OnlineMembers' Governors’ Bulletin Bulletin from forthe FT Governors Members

Issue 3 Summer 2014

Message from Russell Hardy Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Council of Governors

Dear Member It is pleasing to report that 2013/14 was another year of strong performance for the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt despite an increasingly difficult economic environment and a year of significant challenge for the NHS in general.

We have again been rated by our patients as amongst the very best hospitals in the whole of the NHS. This is an enormous achievement by those who work at the hospital and evidences our extraordinary commitment to patients.

I would like to thank our volunteers and in particular the League of Friends - it is a wonderful thing to volunteer and give up your valuable spare time to help those in need. Finally I would like to thank the Council of Governors and the Board of Directors; both of these work to ensure the hospital is well governed and well positioned for the future.

Russell Hardy - Chairman of the Board and Council of Governors

Marathon Places for 2015 Available!

There are 25 places left for the 2015 Virgin available via Oswestry’s specialist orthopaedic hospital for the Bone Cancer Centre Appeal. Enthusiastic runners and fundraisers are urged to apply to the hospital early for one of these coveted places for the 2015 , which will be held on Sunday 26th April, 2015.

It is rare for one organisation to have so many places, so we are fortunate. Fundraising and training both require plenty of planning; anyone who is interested should contact the hospital soon to find out about applying. Runners are encouraged to raise funds of £1500. There is an online application form on the hospital’s website: www.rjah.nhs.uk/marathon

The Oswestry Bone Cancer Appeal has now raised over £220,000, with a further £70,000 pledged, towards the target amount of half a miilion. The Trust Board of Directors has agreed to commence building the new centre in January 2015, to take advantage of savings, by constructing the new centre at the same time to coincide with creating new operating theatres.

The new Bone Cancer Centre will be located adjacent to the new main entrance to the hospital. The area of land has been marked out ready for both the new Tumour Unit and the adjacent new operating theatres. The NHS Foundation Trust is treating a growing number of patients, who are attracted to the hospital because of its reputation for excellent specialist orthopaedic and related care.

Appeal Director, Gwilym Owen OBE, commented, “My thanks go to all those involved in fundraising so far towards the new £2 million Bone Cancer Centre. Whilst we have already come a long way in reaching our Appeal target of £500,000, we need a final push with runners signing up for the 2015 Virgin London Marathon, where we have an astonishing 37 places. This Appeal will really improve facilities for patients with bone cancer, who are often teenagers and young adults”.

Pictured Right: Appeal Director Gwilym Owen OBE, with Mark Sobczak, a programme manager from Ellesmere, who ran the and raised £2400 The Oswestry for the Appeal, pictured with his family, BONE CANCER CENTRE Alison, Neela and Joshua Sobczak. Appeal

In this Issue From the Governors / Bus Services / Governor Profile Representing People / Dementia Friendly Hospital / Feedback www.rjah.nhs.uk Delivering Outstanding Patient Care Next Members’ From the Governors Health Event Welcome to the third members’ newsletter for the ‘Orthopaedic’. In the first edition we began to introduce you to our Governors. Firstly Gareth Pritchard, who represents North Wales and now it is the turn of Russell Luckock, who has just been re-elected to represent the West Midlands. “Lifestyle and Health - Getting the Balance Right” will be held on Wednesday 17th We will continue these introductions in future editions, to cover all 15 people who have been elected or September. Details can be found on the hospital appointed to the Council of Governors. The Council works with the Board of Directors - who direct the website: http://www.rjah.nhs.uk/About-Us/ business of the Foundation Trust - to help our hospital to realise the opportunities that foundation trust Foundation-Trust/Events-Update.aspx status brings. We have nine public governors; three staff governors and three stakeholder governors. The Chair of the Board of Directors also chairs the Council of Governors.

