lincs 20p magazine 16/4/08 17:01 page 1 together b e ter together/better together issue... ·...

Archway CentreFlagship health centre is open for business

Terry Pratchett

Discworld authorpledges £500,000 to

fight Alzheimer’s

Governor at 16Meet our youngest governor and hear whatshe has to say about mental health

In the limelightLincoln service users film theirown feature length movies

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s members’ magazine

togetherbetter

ISSUE 2 May 2008

FREEWIN A FANTASTIC MP3PLAYER AND SPEAKERS

Lincs 20p magazine 16/4/08 17:01

Chairman’sForeword

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Alzheimer’s disease sufferer andbest-selling author TerryPratchett has pledged almosthalf a million pounds forresearch into the condition.

Terry is the creator of theDiscworld series of comedicfantasy novels and wasdiagnosed with a rare early-onsetform of the disease in Decemberlast year. He announced thedonation of approximately£500,000 at the Alzheimer'sResearch Trust annualconference.

Alzheimer's disease is the mostcommon cause of dementia, andis a degenerative and terminaldisease for which there iscurrently no known cure.

According to the Alzheimer’sResearch Trust, in Lincolnshire7.14 per cent of over 65’s havedementia - that’s approximately9,600 people.

Terry has a rare form ofAlzheimer’s called posteriorcortical atrophy, in which areasat the back of the brain begin toshrink and shrivel.

Terry said: "I intend to screamand harangue while there is

time. I am, along with manyothers, scrabbling to stay aheadlong enough to be there whenthe cure comes along.

“Say it will be soon – there'snearly as many of us as there arecancer sufferers, and it looks asif the number of people withdementia will double within ageneration. In most cases,alongside the sufferer you willfind a spouse suffering asmuch.”

Rebecca Wood, Chief Executiveof the Alzheimer’s ResearchTrust, said: “Whilst we weredeeply saddened to learn of MrPratchett’s diagnosis, we aredelighted that he has chosen tospeak out about his experienceswith Alzheimer’s disease, to raiseawareness about its impact andthe desperate need for moreresearch.

“Research is the only way tobeat this disease and help peoplelike Terry – to prevent themlosing their thinking skills andkeep them doing the things theylove. Terry’s generous donationwill fund promising UK researchwhich hopes to find ways toslow down or halt the disease.”

To find out more aboutAlzheimer’s disease, turn to theMental Health Fact File on theback page.

Photos of Terry Pratchett arecourtesy of the Alzheimer’sResearch Trust.

We have now been aFoundation Trust forsix months. It hasbeen an extremelybusy and demandingtime for everyone.Developing theBoards of Governorsand Directors withtheir respective roles

and linkages has been a particularchallenge and I would like to thank all mycolleagues, old and new, for the supportand encouragement they have given me.

We are very keen to get to know ourmembership better and both Governors andDirectors are working on a number of initiativesto help us to do so. One of these is a series ofcombined roadshows around the county in thesummer which will give us a welcomeopportunity to meet members and the widerpublic.

There are exciting things going on in the Trustwhich we want to tell the world about; theroadshows will be an important way ofpublicising what the Trust does and how peoplecan become involved.

Information about these and many otheractivities will be posted on the Trust’s websiteand elsewhere. We look forward to seeing you atan event near you soon.

Best wishes,

Alison HealeyChairman

Discworldauthor pledges£500,000 to fightAlzheimer’s

Would you be happy to have your copy of BetterTogether emailed instead of sent out in the postor internal courier? Would you be happy to shareyour copy with other members of your householdor team in future? If you can help us cut down onthe amount of paper we use – and save the NHSmoney – please get in touch with the membershipteam and we’ll make a note.

HELP US CUTDOWN PAPER,NOT TREES


Older service users at WithamCourt in Lincoln have beenstarting the day right bygetting busy in the kitchen.

The Breakfast Club is organised byOccupational Therapist CarolRogers and Occupational TherapyTechnical Instructor Kate Cockettto help service users maintain theirindependence by preparing andclearing up after their ownbreakfasts.

Running every Tuesday andThursday morning, the clubprovides a supportive environmentthat encourages people to keepup their practical skills and helpsto improve confidence andmotivation among people whomay not be as independent asthey once were.

Witham Court provides in-patientand community support forpeople aged 65 years or olderwho are experiencing mentalhealth difficulties.

The Breakfast Club is just one partof the great work being done atWitham Court that has led to itbeing awarded PracticeDevelopment Unit (PDU)accreditation.

To achieve this, members of staffhave had to demonstrate strongleadership, strategic awareness,creative problem solving andeffective team and partnershipworking.

Other initiatives that have helpedthe unit achieve the award includetelephone cover on reception after4.30pm with admin staff takingturns to stay late to ensurephones are answered, thestreamlining of ward rounds tomake them more efficient, andthe setting up of a network thatenables Community Support

Workers to assist each other anddiscuss common themes in theirwork.

