In form The Staff Newsletter for Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust

October 2012

Introduction from the Chief Executive

As a Trust we place the utmost importance on ensuring our patients are cared for safely and do not come to harm so I am delighted to welcome our new

team dedicated to preventing pressure ulcers. This team will be working with GPs, acute hospitals and care homes and are an excellent example of the partnership working we are seeking to develop. As we face increasing financial

challenges, working in partnership can make a real difference to our ability to provide services. As we gear up for the busy season for flu and colds, I would like to remind all staff to ensure they get their flu jabs as this is another excellent way to prevent harm to patients. Some of the executive team have already had theirs. A list of available clinics for staff can be found on Page 4. Having a bad cold myself recently brought home to me the importance of spreading the word on inappropriate use of antibiotics. All you need to treat a cold is plenty of rest and to drink plenty of fluids.

Antibiotics do not work against viruses such as colds and should only be used to treat infections. If we keep using them for colds, we could prevent them from working in a life‐threatening situation. For more advice on how to treat colds see Page 9. Finally, October is the time for the annual staff survey. You should all have received your copy of the survey by now. We have already had a good response but I would like to encourage you to reply as this is a chance for us to find out your views so we can listen and act on them.

Jo Chambers, Chief Executive

Making Every Contact Count in all we do Making Every Contact Count (MECC) is about staff using the contact they have with service users and the public to give healthy lifestyle information around stopping smoking, drinking alcohol within recommended limits, emotional health and well being, having a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight and undertaking the recommended levels of physical activity. As we approach winter and especially Christmas, many people will be eating less healthily and drinking more, so now is an excellent time for staff to support this campaign and help spread the message. Martine Tune, Deputy Director of Nurs‐ing & Quality and Trust lead for this campaign, said: “We need to move towards embedding Every Contact Counts into our every day activities as part of the way we all work. Providing

Brief Opportunistic Advice (BOA) is a key function for all staff who have direct contact with service users/patients and going forward this will be reflected in job descriptions. “I know some staff say they don’t really know what to say to people who they know smoke or are overweight but there is an excellent e‐learning package available that provides all of the key

messages which are also on Page 2 of Inform for you to cut out and keep. “I have already completed this e‐learning module and I am getting my own team to do it too because all staff, whether clinical or non‐clinical, have an important role to play in helping people to access information, advice and support to stay healthy and avoid preventable disease. “I really want our organisation to embrace MECC in all that we do as every positive contact we have with patients can only help improve their health and well being,” she added. The e‐learning can be accessed by logging onto http://www.education.nhslocal.nhs.uk where you need to register to access the free course. See page 2 for more about MECC

Eat three regular meals daily, including breakfast.

Aim for “five a day” portions of fruit and vegetables.

Cut down on refined white sugar.

Enjoy your drinking but make sure you are safe by drinking moderately.

Have two alcohol free days per week. It gives your liver time to recover.

Know your units. Find out how many units are in your usual drink. If you have a heavy session, you might still be over the drink/drive limit the next morning.

Regular physical exercise can reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes.

Physical activity can reduce stress, help you feel happier and reduce signs of ageing.

Build up activity levels slowly at your own pace.

DON’T SMOKE: Smoking is the principal cause of premature death and one of the best things you can do for your health is stop.

You can save money and feel less stressed if you stop smoking.

You are FOUR times more likely to quit if you join a stop smoking service.

Connect with other people who make you feel good.

Keep learning: join a class or a group activity.

Keep active: get out and about and meet people as often as you can.

Think you know your onions? Take this simple quiz, you may be surprised. Is it true or is it false? (answers at bottom of page) 1. Fruit juice and baked beans count as one portion of your fruit and vegetable intake.

2. If I eat lots of fruit I don’t need to eat any vegetables.

3. Your fruit and vegetable intake must come from fresh fruit and vegetables only.

4. Wholegrain bread, beans and lentils are a rich source of fibre.

5. A diet containing an adequate supply of fibre will help prevent constipation, lower blood

cholesterol levels and help control blood glucose levels.

