Trustlink - Dorset HealthCare

Trustlink
June 2014
Reason to smile
Page 2
Hydration innovation
Page 3
This is me!
Page 4
Sun aware
Page 5
Dying matters
Providing care all of us would recommend to family and friends
Page 8
Mental health
Welcome…
Hydration
Innovation
An award-winning invention which helps
keep patients hydrated is currently being
rolled out across our community health
services.
Ron Shields
Welcome
to the June issue
of Trustlink.
Last month was a busy month
for many of our teams who, on top
of their day to day work, marked
a series of key health dates in the
calendar with various activities for
staff and patients.
In mid-May we marked Mental Health Awareness
Week, Dying Matters Week, Dementia Awareness
Week and Sun Awareness Week. Thank you to all
of those services who worked to promote their
services and to raise awareness of these important
issues. This month we recognise Carers Week and
National Smile Month (to name but two). You can
get a really good flavour of the events inside this
month’s Trustlink.
The Trust introduced the ‘Hydrant’ bottles into Wimborne’s
Victoria Hospital last year and we are now one of just three trusts
in the country to be awarded an extra £62,500 from NHS England
to extend the programme to around 2,500 patients who use
our community-based Wheelchair Service and the Community
Rehabilitation Service in Wimborne.
The innovative device provides a simple way for patients to drink,
whilst allowing community staff and carers to monitor fluid intake
to reduce the risk of dehydration. The design features a bottle which
clips onto beds, chairs and wheelchairs, and a long drinking tube
with a bite down valve to prevent leaks, a non-return system for
hygiene and a clip to attach to clothing.
Julia Kinsella, Specialist Clinical Services Manager and
Professional Head of Occupational Therapy, explained: “When
we used the Hydrant in our community hospital, our ward nurses
reported a significant drop in the number of patients with urinary
infections. This new funding allows us to look at ways of expanding
the use of Hydrant within the community. Our aim is to work with
individuals who have day to day difficulties keeping themselves well
hydrated and to assess the health benefits and possible reduction
in dehydration-related illnesses or hospital admissions that having a
Hydrant may bring. We want to help clients with reduced mobility to
be able to stay hydrated in their own homes.”
Keeping hydrated is vital to a person’s physical and psychological
wellbeing, particularly for the elderly and those with long term
conditions who are more susceptible to hydration-related conditions
such pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections and falls. Good
hydration decreases the risk of acute kidney injury, infection and the
resultant need to use intravenous fluids and antibiotics. The bottle
is designed as a low cost, high impact innovation and NHS England
estimates that for every £1 spent on the Hydrant it saves £16. n
On a separate note, I must advise that Nick
Chapman has decided to resign as a NonExecutive Director of the Trust. Nick has been
a committed and conscientious member of our
Board during the past three years and his leaving
is a great loss to the Trust. I hope that you will join
me in wishing him well in whatever he decides to
do in the future and I will keep you updated on our
progress in recruiting his replacement.
Best wishes Ron Shields. n
02 Trustlink n June 2014 n www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk
Gina Geary with Kat
e Watt and the hyd
rant bottle
innovation
This is Me!
The Trust celebrated Dementia Awareness Week at the end of
May by promoting a new booklet designed to help health and
social care professionals see people with dementia as individuals.
The ‘This is Me’ booklet - endorsed by the Royal College of Nursing
and the Alzheimer’s Society – is a simple and practical tool that people
with dementia and their families can use to tell their carers about their
needs, preferences, likes, dislikes and interests.
The booklet was originally developed for patients going into
hospital but Dorset HealthCare’s Dementia and Dignity Champions
are encouraging its use in any professional care setting, including in a
patient’s own home, in respite care or a care home.
Elaine Brown is the Trust’s Dementia and Dignity Lead for
Community Health Services. She explained: “The booklet enables staff
to see the person as an individual and deliver truly person-centred care,
tailored specifically to the person’s needs. As a result, it can help to
reduce stress and can also help to prevent issues with communication,
or more serious conditions such as malnutrition and dehydration.
