FOCUSPOINT

The members newsletter for South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust June 2012

Royal Seal Of ApprovalHRH Princess Alexandra officially opened the new Endeavour Unit built as part of a £35m expansion of cancer services on The James Cook Hospital site.

The re-development work means that the hospital is now amongst the best in Europe for cancer treatment – and trust members have played their part in this major project by choosing the name of the unit. Last year you also had the opportunity of a sneak preview of the centre as part of a series of members meetings.

Welcome to the latest issue of Focus Point, designed to keep you, our members up-to-date with news about the trust.

In this issue we get the opportunity to introduce the governors you voted for in our most recent elections – and thank you to all the members who stood for election or took the time to choose their favourite candidates.

Your new governors have started the task of getting to understand the trust, its services and the challenges that face the organisation, and I’m sure they will do their best to represent the views of their constituents.

Last year you told us that you wanted more information about the services we provide, and I am delighted that in this issue of Focus Point we can highlight not only some new services but also the long awaited opening of the Endeavour Unit at JCUH.

Princess Alexandra carried out the official opening, and she made a big impression on all the patients and staff that she met, showing a genuine interest in them and our major re-development of cancer services.

If you would like any more information about any of the articles in this issue, or there are any services that you would like to see us cover in future issues of this magazine then please do let us know.

Deborah Jenkins, Trust Chairman

Welcome

Mary’s Hero AwardMary Bilous, who was until recently a staff governor, has received a national award for her work as a diabetes specialist nurse.

Former patient Marion Williams put Mary forward for the Tommy’s and Danone baby nutrition hero award in recognition for the support and care Mary gave her during and after a pregnancy.

Marion said: “Mary and the diabetes team at James Cook have set up a fantastic pre-pregnancy clinic, and this is where I met Mary.

“Mary saw me in the medical antenatal clinic, but also between times. At 37 weeks pregnant I was induced. Mary came at least twice a day to check I was OK, even on her days off. We had a beautiful and healthy daughter, Eve, and she is my constant reminder of the amazing care I received from Mary.”

Contact us…Focus Point contact details:Caroline Parnell, company secretary - 01642 835592

General email: foundation.trust@stees.nhs.uk

Governor email: gov@stees.nhs.uk

Website: www.southtees.nhs.uk

Other useful numbers:The James Cook University Hospital 01642 850850

The Friarage 01609 779911

If you choose to receive future issues of this newsletter electronically you will be helping us save money on postage – just email foundation.trust@stees.nhs.uk to let us know if you’d like electronic issues of this newsletter.

Mary collects her award

from actress Terri Dwyer

The state of the art Endeavour Unit is part of a £35m service expansion that puts the hospital among the best in Europe for cancer treatment. The new centre houses three linear accelerators – machines which give highly accurate radiation treatment – and the hospital is one of the first in the world to treat patients with these £1.5m machines. The unit is also home to a CT scanner and new outpatient suite.

Fiona Milnes, radiotherapy services team leader, said: “These leading edge machines enable us to give a high dose of radiotherapy to a smaller area and they are extremely accurate, which helps reduce side effects. Demand for cancer services is increasing all the time and this expansion gives our patients access to the very latest technology in a purpose-built unit, which really puts James Cook on the map.”

Before officially opening the Endeavour Unit Princess Alexandra met Harold Winspear, the first patient to be treated with the linear accelerators in the unit, and she also talked to many of the trust staff and contractors who had worked on the new

building.

Built by Interserve, the unit has been designed with the involvement of patients

to create a light, spacious and calming environment.

It is hoped that the unit will be awarded an excellent rating for its environmental performance, as it incorporates a number of green initiatives including rain water harvesting for toilet flushing and a ground source heat pump to provide under floor heating.

As part of her visit to the Middlesbrough hospital Princess Alexandra also toured the extended and refurbished chemotherapy day unit where she spent time talking to patients, their families and unit staff.

The re-development of cancer services at JCUH has also included the renovation of the radiotherapy department to accommodate a £2.5m TomoTherapy machine, which is an advanced CT scanner with a high energy x-ray treatment beam that more accurately targets tumours.

In the run up to the official opening of the Endeavour Unit BBC Tees spent a week in the hospital talking to staff in many front line services, including the Accident and Emergency department, as well behind the scenes services such as portering, laundry and catering.

“Like a 5 Star Hotel”

HRH Princess Alexandra signs the visitors book

while opening the Endeavour Unit

HRH Princess Alexandra chats to patient Harold Winspear when

opening the Endeavour Unit

“It’s not like a hospital, it’s more like a 5 star hotel”, that’s one of the comments on the new Endeavour Unit that Princess Alexandra heard from patients when she visited The James Cook University Hospital.

At the start of April 11 new elected governors joined our Council of Governors Thanks to all members who voted in the election as we had a good turnout in most constituencies. Your representatives are now busy learning more about their role as a governor as well as getting to know the trust and the challenges that we face.