6. There is more calcium in a pint of skimmed milk than in a pint of whole milk.

7. Turnips and oranges are a source of calcium.

8. Sunlight is a source of vitamin D.

9. A diet containing an adequate amount of calcium and vitamin D will help prevent against osteoporosis.

10. Red meat is a rich source of iron.

11. Oily fish contains omega 3.

12. Saturated fat is better for you than monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fat.

13. Adults should consume a maximum of 6 grams of salt per day.

14. Excess salt could cause high blood pressure and heart disease.

15. It is recommended that we should drink six to eight pints of water per day. 1. True – fruit juice can

only count for one of your 5 portions per day ie you can’t have 5 glasses of juice and say you have had your 5 a day. 2. False – you need to eat a wide

variety of fruit and vegetables for a healthy diet. . False – your fruit and vegetable portions can be made up of dried, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables.

4. True. 5. True 6. False – skimmed milk contain less fat but the same amount of calcium. 7. False. 8. True. 9. True.

10. True – green leafy vegetables are also a good source of iron. 11. True. 12. False. 13. True. 14. True. 15. True.

Key messages for all staff

We all have busy lives – a hectic work and home life can all put pressure on our time – so choosing convenience seems sensible. And a healthy appetite’s a good thing isn’t it? But do we always make the right choices when it comes to food? As NHS staff we’ve become good at spotting when patients’ health might benefit from a better diet but how about ourselves? We owe it to ourselves to give our own health some priority too. We already get a lot of messages about the importance of a healthy diet and perhaps it all seems a bit of a nag but it really is important stuff.

Making sure that you are eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day makes a big difference to your health. Eating healthily is also about eating the right amount of food for your energy needs. The NHS “eat‐well” plate recommends basing meals on around a third starchy foods (bread, rice and potatoes). Eating more fish, reducing fat, sugar and salt and drinking more water is the way to a healthy diet and, combined with enough physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight. Why not try our simple quiz to find

out how much you know about healthy eating?

Are you eating healthily?

To date I have lost five stone 9lbs (37kg) with the help and support of the Why Weight? programmes since March 2011. I would not say it has been easy; some weeks I have gained weight, but the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy principles taught on Why Weight? for Tomorrow gave me the tools to get back on track and draw a line under the weight gain. I now realise how useful and relevant they have been to me. Thanks to these courses I was able to go scuba diving on my last holiday, and on my next holiday I am planning to go paragliding ‐ something I could not have done and would not have been allowed to do before the weight loss. I do believe these programmes have prolonged my life and have given me a better quality of life as I now have the energy and confidence to do the things I want to do. I feel as though I have re‐joined the human race! As for the future I will never allow myself to be that size again. I firmly believe these courses are the key to my success and the belief I will achieve my ultimate goal of losing another two and a half stone, where my weight will then remain.

Losing nine stone on the Why Weight? programme has changed my life. When I started, I could not walk more than 10 paces without being in pain or out of breath and had to sit down again. I have many health problems, most because of being overweight. Now I feel like I’ve been reborn. I can get around my house, up and down the stairs and into my garden. But the big change is in me ‐ physically and emotionally. My whole way of life has changed. I am finding it hard to express how well this programme has worked for me. It’s not just the weight loss; it’s a new way of life .

Why Weight? for Tomorrow is a high intensity weight management programme for residents of Telford and Wrekin with a body mass index of 40+. This 12‐month programme combines psychological, clinical and behavioural change interventions to help patients who have tried and ‘failed’ to lose weight many times, trying ‘every diet on offer’, to successfully lose weight over the long term. It has also been shown to be statistically significant in reducing patients’ total and LDL cholesterol, blood glucose levels and

cardio‐vascular disease risk. Patients rate the programme as being very good or excellent, and evaluations consistently demonstrate improvements in patient’s emotional wellbeing and self belief in maintaining

change, thus reducing the demand for bariatric surgery. The Why Weight services recently won the Team of Excellence in Public Health award 2012. Referrals into the programme can be made by health professionals, or through self referral via the Healthy Lifestyle Hub – 01952 382582. Please ask for Why Weight? A Why Weight for Tomorrow report entitled “Serve up a Change that Lasts for Life” was been published in the Health Service Journal on September 13. Click here to read the article. For further information log onto the website www.healthytelford.nhs.uk

Meet the team. From left: Robert, Caroline, Manpal, Victoria, Judith and Jo

Patients praise Why Weight for Tomorrow programme

Andrew’s story: I lost five stone Jane’s story: I lost 9st

BEFORE BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

Get your jab All staff are encouraged to have a free flu jab and they are available at a number of locations across the county. All you have to do is call 01743 283280 to make an appointment:

Ludlow Hospital – Room PO8A Friday, October 19 (10am to 2.30pm) Friday, November 2 (10am to 3pm)

Whitchurch Hospital – Room 3 Friday, November 23 (10am to 3pm)

Bridgnorth Hospital Multi Purpose Room

Wednesday, October 23 (10am to 3pm) and Tuesday, November 13

(10am to 3pm)

Gains Park Clinics Ring and make an appointment for the normal day‐to‐day clinics.

