nationally, a
clinical study has found.
The latest National Cardiac Arrest Audit Report compared hospital cardiac arrest
survival data for the period April-December 2014. Some 37.5% of patients at the RD&E
survived and were later discharged compared to a national average of 18.4%. The
percentage applies to those patients who suffered cardiac arrest and who were given
cardiopulmonary resuscitation via chest compressions and/or defibrillation.
Dr Gavin Lloyd, Consultant Emergency Physician and Lead Clinician for
Resuscitation, said: “We have worked tirelessly to strengthen resuscitation training
and procedures in the Trust supported by two dedicated resuscitation training
officers. Staff have worked incredibly hard to achieve these results and our mission
now is to maintain this level of excellence so that patients continue to get the best
possible chance of survival in the unlikely event they suffer cardiac arrest while in the
RD&E.”
Northumbrian team learn from RD&E hip best
practice
The orthogeriatrics multidisciplinary team from Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust
recently visited the Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Centre (PEOC) to find out more about
how we treat patients with hip fractures. The visit came after they identified the RD&E
through a National Quality Observation Network as having one of the lowest 30-day
mortality rates following a hip fracture in the country.
The 30-day mortality rate is an outcome measure used to compare hospitals. Since
targeting efforts to improve outcome data in 2010, the Exeter team have seen a decrease in
30-day mortality from 13% in 2007 to 5.3% in 2014. This can be attributed to their
multidisciplinary approach and closer working between the orthogeriatrics, trauma and
Orthopaedic team.
Keen to improve their own hip figures, the Northumbrian team took the opportunity to
learn more about a patient’s journey through the hospital by chatting with our team and
touring relevant areas. Feedback was extremely positive and the event highlighted the
importance of sharing best practice care in hip fracture treatment.
National joint data shows PEOC is amongst the
best in the country
The Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Centre (PEOC) is amongst some of the top
performing orthopeadic centres in the country according to patient outcome data
released by the National Joint Registry (NJR).
Information included in the NJR’s Surgeon and Hospital Profiles for hip, knee, ankle,
elbow and shoulder joint replacement surgeries show PEOC’s hip unit in particular
has performed well in Patient Improvement and Outcomes (PROMS) data, and has an
outstanding hip revision rate.
The successful hip revision ratio of 0.58 is almost half the national average for
operations performed to remove and replace hip joint prosthesis. PEOC’s success
over the data’s ten year period, can be attributed to the team’s comprehensive
knowledge and experience of hip care, along with their expertise in performing total
hip replacements with the world renowned Exeter Hip implant.
Mr Matthew Wilson, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, said: “these results reinforce
our internationally renowned reputation for orthopaedic care and hip replacement
surgery. I would hope that patients having joint replacement surgery at PEOC will be
reassured by this excellent data.”
www.njrsurgeonhospitalprofile.org.uk
The offer of taking part in a clinical trial was ‘like
being given the key to a new door for me’.
Retired broadcast television sound engineer David has participated in two clinical
trials since he was diagnosed and treated for bladder cancer in December 2008.
David reflects: “Being told I had a tumour came as a terrible shock but the consultant
made the right judgement call immediately offering me the chance to do a clinical
drug trial because it instantly felt like being given the key to a new door for me to
open in addition to my
own treatment.”
In 2012 David was contacted by a research nurse about the opportunity to take part in
a new research study looking at a new treatment compared with standard treatments
for bladder cancer patients at RD&E. Travelling from his Beaminster home in Dorset
to Devon was not an issue for David because he felt that participation in health
research empowered and reassured him.
He cannot speak highly enough about his experience saying: “The minute I met
consultant urologist Mr John McGrath and the team at the RD&E I knew I was in safe
competent hands. I have always felt fully informed and that my health and wellbeing
has been closely monitored which was such a confidence builder for me.
“You can imagine how wonderful it felt to be told in February 2013 that all the biopsies
came back clear – news I had hoped I would hear for over four years. I am still
regularly checked and I am living an active life. Health research is so important – how
else can we find the answers and achieve medical advances?”
RD&E Consultant urologist Mr John McGrath said: “Research is a fantastic
partnership between patients and their clinical team where together they can improve
not just the individual’s care but also potentially the care for hundreds more patients
in the future.”
‘OK to ask’
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) ‘Ok to ask’ campaign aims to raise
awareness about clinical research and encourage people with a medical condition
and undergoing treatment to ask their GP, nurse or consultant whether there is a
research study which might be right for their health needs. Information leaflets are
available in the hospital PALS office or online at: www.nihr.ac.uk/oktoask
Clinical Trials Team win top spot at national
NIHR Celebrating Research Nurses event
The RD&E’s Clinical Trials Team have won ‘best poster’ at the National Institute for
Health Research (NIHR) Celebrating Research Nurses event on International Nurses’
Day.
Leigh Boxall, Samantha Keenan, and Alison Potter beat off stiff competition from 30
other national submissions to claim the top spot with their poster ‘Growing NonMedical Principal Investigators: an opportunity to increase capacity and promote
workforce development’.
The poster details the team’s work over the past year to increase capacity in
delivering clinical research and providing development opportunities for our
specialist research workforce of nurses and AHPs.
Patients & hospital staff create renal research
leaflet
Patients and staff have worked together to develop a new leaflet highlighting health
research with the RD&E’s renal service. The collaboration involved valuable feedback
from patient and public representatives on a Communications Group with the NIHR
South West Clinical Research Network and the leaflet will be piloted at the Exeter
Kidney Unit.
Patient Safety Programme: Focus on falls
Bernadette George, Head of Safety, Risk & Patient Experience, tells us about recent
work to prevent patient falls…
“An integral part of the Safety Programme this year will be our continued focus on
falls prevention and preventing patients coming to harm whilst in hospital. Over the
last few months the Trust has updated and launched the ‘Slips, Trips and Falls
(Inpatients) Policy’, which aims to support the safety of patients and promote a
culture that falls management and prevention is the responsibility of all staff.”
“Based on current NICE Guidance, the following group of inpatients are considered at
risk of falling in hospital:
•
All patients aged 65 years or older.
•
Patients aged 50 to 64 years who are judged by a clinician to be at higher risk of
falling because of an underlying condition.
•
In addition to this, numerical risk scoring should not be used.
