THE MAGAZINE FOR GENERAL HOSPITAL PATIENTS AND VISITORS

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

InsightSummer 2017 | Issue 63

THANK YOU, NORTHAMPTON! Local support funds new chemotherapy suite Pages 18 & 19

Supported by the Health Charitable Fund  CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S COLUMN We’re good – and Inspections and fundraising it’s official! We were heartened to receive the findings of the latest inspection by orthampton General Hospital is towards being an outstanding hospital.” healthcare watchdogs, the Care Quality good with some outstanding areas CQC’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Commission. The inspected four N– that’s according to the latest Professor Sir Mike Richards, said: “Our service areas when they visited earlier inspection by healthcare watchdogs the inspectors found a number of significant this year and rated them as good as Care Quality Commission. improvements had been made at well as highlighting some practices they In their inspection report published Northampton General Hospital since felt were outstanding. in May, inspectors found that we had The improvements observed by the our last inspection and staff are to be made significant improvements since the CQC are notable and, when the commended for their hard work. commission’s previous inspection in 2014. ratings are compared to the last “The trust had taken action to meet Inspectors visited the hospital as visit when we were judged to be concerns raised during our inspection in part of a focused inspection, to check on requiring improvement, the changes January 2014, particularly with regard to whether improvements had been made are very significant. establishing an inclusive and supportive in four core service areas. These were This kind of change does not happen staff culture with a clear focus on patient overnight and it does not happen urgent and emergency care, medical care (including older people’s care), surgery safety. This was notable in all four core because of a few people – it happens services we inspected with staff who were because of the efforts of staff from all and end of life care. committed to improving the quality and parts of the hospital. We know that All of these services were previously we’re a good hospital where amazing rated as Requires Improvement but, safety of care and treatment for patients. things happen every day. We know following CQC’s inspection, all are now “Staff were friendly and compassionate what we can do to make it even better rated as Good. and patients spoke positively about their and this inspection rating proves Chief executive Dr Sonia Swart said: care and those caring for them. Effective that we’re on the right track – and “Every single person of the nearly systems were in place to protect people strengthens our resolve to aim higher. 5,000 people who work at NGH has an from harm and inspectors saw a number One of the things that really impressed important role to play in keeping patients of areas of outstanding practice. the CQC inspection team was their at the heart of all the decisions we make. “This was particularly evident in how observation that we were proactively This report is heartening because it shows the trust treated people with dementia developing options for improvements, that we’re heading in the right direction - and with regard to people being cared for recognising that, although changes at the end of their lives. were needed outside the hospital, there was much within our own “The leadership team in the emergency control. We can see this clearly in department were outstanding in driving the development of our urgent and improvements through the service with emergency care service. On the a clear focus on patient safety, despite opposite page, you can read about pressures due to increasing attendances. our plans for a new emergency “However, there were some areas where assessment unit and the acquisition of further improvements were needed. the neighbouring Springfield building We highlighted this to the trust and its as an urgent care centre. leadership knows what needs to happen to You can also read about the amazing make sure improvements are made. support we have from our staff, patients “We will continue to monitor and local community. I was delighted to be on the judging panel of our Northampton General Hospital NHS Dancing Stars contest which saw 16 Trust and will return to check on its NHS employees take on the challenge progress in the future.” of learning to ballroom dance in just six weeks – on top of their day jobs! In the Areas of outstanding practice the quality of care and patient experience, midst of our operational and financial including for those living with dementia. There pressures, it was a privilege to witness There were some areas of outstanding were colour-coded bays on some wards and the joy and happiness of the event. practice, including: finger food boxes, to help patients eat when Meanwhile, the opening of our  The geriatric emergency medicine service they wanted. refurbished chemotherapy suite (GEMS) was outstanding in terms of  Plans were being developed with primary care couldn’t have happened without providing awareness of and responding to and community services to support elderly the generosity of hundreds of local the needs of patients. patients at home. individuals and organisations who  The emergency department (ED) worked with  The end of life care service piloted, evaluated supported the fundraising campaign. external organisations to develop an on-site and implemented an end of life companion Thank you all for your ongoing support. psychiatric liaison service within the ED, 24 volunteer scheme for patients who may not hours a day, seven days a week. have visitors.  The Sentinel Stroke National Audit  The ED had an end of life care room next to Dr Sonia Swart Programme (SSNAP) gave the hospital the the resuscitation area. There was a specific Chief Executive best rating possible (band A) in the April to pathway and guidance for managing these Northampton General Hospital June 2016 audit. situations when the patient was a child or  Staff were focused on continually improving young person.

