staff magazine | autumn 2016€¦ · staff magazine | autumn 2016 leeds teaching hospitals nhs...

staff magazine | Autumn 2016

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

@LTHTrust

| www.leedsth.nhs.ukContents

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4 Advanced practitioners awarded

accreditation

8 A special guest visits neonates at

St James’s

10 Staff at Wharfedale produce

a video

11 Generous donation provides new

scanner for neonatal babies

13 National clinical trial hits

recruitment milestone

14 New dignity gowns provided for

Children’s Hospital

16 Meet the Perioperative Practioner

sharing her skills abroad

19 Down the catwalk: people with

learning disabilities share their

ideas for uniforms

21 My Job: Charlotte Hobbs

24 Farewell to long serving staff

25 60 Seconds: Megan Whiteley

First ever double hand transplant in the UK takes place at LGI

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For more news on a daily basis from LTHT please follow us on social media:

Apprenticeship month puts learning and development at the heart of the Trust

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Nursing conference celebrates successes for the past year

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15West Yorkshire Excellence Centre to develop skills of healthcare support workforce

New automated labs revolutionise pathology testing

First ever Talent for Care conference a great success

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Staff across the Trust were deeply saddened to learn of the death of former colleague and LTHT patient, Dr Kate Granger.

Kate’s greatest impact on the Trust (and the wider NHS) is undoubtedly the #Hellomynameis campaign, which seeks to improve communications between staff and patients. She developed the campaign following her own experiences of being both a patient and a doctor.

#Hellomynameis encourages healthcare workers to introduce themselves to patients, think about their behaviours and make an effort to improve on the little things. More than that it is about seeing the person behind the condition, making a human connection, and building trust.

This simple idea has been hugely successful, resonating with people not just in the UK but across the world. Today many staff across LTHT can be seen with name badges reflecting her work and the campaign.

Trust Chief Executive Julian Hartley said in an article for Health Service Journal: “I was constantly struck by the gift she had in communicating what she was thinking in a plain-speaking, straightforward but gentle way, and to speak so matter-of-factly about her illness. She talked to everyone exactly the same and as an individual, not a job title or a qualification, and that was exactly the human approach she wanted others to adopt.

“Kate’s campaign started in a small way on Twitter and grew into a phenomenon, which rightly caught the ear of organisations right across the NHS… Kate wanted the campaign to be more than a phrase and an eye-catching logo – she wanted it to lead to permanent behavioural change and better care for patients.”

Dr Ali Cracknell, Kate’s colleague and supervising consultant, wrote in a heartfelt blog: “I always thought we would work

together long term, and the thing that makes me really smile is Kate is with me more than any other person at work.

“Every encounter with a patient ‘hello my name is …’, every MDT, every meeting with a new member of the team and every morning I put on my ‘hello my name is’ badge, she is with me, she is behind every little thing I do every day, that just makes such a difference. How could one person make a difference like that?

“#Hellomynameis, is so much more than those 4 words, Kate knew that and felt it, and we all do, it is the person behind the words, the hierarchy that melts away, the patient / professional barrier that is lowered, the compassion and warmth of those words.

“As Kate said it is the “little things” that make a difference.”

Remembering Kate: a remarkable life and legacy

www.leedsth.nhs.uk | News

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| www.leedsth.nhs.ukNews

Rachel Westcott and Amy Cawthorne were two of three APs nationally to receive the recognised qualification. It is a huge accomplishment, not only for them, but also for the wider NHS as this marks the first time the RCEM has accredited nurses.

A multi-organisational approach was taken to develop the accreditation, which came about after the RCEM and Health Education England (HEE) co-produced an Emergency Care Curriculum for APs working in emergency medicine. The work has the full endorsement of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).

With the support of consultant colleagues, Dr Wayne Hamer and Dr Mohit Arora, Rachel and Amy presented evidence to a credentialing panel at RCEM in London in June. A multidisciplinary approach was taken by representatives from the RCN, RCEM, and HEE constituted a panellist which passed the LTHT APs.

The accreditation sets a national standard and a defined scope of practice for all APs who work in UK Emergency Departments and it would allow transfer of competences geographically. It is now expected that more APs from across the Trust will put themselves forwards for this scheme.

Dr Wayne Hamer, Clinical Director for Urgent Care, said: “We are delighted that Amy and Rachel were selected from a large number of APs who work in UK Emergency Departments purely based on the quality of the evidence they submitted. They have worked extremely hard to pull this evidence together over the last year and we hope that they will be the first of many to complete this process.”

Advanced Practitioners gain national recognitionTwo Advanced Practitioners (APs) at LTHT have been successful in achieving national accreditation from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM).

Head of Nursing, Breeda Columb; Amy Cawthorne; Dr Mohit Arora; Rachel Westcott; and Dr. Wayne Hamer

Patient Cain Patten, aged three, and his family dropped by the Leeds Children’s Hospital to present a cheque for over £2250 which will go towards Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy research and training. Cain, who underwent a procedure to remove a brain tumour in May 2015, met up with Consultant Neurosurgeon Mr John Goodden, who carried out the operation, to hand over the generous donation. The money was raised to recognise the intervention of Mr Goodden and his team in saving Cain’s life after being diagnosed with the serious condition.Cain’s family fundraised through a special event at the Idle Working Men’s Club for friends, family and people living locally. On the day there were performers, a comedy act, tombola and a raffle, which all helped to reach the great total. Cain’s dad, Carl said: “We’re really pleased with how well Cain is doing since his operation. I can’t thank Mr Goodden and the staff at the hospital enough. From day one they have done the very best for Cain. He rushed in especially on a Saturday to perform the surgery and has been there for us since.” Aunt, Laura added: “The event was really great and everyone enjoyed themselves. All promotion of the event was done via social media and word of mouth, so it was good to see so many people turn out all for a good cause. “We wanted to raise the money so that the Leeds Children’s Hospital can continue to support youngsters and their families in the future.”Mr Goodden commented: “I was delighted to see Cain again and very pleased with how he is coming along after such a serious operation at such a young age. My colleagues and I would like to thank Cain’s family for their brilliant efforts!”

Generous donation following life-saving surgery for little Cain

Cain and his family popped in to hand over the cheque to neurosurgeon Mr Goodden

“We hope that they will be the first of many to complete this process.”

A team of adults and a team of children from the Trust saw tremendous success competing at the British Transplant Games in Liverpool.

Hundreds of transplant recipients and live donors from across the country attended the feel-good sporting event, which boasts strong but friendly competition between the UK’s transplant units. The Leeds delegation comprised of dozens of patients and former patients who had benefitted from the amazing work which takes place at St James’s and the Leeds Children’s Hospital.

On top of the great atmosphere, LTHT teams came away with a raft of medals. The children’s team brought home 42 in total - 17 Gold, 14 Silver and 11 Bronze – while the adults achieved an impressive 30, including 12 Gold.

There was further cause for celebration when adult patient Catherine Whitworth went on to win the Best Female Veteran Trophy at the gala dinner ceremony and Emily Austin was named the Best

Participant Under the Age of Five.

Lisa Beaumont, Play Specialist Team Leader and one of the children’s delegation’s organisers, said: “What these amazing individuals can achieve after major transplant surgery is simply incredible. It’s great to be able to take a moment to celebrate them and their efforts. It’s clear that family and friends and mums and dads who come along to support are so proud of our competitors.

“Being responsible for the children’s team, it was wonderful to see them enjoying sport. It certainly is a great testament to organ transplantation and the skills of our surgeons and everyone involved in the wider transplant teams here at LTHT and right across the UK.

“As much fun as the event is, it’s always important to think of those donors - who in their final moments gave the gift of life - and their families who made life-enhancing decisions at an incredibly difficult time.

“Everyone is already getting excited and organised for next year’s games in Scotland. On top of this, a number of the children and adults who took part this year will be heading over to the world games in Spain next year as part of team GB.”

