Key Priorities for the year ahead

The Board recently  shared with staff at a number of open sessions, the revised mission statement where we have  said that our ambition is to the safest, most patient centred  and efficient Trust.  We also identified our 6 key priorities for the next 12 months:-

1.        Delivering safe, effective innovative and compassionate patient care

2.        Achieving strong operational performance

3.        To ensure that the Trust is financial viable

4.        To build a positive reputation with our wider community

5.        To develop a culture that is patient centred

6.        To invest and realise the full potential of our staff

Nursing and Midwifery are pivotal in the achievement  of these priorities and  as both Harry and  Penny  underlined at the sessions everybody has their part to play in all 6.

As Nurses and Midwives were are already on the journey to achieving excellent patient care  with our work around the Safety Thermometer, the Rapid Spread Solution work around the prevention of hospital acquired pressure ulcers, dementia training and  more. However we also have a part to play  in the achievement of the other objectives and  whilst continuing the work  around improving patient care we are also  undertaking projects around succession planning and development for all  nursing and midwifery staff,  reviewing  and improving our recruitment  processes and procedures reviewing our use of E Rostering to ensure we  use  our workforce  efficiently and effectively.

We are also developing and are in the process of recruiting a  dedicated  Safe Care Team to help  develop and facilitate education training and development around the prevention of harm to patients  in our hospitals.

There is a lot going on  to improve care across the Trust, achieving national and local standards, improving our reputation as a provider of great care, ensuring we manage our money whilst making this Trust a great place to work. I hope that you  will all  try to get involved in  what is going on in your areas. Do discuss the changes with your Ward Sister Charge Nurse, Matron or Head of Nursing. I  would also welcome any ideas you have about  how nursing and midwifery  can contribute  to the achievement  of  our key priorities.

Best Wishes

Helen

'A taste of patient safety'

Today sees  the launch of the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) and Patient Safety First week focused on nutrition and hydration: 'A taste of patient safety'.

Poor nutrition and hydration leads to poor health, increased and prolonged hospital admissions, and increased costs to the NHS. The consequences of poor nutrition and hydration are well documented and include increased risk of infection, poor skin integrity and delayed wound healing, decreased muscle strength, depression and, sadly, premature death. Put simply poor nutrition and hydration causes harm.

Nutrition and Hydration week will take place with the support of key partners to reinforce and focus energy, activity and engagement on nutrition and hydration as part of patient safety improvement.

There will be a number of  informative and interactive WebEx  sessions as will as   other activities that  you can access on the Patient Safety Website. They also have a number of promotional  materials that you can access here.

Closer to home there will also be a  number of activities take place around the Trust  for example:

Locally Critical Care Outreach will also be  out and about   proving training on hydration, and fluid balance as week as undertaking audits.

There will also be food tasting session and the Alexandra Hospital.

The Catering staff  at the Alexandra are also inviting staff to  come  and see  what it takes to cook 1000 meals a day!   You can  pop along in the mornings everyday except Wednesday to see how its done by  contacting Cath Cox Catering Manager at the Alexandra on ext 42764.

We all know how important Nutrition and Hydration are so please try and get involved in some of the activities locally or nationally via the web site.

Best Wishes
Helen

Happy Christmas

Can I take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and  a peaceful New Year.

I am sure 2012 will be  a great   year for us all.

Best Wishes

Helen
 

NMC Registration as a Nurse or Midwife

It is disappointing that there are still occasions where I am told that nurses and midwives have been working when their NMC registration has lapsed. As registered nurses and midwives you should  all  be aware that  in order  to  practice as a nurse or midwife it is a statutory and legal requirement  that  you have current  registration on the appropriate part of the  NMC register.

Registration on the NMC  register is  a form of assurance to  both public and employers of  an individuals  fitness for practice,  and requirement to adhere to  professional standards

As a an employer we have a duty to protect the public by  ensuring  that all  our nurses and midwives have current registration  which  should be done by managers each year.

Individually you also have a responsibility  to ensure that your retention and renewal payments along with  any relevant paperwork is  returned on time. If  at  any time or for any reason your registration has lapsed, not been renewed or  is not current for any other reason, it  is your responsibility to advise your manager of this  immediately - you will not be able to continuing working and you will not be paid for the period your registration lapsed.

To practice without  current registration is illegal and  furthermore constitutes  a breach of Trust policy  and  the individuals  employment contract and is likely to result in dismissal from the Trust and referral to the NMC


Thank you
Helen

Success for our mentors

The Mentors Awards Ceremony at the University of Worcester was held recently which celebrated the outstanding contribution of our staff undertaking the role of mentor to our future nurses and midwives. The testimonials of the students acknowledged the professionalism, knowledge, skills, competence and leadership skills of their mentors within the Trust.

The event underlined the positive impact that qualified nurses and midwives can have on those in education under their mentorship and the importance of a good role model in influencing the way student perform and practice.