2 ❘ Insight Artist’s impression of the new building for the assessment unit. It will be linked to our emergency department on the first floor NEW 60-BED ASSESMENT UNIT his year, visitors to NGH will how we care for patients most in need of What is an assessment unit? notice a lot of construction activity emergency care. Emergency assessment units are used for Ttaking place near our main entrance Building work started in July on a new patients who have recently been admitted to beside our emergency department. We £12 million emergency assessment unit on hospital. The units allow patients to receive have two major building projects taking the site of the A&E car park. The 60-bedded dedicated assessment and care so that place which will have a big impact on two-storey building will be used to care for further steps for their care can be planned. seriously unwell patients who need to be That usually means we stabilise patients admitted from our A&E department for so that they may be moved to specialist further assessment and treatment. wards to receive further specialised treatments or we care for them until they GP streaming are well enough to be discharged home. The assessment unit construction Emergency assessment units are staffed project will take place alongside work to by a dedicated team of consultants, nurses, provide new GP streaming facilities at assistant practitioners and healthcare the entrance to the hospital site at the support workers with support from other Springfield building. This means that services across the hospital. patients who attend A&E who would be more appropriately seen by a GP will be directed to the new facilities. The new emergency assessment unit The location of Springfield close to our represents an exciting opportunity for us emergency department will ensure that to explore innovate models of care for patients in need of primary care services our emergency admissions. If you’re a can receive these in the most appropriate registered nurse or a health care assistant setting and help take some of the pressure and you’d like to find out more about from the increasing attendances in the career opportunities in our new unit, A&E department. we’d love to hear from you - contact our On average, we see 70 patients each associate director of nursing Jason King on [email protected] to register day in A&E who could reasonably your interest. Chairman Paul Farenden signed have been expected to see a GP or the lease on the new building pharmacist instead. Insight ❘ 3 Want to say thank you to one of our STEM CELL TREATMENT CLOSER TO HOME nurses or midwives? Share your story with us. We are proud to be one of the first hospitals in the UK to introduce the DAISY Award, an international recognition programme that honours and celebrates the skillful, compassionate care nurses and midwives provide every day. The DAISY Award is your opportunity to say thank you by sharing your story of how a say ‘thank you’ to nurses in a very public way. nurse or midwife made a difference you will Each DAISY Award Honoree will be recognised never forget. at a ceremony in her/his ward or department Established in the USA in 1999 by the family and will receive a DAISY Award pin, certificate of J Patrick Barnes following his death from and a hand-carved sculpture A Healer’s Touch. complications of the auto-immune disease ITP, Everyone in the ward/department will celebrate the DAISY Foundation commemorates the with cinnamon rolls, which were a favourite of appreciation Patrick’s family had for the care atients receiving a highly specialist form Patrick’s during his illness. The Barnes family and compassion shown to him and his family. of transplant therapy using their own Following Patrick’s death they felt compelled to hope that whenever and wherever nurses Pstem cells can now be treated closer to and midwives smell that wonderful cinnamon home thanks to the re-introduction of the service aroma, they stop for a moment and think about at Northampton General Hospital. how special they are. Since April, our haematology department To nominate an extraordinary nurse or midwife, has been carrying out autologous stem cell simply download a nomination form from our transplants on Talbot Butler ward. website and send it back to us by: An autologous stem cell transplant involves  Email: [email protected] collecting a patient’s stem cells and returning  Post: Julia Jones, DAISY Award them at a later stage after extremely high doses Co-Ordinator, Patient, Nursing & of chemotherapy to eradicate their cancer. The Midwifery Services, Northampton General infused stem cells help to speed up bone marrow Hospital NHS Trust, Cliftonville, recovery after high-dose chemotherapy. Northampton NN1 5BD Previously, patients received this specific treatment at the University Hospitals of Leicester. With the new service, patients travel to Leicester to have their stem cells collected but the transplant treatment is MRI improvement completed in Northampton. Consultant haematologist Dr Jane Parker said: “A local transplant service offers treatment closer to home for patients and it’s delivered by the works underway healthcare professionals they are familiar with, Work is progressing on an so there are clear advantages in terms of our extension of our radiography patients’ experience. department to house a new “It benefits our haematology healthcare static MRI scanner. Building teams as well, by improving their knowledge work is scheduled to be and expertise in quite a specialist area. We’ve completed in November developed a training programme for our and we’re hoping to have haematology nurses and doctors to ensure the first patients receiving patients receive the best possible transplant care. treatment before Christmas. “It’s been made possible thanks to the hard Alongside the provision of work and collaboration between the transplant the new scanner, we’ll be teams, managers and quality management upgrading our existing teams at Northampton and University Hospitals static scanner so that our of Leicester.” patients will have the The new transplant service has developed benefit of the latest dedicated transplant clinics, transplant care technology in this area. plans, and specific transplant ward rounds. The service meets national and international standards of safe transplant care. 4 ❘ Insight STEM CELL TREATMENT CLOSER TO HOME Stephen’s story Stephen Gray from Towcester is one of the with what happens here. That alleviates a lot of first patients to receive the stem cell technique anxiety about the treatment. at Northampton General Hospital as part of “In practical terms, it makes everything his treatment for non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. easier for me and my family. When I had We spoke to Stephen before the final stage of my cells harvested in Leicester, I was lucky treatment to reintroduce his previously-collected enough to have a friend nearby I could stem cells back into his body. stay with but lots of families don’t have that “From the outset I knew what my treatment plan option and have to stay in a hotel. Those was going to be and what to expect, which was additional costs, and the travel costs, are very helpful in terms of being able to make plans. an added worry because while all this I’ve had three cycles of outpatient chemotherapy is happening, I’m not working. So to be and three as an inpatient, leading to the treated here does make a difference and it harvesting of the stem cells in Leicester. means it’s easier for my family to see me. The Talbot Butler ward team supporting “Having my treatment here in Northampton “I suppose there’s an added benefit as well, patients benefiting from the new service does make a difference. Medically, I’m being and that’s for the staff here. When they’ve cared treated by people who I know and who’ve been for patients right from the beginning, it must be involved in my treatment up to now. I’m familiar rewarding for them to see it through. Factfile  Patients first receive chemotherapy over a number of months to eliminate as much tumour as possible  Their bone marrow stem cells are then stimulated with a combination of chemotherapy and growth factors to temporarily circulate in the blood.  As soon as the stem cells reach peak numbers in the blood, patients travel to Leicester and undergo stem cell apheresis. This is a system whereby stem cells can be siphoned out of the blood and collected.  The siphoned stem cells are carefully frozen and stored at Leicester for future use.  Patients are then admitted onto the transplant unit.  They first receive high dose chemotherapy to eliminate any residual tumour. Their stem cells are infused into the blood 24 hours later.  The effects of the chemotherapy then start Patient Stephen Gray pictured to kick in: patients develop severe mucositis, with his care team Dr Jane Parker, struggling to eat or swallow and developing Lindsey Wallace and Liz Williams. severe diarrhoea. Their bone marrow is also completely eradicated, leaving them open to potentially life-threatening infections and requiring regular blood products. They are therefore nursed in single rooms with special air filters to reduce the risk of infection. New role to support patients  The infused stem cells seed into the empty The team on Talbot I see need me to support and guide them marrow and start to produce healthy blood Butler ward has been through their journey, as the process that they cells around 2 weeks later. strengthened with the are undertaking will be new to them and will  Patients can be discharged once their white appointment of Lyndsey bring anxieties and uncertainties with it. cells recover and they can eat and drink Wallace in the new role “I see my role as a point of contact for sufficient amounts. Their hospital stay is usually of stem cell transplant patients, to make sure that they are fully aware around 4 weeks. nurse specialist. of what is happening to make the process  It takes up to 3 months or more for full “In my role I help to easier for my patients. It helps to make the recovery. During this time, patients are closely coordinate the service way ahead seem clearer.” monitored in specialist Haematology units. from the first transplant Lyndsey previously worked as a junior sister They receive their childhood vaccinations again appointment through to the patient travelling to on Talbot Butler ward, cared for autograft at 6 months because their original immune Leicester for stem cell harvest and infusing the patients post-transplant, gaining knowledge and system has been eradicated. stem cell back on Talbot Butler. The patients experience in the care of this group of patients.