We are unpaid volunteers; we don’t manage the hospital but, because we are a largely elected body, the Council of Governors has to be listened to. The council has the task of letting the Board of Directors know Bus Services what your concerns are, what you want the hospital to concentrate on and then communicating to you - Trust Members and the public at large - what the Governors are doing to hold the Board of Directors to Both Arriva and Tanat Valley Coaches are account. changing their routes to provide direct links If you would like to contact the Governors directly, please email: [email protected] to the hospital. The bus services that will run past the hospital are as follows: • The Arriva bus service number 53 stops Governor Profile outside the hospital as part of the Oswestry - Gobowen - Ifton - Ellesmere route. This Russell Luckock operates Monday to Saturday Public Governor - West Midlands

• The Arriva bus service number 2 stops outside “Unlike most other Governors, I did not volunteer for My daily life is involved in the hospital as part of the Oswestry - the job. Having been a regular visitor as a patient to chairing two Birmingham Gobowen - Ruabon - Wrexham route. This the hospital since 1991, I had become very familiar engineering companies, plus operates seven days a week with the workings and development of future working as a business contributor to Sky News and policies but did not wish to get involved in any way writing a regular column for the Birmingham Post. • From 2nd June 2014 - The Tanat Valley due to living in both Devon and Worcestershire. My hobbies revolve around “Ham” radio, having been bus service number 449 stops outside the licensed for nearly 50 years, and aviation, being a hospital as part of the Ellesmere - Whittington However, Ludlow ward sister, Helen Cooper kept private pilot. - Oswestry route. This operates Monday to nagging me to allow my name to go forward to be considered for the position of Public Governor, West My daily work brings me into contact with hundreds Saturday. Midlands. This I consistently declined, but during of businesses throughout the , and the next six months she kept twisting my arm having such contacts, I can pass on information gained The new bus services will be beneficial to (metaphorically, of course) until I gave in. I’m glad she at Governors meetings. I am very keen that this hospital patients, staff and visitors in planning their persuaded me. I have just completed my first term, and remains in the black financially, and continues to invest journey to the hospital. am grateful to have just been elected for another three in both people and plant. I feel that it is a privilege to years. have the opportunity to serve. And it has the added For more information about travelling to the benefit that I remain in Sister Cooper’s good books! “ hospital please visit: www.rjah.nhs.uk/findus Karaoke Raises Over £4k for Bone Cancer Appeal

A Karaoke Disco held at Four Crosses Village Centre, Powys raised a staggering £4,320 in aid of the Oswestry Bone Cancer Centre Appeal. The organisers included a staff member and a patient from RJAH.

The well attended event was organised by a trio of friends, Jan Makinson, Mandy Jones and Sandra Bailey. It included a raffle and a promise auction of gifts that had been donated to the event. In addition to this, Sandra Bailey, who works for Barclays Bank, was able to match-fund the total raised by £1000 bringing their grand total for Membership the evening to £4320. The three friends wanted to raise money for the new Tumour Unit as it was a charity close to their hearts. Mandy Jones, who is a patient currently undergoing treatment at Oswestry’s Tumour Unit, commented, “I was pleased to figures help and support the Oswestry Bone Cancer Centre Appeal and thought what better way to show my appreciation than help to organise a fundraising event”. At the end of June 2014 the Jan Makinson, clinical coder at RJAH, added; “We were really pleased to raise this amount of money and were Membership figures were: amazed by the amount of support we received. We would like to thank everyone who gave so generously. An added bonus was to raise so much at an event where we all had a great time too!” Staff members 1076 Volunteers 550 Consultant orthopaedic and oncological surgeon, Mr Paul Cool said; “This is a fantastic contribution to Public 3553 the Appeal. A big thank you for all the time and effort Total 5179 these ladies have put into organising a Karaoke event and raising more than expected. It was fantastic that Barclays could add another £1000 to our Appeal that is now doing well”.

