Welcome to the latest edition of your UHSussex staff newsletter, a round-up of the news stories from across our hospitals throughout August |
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Dear colleague
This month saw Brighton Pride return with a bang after a two-year hiatus. Trust colleagues and staff LGBTQI+ Network led the UHSussex@Prides2022 float through the streets of Brighton, before continuing the parade at Crawley Pride two weeks later.
The celebrations didn't stop there. We held another successful Overseas Nurses (OSN) Summer Party, awarded our Star of the Month thanks to a patient letter commending the outstanding care she received, and applauded our hip fracture team for receiving national recognition.
What's more, we marked one year of treating cancer patients with innovative radiology, shared the tremendous efforts of our endoscopy department and successfully introduced more flexibility around treatment for patients with multiple sclerosis.
So please grab a cuppa and take some time out to catch up on our news.
Thank you,
Communications
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On Saturday 6 August, colleagues from across the Trust took part in the Brighton Pride Parade. After two years of cancellations due to Covid-19, it is safe to say the event came back with a bang! Our staff LGBTQI+ network organised a fantastic float complete with DJ, confetti canon and striking balloon back packs.
A huge thank you to our charities, Love Your Hospital and BSUH Charity, for supporting the Trust to take part in this and other Pride events across Sussex this summer, including Crawley pride on August 20.
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Amid the festivities, colleague Martin Holder who worked in medical records for Renal Outpatients at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, was much missed.
Martin sadly passed away last month following a recent diagnosis of cancer, and was a stalwart LGBTQI+ network member and a colourful part of previous Pride celebrations.
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Pride competition winners announced |
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Ahead of Brighton Pride weekend, we were thrilled to announce the winners of our very own Pride decorating competition that took place across the Trust throughout June and July.
To celebrate UHSussex@Prides2022, our staff LGBTQI+ Network asked colleagues to decorate a staff room or office expressing what Pride meant to them, our patients, and the community.
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Endoscopy department cuts waiting lists by 70% |
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Tremendous efforts by the Endoscopy teams at Royal Sussex and Princess Royal Hospitals have cut the number of patients waiting for a diagnostic test by 70%, since 2020.
The service sees about 13,000 patients each year for tests to diagnose or monitor digestive problems, including suspected cancers.
However, in December 2020, due to pressures including from the pandemic, 2,500 patients were waiting for an endoscopic procedure.
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Overseas Nurses annual summer party |
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Around 120 overseas nurses and their families joined the Worthing and St Richard's Overseas Nurses (OSN) Summer Party at Beach House Park in Worthing.
The event, in its second year, celebrates the tremendous hard work that the OSN project team and nurses have put in over the last year to study and prepare for the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) exam.
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Hip fracture team at Worthing Hospital recognised for amazing care |
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A multi-disciplinary team at Worthing Hospital, including emergency floor and orthopaedic surgeons, have been praised for their efficient care of patients with hip fractures.
The National Hip Fracture Database, a national programme, have recognised that the hospital is performing above average in assessing these patients in A&E, administering a nerve block to treat pain, and quickly admitting them to an orthogeriatric ward within four hours of arriving.
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Occupational therapists hold celebratory event to mark 25th anniversary |
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The Occupational Therapy (OT) team celebrated 25 years of service within St Richard’s Hospital A&E department with an interactive presentation looking back over the years, a quiz to test their knowledge of the department, games where staff had to identify everyday equipment they use, and of course birthday cake.
Occupational Therapist Katy Goodwin said: “We are delighted to be celebrating 25 years of an OT service in A&E. We are all so proud of how the service has evolved and developed over the years, always keeping the needs of our patients at the forefront.
“This is a testament to the hard work of the front door team supporting patients on a daily basis ensuring they have a straight-forward and timely journey through A&E.”
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Quick thinking actions of physiotherapist leads to Star of the Month award |
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Congratulations to Worthing Hospital’s physiotherapist Bella D’Almeida, who received Star of the Month for July after recognising symptoms of pre-eclampsia in a pregnant patient and facilitating emergency care.
Bella, Clinical Specialist and Service Lead for the Pelvic Health Physiotherapy Team at Worthing, Southlands and St Richard’s Hospitals, was nominated for the award following a letter from the patient who commended her quick thinking and excellent care.
Patient Charlotte Bainbridge was 30-weeks pregnant when she attended her physiotherapy appointment at Worthing Hospital, suffering with pelvic and back pain.
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Innovative radiotherapy service marks one year of treating cancer patients |
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One year after launching the lifesaving SABR (stereotactic ablative radiotherapy) service, the team at Royal Sussex County Hospital celebrated the program which has gone from strength to strength.