Halesfield 6 – Meeting Room A

Wednesday, November 14 (9.30am to 3.30pm)

CHEC in Madeley Friday, November 9 (9.30am to 2.30pm)

William Farr House, Room E

Wednesday, November 7, (9.30am to 3.30pm) Staff can also attend the drop‐in session at:

Gains Park Evening clinic

Thursday, November 8 (4.30pm to 6.30pm)

In the last edition of Inform we provided you with information about why it’s so important to get your free flu jab – and to the left is a reminder of the clinics which are still being run across the Trust. Flu can make some of our patients even more poorly, it can complicate and worsen some conditions—and naturally we would be encouraging all our patients to make sure they have the flu jab for extra protection, especially people with pre‐existing conditions such as asthma and pregnant women.

Well, last week members of the Executive team also had their flu jabs given by Occupational Health, to lead by example. Maggie Bayley, Director of Nursing, AHPs, Quality and Workforce; Alastair Neale, Medical Director; Stuart Rees, Director of Finance, Performance and Contracting and Ted Wilson, Director of Operations all received their free flu jab, and now they want all staff to follow their good example by ensuring they also have the vaccination this year.

Don’t forget – the best way to protect your patients, family and friends from getting the flu this winter is by having your free flu jab. All Trust staff—especially nursing and clinical staff—are encouraged to take advantage of the free flu jab, which is being provided to staff by the Trust’s occupational health team. You can also give them a call on 01743 283280 if they want to arrange special clinics such as at team meetings.

Executive team members get their flu jabs

Alistair Neale gets his jab Maggie Bayley has her jab Stuart Rees gets his jab Ted Wilson’s gets his jab

Please also let occupational health know by calling 01743 283280 if you have your jab at your own GP surgery so we know how many staff have had the flu vaccination this year.

All staff are being urged to encourage any pregnant women they come into contact with to have the flu jab. Getting vaccinated against flu is the best way to protect mums‐to‐be and their babies from the virus, and make sure they stay flu safe all winter.

The flu immunisation is quick, safe and completely free for pregnant women – just ask your midwife or GP and make an appointment. You can have the immunisation at any stage of pregnancy, and it can also pro‐tect your baby for the first few months

after birth. Last year less than 41% of pregnant women in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin were vaccinated against flu. For more information, patients need to speak to their GP, midwife or pharmacist, or find us on facebook at www.facebook.com/flufightersstw

Pregnant women need to have flu jab too

The Trust believes their staff are its most valuable resource in achieving its vision of ‘being the best local provider of high quality, innovative services near people’s homes, working closely with partners so people receive well co‐ordinated, effective care’. It fully acknowledges that its continuing and future success is greatly reliant on attracting and retaining a talented, healthy and committed workforce. The organisation’s values ‘WE CARE’, in staff terms, mean placing staff

health and wellbeing at the forefront of Trust priorities. The Occupational Health Service (OHS) is keen to provide staff with the best support possible and has set up a pilot initiative for an Initial Sickness Absence Reporting (ISAR) programme which will initially be run covering staff working at the four community hospitals. All illness will be reported as it is currently to line managers. The manager will then pass on details of the absence to the Occupational

Health Service. An OH adviser will then contact the staff member via telephone to ask the staff member how they are, clarify the medical problem, offer health advice in relation to the problem, help identify an action plan to facilitate a speedy recovery and refer to other agencies if necessary, e.g. counselling. The pilot will run for three months, following which an evaluation will take place. It is hoped that, if successful, it could be rolled out across the Trust. Any staff with health issued related to work contact OHS on 01743 283280.

