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We Care DBTH

Your weekly DBTH update 6 November 2018

Fraud Awareness Month has started! Page 4

Mr Quraishi named as sectional president Page 2

DBTH goes more than a year without deadly MRSA bug Page 2

Staff Survey - have you completed yours? Page 3

DBTH Buzz 20182

One year without a case of MRSA

On Monday 29 October, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals celebrated 365 days without a Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus blood stream infection (also known as MRSA).

As many of you will know, MRSA is resistant to several widely used antibiotics, making it much harder to treat than ‘normal’ bacterial infections. About one in three people carry MRSA on the surface of their skin, or in their nose, without developing an infection. However, if MRSA bacteria gets into the body through a break in the skin it can cause infections such as boils, abscesses, or impetigo and if it gets into the bloodstream it can cause more serious infections.

The Trust’s Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Team have worked tirelessly throughout the last year with Team DBTH to ensure that bug is kept in check. This includes screening all patients for the bacteria, isolating those with a positive result and immediately beginning what is known as a ‘decolonisation’ process in order to stop it spreading any further and causing harm.

Amongst other initiatives, the IPC team has lead hand-washing campaigns within the Trust, ensuring all wards and services are compliant with hygiene and infection-control policies, as well as reviewing the use of any devices and treatment tools which can lead to an increased chance of developing MRSA. Above all else, the team have encouraged members of staff to be vigilant, looking out for symptoms of the bugs and acting upon any potential signs that could lead to further infection.

In all, 2018 has been a particularly successful year for IPC at the Trust. In September, the team reported a reduction in overall infection across the organisation’s three hospital sites, with health care associated infection rates at a low of 5%, far outstripping the national average of 6.6%.

This drive towards safer and preventative care has also been seen with DBTH’s recent flu vaccination campaign team. With over 3,800 members of staff given the jab in just 21 days, the Trust is believed to be amongst the fastest performing NHS providers in the entire country.

Mr Quraishi named Sectional President

Mr Quraishi, Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgeon at DBTH, has been named as the Royal Society for Medicine’s Sectional President for Laryngology and Rhinology.

The section reports and discusses the current practice and advances in the specialties of Laryngology and Rhinology. Q, as he is affectionately known amongst colleagues, was given the official title of president at a ceremony on Friday, attended by Richard Parker, Chief Executive.

Mr Quraishi was born in Pakistan and qualified there in 1985. Since then, he has been no stranger to achievements. Q received an OBE from Her Majesty the Queen last year in honour of the care and treatment he has provided to the many patients he has seen in the 30 years he has spent working in the NHS, 16 of which at DBTH. The award was also recognition for the thousands of patients he has helped to indirectly treat through the expert training that he has provided to hundreds of trainee surgeons across the world through his innovative ‘ENT Masterclass’ programme and journal. Mr Quraishi will be featured on TV in Pakistan on Wednesday on their Sky News equivalent, GO TV.

DBTH Buzz 20183

Take your Staff Survey

We are now at the half way point in our Staff Survey season, which closes to submissions at the end of November.

Currently, almost 30% of you have completed the anonymous questionnaire, sharing with us vital feedback about your experience of work within DBTH. So far, our Finance colleagues are leading the way, with 80% of the team having submitted their survey – a fantastic effort. In the past few days, for those who have not yet done so, you should have received your third reminder to take the survey. Here you will be able to find all the details you need in order to complete the short questionnaire.

Please take a few minutes and participate. Your views are extremely important to us and really do help us to develop as an organisation and, most importantly, as an employer. Once the Staff Survey closes to entries, we will be giving out two prizes for those clinical and non-clinical teams with the highest return percentage. As you can see in the table below, there is still all to play for, so please, don’t delay and take your survey:

Directorate or Division:Finance – 80.9%People and Organisational Development – 76.3%Nursing services – 64.8%IT – 53.3%Performance – 32.6%Clinical Specialities – 28.2%Surgical and Cancer – 27%Children and Families – 25.7%Estates and Facilities – 23.7%Medicine – 19.3%

If you need any further information about the Staff Survey or support in accessing it, please click here.