Here are the governors you elected, and if you want to contact them or the other members of the Council of Governors call the foundation trust office on 01642 835592 or email gov@stees.nhs.uk

Meet your Governors

“I am a retired firefighter having served the community for over 30 years in North Yorkshire and Cleveland. I am passionate about the north east, the area and services and have worked closely with all areas of agencies and partners of the emergency and health services and I was a union official for 10 years. As a governor I will campaign to improve the level of service, reduce waste, reduce bureacracy, promote better use of facilities and staff, to have the right staff in the right place, improve access and parking.”

“I stood for governor as I believe that I can bring a pragmatic approach to the role. My experience encompasses careers in the Chemical and Nuclear industries and latterly I worked for the NHS for 34 years as Project Manager in the planning department.I retired in 2010 and can provide a wealth of experience in these challenging times for the health service.”

“I come from a medical family and on leaving school trained as a nurse. I subsequently worked for the medical directors in the administration/finance department for 25 years during which time I sat on various committees.

Since retiring I have sat as a member of the Ethics Committee and am presently a patient representative, having been both an in-patient and out-patient. I have been Chairman of the local and regional NHS Retirement Fellowship and feel passionately about maintaining excellent medical services at the Friarage hospital and the need to improve all aspects of care. I am also a volunteer with the Great North Air Ambulance.”

Keith Henry Martin

Alan PartonPlym Auty

Middlesbrough Constituency

Hambleton and Richmonshire constituency

Bill has been a governor for three years and was re-elected in the recent elections.

“My work career spanned 37 years with one company as an

engineer/manager of large construction projects both in the UK and overseas. After retirement I was a carer for my wife

who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and

I served on the NHS older persons’ mental health committee for a number of years. I am interested in patient and carers’ experience particularly those, who in addition to their organic illness, suffer from mental health issues. I want to raise the awareness these patients have on hospital admissions.”

Alan was previously a governor, and successful stood again in the recent elections.

“I was very fortunate to have served the trust from day one and learnt a great deal about how the trust runs and how one can use one’s own gifts and abilities to assist in many ways. After being a governor I feel I am better equipped to serve.

I am a retired COE clergyman and previously a governor at Gillbrook College of Technology in Eston and founder governor of the Kings Academy.I played an active role in helping to establish the Hope Foundation in Middlesbrough which brings education to the needy and hope to many.I have worked as the Trust chaplain for seven years and serve as honorary chaplain in intensive care.”

“I worked in industry until retiring in 2010. Voluntary work has been a major part of my life after serving over 40 years with the RNLI and was awarded an MBE in 2006. I was born in Redcar and feel able to represent the people of Redcar & Cleveland as a local and approachable point of contact.

I would like to convey public opinion to the Trust and inform the local community about the aims of the Trust. I am thrilled to be able to serve the wider community in a useful manner and be part of planning the future of a large NHS to the benefit of the public.”

“A retired Master Mariner I am now a parish councillor and a member of my GP’s patient group.

I would like to strive to make improvements in the Trust as well as maintain excellence and look at addressing problems in failing areas. I am against centralisation and slimming down of services and will strive to maintain a viable and safe service at the Friarage Hospital.”

“I feel very strongly about maintaining services at the Friarage. With re-development plans for nearly 2000 new homes in Northallerton and near Sowerby this will inevitably put a strain on local health care services. I would like to prevent minimising Friarage services and moving services to James Cook and feel passionately about the potential burden on the patient ambulance service, car parking and staff jobs.”

“With all the threats (perceived and real) to local services this is an important time for local people to have their say in the future of local NHS facilities and I am keen to devote my time to ensuring local people are adequately heard. Lately retired from the NHS I can offer strategic insight into managing efficiency without loss of capacity or amenity.”

Noel Alisdair Beal

David Stuart Bentley

Janet Crampton

William Davis

Alan Leighton John Race

Redcar and Cleveland

constituency

“I feel that reflecting the needs of the community to the NHS managers is an integral part of the social ownership of services. I wish to participate in representing the interests of the foundation trust in the local health economy through activating citizen participation and reflecting their interest in the NHS.

I believe an awareness of socio-economic mix, ethnicity and diversity is vital to FT activities. My background encompasses a valid representation of many areas of community concern to NHS including disabilities.

Patients and NHS relations take precedence over political affiliations and I hope to encourage this sentiment.”

Elaine has been a governor for three years and was re-elected in the recent elections.

“The Lewis family have lived and worked in the Whitby/Esk valley area for over 30 years. Three generations now use James Cook as our hospital of choice for accident and emergency, elective surgery, etc. We have first hand experience of the problems in accessing health services caused by rurality. My interest is in seeking to improve patient pathways, as I have been an inpatient myself, and I am interested in patient involvement.”

“The NHS was created out of the ideal that good healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth. These principles need to be turned into reality and maintained for the patients of South Tees Hospitals.

I have worked for the NHS for over 30 years and have had experience as a member of staff, a patient and a visitor: I believe that we have a Trust to be proud of.