New initiative puts staff health top of agenda

Staff Survey 2012 Message from Maggie Bayley, the Director of Nursing, Allied Health Professionals, Quality and Workforce/Organisational Development

Every year, staff have an opportunity to let the Trust know what it is like working for the organisation by completing the annual survey held every October. By now, you will have received your survey pack and by 11th October, 251 (15%) of you had already responded. We are delighted with the response rate so far and would like to encourage everyone to complete their survey. The survey is confidential, with all responses and reminders being handled by an outside contractor. The contractor uses the barcodes on the envelope to know who to send reminders to. The Trust doesn’t know who has replied and who has not, and we NEVER receive information on the views of the individual. Please have your say this year as the staff survey is all about you and ensuring we make the Trust as good a place as it can be for all staff.

In 2011 we looked closely at the survey results and recognised that we needed to take action to address some of the issues that you raised. An action plan was created by staff members themselves, working across a range of disciplines, and, as the Director of Workforce, I have fully endorsed them. Changes have already been made in many of the areas including changing the way we carry out our appraisals and providing more corporate induction sessions so

that every member of staff is equipped with the information that they need about the organisation. For the first time ever, the results and actions have been shared with staff around the county by undertaking roadshows which many people attended. We have also set up two seminars aimed at helping staff to understand and cope with stress on 29th November and 22nd January 2013. The action group are continuing to work hard to make more improvements.

We do listen and act on issues you raise

“I have been in post for six months now and during that time I have met many healthcare professionals working in community services and community hospitals. “Without exception all the staff that I have met, have shown themselves to be caring and hard‐working individuals. “I have seen the support and care given to people in their own homes, clinic settings and in hospitals when they are at their most vulnerable and when clinical expertise, care and compassion matter most. “What you do every day matters and you make a real difference to maintaining and improving the health and well being of people in your care – thank you. “I want us to show people in of the county of Shropshire that we are committed to providing dignity in care and ask you to sign up to be a Dignity Champion via the Dignity in Care Network hosted on SCIE webpage by clicking here “For me this is a visible way for the people in our care to see that we as individuals are committed to delivering dignity in care. “You do this every day anyway, as a natural part of your professional role. Taking the time and energy to ‘sign up’ to be a dignity champion ‘shines a light’ on the fact that you see this as an important part of your work. “By signing up to be a Dignity Champion you pledge to: Stand up and challenge

disrespectful behaviour rather than just tolerate it

Act as a good role model by treating other people with respect particularly those who are less able to stand up for themselves

Speak up about dignity to improve the way that services are organised and delivered

Influence and inform colleagues Listen to and understand the views

and experiences of citizens Ensure everyone regardless of age,

using health and social care services, in any setting, has their basic human rights upheld in a respectful and dignified manner

Make sure dignity and respect is at the heart of everyday practice and isn’t an addition to it

Treat everyone as a unique individual

Promote personal choice Promote independence,

well‐being and quality of care/life Empower people Make time to listen Challenge discriminatory attitudes,

behaviours and assumptions “I would like to see 100 Dignity

Champions before New Year’s Day 2013

so that’s just over one a day – please sign

up today,” she added.

Call for dignity championsto make a real difference

“I know you care, let’s wave the dignity flag

together” says Martine Tune, Deputy Director of Nursing & Quality

The Minor Injury Unit (MIU) which is currently based at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital in Oswestry is moving. From 1 November 2012 the town’s MIU will get a new home at the recently opened Oswestry Health Centre off Gobowen Road. The Oswestry MIU treats a range of conditions such as burns, cuts, sprains, bites and wounds, meaning that people in the town and surrounding areas don’t have to travel to an A&E service much further afield. Gilly Scott, Clinical Lead for the MIU Service and Community Hospitals, said: “It’s great that the MIU has got a brand new home at the Oswestry Health Centre. We hope that the service will continue to be at the heart of the local community.” The MIU will be open 8.30am until 6pm Monday‐Friday, and from 8.30am until 1pm on Saturday and Sunday. X‐ray services will also be available 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday. When the MIU is closed, medical cover will be provided by Shropdoc (which can be called on 08444 06 88 88 or, in an emergency, call 999.

Oswestry’s minor injuries unit moving

Oswestry Health Centre

Inspiring: Carol gains award for work as a volunteer Carol Metcalfe, a paediatric diabetes Specialist Nurse with the Trust, has been chosen to receive an Inspire Award by Diabetes UK. The award recognises the work done by an individual volunteer, who directly supports the work of Diabetes UK. Carol has been a volunteer with Diabetes UK since 1994 and has helped with family events which offer the opportunity to meet other parents, doctors, nurses and dietitians plus young and older people who have lived with the condition.

