Issue 28 Summer 2012 North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust Cervical screening services join forces page 3 Minor injuries comes to the Heart and health specialists rescue of marathon mum get Bill fighting fit page 12 page 19 A cut above - how leading edge surgical techniques are benefiting patients page 28 Anthem | Summer 2012 1 Boost your bones for Age UK’s falls awareness week People were invited to a free event in Stockton’s town centre to highlight the dangers of falls for the elderly. To mark Age UK’s National Falls Awareness Week, an event was held at the A generous George Hardwick Foundation, in Wellington Square, Stockton. Members of the public were invited to find out donation to how to prevent falls and get advice on how a balanced diet and active life style can help them maintain healthy bones. say thanks to The event, sponsored by the Home Safety Association, was organised by North Tees and neonatal unit Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and Stockton Borough Council. Falls coordinator Yvonne Cheung said: “We Keen runner Andy Cairns presented were delighted to welcome the Mayor of the neonatal unit at the University Stockton to the event and see so many Hospital of North Tees with a cheque for members of the public there too. People called an amazing £800, to say thank you to in for a chat and picked up some valuable the staff who took excellent care of his advice on how to reduce their chances of son Shay, who is now 13 months old. injury from falls and find out about home Fracture liaison nurse Mandy Forth and falls co-ordinator Yvonne Cheung Andy, 26 from Stockton raised the safety and independent living. funds by taking part in the Great North “We got behind Age UK’s drive to boost the Run, which he completed in a very fast bone health of older people. There are many 1 hour 42 minutes. simple things that can reduce the risk of He said: “I wanted to do something falls and fractures as we grow older, such as to say thank you for the excellent care walking up the stairs and getting active in a that Shay received on the neonatal and local exercise class. to raise funds which will benefit other ”A balanced diet rich in calcium and getting babies on the ward.” enough Vitamin D through sunshine is very Ward manager Debbie Bryan said: “I’d important to build and maintain healthy bones, like to thank Andy and everyone who which will help to prevent falls and fractures has helped him raise such a fantastic later in life. amount for the ward, which will really Organisations at the event included Stockton help other babies and their families in Independent Living Centre, North Tees and the future.” Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust’s falls team and health trainers, Stockton on Tees LINk (Local Involvement Network), Telecare, Cleveland Fire Service, Crime Prevention and Senior health trainers Julie Johnstone and Elaine the Sensory Loss Team. Mirfin talk to the Mayor of Stockton 2 Anthem | Summer 2012 Bringing a smile to Teesside The trust’s community dental service have been encouraging people to take good care of their teeth during National Smile Month. The oral health promotion team have been out and about across Teesside running information and awareness sessions to increase awareness of the benefits of good oral health and the importance of regular dental visits. National Smile Month, which ran between 20 May and 20 June, is an annual oral health campaign organised by the British Dental Health Foundation to improve oral health and raise awareness. The key messages of the campaign are: Cervical screening • brush twice-a-day with fluoride toothpaste; • cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks and if you services join forces do have them keep them to mealtimes; and Two teams of laboratory professionals whose known as cervical smear test) will be unaware • visit the dentist regularly, job it is to process and detect pre-cancerous of the scale of events behind the scenes as recommended. cell changes in samples from the cervix and the extensive liaison work that takes Oral health promotion team leader Wendy (neck of the womb) have joined forces and place between the laboratory and hospital McGee said: “We were delighted to be become a single team based at the colposcopy departments, Primary Care involved in National Smile Month. We University Hospital of North Tees. The Screening Agency, Quality Assurance were keen to get across the message new service provides sample processing, Reference Centre and GP surgeries on a daily that taking care of your teeth and gums microscopical screening and Human Papilloma basis. Fortunately the cytology department not only benefits your oral health, but it Virus (HPV) testing for around 40K samples has a dedicated team of individuals at all contributes to good general health and per annum, the majority of