Mark Challinor, Team Leader forOlder Adults, said: “This is afantastic achievement and onethat all staff at Witham Courtshould be proud of. It is clear thatthere is an excellent sense of teamspirit and camaraderie coupledwith a genuine desire to promoteand deliver excellent patient care.A solid foundation is now in placeto move to Stage Two of theaward.”

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Breakfast Clubbrings home the bacon

It was pedal power all the way at the Trust’sFrancis Willis Unit in Lincoln as staff and serviceusers hopped on their bikes to raise money forSport Relief.

Pictured are (left to right) Sue Coles, Fitness Instructor,Marina Keel, Unit Secretary, Tracy Colpotts, Staff Nurse,Elaine Llewellyn, Dr Barczak’s Secretary, and Phil Mason,Occupational Therapist, who along with service users(pictured top right in their Sport Relief socks) eachcycled a mile to raise almost £100 for charity.

Over at the Peter Hodgkinson Centre, Lincoln, staff andservice users also pedalled for a mile to raise money. Walkers joined in the fun too, with people from bothunits taking part in a mile walk to raise money –collectively walking the same distance as Lincoln toSpilsby and back!

All in aid of


2008 marksthe 60thanniversary of theDid you know the NHS will be60-years-old on 5 July this year?The Trust is joining with NHS colleagues across thecountry to mark this important milestone andwe’d like to hear your ideas about how we can do this.

Whether it be a 60p cake sale, open days or abirthday party we want to know how you thinkwe should celebrate the anniversary.

For example, we’ll be at the Lincolnshire Showwith an exhibition of health services past andpresent. Do you have any memorabilia from theNHS in Lincolnshire in days gone by that we couldborrow for a display or photograph?

We’d also like to interview any of ourmembers who were born on 5 July1948 for a feature in a future issue ofBetter Together, so please do get in touch.

Send your ideas through toCommunications and InvolvementManager Thirzah Wildman on 01522515306 [email protected]

Please see 60 second interviewon page 13

Almost half a million pounds hasbeen pledged for a number ofnew posts to boost Lincolnshiremental health services in priorityareas.

£427,000 of extra cash will mean theTrust can recruit another cognitivebehavioural therapist to treatdepression, two specialists to workwith children who self-harm, apsychology assistant and occupationaltherapist for older people withdementia and two new nursespecialists within the Trust’s eatingdisorders service.

The windfall has come about so thatthe Trust can implement newguidelines about treatment issued bythe National Institute for Health andClinical Excellence (NICE).

Andy Skelton, the Trust’s ActingDirector of Nursing, said: “We areparticularly pleased to receive thisuplift on the back of NICE Guidance.It is always a challenge to keep upwith the latest clinical evidence, andthese monies give the Trust theopportunity to ensure that caredelivered is in line with the latestthinking.”

An

dy Skelto

n

Thanks to a £440,000 grantfrom the Department of Health,deep cleans have been carriedout in 13 units across thecounty and will help the Trustkeep its infection rates very lowand make sure the wards areclean and tidy.

It is part of the Government’sbid to cut down on infectionssuch as MRSA in hospitalsnationally, although suchdiseases are very unusual atTrust premises.

Deep cleans are an intensecleaning process beyond thethorough cleaning undertakenon a day-to-day basis thatalready goes on. They includethe cleaning of vents, grills and

radiators, carpets, all equipmentand wall washing. The Trust’sdeep clean was complementedby de-cluttering andredecoration.

Acting Deputy Director ofNursing Margaret Hendersonsaid: “All-round cleanliness isvital in helping to reduce the riskof infection and to ensure thatservice users and visitors areconfident that our properties aresafe places to be.

“Infection at Trust properties isvery rare, but this extra deepcleaning programme hasensured that we continue tominimise the risk of infectionsoccurring.”

A dedicated cleaning ‘hit squad’ has been scrubbingTrust premises from top to bottom to ensure theyremain sparkling and free from visible and hidden dirt.

Funding boostbrings new mental

health specialists

4


1948

The birth of the NHS brings healthcareprofessionals together in one all

encompassing organisation for the firsttime, to realise the aim of providing

services that are free for all at thepoint of delivery.

1954

Smoking is linked to cancer for thefirst time by the British scientist Sir

Richard Doll.

1968

The first heart transplant is carriedout by South African-born

surgeon Donald Ross at theNational Heart Hospital in

London.

2000

NHS walk-incentres areintroduced

to offereasy accessto a rangeof services.

Meanwhile, funding has also been provided foranother new post who will be a specialist inpsychosocial interventions working with peoplewith serious mental health problems and theirfamilies. Psychosocial interventions are anapproach that focuses on coping mechanisms.It allows the individual to understand moreabout their condition and to reduce stresseswhich may worsen the condition.