The Leeds Children’s Hospital team were out in force at the games


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Going for gold at the British Transplant Games

During the summer the Stoke Rehabilitation Ward, L21 opened a brand new space to help patients through recovery.

The dedicated area came about following an 18 month refurbishment process and will support physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists in rehabilitating patients who have suffered acute strokes. This means that a multidisciplinary team approach can be taken towards providing the very best possible after-stroke care.

Chief Nurse, Suzanne Hinchliffe went to meet the team on the unit and officially open the room. She was greeted by staff, who gave her a tour of the ward.

Working together, the Neurosciences and Adult Therapies Clinical Service and Clinical Support Units have developed the facility. It now includes two treatment plinths, a quiet area for speech and language therapy and a small kitchen space for helping redevelop motor functions.

Physiotherapist Russell Welburn said: “It’s really great that we can now offer this new facility to our patients. This space will mean that the people we care for receive better quality rehabilitation and are more prepared for leaving hospital.”

The new space will help patients through their rehabilitation

Stroke rehab unit gets much-needed refurbishment

“What these amazing individuals can achieve after major transplant surgery is

simply incredible.”

“It’s really great that we can now offer this new facility to our patients.”

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August was apprenticeship month at LTHT and a number of events took place to showcase the training and development opportunities available within the organisation.

The work was spearheaded by the Talent for Care team within Organisational Learning (OL) who arranged the sessions throughout the month. As part of their efforts, the OL team led an open day for those interested in joining the Trust through its apprenticeship schemes across different departments. Each year the Trust aims to recruit around 450 apprentices both in clinical and non-clinical job roles, and the day provided the chance for participants to find out more and put questions to staff responsible for the programmes.

Kay Butterfield, Senior Organisational Learning Practioner, commented: “We’re really pleased with what we have managed to achieve over the past month, organising events and really helping to promote LTHT. The open day was a tremendous success with over 160 people attending to find out about what the Trust has to offer in terms of apprenticeships.”

Executives in the Trust also took time out to help promote the work and a handful of apprentices shadowed members of the senior team over the

course of the month. This provided an opportunity for participants to get a better understanding of how the top of the organisation functions.

One such apprentice taking part was Michelle Joyce who is currently on the Business Administration scheme. She joined Dean Royles, HR Director, to learn more about his role, how he leads the organisation and the meetings he attends. These meetings included the Equality and Diversity group, which helps to ensure that LTHT is the best place to work for all.

Michelle said: “It was absolutely fascinating to find out about the role of the Trust’s HR Director, Dean. I feel that being able to sit in on meetings with him has given me a much better idea of how such a massive organisation functions.

“The Equality and Diversity meeting was especially interesting as it offered

Apprentices play a key role in the day-to-day life of many different clinical areas, supporting nursing staff and adding real value to the delivery of services

The Executive team took time out to meet apprentices and answer their questions

Apprenticeship month puts learning and development at the heart of the Trust

“It was absolutely fascinating to find out about

the role of the Trust’s HR Director, Dean.”

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an insight into the importance of ensuring that all staff needs are met, regardless of background, ethnicity, gender or disability. I hope that this experience will help me through my apprenticeship and offer something to aim for in the future.”

To show their commitment to the month, the Executives also came together to meet with apprentices from across the hospitals for a question and answer session, offering an opportunity for some of the newest members of staff to find out more about the role of LTHT’s most senior leaders. It was also a chance to learn about decision-making within

the organisation and to seek advice around development within their roles.

Messages around apprenticeships within the Trust were spread even further when from late August staff shuttle buses had new designs added to their sides, encouraging members of the public to find out more about the schemes at LTHT.

Sue Davidson, Support Staff Development Manager, said: “We’re incredibly proud of what we achieved in apprenticeships month and the buses were a real highlight. It is great to see them around Leeds with the new acrylics promoting opportunities within the Trust.”

Apprenticeships month is part of the on-going Get In, Get On, Go Further campaign aimed at staff in bands 1 to 4, which was launched in June. The main focus throughout the drive was on the ‘Get In’ element of the campaign, the team having looked at ways of encouraging people, improving access and simplifying the processes to get an entry-level career within the Trust. All of this followed on from the Partnership Pledge – a programme to ensure training and development is available for support staff - which was signed earlier in 2016.

Dean Royles added: “Get In, Get On, Go Further has been a brilliant campaign and

has really highlighted what we can do to add real value to the roles of support staff within the Trust. The Talent for Care team have done a fantastic job in promoting apprenticeships throughout August, and I look forward to seeing how they build upon their successes next year.”

The Apprentice Clinical Support Worker training course lasts 12 months and allows participants to gain all skills necessary to the role

Apprentice Clinical Support Workers complete parts of their training’on-the-job’, caring for patients on a daily basis

An open day saw over 160 people interested in apprenticeships at the Trust attend

Apprenticeship month puts learning and development at the heart of the Trust “I look forward to seeing

how they build upon their successes next year.”

Neonatal staff at St James’s were very pleased to welcome the founder of the Family Integrated Care programme, Dr Shoo Lee, to the unit recently to see the great work they are doing to support families.

Family Integrated Care encourages and empowers parents to take control of their baby’s care. This has led to a reduction in the time new babies spend in hospital, fewer infections and better breastfeeding rates. The team shared their learning with Shoo, who travelled from Toronto to see how the programme is being used in the UK.

He said: “It was good to see and hear about all the great work the team are doing here for Family Integrated Care. The team are doing a fantastic job and making huge progress - it is great to see the programme working so well in the

UK and Leeds is a great model for this.”

Dr Lee was also impressed with the great work being done on infection prevention - something he plans to share with his team.

Baby Theo Duffy was born at 26 weeks weighing 2lb 8oz. His mum Hayley Sheehan said: “Being part of the Family Integrated Care programme is wonderful

and it has given me so much confidence in caring for Theo.

“The nurses have so much care and respect for both parents and their babies and they really value your opinion and remind you that you know your baby best. It can be daunting when your baby has lots of wires and a heart monitor but the programme has changed that - I really can’t thank the teams here at St James’s enough.”

Following the tour of the unit, Dr Lee spoke at a conference about his work setting up the Canadian Neonatal Network that has led on quality improvement in neonatology. Around 50 staff and parents attended the conference, along with visiting consultants from Newcastle and Bradford to hear more about the success of the Family Integrated Care programme.

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Eminent consultant visits Jimmy’s to find out more neonatal care

Dr Lee met staff on the Neonatal unit at St James’s

Six-year-old Anabella Chambers (Annie) is enjoying the benefits of hearing again after being fitted with bilateral bone anchored hearing aids (BAHA) at the Leeds General Infirmary.

Annie’s hearing problems began when she was diagnosed with ‘glue ear’ and she was initially fitted with grommets. Intractable infections meant that she also tried conventional in-ear hearing aids but these also caused regular ear canal infections, leaving her reluctant to wear them.

Last summer in an operation at the LGI, Annie, who lives in Otley, successfully received a BAHA implant in her left ear. She and her parents were so impressed with the process and results that she subsequently had a second implant fitted for her other ear.

BAHAs are suitable for children with conductive hearing loss who cannot benefit fully from conventional hearing aids. They work using a small titanium implant that is inserted into the bone behind the patient’s ear to create an attachment for the small external screw (abutment). The sound processor clips to this and directs sound vibrations through the bone of the skull to stimulate the inner ear, allowing the patient to hear more clearly.

A few weeks after the operation, a specialist audiologist is able to adapt the implant to the patient’s hearing and each

implant potentially lasts a lifetime. Mr Sanjay Verma, Consultant Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon successfully implanted each of the hearing aids in two 30 minute operations, allowing Annie to go home on the same day.

