With summer well and truly in full swing, it’s time to share our stories from across the Trust during April, May and June.
In April we wished a happy retirement to Dame Marianne Griffiths, who stepped down after 13 years as chief executive. Dr Andy Heeps did a fantastic job as interim chief executive until we warmly welcomed Dr George Findlay as new chief executive in May.
We were delighted to host our first awards ceremony in nearly three years and what a wonderful night it was! The Patient First STAR Awards returned on 25 May at Worthing Assembly Hall, where the audience heard fantastic stories of colleague compassion, kindness, innovation and teamwork - and our winning stars were crowned.
In this newsletter, we share how we have celebrated a number of awareness days and weeks over the past three months, as well as the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. We are also pleased to bring you news of many improvements across our buildings and facilities, and of developments to our services that improve patient care.
Enjoy this bumper newsletter full of news and updates, and thank you for your ongoing support for UHSussex.
UHSussex Communications
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Patient First STAR Awards 2022 - meet our winners! |
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We celebrated the extraordinary efforts of our staff at the 2022 Patient First STAR Awards at the Assembly Rooms in Worthing on Wednesday 25 May.
The awards, the first since the Trust was formed in April 2021, were attended by 300 of our colleagues from across West Sussex and Brighton and Hove.
The winners were chosen from nominations made by colleagues, patients and the public and highlighted the breadth of innovation, compassion, dedication and heroism displayed by clinical and non-clinical staff throughout the pandemic.
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June marked the start of Pride month and we were delighted to kick off the celebrations at Chichester Pride on 28 May.
The Foundation Trust Membership team, LGBTQI+ network, and sexual health & HIV services teams all attended Chichester Pride and engaged with members of the local LGBTQ+ communities and allies.
With generous support from the BSUH Charity and Love Your Hospital Charity, we are looking forward to joining the remaining Pride celebrations at Worthing Pride on 9 July, Trans Pride Brighton and Hove on 16 July, Brighton and Hove Pride on 6 August, and Crawley Pride on 20 August.
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Celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee |
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This year, the Queen became the first British Monarch to achieve 70 years on the throne, reaching her Platinum Jubilee.
To celebrate this historic milestone, we proudly raised the flag to full mast across all main sites over the four-day Bank Holiday, patients were treated to cake and our chapels offered Jubilee themed prayer cards.
We also explored our royal connections and delved in the archives of historic visits from members of the royal family.
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UHSussex surgeon Laura Hamilton elected onto the Royal College of Surgeons of England council |
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Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Laura Hamilton, was elected as a Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) council member.
RCS England is one of the most prestigious membership organisations in the world. It provides education, assessment and development to nearly 30,000 surgeons at all stages of their career.
Ms Hamilton was elected to the council for championing a healthy work life balance and passion for improving diversity in the surgical community.
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Southlands Hospital hosted first live international eye surgery event |
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Leading eye consultant, Mr Giampaolo Gini, shared his expertise with doctors around the world in Sussex’s first live international eye surgery event.
The University Hospitals Sussex ophthalmologist broadcast operations live from the specialist eye unit at Southlands Hospital in Shoreham.
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A&E doctor speaks about Brighton bombing in same hotel that was attacked |
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A former A&E doctor from Royal Sussex County Hospital has spoken about the response to 1984’s Brighton bombing for the first time - in the very building that was hit by the blast.
Carlos Perez-Avila MBE was one of a number of speakers to provide expert and real-life insight about major incidents at a conference organised by the Sussex Trauma Network and the Trust at The Grand Hotel in Brighton.
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UHSussex making a difference in Africa |
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The Gambia has become the first country in the world to have a nationwide virtual fracture clinic, using a system first developed in the UK by doctors at University Hospitals Sussex in Brighton.
The clinic at Brighton was set up at the Royal Sussex County Hospital back in 2013 and was designed as a patients focused alternative to traditional fracture clinics.
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Trust Army medic marches 11 km through Brighton and Hove war memorials to mark Armed Forces Day |
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Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Lt Col Ben Caesar, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust and 16 Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, walked 11 km in full combat gear through war memorials of Brighton and Hove on 25 June to support Armed Forces Day.
Loaded with 20 kg of body armour, he set off from the Chattri memorial in Brighton, visiting several war memorials, including Patcham and Boer, before finishing at the Brighton Old Stein War Memorial.
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Exercise programme launches for patients receiving cancer treatment at Worthing Hospital |
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A new cancer specific exercise programme, ‘CU on the Ward’, launched for patients receiving cancer treatment on Balcombe Ward at Worthing Hospital.
The initiative was created and funded by donations from a local charity, Cancer United, who specialise in improving the physical and mental wellbeing of those with cancer.
The new programme provides inpatients receiving treatment for cancer at Worthing with a free personalised exercise programme.
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Patients at St Richard’s Hospital benefit from a new CT Scanner |
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A brand new CT scanner and control suite has come into use at St Richard’s Hospital.
The £1.1 million project replaced the existing, outdated equipment with the latest in CT scanner technology. Both the scanning and control rooms were completely refurbished prior to the arrival of the new equipment.