This will be a joint post with the Trust and theUniversity of Lincoln. The specialist will join theTrust’s Assertive Outreach teams (who workwith people who are difficult to engage inservices), but will provide expert advice to otherteams as well.

Volunteering

Four volunteers from the Orderof St John Care Trust, which is aLincolnshire-based not-for-profitorganisation, regularly help outat the Manthorpe Centre inGrantham.

One of them, Jenny, has beenvolunteering for seven and ahalf years after responding to anadvert in her local newspaper.She works with service users tobring out their crafting skills byhelping them with card making.

Jenny said: “It is nice to seepeople enjoying themselves, andI love helping to keep theminterested in things. Cardmaking is a particularly goodactivity because cards are oftensent to family members, whichhelps to reassure them that theirloved one is keeping busy andnot just sat about.”

A full time Activities Co-ordinator is employed at theManthorpe Centre. SharonGutsell has been in post forthree years, in a role createdfollowing Government advicethat more activities wereneeded for older people.

Sharon said: “People can diefrom boredom. Volunteersprovide support that I wouldn’tnormally have and they help byshowing service users that thereare people who have the timeto listen to them and work onactivities with them.

“We have a range of activitiessuch as cooking, trips out,gardening and massage, andvolunteers are a hugely valuablepart of my role.

“We don’t force people to takepart in activities – it is entirelytheir choice – and we often findthat even though someone maybe reluctant at first, they doappreciate it once they areinvolved.”

If you are interested in findingout more about volunteering –which could be any kind of skillor service – please contactVoluntary Services Manager RobKendrick on 01529 301845.

Pictured left to right volunteerJenny with Rose Kiernan fromthe Order of St John Care Trust.

KIND-HEARTED individuals who give up theirtime for free play a crucial role in providingsupport and friendship to people who use theTrust’s services.

5


6

The Department of Health’sChief Nursing Officer paid aspecial visit to the Trust’s LongLeys Court learning disabilitiesunit in Lincoln.

Christine Beasley officially markedthe site’s Practice DevelopmentUnit accreditation with a ribboncutting and chatted with staff andservice users.

Becoming a Practice DevelopmentUnit (PDU) is a two-year process ofassessment against 15 set criteriathat recognises the quality ofservice given to service users, aswell as the skills and knowledge ofmembers of staff.

Christine was appointed ChiefNursing Officer in October 2004and is the Department of Health’sDirector General for ProfessionalLeadership and for Partnerships forChildren, Families and Maternity.She is also the lead director forReducing Health AssociatedInfections and the CleanerHospitals Programme.

Audrey Whelan, Matron/Managerfor Learning Disabilities, said: “Alot of hard work and dedicationhas gone in to achieving PracticeDevelopment Unit status and weare delighted to have welcomedChristine to the unit to performthe official opening ceremony.

“This PDU award has allowed usto demonstrate the high standardof good practice there is at Long

Leys Court, the level of expertiseamong staff and the efforts wetake to engage with service usersand encourage them to take anactive role in their recovery."

Long Leys Court is an assessmentand treatment unit for adults withlearning disabilities and associatedhealthcare needs that may includemental health issues, complexepilepsies and challenging

behaviour primarily caused bydeterioration in their physical ormental health.

Christine went on to meetrepresentatives from UnitedLincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust,Lincolnshire Teaching NHS PrimaryCare Trust and Lincolnshire CountyCouncil about the efforts beingmade locally to improve andmaintain high standards of care.

Pictured from left to right are Natasha Pepperdine (front), Sue Garratt, UnitManager, Catherine Keay, Nurse Lecturer/Practitioner, Chief Nursing OfficerChristine Beasley, Audrey Whelan, Matron/Manager for Learning Disabilities,Andrew Rhoades and Alan Hornblow.

Top Nurse Visits Long Leys Court

Foundation Trusts have a responsibility to involvemembers in having a say in how their services aredeveloped.

At a recent time-out day, the Board of Governorsdebated ways in which they can find out about yourviews in order to represent them to the Trust.

Ideas included holding listening events for members tohave their say on topical themes, arranging eveninglectures on the latest thinking on mental health-relatedtopics, holding open days, making Governor visits tounits around the county, providing Governors’ surgeries- either through an internet forum, by email or inperson - and carrying out surveys of your views.

What do you think? If you have any comments onthese ideas or suggestions as to how the Governors

might gather their constituents’ views, please docontact the Membership Office.

Please remember that if you have any questions oropinions you would like your Governor to raise with theTrust on your behalf, you can get in touch with themthrough the Membership Office. You could also attenda Board of Governors meeting (check Dates for yourDiary on the back page for details).

Telephone 01522 515356, email [email protected] orwrite to: The Membership Office, LincolnshirePartnership NHS Foundation Trust, Cross O’Cliff Court,Bracebridge Heath, Lincoln. LN4 2HN.

