gp Flu Fighters in the country We’re the best

News for commissioners, GPs, practice managers, and primary care staff
gp
WE CARE FOR YOU
Bowel cancer:
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust
January 2013
www.dbh.nhs.uk
we’re one of the best for treating it
We’re the best
Flu Fighters in
A Rose the country
Award for
Bassetlaw
SCBU
WE CARE FOR YOU
Countdown to
AAA screening
Contents
3‘One of the best’, says National Bowel
Cancer Audit
4Countdown to AAA screening
5Chronic pain team moves into new
home at Montagu
5 Progress on waiting times recognised
5Former GP elected Trust governor
6Construction of rehab unit
gets underway
7Benefits advice service launches for
people with cancer
7 Welcome to new consultant
8Pharmacy robots cut waste and
dispensing time
9New Cancer of Unknown Primary
(CUP) service
9Bassetlaw Assessment & Treatment
Centre opens
We’re the best
Flu Fighters in the country
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals has
achieved the honour of being the best hospital
trust in England for vaccinating frontline staff
against flu for the second year running.
F
igures published by NHS
Employers showed that by
the end of November, we
were well ahead of the pack
with an astounding 80.2%
of all staff involved in direct
patient care having had their
flu jab.
The percentage vaccinated has
increased further since then and we
expect to have the final figures in
early spring.
Bassetlaw’s SCBU
wins a Rose Award
The Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Bassetlaw
Hospital has won one of this year’s Worksop
Guardian Rose Awards. The SCBU team was
nominated for the award by the grateful parents of
twin girls who were cared for on the eight-cot unit
after being born prematurely in September 2010.
Readers of the Worksop Guardian then voted SCBU
the winner from the shortlisted candidates.
Clinical lead and Consultant Paediatrician Dr Lai
Men Wong, Senior Sister Marion Burchby and Sister
Sue Proudman collected the award on behalf of the
team at the awards ceremony on 29 November.
Trust Chairman Chris Scholey with the Occupational Health ‘Flu Fighters’ after
presenting them with certificates at the Board meeting on 4 December
Mike’s set to become
our new Chief Executive
Pictured (I-r): Dr Lai Men Wong, Consultant Paediatrician;
Senior Sister Marion Burchby; and Sister Sue Proudman
(photo: courtesy of the Worksop Guardian)
Mike Pinkerton has
been selected as our
next Chief Executive,
subject to approval
by the Board
of Governors.
Speaking of his
selection, Mike said:
“I am delighted to be
recommended for this
post, subject to the
approval of the Board
of Governors. I am
really looking forward
to working with GPs
and other colleagues
in primary care, the
excellent staff in the
Trust and with our
partners in developing
our services and
continuously
improving outcomes
for patients.”
If you have any comments or want further information about any of the articles in GP Info please get in touch with the
Communications & Marketing team on 01302 647085 or email Emer Scott, Director of Communications & Marketing, on
[email protected].
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January 2013
One of the best for treating
bowel cancer
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals is one of the best in the region at treating patients
with bowel cancer, according to a national report published on 17 December.
T
he National Bowel Cancer
Audit 2012 analysed data on
30,000 patients treated for the
condition in hospitals in England
and Wales between August 2010
and July 2011.
It found that we were the top-performing
trust in the Yorkshire, Humberside and
North Trent region at detecting bowel
cancer early enough to avoid having to
perform emergency surgery.
Over 90% of patients at our hospitals
were operated on via a planned list rather
than having emergency treatment – the
best performance in the region. It means
patients benefit from the better clinical
outcomes which result from prompt
detection and treatment of their cancer,
rather than an emergency treatment after
an obstruction of the bowel.
We were also one of the top trusts in the
whole of England and Wales for ensuring
that bowel cancer patients were under
the care of the full team of relevant
specialists, as recommended by the
National Institute of Health and Clinical
Excellence (NICE).
Every patient was reviewed by the full
multidisciplinary team and benefited from
the expertise and opinions of consultant
surgeons, a consultant oncologist and a
consultant radiologist.
We were the third best of all 15
hospitals in the Yorkshire, Humberside
and North Trent region for ensuring that
patients were under the care of a bowel
cancer clinical nurse specialist (97.3
per cent, compared with the national
average of 83 per cent) and that their
CT scans had been interpreted by a
consultant radiologist (98.4 per cent,
compared with the national average of
88 per cent).
Mortality rates 90 days after surgery were
also well below the national average –
the observed rate was just 3.2 per cent,
compared with a national average of five
per cent.
Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and
Colorectal Cancer Lead Mr Athur
Harikrishnan said: “All our patients are
offered high-quality laparoscopic surgery
under the Enhanced Recovery Programme
(ERP). Our excellent results reflect the
expertise and hard work contributed by
every member of our dynamic colorectal
cancer multidisciplinary team.”
Mr Athur Harikrishnan
January 2013
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Countdown to AAA
screening programme begins
Men aged 64 and 65 in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw are set to start
receiving invitations for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening from
February 2013.
T
he new screening programme
covers Barnsley, Bassetlaw,
Doncaster, Rotherham and
Sheffield and aims to reduce
deaths from ruptured AAAs, which
cost around 6,000 lives a year in
England and Wales.
From February, every
man in South Yorkshire
and Bassetlaw will be
invited for screening
in the year they turn
65. Men who are over
65 will be able to selfrefer for screening
by contacting the
programme directly to
request an appointment.
It is estimated that four per cent of all
men aged 65 and over in South Yorkshire
and Bassetlaw could have an AAA.
There is an 80% risk of death if an AAA
ruptures – one third of people die before
they even get to hospital.
AAAs usually have no symptoms.
However, they are quick and simple to
detect, which is why screening is so
important, and surgical treatment to
repair large aneurysms is usually very
effective – the mortality rate for planned
surgical repairs is only around 3-8%.
From February, every man in South
Yorkshire and Bassetlaw will be
invited for screening in the year they
turn 65. Men who are over 65 will
be able to self-refer for screening by
contacting the programme directly
to request an appointment.
The programme will be rolled out in
phases across South Yorkshire and
Bassetlaw. At least one screening
centre is scheduled for each PCT/CCG
area by February.
Men receive their results straight away
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January 2013
at their screening appointment. Those
whose scans are normal – an aorta
with a diameter less than 3cm – will be
discharged. Men with a small aneurysm
(3cm to 4.4cm) will be offered an
appointment with a nurse practitioner
and annual surveillance appointments to
monitor the growth of the aneurysm.
Men with medium aneurysms – aortas
between 4.5cm and 5.4cm will be
offered three-monthly surveillance and
an appointment with a nurse practitioner.
Men with large aneurysms of 5.5cm or
greater will be referred to a consultant
vascular surgeon within the local vascular
network to discuss treatment options.
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals
has been commissioned to provide
the screening programme for South
Yorkshire and Bassetlaw. Men with
large aneurysms will be referred to
the vascular teams at Doncaster and
Bassetlaw Hospitals and Sheffield
Teaching Hospitals.
“Screening is simple
and it saves lives
so we would really
encourage men to take
up the invitation. We
would appreciate any
assistance that GPs
and other colleagues
in primary care can
provide in this and we
would be very happy
to speak or meet with
you if you would like
further information.”
Mr Ray Cuschieri, Lead Clinician for the
South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw AAA
Screening Programme, Deputy Medical
Director at Doncaster and Bassetlaw
Hospitals and until recently a practising
Consultant Vascular Surgeon, said:
“Screening is simple and it saves lives so
Mr Ray Cuschieri
we would really encourage men to take
up the invitation. We would appreciate
any assistance that GPs and other
colleagues in primary care can provide
in this and we would be very happy to
speak or meet with you if you would like
further information.”
Details of the first wave of AAA
screening centres will be announced
in the next few weeks. Men will be
given their results verbally during their
screening appointment. Those whose
scans show abnormalities will also receive
a letter. GPs will receive a summary
results letter for every patient of theirs
who is screened, regardless of the result.
For more information or a visit
in relation to the AAA screening
programme in South Yorkshire and
Bassetlaw, please contact:
• Mr Ray Cuschieri, Clinical Lead,
[email protected] or
01302 553121
• Helen McAlinney, AAA Screening
Programme Coordinator,
[email protected] or
01709 321189
New chronic pain unit
at Montagu
The chronic pain team has moved
into its new home at Montagu
Hospital, with expanded
treatment rooms and clinic
facilities and more comfortable
waiting areas for patients.
T
he whole
service now
operates
from the same part
of the hospital
in significantly
enhanced facilities
with a light,
airy environment.
The new Pain
Management Unit has
two seven-bed treatment
wards where spinal
injections, acupuncture
and other forms of care
for soft tissue problems
can be provided. Both
wards have been designed
for single-sex use to
protect patients’ privacy
and dignity.