Key changes include:
•
Removal of the PACT assessment (numerical falls risk assessment).
•
Introduction of the following four questions:
1. Are they over 65?
2. Have they ever fallen?
3. Do they have a cognitive impairment?
4.
Do you believe the patient is at risk of falls?
•
The Falls assessment will need to be undertaken in paper form in the first four hours
of admission and completed on the electronic whiteboard within 24 hours
•
A supporting care plan, personalised for the patient and based on clinical judgement
rather than scoring, is put in place. This will set out the levels of care required (See
appendix 2 in the policy).
• Integrated nursing and medical post-fall assessment
• Changes to the DATIX system to reduce duplication of information entered
• A patient information leaflet is now available
“There has been a real focus by staff to cohort bay nurse and toilet-tag high-risk
patients across ward areas, which enhances the level of supervision and maintains
safety. This is already delivering an encouraging reduction in the numbers of patients
falling and coming to harm as a consequence. The Safety Programme will continue to
focus and embed this work across all ward areas this year.”
RD&E bright sparks celebrated at Quality
Improvement Academy (QIA) event
The Exeter Quality Improvement Academy (QIA) held an event in May to showcase the
hard work and bright ideas of some of the hospital’s trainees.
Launched in 2013, the QIA is an organisation run by junior doctors for junior doctors
to encourage and run quality improvement and patient safety projects with support
from Trust management.
The event, held in the Research Innovation Learning and Development (RILD)
building, offered a study morning of workshops and teaching followed by
presentations, including one by guest speaker Mr Rob Bethune.
The winners of poster presentations were also announced, with Dr Caroline Evans
and Dr Susannah Hodgkinson (pictured with Chief Executive Angela Pedder) claiming
the top prize for their poster ‘Improving handover at shift change in Gynaecology’.
Posters shortlisted for the 2015 Patient Safety
Congress
Congratulations to Acting Senior Nurse - Surgical Services Steve Heath and Acting
Matron Suzie Faulkner and her team in the Emergency Department who were
shortlisted in this year’s Patient Safety Congress poster competition. The posters,
which showcased an innovative solution to a patient safety issue, where displayed at
the event in Birmingham in July. Steve’s poster focussed on ‘STOPD – Safety TimeOut on Patient Discharge’, whilst Suzie’s outlined their work on the Exeter Pressure
Risk Assessment Tool (EPRAT).
“Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm screening saved
my life”
The RD&E and Torbay hospital has been at the forefront of the Abdominal Aortic
Aneurysm (AAA) screening since the service was set up in 2009. The jointly run
Exeter & South Devon AAA screening programme offers a simple health check which
has helped thousands avoid an emergency admission to hospital.
Mr Cluett, from Exeter, counts himself lucky that he attended an AAA screening
appointment when he did…
“In my 65th year I received a polite letter inviting me to attend an AAA screening
session at my local surgery. Off I went in the safe knowledge that I was invincible, so
when the two nice technicians told me that I was ‘abnormal’ and would be referred, it
came as a shock.
“That very same afternoon I got a call from Lynda Pike letting me know that she had
written to the vascular team at RDE with the results of my ultra sound. Three days
later, I got a call to come and meet the consultant. Gosh I thought – this is all very fast
track and efficient (or blimey I must be very ill) – and, two days later, I met Mr
Thompson at the RD&E and we chatted for a good half hour.
“I then received a letter offering me a surgery date only about seven weeks after the
initial screening! After spending a couple of days in Intensive Care following surgery,
Mr Thompson called by to let me know that my Aneurysm had been ‘inflammatory’
making the operation technically difficult – but they had fixed me.
“There is no doubt, that this process and its speed, from screening to operating – has
saved my life.
“I cannot praise the system or the staff highly enough – I was kept well informed
throughout the process and looked after by staff that are professional, human and
caring, as well as having a sense of humour. The NHS and its staff have been
exemplary in looking after Kath and I during the past few years – so don’t be
frightened of getting checked out – it may save your life!”
What is abdominal aortic aneurysm?
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a weakening and expansion of the aorta, the
main blood vessel in the body. The condition is most common in men aged 65 and
above. Routine screening can help catch the condition before it becomes critical.
Men registered with a GP will receive a screening letter in the year they turn 65. Men
aged over 65 can request a scan by contacting their local AAA screening service on
01803 655441.
Visit www.nhs.uk and search for ‘AAA’ or follow @AAAScreenDevon on Twitter
You said, we did…
We always want to hear feedback about your experience at the RD&E. We take on
board everything you tell us, and try our best to make changes to improve our
services. Here’s just a few changes we have made:
•
Some patients had raised concerns that they found newly applied plaster casts
uncomfortable and that plaster advice was not always given when the cast was
applied in theatre. Plaster technicians now visit all inpatients with new casts to check
the fit and comfort and give plaster care advice.
•
Following feedback regarding a lack of communication with relatives waiting for
patients in Wynard day case, a ward housekeeper now asks relatives in the waiting
area if they require any assistance or want to ask any questions. This information is
then relayed to nursing staff to improve communication.
Boots and RD&E cut the ribbon on new
pharmacy partnership
Patients at the RD&E can now benefit from a more convenient outpatient prescription
service thanks to a new Boots pharmacy, in which opened its doors to the public in
May.
Director of Pharmacy at Boots UK Peter Bainbridge and RD&E Deputy Chief
Executive/Chief Financial Officer Suzanne Tracy officially cut the ribbon on the new
Boots UK outpatient pharmacy which is located on the ground floor in the main
hospital corridor. It is hoped the outpatient dispensary will enhance patients’
experience while visiting the hospital, help to reduce waiting times and free up RD&E
pharmacy staff to focus on inpatient care.
Speaking at the event, Tracey Foss, RD&E Chief Pharmacist, said: “Our first priority at
the RD&E is to deliver safe, high quality care and ensure our patients receive the best
possible service. We are delighted to welcome Boots UK into the hospital as our
partner, because they have an excellent track record running outpatient dispensaries
at other NHS acute hospitals and we are confident they will help us deliver real
improvements for our patients.”
Peter Bainbridge, Director of Pharmacy at Boots UK added: “We are delighted to be
working in partnership with Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust to help
offer their patients the best possible pharmacy service.”