Karen Barnard Director of People and Organisational Development

Bariatric education evening The Trust’s Bariatric Team celebrated world obesity day by hosting an education evening, primarily aimed at Ward Nurses.

The evening discussed various aspects from ward care, results, complications with a particular focus on the impact that bariatric surgery has on Type 2 Diabetes. There was also a special contribution from 2 former patients. The bariatric surgery team continue to develop and grow, whilst also now contributing to research. Approaching 10 years since the first operation performed in Doncaster Royal Infirmary, and over 600 operations later, they have expanded into operating in Bassetlaw District General Hospital and also offering outpatient clinics across both sites. Patient: Terry Smith – “the surgery and service have given me a life. I didn’t feel I had a life before, I existed. I managed to work, but often spent time on the sofa and sleeping. I’m more active, living and loving life. I can’t thank them enough for what they did and the continued support I had from them throughout my time in the service”. For more information about the service please contact John Finney (Specialist Dietitian) or Katie Kirk (Clinical Nurse Specialist) on 07766070570.

DBTH Buzz 20184

Fraud Awareness Month

As you may have seen in recent editions of Buzz, Fraud Awareness Month (FAM) is running throughout the entirety of November. Which means that it has now officially begun.

Speaking about the initiative, Jon Sargeant, our Director of Finance, said: ‘’It is vital that we all do our utmost to stop Fraud as, if left unchecked, it can be incredibly harmful to healthcare organisations like ours. In a figure that was assessed over the past 12 months, the NHS Counter Fraud Authority estimated that economic crime costs the NHS £1.29 billion, which is a sum that could obviously be better spent elsewhere. This is why FAM is so important to us, as it helps us spread guidance that can prevent such losses, so that we can use our money in a way that will benefit patient care instead’’.

To kick things off, we’re going to include some general advice about what you can do to protect yourself against fraud. On that note, one of the best preventative measures that you can take is to just ‘’Take Five’’. Endorsed by the UK’s banking industry, this straightforward step might seem trivial, but it is surprisingly effective. Essentially, all you need to do is take a moment to pause and think carefully before you respond to any text, email or phone call that is demanding questionable information. If, after quick consideration, you suspect that something is amiss then simply refrain from handing over your details.

Furthemore, you should always be extra vigilant when it comes to your online activities (both at work and at home) and should ensure that your privacy settings, passwords, and anti-virus software are all up to the best possible standard. This is especially critical nowadays, as almost all fraudsters use computers or technology in some way or another.

Keep an eye on this space for more hints and tips to come. Meanwhile, you can also check out the latest counter fraud newsletter and follow @NHSFraudPlus on Twitter or Facebook for even more info.

Finally, Mark Bishop, our Local Counter Fraud Specialist, will be providing the following educational sessions throughout the month:

• 12 November, 11am to 12.15pm at the Bassetlaw Hub• 12 November, 1.30pm to 2.45pm at the Bassetlaw Hub • 14 November, 11am to 12.15pm at the DRI Education Centre • 14 November, 1.30pm to 2.45pm at the DRI Education Centre

To book onto any of the above sessions please email dbth.training.department@nhs.net

Flu jabs are still available! It's not too late to get your flu jab if you've not yet had the vaccine.

Drop-in sessions at: • Bassetlaw Hospital tomorrow 2 to 4pm in the Kilton Room, The Hub - for all staff• DRI Wednesday 14 November 11.30am to 2pm in the Library - for all staff.

Richard Parker and Julie Young, OH Nurse will be out on the wards at DRI this Thursday 8 November, 8 to 10pm or night staff.

If you can't make any of these sessions, please contact Occupational Health on 642581 to book an appointment.

DBTH Buzz 20185

Matty is Star of the Month Matty Lovell-Davies, IT Support Officer, has received a well-earned Star Award for his admirable commitment to his role and for his willingness to go the extra mile in order to help out colleagues.

