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

Learning Disability Awareness Week June 20 - 24

This week is Learning Disability  Awareness Week and I would like to share some information and facts which  may help us to understand and appreciate our responsibilities to ensure that we  use all the resources at our disposal  to  ensure those with  Learning Disabilities are not disadvantaged during   their time  in our services either as out patients or inpatients.

• It is known that  people with learning disabilities have far greater healthcare needs than the general population.
• The evidence  suggests that people with a learning disability are 58 more times likely to die before the age of 50 than the general population
• People with learning disabilities can find it  more difficult to identify and describe symptoms of illness, and much harder to navigate the health care system. These  problems also make it more difficult for  care professionals to deliver treatment  effectively.

Individuals with learning disabilities  lead  fulfilling and normal  lives  outside the health care system and it is important  that their time with us  is supported to enable them to continue this as far as possible whilst  they are with us and when they leave  us no matter how short their stay. It is vital that we ensure  that  those who normally care for  an individual with a learning disability  are involved as much as possible in their  and are listened to to help us provide  the right  care for each individual.

We are fortunate  to have   a Learning Disability Health Liaison Team who cover all our hospital sites.  They  can also offer training sessions for your department. Please contact Sally Wright on 07553384945 for further details.

If you are a carer for someone  with learning disabilities who needs to access our services   then please contact the  manager of the ward or department  before an appointment or  admission where possible to  help us plan  their care. Equally if you are a carer or individual with learning disabilities  who can offer us advice  on how we might improve  our care please contact me.

Best Wishes

Helen

Carers Week 13-19 June

This week is  Carers Week  and it is important  that we all  take time to reflect  on the important role that  carers play both  in the lives of those they care for.  The contribution  that  carers make to the  mental and physical well being of some of the most vulnerable  individuals within society cannot be underestimated and often goes untold.

When those  that are cared for  come into one of our hospitals it is vital their carers are enabled to continue that caring role. As Nurses and Midwives working for the Acute Trust it vital we acknowledge  and  facilitate the continued involvement  of carers  whether they be formal or informal carers. Please let us know what we can do to help you.

We do have a number of initiatives to help make the above happen. We have a  Carers Charter which gives details our commitment to Carers and how you can access further help  from our Carer Development Officers. We have now moved to more open and flexible visiting  hours across all our hospitals  to enable   the continued involvement of carers wherever possible. Care from carers comes in many forms such as  assisting with communication with health care professionals, helping individuals to  eat and  drink, making sure  individuals get  what they want to eat or drink, helping with other daily activities of living, providing a comforting presence during  investigations and tests , reading the daily newspaper, helping to do a crossword and many many  more.

If you are a carer  caring for an individual  coming into hospital  you are welcome you  to contact the  ward or department to which the person you care for is being admitted  or one of our Carer Development Officers, at any time  so that we can ensure you are supported in being involved in care. If you have any advice or comments during or after your time in hospital as a carer, your feedback to me would be invaluable in helping us to improve  our services and achieve our commitment to carers.

Best Wishes

Helen

Response to Care Quality Commission report

The Care Quality Commission visited two wards at the Alexandra hospital in March and found aspects of nursing care given to some patients was not up to the standard that we would expect. As Harry Turner, Chairman, and John Rostill, Chief Executive, have already pointed out the people of Worcestershire deserve a consistent high standard of care and we intend to ensure that we deliver this daily.


As Director of Nursing and Midwifery I am bitterly disappointed  that the Care Quality Commission came into one of our hospitals and identified that  standards of nursing concerned with dignity and nutrition for older people fell below the  high standards that nurses in this Trust strive to achieve. As nurses we have  listened and learnt , and in recognition of our professional responsibility  have put in place improvements to practice, and stringent  measures and monitoring processes to ensure that we each discharge fully, this responsibility to  those in our care.


Those of you delivering care and those with leadership responsibilities must ensure that  the standards required  and expected are achieved every night and every day and where this doesn’t happen there can be no tolerance. It is a privilege to provide care to those who come into our hospitals and this should never be taken for granted.


Helen Blanchard
Director of Nursing and Midwifery

International Nurses Day 12 May

I thought it would be appropriate to write my first blog at a time when we are celebrating nurses and midwives everywhere.

Last week was International Day of the Midwife, and today is International Nurses Day. On behalf of the Trust board  I would like  to take this opportunity  to  say a sincere thank  you all Midwives and Nurses in this Trust  for their dedication and hard work day after  day in often difficult and challenging circumstances. Midwives and Nurses really make a difference to  the  lives  of patients and  carers and I know that all nurses in this Trust strive to make sure  every patient  receives the highest standard of care. As Director of Nursing and Midwifery I am  incredibly proud and privileged to work alongside so many of you who demonstrate a passion  for the values of nursing and professionalism in everything they do.

John Rostill our Chief Executive shares with us in the weekly bulletin extracts from letters he receives  highlighting examples  of  where nurses have demonstrated the best  very best of nursing practice and these are only a fraction of the positive feedback  we receive, and  all Nurses in this Trust should be proud of the work they do.

I would also like to take this opportunity  to  ask you of you who read this blog  to share  with me and others any stories you might have about  where midwives and nurses have made a difference so  we can share  and celebrate the  important work that our nurses do every day.

Best Wishes

Helen

Information about International Nurses Day

Each year, on the 12th of May, nurses celebrate nursing and raise the profile of their work in a variety of ways and events. Few can say they are untouched by the hard work and dedication of nurses in the UK and throughout the world and International Nurses Day is an opportunity to learn about the work of nurses and their workplaces.

It is also a day for nurses worldwide to celebrate their profession and unite to take pride in their jobs and show the world the importance of their work.

The Origins of Nurses Day

The reason that Nurses Day is held on the 12th May each year is because this is the birth date of Florence Nightingale. She made many reforms to nursing and health care and drastically cut the death rate amongst soldiers in the Crimean War as a result of her hard work, dedication and training of fellow nurses.

Westminster Abbey Nurses Day Service

Each year, on the day that would have been her birthday, there is a service at Westminster Abbey, London to commemorate her life and celebrate the nursing profession. A lamp is taken from the Nurses' Chapel at the Abbey and handed from one nurse to the next nurse during the service. The last person the lamp is handed to is the Dean who then places the symbolic lamp onto the High Altar. This ceremony is done to signify the passing of knowledge from one nurse to another, much like Florence Nightingale did when she set up her Schools of Nursing. It also signifies her nickname The Lady of the Lamp.