Mr Verma said: “The BAHA implant is a very useful hearing option for our young patients. For patients like Annie who regularly suffered from ear infections with both grommets and conventional hearing aids, BAHA implants give them an excellent level of hearing which has a positive impact on their social and educational development.”

He added: “The dedicated hard work of our paediatric ward and theatre teams including Dr Mark Wigginton, Paediatric Anaesthetist, meant that Annie recovered from the operation quickly. Annie is one of only a few paediatric patients who have had two BAHAs fitted so it is gratifying to hear how much of a difference they have made, not only in her hearing, but also as a solution to the repeated ear infections she was getting.”

Annie is now able to take part in activities such as athletics and cycling, and is much safer on her bike thanks to the new implants. Previously she would get tired easily, after having to concentrate so much in order to hear. BAHAs also come in a range of different colours and can be customised to make them more appealing to paediatric patients - Annie is hoping to

decorate hers to match her dress when she is a flower girl for an upcoming wedding.

Helen Chambers, Annie’s mum said: “We are thrilled with the results of the operation as it allows Annie to be a lively six year old and enjoy all her hobbies. This type of hearing aid means that we are no longer worrying about ear infections and Annie is very lucky to have received two, giving her complete hearing for the first time.”

Dad, Chris Chambers, added: “Since having the BAHAs fitted, Annie’s development and confidence at school has grown and she is now able to join in with lots more activities with her friends. We are very grateful to everyone at Leeds Teaching Hospitals for the seamless care that Annie has received and we can’t recommend the implants enough for children with hearing difficulties like Annie.”

Annie grows in confidence after receiving advanced hearing implant technology

Annie, her dad and Mr Verma


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A team at the Leeds General Infirmary led by Professor Simon Kay successfully performed the UK’s first ever double hand transplant, making national news headlines.

In this latest surgical breakthrough, Professor Kay led a team of eight surgeons for 12 hours in the operating theatre performing the procedure. They were joined by three consultant anaesthetists who attended throughout and a consultant in transplant medicine was also there to offer advice.

The patient, Chris King, 57, from Doncaster, is the first person living in the UK to have a double hand transplant and only the second person in the country to have a hand grafted to his arm, following on from the procedure carried out at the LGI in 2012 on Mark Cahill.

Mr King lost both his hands, except the thumbs, in an accident involving a metal pressing machine at work three years ago. He is overjoyed at having the transplant operation. “I couldn’t wish for anything better,” he said. “It’s better than a lottery win because you feel whole again.”

Only a few weeks on from the operation he already has enjoyed some movement in his new hands. “They look absolutely tremendous,” he said. “They’re my hands. They really are my hands. My blood’s going through them. My tendons are attached. They’re mine. They really are. I can’t wait to get all this [the bandages] off and look at them properly.”

Professor Kay said: “This the first time as far as I’m aware, that a hand transplant’s been done which hasn’t been above the wrist, which has been within the substance of the hand, which makes it much more difficult and more complex.”

Mr King is the first person to have undergone the procedure since NHS England awarded the contract to LTHT to become the UK’s specialist centre for hand transplants, in April 2016.

Dr Jonathan Fielden, NHS England Director of Specialised Commissioning and

Deputy National Medical Director, said: “The NHS is leading the world in offering hand transplants for patients who meet the agreed criteria, free at the point of care - another great example of what the NHS and its excellent clinical teams are capable of.

“Successful transplants can significantly improve quality of life for patients, and we hope that Mr King enjoys similar benefits with the surgical, physiotherapy and on-going care which this world class team provide.”

First ever double hand transplant in the UK takes place at LGI

Chris said “I couldn’t wish for anything better.”

Professor Simon Kay and patient Chris King following the UK’s first ever double hand transplant

The large surgical team took 12 hours in theatre during the procedure to attach the limbs


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Staff at Wharfedale Hospital have made a great new promotional video to showcase the range of services the site has to offer and encourage people to “think local”.

Aimed at patients and GPs in North West Leeds and the fringes of Bradford and Harrogate, it is intended to promote patient choice and show that a wide range of facilities and treatments are available on site.

The video is narrated by Lisa Horrox, a staff nurse who works at Wharfedale and it features areas of the hospital, including outpatients, pre-assessment, the day surgery ward, operating theatres, the minor injuries unit, diabetes centre, radiology department and endoscopy.

Richard Dalton, senior charge nurse on Ward 1, co-ordinated the filming and commented: “The hospital is a brilliant local facility and we have a great team across the site providing care to a wide range of patients in a modern, friendly environment.

“One thing staff who work at Wharfedale find is that many people in the area are not sure what’s here. That means they don’t know they can choose us when they need to come to hospital for day case surgery, outpatient appointments, diagnostic tests and so on.

“Many local GPs also may not know the full range of services we offer, so

we thought by making this video and distributing it as widely as possible we would raise awareness and remind people that Wharfedale Hospital is a great option to choose. We are proud of our hospital and hope this comes across in the video.”

Clare Smith, Assistant Director of Operations, said: “Wharfedale Hospital has a long history of serving the community and is well situated for people from a wide geographical area to travel to, with good public transport links and car parking facilities.

“The majority of hospital visits are for less complex outpatient appointments and day case operations and if local people can avoid the need to travel into Leeds or another busy town or city that is likely to be more convenient and less stressful.

“We particularly want to encourage more people in communities such as Ilkley, Burley, Guiseley, Menston Yeadon, Rawdon, Horsforth, Bramhope, Wetherby, Baildon, Shipley and nearby parts of the Harrogate district to talk to their GP about the possibilities of being seen at Wharfedale Hospital – and we also welcome patients from anywhere in Leeds.

“Wharfedale is a really good hospital with staff who are dedicated to creating the best patient experience possible.”

New video launched to promote benefits of coming to Wharfedale Hospital

Wharfedale Hospital staff Richard Dalton, Paula Hudders, Lisa Horrox, Sarah Dodsworth and Karen Waterhouse, who all took part in the new video

Congratulations were offered to Mary O’Kane, Consultant Dietitian in Adult Obesity and Secretary of Staff Side Council, on being made a Fellow of The British Dietetic Association (BDA).

Fellowship is the highest honour that the profession bestows on a Dietitian and it is conferred in recognition of the work that she has been involved in nationally to promote the profession and the science and practice of dietetics.

As well as her day job, Mary has been a prolific researcher and as a result there has been a wider understanding of the long term consequences of bariatric surgery for all members of the Multidisciplinary Team including Dietitians working in the field of obesity, and, in the case of biochemical monitoring and micronutrient replacement for these patients, her work has culminated in the first national recommendations for GP practice.

Tracey Clephan, Head of Dietetics, said “We’re incredibly proud of Mary for her hard work here within the Trust and in the field of Dietetics more generally. Becoming a Fellow of the BDA is real recognition for all of her efforts and this is thoroughly well deserved.”

Trust Dietitian receives highest honour from professional association

Mary O’Kane (left) receives a certificate from Fiona McCullough, Chair of the BDA


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The scanner will allow the clinical team in the department to diagnose heart conditions in pre-term and newborn babies, and to further investigate congenital heart disease. The device is also portable and can be moved easily from baby to baby, speeding up the time it takes to diagnose the tiny patients on the unit.

Dr Lawrence Miall, Consultant in neonatal medicine, said: “We would like to say a really big thank you to everybody who contributed to this important piece of equipment.

“The babies we care for are small and some are very poorly, so having a dedicated neonatal cardiac scanner at St James’s means they can be scanned immediately rather than being transferred across the city to the Leeds Children’s Hospital. This scanner also allows us to send images directly

to our specialist cardiologists and congenital cardiac surgeons based at the Children’s Hospital so we can be sure that every baby is reviewed in a timely manner which will improve the care we provide.”

The Friends of Alfie Martin have supported the neonatal units at the LGI and St James’s for the past 14 years, raising over £500,000 through their dedicated committee of volunteers. This latest donation was generously supported by an additional £20,000 from the West Yorkshire Freemasons.