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A new specialist maternity centre opened at the Royal Sussex County Hospital |
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A new specialist maternity centre has opened at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, offering expert help for service users with complex medical needs.
The Maternal Medicine Centre supports those with conditions that may complicate their pregnancy. For example, they may have inflammatory bowel disease or have had an organ transplant.
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3Ts Redevelopment – The Stage 1 Building will open to patients within a year |
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The first of the new, state of the art clinical buildings at the Royal Sussex County Hospital will be open to patients within 12 months, transforming the hospital experience for hundreds of thousands of patients and visitors every year.
Members of the public are getting their first full look at the multi-million pound redevelopment this week as the hoardings along the front of the site are taken down and replaced with wire fencing.
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Better health and care for all across Sussex |
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From 1 July, our new Integrated Care System, Sussex Health and Care System, formally started operating. The new way of working will involve three changes to how health and care is organised.
- Together with other organisations with an interest in health and care across Sussex, we will come together regularly as our new Health and Care Assembly to make sure the needs of people across Sussex are being met.
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We will also become part of a new organisation called NHS Sussex that will help the local NHS work better for local people.
- And we are creating partnerships of health and care organisations across our local authority areas that will work closer together to better support communities to stay healthy and get the most appropriate support, care and treatment they need.
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Social media highlights #UHSussex |
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Are you following UHSussex on social? There’s so much that goes on across our hospitals but we aim to bring you daily news and updates through our social media pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Here’s a flavour of what’s been on social media recently…..
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Leap for your local hospital! |
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Calling all dare devils! The Trust’s dedicated NHS charities, Love Your Hospital and BSUH Charity, have released a new skydive date on 21 August 2022 at Old Sarum Park in Salisbury.
Want to know what it feels like to freefall from 10,000 feet? Not only will you be putting your body and mind through their paces as you experience a true life experience that will stay with you forever, but you’ll be raising funds for your local hospital too.
Skydivers will be supported by highly experienced skydive instructors at GoSkydive, specially trained to work with first-time tandem skydivers and regulated by The National Governing Body for Skydiving. They will provide you with specialist instruction in a simulated training environment on the day of your jump.
It's £50 to secure your jump with a commitment to raise £400 minimum sponsorship. You can ring-fence the funds raised for your ward or area of care.
Sign up to jump and raise funds for St Richard’s, Worthing and Southlands Hospitals. For more info contact John Price or call 0800 028 4890.
Sign up to jump and raise funds for Royal County Sussex, Princess Royal, Royal Alexandra and the Sussex Eye Hospital. For more info contact Samantha Craycraft or call 01273 665102.
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Supercar track day at Goodwood |
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Come and be a part of the action at Goodwood Motor Circuit for the Saywell Supercar Track Day from 9am to 5pm on Saturday 30 July.
Watch the world's most spectacular cars in action and get involved in the track parade to see these amazing motors up close. You don't need to know your Ferraris from your Lamborghinis either, with plenty of off-track fun day activities.
Admission is free, making it a great day out for families or enthusiasts alike. Proceeds from the event will go to support St Richard's, Worthing and Southlands Hospitals.
For more details, contact John Price on 01243 788122 ext: 32977.
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We are holding our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 27 July from 4.30-6.30pm.
This year’s hybrid meeting will be held at St Richard’s Hospital Chichester Medical Education Centre, and will be made accessible to those who cannot attend in person, via Microsoft Teams.
There will also be a pre meeting service fair from 3pm, where the public can engage with services, volunteer, charity and membership stands.
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Council of Governors Meeting
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The Council of Governors Meeting will be held at the Trust Headquarters at Worthing Hospital from 2-4pm on Thursday 18 August 2022. |
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Governor election results |
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Congratulations to our newly elected Public Governor for Arun, Maria Rees, and to John Todd and Pauline Constable, who have been re-elected as Public Governors.
Maria's clinical nursing career began over 40 years after she trained and qualified at Harefield Hospital and has included cardio-thoracic surgery and neonatal medicine. She has also held a senior management position in Housing Options Services London Borough of Southwark.
John worked in scientific, management, senior management and consultancy roles before retiring at 60. Since then he has served on Adur District and Worthing Borough Councils in a voluntary role as Independent Member on the Standards Committee alongside elected members.
Pauline retired from the Education Department of West Sussex County Council, where she was responsible for children’s safeguarding, through children’s school attendance and exclusion. She has volunteered with The Citizens Advice service and is a Governor at Davison High School for Girls.
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Appointment of new Lead Governor |
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Lyn Camps has stood down after three years as Lead Governor. We thank Lyn for being an outstanding Lead Governor who had led with values, passion, love and tireless energy.
Following an election process Frank Sims, Public Governor for Brighton & Hove, was elected as Lead Governor.
Frank has served as chief executive for hospitals and community trusts throughout his life long career in the NHS.
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In case you missed it....
Here’s a round-up of more news stories from across UHSussex...
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Patient feedback highlights |
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We’re proud to share with you some of the lovely feedback we have had recently. If you’ve got a positive experience of using our services you’d like to share then we’d love to hear it. Contact us at uhussex.communications@nhs.net or leave us a Google review. |
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