Not every mentor could be honoured on the night but it should be remembered just how valuable the role of mentor is. Congratulations to the winners and runners-up!

Outstanding Mentor Award - Worcestershire Royal Hospital

Winner: Rosemary Harris, Staff Nurse, Hazel 2A 

Runner Up:  Michelle Hale, Staff Nurse, Vascular NDA

Outstanding Mentor Award – Alexandra Hospital/Kidderminster Hospital

Winner: Mena Smith, Theatres, Alexandra

Runner Up: Jamie Cresswell, MIU, Kidderminster

Outstanding Mentor Award – Midwifery

Winner: Teresa Everington, Community Midwife, WRH

Runner Up: Julie Barnes, Delivery Suite, WRH

Pressure Ulcer Awareness Week

Commencing  September  12th

Do you know how many patients on your ward developed a pressure ulcer whilst in your care?

This week is National Pressure Ulcer Awareness Week. The aim is to raise awareness amongst patients, carers, relatives and all other Health Care Professionals as to how to prevent and manage pressure ulcers. Prevention and management of pressure ulcers is one of High Impact Actions for Nursing & Midwifery – entitled Your Skin Matters.

We have made significant strides in the prevention and care of pressure ulcers but we now need to take our approach to the next level. This week the Trust launches its campaign of zero tolerance to hospital acquired pressure ulcers – “Reach for the Moon”. We believe that all pressure ulcers are avoidable and the zero tolerance will mark the new era in the way we approach the investigation into the root cause of any pressure ulcer. In August 2011 we had 5 reported  hospital acquired pressure ulcers.

The tissue viability team will be visiting all wards and carrying out 10 minute, 10 key messages regarding the “skin bundle” practice and “mattress management” for the new Hill-rom equipment soon to be available for our patients. These brief educational sessions will be delivered in clinical areas alongside company representatives. Pens and post-it notes will also be provided to teams.

There will also be tissue viability stands at Worcester, Alexandra and Kidderminster sites – you won’t be able to miss them. All the information will be available in a folder – which will enable visual discussion and help. The team are also interested in any ideas or current good practice you are implementing that can be shared and celebrated.

The tissue viability team will also be launching an incentive for the ward that can put together the “best” TV display board – could it be your ward?

There will also be suggestion boxes for patient’s relatives, carers and staff on the stands for TV to listen to views and make responsive changes.

This is an exciting time where we can make real enhancements to patient care and their experience; please ensure you are a contributing part of this success.

For more information  the  latest tissue viability newsletter via the link below

http://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/file_download.aspx?id=d91a6287-ad8f-43bb-8a97-35369a2177da

Best Wishes

Helen

Follow up CQC Visit

Nobody  that works for the Trust was untouched by the  CQC visit  in March , the consequences of that visit were far reaching and challenging  for all. Whilst disappointing  the   reaction of  all staff across all  disciplines  has been magnificent reinforcing  the commitment of staff  in  this  Trust  to providing the  highest standards of care, which has been acknowledged publicly and widely by the Board. 

I personally  want to acknowledge the  tremendous effort  of staff to  re-affirm to the local  community and public at large that we  want to ensure that everybody  who accesses our services receives  the best care that we  can give. The  initial visit  by the CQC demonstrated that we don't always get it right  but what got lost in the aftermath was the acknowledgment     of the good care that was seen during that first visit and that we are constantly striving to get it right each time, every time.

I list below some of the positive comments  from the  CQC's recent follow up  visit which   shows what we can do.

''At both hospitals we saw staff engaging positively with patients and being calm and attentive to people's needs. People were all spoken to in an appropriate manner and called by their preferred form of address. In one case we heard a member of the medical team asking a patient if they wanted them to revisit later in the day as they were anxious and may need further reassurance.''

''In another example we observed two staff supporting a person to get up in the morning and they spent approximately 45 minutes with them. The staff provided lots of encouragement and reassurance throughout this time and were very attentive to the person's needs and respected their privacy and dignity.''

''We observed one nurse speaking to a patient saying 'the doctor has told me that you are a bit upset this morning, is there anything I can do for you?' The nurse continued to provide lots of reassurance and let the person know that family members had been in touch and would be visiting shortly. When they had arrived staff made sure they updated them on the situation.''

What we have learnt from this experience can be put to use in our ongoing work to ensure compliance against all the CQC standards with which we must comply. I  have listed below those other  standards  that  we need to focus on in the months ahead.

OUTCOME     DESCRIPTION OF OUTCOME

1     Respecting & involving people who use services

2     Consent to care and treatment

4     Care and welfare of people who use services

5     Meeting nutritional needs

6     Cooperating with other providers

7     Safeguarding people who use services from abuse

8     Cleanliness and infection control

9     Management of medicines

10    Safety and suitability of premises

11    Safety, availability and suitability of equipment

12    Requirements relating to workers

13    Staffing

14    Supporting workers

16    Accessing and monitoring the quality of service provision

17    Complaints

21    Records

Thank you

Best Wishes 

Helen