New cardiac scanners donated to neonatal unit at Jimmy’sThe West Yorkshire Freemasons and the Friends of Alfie Martin received thanks and praise after donating a brand new portable cardiac scanner to the neonatal unit at St James’s.

Staff at the Trust offered their thanks to former patient Victoria Eames for her wonderful fundraising efforts through a charity ball in February.

Victoria raised over £6500 for the gynaecologic oncology team based at St James’s through her Kind Hearts Give Back ball. Over the summer, she popped in to present the cheque to Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist Mr Tim Broadhead to thank him for his work saving lives.

In October 2014 she was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer and was cared for and treated by the team at St James’s. Fortunately, it was diagnosed at an early stage and Mr Broadhead was able to carry out the surgery to remove cancerous tissues.

Victoria is now planning another ball for 2017, where she hopes to raise even more money for the good causes.

Mr Broadhead said: “We are incredibly grateful for this wonderful donation which will help many patients finding themselves dealing with cancer, like Victoria. The cash will be used to support the development of the Gynaecological Cancer Service here at St James’s.”

Charity ball supports gynaecologic oncology

Victoria presents Mr Broadhead with the cheque in Bexley wing Atrium

The new scanners were gratefully received

“We would like to say a really big thank you to

everybody who contributed to this important piece

of equipment.”

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Hundreds of Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals working across the Trust came together for the city’s biggest annual nursing event.

In June the annual Nursing and Midwifery Conference took place at the Royal Armouries recognising the amazing work undertaken by NHS staff at LTHT.

The event was an opportunity to share learning, discuss ideas and celebrate the successes of the previous year. The conference also focused around developments in care and patient experience covering research; compassion in practice; and collaborative practice.

Suzanne Hinchliffe, Chief Nurse at the Trust, said: “It was a really fantastic event and a great opportunity to recognise all of our achievements over the past year. Staff from across all seven of our hospitals felt enthused throughout the day.

“Our Trust is the biggest provider of specialist services in England, with staff working in nearly every field of medicine and surgery. The Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals conference offered us an opportunity to take stock, learn from others and plan for the future.

“One of the key focuses on the day was on research within the NHS and how studies and trials taking place here in Leeds are

helping to further medical science, not just in the UK, but globally. We are very proud of what we have done so far and intend to build upon this work.”

For the first year, Allied Health Professionals joined Nurses and Midwives at the event, recognising the importance of Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Dieticians and other support staff at hospital across Leeds.

A number of guest speakers attended the event. Dr Ruth May, Executive Director of Nursing for NHS Improvement, delivered a talk about her work developing quality of care and the professional agenda.

Lord Willis of Knaresborough explained his work in developing the Shape of Caring Review, which looks at how the NHS can prepare for future challenges and how staff can gain new skills and further their own education and development. The third guest speaker was Professor Andrea Nelson, Head of Healthcare at the University of Leeds, who spoke about how universities can work with NHS hospitals to develop the workforce of the future.

Nursing conference celebrates successes for the past year

Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Dieticians and many other Allied Health Professionals attended alongside nursing and midwifery colleagues.

The efforts of the event organisers were recognised at the end of the great day! Suzanne Hinchliffe, Chief Nurse at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, addresses around 200 of the city’s care professionals.

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Other speakers included former nurse and patient Penny Roberts, who shared her journey through rehabilitation; Consultant paediatric oncologist Dr Bob Phillips, who talked about the importance of research; and Alistair Burns, a Leeds patient, who spoke about his experience of care within the Trust and his path to recovery.

Building upon work over previous years, the conference promoted integrated care within the city, looking at how staff can work across professions, partner organisations such as the universities, charities and other healthcare organisations, to improve outcomes for people across Leeds.

The highlight of the day was the awards ceremony, which celebrated those teams and individuals who go the extra mile to improve care within the local hospitals. The prestigious Hilda Knowles award for innovation and excellence in caring for patients was won by the Jane Slough, Respiratory Nurse Specialist, based at St James’s.

Children’s Nurse Ellis Jones was named the Janet Whitaker Award winner for excellence in demonstrating compassion in practice. Ward J54 at St James’s won the Hamish MacDonald Award for excellence in ward leadership in the Sustained Excellence category and Ward J43, also at St James’s won the award for excellence in ward leadership in the category of demonstrating the greatest improvement.

Thuvia Flannery and Maria Paton were successful in the two poster competitions, exploring ideas and conditions in their respective fields.

A research team at St James’s has helped a UK-wide clinical trial to reach its national target of 2,080 participants.

Led by a team at King’s College Hospital, London, and Kidney Research UK, the clinical team based in Leeds were delighted to see the number of dialysis patients now recruited onto the four-year PIVOTAL study hit its target.

St James’s is one of the 50 renal units nationwide taking part in the trial. The nephrologist leading the study locally is Dr Matthew Wellberry-Smith. He is supported by research nurses Kay Tobin, Rosalyn Wheatley, Jane Sayers and Sadie Smith and the staff from the dialysis units. 34 patients from the hospital are among the 2,080 throughout the UK.

The trial, which started in November 2013, is facilitated and funded by medical research charity, Kidney Research UK through an unrestricted grant of over £3million from Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma Ltd.

Iain Macdougall, Professor of Clinical Nephrology at King’s College Hospital and world-renowned expert on renal anaemia, has led the PIVOTAL trial which is investigating the optimum amount of intravenous iron that people on haemodialysis should receive and is the largest renal clinical trial ever undertaken exclusively in the UK.

One of the complications of being treated for kidney failure using haemodialysis is that people develop anaemia which can leave them feeling exhausted and seriously reduces quality of life. Patients are already given intravenous iron to treat the condition, but there is limited consistency across the NHS as to how much is administered.

When she was diagnosed with end stage renal failure, LTHT patient Elaine Moore from Bradford thought the time had come to say her goodbyes. She said: “Little did I know that I would have to have dialysis three times a week. I agreed to take part in the PIVOTAL study because, not only would I be benefiting from it but, years down the line other patients could be too. I believe that these trials are essential for the future treatment of patients. Glad to have been a part of it.”

Dr Wellberry-Smith said “The PIVOTAL study seeks to answer an important question in the management of kidney dialysis patients, and the Leeds Renal Unit has been active in recruiting to the study - we are pleased to have been part of research to improve how we care for our patients. As always, we’re really grateful when people are willing to get involved in research studies, because we can’t improve our patients care without them!”

One of the patient volunteers is Elaine Moore (51) from Birkenshaw, Bradford

The research team have been working with colleagues across the country on the project

UK’s largest renal clinical trial reaches patient recruitment target“The Nursing, Midwifery and

Allied Health Professionals conference offered us an

opportunity to take stock, learn from others and plan

for the future.”

Suzanne Hinchliffe, Chief Nurse at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, addresses around 200 of the city’s care professionals.

Staff on the unit were grateful for the donation from Mr Azeem


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Thanks were offered to Farah Ali and Bilal Azeem after their donation of 60 dignity suits and a selection of teddy bears to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the Leeds Children’s Hospital, in memory of their daughter Hafsah.

The dignity suits look similar to pyjamas but have Velcro under the arms, down the front and around the legs, allowing for wires and tubing to be passed through the gaps but not compromise the patient’s dignity, unlike traditional backless gowns.

Hafsah was cared for on PICU last year before she sadly passed away. During her stay on the unit she was given a dignity suit and her family were so impressed with them that they launched a campaign to raise enough money to provide the hospital with more.

“We spent a lot of time on PICU with Hafsah,” said Mr Azeem. “Everyone looked after us so well. The suits are only a little thing but sometimes it is the little things matter, especially when your child is really poorly in hospital.”

Dignity suits enhance patient experience on PICU

Nurse Champions Rebecca Marshall and Samera Mahmood are playing a key role in helping to improve care for patients with an Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) on the Orthopaedic wards at LGI.