His nomination said: " 'I am nominating Matty because he is always very helpful and prepared to do whatever it takes to make sure that things work correctly and that issues are resolved smoothly. Recently, he has gone above-and-beyond by ensuring that any IT enquiries raised on the Staff Facebook are answered quickly and clearly.

‘’From security alerts to simple log-in issues, Matty regularly takes the time to investigate problems and come up with solution. Not only does he do this during work hours, but he also offers this support on weekends and even when he was on paternity leave! By taking the initiative in this way, he has potentially enabled colleagues to get on with other pressing matters around the Trust and has also eased the burden on the IT Service Desk queue. All in all then, he has helped the organisation to run that bit more efficiently and for that, he is a true Star.’’

Considering the differing levels of IT literacy throughout DBTH, Matty’s contributions cannot be overstated. He has consistently offered assistance to people on a platform (Facebook) that they feel comfortable with and in the process has been a shining example of our Trust values.

Integrated Clinical Academic Internships ProgrammeThanks to additional funding from Health Education England (HEE), Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) are now able to offer an additional intake of Interns. These positions will be on the Integrated Clinical Academics Internship Programme and will run between March 2019 and December 2019.

The fully-funded internships are an excellent opportunity for registered healthcare professionals to have an introduction to clinical research and to gain an insight into related careers. Successful applicants will spend 30 days working with a mentor in a research environment and a further 8 days taking part in an educational programme.

The internships are open to any individuals who are:• Employed by an NHS organisation in the North East, North West, or Yorkshire & The Humber geographies• A registered health professional in a non-medical clinical role• Not already qualified in research e.g. a Masters or PhD Full details of the programme and the eligibility criteria can be found here. The deadline for completed applications is 5pm on Friday 7 December 2018, at which point forms must be submitted to icainternships@shu.ac.uk. For more details on this, please email Julie.bury@nhs.net.

Massive Haemorrhage ProtocolThe contact numbers to activate the Massive Haemorrhage Protocol have changed. Now, both DRI and Bassetlaw have mobile phones, to ensure direct contact between Blood Bank and the activating location during a massive haemorrhage. DRI: 07775 013348. Bassetlaw: 07970 423121.

DBTH Buzz 20186

Friday Lunchtime Lecture The Friday Lunchtime Lecture on 9 November will take place in the Lecture Theatre, Education Centre, DRI and will be transmitted to the Boardrooms at Bassetlaw and Montagu. Topic: Kick-starting 2018 World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW)Speaker: Dr Ken Agwuh, Director of Infection Prevention and ControlOverview: The presentation will focus on World Health Organisation theme for year. How is the Trust performing with point prevalence study on Healthcare associated Infections and antibiotic use. DBTH antibiotic use in relation to other Trust in Yorkshire and the Humber. Others include discussion on the Trust sepsis and antimicrobial CQUIN targets at end of quarter 2, and Infection Prevention and Control effect on antibiotic resistance. A sponsored lunch will be served at 12.30pm and the lecture will start at 1pm.

Winners: How Many Bugs? Well done to Bassetlaw Endoscopy, Mexborough Rehab and Ward S11 for winning the Trust’s recent ‘’How Many Bugs?’’ competition.

For those who are not aware of the Halloween-themed challenge, the idea came from our creative Infection Prevention Control (IPC) team, who visited wards and departments with various items and then asked staff to estimate how many bugs were hidden on each object.

The goal of the quiz: to be the department with the closest guess. The IPC team hope that this has shed some light on how difficult it can be to detect certain harmful microbes. Once again, we would like to say thank you and congratulations to the winners, as well as to everyone else who took part.

Eye Clinic honored at festival of trees and lightsA patient who recently attended the eye clinic has sponsored a tree in their name at the Festival of Trees and Lights at South Anston.

The patient said: “To the ladies of the Ophthalmology Department, my grateful thanks for improving my eyesight.