“Communicating and caring for people with memory loss can
be difficult, when the person you are caring for is unable to tell you
about their likes and dislikes. ‘This is Me’ is an easy way of building a
better understanding of who the patient really is.”
The booklet provides lots of useful information - such as when a
person likes to go to bed and get up, what food they like or dislike,
what routines are important to them, things that worry them, what
makes them feel less anxious and the name they like to be called.
It should be completed by the individual who know the person best
and, wherever possible, in conjunction with the person who has
dementia. n
www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk n June 2014 n Trustlink 03
Something to Smile About!
To mark National Smile Month (19 May - 19 June), the Trust is hosting a number of ‘drop in’ events
to raise awareness about the importance of looking after your teeth and the simple ways in which
you can improve your dental health.
Established in 1976, National Smile Month is run by the British
Dental Health Foundation and provides an opportunity for
healthcare and educational organisations to work together to
promote the value of a great smile and a healthy mouth.
The ‘drop in’ sessions being run by Dorset HealthCare’s Dental
Service will highlight the three key campaign messages that can
improve everyone’s oral health. Namely to brush your teeth for two
minutes twice a day with fluoride toothpaste; to cut down on how
often you have sugary foods and drinks; and to visit your dentist as
regularly as recommended.
Jean Houston, the Trust’s Oral Health Promoter, explained: “Our
roadshow aims to be informative but also lots of fun. We’ll have
oral health advice for all ages, advice on how to find a dentist as
well as activities for children, who can meet ‘Sparkle’ the dragon!
We’ll also be giving away free ‘smileys’ - an instant smile on a stick
that contains the three key messages on the reverse – which are
always a hit with families.”
The roadshow, which kicked off in May, will be visiting the
following locations in June:
> Hamworthy Library
Tuesday 10 June 2.00pm - 4.30pm
> Boscombe Library
Thursday 12 June 10.00am - 12.00pm
> C astlepoint Library
Thursday 12 June 2.15pm - 4.30pm
> Branksome Library
Tuesday 17 June 2.00pm - 4.30pm
> C astlepoint Library
Wednesday 18 June 2.15pm - 4.30pm
For further information, contact Jean Houston
on 01202 691520. n
Checking your moles
The Trust’s Dermatology Team recently held two drop-in ‘mole check’
clinics for staff, to coincide with Sun Awareness Week.
The team saw 38 employees in total and eight of these were advised to
see their GP for further examination or advice. One attendee commented:
“I just wanted to say thank you for organising the clinic. Dr Zahedi has
suggested I contact my GP in relation to a suspected basal-cell carcinoma
which she spotted. I have been aware of the mark on my skin but would
have been very unlikely to bother my GP with it, so I’m very grateful for her
advice and time.”
Anyone can develop skin cancer but people with fair skin that burns
easily or who have lots of moles or freckles are more at risk. If you spot any
changes to your skin, such as any new moles or existing ones that have
changed size, shape or colour seek professional advice from your GP.
Dr Rayhaneh Zahedi – a GP with a special interest in Dermatology
and Clinical Lead – is pictured examining a member of staff. n
04 Trustlink n June 2014 n www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk
News
You Only
Die Once
The theme for this year’s Dying Matters Week
(from 12-18 May) was: you only die once. We
only get one chance to have our dying wishes
met, which is why it’s vital to talk, plan and
make arrangements for the end of life - before
it’s too late.
As well as supporting a series of events held across the
county - such as a ‘Death Café’ at Hamworthy Library - the
Trust’s Angela Cosser also organised a stand at Sentinel
House to offer practical advice to staff.
Angela is a Gold Standards Framework and End of Life
Facilitator within the Bournemouth Community Generalist
Palliative Care Team. She explained: “Talking about death
and dying remains one of the biggest taboos within most
communities. But experience shows that talking about these
difficult subjects with others can help to alleviate fears and
enhance our quality of life.”