There is a minor operating
room with x-ray facilities
for injection procedures
where imaging facilities
can help the doctor
guide the needle into
the correct position. The
unit also has a further
individual treatment
room, five consultation
and examination rooms,
and five interview rooms
where patients can have
cognitive behavioural
therapy or follow-up
appointments with a
specialist nurse.
k Reilly; Chronic Pain Lead and
Back row (l-r): Psychotherapist Dere
rt
na Yerneni; and Charge Nurse Stua
Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Krish
ker; and
Shan
Starr; General Manager Ashy
Andrew. Front row (l-r): Sister Lisa
Physiotherapist Karen Sharkey
Recognition
for progress on
waiting time
Our work to address the historic
waiting list issues identified this
summer has been recognised by
an unlikely source.
‘NHS Gooroo’ is a blog with news
updates and articles on waiting
times for NHS care across the
country. The November issue
congratulated us for the fact that
92% of our patients now wait
17 weeks for treatment, down
from 18.3 weeks. We still have
a lot of work to do but waiting
times are definitely heading in
the right direction and we’re on
track with our plans to improve
them further and ensure we have
accurate, up-to-date waiting-time
information about every one of
our patients.
Dr Utpal Barua
elected Public
Governor
Dr Barua, a retired GP form Worksop, who
worked in Langold, Langwith and Cresswell, has
joined our Board of Governors to represent the
people in Bassetlaw.
Dr Barua, who was elected
as a Public Governor for
Bassetlaw, said: “I believe
that close working between
health and social care can
address socially-determined
health inequalities to the
benefit of society. As a
new governor, I am looking
forward to working with
Dr Utpal Barua
the Trust to achieve this.”
January 2013
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Artist’s impression of the exterior of the new centre
Construction begins
on new rehab unit at Montagu
Construction work on the new rehabilitation centre at Montagu Hospital is set
to begin in early January.
T
he new unit, set to open by summer
2013, will transform the way that
people recovering from serious injury
or illness are cared for and it is believed it
will be the first of its kind in the UK.
Unlike traditional hospital rehab, patients will
receive their own personalised programme of
intensive therapeutic care seven days a week,
tailored to meet their individual needs. The unit
will have a warm and homely atmosphere with
kitchen facilities and relaxation areas so patients
build ordinary daily activities like making breakfast
or reading the paper into their recovery.
The new unit will be constructed on the site
of some existing buildings that were no longer
in use. The site was cleared in November and
December and construction is set to begin in
mid-January.
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January 2013
,
Artist’s impression of an activity area
with a view of the courtyard
Doncaster Macmillan
Welfare Benefits Advisers
A new advice service has been introduced at Doncaster Royal Infirmary,
supporting people affected by cancer to claim the welfare benefits they are
entitled to.
C
alled the Doncaster
Macmillan Welfare
Benefits Service, it’s a joint
venture between Macmillan
Cancer Support, Bassetlaw
Citizens Advice Bureau and
Doncaster and Bassetlaw
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The service, which accepts referrals
from GPs, has been set up because
people with cancer often say their
biggest worry, aside from their
diagnosis and treatment, is how
they are going to manage financially.
Often, they don’t realise that financial
support is available.
The new service at DRI can offer
advice and support to anyone with
cancer in the Doncaster area, their
relatives and carers, and anyone else
who incurs additional financial costs
by helping someone with cancer.
A Macmillan welfare benefit adviser
visits the patient, carries out a
financial assessment and then
informs them of any benefits and
grants they can claim. The adviser
completes all the paperwork and will
even chase up claims to minimise
delays in payment. They can also
help people challenge benefits
decisions, as well as advising on
grants and disabled Blue Badge
applications and have successfully
overturned Blue Badge refusals.
People can self-refer to the new
service. It also accepts referrals from
clinics at DRI, Macmillan Clinical
Nurse Specialists, GPs, community
groups and other agencies. The team
can advise DRI patients from outside
Doncaster and signpost them to
agencies in their local area that can
support them and carry out home
visits where required.
People with cancer in Bassetlaw
already enjoy a similar service which
is available through Bassetlaw
Citizens Advice Bureau.
Doncaster Macmillan Welfare Benefits team
(I-r) Emma Widdowson, Macmillan Admin
Assistant; Gail Bull, Macmillan Welfare Benefits
Adviser; and Jo Reeve, Lead Macmillan Welfare
Benefits Adviser
Welcome to our
new consultant
D
r Mathew Kaduthodil
has started in post as a
Consultant Radiologist
specialising in hepatobiliary
and gastrointestinal imaging.
Since joining the consultant
radiology team, Dr Kaduthodil has
been instrumental in setting up a
virtual patient-centred colonoscopy
and gastrostomy service.
Dr Kaduthodil graduated from
the Kasturba Medical College in
India and went on to become a
Member of the Royal College of
Physicians and a Fellow of the
Royal College of Radiologists.
He won the Grainger Prize in
2007, a prize awarded each year
for the best audit presentation
by registrars in the Sheffield
Radiology Training Scheme.