As part of the Tackling AKI project, which was launched in June and is led by Dr Andy Lewington, the Corporate Nursing team have been working closely with pilot wards to understand the role nurses can play in enhancing care. The key is better communication among the Multidisciplinary Team when an AKI alert occurs making sure the whole clinical team plays their part.

Samera sums this up saying: “Together we tackle more! By working together as a team we have a positive impact on patient care.”

Her colleague Rebecca adds: “It’s great to be able to advocate for patients to ensure they get the best possible care. Being at the front line driving changes in practice leads to better care for patients with an AKI.”

Lead Nurse Georgina Duncan said: “Nurses can play a key role by ensuring all the team are aware of the alert, it is clearly documented on the observations chart and the AKI magnet is placed on the patient name board.”

Acute Kidney Injury patients benefit from Nurse Champions

Nurse Champions Samera Mahmood and Rebecca Marshall

During August – LTHT’s Apprenticeship month – the Trust joined a new partnership with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust to improve the training and skills of healthcare support workers across the West Yorkshire region.

The West Yorkshire Excellence Centre is an initiative that brings together the resources and expertise of the two NHS trusts to enable staff in a variety of healthcare settings – including hospitals, care homes, dentists and GP practices – to access high-quality training and opportunities to develop in their roles.

The partnership is a response to the need to increase the availability of good quality training in a planned and sustainable way for support workers, who make up 40% of the healthcare workforce but whose needs for training to maintain their skills and qualifications can sometimes be overlooked.

Speaking at the launch, Trust Chief Executive, Julian Hartley said: “This is an important and exciting partnership that will provide excellent training and development opportunities for healthcare support workers in different organisations across the region. It will link closely with the Sustainability and

Transformation Plan for West Yorkshire to provide an integrated workforce with the flexibility and skills to deliver the highest quality care for local people.”

The Director of the National Skills Academy for Health, Candace Miller, added: “Bradford District Care NHS

Foundation Trust and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust are fantastic champions of vocational education and training and are actively engaged in ensuring that skills development is an integral part of transformed and sustainable healthcare across the West Yorkshire area.”

Representatives from Leeds Teaching Hospitals and Bradford District Care Trust launch the West Yorkshire Excellence Centre


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West Yorkshire Excellence Centre to develop skills of healthcare support workforce

The team on the Stroke Rehabilitation ward L12 were presented with a cheque for over £2000 generously donated by the Leeds Lions.

The amazing fundraising effort will be used to purchase a rise and recline chair for the ward, supporting patients who have suffered strokes and other debilitating neurological conditions.

A member of Leeds Lions put forward the ward for the grant after her father - who sadly passed away - was an inpatient on the unit. This money also builds upon a previous donation of £1000 for the purchase of a specialist shower chair.

Sister Melanie Glasby said: “We’d like to offer huge thanks to the Leeds Lions for their amazing generosity. The money raised will go towards supporting our patients and helping staff to provide the very best possible care.”

Leeds Lions donation makes a difference

Staff on L12 are handed the cheque from the Leeds Lions

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Di Leal, who works in Geoffrey Giles Theatres at St James’s, recently travelled to Vietnam to help provide surgical treatments for children with cranio-facial deformaties who would not normally be able to access them.

She went with Operation Smile, a US-based charity providing surgical care and treatment for children with facial deformities (mainly cleft lip and palate). The charity was established by Dr William Magee and his wife Kathy, a nurse, who became aware of the scale of need while travelling in the Philippines in the early 80s

The two week mission saw Di supporting surgeons also volunteering in the country to deliver the life-changing procedures. Over the fortnight she cared for hundreds of Vietnamese children, helping them to regain their smiles.

Di said: “I first heard about Operation Smile while I was working as a Registered Nurse in plastic surgery in Brisbane, Australia and decided that this was the way I could fulfill my long held dream of doing some voluntary work overseas and combine it with my life time love of travel!

“The aim of bringing medical volunteers out to places like Vietnam is to help share skills and knowledge with doctors and nurses living locally. This in turn means that hopefully in the future our colleagues in other countries will be able to treat relatively simple conditions without support.”

Following on from her mission in Vietnam, Di has won a bursary – the Hilda Winifred Mears Award - to fund her next expedition with the charity, helping to support children in another country. The award is presented to a Perioperative Practitioner every year by the Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP).

“I like to get out volunteering at least once every year. This year the £1000 from the Hilda Winifred Mears award will support me in doing this.

“It has been especially pleasing to see colleagues in the Trust take an interest in my voluntary work and even go as far as to take up volunteering themselves. I look forward to seeing how colleagues from across the Leeds hospitals can share their knowledge and experience across the world in the future.”

Perioperative Practitioner takes care #TheLeedsWay international

Perioperative Practitioner, Di Leal with one of her patients in Vietnam

There was a real stir on Ward L52 when Britain’s Got Talent dancing super-group Boogie Storm called by to visit young patient, Matilda Booth.

The group arrived at the Leeds Children’s Hospital, courtesy of celebrity producer and TV talent show judge, Simon Cowell.

Matilda, who was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, is a huge fan of Simon’s, and in 2015 went to see a recording of X-Factor where her dream of meeting him came true. Since meeting Matilda, Simon has kept in contact with both her and her mum, Sharon, to see how she’s doing.

A real friendship between Simon and Matilda has grown and since then he has invited her to see the finale of Britain’s Got Talent in early 2016. While there she mentioned to him that she’d like a photograph with Boogie Storm - the group that he recently signed.

Matilda’s mum, Sharon, explained: “Unfortunately, she didn’t get the chance to take a photo with them at the show, but knowing she wanted one, Simon told me that he would do what he could to arrange a visit. I got in contact with Boogie Storm and they said they were coming in to visit - I couldn’t believe it! I feel very grateful for Simon’s kindness, and it made her day to see them! It was lovely of them to do this for Tilda.”

As well as the talented dancers, since Matilda’s been back in hospital, Simon has also sent her a very special teddy.

The visit by Boogie Storm put a smile on everyone’s face, and after meeting a very happy Matilda, they went to see other children being cared for in the hospital. However, the young patients weren’t the only ones excited about Boogie Storm’s special visit – many members of staff were delighted to see them too.

Ward L52 Play leader, Claire Pickering said: “Myself and other members of staff were so thrilled to see the dancers, that we just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to sneak a cheeky selfie with them as well!

“It was wonderful to welcome Boogie Storm to the ward for this amazing visit. The dance group brought real joy to Matilda on the ward, and all the other kids being cared for in hospital. We would love to welcome them back some time!”

Boogie Storm with Trust patient Matilda, her mum, and Play Leader Claire Pickering

Causing a storm at the Leeds Children’s Hospital

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The Trust’s Theatre Education team ran a study day for members of staff offering information and learning around laparoscopic surgery.

The day included members of the perioperative team learning about the history of laparoscopic surgery, advantages and disadvantages of laparoscopic surgery, plus much more. One of the highlights was a practical session in which staff got to experience how hard laparoscopic work is to carry out.

It was organised for both registered and non-registered staff to gain a better understanding about laparoscopic surgery. The aim was to help practitioners gain a better understanding of the surgery they experience in practice.

The session was held in the Limit Suite at SJUH and meant that staff were able to use the simulation suite that doctors use to practice their camera skills and surgical techniques.

Jordan Annakin, Education Practioner, said: “The study day was a really lively session and I think everyone benefitted from it. I hope we can do this again in the future.

“It is hoped that participants can then share the knowledge and understanding they have picked up with their teams, and help the

theatre team understand the evidence base behind the approaches to surgery that we use in Leeds. We are looking forward to the next open day.”

Laparoscopic study day

The open day provided an excited opportunity to find out more about Laparoscopic surgery

The Physiotherapy Department at St James’s ran a successful physiotherapy workshop careers event in July for school students.