Insight ❘ 5 50 YEARS OF CRITICAL CARE – ONE PATIENT’S STORY his year, Northampton General By Monday morning, Laura wasn’t continued to receive treatment from the Hospital celebrates 50 years of able to get out of bed and was coughing critical care team. Tdelivering critical care to some up blood: “We went straight to the Over the following fortnight, Laura of our most vulnerable patients. The doctors on Monday morning. The nurse developed double pneumonia and department cared for 985 patients in ran some checks and said we had to go sepsis, a life-threatening condition 2016/17 - and Laura Blackburn was A&E because my oxygen levels when the body’s response to an one of them. Laura had a five were very low. And that’s the infection injures its own tissues and per cent chance of survival last I can remember.” organs. Our critical care team battled when she became critically I didn’t get On arriving at the to save Laura’s life but her condition ill after contracting flu emergency department, continued to worsen. while pregnant. Read her to meet Jack Laura’s condition As Laura’s life hung in the balance, inspirational story here. until he was deteriorated rapidly. She consultant Jonny Wilkinson contacted “I was 30 weeks about eight was placed in an induced Leicester’s Glenfield Hospital to request a pregnant, working full time weeks old. coma and the decision transfer so Laura could be treated on one and I just been promoted into was made to carry out of only five ECMO heart and lung bypass management in my job. It was an emergency caesarean machines in the UK. a Friday at work and I developed section. Laura’s baby Jack Dr Wilkinson said: “When you have a bit of cough. But on the whole I was cared for on Gosset ward, our lost the ability to help somebody, as we felt okay.” neo-natal intensive care unit and Laura did with Laura, seeing a retrieval team

Laura’s critical care team at NGH. At one point, they kept Laura alive by performing CPR for an hour until her condition stabilised

6 ❘ Insight In November, just six months after waking up from a coma, Laura ran the 10k Leeds Abbey Dash. Along with her sister Nikki, Laura decided to fundraise to help other families who might find themselves in a similar situation.