The SABR service was first launched at University Hospitals Sussex last year and has now treated almost 30 patients who were either considered inoperable or who did not wish to go down a surgical route.
SABR uses multiple beams of radiation which are carefully directed from different angles to meet at the tumour. Sophisticated image guidance technology takes account of breathing motion which can cause movement of the tumour, to ensure that these beams are targeted with great accuracy.
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Uma qualifies twice to rise through the ranks at UHSussex |
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When Uma Neupane recently became Deputy Ward Manager at Worthing Hospital it was her fifth position in seven years at University Hospitals Sussex, as she’s risen through the bands in her nine-year career at the Trust.
And she’s had to work twice as hard to get the qualifications to enable her to do so. Literally.
Uma arrived in England in 2009 from Nepal where she had already qualified as a nurse and had been working in a government hospital.
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Patients living with multiple sclerosis in Sussex now have more flexibility and control over their treatment times |
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Over recent years, demand for the Planned Investigation Unit (PIU) at Princess Royal Hospital has increased by 55%. This is because of new therapies being introduced at an earlier point to slow the progression of multiple sclerosis.
To address the demand, the team at Hayward’s Heath recently underwent an innovative redesign project, including making all drugs available every day, introducing new ways to administer certain treatments and changes to the nursing workforce.
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A new home for pre-assessment at St Richard's Hospital |
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Staff from the Pre-assessment Team at St Richard's are making preparations to move to a new home on the hospital site.
The purpose-built modular unit will improve patient and staff experience, and allow the team to increase their capacity. There will be 40 pre-assessment appointments each weekday and PCR testing for patients at high-risk. These improvements will help move forward the recovery plans for elective surgery at St Richard's, following the pandemic.
The Pre-assessment Team will start welcoming patients to their new facility during the week of Monday 5 September.
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New hospital brings art, community and history to life |
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When the Stage 1 building of our 3Ts Redevelopment at the Royal Sussex County Hospital opens in the spring of 2023, it won’t just offer a new home for many of our wards and services.
It will also be a showcase of local artists’ work, revitalising both big and quiet spaces with pieces that represent our heritage, people, and the individuality of the very city the hospital inhabits – Brighton.
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Patient First Planet First news |
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Preparing for a green autumn at the County Hospital |
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Preparations for planting at the Stage 1 Building of 3Ts have been taking place over the summer. Tree pits have been dug on the Bristol Gate and in the bank in the northwest of the site, ready to receive well established saplings.
More than 300 tonnes of soil have been distributed across 21 planters on and in the Stage 1 Building. The specialist wildflower matting is in place on the terraces of the new building, ready to be seeded.
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The document sets out the work that is already underway by the NHS in Sussex to reduce the carbon footprint of its services and buildings, in addition to laying out the intention to move towards Net Zero Carbon.
Chief Executive of NHS Sussex Adam Doyle said: “Together to Zero is an active strategy. You will see and be part of change that comes from delivering on this plan.”
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Neuro Rehab Team take on inflatable challenge |
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The Neuro Rehabilitation team at Donald Wilson House, St Richard’s Hospital, have battled their way around the world’s largest 5K inflatable obstacle run to raise funds for one of the Trust’s dedicated charities, Love Your Hospital.
The eight-strong team, made up of staff past and present, took on the Chichester 5K Inflatable Run at Goodwood on 6 August to fund much-needed equipment and facilities to help patients make the most of their lives after their injury.
Sophie Jenkins, Advanced Speech and Language Therapist, said, “People's lives can be changed in an instant by a neurological injury. Donald Wilson Neuro Rehab Centre tries to give people the ability to manage their difficulties and get back into the world with confidence to face the future.
"The day itself was pretty hot which made it all the more challenging. We went round the course twice to achieve our 5K distance and there were plenty of bruises. It was like soft-play, but for adults.”
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Congratulations to staff fundraising efforts |
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St Richard's Hospital Midwife Leticia Smith took part in a skydive on 7 August where altitudes reached 15,000 feet.
She is raising money for SANDS, The Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity which she uses as a main resource and support for families affected by the death of a baby.
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Emma’s charity marathon effort |
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Consultant and clinical lead in Sexual Health, Dr Emma Rutland could barely run around the block back in lockdown, but now she’s training for her first marathon.
Emma is running the London Marathon to raise funds for the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) and to highlight the work they do in supporting people with HIV.
Emma, who is already 30% of the way to her £2,000 target for marathon on Sunday 2 October. said: “I have had the privilege to work in partnership with THT for many years for the mutual benefit of our service users. As an HIV Consultant, I also strongly endorse their accurate, unbiased health promotion campaigns which also challenge HIV stigma."
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In case you missed it....
Here's our round-up of all the stories and updates across the Trust in August:
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Patient feedback highlights |
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