Dates for your Diary Governors

Fri 17 Sept Learning disabilities Nicholas Wells, Chair EKHUT Trust Board 09.30-15.30 consultation @ Westgate Hall, Jocelyn Craig ASHFORD East * John Fletcher ASHFORD Tue 21 Sept Mammography event Terence Golding ASHFORD 18.30-20.30 WHH, Ashford* Stuart Field CANTERBURY Tue 28 Sept AGM Canterbury Cricket Ground Tricia Shephard MBE DL CANTERBURY 18.00-21.00 David Shortt, Vice Chair CANTERBURY Fri 1 Oct Ashford Roadshow, County Stephen Collyer 10.00-15.30 Square Liz Rath DOVER Lawrence Shaw DOVER Summer 2010 Fri 15 Oct Thanet Roadshow, Holy Trinity 13.00-16.00 Cliftonville Alan Hewett SHEPWAY pulse Tue 12 Oct Mammography event Molly Hunter SHEPWAY The newsletter for members of East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust 18.30-20.30 QEQM, Margate* Ray Morgan MBE SHEPWAY Mon 15 Nov Mammography event Paul Durkin SWALE K&C, Canterbury* Ken Rogers SWALE * To book a place, please contact the Membership Reynagh Jarrett THANET The view from the Chair Hello again and welcome to the 2nd edition of East Kent Pulse. It will come Office on 01843-235053 or e-mail: Jeanne Lawrence THANET [email protected]. as no surprise to learn that the last few months have been challenging for the Elizabeth Poole THANET Trust. Like everyone else we have been putting in place a large number of plans Karen Bisset STAFF to control our costs whilst ensuring continuing improvement in the quality of our services. At this point in time we are compliant with the targets set by Monitor - Chi Davies STAFF RENAL RESEARCH the foundation trust regulator - just as the new government has changed several Lesley Long STAFF of them. In the last edition, we asked for volunteers to help with We have however taken the decision to carry on as if those targets still exist research into how we investigate kidney problems in John Sewell STAFF as we are determined to continue to offer the highest possible quality of care. patients 75 years or older. We are most grateful to the 265 Jamie Bennie-Coulson REST OF ENGLAND In future, outcomes will play an increasing role in judging the quality of care patients who have been tested to date but we still need to Hazel Colyer Canterbury Christ Church University - which has to be a positive move, although much work is still to be done to reach our target of 400 by next March. determine how they will be measured. Things are changing so fast that it The test takes around 4 hrs and involves a small Karen Benbow Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT sometimes feels there isn’t time to catch your breath! But I assure you that injection and a blood test. Transport is provided, as are Barry Coppock Voluntary Sector we are unwavering in our commitment to be one of the top ten trusts in the country and to offer patients the highest refreshments. possible quality of care. If you would like to help please ring 01227 868648 or write Geraint Davies South East Coast Ambulance Service Nick Wells is Chair of both the Board of Directors and Council of Governors. to: Dept of Renal Medicine, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Marie Dodd Kent & Medway Social Care Network Canterbury, Kent CT1 3NG. Philip Greenhill Eastern and Coastal Kent Community Services With the help of early Prof Peter Jeffries University of Kent Facts and figures about diagnosis and treatment, more women and men are Non Executive Director John Kemp MBE Local Authority Breast Cancer able to get on with their lives. Michael Lyons Volunteers working with Trust Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and East Kent Hospitals Charity opportunities Anne Tidmarsh Kent County Council, Social Services almost 46,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. wants to raise £370,000 for each of the three main The Council of Governors is now seeking two n Sadly one in nine women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives and more than 12,300 women hospitals in East Kent to outstanding individuals to join the Board as provide high-tech digital STOP PRESS in the UK still die of breast cancer each year. Non-executive Directors. machines that will help us The NHS staff discount scheme has been extended n Men can also get breast cancer but it is rare. OUR TARGET IS £1.11 to include all foundation trust members - which n The rate of breast cancer has increased dramatically Full advertisements will be placed in the Kent MILLION means you too can enjoy great deals, savings, over the past few years. Messenger papers in early September. If you would like to donate helplines, offers and more. Log on and register We are urgently raising money for 3 new digital machines please make cheques which give a clearer image of the breast. This means today - payable to “The East Kent early and small cancers may be seen far more easily. www.nhsdiscounts.com Hospitals Charity - breast The machines also work much faster which means we cancer appeal” and send to: East Kent Breast Cancer would be able to see more women more quickly, so their Our vision: To be known as one of the top ten hospital trusts in England and the Kent hospital of choice for patients and those close to them. Mammography Appeal, The Trust Headquarters, minds can be put at rest or their treatments can be started Our mission: To provide safe, patient focused and sustainable health services with and for the people of Kent. In achieving this we Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Ethelbert Road, sooner. acknowledge our special responsibility for the most vulnerable members of the population we serve. Canterbury, Kent CT1 3NG Our values: East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust people: Take pride in delivering quality and put patients first; act with integrity by: We are committed to supporting the drive to beat breast www.ekhuft.nhs.uk q Speaking well of each other and cele brating diversity; q Working together to achieve great things; q Being open, honest, cancer and provide the best possible treatment for the communicating with and involving people, and the people we serve, in decisions; q Being good citizens, looking after the environment people of East Kent. and pursuing value for money in all that we do. That’s my job! News from the NEWS IN BRIEF In each issue of Pulse, we will feature a member of staff from the Trust Where’s the beef? “Sorry, I thought you said there’s a bull in the hospital...” telling their own story. This time it’s endoscopist ROB BENNETT. Acting Hospital Manager Sarah Maycock took the call at around 3.30 in ROB BENNETT spends Thomas’ in London, Liverpool, the afternoon, while K&C Hospital’s governors parking attendants were ushering his life looking inside Chichester before finally arriving at prize bull Charlie away from the people. Originally he Margate. The Council of Governors