Carol said: “All the events are very tiring and hard work but at the same time extremely rewarding. I would say I have learnt more from these activities than from any course. “Volunteering at these events and my learning has also changed the way I approach families and help them learn how to care for their child following diagnosis of diabetes and beyond. “I am also active in recruiting people to volunteer for events so if anyone who has a connection with diabetes and feels they can help or if

any medical or nursing staff wish to learn more about the realities of living with diabe‐tes please contact me,” she added. Carol can be contacted by calling 01952 641222 or emailing carolmetcalfe@nhs.net

She received her award as part of Diabetes UK’s Volunteering Conference from Frank Moxon, a trustee for the charity. Angela Cook, the Trust’s Diabetes Specialist Nursing Manager, said: “I would just like to congratulate Carol on this award. She does

fantastic work in raising issues about diabetes and also supporting people with the condition and their families.

The League of Friends of Bridgnorth Hospital’s annual gala was very well attended and made a profit of £6,300. The Gala was well supported by busi‐ness and the people of Bridgnorth. Staff at the hospital supported the event and departments ran a number of very profitable stalls. Brian Mayhew‐Smith, chairman of the League of Friends, said: “Other staff at

the hospital also gave their time to help for which we are very thankful. “It was great to see the League, staff and members of the public fully participating in this annual event.”

Gala nets £6,300

Congratulations to all staff at William Farr House for supporting the World’s Biggest Coffee morning. Nina White, Service Improvement Manager (Orthopaedics) for the PCT, organised the event, supported by Trust staff and raised a magnificent £164.09. The event came about after Nina met with some of the cancer team at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and

heard they were organising a coffee morning to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. Nina said: “ We all know someone who has fought the fight with a terminal illness so this seemed a perfect cause to support. I would also like to thank the many people who made and donated cakes as part of the event. They were all delicious.”

Coffee and cakes raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust’s campaign to eliminate all avoidable grade 2, 3 and 4 pressure ulcers across the county has taken a major step forward with the launch of a dedicated pressure ulcer prevention team. This team, which will cover the whole of the county, has a supportive and educational role, aiming to raise the profile of pressure ulcers and how to prevent them by developing aware‐ness and best practice. Joy Tickle, the Trust’s tissue viability specialist nurse, said: “If pressure ulcers are allowed to develop into grade three or four ones, they cause great discomfort and pain to patients and this team will help all carers to prevent them from occurring. “In acute settings such as hospitals, there are specialist tissue viability nurses who can identify when patients are at risk of developing these but, in other care settings, this support is not so readily available. “We have already identified some nursing and residential homes with a higher incidence of pressure ulcers and the team is providing their staff with in‐house training so they know how to prevent pressure ulcers from occurring in the first place.

“We have also set up a dedicated Pressure Ulcer Prevention Helpline on 07794 053768 which will be available Monday to Friday from 2pm to 4pm and is open to anyone in the community who has concerns or needs advice on the potential development of pressure ulcers, how to treat existing ones or on providing pressure‐relieving equipment. “If we can all work together to elimi‐nate pressure ulcers, which are also costly to treat, then we will not only improve patients’ lives but will also be able to spend more money on further improving health services in the county,” she added. The team will be working with the SSKIN care bundle: Surface – Ensuring any pressure‐relieving equipment works correctly Skin inspection – Monitoring for changes in skin integrity Keep Moving – Ensuring patients change position regularly Incontinence – Ensuring skin is kept clean and dry Nutrition and hydration – Ensuring patients are eating and drinking adequately Posters and leaflets are also being created to be placed in public and clinical areas.

New team launched to prevent pressure ulcers

The new pressure ulcer prevention team are, from left, Jessica Bates, Tonia Rees, Emma Clitheroe and Sally Underwood.