The open evening, the first of its kind, was attended by 15 students from nine Leeds schools. A number of the students were considering Physiotherapy as a career and had requested to undertake work experience.

A collaboration between the Physiotherapy Department and Organisational Learning, the open event was held as an alternative to traditional Work Experience with the aim of giving young people an insight into working in a physiotherapy service and to help them make informed career choices.

As well as providing attendees with insight into career pathways and

roles in Physiotherapy, simulated workshops run by staff provided participants

with an opportunity to try out some of the treatment and therapies that patients receive.

The evening went so well that there are plans to make it a regular feature and offer something similar twice a year.

Janice Martin, Head of Physiotherapy, said: “The staff were amazing and brought physiotherapy to life for these students. Not all attendees were very confident but the enthusiasm and motivational skills of the staff ensured that everyone was encouraged to participate in the activities.

“The 15 students reported that they particularly liked the practical activities as this helped with understanding and interest.”Students learn about safe movement and skills involved with physiotherapy

Physios of the future

Staff from across the Trust came together for the conference

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The day was arranged by Organisational Learning (OL) and attended by more than 200 members of staff working on lower bands. The interesting event promoted the training and development opportunities available for support staff across LTHT.

One of the highlights on the day was the announcement that the OL team, in collaboration with Bradford District Care Foundation Trust have been successful in their application to become a National Skills Academy for Health Excellence Centre. This is a great achievement for the Trust and will continue to enhance the offerings LTHT can make under the Talent for Care banner.

Speakers included Geoff Roberts, who

recounted his experience of patient care in a video and there was a fantastic session delivered by the Laughter Club, supported by the Get Me Better Champions.

The day ended with an awards ceremony where the Trust’s Director of Human Resources, Dean Royles congratulated support staff for their contributions to collaborative working (David Coxey), improving patient experience (Christine Barber) and outstanding achievement

(Danielle Bambrooke).

Head of Organisational Learning, Karen Vella said: “It was really inspiring to see so many support staff come together to learn from one another and reflect on the past year. The awards were a real highlight for everyone in the department and a great opportunity to recognise achievements.

“Following on from the event we are looking to ensure that staff development is at the heart of what we do here at the Trust, especially for staff at bands 1 to 4. The Talent for Care programme will be the vehicle by which we will achieve this.

“I am sure everyone is looking forward to the conference being a feature on the calendar every year.”

First ever Talent for Care conference a great success June saw the Trust launch its first ever Talent for Care conference, as part of an on-going commitment to improving education and development for staff at bands 1 to 4.


“I am sure everyone is looking forward to the

conference being a feature on the calendar every year.”


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As part of the national Learning Disabilities Awareness Week, the Trust held a fabulous fashion show for people with learning disabilities to showcase their creativity and ideas around hospitals.

Lead Nurse for Learning Disabilities, Sadie Dunne organised the event as

an opportunity for people living with learning disabilities to create new staff uniforms which looked a bit more fun to help reduce anxiety. The designers took part with aplomb, creating lots of new and unique styles of work dress for doctors and nurses.

The show was attended by staff from

across the Trust as well as members of the public, and the friends and family of the designers. It was clear on the day that everyone had a great time and that the audience was impressed by the items of clothing on show!

This tied into LTHT’s commitment to providing the very best care for everyone, especially people who may find it difficult to communicate. It built upon efforts over the past two years to ensure that people with learning disabilities are treated with compassion, patience and respect.

Sadie said: “It was a really lovely day and everyone had a great time. I was pleased to see so many people from across the Trust come along to find out more about the creative efforts.

“Over the past few years the Trust has gone to a lot of effort to improve our services for people with learning disabilities. Events like this not only provide a chance to let our hair down, but also to better understand the needs of this group of patients.

Catwalk offers people with learning disabilities chance to strut their stuff

The Palliative and End of Life Care teams hosted a conference for senior clinical nurses to discuss how the Trust can embed The Leeds Way values to guide excellent end of life care for patients.

It was an opportunity to share key messages around nurses feeling empowered to make a difference for patients and families at the end of life. An interesting agenda included a joint presentation from Dr Sam Limaye, Clinical Lead for Stroke Services, and Lesley Charman, Palliative Care Team, on the impact decision making has for patients, carers and clinicians and how important the research agenda is in encouraging staff to think about this.

Chief Nurse Suzanne Hinchliffe, who also spoke at the event, emphasised how good leadership and values-driven care makes a difference to patients and

carers and that LTHT nurses are well placed to ensure this is happening. Lead Nurse for End of Life Care, Elizabeth Rees explained that individualised care is underpinned by good communication skills and paying attention to the small details in order to make a big difference.

Lesley said: “The conference was a really

important opportunity to discuss end of life care – a matter that can affect anyone – and to share the good practice we have learned with colleagues across the Trust. It was good to see so many nursing staff take an interest in the matter and show such enthusiasm for improving care.”

Nurses making a difference in End of Life Care

Suzanne Hinchliffe, Chief Nurse, addresses the conference“It was good to see so

many nursing staff take an interest in the matter and show such enthusiasm for

improving care.”

Some of the models and designers show-off their styles

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There was lots of excitement in the Old Medical School at the LGI as a brand new, state-of-the-art automated pathology lab was officially opened.

LTHT Chief Executive, Julian Hartley, and Director of HR, Dean Royles, visited the old site to cut the ribbon for the new Automation and WASP labs. The new equipment has placed the Trust at the forefront of pathology testing, meaning that more complex diagnostics can be run in a much shorter space of time.

It was a fantastic opportunity for the Trust to showcase the UK-leading technology, which is only available at LTHT and was a real glimpse into the future of healthcare.

The laboratory operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing rapid test results to the Trust’s hospitals and to local GPs. It processes more than eight million tests per year.

Alongside the main laboratory, the Trust has also invested £2.5 million in a state of the art system which automates the processing of microbiological samples. These ‘WASP labs’, built by Italian company Copan, are the first of their kind in the UK.

During the tour Julian and Dean met with Stuart Hutton, Managing Director for Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics UK, and staff from across the Pathology CSU to find out more about the work that has

taken place getting the new labs up and running. The team explained that this has been a real collaborative effort and that the equipment will help to increase patient safety, improve efficiency and help us to ensure we continue to provide the very best possible care.

Martin Fottles, Senior Healthcare Scientist and project lead for the roll-out of the new labs, said: “I am really proud of the work that took place to get the new labs installed here at the LGI. It was a lot of time and investment, but now the Trust can boast the most advanced testing facilities in the world.

“The laboratories are part of a multimillion pound investment and a deal with Siemens UK which will benefit the entire region. We are looking forward to see what other benefits this partnership may bring.”

Julian said: “I was struck by the fact that the Old Medical School, built in 1868, has been at the forefront of medicine for over 150 years, and how the installation of this new technology, which is the first of its kind within the UK, is a direct continuation of this proud tradition.”

New automated labs revolutionise pathology testing

Staff from across Pathology celebrate the official opening of the new labs

The new labs will improve the way that testing is done within the Trust


“I am really proud of the work that took place to

get the new labs installed here at the LGI.

www.leedsth.nhs.uk | My Job

Summarise the main aspects of your role?

As a Clinical Photographer I work within the hospital’s Medical Illustration department. I provide different types of images/ videos for healthcare professionals across the Trust.

In my role, I am responsible for the daily recording of clinical conditions presented by patients. We do this by working in a photographic studio, clinic, ward or operating theatre. The images are used for both diagnosis and for recording a condition during the stages of treatment.

The photographs can be used in clinical documentation, research, publications as well as for teaching purposes.

We also use highly specialised equipment to provide the Ophthalmology department with OCT scans, retinal images, fluorescein angiography and more.

On top of this, we work closely with the Communications team at LTHT to deliver PR photography to provide staff and the public up-to-date with information on the hospitals and to highlight any achievements.