“I spoke to some of you about the Festival of Trees and Lights we have at South Anston Chapel and of how wonderful it all is. I thought I would like to sponsor a tree in your name and since the theme this year is Christmas Carols then the appropriate carol for such a tree would be: 'See amid the winter snow..' Again many thanks”

If you would like to see the festival, head over to South Anston Methodist Church on 8, 9, 15 or 16 December, 11am - 5pm.

DBTH Buzz 20187

The Booking Office Wear it PinkIn support of Breast Cancer Awareness Day, the staff in the Booking Office in Carousel Centre at DRI raised £240 for Breast Cancer Awareness.

The ‘Wear it Pink’ day was planned and organised by Val Lightfoot, a member of the booking team. Val held a cake stall, for which she had done all the baking for (and it was delicious), organised a raffle and donated all the prizes. Many thanks to Val and to all of the staff who contributed.

Pensions updateNHS Pensions have issued an update on the current situation on Pension Awards. In essence there are 1,117 pension awards that will be paid late. NHS Pensions envisage this will be cleared by 30 November.

NHS Pensions have not informed us of whose award is still waiting to be processed. Therefore, if you are experiencing an issue with delays, please contact SBD so they can escalate on your behalf. You can read the full update here.

Donations needed for RADAR Tracy Stevens in Occupational Therapy is collecting donations for a local animal rescue charity.

Any donations of food, treats or toys will be taken to RADAR Rotherham, who rescue abandoned dogs.

Please take your donations to Tracy Stevens in the OT/Physio Office on level 8 at DRI. PLease note that no money donations will be accepted, items only.

Carers Rights DayEach year, Doncaster Council organise a Carers Rights Day. This is used to bring together different organisations from across the UK, in order to raise awareness in the local area about the rights of carers and what support they are entitled to.

This year’s event will be held on Friday 30 November. To find out more, including how you can get involved and what resources are available, follow this link.

Know someone who goes the extra mile? Nominate them for a Star Award here.

DBTH Buzz 20188

Research now included in CQC inspections The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has now included key research related questions in its inspection framework for the trust-wide well-led key question.

The additional research questions aim to determine how well an NHS trust integrates research into its corporate strategy, planning and how well research opportunities are communicated to patients. This major step forward in the updated framework delivered by CQC signifies the value for NHS trusts to embed research trust-wide in its ethos.

It is hoped this key development will support trusts who have a strong portfolio of research to widen their commitment to research opportunities into more specialties areas. More information can be found here.

DBTH is awarded with ‘Veteran Aware’ accreditationAs we mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, the NHS is celebrating the first wave of new ‘Veteran Aware’ hospitals.

We are proud to share that we have been named as one of the first 24 acute hospital trusts accredited by the Veterans Covenant Hospital Alliance (VCHA) to lead the way in improving NHS care for veterans and members of the armed forces community by:• Providing training to staff to be aware of veterans’ specific needs;• Making past and present servicemen and women aware of appropriate

charities or NHS services beneficial to them, such as mental health services or support with financial and/or benefit claims;

• Ensuring that the armed forces community is never disadvantaged compared to other patients, in line with the NHS’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Suzy Brain England, Trust Chair, said: “I am extremely pleased that the Trust has been able to gain this accreditation. This achievement is a positive reflection of the hard work and dedication of those involved to ensure we are an equitable and accessible care provider.

“Veterans, throughout their lifetime, make huge sacrifice in service of their country and I believe this is just one way in which we, as an organisation, can share our collective thanks and ensure their visit or stay within our hospitals is as comfortable as possible.”

Some of the first hospitals to join the alliance already have significant links with the military, while others are getting involved for the first time. Trusts which are accredited as Veteran Aware will display posters in their clinics and public waiting areas urging anyone who has served in the armed forces to make themselves known to staff.

Achieving this accreditation has been the result of the hard-work and dedication of a number of members of Team DBTH. However, it would be remiss not to mention Mandy Espey, General Manager for Surgery and Cancer, who has led the project to secure this particular award and for this we give her our thanks.

