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Your healthcare in Wansbeck & Blyth INSIDE Praise for ‘outstanding’ staff Page 3 ‘One year on’ for new model of emergency care Page 4 New home for cancer care Page 5 ‘Northumbria Birthing Centre is brilliant’ Page 5 Over £1million investment in scanners Page 6 Patients at heart of new care model in Blyth Page 7
Connect with us
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Your services in Wansbeck General Hospital 24/7 urgent care centre – for walk-in patients for a variety of urgent but non-life threatening conditions.
Planned and on-going care and rehabilitation including:
l Children’s services l Diagnostic tests (x-rays and scans) l Diabetes care l Elderly care l Maternity services – pregnancy and ante-natal care l Oncology (cancer) treatment l Palliative care l Stroke care and rehabilitation l Surgery - planned operations and procedures l Therapies including physio, occupational and speech and language
In a year, Wansbeck hospital:
Treats more than 30,000 patients in urgent care Performs around 7,000 operations, x-rays and MRI, CT and ultrasound scans Sees around 105,000 people in outpatient clinics Cares for around 4,000 people on the wards Carries out more than 14,000 daycase procedures Performs more than 82,000 radiology tests including x-rays and MRI, CT and ultrasound scans
Your services in Blyth Community Hospital
Minor injuries unit (9am-5pm MondayFriday, last patient book-in 4.15pm)
Planned and on-going care and rehabilitation including:
l Diagnostic tests (x-rays and scans) l Elderly care l Palliative care l Stroke care and rehabilitation l Therapies including physio, occupational and speech and language
In a year, Blyth hospital:
Treats around 3,000 people in minor injuries Sees around 6,000 people in outpatient clinics Cares for around 800 people on the wards Performs more than 9,700 radiology tests including x-rays and MRI, CT and ultrasound scans
Community services in Northumberland
l Community nursing l Health promotion l Health visiting l Palliative care l Podiatry l Reablement and rehabilitation services including equipment and wheelchairs l School nursing l Sexual health services l Specialist nursing services l Therapies including physiotherapy, occupational and speech and language
Healthcare at the heart of the community Welcome to this dedicated supplement all about services at Wansbeck General Hospital, Blyth Community Hospital and out in the community provided by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Our hospital and communitybased teams are at the heart of local healthcare services and provide care to people living in communities across south east Northumberland. With the introduction of our new model of emergency care last June which saw the opening of The Northumbria hospital in Cramlington, Wansbeck and Blyth hospitals have become centres of excellence for planned and on-going care. This means that whether you have been referred by your GP for an outpatient appointment, need a planned diagnostic test or scan, are having on-going care or a planned procedure or operation – these will all take place at our hospitals in Wansbeck or Blyth. Our urgent care centre at Wansbeck hospital also operates round the clock
looking after people with urgent care needs, with a minor injuries service also available at Blyth hospital on weekdays. If you require on-going inpatient care and rehabilitation following emergency treatment at The Northumbria hospital, this will also take place at Wansbeck or Blyth hospitals, if they are the hospitals closest to you. However, in most cases, as explained on page 4, due to fast access to specialists and diagnostics at The Northumbria, more of our emergency patients are now being discharged straight home. Since the opening of The Northumbria hospital, we now have more space available at Wansbeck hospital in order to develop services, enhance privacy and dignity for patients and improve patient experience and the care environment. For example, wards which were previously housed in two exterior buildings have now moved into the main hospital space.
The temporary buildings are soon to be demolished with the land used to create extra car parking spaces. We have already provided additional parking at the south entrance ahead of the impending sale of the land currently used as a car park as people enter the site. Every year thousands of people choose to have their orthopaedic operations at the trust and within this supplement we hear from a patient who had his hip replaced at Wansbeck hospital and was able to go home the same day (page 5). Within the supplement, we share our plans to move Wansbeck hospital’s oncology day unit to a purposedesigned home (page 6) and the investment taking place in diagnostics for people attending for planned scans and x-rays (page 6). At Wansbeck hospital, a new MRI scanner is being installed and patients are benefitting from new state-of-theart ultrasound scanning equipment. At Blyth hospital, new x-ray equipment will also be in place in the autumn.