What else have you done in your career so far?

After studying photography at Sheffield Hallam University I got a job at the Trust as a support worker for the Medical Illustration department. Within my time in this role I worked towards the City & Guilds Diabetic Eye Screening qualification and spent two years gaining valuable experience in the ophthalmic and photography department. I then moved into a role as a trainee clinical photographer which involved working towards my post graduate degree in Medical Photography run by Staffordshire University. Now fully qualified and an assessor for City & Guilds I am excited to see where I can progress

to next.

What’s the best thing about your job?

The variety of patients and staff I work with every day. I can start my morning by shooting a clinical video in theatre, followed by photographing a patient undergoing a clinical trial then I could be taking photos of a nurse’s retirement do for Bulletin. The most valuable resource we have at LTHT is our staff. Collaborating with so many different colleagues within the Trust is not only enjoyable, but essential to provide the best patient care possible.

What is the one thing you would change at LTHT to help you do your job better?

A faster working operating system! As a department we rely on the computers to work quickly in order for us to process the images as well as upload them to our database for clinicians within the hospital to view. To make us more efficient it would be beneficial to have a faster network as well as extra computer memory to help them cope.

What’s your best advice to a new starter at the Trust?

Be open minded to new experiences. Everyday is different for us and you never know what saying ‘Yes’ can lead too. Also invest in a pair of comfy shoes!

Charlotte Hobbs, Clinical Photographer has worked at the Trust for four years

Charlotte Hobbs

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The bake sale was well received by cake-lovers across St James’s!

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A huge well done was offered to midwife Shelley Cassere and colleagues from across the Trust who took part in a fundraising event for the delivery suite at St James’s.

The team were raising money for ward J03 through both a sponsored bike ride from Liverpool to Leeds, and a walk from Saltaire to Leeds which took place simultaneously. In total they have raised £1200 for the specialist unit at Jimmy’s.

All money raised is to be used for buying things that will enhance the environment of the unit for families using the services, such as soft lighting

for the rooms, fans, and new camp beds for dads to stay over. This will help to improve patient experiences for all.

On top of this, the team are also looking into buying a water cooler for labouring women who request chilled water.

The cyclists were Heather Gwilliam, Kirsten Kesting, Caroline Sendall- Senior and Shelley, with Rachel Andrews as support van driver. The walkers were Nicole Ackie,Donna Tilford, Rachel Drakes, Linda Pearson and Jane Cassere.

Shelley said: “It was a lot of effort to cycle all that way, but it was certainly worth it to help support the unit and the mums and dads we look after.

“We see thousands of babies born at St James’s every year, so making sure things are right for parents helps to make each of these experiences better. We have real ambitions for the unit and I am sure, this won’t be the last of our charitable efforts!”

LTHT midwife Shelley raises cash for delivery suite

Shelley and fundraisers walking from Saltaire to Leeds

Panpals pancreatic cancer support group organised a great cake stall and tombola in the Bexley Wing Atrium, with the aim of raising funds for patients.

By the end the day they hit a total of £675.11, which is a wonderful effort. The money will be shared between the radiotherapy department, the nurses’ education fund and rest will go towards improving the patient experience in both the outpatient and ward areas.

The group had its first meeting two years ago thanks to the hard work and perseverance of its two founding members, Karen Stead and John Nathan, and the pancreatic cancer nurse specialists based at St James’s. Since then, they have seen Panpals go from strength to strength, with people joining in from around the Yorkshire region.

They meet every three months with the main aim of offering patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and their families an opportunity to meet, talk about their experiences and offer each other support. The group also provides feedback to healthcare professionals on improving services and review new patient information.

Noreen Hawkshaw, Lead Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Clinical Nurse Specialist, said: “It was great to see so many people enjoying the bake-sale. The money raised will really benefit the people we care for each and every day.

“We’d like to offer a huge thank you to the volunteers from the Panpals group including Christine Hall, Ann and Martin Slater, Esme Slater, Karen Stead, Rosaleen and David Mynard and Ramon and Margaret Porter.”

Cancer support group raise funds to improve patient experience

“It was a lot of effort to cycle all that way, but it was certainly worth it to help support the unit and the mums and dads we

look after.”

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Over the summer Leeds Teaching Hospitals became the latest trust with maternity services in the North of England to sign up to the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Caring for You charter.

The health and wellbeing charter is part of the RCM’s latest health and wellbeing campaign Caring for You, which aims to improve midwives and maternity workers health, safety and wellbeing at work so they are able to provide the highest quality maternity care for women and their families.

The campaign was devised as a direct response to the needs of over-worked midwives not only in England but across the UK. The charter includes commitments to make sure that members of staff are taking adequate rest breaks as well as staying properly hydrated during their shifts. There is also a strong focus on fostering a positive working

environment, which includes a zero tolerance approach to undermining and bullying behaviours among staff.

Commenting, RCM’s Regional Officer for the North, Lynne Galvin said: “The Caring for You campaign aims to tackle this and improve midwives wellbeing at work. We are delighted that the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust have become the biggest trust in the North of England to commit to the RCMs Caring for you charter.”

Julie Scarfe, Head of Midwifery, said: “LTHT recognises the value of a healthy work environment and endorses the RCM campaign for healthy workplaces in supporting high quality care. The ambition set out in the RCM Charter aligns to the Trust ambition in support of health and wellbeing at work and we look forward to working in partnership to support our maternity teams”.

Anita Marshall, an RCM rep at the Trust, added: “As Health and Safety Representative of the RCM, I am proud that our Head of Midwifery has signed up to the RCM’s Caring for You Charter. I am sure many of my colleagues will view this as a positive step forward and will add real value to the workplace.”

Trust signs up to Royal College of Midwives wellbeing charter

The pledge will help to support Midwives across the Trust in the workplace

Ward J10 and the Respiratory Care Unit on level 7 in Gledhow wing at St James’s have re-opened following a refurbishment.

To mark the occasion, Chief Nurse Suzanne Hinchliffe joined staff, patients and relatives to cut a ribbon and officially re-open the unit. Members of the team on the ward were delighted to see how many improvements had been made, all of which will now benefit patients.

Long-term patient of the unit Patricia Sowery came along for the occasion after raising thousands of pounds to support the unit. She was joined by Carmelle Hillas, whose husband, Brian, sadly passed away despite having received excellent care from the respiratory team on the unit.

The unit now has an additional two side rooms which will increase bed capacity and its ability to place patients in source isolation - a development welcomed by all.

Sue Whiteley, Matron in Respiratory Medicine, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have our refurbished and extended unit up and running. The environment is very much improved including dementia-friendly colour schemes and two newly created side rooms which will benefit patients tremendously. Every member of the team is very dedicated to the work they do for their patients and they look forward to continuing to provide fabulous patient care in the new units.

“It was really wonderful to be able to welcome Patricia and Carmelle onto the refurbished ward so they can see where their donations have gone. We’d like to offer both of them a huge ‘thank you’ for their brilliant efforts.”

Respiratory Care Unit gets a new lease of life

Staff and patients on J10 celebrate the re-opening

“I am proud that our Head of Midwifery has signed

up to the RCM’s Caring for You Charter.”

A fond farewell to our long-serving staff

Val Gasston

| www.leedsth.nhs.ukFarewell

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Jane Brennan Jane Brennan, Staff Nurse at Wharfedale Hospital, retired after 36 years of committed and tireless service. Jane trained in Edinburgh before moving to Leeds in 1980 where she has worked with the Trust ever since.She will be remembered for her dedication to high quality standards of nursing and a holistic approach to patient care. Her unfailing sense of humour has helped lift spirits of patients and staff alike throughout her career.Jane’s long-serving contribution to nursing will be sorely missed by her colleagues, who wish her all the best for the future. She retires to dedicate time to her long-planned novel.Debbie Brown, Sister in Outpatients, said: “We’re all really sorry to see Jane go, but hope she enjoys a long and happy retirement. She will certainly be missed by all that know her here at Wharfedale.”