The stand at Sentinel House aimed to help people plan
for the future with tips about writing a will; recording funeral
wishes; choosing the care and support you’d like if you
were dying; considering registering as an organ donor; and
discussing your wishes with loved ones. Angela (pictured at
the stand with colleague Stephen Churchill) also designed a
laminated poster depicting a Bucket List and invited staff to
jot down on a post-it note one thing they’d like to do before
they die. n
Road to Wellness
Nominations for this year’s Road to Wellness Awards are now
well underway. The awards are to celebrate the achievements of
those people who have made significant progress in either their own
recovery or who have demonstrated great humanity in going out
of their way to help and support the recovery of others. They are
open to anyone who currently accesses or has recently accessed the
Trust’s mental health services. The Award Ceremony will take place
on 7 October and the Award Categories are: Strength; Courage;
Inspiration; Kindness; Compassion; and a Group award. Visit the
Trust’s website for more details (nominations closed on 15 June). n
AHP Integration,
Sharing and Excellence
Allied Health Professionals (AHP) Integration,
Sharing and Excellence is an exciting initiative
aiming to showcase the work being done by AHPs
across the Trust. The initiative takes the form of a
poster exhibition, which will travel to as many Trust
locations as possible and be available in different
media (accessible from work and home).
The initiative will share good practice and encourage dialogue
both between and within disciplines. It also aims to celebrate the
research which is currently being carried out in the Trust and create
a culture of enquiry and learning.
To support the initiative, poster workshops are being provided
by Dr Clare Taylor, Lead Therapist at Bournemouth University and
Facilitator of the Allied Health Professionals Research Network
(AHPRN), South West.
A poster conference will be held on 30 July at Sentinel House, with
poster exhibitions being displayed at several other Trust locations
around Dorset simultaneously. Anyone is welcome to attend
the launch event. Contact Kate Hardy (01202 277054)
for more details. n
www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk n June 2014 n Trustlink 05
News
Army Wives
A group of army wives,
stationed at Bovington
Camp, have been
working with the Tank
Museum to produce a
new display on what life
is like for army families.
i-quit
improved
Bournemouth and Poole Stop
Smoking Services have now
added a dedicated page for
healthcare professionals on the
‘i-quit’ website.
The page outlines the issues around
smoking, shows how to refer patients
and how to access free training on brief
intervention and also how to become a
Qualified Level 2 Stop Smoking Advisor.
The site also highlights commonly debated
topics such as e-cigarettes. Staff can access
the site by visiting: www.i-quit.org.uk/
health-professionals. n
Setting
SAIL
The Trust’s nursing staff and
community hospitals are being
encouraged to make use of a
scheme called SAIL (Safe and
Independent Living).
The aim of SAIL is to provide a
multi-agency referral approach to
enable access to signposting, support
and services, which are particularly
beneficial to those who are aged 50+ or
experiencing vulnerability.
The SAIL scheme is a partnership of
respected agencies in Dorset including
local councils, the fire service, PoPP and
the wider NHS. Full details and referral
forms can be accessed by visiting the
intranet’s ‘age equality’ page. n
Members of the Coffee and
Chat Army Wives group, who
meet to socialise and support
each other, have been getting
together at the Museum
since last October as part
of the Museum’s Outreach
Programme. Together they
came up with ideas to
represent their way of life in a new display based at The Tank Museum.
Financed by The Army Covenant Fund, the aim of this new display is to give people an
insight into what it’s like to be married to a soldier. Named ‘Army Wife, Military Life’, it
is divided in to three sections: ‘Home’, which focuses on the challenges associated with
moving every few years, ‘Operational Tours’, one of the hardest times for a military family
and ‘Experiences’, looking at the opportunities being married to a soldier can give you.
