Spring 2012

One of the best known faces in British showjumping, Olympian and former spinal injury patient, Tim Stockdale, has kindly agreed to perform the ceremonial opening of the new ‘face’ of the hospital in mid May.

A new patient and visitor car park will open as part of the development and the main visitor/patient traffic flow will be local to the main entrance, which will give greater ease of access for the 600 users of the hospital every day. There will be coin deposit wheelchairs available, to aid return, in the car park, as well as electric car charging points for the future. Situated adjacent to Tywmpath Lane, the new entrance has a drop off zone and easy access to the new patient car park, which is located on the left, after the railway bridge.

In the entrance, the new high technology facilities for patients include a welcoming holographic virtual assistant, touch screens for self check inand on-screen digital information. Reception staff and helpers will be on hand to guide patients. This new central area forms the main access point to the hospital where a coffee shop run by the League of Friends , the post office, the League of Friends shop and mobility aids supplier Ableworld will all be based. On the first floor there are lift accessible conference facilities. This development and improved signage around the hospital will make it easier for patients and visitors to find their way around.

New Hospital Entrance - Opening in May!

Message from the Trust ChairmanWelcome to this, the Spring edition of Connect. Everyone at your hospital has been working hard to continue to deliver outstanding patient care, to every single patient, every single day. This is often a particular challenge over the Christmas period and I am really pleased with the results of our recent national Inpatient and Outpatient surveys. These both highlight that whilst we still have some areas for improvement, patients and their families overwhelmingly find the RJAH a hospital that delivers

In this Issue • International Visitors p2 • BMJ Award Finalist p3• Children’s Ward News p2 • Tissue Engineering p4• Prism Glasses for Patients p3 • Marathon Running Consultants! p4

Delivering Outstanding Patient Care

very high standards of care. As I have previously stated, this does not happen by accident and should not be taken for granted. The two key things to ensure we continue to improve are: a relentless focus on customer service and strong financial performance. Our new entrance, which is soon to open, is designed to make visits to the hospital as easy as possible for patients and their families and, at the end of our financial year, we are confident of another strong performance. The ongoing changes within the NHS are a challenge for all of us but together I am sure the plans we have will ensure the RJAH will continue its solid progress.

Russell Hardy

New Hospital Entranceprogress March 2012

Connect - Foundation Trust Members’ Bulletin - Spring 2012

Governor Spotlight International Visitors

2

Ron Pugh - Position: Public Governor - Powys

Born and educated in North Shropshire, Ron is married with five grown up children. For the past seven years he has lived in Trewern, near Welshpool, after living in Oswestry from 1987. Ron has two research based masters degrees and was Principal of Walford and North Shropshire College for 15 years.

Prior to being elected as a Governor, he was very familiar with the work of ‘the Orthopaedic’ with family members benefiting directly from our care. Asked about his role as a Governor Ron replied that: “It is a real privilege to be involved in an organisation where the words ‘putting patients, families and communities first’ are so much more than a mere slogan”.

Ron’s hobbies include golf and flying; he is a member of Mile End Golf Club in Oswestry and immediately after retirement, he gained a Private Pilot’s licence, which was a lifelong ambition.

In February the Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries at RJAH hosted a 10 day visit from a group of clinicians from North Korea. The group consisted of three doctors and a social worker on a mission supported by both the North Korean and British Embassies.

The intention is to create two centres for Spinal Injuries in North Korea to open towards the end of 2013. The main aim of the trip was to develop first hand experience of the unit and to collect information about the layout of the centre and its day to day operation.

The group indicated that they enjoyed the trip and found it very useful and very important for their long term aims. They added that they are extremely grateful to everyone they worked with for all their help during their visit.

The League of Friends ran a three day fundraising event atthe new Morrisons store, Wrexham, from 9th to 11th December, 2011.

More than 30 balloons were released and over 2000 people visited the display. Local branch League member and Public Governor, Gareth Pritchard, said, “The response from the publichas been fantastic and we would like to thank the many visitors to our display who, not only purchased balloons and Christmas cards, but also for the many excellent donations over the three days. The money raised was over £120. It was also nice to meet current, past and some patients who are about to go into the hospital and for the many kind expressions of support for the excellent patient and surgical care they have received.”