meets recommendations are currently outpatients car park. looked into minds - he four times a year in public session being implemented across the Trust. This he did fairly obediently - was trained in psychiatry, “It’s vital to help the patient feel relaxed and confident, as it’s not and also has several group away- n the Communications committee though he left proof of his passing in but now it’s bodies. Rob, a terrifically pleasant experience!” days to increase our knowledge recently joined forces with the his wake - and hot-hoofed it around 51 is a diagnostic nurse Before the procedure, Rob sits and awareness of health matters Membership committee enabling the hospital to the Thomas Beckett endoscopist, based at QEQM calmly with the patient to reassure both specific and general. a more cohesive approach to dialysis unit, where he caused a bit Hospital in Margate. them and help them understand But the main work goes on in the recruiting members and developing of a stir when he popped his head what is going to happen. Most five committees who undertake a dialogue with members, staff and through the window to inspect the patients have an anaesthetic spray various statutory tasks: the Board. Over recent months, facilities. to the back of the throat to make n there’s the Nominations roadshows have been held in Thanks to Sarah and all the staff who kept him calm, eventually Charlie experience pain free, but those of and Remuneration Committee Canterbury, Folkestone, and Swale decided he’d had enough of K&C’s hospitality. His owner, a local farmer, a more delicate disposition can be having resolved the issue of the with more planned in the autumn in was able to coax him into a trailer and drive him home just after 5pm. fully sedated if they wish. Once in Chairman’s and Non-Executive Dover and Thanet on the theme of What a day! the theatre the patient meets the two Directors’ remuneration, began pain management. nurses who will assist and who also the process of recruiting a new n the Audit group has had a very Non-Executive Director to replace busy few months undertaking our Ready for your close up? go out of their way to be chatty and A new camera is set to revolutionise treatments for dermatology patients. Richard Sturt. It was decided statutory duty to recruit and appoint friendly to put them at their ease. The UV camera, bought with the help of East Kent Hospitals Charity, that this first important project the Trust’s external auditors. highlights pigmentation within the skin. Thus it clearly identifies pigmented they should be undertaken in Following a rigorous shortlisting When the procedure is complete, premalignant lesions, which are notoriously difficult to get rid of. association with the Appointments procedure, the Committee took Rob has to tell the patient what he By photographing the lesions with the £3500 camera before surgery, the Commission. Following interviews presentations from three firms and has found and maybe to show them Dermatology team will have a better understanding of the extent of the with a shortlist of 6 candidates, eventually appointed KPMG. The pictures. Sadly, sometimes the lesion, and so patients will need to undergo fewer surgical procedures to Richard Suthers was appointed to Trust is already benefitting from the news is not good and this further have their lesion completely removed. calls on Rob’s skills. “It’s the most the post. We all welcome him to the firm’s expertise in helping meet the difficult part of this job”. Whatever Trust. The committee has re-started financial challenges ahead. the result, the patient will leave with the process as we now have to n and lastly the document review It’s the PETmobile Rob Bennett reassures a patient in his a full written report which will also appoint two new NEDs to replace group, which is finding itself rather The Nuclear Medicine Department launched the new mobile PET/CT endoscopy theatre go to their doctor. Alan Clarke and Debbie McKellar. busier than expected due to the scanner at the Kent & Canterbury Hospital this month, which means East n the patient and staff experience volume of new legislation which Kent patients no longer need to travel to Maidstone or London for this Endoscopy - the word literally Rob finds enormous rewards committee as well as their on- is coming down the line from the diagnostic service. means “seeing inside” involves from his job. “It’s all about patient going work to monitor patient and new government and looking at examining internal organs for contact.” Whether the news is good staff satisfaction, undertook a the consequences for the Trust problems which can not be or bad, most people find great survey to help decisions about how and our partners in the local health Parking fee changes Following an external review of the Trust’s parking policy and how its diagnosed by scans or external satisfaction in knowing but they patient meals are provided. Their economy. charges compare with those of other NHS Trusts, the Trust has decided examinations. To do this Rob have to be told in the right way. passes an endoscope - a highly OLD CHARGES NEW CHARGES to increase visitor parking complex instrument which includes 0-3 hours £1.70 0-2 hours £2.00 charges from 1 August East Kent Hospitals University 2010. The rise in charges a strong light, a video camera NHS Foundation Trust 3-8 hours £2.70 2-3 hours £3.00 attached to a monitor, a still 8-24 hours £6.00 3-4 hours £4.00 is “regrettable” but will be camera and a probe to retrieve ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Week permit £6.00 4-6 hours £5.00 the first for more than five samples for biopsy, into the body. 28 SEPTEMBER 2010 6.00 – 8.30pm 6-24 hours £8.00 years. Concessions for Week permit £12.00 disabled drivers will be It is highly skilled work for which Kent Club, St Lawrence Ground, unchanged. Rob had to do 200 supervised Old Dover Road, Canterbury, CT1 3NZ. procedures in each of (throat, There will be chance to view a variety of Trust exhibitions over refreshments stomach and upper gut), prior to the meeting which will starts at 7pm. Feedback If you have any questions, suggestions or comments you can e-mail the sigmoidoscopy (rectum) and Directors will present an overview of the Trust’s business in the previous foundation trust membership office on [email protected], call colonoscopy before being allowed financial year and there will be an opportunity to ask questions. Perhaps Rob’s psychiatric training us on 01843-235053 or write to us at Membership Office, Trust Offices to “fly solo”. This followed years all those years ago actually makes Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital, St Peters Road, Margate, of training at Southampton, St www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/agm him a better endoscopist! CT9 4AN.