Val GasstonVal Gasston, PA to General Manager and Head of Nursing, Outpatients CSU has taken early retirement.

Val worked at LTHT since 1998, starting on the admin bank. Since then she has worked for many General Managers and Directors during that period of time - Annette Naylor, Phillip Norman, Claire Linley, Al Sheward and Tony Whitfield to name but a few. She now plans to spend her retirement touring the world with her husband and has a series of cruises coming up. Carol Uttley, Outpatients CSU Quality Assurance Manager, said: “Val will leave a very big hole in our department as she is such a big personality with a generous smile and infectious laughter but also her knowledge and can do attitude.”Tracey Riach , PA to the Director of HR, added: “There are so many people across the Trust who will be sorry to see Val go, but I am sure they will wish all her all the very best for her retirement.”

Dr Chas NewsteadStaff were sorry to see Dr Chas Newstead, one of the Trust’s Renal Consultants who pioneered the renal transplant programme, retire after 23 years. Thanks to his work, around 200 transplants each year are performed in Leeds, which was completely unheard of when Chas initially joined the Trust in 1993.

Chas was instrumental in the growth of the donation after circulatory death (DCD) transplant programme in Leeds and he led the living donor transplant programme, which now performs around 50 transplants a year. Transplant services are incredibly important to LTHT patients.

He has also fulfilled a number of roles for the Trust including leading the order comms project, acting as clinical lead in the battle against healthcare acquired infections and as clinical director of renal medicine. He has also been the clinical lead for the Yorkshire and Humberside Renal Network and spent the last three years on the clinical reference groups for Renal Transplantation and Haemodialysis, the latter as chairperson.

He is now looking forward to his retirement and spending more time enjoying his pastimes, including walking, cycling, playing golf, photography, botany, canal boating and listening to music.

Dr Richard Baker, Renal Consultant, said: “We wish Chas all the very best for his retirement – it is well deserved. I think it is fair to say that we have been fortunate to call him a colleague and we will miss his wisdom and insight.”

www.leedsth.nhs.uk |

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60 seconds

Megan Whiteley, Occupational therapist has worked at the Trust for 18 months

What do you do to wind down and relax after a hard week at work?

I have a few things that help me wind down. Usually, I go spinning up to three times a week to de-stress and just forget about things. Or I will walk to my car after work via Zara (despite my car actually being parked on the opposite side of town) and shop. Normally, I find that the best way to relax after a hard week would be to see friends and have a cold drink of something.

What is your ideal holiday destination and why?

Red hot sunshine, a beach and loads of little tapas bars surrounding me!

This year I have been fairly lucky and have visited Portugal and Mallorca where I consumed my bodyweight in tapas dishes and glasses of sangria! I love European cities and I am making it my aim to do more weekend/city breaks through the year. On top of all this, I am going back to New York in November, which I am fairly excited about.

What is your favourite food?

Apart from *all the sweet food*, which I am really bad for, I love Italian food. Nothing beats a whole bowl or plate of carbs!

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I think I wanted to be everything at one point! My Granddad actually wanted me to be a physiotherapist but at that point I had my heart set on being a PE teacher, I did all my work experience in schools and then one day I woke up and decided against it. The next path I wanted to take was to work for a magazine as a photographer and journalist, I studied English at A level but again it wasn’t something I pursued. It was actually my A - Level PE teacher who told me about OT, and she said if she hadn’t have become a PE teacher she would have studied to be an OT, then five years later - here I am!

What is your favourite film?

Ermm… all of my friends would tell you I am terrible at picking films and make the worst choices ever! Personally I like all the easy to watch ones, your general chick flicks/rom coms (We’re the Millers, Bridget Jones etc). However when I am forced to watch something more ‘serious’ and with a bit more meaning - I find myself rather engrossed - Theory of Everything got me!

Tell us something we don’t know about you …

I am also a level 3 qualified massage therapist currently in the process of starting up independently outside of full time work

www.leedsth.nhs.uk | 60 seconds

Megan Whiteley

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor

does The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust endorse any of the

products or services.

Every possible care has been taken to ensure that the information given in this publication is accurate. Whilst the publisher would be grateful to learn of any errors, it cannot accept any liability over and above the cost of the advertisement for loss there by caused. Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd has not vetted the advertisers in this

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26


The Trust’s neonatal team had a visit from a very special guest recently – Toby Bear, the mascot of a new initiative to improve support across the country for the families of neonatal babies with the condition NEC (Necrotising Enterocolitis).

Toby Bear is the brainchild of Susan Spencer, who named him after her premature little boy Tobias who sadly died from NEC at a hospital in London despite the best efforts of staff to save him.

Susan decided to channel her sadness into doing something positive, so set up a support group for families affected by the condition. In the early days of coping with her loss, Susan came up with the idea of a bear to help children who have survived NEC understand

more about the condition and this gradually turned into making Toby Bear as realistic as possible with some of the features that youngsters may be left with as a result of NEC, such as scarring and sometimes the use of a stoma bag.

On her visit to Leeds, Susan met up with Lead Nurse for Neonatal Services, Anne Harrop, and other members of the team, to introduce Toby Bear and explain how he can help families. Susan now hopes Toby will be working with families up

and down the country, and she has also written a small book about the bear and the condition, covering his premature birth and surgical journey.

For bereaved parents there are also plans for ‘bags of love’ containing a tiny Toby Bear, a heart shaped candle and a keepsake.

Anne said: “It was wonderful to welcome Susan to the Neonatal Unit and to hear about her work promoting Toby Bear. Despite the tragedy of child-loss, it is inspiring to see her turn her experiences into something positive.

“I am sure we will be doing lots to promote the Toby Bear scheme among families who have been affected by NEC, and I look forward to hearing more about how it develops.”

Toby Bear helps families learn about condition affecting premature babies

Staff show off Toby bear and hope it will help families dealing with NEC

“It was wonderful to welcome Susan to the Neonates and to hear

about her work promoting Toby Bear.”

28

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UNISON is the UK’s largest healthcare trade union - over 400,000 people who work in the NHS are UNISON members. Our health members are nurses, student nurses, midwives, health visitors, healthcare assistants, paramedics, cleaners, porters, catering staff, medical secretaries, clerical and admin staff and scientific and technical staff.

UNISON Leeds Teaching Hospitals Branch represents nearly 4,000 members. We actively campaign for high quality services in the NHS. We feel that a good working environment is essential to delivering high quality care.

Our branch represents all groups of staff. All stewards are accredited and can help you with any work related problem. We have helped members with issues regarding attendance, grievance, conduct, and dignity at work. We work in collaboration with the LTHT managers and welcome all the Leeds way principles. We are a friendly and active branch.

Every Tuesday UNISON LTHT branch holds a two hour drop in surgery for members with work related queries.(Due to Branch Committee meetings no drop in service will be available on the first Tuesday of every month). The drop in service runs between 16:00 and 18:00 at both SJUH (1st Floor Beckett Wing) and LGI (Next to old Gilbert Scott Theatres) in the UNISON offices. No appointment needed.

The main branch office at SJUH is open five days a week via our volunteer stewards, and our own branch administrator. You can contact us on 0113 2064369 or via our email address - [email protected]. You may also interact with us on Facebook - Unison Leeds Teaching-Hospitals, or on Twitter @UnisonLth.

UNISON members can access free initial legal advice on non-work related issues, along with support for members and their family members for personal injury cases outside work, low-cost conveyancing and help with immigration issues - The national helpline is - 0800 0 857 857.

New and old members are always welcome - Give us a call, drop in for a chat, and remember the earlier you involve us the easier it is for us to help you with issues big or small.

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staff magazine | autumn 2016€¦ · staff magazine | autumn 2016 leeds teaching hospitals nhs...

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