Winter 2011 www.nhsforthvalley.comStaffKeeping News NHS Forth Valley staff informed GIVING VOICE WITH GARETH Behind Closed Doors Pages 6-7 Hospital Histories Make Walk This Way Great Gifts Page 5 Page 13 TREAT YOURSELF THIS CHRISTMAS PAGES with our fantastic competition 8 & 9 Our People Our People READY STEADY EDDIE - GO NORMAN PEDEN – Dozens of staff turned up at a farewell the best possible taste of course! THIS IS YOUR LIFE MARATHON RISING TO THE tea at Carseview House to celebrate Eddie’s other achievements included Eddie Macdonald’s retirement after qualifying as an accountant. In MAN 36 years service. Eddie was General l983 he became District Financial Manager of Stirling Community It was a tough challenge – 30 half CHALLENGE Accountant, in 1986 Budgeting marathons in 30 days! But oncology Health Partnership and had held a A 16 mile run and a 39 Accountant and by 1993 was pharmacist Alastair McMurray achieved number of posts during his health mile cycle was the goal Acting Deputy Director of Finance. his goal, and raised more than £20,000 service career, starting as a general facing Staff Nurse Fiona Also in the 1990’s he undertook pounds for Leukaemia and Lymphoma administration assistant in Gladstone Mowbray, who took part a management role at the Royal Research. His gruelling schedule was Place. in the Martin Currie Rob Scottish National Hospital. arranged as a tribute to his close friend Indeed Eddie was Roy Challenge which Golf plays a significant part Pat Beausang, a consultant with NHS interviewed in the very started at Drymen and in Eddie’s life and he was Forth Valley, who lost his battle with room that finally ended finished in Kenmore. a whizz at badminton leukaemia when he was just 43. up as his office and winning no less than 13 Fiona, who works in the became familiar to Alastair’s epic challenge ended on the championships Eddie Day Surgery Unit at Forth staff as a Marilyn Esplanade at Stirling Castle where he also liked life in the Valley Royal Hospital, was Monroe shrine, Associate Medical Director Dr downed a well-earned beer. But two fast lane with a series in a team of four who were complete with Norman Peden was given the red days later, and he was pounding the of high-spec cars, the first ladies team to Marilyn clocks, carpet treatment on his retiral streets again, this time in the Denny yet colleagues say finish coming 11th out of calendars, picture, when he received that famous 10k. He was joined by more than 60 of he was still late for 82 teams. Her result as an posters and desk book This is Your Life. Compiled Pat’s family and friends, and the team everything! individual competitor was ornaments – all in by Administrator Lorraine Dougan effort raised around another £10,000. it was testimony to his colourful 178th out of nearly 700. Alastair is also urging people under character which includes more The team managed to raise 40 to register for bone marrow than 30 years of angling – for just over £600 which will donation. For more details check out fish! - and more than a passing be divided between the anthonynolan.org JIM SINCLAIR RETIRES reference to his other great three charities supported NHS Forth Valley has said goodbye to hobby, skiing. by the event, namely one of its most popular members of Dr Peden, a Cambridge graduate, Scottish Alzheimers, the staff, Jim Sinclair, General Manager for subsequently attended Middlesex NSPCC and Sightsavers. Surgical and Cancer Services, who has Hospital Medical School, retired after almost 40 years with the University of London. He began NHS. working in Forth Valley in l984 Jim trained as a radiographer in and had previously been a lecturer the early l970s and held a number in pharmacology and therapeutics WHAT A of related posts across several at the University of Dundee and health boards before moving into Honorary Senior Registrar in management with Ayrshire and Arran Medicine at Tayside Health Board. Pictures Health Board in l991. He joined NHS During his time in NHS Forth courtesy NHS Forth Valley Chief Operating Forth Valley 10 years later, first leading Valley, Dr Peden has cared for of Central KNOCKOUT!Getting soaked with buckets Hospice. They were taking Officer, Margaret Duffy, presenting Clinical Facilities and then extending 25,000 people in hospital… but is Scotland News of freezing cold water, tackling part in It’s A Knockout” held at retirement gifts to Jim Sinclair Agency this to include the Surgical and Cancer unable to put an estimate on how huge inflatable obstacle courses, the Scottish Police College at Services Unit. many cups of tea he has drunk leaping through giant puddles, Tulliallan. in the past 27 years. Among his and fighting their way Jim made an invaluable contribution, particularly