Factfile  Critical care units are specialist hospital wards that provide treatment and monitoring for people who are very ill.  They can sometimes be called intensive care units (ICUs) or intensive therapy units (ITUs)  They’re staffed with specially-trained healthcare professionals and contain sophisticated monitoring equipment.  Intensive care is needed if someone is seriously ill and requires intensive treatment and close monitoring, or if they’re having surgery and intensive care can help them recover.  There’s a lot more equipment on a critical care ward than a standard ward. This equipment is used to monitor their health and support their bodily functions until they recover. A year on from Laura’s treatment, her family caught up with critical care consultant Dr Jonny Wilkinson come in is wonderful. Having to let “I felt guilty that I couldn’t be a Laura go was sad but a huge relief at parent. I saw him for half an hour and the same time because at Glenfield she every time for that first week, I cried. It had a higher chance of survival.” was just overwhelming. At Glenfield hospital, Laura spent “There was a period when I thought another three weeks in a coma. I wouldn’t be able to walk again and I Although her condition improved, had all sorts of fears. Once I was able she suffered internal bleeding which to build up strength and hold him required further surgery. Finally, properly, I had hope.” after five weeks in a coma, Laura Laura needed intensive therapy was gradually woken up by her to help her regain the use of medical team. When she her arms and legs. She was stable enough, Laura explained: “I’m quite an was transferred back to There was a active and outgoing and Northampton where she period when busy person so to go finally got to meet I thought I from that to suddenly her baby Jack for the wouldn’t be able not being independent first time. to walk again and and not being able to Laura said: “I didn’t I had all sorts care for my children get to meet Jack until was really difficult. he was about eight of fears. “As soon as I was weeks old. The first time walking I joined the I met him, I was off the high gym. There was nothing dependency unit and on a normal to wait for, it was a matter of ward. It was quite hard because I getting strong again, getting fit again. couldn’t hold him properly and there I wanted to feel like me again and to were mixed emotions. be a parent.”

Earlier this year, the Insight team and Dr Wilkinson caught up with Laura and her family in their Northampton home. Laura’s nine-year-old daughter Hollie had some questions for Dr Laura was determined to regain her Wilkinson. Check out our YouTube channel to see the video strength so she could enjoy being a mum to Hollie and Jack

Insight ❘ 7 50 YEARS OF CRITICAL CARE – THE CELEBRATIONS orthampton General Hospital’s Guests were able to peruse through Everyone enjoyed critical care team celebrated the fantastic exhibition prepared by Dr the delicious ‘street food’, Nits 50th anniversary in May Livia Malanjum which highlighted how hanging out in the ‘campervan’ at the beautiful barns in Hunsbury sophisticated critical care has become today. photobooth, all topped off with lots Hill where two fabulous parties were The evening party kicked off in style with of dancing to DJ Dr Jonny Wilkinson. held both for patients and former and former and current members of staff greeted The critical care team is delighted to current staff. by a be-feathered stilt walker and a gin fizz! celebrate what has truly been a most Our charity, Northampton Healthcare Four generations of critical care lead nurses remarkable fifty years. Many families Charitable Funds, very kindly hosted were present – Annie Walker, Ann Hankin, have been influenced as a result of the a wonderful afternoon tea party on the Jo Dilley and Lisa Swan as well as previous incredible skill and dedication of so many team’s behalf where over 60 patients and and current clinical leads, Dr Richard Marsh staff both past and present coupled with the relatives came to share their memories and Dr Naz Ali. continuum of technical advances – we are and experiences and celebrate the 50 We also celebrated the invaluable all delighted to continue to provide a service years that have seen Critical Care contribution of critical care’s longest serving to our community that we are immensely services advance beyond recognition. All member of staff, David Chambers who proud of. enjoyed a fantastic afternoon entertained retired on 18th May having worked in Congratulations Critical Care on 50 years by pianist Laurence Knight. Critical Care for an incredible 26 years of achievement!