2 Connect - Foundation Trust Members’ Bulletin - Summer 2014 Your elected Upcoming Governors Meetings Governors Thursday 27th November 2014 / Thursday 26th February 2015 All Council of Governors meetings are held in Meeting Room 1 in the Conference Centre Public governors: (main entrance area) beginning at 2pm. Shropshire Adrian Bailey June Middleton Sue Nassar A Dementia Friendly Hospital North Wales Gareth Pritchard A new initiative is underway to make the hospital more amenable for patients suffering from Jan Greasley dementia. Often simple changes can make all the difference. Sheldon ward, which cares for the West Midlands elderly, has been trialling some of these. If successful, they will be rolled out to the rest of the Russell Luckock hospital. These include: Cheshire & Merseyside • Putting simpler signage on wards to make it easier to understand Dan Howcroft (from August 2014) • Putting large clocks in all bays Powys • Replacing shiny floors and surfaces for plainer flooring as research has shown that patterned flooring Ron Pugh (until August 2014) - now vacant or metal threshold strips can act as barriers between one area and the next. People with dementia can see patterns as being different heights and as obstacles Rest of England & Wales • Painting toilet doors a different colour so people can find them Ian Carruthers (from August 2014) • Improving fluid intake by using china cups and saucers (patients are often more familiar with these than mugs or plastic hospital cups) Staff Governors • Where practical, allowing familiar bedding to be brought from home so people can recognise their bed Martine Williams • Placing ‘orientation boards’ in the bays to remind patients of the day, date and year Dave Adams • Completing a questionnaire with the patient’s normal carer in order better to interpret aspects of Alex Radford (until August 2014 behaviour and thereby serve their needs more effectively Michelle Braden (from August 2014) • Improving standard of information given to carers and relatives through leaflets and a dedicated notice board Stakeholder Governors • Using the patient passport which helps staff from health care services to be able to offer the right (appointed by organisations that work closely help at point of contact and provide the necessary care and treatment needed during the person stay with the Trust): Karen Calder - Shropshire Council Thanks to generous donations, the money is in place to create a quiet room with familiar furniture, George Whittingham - RJAH Voluntary Services a living flame fireplace, period pictures, and a memory box with memorabilia of their younger days. Committee There will be opportunities for music, games, films and reading. Monte Gates - Keele University Anne Worrall, Matron for Quality and Safety Adult Safeguarding & Dementia Lead, said: The current Governors would like to take this ‘With an ageing population the numbers suffering from dementia are forecast to rise sharply. opportunity to thank Ron and Alex for the hard This hospital has always prided itself in treating all people effectively and with dignity and respect, work they put in during their time as governors regardless of age or mental health.’ and we welcome Dan, Michelle and Ian to their new roles.

Powys Vacancy If you know anyone from the Powys area who Blanket Warming Cabinet for ADOS may be interested in becoming a Governor, Money raised by League of Friends has gone towards purchasing a state of the art blanket please encourage them to think about this for a warming cabinet for the ADOS (Admission on Day of Surgery) Unit. It will be used to set future election. specifically modified blankets to a comfortable temperature to keep patients warm both pre and post operatively and during their transfer from the ward to the theatre.

The £7450 warming cabinet, was recommended by Dr Ronita Majumdar, a former Consultant Your feedback matters Anaesthetist at RJAH who, after in-depth research, felt strongly that this was a piece of equipment Do you have any feedback on this bulletin? which would be highly beneficial, as keeping patients at a warm but comfortable temperature both pre and post operation is critical to the speed of recovery. Is there any other information you would like us to include in the next edition? The warming blankets also significantly reduce the chances of patients suffering from perioperative (time around the procedure) hypothermia which can lead to Do you have any articles you would like to complications such as a higher risks of wound infection or submit? By passing on ideas and suggestions heart problems. about the report - or any other feedback - you can help us carry out our role more effectively. Jo Bidmead, Day Surgery and ADOS manager said; “Using a warm blanket is an easy and safe method to increase patient Contact the editors Rev. Prebendary Adrian Bailey comfort; it helps reduce shivering before and after surgery. or Dave Adams at: [email protected] Patients find it to be a comforting experience. Providing this simple but effective measure has been an excellent contribution to our standards of care for the pre-operative patients in ADOS.”

Connect - Foundation Trust Members’ Bulletin - Summer 2014 3 Representing Wound Care

People The RJAH Research Team has won the accolade of best clinical research team for the large study they undertook into the healing therapy of patients undergoing primary hip and knee When Parliament created NHS foundation replacements. trusts, it provided them with independence from central government and a governance The international award was made in mid March, in Manchester at the 2014 Journal of Wound Care structure that ensured participation from within awards. the local communities they serve. The winning study was called “Evaluation of a post-operative wound management protocol using NHS foundation trust governors are the negative pressure wound therapy in primary arthroplasty patients”. There were award submissions direct representatives of local interests within from over 10 different countries for the 10 categories. RJAH was shortlisted with two others; one from foundation trusts. Governors do not undertake a plastic surgery University team from Seoul, South Korea and the other from the University Hospital of operational management of NHS foundation South Manchester. trusts; rather they challenge the board of directors and collectively hold them to account for the The research team led by orthopaedic surgeon Mr Sudheer Karlakki, chief investigator, comprised trust’s performance. It is also the governors’ colleagues Mr Niall Graham and Mr Robin Banerjee with researchers, Dr Catherine Whittall and Mrs responsibility to represent their members’ Julia Kennedy, plus Wound Care Nurse Mary Offland and two registrars Mr Abdulkader Hamad and Mr interests, particularly in relation to the strategic Srinivasa Budithi. direction of the trust.

Legislation provides governors with statutory Mr Karlakki, who recently published on this subject, commented, “Complications following hip and responsibilities to help deliver these key knee replacements are not entirely avoidable, but can be improved significantly with good surgical objectives. The legislation is the National Health practice. Predictable wound healing is the first hurdle in achieving predictable outcome following Service Act 2006 and the Health and Social Care discharge from the hospital. We are looking at ways of making wound healing predictable and to Act 2012. minimise post-operative complications such as leaking wounds leading to infection.” Please note that meetings of the Council of Governors are open to members of the public. Dr Whittall said, “We were delighted to have been Please see page 3 for details. The public are asked nominated for the international award for Wound Care to notify the Trust of any matters they wish to and thrilled to win against such stiff competition. raise in advance, as this will allow the Trust to be Our patients will benefit from the advances we can able to respond fully and will assist in the time make in the healing of wounds as a result of this study.” management of the meeting. If you would like to attend, please email [email protected] to confirm Pictured Right: Mr Karlakki, Dr Catherine Whittall (right) your attendance and also of any matters you wish and Mrs Julia Kennedy at the 2014 Awards to raise.

AGM Update Hospital’s Role in WW1- Display

The Trust and Council of Governors’ Annual General Meeting was A WW1 exhibition is currently on display in the main entrance, held on 31 July. To read the Summary Annual Report, please go to: called “Such Good Fellows” - The Role of Baschurch in World War 1”. http://www.rjah.nhs.uk/ftar The Baschurch Home is where the orthopaedic hospital had its origins in 1900.

The display has been put together by retired archivist Marie Carter and staff Governor Dave Adams. Dave explains, “The original location of the Ask others to join us hospital was a hugely important centre for treating soldiers and civilians, with about 200 arriving each day, during the First World War. Please do come along and see our display which also illustrates the treatment Over 5000 people have chosen to become a member - anyone over 14 years methods which were employed at the time.” of age can join and there are a number of benefits, including invitations to events.

As a member you: • Become part of a wide network patients, carers, local community members and staff supporting RJAH for the future. • Have a say in how the hospital is run through voting for governors (or by being elected as a governor) and by sharing your views in our member surveys. • Receive regular news from the hospital, invitations to our members’ events and a copy of the Governors’ annual report. • Support the hospital as an NHS Foundation Trust by encouraging friends, family, neighbours, patients and carers to sign up as members too!

To join online please visit: www.rjah.nhs.uk or for a membership form ring 01691 404394 or email [email protected] Connect is available online via computer, mobile or tablet.

4 Connect - Foundation Trust Members’ Bulletin - Summer 2014