The NHS is facing a challenging future and our hospitals will need support in meeting these challenges to ensure that the needs of its users are met

Shahrzad Connolly

Rest of EnglandConstituency

Elaine Lewis

Patient and Carer

constituency

Julie Harris

Staff Constituency

Meet your Governors...

Members can now keep up to date with everything that is happening at the Trust via Facebook and Twitter.

Follow us @southtees or find us on Facebook - just search for South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

First for The FriarageThe Friarage is the first hospital in the UK to use a specialist digital ex-ray machine to provide advanced treatment of orthopaedic patients needing surgery.

The compact and portable high-tech Orthoscan C-Arm means that surgeons can quickly and easily x-ray patients’ hands or feet during an operation without the need of a radiotherapist.

Patients are benefiting from this new equipment thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Friarage Hospital and Steve Lamb, Friends chairman, said: “I am glad we can make a difference by helping the Friarage, its dedicated staff and ultimately patients by making sure they benefit from the latest technology available.

Mr Sanjay Miranda, consultant hand and orthopaedic surgeon, said: “We are very grateful to the Friends for their help. The new equipment helps to make the theatre process more efficient and improves the service for our patients.”

Consultant hand and orthopaedic

surgeon Mr Sanjay Miranda with the Friends and staff

Weight Loss SurgeryLocal people can now benefit from weight loss surgery thanks to a new service at James Cook.

The trust has joined forces with two neighbouring trusts, who together expect to treat up to 300 patients a year in need of bariatric surgery. The team at James Cook is made up of surgeons, dieticians, nurse specialists, psychologists, allied health professionals and a metabolic physician, and they work closely with a specialist weight management service to help people struggling with weight problems that affect their health or the quality of their lives.

Surgeon Sam Dresner said: “We now offer all types of weight reduction surgery – all done using key hole techniques to minimise recovery time. This surgery gives another option to patients who have been struggling to lose weight in more conventional ways. Bariatric surgery offers health and economic benefits and can have a huge impact on patient’s quality of life.”

Simon Brown of Middlesbrough was the first patient to have a gastric bypass at the hospital. Weighing 25 stone with a high risk of diabetes, Simon initially lost two stone before the procedure and then a further three stone in the three months after the surgery to put him well on his way to his target weight of 15 stone. He said: “I feel a lot healthier already and have more energy – it was all very straight forward and the care I received was outstanding.”

The bariatric team with their first patient Simon

Brown

Focus Point contact details:Caroline Parnell Company Secretary - 01642 835616General email: foundation.trust@stees.nhs.ukGovernor email: gov@stees.nhs.uk Website: www.southtees.nhs.uk

Diary Dates 2012

Council of Governors meetingBoard room, Murray Building, The James Cook University Hospital, 2 - 4pm.Members are welcome to attend.

Board of Directors meeting,Board room, Murray Building, The James Cook University Hospital, 10am- 12.30pm.Members are welcome to attend.

9OCT

26JUN

Contact us…

Fit for Health is the theme of the annual members meeting, which will be held in the Atrium at The James Cook University at 12 noon, on this date and not July 19 as previously advertised. A range of stalls and fun activities will also be running from 11am – 2pm.

Board of Directors meeting,Board room, Murray Building, The James Cook University Hospital, 10am- 12.30pm.Members are welcome to attend.

30JUL

Board of Directors meeting,Board room, Murray Building, The James Cook University Hospital, 10am- 12.30pm.Members are welcome to attend.

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This is how many public members we currently have, but we are always looking for more.

Look out for the trust’s membership recruitment team at the following events - do come and have a chat.

July 14 Mela Festival, MiddlesbroughJuly 25 Borrowby ShowSept 25 Freshers fayre, University of TeessideSept 27 Stokesley Show

Encourage your friends and family to sign up as members too, either at these events or via our website www.stees.nhs.uk

Membership update:

5 4 2 5

New Specialist Theatre OpensOne of the first specialist endovascular theatres of its kind in the region was opened at James Cook.

The theatre combines advanced x-ray imaging equipment with an operating theatre to allow vascular surgeons and radiologists to work together on highly complex diagnostic procedures and operations.

Robert Walton, who in 1998 was the first patient to have a stent fitted at the hospital, officially opened the new theatre, and Dr. Richard Hartley, consultant radiologist, said of the facilities:

“It enables us to do procedures that previously would have had to be done over two days or started in the main operating theatre upstairs.”

Vascular surgeon Andrew Parry added: “This new endovascular theatre represents a significant investment in world class vascular services and will further improve what are already excellent surgical results for patients treated at James Cook.”

Robert Walton (far left) with vascular surgeons, radiologists and clinical

staff in the new endovascular theatre

Other useful numbers:The James Cook University Hospital 01642 850850The Friarage 01609 779911

If you choose to receive future issues of this newsletter electronically you will be helping us save money on postage – just email foundation.trust@stees.nhs.uk to let us know if you’d like electronic issues of this newsletter.

24JUL