8 ❘ Insight Photographs courtesy of Laurence Cook, with many thanks

Insight ❘ 9 More Than Mobility 25 Shopping Centre, Northampton NN3 8JZ

Advertorial

Need a zip replaced, a hem shortening or alterations to work wear? Bring your garments to the ZipYard in St Giles Street Northampton for a fast quality service AND a 10% discount for NHS hospital staff. All of the work is carried out in our clean purpose built alterations and repair centre by professionally trained seamstresses. If it can fit under a sewing machine we can fix it! We offer a very flexible service depending on what each customer needs. We have two fitting rooms, where our fully trained seamstresses can fit garments precisely and expertly in complete privacy. Those who don’t want to be fitted by us, are welcome to pin their clothes at home and bring them into us to finish. For alterations to wedding dresses we have a spacious bridal fitting suite where the bride-to be and her bridesmaids can relax and enjoy the experience of having their dresses pinned so they fit perfectly. We’re great believers in recycling clothes rather than just throwing them out and buying new. Put those unworn outfits lurking in the back of your wardrobe to good use – bring them in to the ZipYard. Our team has the expertise to take in or let out garments and even re-model items to create an up – to date look. From dress re-styling and taking in or letting out garments to formal wear alterations and leather work. The ZipYard can do it all. There is also a 1-hour express service for zips, hems and minor repairs. We also make soft furnishings; curtains, cushions to sofa covers and much more. The ZipYard is located at 30 St Giles Street, Northampton, a 10 min walk from the hospital. It is open from Monday to Saturday 9.00am to 5.30pm. To contact the ZipYard telephone 01604 624111. 10 ❘ Insight 50 YEARS OF CRITICAL CARE – FROM OUR ARCHIVES The beginning of intensive In 1952 there was a polio epidemic in care units Copenhagen and the Blegdam Hospital was inundated with patients suffering from In the previous pages, you can read about our celebrations to mark the 50 anniversary respiratory muscle paralysis. of providing critical care at Northampton Professor Lassen was the chief physician General Hospital - and we believe ours was and was faced with hundreds of patients in one of the first in the country – a proud need of artificial ventilation. boast. What you may not know is how the In the first wave, 315 patients were concept of intensive care therapy came admitted in need of ventilation over several about and the need for specific departments, weeks. He employed 1,000 medical and separate to the wards. dental students to hand ventilate the Local newspaper coverage recorded intubated patients for 24 hours a day, the opening of our intensive care unit paying them £1.50 per shift. They were supervised by a team of 35- 40 doctors. pH monitoring and was able to assist with Anaesthetist Dr Bjorn Ibsen suggested this new science. tracheotomies on the patients to enable Dr Max Wail was the next pioneer more efficient ventilation. The mortality establishing a four bed “shock ward” in a rates soon dropped from 80% to 40%. Los Angeles medical centre in the early Following the epidemic, Dr Ibsen at the 1960s. The first ICU in the U.K. was set up same hospital had the idea of a dedicated in 1966 at St. Thomas’s Hospital, London by ward where each patient would have their Dr Geoffrey Spencer. own nurse. In December 1953 the new speciality of intensive care became a reality. Source of the facts for this article from: Dr Kristensen then took over and needed Clinical Medicine: August 1, 2014 vol.14 to improve the technology of monitoring no.4 376-379 Our first intensive care room blood gases. The Carlsberg factory in Authors: Fiona Kelly, Kevin Fong, Nicholas Copenhagen had acquired the knowledge of Hirsch, Jerry Nolan. A seaside colony “We ask your sympathy and presence here early 20th century Llandudno was popular as a and donkey rides, all free of charge. Your generous help, but not for praise or gain; seaside resort for numerous parties of crippled The colony was in existence for 22 years, All that you can give us is for children dear, children from many industrial cities, particularly always staying at the same address. When To ease for them the mystery of pain.” Manchester and Liverpool. The locals would Manfield Orthopaedic Hospital opened in 1925, organise charabanc outings, Punch & Judy shows This verse was written by Sir Ryland Adkins, the Llandudno holidays stopped. This could who was Vice-President of the Northampton have been because all the charity funds were County Crippled Children’s Fund (NCCCF). It re-directed to the cost of running the hospital. was quoted at the beginning of each annual The other reason may have been that the children report by the charity. would now get sufficient sunshine and fresh air in One of the facilities provided by the charity was the grounds of the hospital. the use of a house in Wales for annual summer Today, No.13 Craig-y-Don Parade has extended its breaks for the children. No.13, Craig-y-Don premises and is now run as a hotel. Parade, Llandudno was rented for up to eight weeks each year for this purpose and became known as the ‘Seaside Colony.’ Interested in finding This large three-storey house was on the sea-front and was staffed by nurses from the charity. During out more? their stay the children were monitored by local Details of our historical archive doctors. The children would travel down in groups A photo from our historical archive collection can now be found on the of 20 or more by train, for a stay of 14 days. collection featuring Northampton Northamptonshire Heritage website The local population of Llandudno were generous children enjoying their seaside holiday www.northamptonshireheritage.co.uk with their help and support to the colony. In the

Insight ❘ 11 NGH DANCING STARS This is an incredible event that demonstrates the commitment of everyone at Team NGH to going above SPARKLE AND SHINE and beyond. Our dancers dazzle as they raise more than £13,000 for our hospital charity.

hat an amazing evening Saturday over £13,000 for the Northamptonshire Kristina Rihanoff, as the winner of this 17th June turned out to be! Healthcare Charitable Fund. They gave year’s competition, with her dance partner, WEighteen brave contestants – the audience a real treat as they took part Harry Brown. Chelsey was one of seven sixteen of whom work at NGH and two in freestyle group dances with a Disney finalists in the strongly fought dance-off, from Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS theme and danced a cha-cha-cha and an who included Nick Penney, paediatric Foundation Trust – stepped out of their American Smooth Viennese Waltz with their nurse, Laurence Neale our graphic scrubs and into sequins and sparkles to experienced dance partners. designer, Rachel Gilbert, PA to Mr Nasr, take to the stage and complete in NGH Chelsey Sherry, medical admissions Des Daly, urgent care nurse practitioner, Dancing Stars 2017. pharmacist, was chosen by the judges, who Vicky Wright, ED bank nurse and Stephen Along the way our contestants raised included BBC Strictly Come Dancing’s Stevenson, HCA in our ED. Most improved dancer awards were given to Emma Wimpress, our volunteer services manager and Shane Carroll from the training department at NHFT. The hospital was supported by Gabriel Gospodin, principal of local dance school, Topdance, who provided six weeks’ dance tuition for our Dancing Stars, partnered by experienced ballroom and Latin American dancers from Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire. Those dancers also gave additional support to our dancers during extra practice sessions. We are truly grateful to them for the encouragement and support they gave. Many departments throughout the hospital will benefit from the funds that were raised, including the planned 12 ❘ Insight development of a designated area for children aged 12-16 on our children’s wards; celebration bells for our patients completing their radiotherapy and chemotherapy and our urgent care services. Speaking at the event, Dr Sonia Swart, NGH CEO, and one of the judges, said ‘This is an incredible event that demonstrates the commitment of everyone at Team NGH to going above and beyond. Everyone you have seen perform here tonight has a busy day job, yet they still find the time to do more for others and, importantly, they manage to retain a real sense of fun and enjoyment.’ Gabriel Gospodin said ‘I truly believe every contest is a winner tonight. They have all worked incredibly hard over the past six weeks and demonstrated their commitment and professionalism. Despite the pressures of their jobs, they have given 100% at every practice session and, at the same time, they have raised a wonderful amount for the charity. They are all Dancing Stars.’