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust has set up a dedicated task group to raise awareness of and tackle the second most common healthcare‐linked infection that occurs in the country – catheter‐associated urinary tract infections. This group is made up of representatives across the health economy including acute hospitals, community nurses, community hospitals and independent care homes so they can share best practice and work together to reduce these infections. Tanya Kidson, the Trust’s head of infection prevention and control, said: “Nationally 17 per cent of all healthcare associated infections are urinary tract ones and 43 per cent of these are related to the presence of a urinary catheter. “We have set up this special group to reduce the numbers of infections and ensure that all patients with a urinary catheter receive optimum high quality care. Because of the risk of infection urinary catheters pose, we want to ensure they are only used when all other alternative treatment methods have been exhausted and that they are then removed at the earliest possible opportunity,” she added. The Trust has a dedicated specialist continence team and has already started training for Trust staff and independent care providers on catheter care, bladder screening and continence assessment. A urinary catheter passport has also been launched to aid communication between patients and any healthcare professional involved with their care. This group is also working together to reduce the incidence of constipation, including promoting the bowel care pathway and providing training.

Task group to tackle catheter linked infections

October is Lupus Awareness Month and all staff are being asked to look out for signs that any of their patients may have the illness. Systemic Lupus is a presently‐incurable illness of the immune system, a condition in which the body’s defence mechanism begins to attack itself through an excess of antibodies in the blood stream causing inflammation and damage in the joints, muscles and other organs. Discoid Lupus is usually a condition of the skin alone, but in a very few patients they might develop Systemic Lupus. With its many symptoms, Lupus can often be overlooked which may delay final diagnosis and a vital start to necessary treatment which can contain the disease and limit potential damage to the kidneys, heart, lungs or brain. For more information log onto www.lupusuk.org.uk

Be aware of Lupus this month

The European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) is an annual European public health initiative that takes place in November to raise aware‐ness about the threat to public health of antibiotic resistance and prudent antibiotic use. The latest information confirms that across the European Union the number of patients infected by resistant bacteria is increasing and that antibiotic resistance is a major threat to public health. (source: http://ecdc.europa.eu) The correct use of antibiotics can help stop resistant bacteria from developing and help keep antibiotics effective for the use of future generations. But, by over‐using antibiotics, immunity in the community and personal immunity can be reduced. To find out more about EAAD, infection prevention and control or about antibiotic use in the Trust contact either Tanya Kidson, Head of Infection Prevention and Control by email Tanya.kidson@shropcom.nhs.uk Or Rita O’Brien, Chief Pharmacist, by email:

rita.obrien@shropcom.nhs.uk The Medicines Management and Infection Prevention and Control Teams at Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust are encouraging all staff and patients to be aware of some simple messages this year: Antibiotics will not get rid of

your cold Antibiotics will not help you

build up your defences against a cold in the future (get the flu jab!)

If you are feeling unwell from a cold, antibiotics will not help you feel better

Informing: Support European Antibiotic Awareness Day

Best way to treat a cold How should I treat my cold? The best way to treat colds, coughs or sore throats is to drink plenty of fluids and to rest. Colds can last about two weeks and may end with a cough and bringing up phlegm. There are many over‐the‐counter remedies to ease the symptoms – paracetamol for example. Ask your pharmacist for advice. If the cold lasts more than three weeks, or you become breathless of have chest pains, or already have a chest complaint, see your doctor. Why should antibiotics not be used to treat coughs and colds? All colds and coughs and sore throats are caused by viruses. Antibiotics do not work against infections, such as colds, caused by viruses. Viral infections are much more common than bacterial infections. So when will I be prescribed antibiotics?

Your doctor will only prescribe antibiotics when you need them, for example for a kidney infection or pneumonia. Antibiotics may be life‐saving for infections such as meningitis. By not using them unnecessarily, they are more likely to work when we need them.

Professor David A. Shore from Harvard University is returning to the UK to work with Enable East once again in November 2012. He will be delivering two one day programmes: The Trust Prescription for Healthcare: Good Medicine. Good Business. Great Leadership – Wednesday 14 November 2012 Launching and Leading Successful Projects in Healthcare Organi‐sations: The Essential First Mile – Thursday 15 November 2012. Email sarah.lungley@enableeast.org.uk to register.

Chance to hear top professor

New‐look Datix incident form launched From Tuesday 16th October the Datix incident form will change its appear‐ance. All the fields and functions will remain the same.

This change is essential to ensure that Datix works with other programs, in particular the newer versions of Office. If you have any problems or queries re‐

garding the new incident form then please contact risk manager Peter Foord or his assistant Anita Bishop on 01743 277660.