As previously reported in RD&E News, the contract to deliver outpatient dispensary
services was awarded to Boots UK following a formal tendering process because of
their expertise in this specialist area.
Carole Boulanger awarded Faculty of Intensive
Care Medicine (FICM) Associate status
Consultant Nurse Carole Boulanger has become the first Advanced Critical Care
Practitioner (ACCP) in the country to have been awarded Associate status by the
Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (FICM).
The FICM is the professional body responsible for the training, assessment, practice
and continuing professional development of Intensive Care Medicine consultants in
the UK. Membership of FICM is a prestigious achievement, which until now has only
been open to medics.
Carole’s appointment as the only non-medic attached to the faculty is a significant
achievement, recognising the increasing importance of ACCPs working in clinical
practice.
ACCPs are clinical professionals on an Intensive Care Unit who have developed their
skills and knowledge to a very high standard. The role was introduced at the RD&E in
2004 as part of a Department of Health pilot and the work achieved here was
fundamental to the establishment of the role nationwide.
Find out more about FICM by visiting
www.ficm.ac.uk
Prof Maggie Shepard leads award application for
diabetes nurse training initiative
Honorary Clinical Professor Maggie Shepherd has led the Trust’s submission to the
Quality in Care (QiC) Diabetes programme awards for the Trust’s monogenic diabetes
work.
Monogenic diabetes occurs because of a mutation in a single gene. It accounts for
around 2% of patients with diabetes, and is often misdiagnosed as Type 1 or Type 2
diabetes, meaning many may receive the wrong treatment for the condition.
Exeter has established an internationally renowned genetics laboratory that is the UK
centre for genetic testing in diabetes. However health professionals are often
unfamiliar with monogenic diabetes and need education to help them identify patients
who would benefit from genetic testing, to ensure appropriate treatment and family
follow up.
Maggie has been instrumental in the development of the national Genetic Diabetes
Nurse (GDN) educational initiative to train Diabetes Specialist Nurses to recognise
monogenic diabetes and to manage patients with a confirmed diagnosis. The initiative
has been running since 2002 and has delivered training to nearly 8000 healthcare
professionals across the UK.
The QiC Diabetes Awards will take place in October 2015.
RD&E cycling special
There are lots of cycling enthusiasts at the RD&E. This summer many have been keen to
get on their bikes for their daily commute, or have taken part in cycling challenges to
raise cash for charity, or have even incorporated their bikes into their ‘big day’...
London to Paris cycle challenge complete!
In the last edition of RD&E News we told you about Medical Technical Officer James
Sanders’ London to Paris cycling challenge for the British Heart Foundation in memory of
his dad. We are pleased to report that James, and his companions Dan Thompson, Raul
Ramirez and his brother Mark, successfully completed the 285 mile trip at the end of May.
James said: “The trip went amazingly well. We managed to raise an amount far more than
we set out to do with a total of £3,520, which is an amazing feeling. Knowing that hopefully
it will help with extra care for people who suffer with heart conditions like Dad is very
reassuring. We also want to thank everyone who supported us and donated, it was a real
driving force behind the trip and great motivation to get us to Paris.”
Cycle shelter open
More staff can now get on their bikes and enjoy and greener and cheaper commute to
work thanks to the unveiling of a new cycle shelter outside Bowmoor House.
The shelter offers a secure and dry place for staff to keep their bikes and includes
swipe card access and armoured underground cabling to prevent thieves cutting the
power supply to the gate and roof. The shelter has been funded by the RD&E Staff
Lottery, with the help of match funding from Travel Devon.
To obtain access to the new shelter, contact the Car Parking Team and have your ID
card added to the security system.
Find out more about the RD&E’s cycle to work scheme in the ‘Staff Benefits’ section
on IaN.
RD&E celebrates National Cycle Week
The RD&E marked National Cycle Week (13th-21st June) with a whole range of activities
to promote cycling to work, including visits from travel advisors, cycling confidence
sessions, Dr Bike appointments and security marking sessions by Devon and Cornwall
Police.
To find out more about National Cycle Week visit www.bikeweek.org.uk
A wedding with a difference
Keen cyclists Anna Reffell, a Trauma Nurse Practitioner at the RD&E, and her partner
Lee Atkinson, recently embarked on a 1450mile charity cycle challenge to mark the
start of their married life together.
The couple, who met eight years ago at the Teign Valley Pedal Bashers Cycling group,
completed the ‘End to End’ cycling challenge from John O’Groats to Land’s End, with
a pit-stop at the famous Old Blacksmiths Shop in Grenta Green to get married.
Anna said: “We met through our interest in cycling and fell in love. So it seemed
natural for us to include a cycling theme within our wedding plans.”
In June they started their cycle from Wick before arriving at Grenta to ‘tie the knot’ on
the 13th June in the presence of a small group of family and friends. Anna and Lee
then completed their cycle as a married couple and continued the celebrations at
home with a ‘post-wedding festival’ and a bike ride with their cycling clubs.
“The wedding went really well, it was really fun cycling to Gretna and back on the
tandem. People were stopping their cars to take pictures and tooting their horns - I
think we made quite a few people smile!” Anna added. “And the cycle ride was
brilliant - in total 1450 miles in three weeks with only one accident.”
Throughout their challenge, Anna and Lee were fundraising for Cancer Research and
the British Heart Foundation. “What made our wedding complete is knowing that
others may benefit from our happiness by us raising money for charity”. said Anna.
Social cycling
The staff from the IT Operations team recently organised a team bike ride from Exeter
Quay to Exmouth. Several members of the team regularly get on their bikes for their
daily commute, making good use of the new Bowmoor House bike shelter, and
thought some extra-curricular cycling could be a good way to socialise and keep fit
outside of work. Central Systems Analyst Jeremy Wedgwood organised the ride
having recently taking up cycling himself. The team are already planning their next
cycling outing and hope to make it a regular event.
Bridging the divide between mind and body
Dr Doug Crix, Clinical Psychologist for the Pain Management Rehabilitation Team,
tells us about how they use psychological therapies to help patients cope with
physical health problems…
“The Pain Management Team, which comprises of Physiotherapy, Occupational
Therapy and Psychology, work with patients experiencing persistent pain. We are
developing therapeutic approaches using Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT).
