Welcome to the latest edition of your UHSussex staff newsletter, a round-up of the news stories from across our hospitals throughout January |
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Dear colleague
Welcome to the first newsletter of 2023. We kicked off the new year recognising the outstanding contributions of our long service colleagues, awarded our Porter team Star of the Month, and saw one of our colleagues shortlisted for a national award.
We highlighted the tremendous efforts of our Digestive Diseases Outpatient department and Hepatology team, shared the praise UHSussex maternity care received in a recent CQC survey and documented the The Royal College of Nursing strikes across our sites.
What’s more, we toured our new purpose-built cancer facility, held staff training at the Louisa Martindale Building and started a trial using reusable instruments in A&E.
So please grab a cuppa and take some time out to catch up on our news.
Thank you,
Communications
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Recognising the outstanding contributions of our long service colleagues |
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We were delighted to hold the first of several Long Service Awards to thank our colleagues for their outstanding commitments and contributions over the years.
The awards, that have been postponed since 2019 due to the pandemic, kicked off at Fontwell Racecourse, where 95 colleagues were recognised for their long service at the Trust over 20 years, 30 years, 40 years and 40+ years.
The remaining ceremonies will take place over the next two months where hundreds more colleagues will celebrate reaching some fantastic milestones in their career at the Trust.
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Bigger, better chemotherapy care |
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Join staff on a tour of the recently opened Amberley Unit, our new purpose-built cancer facility at Worthing Hospital.
The unit is home to chemotherapy and medical day services for cancer patients. It has been designed to meet current and future demands and is bigger, lighter and much airier than the Medical Day Case Unit it has replaced.
The £7 million investment is improving the quality, environment, and experience of care for cancer patients.
The extra capacity in the Amberley Unit allows more patients to be treated and with a broader range of services in one place.
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Public consultation: Plans to improve our stroke service in West Sussex |
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A 12-week public consultation seeking views on a proposal to develop an Acute Stroke Centre at St Richard’s Hospital began this month and will continue until 21 April 2023.
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UHSussex maternity care praised in CQC survey |
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New mums in Sussex have praised their care at UHSussex in the Care Quality Commission’s latest annual maternity survey.
The #Maternity2022 survey asked 21,000 women and people from across the country about all aspects of their maternity care, including antenatal, labour and birth, to postnatal care.
The results show University Hospitals Sussex performed better than most of the 121 participating Trusts in a number of questions, while in no area was the Trust rated below average.
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Liver scanning clinic reduces waiting list by almost 90% |
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The fantastic efforts of the Digestive Diseases Outpatient department and Hepatology team at Royal Sussex County Hospital has seen the number of patients waiting for a crucial liver scan reduce by almost 90%, since March 2022.
With more referrals than appointments available, Mel Drayton, a Health Care Assistant from the Outpatients service played a key role in introducing and delivering weekend clinics to make sure patients could be seen quicker.
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Anthony’s ‘quiet leadership’ sees him shortlisted for national award |
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Congratulations to Anthony Browne, Physiotherapy Assistant at Sussex Rehabilitation Centre, who was shortlisted for a national Inspirational Support Worker Award as part of a celebration held by Health Education England.
Anthony was nominated for his ‘quiet leadership’, contributing to the smooth running of the inter-disciplinary team and for providing excellent patient care.
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‘Heartbeat of the hospital’ Porter team awarded for support during strikes |
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The Porter Team at Worthing Hospital have been awarded for the important role they played supporting the Emergency Department following last month’s ambulance strikes.
The team received UHSussex Star of the Month after being nominated by Nicole Chavaudra, Director of Patient Experience, and Jo Habben, Director of Patient Safety & Learning, for their ‘willingness, solution-focus and understated excellence’.
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Star of the Month nominations now closed |
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Star of the Month nominations have closed as we prepare for our annual Patient First STARS Awards.
Please save the details of your nomination for submission for a STAR Awards nomination when they open early next month. If you have any questions please email uhsussex.starawards@nhs.net
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Staff training underway in Louisa Martindale Building |
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In anticipation of the Louisa Martindale Building (LMB) opening in spring, training for staff moving into the new space has been in full swing.
The team have been getting up to speed on learning how to use the new technology, including a hoist system for moving patients, and resuscitation equipment such as defibrillators.
Alongside the training, more than 16,000 pieces of equipment are being delivered and installed, all the building’s system are being checked and double checked, and thirteen new pieces of major medical equipment are being commissioned.
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RCN strikes across our sites |
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Two days of nurse strikes took place this month as a result of The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) voting to take action.
The strikes saw colleagues and supporters forming picket lines outside our four acute hospitals in demonstration. Further RCN strikes will take place on 6 and 7 February.
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Patient First Planet First news |
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Introducing reusable suture instruments for a greener A&E |
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The Royal Sussex County Hospital is one of the first Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments in the country to trial using reusable suture instruments to improve the service’s environmental impact.
The pilot programme started on Friday 20 January, and removes the use of single-use suture kits which are designed for stitching wounds. These kits include scissors, needle holds, toothed forceps and untoothed forceps, and once used, are put into a sharps bin and incinerated.
It is estimated that switching to reusable suture instruments will save at least 2,240 kits from the incinerator every year and will save one kilo of carbon per use. The high-quality reusable instruments are sterilised on site and stored in special boxes to protect their 15-year life span.
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Save the date: 20-24 February |
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Environment Week (20-24 February) will mark the one year anniversary of our Patient First, Planet First Green Plan, outlining the Trust's ambition to reach Net Zero Carbon for direct emissions by 2040.
A number of roadshows and events will be held throughout the week to showcase the progress so far, and the green teams and services at your fingertips. This includes green travel and learning about our approach to waste across the Trust. You'll also have the chance share your own green pledge, and enter a whizzy competition.
So keep an eye out for updates across our intranet, social media and website in advance of, and throughout, the week for more information.
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Supporters Spotlight – Willmott Dixon Interiors |
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A team of staff from Willmott Dixon Interiors, a leading UK fit-out and refurbishment company, have raised a fantastic £1,160 for BSUH Charity by running the Brighton 10K, one of the oldest races in the South East.
James Howard, Operations Manager, said, “Taking on the Brighton 10K challenge was a rewarding experience for all of us at Willmott Dixon Interiors. Completing the run with the team for a well-deserving cause was a great achievement.
"As a team working with UHSussex on multiple projects to improve facilities around the hospitals, we wanted to give back more and raise money that will make a difference to patients.”
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In case you missed it....
Here's our round-up of all the stories and updates across the Trust in January:
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Patient feedback highlights |
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