Change of fax number: Adult dietetic DRI From Monday 12 November, the fax number for referring to the DRI Adult Dietetic Service will change. The new number will be 01302 642955. Please ensure that you use the correct details going forward and update any relevant contact lists.

Photo by Christine Rogers for the DRI Amateur Photography Group

DBTH Buzz 20189

Staff lottery winners Congratulations to our staff lottery winners for October!

Prize Lottery Number Name £1,000 1451 Charlotte Gibson £500 1091 Kim Edwards £500 3985 Lorna Elder£250 3014 Elaine Joyce £250 3749 Patricia Wilkinson £100 1744 Elizabeth Black £100 1839 Helen Buckle £50 3024 Julie Robins £50 1238 June Cooper £50 2020 Jane Dumville £50 4180 Janet Wright

Sewa recognised for his contribution to Vascular MedicineAt the recent North Trent Vascular Meeting, Sewa Singh, Medical Director was presented with a plaque in recognition of his contribution to the development of Vascular Services at DBTH and in the Region.

Sewa has rrecent taken a step back his vascular duties in order to focus on his role as Medical Director for DBTH.

The regional North Trent Vascular has been running since 1993 and colleagues were present from Sheffield, Lincoln and Doncaster to celebrate the event.

Issues with NHS MailAs you may be aware, there is currently an issue with NHSmail preventing users from finding certain emails. This is because some messages are being automatically placed within the ‘junk’ folder.

To address the problem, the Trust’s IT team have been working with NHS Digital and believe that they have identified a fix. However, until we are sure that this has issue has been completely resolved, it will be worthwhile taking a quick look inside your junk folder, just to guarantee that you have not missed any important correspondence. Please bear in mind that this area is called ‘junk’ for a reason. So whilst you’re monitoring the folder, refrain from opening any questionable-looking emails. Meanwhile, If you have any concerns or require further assistance, please contact the IT Service Desk on 01302 644190 or by emailing dbth.it.servicedesk@nhs.net

DBTH Buzz 201810

Point of care testing for influenza During Flu Season, staff need to be able to manage patient areas as swiftly as possible. For the reason, it is essential that we have the means to carry out Point of Care Testing (POCT) for Influenza. To that end, as of 1 December, a POCT machine will be made available on AMU, FAU and ATC at Bassetlaw.

Likewise, the DRI Emergency department will have one of the machines as well, which means that the patients that are tested can then be discharged upon treatment, rather than being admitted to wards. As for the ED at Bassetlaw, they will be able to use the machine in the ATC department.

In addition to this, the laboratory at DRI will also facilitate POCT for other wards. To use this facility, you will need to request POCT in the same manner as you would for any other test. However, please bear in mind that specific influenza swabs are required.

When using the swabs, please ensure that you adhere to the following process:

1. Collect a swab from the Pathology reception2. Remove it from the packet. Be careful not to touch the

swab end whilst doing this. Swab the patient’s nose3. Place the swab into a universal container and label it.

Complete the request form and return to the Pathology reception.

1

3

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Remembrance Day 2018: 100 year anniversary Remembrance Sunday is a day for the nation to remember and honour those who gave their lives to protect our freedom.

This year, Remembrance Sunday falls on the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. To mark this anniversary, services will be held at DBTH to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women involved in the two World Wars and later conflicts.

All are welcome to attend the service at Montagu Hospital Rehab Centre, 10.45am, Friday 9 November.

Joe Aylookunnel, Chaplain at DBTH, said: "100 years ago the First World War ended, and a new world began. The example and experience of those who lived through it shaped the world we live in today. The act of Remembrance recognizes that the memory of those who have given their lives in the Service of their country will continue and be honoured."

The first part of the of the Service will include the act of remembrance, time for reflection with poems and prayers, songs and hymns as well as the Two Minute Silence and The Last Post. In the second part, we have the opportunity to commit ourselves to promoting peace and unity and renew our dedication to service.

Photo by John Robinson for the DRI Amateur Photography Group

DBTH Buzz 201811

A quick notice about water coolers Water coolers are popular in the Trust for the simple reason that chilled drinking water is usually more refreshing. However, there are several risks associated with their use, as highlighted by an informative guidance document, produced by the British Water Cooler Association (BWCA).