If you are unsure who represents you on the Board ofGovernors, please contact Sam or Claire in theMembership Office or visit our website: www.lpt.nhs.uk

Are we involving you enough?


7

Cries of ‘Lights, Camera,Action!’ were heard aroundLincoln as service users got togrips with shooting their veryown feature-length movies.

The movies were part of the Trust’sannual GEMINI Project, whichoffers service users who have usedthe Occupational Therapydepartment at the Trust’s PeterHodgkinson Centre, Lincoln, theopportunity to explore learningand creativity as students in acommunity-based, educational andsupportive environment.

Service users worked with a filmmaker from the University ofLincoln and were able to generateideas, direct their films and thenedit them. Studying at theuniversity provided a greatopportunity for the group todevelop creative film and videotechniques. The films have beenscreened at Lincoln Central Library.

Terry Overton, Senior TechnicalInstructor and GEMINI Projectorganiser, said: “This opportunityhas resulted in a rich variety of filmwork which has created such a

positiveresponse.Visitors to theexhibition were amazedat the quality of work ondisplay.”

Pictured above, left to right, OTvolunteer Kate Steane wathing thefilm ‘The Lock Keeper’ by serviceuser Moo, and the film the ‘TheLock Keeper’ preperation andartwork.

Night admissions toacute mental healthwards in Lincolnshirehave been vastly reducedthanks to a pioneeringscheme that means thereis someone on the end ofa phone to offer advicein a crisis.

Service users,relatives and otherhealthcareprofessionals such asAccident andEmergency staff nowhave a single pointof contact thatmeans a hospitaladmission is not theonly option at nightany more.

The initiative, whichhas won nationalacclaim, involves an on-call rota manned by CrisisResolution/HomeTreatment Team nursesand a social worker. Itoperates at hospitals inBoston, Grantham and

Lincoln outside normalworking hours.

Staff have directadmission rights to amental health ward, butalso offer a range ofalternatives dependingon what the individualneeds at the time.

These include simplyproviding advice,offering assistance fromthe Crisis ResolutionTeam or referral tocommunity services forhome management.

Members of staff workwith people aged 18 to65 with a severe orenduring mental illness,as well as older adultsand people with learningdisabilities.

Acute Care Nurses FionaJackson (left) and EmmaBritchford (right) areboth part of the nighttriage team in theDepartment ofPsychiatry, PilgrimHospital, Boston. Theunit provides in-patient,out-patient and dayhospital treatment foradults experiencing acutemental health problems.They work both on theward and as part of thecrisis team.

Fiona said: “The biggestimpact that we’ve hadsince the night triageservice was introduced isthat people now havesomeone on the end of atelephone 24 hours aday, seven days a week.

“As well as signpostingpeople to appropriateservices, we also play animportant role inproviding support forservice users and carersas well as being given

advice to the hospital’sAccident and Emergencydepartment.”

Emma added: “Hometreatment is always thefirst option – it’s whatmost service users prefer- and we work withpeople until they arebetter or would be moresuitably looked after byanother service.

“The scheme also meansthat service users can getin touch with someonethat they know. Thisfamiliarity really helps usto put people at easeand helps us to providesomething moreappropriate.”

and...Action!!!

always there in time of

a crisis


8

Almost 7,500 people are now members ofLincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, butwe still need to make sure as many people aspossible have the chance to join us.

In addition to 2,000 staff members the Trust is hopingto have over 7,000 public members by the end of thisyear, which will be the equivalent of one per cent of thepopulation.

Please help us by encouraging friends, colleagues andfamily who haven’t already become members to join.They can fill out the form below or log-on to ourwebsite, where signing up will take a couple of minutes– www.lpt.nhs.uk

Thank you.

Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Postcode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tel number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Male/Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Date of birth (you must be 12 or over) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

We need the following information so we canensure we represent everyone in the community.

Ethnic group (please tick)

White British . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

White Irish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Other White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Black Caribbean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Black African . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Other Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chinese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Asian/Indian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Asian/Pakistani. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Asian/Bangladeshi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Other Asian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

White & Black Caribbean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

White & Black African . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

White & Asian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Other mixed background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Other ethnic group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I would like to be included as a:

Service user member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Carer member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Public member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Please tell us if you have any specialcommunication needs:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Please return your membership form to:

Freepost RRCG-CBLE-LXTULincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation TrustCross O’Cliff CourtBracebridge HeathLincoln.LN4 2HN

For further information, please telephone theMembership Office on 01522 515356 or [email protected]

The Trust can now counton support from abovebecause the Bishop ofLincoln has put pen topaper and signed up as amember.

The Bishop – The RightReverend Dr John Saxbee –signed up on a visit to theTrust’s Peter HodgkinsonCentre in Lincoln, whichprovides mental health in-patient, day hospital andout-patient services.