Talking about his appointment, Dr
Kaduthodil said: “I am very pleased
to be working with such a dynamic
and talented group of people
providing a top rate radiology
service to the people of Doncaster
and Bassetlaw.”
January 2013
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High-tech
Pharmacy
robots
The Pharmacy departments
at Doncaster and Bassetlaw
Hospitals have been extensively
modernised and equipped with
the latest high-tech automated
‘robots’ playing a key role in
the dispensing and storage of
pharmacy medicines.
The robots were
the final phase
of our Pharmacy
development,
which also
included the
innovative
facility run by
The Cooperative
Pharmacy for
people attending
DRI’s Outpatients
and Emergency
Department.
S
ince going live, the new V-Max robots
have made their mark and speeded up
the dispensing service for patients on
the wards at both hospitals. On average,
medicines prescribed for inpatients are now
dispensed and delivered to the wards in half
the time it previously took.
The robots have also saved us £300,000 by enabling
stock to be managed more effectively, keeping track
of when medicines are due to expire, and reducing
wastage through expired medicines by almost 20%.
Pharmacy staff send the robots a prescription to
dispense via the computer. The robot arm whizzes
along the shelves and selects the right medication.
It then labels the package with the patient’s details
and instructions on how to take the medicine and
dispatches it through a system of conveyers to the
member of staff who has requested it.
The robots have also saved
us £300,000 by enabling
stock to be managed more
effectively, keeping track of
when medicines are due to
expire, and reducing wastage
through expired medicines by
almost 20%.
The robots were the final phase of our Pharmacy
development, which also included the innovative
facility run by The Cooperative Pharmacy for
people attending DRI’s Outpatients and Emergency
Department. The Cooperative Pharmacy opened in
March 2012 and provides a much improved service
between 9.00am and 6.30pm on weekdays, plus
Saturday mornings. A delivery service is also offered
to patients with repeat prescriptions and those who
prefer not to wait.
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January 2013
DRI’s tandem V-Max robot in action
New Cancer of Unknown
Primary (CUP) service
A new service has been set up for patients whose primary cancer is unknown.
Previously, these patients could experience long stays in hospital with disparate
investigations and diagnoses which could leave them feeling unsupported.
F
ollowing the introduction of the Cancer
of Unknown Primary (CUP) service,
patients are seen the same working day
for assessment and advice through direct
referrals and have their cases discussed at the
CUP Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT).
The CUP service started in April and patients
at DRI and Bassetlaw Hospital are benefiting
from being seen earlier in their care pathway by
specialists providing advice on management and
support. Patients also have fewer inappropriate
investigations and shorter stays in hospital in
line with national guidance (NICE and Cancer
Peer Review).
The team includes a specialist palliative medicine
physician, an oncologist, a palliative care specialist
nurse, a cancer specialist nurse and a cancer of
unknown primary nurse.
Between April and October 2012, the CUP MDT
discussed 30 patients in this category. The team
is now working towards introducing a primary
diagnostic clinic for CUP patients who are referred
for follow-ups, offering support to outpatients, and
starting education sessions for clinicians.
For further information, please contact Lesley
Barnett, Lead Cancer Nurse, on 01302 553194 or
[email protected] or Dr Justin Fernando,
CUP Lead, on [email protected].
ialist; Gavin
millan Upper GI Cancer Nurse Spec
Pictured (l-r) Yvonne Elmore, Mac
t Clinical
ultan
Cons
terology; Dr Jon Wadsley,
Hill, Associate Specialist, Gastroen
/CUP Lead
Care
, Consultant in Specialist Palliative
Oncologist; Dr Maurice Fernando
/CUP CNS
and Debbie Jordan, Acute Oncology
Bassetlaw Assessment & Treatment Centre (ATC) now open
The new Assessment &
Treatment Centre (ATC) has
now opened on the old C2
at Bassetlaw, replacing the
Medical Assessment Unit (MAU).
Meanwhile, C2 has moved to
the old CCU area and now
includes the cardiac care beds;
it will also care for diabetes and
endocrinology patients.
The ATC was developed with
Bassetlaw commissioners and
follows a series of changes to
increase specialist medical and
nursing input into the care of
emergency patients who need
ongoing assessment. We now
have consultants on the ATC
covering 10 hours each day,
seven days a week and have
made preliminary changes to
increase the space available
for assessing and treating
ambulatory patients.
The ATC will continue to evolve
in coming months and the next
phase will include increased input
from therapy and diagnostics.
The aim is to improve care,
outcomes and length of stay for
patients who need emergency
assessment in Bassetlaw.
January 2013
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