“CFT was developed by Professor Paul Gilbert integrating Cognitive Behavioural
Therapy (CBT), evolutionary psychology and social psychology. CFT is especially
developed to support individuals who have high levels of self-criticism and who may
have traumatic backgrounds. We have now adapted this approach to working with
people with persistent pain.
“Pain management approaches focus on supporting patients to manage their pain
rather than directly attempting to reduce it. CFT builds on this by supporting
individuals to increase their understanding of emotional responses to pain. A major
feature of the approach is that it helps bridge the divide between mind and body. The
standard approach is to see the mind and body as separate, which can contribute to
patients feeling disbelieved by medical practitioners and loved ones. Considering the
evolutionary purpose for particular emotions and how they express in the body
enables a more holistic way of understanding the interplay between mind and body.
“One of the approaches that we have been piloting is the use of Compassion
Focussed Therapy groups for individuals with persistent pain. These therapeutic
groups help members come to terms with the emotional impact of having persistent
pain and considering how they support themselves to rebuild a quality of life.
Although the group does not aim to directly reduce the level of pain, it hopes to
decrease the distress associated with having persistent pain and enable individuals
to self-manage their pain better.
“We have had some positive feedback from these groups and participants have made
some significant and lasting changes to their lives. We are currently developing a
more formal evaluation of these groups and hope to be able to publish research in the
future.”
Focus on fertility…Improved fertility clinic
launched in Exeter
Couples across the South West now have access to improved fertility services to help
them achieve their dreams of starting a family thanks to the re-launch of our Fertility
Exeter clinic.
Fertility Exeter combines the high quality NHS fertility services provided by the RD&E
with the self-funded treatment previously provided by the independent Peninsular Centre
for Reproductive Medicine (PCRM). The RD&E took over the successful PCRM clinic in
June 2014, and has since undertaken extensive work to unify the two services.
The service now offers patients a single pathway of care from their initial consultation
through diagnostics, planning, counselling, and treatment. If further self-funded
treatment is required then patients can continue to attend the same clinic, with access to
the same experienced fertility specialists in familiar surroundings.
The official launch of the rebranded service was attended by staff from the Fertility
Exeter clinic and colleagues from the Centre for Women’s Health. The evening’s special
guests included the Izzy Giles, 17, the first baby to be born thanks to the PCRM fertility
service and her family, and 3 month old Lilly-Jean Morales who is the first baby born
under the new Fertility Exeter clinic. You can read more about Lilly-Jean and her family
over the page.
Lisa Joels, Consultant Gynaecologist and Clinical Lead for Fertility Services, said: “The
launch of Exeter Fertility is a really exciting moment for us. It’s been an opportunity
bring two teams together and to build on past successes in order to take the newly
combined fertility clinic forward with exciting new services and developments. I am so
proud of the unified team who, in addition to excellent skills, bring a very human, caring
element to couples experiencing fertility problems.”
For more information please visit www.fertilityexeter.co.uk or call 01392 405051.
Lilly-Jean’s journey
Little Lilly-Jean Morales was the first baby born under the new Fertility Exeter clinic in
February 2015. Her mum Leia tells us their story…
“Our journey to Fertility Exeter began in late 2012 after we had been trying for a baby for
about a year. We approached our GP and had some tests done, and were referred to the
clinic. The next step was for my husband Lou to take a drug which improved the quality
and quantity of his sperm sample and then we were able to start our first IVF treatment
using ICSI. Unfortunately the cycle was unsuccessful. This news was devastating and I
made use of the counselling service offered by the clinic to cope with
the disappointment.
“In spring 2014 we tried two gentle cycles of IVF that were self-funded. I could tell that by
this point Dr Sam and the team were just as hopeful for success. Dr Sam suggested that
we have a little longer stimulation period before egg collection and Sarah (the
Emblyologist) suggested that we try assisted hatching and also that they use stop motion
camera to monitor the embryos.
“The two week wait for a positive test was easier the third time, I tried to forget about it but
still ended up taking my first pregnancy test after nine days. It was positive, as were the
next four tests! It felt amazing to call the clinic with good news finally. It was Dr Sam who I
spoke to and it was clear that it was the best part of his job to speak to women who have
had a positive pregnancy test.
“I had a very positive experience at the clinic. I found the staff, especially Dr Sam, to be
amazing. It was strange to no longer be in contact with them as my antenatal care moved
to the Centre for Women’s Health - I felt like I wanted to give a call to the clinic to keep
them up to date on my baby’s development! I wanted to tell Dr Sam when we found out
that we were having a girl and I couldn’t wait to return to the clinic with my baby.
“It is almost a year since we went through our treatment and so much has changed. I
could only dream about reflecting on my experience in a positive light while my baby
sleeps upstairs. I would never have chosen this journey but I am able to reflect that it was
our journey and it has made our little family so special.
“Our journey to get pregnant took longer than planned, however my pregnancy itself took
less time than expected. The reason that Lilly became the first baby born from treatment
after the NHS bought the clinic was because she was born at 36+1 weeks by c-section. I
was adamant that I wanted as natural a birth as possible, since her conception had been
so clinical. However, as I lay on the operating table taking breaths of entonox if took me
back to the last operating table I had laid on when Dr Sam had collected my eggs. And it all
seemed like the last eight months had been a Dallas-like dream.”
Annual Members’ Meeting Saturday 26th
September
Our Annual Members’ Meeting for 2015 is due to take place on Saturday 26th
September. As last year, we will combine our Annual Members’ Meeting with a
‘Members’ Say!’ event held exclusively for Members of the Trust.
This year’s Members’ Say will focus on the way the NHS needs to adapt to meet the
challenges it faces and take advantage of the new opportunities science and
technology can offer now and in the future. As well as our talks, Members’ Say
events provide an important opportunity for you to have your say about the Trust and
to contribute your ideas and thoughts on our services and plans for the future.
As well as being able to meet hospital staff, Governors and Directors, part of the day
also includes the Trust’s Annual Members Meeting offering the chance to hear from
our Chairman James Brent and the Chief Executive Angela Pedder who will be
sharing highlights of the RD&E’s past year.
Space at this event is limited and places are available on a first come, first served
basis. If you would like to attend, please reserve your place early to avoid
disappointment.
Further details are outlined in the enclosed invitation.