While at the centre hechatted with members ofstaff and service users and

spoke about the need forfirst class mentalhealth facilities inthe county. Healso took a tourof the buildingand popped intothe art studio tocreate a clay leafthat will formpart of a work ofart that is beingput together byservice users.

Trust Chairman AlisonHealey said: “We arehonoured that the Bishop

came to visit us and he wasvery complimentary aboutthe Peter Hodgkinson

Centre and the Trust as awhole. He really enjoyedhis afternoon with us, andstaff and service users werevery pleased to meet him

and spend time talkingwith him.

“We always welcomenew members. People from all walksof life right acrossLincolnshire havealready signed up tobecome a member, butwe always need moremembers so that wecan have as manypeople’s viewsrepresented aspossible.”

Membership FormMembership Form

Bishop signing up


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The social care servicesthe Trust provides onbehalf of LincolnshireCounty Council havebeen praised.

The report by the Commission for SocialCare Inspection (CSCI) concluded thatLincolnshire County Council’spartnership working to deliver mentalhealth services - primarily with theTrust - is “good”.

CSCI looks at the whole picture of socialcare in England. It regulates, inspectsand reviews all social care services inthe public, private and voluntary sectorsin England, and gives a star rating tocouncils.

Organised by Lincolnshire Partnership NHS FoundationTrust, the “Celebration of Mental Health Research inLincolnshire” conference saw mental healthprofessionals and academics coming together to discussa variety of topics including psychology, child and familymental health and health services-related researchmethods.

Areas of research carried out over the past year haveincluded whether child mental health cases arebecoming more complex, attitudes towards death inpeople who self-harm or attempt suicide, and whatservice users think of the care they receive from theTrust’s community mental health teams.

Organiser Dianne Tetley, the Trust’s Research andEffectiveness Manager, said: “Research is vital to equipmembers of staff with new skills and knowledge, whichin turn enables the Trust to provide first class care.

“Service users are at the heart of everything we do andby conducting research, working with otherorganisations on joint projects and looking to increaseour level of knowledge we are better placed to do this.

“The Trust’s progress in research over the past year hasbeen phenomenal and the day featured some livelydebate about the research that people have beencarrying out, the opportunities available and how wecan move forward and develop our knowledge.”

Pictured left to right are Professor Ian Baguley of theUniversity of Lincoln, Research and EffectivenessManager Dianne Tetley and Dr Niro Siriwardena.

On the move?If you are moving, please contact the membership officewith your change of address. Undelivered mail can costthe NHS money, so please don’t forget to let us know.

Leading mindscome togetherThe leading minds in mental health inLincolnshire gathered at the Universityof Lincoln to discuss the importance ofbuilding knowledge and what thefuture holds for research.

In the previous issue of Better Together, webrought you news of plans to build three newrehabilitation units on one site in Lincoln.

Outline planning permission has now been granted andthe plans have been presented to the Trust’scommissioners Lincolnshire Teaching NHS Primary CareTrust for their consideration. Subject to approval of aviable business case, detailed planning work will thentake place on the design, taking into consideration theviews of service users, carers and local public.

REHABD E V E L O P M E N T


Flagship Health Centre is open

for businessWith its subtle entrance nestled among shops, cafés and travel agents, youcould be forgiven for missing Lincolnshire’s newest mental health centre ifyou didn’t know it was there.

10

The Archway Centre - right in the heart of a newshopping and residential development off Outer CircleRoad - has opened in Lincoln.

The Trust’s primary care mental health team and adultpsychology specialty have now well and truly saidgoodbye to ageing premises at Beckside and BaverstockHouse respectively – and they couldn’t be happier withtheir new home.

The centre’s launch marks a new era in how mentalhealth premises are planned, with the emphasis onproviding them within the heart of the community, innon-stigmatising settings. With one in four peoplesuffering from a mental health problem in their lifetime,

seeing a mental health professional is commonplace,and the new strategy for the Trust’s premises reflectsthat.

Straddling the shopping mall’s main thoroughfare, thecentre boasts no fewer than 17 counselling roomsbehind its smart glass doors, a welcoming waiting area,a group therapy room and comfortable offices for the30 staff based there.

As one team member put it: “We feel like we’rerespecting our service users a lot more now by beingable to see them here in this modern, clinicallyappropriate environment. There are also real,therapeutic benefits to where we are located.”


11

The proximity to the shopping centre means that when staff need to see how people respond to being in everyday situations, they only have to go outof the door.

Two smart staff kitchens, rest areas and plentiful carparking have also been a welcome benefit of the move.

Team Leader Caroline Coxon is responsible for thebuilding. She said: “We’re really pleased with the newcentre. Not only are the facilities fantastic, butpsychological therapies and primary care staff are nowbased together, which is proving really helpful in termsof integrating the teams, providing leadership andprofessional development and ultimately helping us toprovide a better service for patients.