Children’s Ward NewsAction for Sick Children (ASC) celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011. To mark the occasion, ASC organised a national children’s art competition for all children’s wards in the country. Ann Smith (play leader on Alice ward) co-ordinated this competition on the ward and submitted the entries. We were extremely pleased to hear one of our children had won the competition and we had two children receiving highly commended. At an awards ceremony in London the award winning children were presented with prizes from Professor Sir Al Aynsley Green.

Fundraising A fundraising cheque for £135 was presented to Alice ward in November from Ysgol Pennant – Penybontfawr. The school children had a business project over the summer and were loaned £1 and had to start a business. From the money raised (£540) they sent half to Africa, a quarter to Alice ward and a quarter for school equipment.

Also in November a team from Barclays Bank came along to do a bit of a make over in the children’s ward garden - they erected a shed and painted the fence in bright cheerful colours. They are also raising money for some outdoor play equipment. The League of Friends began the garden project in 2010 with a huge donation of £28,500 for the rubberised play area, canopy and fencing and this year will be providing planters for patients to grow plants. Additionally, donor Mr Antony Garnett of Nantwich has agreed with Barclays that they will match funds up to £750 that he has raised for the Children’s Ward in a 10k run.

Charity Balloon Race - at new Morrisons store

Professor El Masri (Centre) with our North Korean vistors.

Web: www.rjah.nhs.uk / Tel: 01691 404082 / Email: ft@rjah.nhs.uk 3

New Directors

New view of lifePrism Bed Glasses for PatientsSpinal Injury patients are getting a different view of life thanks to the hospital’s League of Friends. The special prism lenses enable patients to read and eat whilst lying flat, under going treatment, and they also allow the patient to see who is coming into their room. It makes patients feel empowered and able to get on with their lives in a more normal fashion. After hearing just how successful the glasses were the hospital’s League of Friends has kindly agreed to buy 20 pairs at a cost of around £25 each.

Photo: Patient Paul McCabe, 19, from Wellington, Shropshire, was treated on MCSI following a road accident in late November 2011. Paul used the prism glasses to have entertainment in the form of reading books, going online to keep in contact with family and friends and equally importantly being able to see the food he was eating.

New ConsultantDr Tracey Willis recently joined RJAH, as a Consultant Paediatric Neurologist with a special interest in neuromuscular disorders, to replace Dr Ros Quinlivan, who moved to London last year.

The Muscle Service looks after families with inherited neuromuscular disease, such as muscular dystrophy, and treats over 500 patients every year. With previous consultant appointments at Birmingham Children’s hospital and at the Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand, Dr Willis also previously worked at the Orthopaedic hospital as a Registrar.

Jayne Downey - Director of Nursing and Governance

Jayne Downey joined RJAH at the beginning of March, as the new Director of Nursing and Governance. With a career largely in orthopaedic nursing in the North West, Jayne has also held a number of roles within governance and worked with various regulatory bodies. Her appointment brings extensive operational experience and insight in matters of governance.

Val Doyle - Director of Operations

Local resident Val Doyle joined as the new Director of Operations. With a 33 year NHS service record and a clinical career largely in orthopaedics, since 1994 Val has also held a number of NHS managerial roles in Wales and Birmingham. Her appointment in April brings extensive managerial experience, orthopaedic knowledge and skills to our specialist hospital.

100 Ideas in 100 Days Suggestion Scheme Success

To mark the achievement of NHS Foundation Trust status, an initiative was launched to seek views and opinions on how to improve quality for patients and working lives for staff. On 1st August, Wendy Farrington Chadd, Chief Executive, Ruth Tyrrell, Associate Director of Human Resources and Jan Brassington, Staff Side Chair, visited each ward and department to encourage staff to take part. In November, the suggestions were reviewed by the Executive Directors who awarded prizes to the first ‘top 10’ suggestions to be taken forward, as well as to the overall winner.

BMJ Award FinalistConsultant Anaesthetist, Dr John C John, has been shortlisted for an award in the category of Clinical Leader of the Year for his work on Enhanced Recovery at the British Medical Journal Group Improving Health Awards 2012.

Dr John reflected, “Two years ago a patient walking on the same day of surgery after hip or knee replacement was thought to be impossible, now we have some patients going home after just one night”.

“Although the award is for leadership, without the support of colleagues in my own department, surgeons, nurses and therapists and other allied staff and management, none of this would have been feasible”.

Professor El Masri (Centre) with our North Korean vistors.