Going out: The old Datix form The new‐look Datix form you will see

Infection Prevention and Control Newsletter

Prepared by the Infection Prevention and Control Team, The Bungalow, William Farr House, Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury, SY3 8XL. For further information contact 01743 277671 or extension 2707

Patient Equipment Cleaning Roadshows

These were held at the four community hospitals during September in Bridgnorth, Bishop’s Castle and Ludlow and at Whitchurch in early October. The roadshow was well attended by clinical staff with the majority participating in the commode cleaning challenge. Four worthy winners were each presented with a £25 M&S voucher. The names of the winners and a full report of the roadshows will be in the January edition of Inform. A special edition is planned for January’s Inform

Organism of the Month: Seasonal Influenza

Influenza is a respiratory illness characterised by fever, cough, headache, sore throat, aching joints and muscles.

This wide spectrum of symptoms can range from causing a minor, self limiting illness through to pneumonia and death. The most common complications are bronchitis and secondary pneumonia.

The influenza virus (picture above) can spread very quickly from person to person through touch as well as through the air.

To help prevent spread, wash your hands or use alcohol hand rub frequently.

Trust staff are encouraged to have the flu vaccination. The vaccination does not cause flu and helps to protect ourselves, our patients and our families. Dates for flu clinics have been circulated by Occupational Health.

Staff Hand Washing Assessments

These have been launched across the Trust, in both in‐patient and community teams.

Aimed at all staff who have clinical contact and intended as an assurance of hand washing competence

Undertaken with all new staff within a week of commencing work and yearly for existing staff

Assessment tools have been distributed via the IPC link staff who have started assessments. Once staff have been assessed as competent they can assess others in turn

If IPC link staff are not confident about assessing other staff and wish to be assessed initially, please contact the IPC team

IPC Link Staff Study Day

An IPC Link Staff Study Day is being held on 17 January 2013 at William Farr House. The study day for IPC Link Staff who are members of the In‐patient IPC Link Group and the Integrated Community Services IPC Link Group is intended to support link staff in their role, enhancing their knowledge and skills. Look out for further details and the programme.

Staff Hand Hygiene Survey in September 2012 Interim results show there is some misunderstanding of which hand hygiene products and/or facilities should be available. The IPC team recommend: Office Based Staff:

Only require access to a hand wash basin, liquid soap and paper towels/drier in the toilet, not in the office

Do not require foot operated bins

Do not require access to alcohol hand rub or detergent hand wipes

Community Based Clinical Staff:

For domiciliary visits, require portable alcohol hand rub; liquid soap, paper towels and detergent hand wipes. Ideally, personal hand moisturiser should be available

Do not require clinical hand wash basins or foot operated bins unless working in clinical areas e.g. in clinic rooms in which case the requirements are as for in‐patient and clinic areas

In clinics held on non‐Trust premises where there is no clinical hand wash basin, detergent hand wipes and alcohol hand rub should be available

In‐patient and Clinic Based Staff:

Require clinical hand wash basins with wall mounted liquid soap, paper towels and foot operated bins. Wall mounted alcohol hand rub available at point of care and, ideally, wall mounted moisturiser in staff only areas.

REFER TO THE TRUST’S HAND HYGIENE POLICY

IPC Link Groups – Dates/Venues In‐patient IPC Link Group: 5 December 14.30 – 16.30 Room B William Farr House, Shrewsbury Integrated Services Link Group: 12 December 14.30 – 16.30 K2, William Farr House, Shrewsbury

There are new dates available for a series of facilitated workshops to support any staff who may be affected by the ‘Change Management Process.’

There are also a number of resources, including template CVs and Common Interview questions that are available through our website.

To book on any of these courses please use the online booking form or for more details contact Lucy Jones by email or telephone 01743 276688.

Spreading word over whooping cough jab All Trust staff are being urged to ensure any pregnant women they come into contact with are aware of whooping cough (Pertussis) vaccine. A nationwide programme is being rolled out to vaccinate all mums between 28 and 38 week so this immunity is passed onto their unborn child and protects the baby for their first few weeks before they receive their own immunisations. Staff are urged to signpost such women to their GPs who will organise the vaccinations. Mums‐to‐be should also be encouraged to have the seasonal flu jab. It is safe to have the flu vaccine at any stage of pregnancy from conception onwards. The vaccine does not carry risks for the mother or her baby. There is strong evidence to suggest that pregnant women have an increased risk of developing complications such as pneumonia, if they get flu, particularly from the H1N1 strain, and also provide immunity for the baby.