“It’s a far cry from our previous premises, which weredifficult to maintain, had problems with damp andweren’t situated in particularly accessible locations.”

Some of the Archway Centre staff, with Trust managers, Chief Executive Chris Slavin and Chairman Alison Healeyunder their new premises.


Dignity and privacy have been the driving forcebehind a significant extension to Maple Lodgerehabilitation unit in Fishtoft, near Boston.

Five new bedrooms are now complete, meaning theunit now provides men-only and women-only areas,with separate private, en-suite bedrooms.

This brand new extension is part of a wider plan tomodernise the Trust’s rehabilitation services, which arefor people who have long term and often complexmental illnesses.

The five new rooms come complete with a bed,bedroom furniture and an en-suite shower or bath.One room has been adapted for people with aphysical disability, with features including a walk-inshower and a lower bed.

A full residentialrehabilitation service isprovided to supportand enable the recoveryof service users, as wellas short term respitecare for those whoneed it.

Sharon King, Head ofSpecialist Services at theTrust, said: “People canfeel uncomfortable onmixed-sex wards andthese five newbedrooms help us to

treat them in an environment where they feel relaxedand at ease.

“The new wing helps to cement the Trust’s place atthe forefront of mental healthcare and provides a firstclass rehabilitation unit for the county.”

People who are admitted to Maple Lodge have usuallycome from other hospital wards. They are likely tohave had unusual or intense experiences andfrightening thoughts for a period of time which maystill worry them.

Each person’s experiences are different and can leavethem with unwanted feelings or effects such asconfusion, loss of control, lack of “get up and go”,fears about the future and difficulty trusting people.

The £900,000 funding to build this extension camefrom the Department of Health. It is also financingsimilar works at Ashley House in Grantham andCarholme Court in Lincoln.

The Trust’s Primary Care and Psychological Therapies Service is stagingan open evening on Wednesday 25 June 2008 at the ArchwayCentre in Lincoln (featured on page 10).

Open to all Foundation Trust members, this event will provide anopportunity to look round their brand new clinical service and attendan informal presentation on “Self Help and Depression”.

The discussion will give an overview of what depression is, how it canaffect people, and self help methods for tackling it when it starts.

Light refreshments will be available. The open evening will run from 6pm to 7.30pm.

Spaces are limited, so please contact Sam Hackney in themembership office to book your place – 01522 515356.

Extension for Maple Lodge

Pictured left to right are Kevin Brooks, Unit Manager,Angela Harrison, Staff Nurse, Jonathan Sutton,Clinical Team Leader, Sue Towell, Nursing Assistantand Rebecca Hall, Staff Nurse.

Openevening &

self help fordepression

talk12


13

The 60 second interviewWith Ann Yeates-Langley, Carer Governor

Tell us about yourself

I’m a retired social worker and I lectured at North LincolnshireCollege before retiring. Since then I’ve worked for twovoluntary organisations (the advocacy service CALL and theBritish Red Cross).

How are you involved with the Trust?

Because I care for my son, I became involved with Rethinkand they helped me to begin talking about him to family andfriends. I had closed up even to them and people would askabout my daughter but not my son. I became part of thecarers’ team with Rethink, visiting the Peter HodgkinsonCentre in Lincoln to offer advice, training and support toother carers. This has given me new found confidence and Iwanted to continue my involvement with the Trust bybecoming a carer governor.

When are you happiest?

When I’m walking my dog along the Fossdyke or thecommon.

What is your greatest fear?

Becoming older and incapable.

What is your earliestmemory?

Going to see my father in a military hospital in Reading justafter the War. I was about three and there’s a photo of me atthe hospital.

If you could be another person for a day,who would it be?

The Prime Minister.

What’s the best thing about the NHS?

The good care and treatment it has provided for my family.

What’s the best way to celebrate a 60thbirthday?

Well I have done this myself. I invited all the family andfriends for a meal and then we went home and had a knees-up.

Give us a minuteAs part of the NHS’ 60th birthday celebrations, we’ve been asking Trust members to…

Service users with the Lincoln STEP (Support andTreatment in Early Psychosis) Team have caughtthe acting bug thanks to a series of drama andmusic workshops.

Senior Occupational Therapist Katie Greatheadand Support Time Recovery Worker Patric Pooleteamed up with performing arts students from

Bishop Grosseteste College in Lincoln tostage weekly workshops encouragingparticipants to try out simple drama scenesand dance routines.

Katie Greathead said: “Everyone taking parthad their own aims and objectives, whether

that was making friends, building confidence orimproving dancing ability or vocal skills. Above

all, the aim was to have fun.

“Feedback from people involved hasindicated that they are more confidentwith new things and coping in different

situations.”