By coincidence, there were exactly 100 ideas submitted by staff in the 100 day period from 1 August to 7 November. They were very varied and extremely useful. The overall winner was Lee Mullock, Porter, whose idea is to source a bed clip for crutches when patients are being moved around the hospital. This would keep the crutches safely in place, make them easy to access and reduce infection. Lee won £100 in High Street vouchers for his enterprising idea.

Lee commented, “I always thought that it was awkward handling the crutches when moving the patients in their bed - the crutches end up being leaned up against cupboards and falling over or being left in the middle of the floor - just thought there would be a way to make things simpler.”

Steve White - Interim Medical Director

With the retirement of Prof Iain McCall, Mr Steve White, consultant knee surgeon, becomes the interim Medical Director, in additional to his role as Clinical Director for Surgery.

Prof McCall retired as Medical and Research Director on 30 March, marking the end of a distinguished 36 year career, during which, consultant radiologist Prof McCall received many honours, including three gold medals for his esteemed contribution to radiology and education both nationally and internationally.Mr Andrew Roberts, consultant paediatric orthopaedic surgeon will now take up the role of Research Director.

Tissue Engineering

Following a talk on stem cells by Prof Sally Roberts, on the 30thNovember the Torch Centre was visited by pupils from Moreton Hall Sixth Form.

Tours and experiments were available throughout the Torch Building starting with a tour around the Research Department. They were escorted around ORLAU by Caroline Stewart who took them to see the Gait Laboratory. Emma Humphreys then showed them the Mass Spectrometer, which the ‘chemists’ found to be a real treat! Finally, the group was involved in a practical session, staining bovine discs.

9am - 5pm, Friday 11th May, Annual Research Day presentations

12 noon - 4pm, Saturday 30th June - League of Friends Summer Fair

10am - 3pm, Tuesday 10th July - Equality & Diversity Day

Sixth Form Visit

Events Update

The Robert Jones and Agnes HuntOrthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation TrustOswestry, Shropshire SY10 7AGTel: 01691 404082 www.rjah.nhs.uk

The UK’s leading arthritis charity, Arthritis Research UK, has warmly welcomed a £63,000 donation from the Masonic Samaritan Fund towards the Tissue Engineering Centre in Oswestry.

The donation was made to RJAH, one of four institutions which make up the new Arthritis Research UK Tissue Engineering Centre. Professor Alan Silman, medical director of Arthritis Research UK, commented, “We are delighted to have the support of the Masonic Samaritan Fund for our Tissue Engineering Centre. The exploratory research being under-taken by the Centre has the potential to revolutionise the treatment of osteoarthritis, which causes pain and disability to eight million people in the UK.”

Professor Sally Roberts, director of spinal research at RJAH commented, “Keyhole and minimally invasive operations for early arthritis have been in development for some years and we propose to improve upon these techniques and work towards more widely available treatments. This requires research at all levels of the process, from laboratory to bedside. We would hope that elements of this approach will reach the patient in the operating theatre within the first five years.”

MarathonRunning Consultants!

Housekeeping NVQ Success

Over 50 housekeepers are now trained to an NVQ standard and all members of the housekeeping team are fully compliant with the Trust’s hygiene regulations. This progress means that patients and staff can be reassured that the hospital is consistently and safely cleaned to the highest possible standards.

Head of Housekeeping and Staff Governor, Martine Williams, who is leading the team by example, after recently achieving her NVQ Level 3 in facilities management, explained, “Cleaning doesn’t stop just with sparkling corridors. With more and more knowledge, cleaning becomes a science and as such requires evidence-based learning.

This progress helps to prove that everything within the hospital doesn’t just look shiny; it is safely cleaned to the best possiblestandard.”

Mr David Ford, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon in the Upper Limb Unit and Lt Col Carl Meyer, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Arthroplasty, will be running the 2012 Virgin London Marathon for the Institute of Orthopaedics on 22 April.

Lt Col Carl Meyer says: “Last year was a great success with £2500 raised. When I was asked to run the Marathon again, initially I declined as I felt I would be asking the same people for sponsorship. However the Marathon is addictive and the desire to run faster great. Further-more, I found out my colleague David Ford, consultant upper limb surgeon, was also running. He runs up Pontesbury Hill, rain or shine, every morning before work. This is no mean feat, particularly in snow, and has formed the large part of our training. We are both running for the Orthopaedic Institute, a charity associated with the hospital. Like last year, some of the money raised will go to the anatomy department which is invaluable to trainee surgeons and well worthy of support.”

To donate: The Just Giving page ishttp://www.justgiving.com/Carl-Meyer0

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