This is an incredible event that demonstrates the commitment of everyone at Team NGH to going above and beyond.

Insight ❘ 13 10% discount for all NHS staff

14 ❘ Insight NEW DRILL TREATMENT HELPS NGH PATIENTS atients in Northamptonshire with the calcium and then makes it possible to severely blocked arteries that complete the procedure using conventional Pcannot be treated with routine techniques with balloons and stents. surgery are now getting specialist We are delighted to be collaborating with local treatment closer to home. audio journalist Penny Bell on her series of Patients receiving treatment in our heart Factfile podcasts about dementia. centre can now benefit from a complex  Coronary Rotational Atherectomy Penny interviewed Dr Sarah Vince, our surgical procedure, called rotablation, (‘rotablation’) is a small burr (1.25- emergency medicine consultant who which uses high-speed drills to blast away 2mm diameter) that is used through specialises in care of the elderly and those hardened calcium. percutaneously via a small tube through with dementia, who told Penny about David Sharman, consultant cardiologist the radial artery or femoral artery under our dedicated A&E bays for patients with said: “Most cardiac patients who have local anaesthetic. dementia. These bays are set away from the noise and activity of the emergency blocked arteries are able to have a routine  It is used for severe calcified coronary department and our A&E staff have had coronary intervention, which means using lesions, sometimes avoiding bypass specialist dementia training. a needle to go into the body and place a surgery or treating patients that would Penny also spoke to Leena on Abington balloon into the narrowed artery to squeeze previously been untreatable due to the Ward about how we address the care it open before placing a stent across the severity of disease. needs of patients with dementia. Alison narrowing to keep it wide open.  The burr rotates at 170,000 rpm and from our charitable trust explained our “But a small number of patients has a diamond dust coated tip to drill Do It For Dementia fundraising campaign cannot be treated with this routine through the coronary lesions. This to raise money to make our hospital approach as they have a high build-up of enables passage and deployment of environment more dementia-friendly. You calcium that prevents balloon expansion coronary stents. can hear the podcasts on Soundcloud at and stent placement.  The procedure takes around an www.soundcloud.com/discoveringdementia “Previously our patients would hour and can be done under have had to either travel to Oxford or local anaesthetic. Harefield hospital for the procedure. It’s great news for our patients and their Coronary artery disease is the biggest families that we can now provide this killer in the UK, and a major cause of service here in Northampton.” chronic illness. A narrowed artery in the Rotablation uses a tiny drill to target the body raises your risk of stroke, while a hard calcium rather than the soft lining narrowed artery in the heart causes pain of the blood vessels. It powers through (angina) and heart attack.

Patients Betty-Jane and Eileen were on hand to join us as we launched our new 19-metre mural of beside our elderly care wards. The mural works as a reminiscence trigger to prompt memories in patients, with particular benefits for our patients with dementia. It’s accompanied by the piped sound of birdsong and the smell of freshly-cut grass. The mural was funded by donations to our Do It For Dementia Patient Beverley Blundell campaign coordinated (right) was the first by our charity to receive rotablation Northamptonshire treatment at NGH. Health Charitable Pictured with Hayley Hill Fund. and David Sharman.

Insight ❘ 15 OUR PEOPLE 1 2

A big welcome to Paul Blake, our learning disability project worker. W1 Paul works alongside learning disability liaison nurse Debbie Wigley to help us identify how we can improve support for patients with learning disabilities as well as working directly with patients to help them during a stay in hospital. Happy retirement to ophthalmology health care assistant Karen W2 Humphries. Karen worked for NGH for 35 years, working in our eye department since 1981. We pay tribute to volunteer Christine Osborne who died earlier W3 this year from cancer. Chrissie had been a Friends of NGH volunteer guide since 1993, based at the South Entrance on Thursday mornings, and was well known by both staff and visitors to the hospital. She bravely fought cancer for many years. Congratulations to our communications team who won the W4 communications category of the HSJ Value in Healthcare awards for their campaign to recruit more nurses onto our staff bank. Congratulations also to Dr Kirsty Adcock, Dr Jyothi Kambhampati and Dr Bansari Trivedi whose saw their project shortlisted – the project halved the length of time for an emergency gynaecological 3 4 examination following the introduction of emergency assessment bags into the emergency department so that the specialist equipment for a comprehensive gynaecological assessment would be immediately available. We’re very excited to have our first ever legacy nurse working with W5 us. Jill Garratt retired in June from her role of dementia liaison nurse where she was committed to improving the experience of patients with dementia and their carers. Now, Jill is supporting Abington Ward as a legacy nurse – there’ll be more about this new role in the next issue of Insight. Our critical care team’s longest-serving member of staff, David W6 Chambers, retired in May after 26 years caring for our some of our most vulnerable patients. We wish Dave a very happy retirement. Good luck to our digital and social media apprentice Callum Grant, W7 whose experience supporting the hospital during his apprenticeship with the communications team motivated him to return to college to study for a career in nursing. Hopefully we’ll be seeing Callum in a student nurse uniform on our wards before long. Our best wishes to porter Luis Arias on his retirement. Luis joined W8 NGH in Feb 2004, well-liked by colleagues who would observe that Luis would walk in to work with a smile and leave work at the end of his shift with a smile. Luis always put the needs of patients first and that is 6 7 what he came to work for!

Summer 2017 Insight Issue 63 Insight is a free magazine. Please feel free to take a copy home with our compliments and pass it on to a friend or relative when you have read it. Insight is produced thanks to the sponsorship of Northamptonshire Health Charitable Fund. Edited by Eva Duffy [email protected] Designed and printed by Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd, Hawks Nest Cottage, Great North Road, Bawtry, DN10 6AB. Keep in touch Follow us on Twitter @NGHNHSTrust Follow us on Instagram northamptongeneralhospital Like our Northampton General Hospital Facebook page

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Insight ❘ 17  CHARITABLE FUND

Thank you, Northampton! A chemotherapy suite that treats over 450 chemotherapy day case patients each month was officially re-opened following huge public response from the people of Northampton to the fundraising appeal.

As we celebrated the opening of our new chemotherapy suite, we remembered everyone who’s shaved their head, abseiled down the Northampton Lift Tower, run through muddy obstacle courses, baked (and eaten) immeasurable amounts of cake and done other wonderful things to raise over half a million pounds for this campaign. The total cost of the refurbishment was £650k, with £500k donated by individuals and local groups and businesses specifically for the refurbishment with the remainder coming from the charity’s general funds. The newly-refurbished suite has increased capacity by four additional treatment bays which will reduce waiting times for patients. With the careful use of design, lighting and colour, the treatment area is a more welcoming and calm environment offering more privacy to patients as well as being a more practical working space for staff. Treatment for patients receiving chemotherapy was temporarily relocated on the hospital site during the refurbishment. Thanks to the wonderful NGH Choir who sang at the opening ceremony

18 ❘ Insight Thanks to the thoughtful use of design, lighting and colour, the treatment area is much more welcoming.

Insight ❘ 19  CHARITABLE FUND

‘Northampton Lighthouse’ abseil raises money for charity

Over £10,000 was raised by NHS employees nearly £1,000 for the maxillofacial department and patients thanks to a day of sponsored and the Dunstone Bennett Centre. abseiling down Northampton’s most iconic Caroline Adams, who has recently been landmark – the National Lift Tower. treated at NGH by Mr Dawson and his Thirty plucky volunteers took on the 127 team and wanted to raise some money to metres (418ft) abseil challenge down the thank them for her treatment had a mass of National Lift Tower. Some participants were supporters on the day (pictured) to help stop more worried than others but everyone came her legs turning to complete jelly. Caroline’s over the top of the tower and made it to philosophy to overcome her jelly legs was the bottom…….all with a grin on their faces “This is scary but having cancer was scarier.” when their feet touched the floor! Some took After, Caroline said: “This was such a longer than others - some turned around to fabulous if rather insane thing to have done wave to their supporters at the bottom - and and I feel very pleased to have taken part. Thanks for the opportunity … I NEVER want all of them raised money for the department to do it again!!” of their choice. Over an incredible £10,000 was raised for all different departments including If you think you have the ophthalmology, Wheatfield ward at nerve to take part in the Berrywood Hospital and the emergency department at NGH. The A&E team of eight next abseil event and raise raised over £800 for the department and money for the department came along with their own support crew of your choice, then please while voluntary services manager Emma Wimpress was cheered on by her young contact the charity team family! Anne Hicks from NGH’s maxillofacial on 01604 545857 or email department overcame her fear of heights [email protected]. and came down the tower at speed, raising

20 ❘ Insight Insight ❘ 21  CHARITABLE FUND New arrival in the simulation suite hanks to a charity donation of £12,000, Northampton General Hospital’s Tfamily of medical-grade manikins now includes a neo-natal baby for training staff in how to care for some of our most vulnerable patients. Training manikins blink, breathe, have a heartbeat and can be programmed to display symptoms that test our staff’s understanding of how to react to situations. The training enhances participants’ teamwork and communication skills as well as promoting patient safety. Simulation manikins are used to recreate realistic scenario-based training and thanks to the support of the charity, our simulation training team can now train our specialist neo-natal staff in their working environment. Support for Dryden ward Huge thanks are due to Gavin Warren, Chairman of Northants County Cricket Club whose fundraising is helping to meet the costs of a much-needed refurbishment on Dryden ward. The first stage is to put a women’s toilet near the women’s bay as currently they have to walk into the men’s bay or out of the ward to go to the toilet. The ward team are also hoping to have a family room on the ward where staff can speak to family members about care plans or for when they have to sensitive conversations about their loved ones. Gavin’s donated a total of £6,000 - the most recent donation was £3,000 raised at the Beaujolais Nouveau grape launch last November - and we can’t wait to see how the July family fun day at the cricket ground went! A&E bike ride Well done to our emergency department team who took on the gruelling London to Bristol bike ride on one of the hottest days of the year – and for Steve and Des, it was the

morning after they competed in the NGH Dancing Stars ballroom and latin dance contest!

22 ❘ Insight Brian Willet Well done, Daisy! We want to give a special mention to one of our youngest fundraisers, A big well done and 10-year-old Daisy Pancoust who’s raising money for our blood-taking unit. congratulations to Daisy walked the 27 miles of the International Waendel Walk to raise NGH’s Brian Willet for money for a new Accuvein AV300 Machine. cycling over 600 miles This piece of equipment will be very helpful from London to Paris to find the veins on all ages of patients who have difficult-to-see veins or are having to raise money for either ongoing treatments which sometimes the hospital’s Do it for makes it difficult to find veins. The machine Dementia appeal. works by simply pointing the device at an Brian’s amazing area of the skin and clicking to display the achievement has peripheral veins beneath. raised over £2,000 The cost of the machines is approximately for the campaign! £4,000 each. “A big thank The Mayor awarded Daisy for her efforts at you to all of my the closing ceremony. family, friends and You can support Daisy by donating colleagues who have at her just giving page supported me.” https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ Dawn-Pancoust or making a donation to the donation tin in the blood-taking unit.

Family of NHS physiotherapist raise money for Northampton Macmillan team The Macmillan Cancer Support team based at Northampton General Hospital has received a fundraising gift of £1,700 in memory of a Northamptonshire physiotherapist who passed away last November at the age of 45. The family and friends of Fiona Hoey, who worked in Danetre Hospital in Daventry, contributed to the fundraising appeal set up to acknowledge the support that Fiona, her husband Michael and their three children received from the specialist palliative Nurses Sarah Reital and Emma Carruthers with patient care team at Northampton David Arthurs General Hospital. Earlier this year, Fiona’s son Conor and his friend Joe (pictured) ran the Bath Home comforts on Marathon to raise money for NGH – and between them they Talbot Butler ward raised over £2,500. When you have a long stay in hospital, sometimes it’s the little things that you miss most. Like the smell of bacon cooking in the morning. That’s why the Talbot Butler ward team asked for charity funding so their patients could have a cooked breakfast once a week. Every Friday morning, the catering service prepares orders for All donations to the hospital are managed, separately from sausage, bacon or egg rolls – and our NHS finances, by the trustees of the Northamptonshire Health patients get to enjoy a taste of home. Charitable Fund, a registered charity. If you would like to make a donation, or be involved in raising money for NGH, please David is one of the patients on the ward contact our fundraising office on 01604 545857. who can request a hot breakfast thanks to Find us on Facebook/NorthamptonshireHealthCharitableFund charity funding

Insight ❘ 23 Look out for our new apple signs encouraging employees and visitors to be more active. If you’re able to, take the stairs - not the lift!

WIPES BLOCK PIPES! STOP ipes block pipes – that’s the campaign to help raise awareness of message from Northampton the problem. We’re appealing to our WGeneral Hospital and Anglian patients, visitors and employees not to GEL Water as we join forces to raise awareness flush wipes down the toilet. Even those of the financial and environmental cost of marketed as flushable can’t biodegrade flushing disposable wipes down the toilet. quickly enough to avoid clogging the When flushed, wipes don’t disintegrate pipes. Here at Northampton General GO like toilet paper. And with more and more Hospital, it costs us an average Have you spotted our new hand people using disposable wipes for personal of £1,000 a month to sort out the sanitising zones outsides our wards? hygiene and cleaning, pipes and sewers blockages in our pipe system. Flushing Stop, gel and go: that’s the message are getting blocked. wipes is bad for the public purse and from our infection prevention team We’ve launched an information it’s bad for the environment. to help keep our patients safe from preventable infections. Always use the gel provided to help us keep our patients safe. Clean hands save lives!

Infection Our new prevention hand matron Wendy Our infection prevention team demonstrate sanitising gets the their handwashing technique! zones message across

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust, has not Every possible care has been taken to ensure that the information given in this publication is accurate. Whilst the vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts publisher would be grateful to learn of any errors, it cannot accept any liability over and above the cost of the no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertisement for loss there by caused. No reproduction by any method whatsoever of any part of this publication is advertiser. Nor does Northampton General Hospital permitted without written consent of the copyright owners. NHS Trust endorse any of the products or services. Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd. ©2017. Hawks Nest Cottage, Great North Road, Bawtry, DN10 6AB. Tel: 01302 714528 Designed & Published by Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd, Hawks Nest Cottage, Great North Road, Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN10 6AB. Tel: 01302 714528 DN10 6AB. Tel: South Yorkshire Doncaster, North Road, Bawtry, Designed & Published by Octagon Design Marketing Ltd, Hawks Nest Cottage, Great

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