And the classes have proved a winner withstudents at the college, giving them a chance towork with people with mental health problems,while participants were able to enjoy access tohigher education facilities.

The Trust’s STEP service works in the communitywith people aged between 14 and 35who are experiencing psychosis for thefirst time, and family, friends, partnersand employers if the person wishes.

The teams use techniques such as anxietymanagement, cognitive behaviouraltherapy, family work, medication, andeducation about psychoticexperiences and staying well plans.They also support people to buildtowards their desired future by offeringhelp with education, work and leisureactivities.

Stepping onto the stage in Lincoln


We caught up withEmma to talk aboutwhat mental healthissues are a bigconcern for youngpeople and how shewould like to seecloser workingbetween mentalhealth services andschools.

Emma’s depression first startedwhen her dad left. This wasn’texpected and Emma felt her dadmoved on with his life prettyquickly. He didn’t leave in a nice

way, and she didn’tunderstand why itwas happening.This was closelyfollowed by the

deaths of a closefriend and of her

gran.

She said: “It wasvery difficult to

understand what washappening at first.

If I went out and saw a fatherand daughter or mother and son,it was very upsetting. I still getquite down some days but I amable to manage that quite well.

“I was able to count on thesupport of my friends. Some ofmy friends were going throughthe same sort of thing so wesupported each other. It helpsmore to talk to someone than tobottle it up.”

Emma attends college in Lincolnwhere she is studying PublicServices, which is about theuniformed services and coverstopics such as the law, citizenshipand being fit and healthy. Shehas lived in Lincolnshire for eightyears and likes playing football,hockey and swimming.

Emma hopes that being aGovernor will give her theopportunity to help others have asay in the future of the Trust. She said: “I first got involvedafter the counsellor in grouptherapy told me about the Trustand how it was looking forgovernors. We started to discuss

ideas about how to improveservice and it took off from therereally.

“My big idea is to help people. I also want to give counsellors amore positive image. FoundationTrust status is really good as itwill bring in the skills ofgovernors and members and helpto influence decisions.”

Emma has some strong ideaslined up for giving herconstituents easy ways of makingtheir voice heard. She said: “I’mlooking to set up an online forumthat will give people theopportunity to ask questions andmake comments. I would alsolike to survey members by postto find out their views.”

Greater links with schoolsis something that Emmawould like to seedeveloped to help peoplegain a betterunderstanding of mentalhealth issues and whateffects mental ill health canhave.

Sixteen-year-old Emma Tenwick-Ford is the ServiceUser Governor for Young People.

sixteengovernor at

“My big idea is to help people. I also want to give counsellors a

more positive image”

14


She said: “School children areaffected by things such asbullying, parents splitting up orby grandparents dying. Mental

health information couldform part of PSE (Personaland Social Education) atschool. Topics such as sex

education and bullying arepart of this and I think havingpeople from mental healthservices come in and talk aboutissues would be good. “I would also like to seecounsellors being more visibleand accessible in schools.”

Emma thinks that bullying is amajor worry for young peopleand is something that can have anegative effect on their mentalhealth.

She said: “I used to get bulliedquite a bit. A big focus for bulliesis appearances. I hate it whenpeople ignore others because ofhow they look.

“I think mental health issuesaren’t talked about enough.There needs to be morediscussion about issues, especiallythings like depression in younger

people. Ithelps thatsoapssometimesfeature thesesissues, but I don’tthink people can fullyunderstand it unless theyexperience it. It is good that theyare putting it in though.”

What do you think? If Emma isyour governor and you’d like toget in touch with her, pleasecontact the Membership Office(details on the back page).

WIN A FANTASTIC MP3PLAYER AND SPEAKERS

15

To be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is read through BetterTogether and find the answer to the question below!

We are offering a 2GB digital OLED Lion MP3 player that can hold up to 1,000songs, plus a set of i-Station Traveller speakers, meaning you can share yourtunes with friends wherever you are.

Service users with the Lincoln STEP Team have been takingpart in drama workshops with students from which college?

Answer ……………………………………………..

Name …………………………………………….

Address ……………………………………………..……………………………………………..

……………………………………………..

Post code ……………………………………………..

Contact telephone number ……………………………

The closing date for entries is 16 June 2008. Please return this form to: MP3 Playercompetition, Membership Office, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, CrossO’Cliff, Bracebridge Heath, Lincoln, LN4 2HN.

To enter this competition, you have to be a member of Lincolnshire Partnership NHSFoundation Trust.

If you are not yet a member and would like the chance to enter, please complete theapplication form on page 8 and return it along with your entry.

Do you fancy getting your hands on a fantastic 2GB MP3 player,courtesy of Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust andMaplin Electronics?


MENTAL HEALTH

While many of our members may

have a lot of knowledge about

mental health issues - from their

own personal experiences, or caring

for or working with others - many of

our other members may not have.