Medicine for Members
Wednesday 21st October 10.30am
Cardiac Care is the focus of our next Medicine for Members talk so we are delighted to
have Dr Matthew Lovell, Consultant in Cardiology, as our keynote speaker.
The talk will be held in the Princess Elizabeth Orthopedic Centre (PEOC) at Wonford
Hospital.
Places are limited so reserve your place early to avoid disappointment by contacting the
Engagement Team on 01392 403977 or email Jenny Jones, Engagement Officer, at rdetr.foundationtrust@nhs.net
For a map showing the entrance to the PEOC centre and information on parking
arrangements visit the ‘Getting to the RD&E’ page on our website at
www.rdehospital.nhs.uk
Promoting Membership at the Devon County Show
Public Governor James Bradley recently took the opportunity to promote Trust
Membership at the Devon County Show. James attended the annual event at
Westpoint in Exeter armed with stacks of Membership sign up forms and information
about the RD&E.
During his day at the show, James chatted with many local people about the Trust
and its activities and used the event to raise awareness of the importance of being a
Member of your local hospital.
There was a great deal of interest shown by visitors to the RD&E information stand,
with James signing up over 30 people on the day and handing out many more forms
for people to take away and consider.
• If you would like to take the opportunity to promote RD&E Membership at a local
event then please get in touch with the Engagement Team on 01392 403977 or email
rde-tr.foundationtrust@nhs.net
It’s election time again!
This year’s elections to the Council of Governors are already in progress. The
Council of Governors is accountable to the local community, the Trust and also plays
a vital role in ensuring your views on how the hospital is run are heard.
Don’t forget
If there are more candidates than Governor places available this year, you may be
required to vote. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to have your views and opinions
represented. If an election is needed a voting paper will be sent out to you on the 18th
August. Please remember to return it by the 8th September to ensure your vote
counts.
The election results will be announced on the 9th September. Look out for all the
results and details of your new Governors in the next edition of RD&E News.
RD&E Board Meetings 2015
Our Board has 10 meetings in a calendar year (though it can meet in August and
December if required) with each meeting having a public and confidential session.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the public sessions.
2015 Board meeting dates are:
•
Wednesday 30th September
•
Wednesday 28th October
•
Wednesday 25th November
Please note: the public Board meetings will start at 9.30am and will finish at 11.00am.
The meetings are held in the Boardroom, Noy Scott House, on the RD&E Wonford
site, which is on the ground floor and accessible by wheelchair.
Council of Governors Meetings
All Council meetings are 2-4pm
Friday 16th October – Seminar Room 1, RILD
Venue: Research, Innovation, Learning & Development building (RILD), RD&E,
Wonford, Barrack Road, Exeter.
All Foundation Trust members are welcome to attend these meetings. There is no
need to book but if you would like more details, please contact the Engagement Team
on
01392 403977 or email rde-tr.foundationtrust@nhs.net
Join us!
We are always looking to recruit more Members to help us shape our services. Our
Members play a vital role in providing feedback and support on how local health care
is provided.
Becoming a Member is free. You can be as active and involved as you want. As a
Member you get to have a greater say in how our services are run and can attend
events such as Members Say and Medicine for Members to gain a deeper insight into
the care we provide. You will be able to vote for representatives on the Council of
Governors or even put yourself forward for election. You will also receive regular
updates from us in the form of our quarterly magazine RD&E News.
To become a Member send your name, address, and email address to Royal Devon &
Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, FREEPOST NAT 7092, Exeter, EX25BF, or email rdetr.foundationtrust@nhs.net
To find out more about becoming a member visit our website
www.rdehospital.nhs.uk/trust/ft/membership.html or scan our QR code:
Sophie’s happier and healthier now she’s quit
the habit
RD&E Administration Officer Sophie Hannon couldn’t believe the health benefits that
came when she and her husband Olly quit smoking earlier this year.
Thanks to the help and support they received from the RD&E’s Stop Smoking
Advisor, Steph Parker, Sophie and Olly were able to quit the habit for good and are
now expecting their first child together.
Sophie smoked for 16 years and Olly for about seven. As they were trying to
conceive, they felt it would be a good time to quit.
“I first heard about the Stop Smoking Service through the posters around the
hospital” said Sophie. “I gave Steph a call and arranged an appointment to take our
histories. She put together a personalised plan for me and Olly based on what she
thought could work for us.”
Along with the support from Olly, Sophie found Steph’s help invaluable. “It was nice
to have someone to talk things through with if you were struggling. I was anxious
about being able to see it through but I was also determined to get the certificate that
said I hadn’t smoked for a month – all the little motivational things from Steph made
the difference!” added Sophie.
“From this point I began to look at smoking like an old relationship that had no future.
We’ve had some great times but I need to move on!”
As well as receiving Nicotine Replacement Therapy on prescription, Steph also taught
Sophie some helpful breathing techniques and ways to overcome her cravings, which
she still uses today.
Sophie had her last cigarette in the autumn of last year and was surprised by how
much healthier she felt. She said: “There are lots of physical side effects that you’re
not prepared for – like my gums flared up because they were able to breathe for the
first time in years – but there are also other perks like no longer feeling breathless. I
live on a hill and I feel like I can run up it now! Because you’re healthier in one area of
your life, you become healthier in others too.
“I would highly recommend the service to anyone hoping to quit. It’s a difficult yet
rewarding lifestyle change and I can’t believe I’ve done it, I feel so proud – I should put
it on my CV!”
How smoking affects your body
Every cigarette you smoke is harmful. Smoking can affect your body in a number of
ways:
• Circulation – smoking makes your blood thicker, narrows your arteries and
increases your blood pressure, which could cause a heart attack or stroke. The good
news is that after only one year of not smoking, your risk of having a heart attack is
reduced by half, and after two years the risk of stroke is also reduced by 50%.
• Lungs - can be very badly affected by smoking, causing fatal diseases such as
pneumonia, emphysema and lung cancer. Once you stop, your body will begin to
recover.
• Mouth and throat – as well as bad breath, stained teeth and gum disease, smoking
also increases your risk of cancer in your lips, tongue, throat, voice box and gullet.
Quitting greatly reduces this risk.
• Fertility – in men smoking can cause male impotence, damage sperm and cause
testicular cancer and in women it can reduce fertility and increase the risk of cervical
cancer.