The group (pictured with the camp’s matron and Felicity Wood from the Tank Musuem)
was supported by the Trust’s Access and Equalities Development Team and the ‘Time to
Change Dorset’ campaign. It is the first display of its type and there are plans to develop it
into a travelling exhibition available to schools and communities as an educational tool. n
Quality Prescribing
The Trust has held another well attended Non Medical Prescribing
(NMP) Conference entitled ‘Quality Prescribing for All.’ The event
had a varied programme of external and internal speakers covering a
wide variety of general topics with keynote
speakers in the morning and workshops
in the afternoon – ranging from over
the counter meds to the complexities
and decision making processes around
prescribing in the elderly.
Approximately 170 delegates, speakers and
helpers enjoyed the hospitality of the Hamworthy
Club under the chairmanship of Debbie Streeter,
NMP Lead at the Trust. A further Mental Health
NMP Conference is planned at the same venue
for 22 October this year. Pictured: Kara Jones,
Sue McNeill, Jane Milliner and Debbie Streeter. n
News from DCH
Following the news that Dorset County Hospital’s chief executive Jean O’Callaghan is
leaving the Trust in July, the organisation has now confirmed that its director of operations,
Patricia Miller, will be taking on the role of acting chief executive until a permanent
appointment is made. n
06 Trustlink n June 2014 n www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk
Charity Corner
Marathon
mum Andrea Smith,
My job matters
a nurse therapist from the
CAMHS team (pictured
with her children),
completed the London
Marathon in under 4
hours 50 minutes and
has managed to raise an
impressive £3,200 for the
Muscular Dystrophy campaign. A fantastic effort! n
An epic
journey
Dr Geoff Searle,
Consultant Psychiatrist
at the Crisis Service
in Bournemouth,
successfully completed
a sponsored cycle ride
all the way from Land’s
End to John O’Groats last year.
This tremendous achievement raised £650
in aid of Cherry Tree Nursery, a project set up
to provide sheltered work rehabilitation in a
supportive environment for over 150 adults with
severe and enduring mental illness.
Geoff is pictured showing his unusual
recumbent design bike to the nursery’s
volunteers and presenting a cheque to one of
them, Georgina Brooks. In the background can
be seen the first stage of the erection of the
timber-frame structure for Phase 3 of Cherry
Tree’s new sustainable replacement building
programme. n
Congratulations to
Vanessa Wiles, HCA on
Beech Ward at Yeatman
Hospital, who completed
the Yeovil Half Marathon
on 30 March in 2 hours
25 minutes (and 19
seconds!) She raised
£684 for the Alzheimer’s
Society. n
Carers Week
The Trust hosted a special event during Carers Week,
which ran from 9 to 15 June. Taking place on Monday
9th, the event provided carers of mental health
service users across Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset
the chance to meet staff from inpatient units and
community services and enjoy an informal, relaxed
buffet lunch with people in similar situations. There
were also sessions of mindfulness and laughter
yoga on offer to those attending who wished to try
something new. This year’s theme was Looking after
Carers’ Health and Wellbeing and the event was held
at Branksome Dene Community Room in Poole. n
Lorraine Squires
What is your job? I am a nursing
assistant on Rowan Ward at The
Willows Intermediate Care Centre,
Yeatman Hospital in Sherborne caring for elderly patients.
How long have you been working
with the Trust? About nine years now.
What is your background? I have
worked in the caring profession for
28 years and I must say I think I will
always love it!
I have an NVQ 3 in care and another
achievement which means a lot to me
is my Level 3 in mental health and wellbeing for the older person.
What do you most enjoy about
your job? I love my job and get a lot
of satisfaction in being able to help
in the recovery of patients’ health by
giving them hope, encouragement,
enjoyment and happiness.
you
said
we
did
You Said: The staff survey highlighted
that some of our staff were unhappy with
the current appraisal system.
We Did: A new eAppraisal system
is launching this month to support you
to get the most out of your appraisal.