which are taken levels who are prepared to go the extra mile wellbeing too.” in GP surgeries. All work is carried out in when necessary. The move to centralise North line with the National Health Service Cervical and South Tees services has created a more Screening Programme (NHSCSP) guidelines robust, resilient service better able to cope and monitored by the Quality Assurance with fluctuations in workload demand and Reference Centre. meet finite times for patient pathways and The team of nine from James Cook National Screening Office criteria essential University Hospital transferred employment to enable provision of HPV testing. It also to North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation prepares a more cost effective way forward for Trust in March and the result is one new both now and longer term developments such single team based at North Tees hospital as using HPV testing as the primary screening serving the PCT’s; Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, tool and automated image analysis”. North Tees, Redcar and Cleveland, and “I’d like to thank assistant directors Pam also the region of East Durham and parts Gazeley and Julie Parkes for leading the of Yorkshire. project. There were many other people both at North Tees and at James Cook who worked hard to make this venture a success”. Advanced biomedical scientist practitioner We’ve been made very welcome Callum Bowler, who headed the South Tees team, added: “We’ve been made very by everyone in the department welcome by everyone in the department and and everyone in the team is everyone in the team is settling in very well. settling in very well. Everyone working in the new team appreciates the importance of their work which is unseen Head biomedical scientist and screening but nevertheless an absolutely crucial part of co-ordinator John Smith said: “Nationally the screening service.” the cervical screening programme prevents Pictured are Callum Bowler, John Smith, Lynda around 5000 women per year from developing Lindsay, Lisa Hampton, Gill Ashton, Lynne cervical cancer”. Searching for, finding and McCreton, Sara Knox, Pauline Stark, Deborah correctly interpreting early cell changes is one Fox, Sue Robinson, Kay Weatherell, Natalie of the few qualitative, subjectively assessed Sexton, Muhammad Siddiqui, Carol Cotty and tests left in laboratory work and it takes a high Liz Bone. Oral health promotion advisor Lindsey Neville degree of skill, experience and training.” Also on the team but not pictured are Sonali and oral health promotion team leader Wendy “Many women having their Liquid Based Natu, Andrea Davies, Jo Maidens, Dawn Butler McGee at the event in Asda Cytology (LBC) cervical sample (previously and Dawn Hird. Anthem | Summer 2012 3 A special thank you Major projects Former teacher and patient Malcolm Danby presented special tributes to health professionals who are taking good care of him. showcased at Malcolm thanked life-long friends and colleagues, specialist therapy assistants Denise Mulligan and Barbara Bull. national conference The trust’s palliative care team to develop guidelines for team showcased three major the management of diabetes in projects at a prestigious palliative patients. national conference. “These guidelines provide The 9th Palliative Care Congress, a practical and coordinated which was held earlier this year approach to managing diabetes in in Gateshead attracted hundreds palliative patients across primary of health professionals from and secondary care. across the country. “A team of doctors, including The team were honoured to be myself, associate medical granted a place to three poster director and lead for diabetes at presentations. The projects the trust, Jean Macleod, a GP included how consultant in and hospice practitioner worked palliative care Jane Bentley, closely to produce the guidance has worked with the diabetes to manage the patient’s diabetes, Two of the very best from when they are diagnosed Occasionally in life we meet I remembered them from with a palliative illness until their People who are both pleasant history classes last days of life. and sweet So many years ago While the team were “It’s about focussing on the With a good sense of humour To remember me after all quality of life for the patient and and friendly disposition those years providing excellent the importance of supporting the They are a godsend to those in Made me feel very proud care, we felt the patient’s family too. The guidelines a less fortunate position – you know! are being used in neighbouring communication could trusts and they form the basis of I met them quite by accident I wish I’d met them sooner be improved. guidelines which are due to be When visiting North Tees To chat about old times They greeted me so warmly I’ll keep in contact with them It made me feel quite pleased ‘Cos they make me feel so fine.