Find out more at www.nhs.uk/smokefree/why-quit/smoking-health-problems
Living With and Beyond Clinical Masterclass
As part of the Living With and Beyond Cancer (LW&BC) Project, Associate Medical
Director John Renninson and Lead Cancer Nurse Tina Grose recently hosted the
inaugural Clinical Masterclass, for consultants, clinical nurse specialists, GPs and
other invited guests at the FORCE Cancer Support Centre.
The (LW&BC) project is all about the patient, and how we continue to provide
excellent care, even after they have completed their treatment. With the number of
people living with and beyond cancer increasing, their needs for managing their
follow up care are changing. More and more people are now suitable for supported
self-managed follow-up care than ever before, which means that from the point of
diagnosis, we need to empower the patient by preparing them to self-manage. This
can include making them aware of what to look out for, what support is available,
early intervention, and how to re-access the acute service if they have concerns or
symptoms of recurrence.
The aims of the masterclass were to share success of the project work at the RD&E,
learn from other organisations, and discuss the way forward for the Living With and
Beyond Cancer initiative. Speakers at the event included Anne, a patient
representative; Adrian Harris, Medical Director; Malcolm Crundwell, Senior Consultant
Urologist; Tina Grose; and Karen Acott, Executive & Senior Responsible Officer
National Association of Primary Care (NAPC).
If you would like details of future master classes, please contact the LW&BC team on
ext 6577 or 6513.
‘Opening the Spiritual Gate’ course
The RD&E recently secured an educational grant from Health Education South West to
raise the awareness of spiritual and religious needs in patients and is now one of the first
Trusts in the country to have been trained in delivering this to staff across the healthcare
community.
Opening the Spiritual Gate is a one day course that is highly recommended for all clinical
staff to attend.
It is a deeply thought provoking day that provides simple but effective skills and
resources, whilst recognising the time limits we all work within.
Whether you regard spirituality or religion as important or not irrelevant. This is about the
patients and those close to them, who are coming through our doors every day often
bringing with them the hopes, worries and sometimes fears of the reason for their visit or
stay.
Attending this one day course provides an objective, skilful and very simple way of
helping all staff to feel more confident in how they can better support people with any
worries, concerns, or distress they may be experiencing, without putting any label of
religion or spirituality on it, but embracing the individuality of whatever gives meaning or
value to each person in their life.
Date
Start
Time
Finish
Time
Location & Room
Booked
Wednesday, 26
August
09.00
16.30
Searle Room,
Hospiscare
Tuesday, 8
September
09.00
16.30
Seminar Room 2,
CWH
Tuesday, 15
September
09.00
16.30
A2 Seminar
Room, RD&E
Friday, 18
September
09.00
16.30
Searle Room,
Hospiscare
Tuesday, 29
September
10.00
16.00
Beech Room,
FORCE
Friday, 16
October
10.00
16.00
Beech Room,
FORCE
Tuesday, 3
November
10.00
16.00
Beech Room,
FORCE
FORCE funds more new equipment for oncology
Exeter cancer charity FORCE has agreed to buy two touchscreen graphics tablets for
radiotherapy planning in the RD&E’s oncology department.
The new computers, similar to those used in graphic design, will reduce the time needed
to plan treatment, improve accuracy and potentially lead to better outcomes for patients.
Those suffering from head and neck cancers, pelvic tumours such as rectal, anal and
cervical cancers and thoracic tumours such as lung or oesophageal cancers are set to
benefit most.
Modern radiotherapy, known as conformal radiation therapy, gives doctors much more
control in treating cancer. Special computers use CT scans to create a 3D map of the
tumour. Beams can then be delivered from several directions much more accurately, to
within 1-2 millimetres. It means maximum doses of radiation delivered to the cancer and
minimum exposure to healthy tissue.
Consultant Clinical Oncologist and FORCE Trustee Dr Jenny Forrest explains: “We
currently draw our target and normal tissues on CT scans using a mouse. This process is
very time consuming. The new tablets allow us to draw directly on to the screen with a
stylus and manipulate the image to get the best definition. Contouring directly on to a
touchscreen has been shown to be more accurate and quicker than using a mouse.
Studies have shown that accuracy of radiotherapy contouring
can affect patient outcome and improve survival.”
The Chevithorne Appeal
Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF) believes that no patient should face critical illness
alone. The Chevithorne Appeal aims to raise £420,000 to fund a family suite in Yarty
Ward enabling patients to spend difficult times in comfort and privacy with their loved
ones while still accessing tailored medical support. The appeal launched in March and
so far has raised just over £100,000.
Fundraising activities to date have included:
• The Lord Mayor holding fundraising events throughout the year and raising an
amazing £42,000
• The ELF Golf Day in May, won by “Jorn’s Wet wipes” – a team that play in memory of
Yarty Ward’s late Dr Jorn Cann
• 164 individuals responding to ELF’s spring newsletter by donating money
• Lynne Thorne raised over £8,000 in the past year through cake sales, coffee morning
and even putting on a show
• The ELF team took part in the Rock Solid muddy obstacle course.
Why not get involved in The Chevithorne Appeal?
• You can Buy a Brick for just £5 by going to the ELF office in the Yarty Ward or
texting ELFB05 to 70070.
• Come to the ELF Red and Black Ball on 4th September at the Rougemont. Tickets
are just £45, email Alison@elfcharity.org.uk or 01392 826885.
• Run, cycle or challenge yourself for ELF.
• Join us on Facebook and twitter.
www.elfcharity.org.uk
RD&E Staff Festival take 2!
Hundreds of staff and their friends and family enjoyed a beautiful summer’s day at the
Coaver Club for this year’s RD&E Staff Festival.
The music was kicked off by the RD&E’s Rhythm of Life Choir, followed by sets from
singer/songwriter Karl Ficarotta, keyboardist Andy Johnson with his singing sister
Sarah O’Reilly and headliners Funkty Dumpty. Guests also enjoyed magic from RD&E
orthodontic technician Simon Leach, plus Star Wars actors, bouncy castle, darts and
skittles.
Cash was raised for the Teenage Cancer Trust and The Eve Appeal and the festival
was kindly supported by the RD&E Staff Lottery and 243 (Wessex) Field Hospital.