With that in mind, please be aware that only approved water coolers can be used on DBTH premises and that these must be installed correctly. Furthermore, it is vital that a proper service agreement is in place for their ongoing maintenance, as our Estates Department do not maintain water coolers.

To ensure that you are ordering the right item, please direct all water cooler requests to the procurement department. That way, you can be sure that the above control measures are enforced and that everything is done according to policy.

As for coolers that have already been installed, the Trust’s water safety group are currently in the process of putting together an up-to-date asset list for these units. To that end, they are requesting that managers email dbth.estates@nhs.net with the details for each cooler in their area. Specifically, they want to know the location of the unit and whether or not it was purchased via procurement. With this information, a rigorous assessment will then take place in order to guarantee that everything is in order.

Introducing our patient environment assistants Estates and Facilities have recently introduced the role of the Patient Environment Assistant (PEA) into the department. The purpose of this role is to work in-and-around designated zones and to focus on lower priority work. That way, these calls- that would otherwise be postponed in favour of more critical work- will get resolved promptly and effectively.

The new PEAs (pictured below) are now settled in and are already demonstrating their worth to the Trust by making their way through the backlog of jobs.

Your views: Over the counter medicines for minor conditions

Last year the NHS spent approximately £569 million on prescriptions for medicines that were for minor conditions and which could have been bought over the counter, from a high street pharmacy or supermarket.

In an effort to alleviate costs and provide better services, the local NHS is asking GPs and other healthcare professionals to refrain from prescribing medicines like these, when they can easily be purchased over the counter. To help plan for this, the NHS needs to know more about how people use medications. That way, they can review how they spend your money in the future, ensuring everyone can get the prescription medicines they need, when they need them. Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/5W9P3K8

DBTH Buzz 201812

Health Champions needed The Trust is looking for people with an interest in Health and Wellbeing to become Health Champions for their area.

Health and Wellbeing Champions are an important part of the Health and Wellbeing agenda at DBTH.

If you have an interest in fitness, substance use/misuse, emotional mental wellbeing, healthy weight, protecting health and safety at work or you just enjoy promoting the general benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle then the Champion role could be for you.

Email: dbth.health-wellbeing@nhs.net for more information.

HELP: Employee Assistance Service

Your Health & Wellbeing update Your Health & Wellbeing update

Vivup: Sign up for benefits DBTH staff can sign up to the Vivup portal for benefits including the Cycle to Work Scheme, home electronics, lease cars, gym memberships and much more.

The Vivup portal also offers help and advice on quitting smoking, sleeping better and lots of other Health and Wellbeing advice to help you look after yourself better.

Sign up today here: https://www.vivup.co.uk/

Rock a mo - Save a broEvery year the Movember Foundation address some of the biggest health issues faced by men today. Men across the country down the clippers and grow moustaches in all shapes and sizes to raise awareness and funds to prevent men from dying prematurely from diseases such as prostate and testicular cancer and from mental health problems that often go undiscussed.

If you’re signed up to Movember, send your progress photos in to dbth.buzz@nhs.net and be the face of next week’s Movember segment where we’ll be talking more about prostate cancer.

If you’re not yet signed up to Movember but want to take part it’s not too late. Just register on the website here: https://uk.movember.com/get-involved/moustaches

Work can be tough. Life can be tough. Put them together and all of us can need support and help from time to time.

The HELP Service can provide professional, confidential, independent and unbiased support and guidance. Their service is 24/7 and you can contact them on 0800 028 8761.

Alternatively, you can go to dbh.helpeap.com for more information.

DBTH Buzz 201813 Follow us @DBH_NHSFT

Al West submitted this touching image to the DRI Amateur Photography Group to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Please keep your photos coming in, by sending them to dbth.buzz@nhs.net (in jpeg format) and we will publish some of the best in future issues - pets always welcome.

'Remembering the Fallen' by Al West