all.together the MCHFT newsletter PM Visits Leighton Also in this issue... UNICEF Accreditation Charity Update Be Involved Urgent Care Awarded Speak Out Safely Theatres and Intensive Care Choose Well This Winter #1 January 2014 welcome to all.together Welcome to the first edition of environment highly, according and our workforce take extra care All Together, our brand new to a survey which took place of themselves. Flu is common newsletter designed to keep you in the summer. The patient- at this time of year and, whilst updated with the latest news led assessments of the care it can just be unpleasant for and activities of Mid Cheshire environment took place at most us, for some it can cause Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Leighton and at Elmhurst severe health complications. If Intermediate Care Centre you are pregnant, over 65 years It’s a very exciting time to be in Winsford, with all but one old or have a long-term health part of the Trust, with important category scoring 85% or higher. condition, you should be able to projects and advancements Details on the specific categories, get vaccinated against flu for free taking place at Leighton Hospital as well as other recent from your GP. MCHFT staff are in Crewe and the Victoria achievements relating to our also able to protect themselves Infirmary in Northwich. estate, are available on page 14. and their patients by having the vaccination from Occupational Our new Operating Theatres The new facilities that are Health, with more details and Intensive Care Unit are being built will provide us available on page 12. set for completion in the next with a fantastic opportunity to few months, and an update on further improve the quality and Winter also brings with it extra the expected timings involved safety of care available to our pressure on health services, in this project is given on page local community. However, it is with cold weather traditionally 5. Work is also now underway important to note that the services leading to more illnesses and on refurbishing our charity- already available at our Trust are accidents. The Choose Well funded Neonatal Intensive highly rated and achieving great campaign is an NHS initiative Care Unit. Local companies are things. designed to inform people of the still generously fundraising for best source of treatment for any equipment for the new unit – Our Maternity Unit has been particular condition, whether it’s further information and thanks are awarded an international a simple cough or cold through available on page 6. accreditation from UNICEF to life-threatening conditions. for its work on improving the Information on how you can Despite the Leighton Hospital mother-baby bond, whilst our ‘choose well’ is available on the site currently having a number Urgent Care Centre received back page of this newsletter. of refurbishment projects acknowledgement for its work in in progress, delivering extended primary care This is just a sample of some of patients have in the Emergency Department the content available in our new still rated at Leighton Hospital. None of newsletter, and we hope that you the hospital this would have been possible enjoy reading it. If you have any if it wasn’t for the hard suggestions or ideas of topics work and dedication of our that we could include in future staff, and we thank them editions, please email them to greatly for their continued [email protected]. dedication. For further details on these awards, With best regards, please see pages 4 and 11 respectively. With winter now upon us, it is important that both Tracy Bullock John Moran the local community Chief Executive Chairman page 2 Prime Minister Visit David Cameron drops in at Leighton Hospital On Tuesday, July 23, 2013, Prime and Intensive Care Unit which is Minister David Cameron visited currently being built and is funded Leighton Hospital in Crewe as part of primarily through £21.69million of a tour of the local area. Government funding.” Accompanied by Edward Timpson, Edward added: “Leighton Hospital MP for Crewe and Nantwich, Mr is a key asset to our area and I’m Cameron spoke with Tracy Bullock delighted that the Prime Minster and John Moran, Chief Executive was able to attend and hear for and Chairman of MCHFT, about himself some of the positive things the hospital and the services that it that are happening for the benefit provides to the local area. of patients and the community in Pictured above: David Cameron general. with Edward Timpson, Tracy Bullock Speaking after the visit, Tracy said: and John Moran, and speaking with “We work closely with Edward to “I am very proud to have Leighton Treatment Centre staff (top). ensure that we meet the health Hospital in our local area and to needs of our local population and be a patron of their One in Eleven it is a great compliment that he has charitable appeal to help fund a to meet some of the staff at the been so enthused about the care that new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. hospital’s Treatment Centre and am we provide that he invited the Prime pleased to hear that the hospital is Minister to come and meet with us “Having worked alongside hospital performing well despite high demand. too. staff in 2012, I have a great admiration for the hard work and “I hope that this government funding “Mr Cameron was very interested dedication that is shown throughout can help renew Leighton Hospital in our A&E department, as we the organisation, from nursing and and improve the services offered to are managing to maintain our healthcare staff through to the patients in Crewe and Nantwich even performance whilst many other domestics and kitchen teams.” more.” Trusts are struggling. We also spoke to him about our future plans, Speaking after the visit, the Prime including our brand new Theatres Minister commented: “I was delighted page 3 Improved X-Ray Technology at VIN Patients attending the Victoria “This new Infirmary in Northwich (VIN) are process is now benefiting from better medical a lot quicker, imaging facilities, thanks to recent meaning that our refurbishment works. patients spend far less time having to maintain The Infirmary, based at Winnington potentially uncomfortable Hill, now offers direct digital positions whilst we take the system really will help us to provide radiography and is the first use of images.” an improved level of care and such technology at the Trust. hospital experience to our patients.” Gina Chisholm, a Senior Judith Spence, a Senior Radiographer also based at the The X-Ray department based at Radiographer based at VIN, said: Infirmary, added: “As well as Victoria Infirmary would like to “Digital radiography allows for x-ray speeding the process up, the new thank all of their patients for their images to appear on a computer system also has a greatly increased understanding during the disruption screen in seconds, similar to the way image resolution, meaning that caused by the installation. that people can review photos on a we can provide a much clearer digital camera. This means that we assessment of the patient. Pictured above (L-R): Judith can assess the results immediately Spence and Gina Chisholm, Senior and take any additional images at the “There is also a significantly-reduced Radiographers at the Victoria same time if we need to investigate radiation dose required using the Infirmary, with the new medical anything further. digital technology in comparison to imaging equipment. the previous technology, so this new Trust Receives UNICEF Accreditation Staff at Leighton Hospital’s Maternity cancer. Importantly, it also helps to Hospital. Unit are working hard to develop build a strong physical and emotional As well as the important relationship between bond between mother and baby. receiving the mother and baby, according to a Baby Friendly recent UNICEF accreditation. The Unit recently underwent a two- accreditation, day assessment against the Stage we were also The Baby Friendly Initiative, Two standards of the Initiative and awarded established by UNICEF in passed each of the nine criteria the Cherubs conjunction with the World Health unconditionally with an average Charter earlier Organisation, is a global programme score of 93.5%. this year, which provides practical and meaning that we are breastfeeding- effective support for healthcare Pam Cornwall, Head of Midwifery at friendly. Additionally, our refurbished organisations to improve the care the Trust, said: “I am delighted that Labour Ward and Midwifery-Led Unit provided for all mothers and babies. we have been awarded this next opened 12 months ago, and work In the UK, the initiative works with stage accreditation, particularly as is currently underway to provide us health professionals to ensure that we passed three categories with with a new Postnatal Ward alongside high-quality support is provided 100% and four more with scores our One in Eleven Appeal-funded to mothers to enable successful above 90%. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.” breastfeeding. “The whole team here have been For more information regarding the Breastfeeding protects babies fantastic in their work to increase Baby Friendly Initiative, please visit against a wide range of serious the number of mothers choosing to www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly, infections and diseases, both at birth breastfeed their babies, and this is and for further information on the and in the future, and additionally the first time that the hospital has Cherubs Charter, please visit helps to lower the been accredited at this level within www.cherubsbreastfeeding.co.uk. mother’s risk of the Baby Friendly Initiative. developing Pictured above: the logo for the breast and “It is an exciting time for the Baby Friendly Initiative.