Pupils consider careers in the NHS during Work
Observation Week
40 pupils from schools and colleges across Exeter visited the RD&E to gain an insight
into their future career options by taking part in our annual ‘Work Observation Week’
programme.
Alongside presentations and work shadowing, a highlight of the programme was the
‘mock ward’ exercise, which gave pupils the opportunity to experience how a real-life
ward is run. By acting out the roles of doctors, physios, occupational therapists,
nurses and housekeepers alongside staff from the RD&E’s Workforce Planning &
Development team they were able to learn more about the roles involved in patient
care and the challenges that staff face.
Pupils taking part commented that the week had been a “great experience” and that it
had “really helped in making their career choices”.
Teena Evans, Learning and Development Tutor, said: “Our Work Observation Week is
a really important opportunity for the students. It enables them to have an insight into
the various job roles and the workings of the hospital to help them understand the
wide variety of career choices available to them within the NHS.”
New 24 hour Fluid Balance Charts for Adults
launched
The Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) team have redesigned the ‘24 hour Fluid Balance
Charts for Adults’. The new chart has been created to increase knowledge and
compliance of fluid balance recording across the Trust.
Good hydration and the maintenance of accurate records of fluid intake and output is
an essential element of patient care, particularly during warmer weather.
Mel Sully, Senior Acute Kidney Injury Nurse Specialist, said: “The team led a
successful pilot in nine acute clinical areas to establish the chart’s suitability across
the hospital. Using the overwhelmingly positive support and feedback, the AKI team
has produced an extremely user friendly chart that reflects what our clinical teams
require for their patients.”
Should you or your teams require training or wish to discuss the new charts, please
email Melanie.sully@nhs.net, Kevin.churchill@nhs.net or Rdetr.AKIOutreach@nhs.net
Bramble School receives
£900 from John Lewis to help their garden grow
Pupils from the Devon Hospital Short Stay School on Bramble Ward will soon be
watching their garden grow thanks to a £900 boost from retailer John Lewis.
The school received the generous cheque from John Lewis’ charitable giving scheme
Community Matters to help them develop their outside area into a space where the
pupils can grow vegetables and enjoy sensory plants and herbs.
The pupils have already put their green fingers to good work, constructing a small
greenhouse and planter trough, and have purchased a wide selection of herbs, plants
and seedlings thanks to the donation. Lettuces have also been carefully planted and
the soil bed made ready for sowing.
Julia Allen, Headteacher of Devon Hospitals Short Stay School, said: “We are
absolutely bowled over by the generosity of the Community Matters scheme. We had
hoped to provide the pupils with a small raised bed but this money makes so much
more possible. We would like to express our thanks to John Lewis and also to the
generous shoppers who supported us by putting their tokens in our Community
Matters box.’’
The Devon Hospitals Short Stay School is run by Devon County Council and provides
education for children who are in hospital.
Healthcare Science Trainees represent RD&E
at The Big Bang Fair
By Stuart Cannon, Clinical Bioinformatics Trainee
“In June eight of our Healthcare Science Trainees set up a stand at the regional Big
Bang Fair held at the University of Exeter. The Big Bang Fair is where professionals
who work in Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths (STEM) can showcase their
area of expertise and provide insight into future careers to the 11-17 year olds who
visit the fair.
“We were promoting Healthcare Science in the NHS which is a broad term for any of
the science behind the many tests available to patients. Collectively, we represented
these five disciplines and as well as explaining our roles we also had some interactive
activities:
Genetics – Extracting DNA from fruit so it becomes visible
Bioinformatics – Using computers to look up DNA sequences
Vascular Science –Scanning veins and arteries
Cardiac Science – A model of the heart and example technology e.g. pacemakers
Medical Physics – Using a radiation detector to pick up background radiation.
“All in all, the Big Bang Fair was a great opportunity to engage with the younger
generation and hopefully we inspired a few budding scientists!”
PEOC COMFORTS FUND LEGACY CONTINUES
The RD&E League of Friends are funding equipment that will help both staff and patients in
the PEOC outpatients department.
The funding comes from money given to the League of Friends by the PEOC Comforts Fund
and has been reserved for requests that will make a difference to PEOC staff and patients.
Funding for chairs, lockable notes trollies and the installation of fans costing over £4,000
will be provided over the coming months.
Cheryl Hayes, Chair of the League of Friends said: “These are exactly the type of requests
that we are here to support. The relatively small costs of these items really will make a big
difference to these areas for both patients and staff.”
At their recent meeting, the League also approved funding for pill timers for the Parkinson’s
Specialist Nursing team and they continue to provide funding for flowers for the chapel and
mortuary.
My day with Em Wilkinson-Brice… by Ramu
Chimakurthi Chenchu, Specialist Registrar in
Gastroenterology & Internal Medicine
“Last October, our Chief Executive Angela Pedder and Deputy Chief Executive/Chief
Nurse Em Wilkinson-Brice presented at a regional training day for medical registrars
on what the executive teams were looking for in new consultants. After reflecting on
this session, I decided to shadow Em and other executive team members to get a
further insight into their roles.
“The day started with the weekly senior delivery team meeting chaired by Mrs. Em
Wilkinson-Brice on issues including Patient Flow, Referral to Treatment and
Emergency Department performance along with divisional items. The Trust’s road
map to address the challenges in meeting key cancer performance targets were
discussed. Subsequently a meeting between Operations Director Pete Adey and
Divisional Director John Groom explored potential plans for ward re-organization and
creation of new inpatient beds in anticipation of winter pressures. Any junior doctor
on a ‘safari’ ward round with their patients scattered over several wards would
appreciate this and the impact it would have on patient safety and work efficiency.
“In the afternoon, I got the rare opportunity to attend Devon Health Board meeting
where Angela and Em made a case for the Trust’s model of care delivery and new
ideas for delivering integrated care.
“This experience provided a glimpse into the culture at the Trust for quality, efficiency
and willingness to explore new fronts in care delivery. This insight into practical
aspects of management within the NHS served to better inform my understanding of
our institution as a whole.”
Bramble receives £2,000 to help families with
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Families with children who have Inflammatory Bowel Diseases can now receive extra
help with the costs of travelling for specialist treatment thanks to a £2,000 donation
from the Exeter Crohn’s and
Colitis Committee.