in relation to staff and The team, which included Ewan retirement gifts was a letter from through slippery foam, all in team development. He was always keen to recognise people’s abilities Murray, Margaret MacKinnon, Rangers manager Ally McCoist wet and windy weather! Not and provide opportunities for professional and personal improvement. Derek Blues, Lesley White, Laura and a signed and framed Rangers to mention having to take His popularity was reflected in the significant number of gifts he Crockert, Scott Urquhart and top. shoes and socks off for one received at a retiral tea in Forth Valley Royal Hospital. Janette Fraser, raised around game when it was so cold £1,450 – well ahead of their that standing on grass £1,000 target. They finished the with bare feet was almost day in fifth place. JANET SWAPS STORY impossible! Not everyone’s cup TIME FOR COFFEE TIME of tea but a valiant team from NHS Speech and Language Therapy off after 29 years service in the Forth Valley put colleagues and friends from many NHS. Janet began her career as a themselves through other departments joined Senior domestic in RSNH, was promoted this to raise money Clinical support worker Janet to supervisor and joined Speech and for Strathcarron Donnelly to ensure a lovely send Language Therapy in 1994. 2 Staff News www.nhsforthvalley.com 3 Our People Our People ALTER EGO SERVICE ROLL UP WITH A YOUR SLEEVES WALK THIS WAY Kim and Aggie – eat your hearts areas, fixtures and fittings, curtains, Health Promotion Officer Ann McArthur spent out! Members of the public are now glass work and kitchen areas. Items six days battling the hot sun, torrential wind SMILE involved in checking which could be picked up might and rain as well as the dreaded Scottish midge. whether Forth Valley Royal range from a speck of dust in a She lost four toe nails, suffered from aching Hospital is maintaining corridor to a faulty temperature legs, scarred heels and blisters - all in aid of its sparkle. Working with setting on kitchen equipment. Each the facilities provider area, ward or department is assigned Breast Cancer Campaign, a cause very close to Serco, representatives a code, depending on risk with her heart. from the Patient Public high risk areas coming under more Panel (PPP) are helping intensive scrutiny. In December 2009, Ann’s youngest if they could to carry out domestic Ann’s family who went under the name ‘Hackett Hikers’ To help maintain top standards at sister Denise was diagnosed with carry on. Ann said: audits, inspecting wards Forth Valley Royal Hospital several breast cancer. Ann and her sister and observing general “On day three I set out wearing a finishing line, 96 miles and 6 days advanced cleaning systems have Helen were advised to visit Falkirk standards of cleanliness. pair of white toeless sandals. I had so since we eagerly set out, my sisters, been introduced by Serco. The and District Royal Infirmary for a many bandages on my feet I couldn’t our husbands and myself put our The audit covers all hospital has been praised for its routine mammogram. This resulted get into my walking shoes. Other areas highlighted in the innovative approach which includes in Helen also being diagnosed with arms around each other lifted our walkers, dressed for the occasion, NHS National Cleaning an ozone laundry and robotic the condition, three months after her leg and crossed the finishing line were looking at me as if I was crazy. Specifications, for example equipment to help clean the 16 high- sister Denise’s diagnosis. Both girls together. We had all conquered the I was delighted when I reached the checking floors, toilet tech operating theatres. embarked on two years of intensive challenge and to finish like that was treatment. Green Welly Shop at Tyndrum where wonderful.” A welcome and familiar sight I bought a new pair of boots a size on hospital wards – the WRVS As the sisters began to recover, bigger, ah that was bliss! We trained The family has now raised trolley – has begun making Denise suggested that the entire hard for our walk, we thought we approximately £4,000 for Breast rounds at Forth Valley Royal family walk the West Highland Way were ready, but the terrain was so Cancer Campaign, and would like Hospital. The well-loved service and raise money for Breast Cancer hard on our inexperienced feet. to thank all family, friends and work has been introduced following Campaign. colleagues for their financial support discussions with representatives “A couple of times I felt like giving and encouragement. They would of the Patient Public Panel - Ann said: “Denise did a brilliant job up, it was so hard, particularly who help develop local health researching the route and booking walking downhill in the driving rain.