That’s why we’ll be bringing you a

brief introduction to a mental health

topic with each issue of Better

Together.

Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer's disease is the most

common form of dementia, affecting

around 417,000 people in the UK. It

is a physical disease affecting the

brain. During the course of the

disease 'plaques' and 'tangles'

develop in the structure of the brain,

leading to the death of brain cells.

People with Alzheimer's also have a

shortage of some important

chemicals in their brain.

Alzheimer's is a progressive disease,

which means that gradually, over

time, more parts of the brain are

damaged. As this happens, the

symptoms become more severe.

Symptoms

No two individuals are the same, but

people in the early stages of

Alzheimer's disease may experience

lapses of memory and have

problems finding the right words. As

the disease progresses they may:

• Become confused, and frequently

forget the names of people,

places, appointments and recent

events.

• Experience mood swings. They

may feel sad or angry. They may

feel scared and frustrated by their

increasing memory loss.

• Become more withdrawn due

either to a loss of confidence or to

communication problems.

As the disease progresses, people

with Alzheimer's will need more

support from those who care for

them. Eventually they will need help

with all their daily activities.

What causes Alzheimer's

disease?

So far, no one single factor has been

identified as a cause for Alzheimer's

disease. It is likely that a

combination of factors, including

age, genetic inheritance,

environmental factors, diet and

overall general health, are

responsible.

Getting a diagnosis

If you are concerned about your own

health, or the health of someone

close to you, it is important to seek

help from a GP as soon as possible

to help plan for the future, access

treatments and get advice and

support.

There is no straightforward test for

dementia. A diagnosis is usually

made by excluding other causes. The

GP or specialist will need to rule out

infection, vitamin deficiency, thyroid

problems, brain tumours, the side-

effects of drugs and depression.

Specialists

Your GP may ask a specialist for help

in carrying out a diagnosis. The

specialist may be an old-age

psychiatrist, a neurologist, a

physician in geriatric medicine or a

general psychiatrist. Who you see

depends on the age of the person

being examined, how physically able

they are, and how well services are

developed in the area.

Treatment

There is currently no cure for

Alzheimer's disease. However, some

drug treatments are available that

can ameliorate the symptoms or

slow down the disease progression

in some people. The National

Institute for Clinical Excellence

(NICE) guidance at www.nice.org.uk

has the most up-to-date

information.

Caring for someone

with dementia

Much can be done at a practical

level to ensure that people with

Alzheimer's live as independently as

possible for as long as possible.

Information reproduced

courtesy of the

Alzheimer’s Society

www.alzheimers.org.uk

Dates for your diary

Useful numbers

Membership Office – 01522 515356Lincolnshire Patient Advice and Liaison Service(PALS) – 0845 602 4384Confidential and impartial advice guiding you through the

different services provided by the NHS.

Child & Family Services – 01529 416253

Director - Paul Jackman

Clinical Director - Dr Saeed Nazir

Adult Services - 01522 577111

General Manager - Mary Quint

Clinical Director (Acute) - Dr Richard Adeniran

Clinical Director (Community) - Dr Ashok Singh

Older Adults Services - 01522 500690

General Manager - Beverley Bolton

Clinical Director - Dr Orlando Gonzalez

Specialist Services - 01529 301843

(including Substance Misuse, Forensic Services, LearningDisabilities, Early Intervention (STEP), Assertive Outreach,Eating Disorders and Rehabilitation)

General Manager - Sharon King

Clinical Director - Dr Brian Ferguson

Psychological Therapies and Primary Mental Health - 01522 518600

General Manager - Dr Carol Brady

Clinical Director (Primary Care) - Dr Dee Gallop

5 June 2008 - 1pm – 2.30pm, Free research seminar at the University ofLincoln Dementia Care Nursing: Building Meaningful Relationships toAdvance Practice by Professor John Keady (University of Manchester).To book a place visit: http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/ccawi/Events2008.htm or tel: 01623 819 147.

25 June 2008 - 6pm – 7.30pm Self Help and Depression session, ArchwayCentre, Carlton Centre, Outer Circle Road, Lincoln. All welcomeBoard of Governors meetings – The Board of Governors will be holdingseveral meetings over the coming months which you are invited to attend.Please visit the Trust’s website for the latest information www.lpt.nhs.uk orcontact the Membership Office.

Please let Membership Administrator Samantha Hackney know before themeeting if you would like to attend, so that we can ensure we have enoughspace for everyone.

Annual Public Meeting set to be better than everPlans are being made to make this year’s Trust Annual PublicMeeting and Awards Night bigger and better than ever.The meeting is an opportunity to meet people from across theTrust as well as to celebrate the fantastic achievements of staffand volunteers. It will be held at the New Life Centre in Sleafordon 18 September 2008 at 3pm.


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