Staff with computer access will be able
to use the system to record their own
appraisals, including objectives and personal
development plans.
What is the best piece of advice
you’ve been given? To treat and
respect people how I would like to be
treated and respected.
What’s your favourite book,
favourite film and favourite song?
My favourite film is Phantom of the
Opera, favourite song is Time to Say
Goodbye (by Andrew Botchelli and
Sarah Brightman) and my favourite
books are the Heidi stories.
Do you have any hobbies? I
enjoy a little gardening, walking the
dogs, reviving second hand furniture
and scouring the charity shops for
bargains!
What is your greatest
achievement? My greatest
achievements are my three children
and always supporting them in
whatever they do. On a professional
level, I’m proud of my role as a
Dementia Champion on the ward and
also being part of a winning team at
the OSCARS a couple of years ago.
Three words to describe yourself?
This is hard - but I hope that I appear
to others as kind, caring and generous.
Who would you take to a desert
island? I’d like to say I’d take my
husband, but maybe I should take
Crocodile Dundee as he could
maintain my survival! n
Training sessions for all staff on how to
access this simple, user-friendly system will
be held from 2 June onwards, at locations
across the Trust.
To book onto an Appraisal Systems
Training session – use the online booking
system.
You Said: The IM&T intranet pages
can be difficult to use, understand and
navigate.
We Did: As part of the team’s work to
improve communications with staff, they
are reviewing and updating the Information
and IT pages on the intranet. They have
introduced a brand new IM&T page under
the ‘Supporting Staff’ tab. Ultimately, this
will subsume the Information and IT pages,
which will be reorganised at the same time. n
www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk n June 2014 n Trustlink 07
Spotlight on
Mental Health Awareness Week
T
o mark Mental Health
Awareness Week in May,
the Trust helped organise
a number of events to raise
awareness of the services
available to people struggling
with mental ill health.
We were also able to promote our mental health services in the
media, with BBC Radio Solent running three interviews with Mike
Kelly, Clare Hurley and Dave Pagett (the latter specifically about
the issue of self harm). Dr Laurence Mynors-Wallis also outlined
the benefits of the Steps2Wellbeing Service in a feature with the
Bournemouth Echo.
Some of the events our teams got involved with included the
following…
Beach Football
Staff from Dorset HealthCare linked with Dorset Mental Health
Forum’s Sports and Leisure Activity Programme to organise a beach
football tournament.
The tournament, which took place at Branksome Chine on a very sunny
Saturday 17 May, attracted teams from local charities, social projects
and community football teams (pictured).
Phil Morgan, Lead for Recovery and Social Inclusion, explained: “Football
is a fantastic platform for getting people, who often feel excluded from
society, together - while promoting positive mental and physical health,
which is really important in supporting people’s recoveries.”
In addition to the football tournament, the organisers also hosted
games of rounders, boules and volleyball for all those supporting the
event - an event set to be repeated next year.
Sport at St Ann’s
The physical health team at St Ann’s Hospital had an information
stand in the new reception area offering advice about anxiety and
coping strategies. The team also organised various sports and games
in the St Ann’s hospital grounds – including football, rounders, cricket,
volleyball, hula hooping and boules.
And in Southampton…
Southampton’s ‘Steps2Wellbeing’ service contributed to an event
organised by Solent Mind to raise awareness of the increasing number
of people suffering with anxiety and depression. Solent Mind handed
out leaflets to commuters from 7am to 7pm at Southampton Central
train station – with information about common mental health
problems and the local mental health services available, including
Steps2Wellbeing. n
>Contact us Produced by Grayling in conjunction with Lesley Ford, Communications Assistant at Sentinel House, Poole.
(Telephone: 01202 277014). Something you’d like to include in TrustLink? Please email your news to us direct at: lesley.ford@
dhuft.nhs.uk. Trustlink is produced monthly and the deadline for the July issue is 27 June. n
08 Trustlink n June 2014 n www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk