Issue 119 • November 2013 Pennine News
T O P R O V I D E T H E V E R Y S I O N B E S T C A R E F O R E A C H P A T I E N T O N E V E R Y O C C A
• MP opens baby memorial garden • Trust gets thumbs up for new way to hear patients’ views • Win an iPad mini for having your flu jab CLOWNING AROUND • National award in paediatric emergency WITH THE GIGGLE DOCTORS medicine 2 In the news November 2013 Contents Delight at new specialist stroke unit...... Pg 4 Positive clinic feedback...... Pg 4 Flu - get your jab in...... Pg 5 Midwifery team support Stoptober...... Pg 5 Showing ‘Pride’ at work...... Pg 6 Moves at TROH...... Pg 6 FT events round-up...... Pg 7 Team Talk...... Pg 8 Team focus on theatres...... Pg 9 LiA pass it on event...... Pg 10 Emergency care film in consultant recruitment drive.....Pg 11 Thought for the month...... Pg 12 Food for thought for healthy eyes...... Pg 12 Learning about lymphoma...... Pg 13 Diary dates...... Pg 13 MP opens baby memorial Improving patients’ records project update...... Pg 13 garden at NMGH Prize-winning cadets at PAT.....Pg 14 LOCAL Member of Parliament for Blackley In total nearly £34,000 has been raised POP of celebration in and Broughton, Graham Stringer MP, has through two charity balls, cake bakes national award...... Pg 15 opened a new baby memorial garden at and other fundraising events. As well as Staff notice board...... Pg 16 North Manchester General Hospital. creating the memorial garden, the money has also been used to buy specialist The garden was planned and developed equipment for the maternity unit at by the local SANDS (Stillbirth and North Manchester General Hospital. The Neonatal Death Charity) organisation and charity has also contributed a substantial created at NMGH so that grieving parents sum of money to support research into and families that have lost a baby will the reasons behind infant death. have an identified area to sit undisturbed Inside News and reflect. Graham Stringer MP for Blackley and Broughton said: “It is obviously a The Trust donated a THE Trust has several communication sad occasion when you small patch of land in ...familes that have lost tools to help keep staff up to date: have to open a garden the hospital grounds a baby will have an like this, but it is very which was landscaped Team Talk is sent round monthly, important for those parents by professionals identified area to sit for use in all team briefings. and relatives who have funded by the SANDS undisturbed and reflect. suffered tragedies to have Weekly bulletins are emailed on organisation. A small somewhere that they can Mondays and contain a range of commemorative stone was donated by a go and reflect and remember and think operational and site information. local stone mason and additional plants about the importance of the event that were donated by a local florist. Online copies of all the bulletins has happened. This is a very private and and Team Talk, plus more, can The garden features two wooden benches quiet part of a busy hospital site and it is be found on the Trust intranet at flanked by planters brimming with important that it is here. I trust that it will nww.pat.nhs.uk/communications flowers. There is also an ornate heart help those parents and relatives that have You can send your stories for either shaped memorial that reads: ‘The first had tragedies and bereavements through Pennine News or for local media to time that we said hello, was the time we what is bound to be a very difficult Trust communications at said goodbye, as the angels took your tiny period.” hand, and flew you to the sky.’ [email protected] or Pictured: front row, l to r: Sola Amu, call Nicola Berry on 44284. Throughout the project the local SANDS clinical director and consultant in If you have any ideas, views or branch was fully supported by members obstetrics and gynaecology; midwife suggestions regarding communications of the Trust’s maternity team, including Colette Riley; Graham Stringer MP. Back across the Trust, please email Michelle Morgan, Colette Riley, Julie row, l to r: Julie Whitby, midwife; Michelle [email protected] Whitby and Veronica Spibey, who have Ashworth, antenatal ward manager; worked tirelessly over the last two years Veronica Spibey, ex member of staff and with parents, members of the public and Michelle Morgan, maternity support staff, to raise funds for SANDS. worker. Please recycle this magazine In the news 3 Staff health and well being fair At its simplest staff health and wellbeing is vital to enabling the NHS to deliver high standards of quality and high patient outcomes Steven Boorman 2009 A STAFF health and well being fair held at Fairfield’s education centre in September, offered staff a chance to drop in to a market place setting to Trust gets thumbs up try a new skill. With Tai chi taster sessions, a Wii for new way to hear Tournament, singing with the Rock Choir and live guitar music to name but a few of the demonstrations, staff patients’ views were spoilt for choice. There were also health information THE Trust has been given the thumbs “Patients think that our new coin system displays including advice on stopping up for a new way to capture and hear is a fun and easy way to express how smoking, healthy lifestyle choices and patients’ opinions on its A&E services. they feel about their experience once bowel cancer screening awareness. they have been treated in the A&E A new scheme has been introduced, Carol Waterhouse, lead for clinical and department. It is easy to do, less time whereby patients can grade the service professional development, said: “The consuming and staff can instantly see they have received in A&E at North Trust aims to promote the health and how the department is being rated. Manchester, Oldham and Bury, and the well being of its staff by preventing The system has proved to be a novel Urgent Care Centre (UCC) at Rochdale and reducing work-related and and effective way in capturing patients’ Infirmary, by use of a token scoring box. lifestyle-influenced ill health. opinions and the take-up rate of people As part of the Government’s national NHS in A&E responding has increased.” “The 2012 NHS staff survey showed Friends and Family Test (FFT), introduced that the Trust had an increased Camilla Guereca, a non-executive director in April 2013, patients are asked “How percentage of staff suffering from (pictured), said: “It is important we listen likely are you to recommend our ward/ work related stress in the past year - to and hear the views of our patients A&E department to friends and family if 38% up from 30% in 2011. Sickness and their family and carers. This requires they needed similar care or treatment?” absence days in July 2013 amounted us to adopt an open culture alongside to a cost of £790,261. This clearly a commitment to measure and publish Since April, patients in overnight wards needs to be improved in order to offer information on what matters to patients and in A&E departments have been quality patient care and maintain a and staff – clinical outcomes and patient encouraged to answer the question positive reputation for the Trust.” anonymously by completing a postcard experience. We use a variety of methods or an electronic handheld or fixed survey to capture patients’ views, whether it’s Channels to help staff were also machine. But now, a new token scoring good or bad. The NHS Friends and Family represented on the day including system has been installed in the Trust’s Test is another way in which our patients chaplaincy support, the unions, and A&E departments and the Urgent Care can have their say and help provide us HR policies that support staff well Centre. with valuable feedback to improve our being in the workplace. services. Hopefully this new coin system Each patient is given a plastic token by will encourage more people to give us Staff were encouraged to make their the receptionist when they check into the their honest opinion of the care they own individual health and well being department. They are then encouraged have received before leaving A&E.” pledge and these were drawn out for to rate the service they have received the prize of a healthy basket of fruit, when they leave, by dropping the token Results from quarter two show an which was won by Becky Stansfield into boxes which are graded from Increase in return rates in A&E from 2.8% from the libraries at FGH. recommending the department to friends at the end of quarter 1 to 36.6% returns and family as ‘extremely likely, ‘likely’, at the end of quarter 2. This gives the ‘neither likely or unlikely’, ‘unlikely’ and Trust an overall return rate in September ‘extremely unlikely and don’t know’. of 31.5% when including ward returns. The FFT score for wards in September was Angela Wood, associate director of 81 and A&E was 37. (The score can be nursing and patient experience, said: from -100 to +100) , Clowning around on hospital wards POORLY children were in stitches when the giggle doctors paid a Sarika Brown, executive director of the charity said: “A stay in visit to The Royal Oldham Hospital. hospital can be daunting for a child but the giggle doctors really help them to forget their situation. Charity Theodora Children’s Trust arrange the visits to give youngsters feeling under the weather something to smile about. “For a few magical moments they are no longer a patient, but a child who can enjoy a spot of laughter and silliness.” Helen Jones, otherwise known as Dr Flowerpot, said: “Laughter lifts and gently hugs a sad heart. It can relieve stress and anxiety Dr Nic Nac is pictured with Aizah Noor, aged 4, on the front and allows endorphins, happy chemicals, in our brains to be cover. Photo courtesy of MEN Media. released.” 4 In the news November 2013 Delight at new specialist stroke unit at Bury PLANS to reconfigure acute stroke care across the North East sector of Greater Manchester came into effect on 6 September within The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. This change in service provision followed a request from the Greater Manchester Commissioners and the Greater Manchester Stroke and Cardiac Network who are currently working on plans to centralise the whole of acute stroke care across the City of Manchester. From 6 September all new acute stroke patients within the Trust are being referred to ward 5, the Primary Stroke Centre, at Fairfield General Hospital for their first acute bundle of care. Two new 20 bedded wards have been identified on the Fairfield The Stroke Association has welcomed the move, saying that site – wards 11a and 11b, for residents from the Bury, Rochdale specialist stroke units give patients a better recovery. Fairfield’s and North Manchester areas. Primary Stroke Centre currently holds the shortest door to needle time in the country of 23 minutes. This is for stroke thrombolysis On these two wards patients will receive sub acute and stroke – a clot busting treatment that can reduce the amount of rehabilitation care. Ward G1 at The Royal Oldham Hospital will damage to the brain in stroke victims. It is 30 minutes less than provide sub acute and stroke rehabilitation beds for Oldham the national average and is a marker of a well run hyper-acute residents. stroke unit (HASU). As part of the reconfiguration planning process, a stroke project Dr Khalil Kawafi, consultant stroke physician and clinical lead team was established which was chaired by a hospital volunteer said: “All the stroke physicians together with all our stroke and former stroke patient, Mr Brian Challis (pictured). Brian was teams working within the Trust are really excited about this instrumental in the reconfiguration and reconfiguration and committed to improving on our already gave insight into what stroke patients outstanding achievements. This opportunity will benefit patients would benefit from and how best we from across the whole spectrum of stroke care, it is a real could deliver the care they deserve. opportunity to consolidate our stroke service and therapy teams Brian said: “Being involved in the which will not only benefit stroke patients now, but in the future.” reconfiguration of stroke services was The stroke team would like to thank all those involved in the really interesting for me as it has helped reconfiguration process, from the members of the project team me to build upon the relationships I for their positive and ‘can do’ attitude, the estates team for the have with staff and patients. new ward environment, the catering department and G4S for all “The ward environment at Fairfield is their hard work during the ward moves. Special thanks also to conducive to good stroke rehabilitation Brian our Chair and stroke volunteer for his time and enthusiasm which benefits all patients.” during the process of reconfiguration, and his insight into life during and after having a stroke.
Positive feedback at new clinic, one year on WOMEN who have received specialist with gynaecological problems, where cite the compassionate care of staff, treatment at the new consultant-led specialist clinical input is required. the speed at which they are offered Openshaw Specialist Gynaecology Clinic appointments, the ease of parking and The clinic has run successfully over the last have overwhelmingly praised the service, convenience in terms of location as the 14 months seeing an estimated 250 women following a recent survey showing an most satisfying factors. from across East Manchester and Openshaw. average satisfaction rate of 97-99%. The service is a partnership between A survey of all patients that have The Openshaw Specialist Gynaecology the Trust and North Manchester Clinical attended the clinic since its inception clinic was opened by the Trust 14 Commissioning Group (CCG). months ago in a move to bring specialist The service is led by Mr Koby Appiah, gynaecology services into the community. consultant obstetrician gynaecologist The clinic offers specialised community from TROH. He said: “The aim of the and outpatient gynaecology services service is to provide consultant-led to patients referred by local GPs and gynaecology outpatient care closer those in the surrounding area of Higher to patient’s homes, thus reducing Openshaw Primary Care Centre. unnecessary attendance to hospital. The service allows easy access for GPs to The consultant-led clinic provides a refer urgent and non urgent patients dedicated service to patients with and enables women to obtain specialist menstrual disorders, such as heavy consultant services close to home, menstrual or irregular bleeding, and avoiding the congestion and waiting pelvic pain. It also supports local GPs times in the main hospitals.” within the area who have patients News - Trust stories 5 Flu campaign - Get vaccinated and win an iPad mini
ALL Trust staff having the flu jab virus, it also stops you as part of the Trust’s seasonal flu from getting the virus and passing it on to vaccination programme this year will vulnerable patients such as pregnant women, children and the elderly. be entered into a draw to win an iPad mini. It is more important than ever this year that as many staff as possible have the flu jab. The The Trust has four iPad minis to give away, government have announced that only Trusts one for staff working at each hospital site who vaccinate at least 75% of their staff (North Manchester General Hospital, Fairfield will be able to have a part in the share-out General Hospital, The Royal Oldham Hospital of winter pressures money for 2014/15. The and Rochdale Infirmary). The winners will money is given to A&E departments to help be picked at random this Christmas from the them cope with the extra demand for their registers of names taken at the vaccination services over the winter months. clinics that are now taking place across the Trust. Mandie Sunderland, chief nurse at the Trust said: “I believe we have an important role So far, over 2,000 staff have been vaccinated to play in ensuring our patients, particularly including front line clinical and non clinical those who are vulnerable and those classed as staff, support staff, receptionists, managers, high risk, are protected. We want to do all we catering staff, clerical staff and Trust can to prevent a serious flu outbreak at our volunteers. hospitals and in the local community. In the The jab is free for all staff members lead up to winter it is particularly important to and full details of where the clinics are taking place make sure as health professionals we are taking care of our own can be found on the staff intranet. The clinics started health so we are able to provide the best care to our patients, at the end of September and will run up until 23 during our busiest season and to avoid staff sickness.” December 2013. Mandie Sunderland vaccinates deputy medical director Dr Anton Having the flu jab doesn’t just stop you from contracting the flu Sinniah with the flu jab. Stoptober - It’s never too early to become smoke free - or too late to quit! THE midwifery public health team at Rochdale fully embraced the Stoptober challenge and encouraged pregnant ladies to stop smoking in October. The national ‘Stoptober’ campaign aimed to help the UK’s eight million smokers to stop smoking for 28 days, as research shows that if you can stop smoking for this length of time, you are five times more likely to give up permanently. Pregnancy stop smoking advisors Sarah Dowling and Cathy Morris, and stop smoking midwife Helen McBriar, took to the streets of Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton to promote awareness of stopping smoking during pregnancy during Stoptober. Sarah said: “Stopping smoking is the single most important thing a woman can do to improve her health and her baby’s health. Twenty-four hours after a Lauren’s story woman stops smoking, carbon monoxide levels drop very quickly and her baby and she will feel the benefits When Lauren found out she was pregnant with her second child she straightaway. spoke to her midwife about having support to quit smoking. After being referred, Lauren was seen every week to give her support, guidance, “Smoking during pregnancy has potential risks such encouragement and confidence to quit smoking. She was given nicotine as increased risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, replacement patches which reduced in strength throughout the weeks premature birth and stillbirth. We therefore provide until they were eventually stopped altogether. support and guidance to pregnant ladies who want to become smoke free. It is important that they know Lauren was interviewed on Radio 5 Live and was asked about the effects they can come to us for help during one of the most of smoking and why she quit. She said wanted to quit smoking for the important times of their lives.” health and safety of her baby and also improve her own health. The team can be contacted on 01706 517223. Because of the support Lauren received from the stop smoking support worker, Lauren remains smoke free and healthier. 6 People November 2013 Bone up on your anatomy!
THE Pennine Acute library service has recently added Anatomy TV to its range of electronic resources. Published by Primal Pictures it is considered to be the most complete and medically accurate interactive 3D model of the human anatomy available online. The programmes allow you to tip and rotate the models through 360 degrees, add or remove layers of anatomy - from skin to bone - and to view and label any visible structure, making it easier to learn, remember and explain complex Showing ‘Pride’ in their jobs! anatomy. THREE departments at The Royal Oldham The shop in the main entrance area at Go to www.anatomy.tv and log in Hospital have recently been praised for The Royal Oldham Hospital received with your Athens account details the care and support they provide to many nominations for the award. Karen to start using Anatomy TV, the patients and members of the public. Hamer, a member of staff at the hospital, interactive aid to learning anatomy said: “I have seen how they go out of The mortuary staff, hospital security team and physiology. their way to assist the patients, many and the staff in The Shop at The Royal of who have disabilities, illness or are You will also find a link to this Oldham Hospital have all been nominated recovering from an operation who need resource on the library pages of the for a Pride in Oldham award. Trust intranet. Athens usernames and extra help.” The awards which are run by the Oldham passwords can be obtained via the The hospital’s security team were Evening Chronicle celebrate the tireless library service. nominated by a work of groups grateful visitor who The library service has purchased a and individuals lives across the road licence for Anatomy TV until the end who love their from the hospital. of March 2014 and will be monitoring borough and Linda Thompson said: its usage to help decide whether to help its people. renew it for future years. Please note “I walk using a frame that the Trust’s licence only permits All nominated and the security staff two users at any one time, so at busy in the help me cross Rochdale times you may have to try again later. healthcare Road and walk me up category, they the path. They always will be put say hello and ask how forward to the I’m doing. grand awards “I can even see them ceremony which doing their work from my kitchen takes place on 1 November. window, helping patients and sorting The mortuary staff were nominated for out problems. They are wonderful and their hard work and professionalism. deserve an award.” Their nominator, Leslie Ross, said: “I used The Royal Oldham Hospital League to clean at the hospital and see them of Friends have also been nominated. work all the time. They raise money to provide the things “They are extremely helpful to everyone for patients and visitors which the NHS at the hospital, both staff and patients. doesn’t. This has included games rooms, Moves at TROH They deserve this nomination because TV sets and most recently, a new Royal they really look after the bereaved and Rover minibus. THE following departments will go the extra mile all the time.” move into refurbished areas Photos courtesy of Oldham Evening alongside the women and Chronicle. children’s development at Oldham in December. Antenatal clinic and health records - 7 and 8 December Birth Centre - 8 and 9 December Gynaecology assessment unit - 14 and 15 December Ultrasound - 7 and 8 December Neonatal overnight accommodation - 9 December Children’s ward - refurbishment completed 31 December Feature 7 Round up on Foundation Trust events Hopwood Hall Yum factor in food tasting! students sign up MEMBERS of the public gave a thumbs FIFTY THREE Hopwood Hall students up to the food on offer at the Trust signed up as Pennine Acute Foundation following a food tasting event for Trust members following a visit by members of the public, staff and Angela Greenwood, Foundation Trust Foundation Trust members. membership manager, during Welcome Week (9 – 13 September 2013). The event, organised by Angela Greenwood, FT membership manager and The Trust is targeting young people Howard Cartledge, catering manager, as part of their latest recruitment to launch the new hospital menus, was campaign. To date the Trust has attended by 18 visitors at the Broadoak recruited 10,553 public and patient Restaurant at Fairfield. members, along with 9,000 staff members. The visitors were invited to taste the food and pass comment on their impression Angela said: “We are very keen that of it through a brief questionnaire. The members of the public, especially our majority were happy with the variety patients, are given every opportunity and quality of the food on offer. A few to become members of the Trust. of the comments received were: “The Listening to and working with local event was great, there has been a great people and our staff is important in improvement in variety and the standard making sure our services are fit for the of food is very high – hopefully more future. It is very easy to become a events like this will be arranged in the member, just fill out a form, call us, or future – keep up the good work.” go to our website.” sourced from ‘field to table’, and the “A wide range of food available to taste – hard work involved in producing good For more information about the everyone was happy to answer questions quality food for all our patients. Foundation Trust, or to become at the end. Enjoyed the display boards Howard Cartledge, said: “As Florence a member, please contact Angela which gave a good insight to what goes Nightingale quoted, ‘Food is a medicine Greenwood on 01706-517302 or email on “behind the scenes”. which aids recovery’ and the Pennine [email protected] “I was impressed by the presentation of Acute Hospitals places the nutrition and the food and the taste of the dishes – well hydration of its patients as a top priority. done!” ”I am extremely pleased that members Angela Greenhalgh, catering manager at of the public and visitors were happy Fairfield produced a number of display with the quality of the food provided boards, detailing how the food was for patients. The Trust will continue to further improve patient mealtimes.” From workhouse to wards heritage event THE Dickensian delights of the Victorian Workhouse were Retired consultant revealed at a special talk and heritage exhibition at North anaesthetist, Dr Manchester General Hospital, on the afternoon of Saturday Ian McCartney concluded the talk with a short presentation 7th September. on the story behind some of the photographs from the exhibition including a bit of a local scandal! He then kindly One hundred and twenty five people came along to learn more took a group of people on a guided tour of the historical about the complicated and emotive history of workhouses and hospital buildings around the North Manchester site. what life was really like in the workhouse. Topics included: food (a grim diet of bread, gruel, Manchester City Archives, who also hasty pudding, cheese, potatoes); attended, displayed a selection of labour (running the workhouse, original workhouse registers. The women mostly did domestic jobs such registers are often used by people as cleaning, or helping in the kitchen trying to trace ancestors who were in or laundry, stone-breaking and the workhouse as they give dates for oakum-picking), and the development when the patient was admitted and of medical facilities. then when they left...or died! Some entries also give details of why they Peter Higginbotham, leading were in the workhouse and even workhouse expert and author gave who brought them in. the talk which charted the story of the workhouses in the Manchester Angela Greenwood, Foundation area. Peter is probably best known Trust membership manager, said: for this website www.workhouse. ”We had a lot of interest in the org.uk. He has also contributed to heritage event and it was nice to see many radio and TV programmes including; Making History, so many people. The talk and exhibition was well received.” Heir Hunters and Who Do You Think You Are? 8 Team talk November 2013 Have you been briefed? Team Talk takes place once a month and is a way of updating you about the latest news from the Trust. OCT TEAM TALK Team Talk
Trust vision for the future and Trust future model of care Healthier Together -
THE Trust Board has been considering the major issues that will face the Trust over Future model of care the coming years and has been working to develop a clear and compelling vision for HEALTHIER Together is part of the future of the Trust as a single organisation that provides high quality care to the a review of health and social local communities it serves. care in Greater Manchester. The Alongside this, the executive directors, divisional directors and clinical directors from programme is examining future across the Trust have been carrying out further work to develop a Future Model of options for urgent, emergency and Care for the Trust – a description of our approach to how we will provide care for acute medicine, emergency general our local communities and how we will develop a workforce model to support the surgery, women’s and children’s ‘single service’ principles promoted by Healthier Together. services and takes account of integrated care and primary care Development of the Future Model of Care will require input from a wide range of reform programmes. Healthier staff from across the Trust. One of the first key steps will be to share the thinking to Together has been developing date with the management forum and with other groups of staff. This will include: models for how hospital services • Discussions with consultants, other clinical staff and managers at directorate may be delivered in the future and meetings; has recently published the first draft of its Future Model of Care • The senior nurses’ forum; document – this, along with a staff • Discussions with the CJNCC and the LNC; briefing paper, is available via our intranet homepage. • AHP meetings; A number of our clinical directors • Communication on emerging themes with other staff groups. and senior clinical staff, including Talk back – How would you like to be engaged on work to develop the Future nursing staff and Allied Health Model of Care? Professionals, are involved in helping Healthier Together consider the future configuration of hospital services in Greater Manchester. FT application Finance THE Trust will submit a formal application for Foundation Trust status in the first quarter of 2015/16. This date has now been agreed with the Trust Development THE Trust’s Cost Improvement Plan Authority (the body which is now responsible for all non-Foundation Trusts). (CIP) target for this year is c£32m. Following successful assessment by the Trust Development Authority and by After five months we are £2.7m Monitor the Trust should be authorised as a Foundation Trust by the end of behind plan for the year to date and 2015/16. We know that many staff are keen to receive confirmation that the Trust still have 25% of the total year’s has a clear date to aim for and we hope that this formal confirmation will come as savings to identify. welcome news. The agreed timeline recognises: • The need for clarity from the Healthier Together programme about the shape of Retirement of chief services across Greater Manchester; executive • The need to develop the Trust’s own strategy; LAST month, the Trust Board • The need to achieve greater consistency of performance in some areas of the Trust; announced that John Saxby, chief executive, had informed the Trust • The need to ensure that CIPs are achieved and a balanced financial position can Board that he wishes to retire by be met for several years ahead. no later than his 65th birthday in One of the preconditions of Foundation Trust authorisation is that the new Chief September 2014. Search consultants Inspector of Hospitals has visited the Trust and that there are no major issues to have been appointed to assist the address. The date for this Trust’s inspection, if later in 2014 or 2015, could impact Trust Board in the recruitment of a on the timetable. new chief executive. Team focus - a day in the life of 9 Team focus on theatres
The 60 second interview Alyson Mann is the new assistant theatre manager at Fairfield General Hospital. She belongs to the theatre and day surgery team within the surgery division, and is heavily involved in the Transforming Theatres programme.
What are the highlights of How do you see your role What don’t you like your job/service? developing? about your job/service? Having recently joined the theatre I am very new to my role and have a lot I am a great supporter in ‘you only and day surgery team at Fairfield, the of developing into the role. I see my know what you know’. There is always highlights of my job are enabling clinical department developing into the service room for improvement in the way we staff to carry out their role to the best that all friends and family would be communicate and make staff aware. of their ability, caring for patients in recommended to. the peri-operative environment. This We are a four site Trust and feel at times means using my strengths of listening this is a barrier to our improvement. It always surprises me how at one unit or to the patients, clinicians and staff to What is the current understand how we can improve for department we can develop the service clinical effectiveness, patient safety biggest challenge in your and yet at a different site or department and patient experience, and then job/to your team? there is a difference in patient quality communicating and managing change and staff culture. for the benefit of the patient within the As part of the Transforming Theatres I believe we could improve if only we department. improvement programme, at FGH allow ourselves to see improvement theatre and day surgery unit we will be The first impressions of my new team is needed. “Be not afraid of growing concentrating on quality of care for our were how warm and welcoming slowly; be afraid only of standing still.” patients and the clinical effectiveness of they were. The Trust is and has been our service. transforming for many years now and the spirit of the staff that greeted me was Right patient at the right time in the one of a positive can-do mentality, who right theatre with the right skilled staff. What aspect of your embrace the care they deliver and want Improving our utilisation of theatre job/service is the most to give the best on every occasion. sessions is currently our mission. rewarding?
What is the one thing you We are working with LiA for a ‘Focus on What would make your Theatres’ programme. This is a bottom job/service better? would change about your up approach to our improvements in job/service? areas of patient care and timeliness of the operations, allowing the patient experience to be the best we can The most frustrating part of my new role More patients using the service at FGH. provide, as well as a top down approach is not being able to contact individuals to understanding the Trust’s vision and due to having different and new contact Quality Strategy. details. I would ask everyone within this Trust to look up their own contact details What word best describes This will be a team approach to model to ensure they are correct. your job/service? our improvement programme at a local level for staff and clinicians working Team, I am part of a very integrated together. network within surgery and only as good as the team around me. 10 News - Trust stories November 2013
LiA pass it on event story
THE Listening into Action Pass it Some stories that were told On Event, opened by the chief in a very calm voice should executive, John Saxby, took place have been shouted from the roof tops, “LOOK WHAT on Tuesday 24 September 2013 at WE DID, HOW FANTASTIC IS the Post Graduate Centre, North THIS FOR PATIENTS”. Other Manchester General Hospital. information came in diverse and unusual ways with Right from the start the entertainment sketches, presentations; videos, value was a real bonus, but it did nothing comedy routines and every to detract from the very powerful one of them was amazing. It messages relayed by teams who had was wonderful to see so many worked over and above to make the day positive people in one room so special. offering solutions to issues they and George!! (Oh how we wished we’d The dynamic presentations demonstrated had identified, and had been determined practised our curtseys!) Many thanks to the changes that have been to resolve for our stand ins on the day….you know made, or in some cases, are The stories inspired me patients or staff. who you are!! Despite fierce competition about to happen. Some of You had to be John Hall and the chaplaincy team were the projects are breaking to move and want to there; come and chosen as the winners for their wonderful new ground and the teams make changes see the next Pass narrative and hilarious impressions. They told gripping stories about it on Event to received a star trophy and all the LiA the journeys they had been understand!! team leaders received an LiA medal and on. The honesty of the presenters deserved applause from the audience. It is great news knowing that over such a was refreshing and sincere; Massive congratulations to short period of time the teams have made they explained about A message from everyone involved including:- a positive impact with the changes for staff that were difficult the LiA team to the LiA team leaders, their patients and staff that they wanted to see. to engage, challenges the team leaders: - A sponsor group members, with missing huge THANK YOU for their sponsors from the equipment. the honest, creative and Trust LiA Sponsor Group, This was not those who worked on a collection of empowering show you put the presentations, videos, blue sky fairy on for your colleagues in sketches, organising the stories; this the Trust, showcasing day, catering, celebrity was real people your truly amazing guests, ideas and all the can telling real stories outcomes. do people that PAT has the and we admired privilege of employing. Special the candour that was thanks evident throughout. The to Gordon teams are all raising the profile of Tilstone change by staff who know what from medical they are talking about, using the illustration, Listening into Action formula. The Thomas LiA team are truly impressed by the Turner, from way they have embraced this new IM&T and way of working and made it their Lizzie Irvine, own. Trust intern, The finale was a visit by special without whose ‘celebrity’ guests who had been expert and judging the presentations. The freely given audience went wild welcoming the assistance the X Factor team, Louis Walsh, Simon day would Cowell, Gary Barlow and our extra have been a special guests, Princes William dismal failure. News - Trust stories 11 You made a difference! MANAGERS from all departments can use this certificate as a means of celebrating those outstanding members of staff who have ‘gone the extra mile’ and demonstrated true commitment to providing a quality service for patients.
Katie O’Brien, staff nurse on clinical assessment unit at Rochdale - nominated by Lou Harkness-Hudson, UCC/CAU clinical matron for the excellent work Katie did helping to arrange an end of life study day for PAT staff. Staff nurse Claire Brooks and student nurse Emma Hogan, children’s unit at NMGH - nominated by Yvonne Tunstall, divisional nurse manager for paediatrics. Yvonne had received a letter of recommendation Emergency care film in about them from the mother of a patient. consultant recruitment drive Play specialists Pam Lord, Jo Berry, Kate Wood and Angie O’Neill, SENIOR A&E doctors at the Trust have to the national A&E access standards and paediatrics at NMGH - following a produced a promotional film about the waiting times. This is a result of hard work difficult unit meeting, they have put up Trust’s emergency care services and from our staff and a reflection of the staff and parent/patient information the investment at its hospitals, as part improvements we have made in ensuring on pain. They have revamped bedside of a recruitment drive to attract more patients are either treated, moved to a files with updated ward information consultants to join the Trust. ward, or discharged in a timely manner and are carrying out mini audits and when they are medically fit to do so. But Last year the Trust saw over 320,000 feeding back on how the unit is doing this is an ongoing challenge as we try to patients in its emergency care for good and bad feedback. All this cope with the huge numbers of people departments, whilst achieving the 95% makes the paediatric unit a happier that turn up to our A&E departments; national four hour A&E access standard place to work. many of whom, we believe, could be seen again for the year. and treated in the community. Staff nurse Nicola Geraghty, Floyd The Trust is currently investing around £6 Unit at Birch Hill - she attended her “We are currently recruiting to a million in building works to expand and late shift and had stopped off at a number of exciting posts, including new improve facilities at the A&E departments local charity shop to purchase some consultant posts, within our emergency at The Royal Oldham Hospital and day clothes for a new patient who had departments. This film is just another way Fairfield General Hospital. These are arrived on the unit. The patient had for us to promote our emergency service expected to be completed by March next no toiletries or clothes on her transfer, and generate interest from consultants year. and in her role as dignity champion, across the country to come and work Nicola wanted to ensure the patient’s Dr Jimmy Stuart, consultant and clinical here. dignity was not compromised. Her director for emergency medicine at Dr Nick Gili, A&E consultant and manager, Karen Gaunt, thanked her North Manchester General Hospital and clinical director at The Royal Oldham for going the extra mile. Fairfield General Hospital (above), said: Hospital, added: “We are a really busy “The Trust sees emergency medicine Anaesthetic PAs Joanne Ward, A&E department here at The Royal and our emergency departments as a Dionne Lowe (pictured) and Jane Oldham Hospital where we see around major priority and an important service - nominated 95,000 patients a year. We have a well Ingers and Judith Moran that is an integral part of the Greater by Jane Bryan, directorate manager established team of consultants, nurses Manchester trauma network. As an for anaesthetics and critical care, for and auxiliary staff who work really well emergency service we see over a third of a recognition of all the hard work over as a team. This is a really exciting time million people a year at our hospitals. We the 12 months in actively encouraging for us as we are half way through a work as one big joined up team across our and booking the mandatory training multi-million pound expansion of the four sites. We believe we have the best of medical colleagues within their department where we want to integrate configured emergency care service in the departments. a separate children’s A&E department country and are seen as a very successful, and improve facilities for the numbers of innovative and forward thinking patients that we see.” department with excellent, highly skilled and extremely committed staff. The film is available on YouTube and on the Trust’s website at www.pat.nhs.uk/ “The Trust is one of the best performing videos hospital trusts in the region in relation 12 People November 2013 In the peak of fitness! Thought for MOST people would Alex Bremner who look forward to was part of the enjoying a relaxing Stockport Council the month bank holiday team is the husband by Ian Inglis, chaplain at NMGH weekend. But not of glaucoma nurse a team of intrepid practitioner Julie THE nights are drawing in and the charity fundraisers Bremner, who works harvest has been gathered - soon who instead decided in the eye unit at to tackle the three Rochdale Infirmary. there will be kids going round peaks challenge. the streets threatening innocent Julie said: “I was householders with ‘Trick or Treat’ Scaling Ben Nevis in so proud of what Scotland, Scafell Pike they achieved in (what’s that all about?) The skies will in Yorkshire and Snowdon in Wales, the just under a day’s time. Thankfully the then fill with fireworks and bonfire teams from Stockport Council and George conditions were good on the day which smoke, and all through it we have the Cox and Sons Ltd can be proud to say that spurred them on.” relentless march towards Christmas. they conquered the highest mountains in Over £1,500 was donated to the Royal England, Scotland and Wales in under 24 National Institute for the Blind, which was The seasons are constantly changing, hours. and even as the clocks go back, we Julie and Alex’s chosen charity. need to keep looking forwards in the knowledge that ‘even the darkest Ma night light will end and the sun will rise’. (Victor Hugo’s, Les Misérables). Food for thought for healthy eyes Listening into Action could be seen as harvesting ideas from various departments who have gone through the process and have come out with a fresh look at things and fresh ideas on how to tackle problems and issues.
One result is the new spiritual care referral system, which should be up and running now. It is one of the things which arose when we asked people about religious and spiritual support.
“How do I get hold of a chaplain?” “How can we access emotional support?” We checked the pulse and listened to what people were asking STOCK up on leafy greens and Lloyd Bristow, community nutritionist, from the healthy weight team, provided for, and a plan was put into action. citrus fruits! information on the right kind of foods Change is as inevitable as the seasons, This was the message at a recent coffee to eat to maintain healthy eyes. He said: afternoon held on the eye unit at and though it can be challenging, it “Foods such as leafy greens and eggs are Rochdale Infirmary. As well as fantastic packed with lutein and zeaxanthin which can also be fruitful. sources of vitamins and nutrients, the lower the risk of developing macular ‘super foods’ help with maintaining When talking with patients I let them degeneration and cataracts. Those, along healthy eyes and reduce the risk of with citrus fruits and berries, which are know that yes, we can deal with developing macular degeneration and considered the ‘power house’ of vitamin religious need, but we are also here cataracts. C, are fantastic for maintaining good eye for spiritual and emotional support – a Organised by glaucoma sister Julie health. listening ear is one of the things that Bremner, staff nurse Pam Hayes and “The way we cook food can also affect people often benefit from most. specialist orthoptist Zabir Patel from how balanced our diet can be in relation Pennine Care, the event was held during In dark days a little light can make a to both eye health and general well national eye health week which provides being. Grill food instead of frying it and great difference. an opportunity for eye care charities, always remove the skin from chicken and organisations and health professionals the rind from bacon.” from across the UK to promote the importance of eye health to the general A raffle was held for an eye hamper, public. which was donated by staff from the eye clinic and ward. It contained food for Julie Bremner said: “This was the first time healthy eyes and was won by one of the we had supported the week and so we unit’s patients. organised a coffee afternoon for patients, members of the public and staff. They Money raised from the coffee afternoon learnt about the importance of a healthy will be split between the International diet in relation to eye conditions and also Glaucoma Association and the Macular took part in a quiz.” Society. News - Trust stories 13 Lymphoma awareness Access requests for
STAFF, patients and relatives took patient records advantage of a specialist awareness week DO you know which department deals to learn more about lymphatic cancer. with these requests? Held from 9 to 15 September, the week You may have received occasionally into was commemorated at the Trust by the your department either written or verbal North Manchester and Bury Lymphoma requests from patients, their relatives or Group holding information stands at other representatives (including solicitors) The Royal Oldham Hospital and North for access to their health records. You Manchester General Hospital. may not have known who dealt with Organised by Joyce Young; members of such requests in order to redirect the the group spent time telling interested correspondence or the telephone call. passers by about the symptoms of The department who deals with such lymphoma and the support available requests under the Data Protection both nationally and locally to them. Act is the medical-legal team based in Joyce said: “The Lymphoma Association the health records department at The are the UK’s only charity focused Royal Oldham Hospital. exclusively on providing specialist It is important that these requests information and support to help are forwarded promptly to the team lymphoma patients, their relatives, as requests must be processed in friends and carers. They help people feel accordance with the timescales set out less vulnerable, more confident and more in the Data Protection Act. in control, which helps them cope and or just listen to others, the choice is deal with their treatment. theirs. We occasionally have visits from For further information please contact: Nicola health professionals and guest speakers Grey at [email protected] or Sandra “The North Manchester and Bury who provide information and advice on Rushton at [email protected] Lymphoma Group was formed three matters relating to lymphoma. years ago as an initiative led by Sally Lees, haematology nurse specialist at the “Fundraising events are held to support Trust. The aim of the group is to provide our group’s activities and agreed causes Diary dates support to individuals who have been and we managed to raise just under £400 affected by lymphoma either themselves from donations, a tombola and items for or by supporting somebody with the sale at our awareness event at the Trust.” disease. It does not matter at which The group meets every six weeks on a hospital they attended or the treatment Thursday between 1.30pm and 3pm at 8 Nov: 100 years of pathology talk at received, everyone is welcome. the Middleton Masonic Hall. For more 2.30pm. Education Centre, TROH “The group is self funded though various information contact Joyce Young (0161 18-22 Nov: Anti-bullying week 766 1611) or Sally Lees (0161 778 5530). fund raising events and membership is 4 Dec: Eye conditions talk. 2-3pm thriving. At meetings, members of the Alternatively email Joyce at [email protected] or Sally at [email protected]. education centre, Fairfield General group sit and talk about their feelings Hospital Improving patient records project - update from condition of casenotes task and finish group
Ward efforts lead to improvement in casenotes being requested for non elective admissions! FOLLOWING on from the initial liaison visits by health records managers to wards on each site, improvements have been made with regard to non elective patients’ casenotes being requested when patients are admitted to a ward. Good work ward staff and health records teams! Since the baseline review in March this year, significant improvements have been made at both The Royal Oldham and North Manchester sites as demonstrated by a recent further review. Fairfield continue to request casenotes for very much all non elective admissions. Work is currently underway with Rochdale CAU to improve further the requesting of casenotes at point of patient admissions. Further input needed regarding deceased patients’ casenotes. The group have highlighted that improvement needs to be made with regards to filing of documents into the casenotes of patients who pass away on our wards ie deceased patients’ casenotes. The Trust has the same responsibility for the records of deceased patients as any other patient and the casenotes will be further used by departments such as clinical coding, audit, coroners and for access to records requests. The group would like to take this opportunity to ask ward staff to help us further improve the condition of patient casenotes by ensuring episodic documents for deceased patients are filed securely and appropriately in the deceased patients’ casenotes before they leave the ward. Many thanks in anticipation of your input into this. More information about the work of this group available from [email protected] Interested in knowing more about this exciting project? Please contact: Jo Keogh, Chair of the Clinical Records Improvement Board at [email protected] or Nicola Nicholls, Chair of the Documents in Casenotes Task and Finish Group at [email protected] Look out for further updates in Pennine News as the project progresses 14 People November 2013
A prize-winning academic year for PAT cadets
PENNINE Acute can boast that four awarding winning cadets and one The prize-winning cadets mentor came from within the Trust during the recent graduating year. Jack Gough received the Greater Manchester Accounts apprentice of the year at the recent Skills Celebrating the cadet’s academic for Health Awards in Liverpool. He has completed achievements at the annual cadet award his accounting apprenticeship whilst on placement ceremony, 400 cadets shared how values at North Manchester General Hospital in the and behaviour had shaped their practice accounts department. Jack was mentored by Judith and explained how good role models Ellis and Margaret Wyatt. from within the healthcare service were important to them. Bethany Neild has overcome challenges and difficulties to achieve Distinction* They nominated placement tutors who level of academic work throughout they felt had given them exceptional the course. She works hard and support and encouragement, and with is highly motivated to achieve. In over 100 mentors nominated, the panel placement Bethany has received had a hard job choosing one for each of continuous outstanding feedback, the sub regions to receive the showing her abilities to fit into, and prestigious Michael McNally work alongside, the multi-professional Mentor award. The overall team at an excellent standard. She winner from the Greater has demonstrated a fantastic team Manchester area was working approach and has slotted into Sharon Nuttall (pictured) the many different ward and department teams from ward 8 at Fairfield with ease, placements have described her as an General Hospital. enthusiastic learner who is not afraid of joining Celebrations continued as the in and nothing is too much for her. She has a cadets came onto the stage and naturally empathetic approach to her care and is awards for outstanding commitment not afraid of asking or challenging for the benefit were announced. Pennine Acute Special of her patients. Merit Awards went to Jack Gough, Rachel Thomas has worked hard to achieve Rachel Thomas, Holly Durr and Bethany high standards in all of her academic work. Neild. These cadets are progressing She has received continuous outstanding into a variety of areas such as university feedback on placement showing her ability to studying a degree in occupational work alongside the multi-professional team. therapy, midwifery and accountancy. Holly Durr has been fully committed to the All the cadets, cadet clinical educators programme from the very start and has and support practitioners would like to had excellent attendance and punctuality thank the staff, mentors, buddies and completing all coursework to a high standard. trainers that have all been an essential Holly’s biggest achievement has been her element to their success. We wish them confidence and communication skills. all good luck in their future careers. Baking for Macmillan
HEALTHCARE cadets at Fairfield raised a cuppa as well as a large amount of money for Macmillan Cancer. Taking part in the national Macmillan coffee morning on 27 September, they baked cakes and sold them at the education centre and around the hospital site. A fantastic £245.27 was raised from the event. The Macmillan Information and Support Centre at North Manchester General Hospital also got their mixing bowls out and came up with some delicious cakes which they sold in the Gallery restaurant. An amazing £700 was raised from the cake sale. The latest cancer services newsletter can be found on the Trust’s website under the quality and performance pages. News - Trust stories 15 Pop of celebration for research in NMGH children’s emergency care
A CONSULTANT in paediatric emergency Manchester. We found that POPS had really means a lot to me as it recognises medicine at the Trust has won a a statistically significant correlation and rewards the work that I presented at prestigious national award. with admission, with a one point a national level and will hopefully lead to increase in POPS being associated with other units or institutions wanting to get Dr Andrew Rowland, who is based at a 70% increase in the odds ratio of involved in this work. We’ve managed to North Manchester General Hospital, was admission. We believe that this signals achieve what I think is a fantastic result awarded the Liz Molyneux prize by the its potential use as a valuable tool in in this study in light of the fact that we Association of Paediatric Emergency emergency departments to look at the conducted it with no additional research Medicine for his presentation of the risk of admission to hospital (or likelihood funding and no additional staff time to emergency department’s research into a of discharge from the emergency collect or analyse data. paediatric observation priority score. department). “I’d like to thank Dr Damian Roland and The prize is awarded annually to the “We also found that POPS is a useful the PEMLA team for allowing us to modify person delivering the highest-scoring adjunct tool to use in our emergency POPS for use in North Manchester as presentation of original research work at department alongside Manchester well as all of the emergency department the Association of Paediatric Emergency Triage and Clinical Assessment, which staff (clinical and managerial) who have Medicine annual meeting. we have been able to translate into supported me and the team undertaking Dr Rowland said: “We took the Paediatric helpful guidance to use in the emergency this work during the last 18 months. department.” Observation Priority Score (POPS), devised “Of course, the biggest thanks have to go in Leicester by the Paediatric Emergency Thrilled to win the award, Dr Rowland to our nursing staff who have managed Medicine Leicester Academic (PEMLA) was presented with a certificate and to collect such a huge amount of data team, and modified it for our own use in cheque by Dr Kath Berry, the chair of without any additional financial or North Manchester. the Association of Paediatric Emergency research resources. I could not have won “Called POPS, the system is a paediatric Medicine at Twickenham Stadium. this award by myself without the input of other key members of our team.” early warning system and a useful tool He said: “I was absolutely delighted to to predict the likelihood of a child’s have won the Liz Molyneux prize which admission to hospital from the emergency department. POPS is essentially a checklist which accurately scores acutely ill children on a combination of physiological, behavioural and risk Bury Freemasons give a helping hand identifiers, using easy to collect data.” Over a one month period, data was FREEMASONS from Bury have dug deep to help poorly children receive better care. Bury District collected from 2068 patients who Freemasons donated £900 to provide a portable attended the paediatric emergency ophthalmoscope to help nursing staff examine department at North Manchester General poorly children who have been brought to A&E. Hospital. This was a response rate of just over 81% of patients attending the The new ophthalmoscope will contribute to a department. long list of equipment needed to kit out the new children’s accident and emergency unit which is The POPS was calculated for each due to open in Spring 2014. MedEquip4Kids, the patient and at the end of the study Prestwich-based children’s charity, has pledged to raise a total of £55,000 to fully kit the electronic emergency department out the new unit. system was searched to see if any patients who were discharged from the Stuart Greenwood, senior charge nurse at Fairfield’s A&E, said: “Thank you so much emergency department re-attended with to all the members of Bury District Freemasons. This equipment will make it much the same clinical problem to any of the easier to quickly assess a poorly child and make sure that they are getting the right Trust’s other emergency departments treatment.” or the Urgent Care Centre at Rochdale Michael Gibbons, Chairman of Bury District Freemasons, said: “It’s great to be able Infirmary, within 72 hours of discharge. to contribute to this project. We’re so excited to see the new A&E Unit when it is The admission and discharge outcome for completed. Thanks to Stuart for showing us the new plans.” each patient was recorded, but POPS was not used to decide the outcome. Pictured l to r: Stuart Greenwood, senior charge nurse at Fairfield; Evelyn Glarvey, community fundraiser, MedEquip4Kids; Michael Gibbons – Chairman, Bury District Dr Rowland continued: “We were Freemasons and Barrie Holder, charity steward, Cromwell with Papyrean Lodge. really excited by our results at North 16 Staff room - noticeboard November 2013
Staff noticeboardRetirement Fellowship A NEW branch of the Fellowship was photographs from the hospitals of Pauline retires formed at Rochdale Infirmary on 16 Birch Hill and Rochdale Infirmary to the WARD clerk Pauline September. The group agreed to call meeting, and there was a great deal Carr retired from the themselves the Pennine branch as of chat and laughter when looking Trust at the end of this encompassed staff from all the at these, as it brought back many October. surrounding areas, therefore, not memories! It was agreed that Val seeming specific to only Rochdale would bring these again to another Starting on the AMU retired staff. meeting and we would have an old in 2002, she has photograph afternoon where other Eight very enthusiastic people attended since worked on the members would bring along anything the meeting and a committee was discharge unit for they had. Val would also do a collage formed from those present. Lynne four years. of chosen photographs. Ireland, North West Development After a meal out in September and a Officer gave an overview of the aims All present agreed that they would lunch time gathering in October, friends of the Fellowship and what other contact other colleagues before the and colleagues wished her a fond branches were doing, along with next meeting and start to recruit new farewell. support and advice to form the new members. branch. Hylda Whitehead from the She has earned a good rest. We will miss If anyone wishes to join the group neighbouring Crumpsall branch also you Pauline, all the very best. or knows of a friend or colleague attended and she will give support to who is retired from the NHS, contact the Committee when needed. [email protected] Super man Val Green who was appointed and dad! Chairman on the day, brought old CONGRATULATIONS to our very own ‘super dad’, Toby Jenkinson! Toby who works in the communications In memory department delivered his second son, PAT Hunt began her lengthy career as a cadet nurse at Monsall Hospital Luke Samuel, at home, following a very in 1958. She worked tirelessly and devotedly for the NHS for 55 years and quick labour by wife Lizzie. was the longest serving nurse in the country. Congratulations to Toby, Lizzie and Jack. She was highly respected by all health professions and helped to develop the skills of many of today’s doctors and nurses who have worked on the infectious diseases unit, both at Monsall and NMGH. She was a great example of what the role of a nurse should be in the NHS. She gave devoted care to all Congratulations the patients she served. CONGRATULATIONS to staff nurse Unfortunately Pat suffered from a terminal illness and passed away on 4 July. She was Jean O’Brien on passing the in-house loved by all of us, past and present, and we will never forget her for all her kindness to mentorship programme. everyone. She has left a great void on the unit for all her friends, patients and colleagues. The staff on day surgery at Rochdale Infirmary say well done Jean as you have worked very hard for this. Warm wishes for Gail
CONGRATULATIONS to Gail Buggy who retired from the Trust’s pathology department on 30 August after 43 Fond farewell to years with the Trust and it’s predecessor organisations, in Oldham. Ann Doyle Gail started as a trainee scientist in microbiology, fondly known as ‘Bacto’ back in the day. Her manager in the ANN Doyle, head of nursing services early days was Jim Dobbin, now MP for Heywood, and diagnostics and clinical support division, pictured here with Gail. has regrettably reached a decision to Jim laid the foundation stone for the Trust’s merged pathology department at retire after 33 years in the NHS. Oldham in 2005, and, with many other colleagues, past and present, attended a She said: “I would like to thank all wonderful ‘send-off’, for Gail, made lighthearted with kind reflections from Pete colleagues and staff for many happy Taft and Maurice Sidorczuk, microbiology managers past and present. years and for the many memories which During her career, Gail progressed to join the pathology management team, I will treasure. A special thank you to overseeing quality and training for pathology, and played a pivotal role in the all the staff within the diagnostic and merger of the Trust’s four pathology departments which finalised in 2008. She clinical support division. will be deeply missed by her friends and colleagues, not least for her keen eye “I wish you all a healthy and happy life.” for detail, and kind listening ear. Thank you Gail and our warmest wishes for a wonderful retirement.