Consultant Paediatrician Dr Jim Hart accepted the cheque from Committee Chairman
Lisa Colcutt and Treasurer Kathy Flint. He said: “Inflammatory bowel disease is
physically and emotionally and tough on patients. It is a long term condition requiring
frequent hospital visits. It is bad enough that parents have to see their children battle
the condition without also having to worry about the financial pressures of travel and
missed work so we are really grateful for this very kind donation.”
Exeter Crohn’s and Colitis Committee Chairman Lisa Colcutt added: “Having a child
with Crohn’s or Colitis can put a lot of pressure on families, particularly financially.
We hope that this money will benefit local families and will help to make life a little
easier for them. Our thanks go to all those that have given donations and held
fundraising events.”
Charlotte’s fundraising campaign raises over
£7,000 for new bladder scanner
Trainee Assistant Practitioner Charlotte Davies, with the help of the RD&E’s League of Friends,
has raised over £7,000 to fund the purchase of a new bladder scanner for the Acute Medical
Unit (AMU).
While the unit already had use of a bladder scanner, it was occasionally shared with other
wards, and Charlotte realised there was a need for the unit to have one of their own. She began
her fundraising by organising a Halloween Ball. The event raised £1,000 and supported by a
donation from AMU consultant Mr Bill Lusty and raffle prizes from local businesses. Motivated
by the event’s success, Charlotte then applied to the RD&E’s League of Friends, who
generously supplied the remaining £6,000.
Charlotte said: “Donating the scanner has been a real achievement and means we can provide
an excellent service of care for our patients. I would like to thank the AMU consultants for their
on-going support and the League of Friends.”
Marathon runners raise funds for
new ECG machine
Senior Research Nurse Lizze Davey and friend Jemma Marsh have donated an
Electrocardiogram (ECG) machine to Okement Ward. The pair raised £8,000 by
completing the London Marathon last year, a total which has been split between
funding the ECG machine and Inflammatory Bowel Disease charity Crohn’s and
Colitis UK.
Okement Sister Barbara Billett said: “Jemma and Lizzie’s donation of the ECG
machine is just wonderful. It will be a dedicated machine for the ward, meaning we
can we can perform more rapid diagnosis and assessments if patients need it, and
waiting times will be reduced.”
The Crohn’s and Colitis UK Exeter Committee and patient panel offer a support
network for people from the Exeter area. They meet at 6pm on the last Thursday of
every month at the RD&E’s Medical Outpatients department for a friendly and informal
meeting.
To find out more you can follow them on Facebook or visit
www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk
Housekeepers donate bench in memory of Ann
A group of Housekeepers have donated a bench in memory of their colleague Ann
Turvey. Ann worked for the Trust for over 14 years until she sadly passed away last
April. She was a highly respected member of the team and is remembered fondly by
colleagues, including fellow Housekeeper Rob Harrison (pictured) who initiated the
fundraising for the bench.
My trip to Cambodia, by Nicholas McIntosh, Orthotist
“Exceed is a truly fantastic organisation. Started in 1991, it has now become an
internationally recognised, Prosthetic and Orthotic (P&O) clinical and educational
facility in South-East Asia.
“The first week was spent in the main Cambodian School of Prosthetics and Orthotics
(CSPO) facility in Phnom Penh. I spent days out in the community, seeing profoundly
disabled individuals and I shadowed many excellent clinicians throughout the weeks.
The way P&O clinics run out in Cambodia blew me away - the level care in the centres
I visited was excellent.
“Clients will travel in from relatively large distances and remain at the CSPO until the
devices are made. A patient will be seen, physiotherapy provided and the device
supplied within 2-3 days for most cases.
“All componentry such as prosthetic feet/knees and various mobility aids, are
manufactured at an International Red Cross (IRC) funded facility. One of the reasons
for the continued success of P&O services in Cambodia is their tried and tested
formulaic prescriptions. They use one material, a polypropylene in varying
thicknesses, for everything making for an incredibly effective and efficient service.
“I was fortunate enough to shadow clinicians in various centres and despite their
busy caseloads, they were exceptionally accommodating. I even had my own patients
and was encouraged to assess, cast/measure and supply devices with the help of
resident clinicians.
“I learnt a considerable amount in my short time in Cambodia and I am eternally
grateful to Sisary Kheng and her team, for being so helpful, kind, and hospitable.”
Stephen visits Honduras with Plan UK
Stephen Gosney, an auxiliary on Ashburn Ward, recently travelled to Honduras to
visit a young boy he has sponsored through Plan UK.
“When I was able to sponsor a child I contacted Plan UK and was sent information
about an eighteen month old boy, Alexis Mejia-Ayala, in Honduras. He is now eight
years of age, so I have been sponsoring him all his life.
“During this time I have received regular updates about his schooling, (he likes maths
and football), and about his family. He lives with father Miguel, mother Mercedes,
younger sister Maria and two of his cousins. Alexis’ parents work as peasant farmers.
“Through Plan UK, I was able to go and visit them this April. Following a lengthy drive
from Copan to Gracias and out into the hills, we arrived, and were greeted by Don
Miguel. Alexis was overcome with shyness. Finally he overcame this, and I was able
to spend about two hours talking, via a translator, to the family. I was informed that
the nearest town where they can get provisions is a two hour walk away. Alexis has a
half-hour walk to school
each day.
“Over the years I have been sponsoring Alexis, regular communications have enabled
us to build up a relationship. Certainly this, coupled with my recent visit, has opened
my eyes to the realities and hardships that families and communities cope with in the
21st century.” www.plan-uk.org
Medical secretaries gain insight to emotional
impact of facial reconstruction
A trip to the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) museum gave a team of medical
secretaries from our Plastic Surgery Department a closer insight into the physical and
emotional effects of facial reconstructive surgery. Sarah Hodder and her colleagues organised
a trip to the Faces of Conflict exhibition, which explores the influence of facial injuries suffered
during the First World War on artist and surgeons.
Sarah said: “We deal with patients in our office who sadly need skin cancers and tumours
removed from their faces or scalp which then require reconstruction. Afterwards we all agreed
that it is easy for us to focus so much on targets and pathways and sadly we forget sometimes
about the patient themselves and how the trauma of it all affects them and their lives. This
exhibit made us all think more about what patients go through while they are under our care.”