Appeal for volunteers Volunteers are being recruited to give their time to the Macmillan Support Service in Wansbeck and Blyth. People aged 18 and over are being sought to give anything from a couple of hours of their time, to support people who are going through cancer, life-limiting illness or those who have been recently bereaved. Lisa Johnstone, project lead for the Macmillan Support Service, said: “Volunteers make a vitally important contribution to our service and there are a range of roles available if you or someone you know would like to get involved. “We are looking for volunteers to offer one-to-one support in bereavement and befriending across Wansbeck and Blyth. “At Wansbeck General Hospital we have volunteers who provide emotional support on our oncology day unit and palliative care unit and we are looking to increase our volunteers to meet growing demand. “If you can offer a couple of hours per week, there are opportunities to ensure people get the information and support they need during a very difficult time in their lives.”
Adeline Keogh was named ‘volunteer of the year’. The Macmillan Support Service is provided by Northumbria Healthcare in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Care. It offers access to information and support for adults living with cancer or a life-limiting condition as well as their families and carers. The service is available to anyone aged over 18 in Northumberland. For more information about the service or the volunteering opportunities available please contact the Northumberland team on 01670 855533 or email macmillan.supportnorthumberland@northumbria-health-
care.nhs.uk Northumbria Healthcare has more than 800 volunteers who generously give their time and carry out a range of roles. These include meeting and greeting patients and visitors at hospital entrances, working in one of our Hospital Volunteer Service shops, assisting patients at mealtimes, facilitating ward activities and supporting mums to breastfeed. Adeline Keogh, a breastfeeding peer support volunteer in Blyth Valley, was recently named ‘volunteer
of the year’ at our Building a Caring Future staff awards. The trust is currently looking for volunteers for its shops at Wansbeck General Hospital and Blyth Community Hospital. Volunteers would be required to carry out general shop and café tasks such as serving tea, coffee and snacks, operating the till, dealing with customers and replenishing stock and provide assistance and directional support for visitors. If you could spare a morning or a afternoon, or would like to find out more, please contact our volunteer service on 0191 203 1511 for further information.
We also share an update on exciting work taking place in Blyth with health teams to join up services, as part of the trust being a national leader to pioneer new models of care and join up services even further. As a trust, we not only provide services at Wansbeck and Blyth hospitals – we also deliver a range of services in the community. Our staff work from GP practices and health centres and in people’s own homes and are able to provide real continuity of care for patients. Our teams include community nursing, sexual health services, health visiting, occupational therapy and school nursing. In many areas, our teams in hospitals work closely with community colleagues to ensure a seamless transition for patients from hospital to home, ensuring there is no disruption to their care. We also provide adult social care services across Northumberland thanks to joint working with our local authority partner.
What Wansbeck hospital patients say: Excellent all across the board! The staff here are exceptional, very professional and they all work extremely hard. The staff are lovely. I have been treated very well.
% of patients 97 would recommend their
care to their family and friends
% said they 99 were treated with respect and dignity
I would give this ward overall a ‘C’. The c is for caring, consistent, compassionate and very cheerful staff.
% said they 99 were treated with kindness and compassion
What Blyth hospital patients say: The staff go out of their way to help me. If I have any problems I know the staff would be there. I would rate the care and attention I have received as 10/10. It’s been lovely, I’ve had no problems, I have been given the best treatment.
% of patients 96 would recommend their care to their family and friends
100
% said they were treated with respect and dignity % said they 100 were treated with kindness and compassion
Praise for ‘outstanding’ staff after top CQC rating Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has paid tribute to the thousands of dedicated NHS staff delivering care across Northumberland and North Tyneside following an ‘outstanding’ rating from independent health and social care regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). In November last year, the trust welcomed a team of CQC inspectors with further ‘unannounced’ visits. Findings from the CQC’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Sir Mike Richards, reveal Northumbria Healthcare as only the fourth organisation nationally to receive the highest possible accolade – ‘outstanding’. Wansbeck General Hospital was rated ‘outstanding’ alongside the trust’s two other general hospitals at North Tyneside and Hexham. The Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington which opened in June 2015 was also rated ‘outstanding’ as were community services. Overall Blyth Community Hospital, and inpatient services at community hospitals across Northumberland, was rated ‘good’. The trust was commended for its innovative and pioneering approach to end-of-life care and services provided for children, young people and families in the community, were rated ‘outstanding’ in all five domains with patient outcomes consistently high and better than the England average. In total, the CQC rated 20 core services at Northumbria Healthcare as ‘outstanding’ – more than any other organisation previously inspected by the Chief Inspector of Hospitals. The trust was also praised for its ‘inspirational leadership’ and ‘strong clinical engagement’. The CQC report also identified some areas for improvement. Northumbria Healthcare places great emphasis on listening to the views of patients, staff and members of the public. Known
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Staff proud of Wansbeck General Hospital and care it provides
Wansbeck General Hospital
Blyth Community Hospital and, right, Wansbeck Oasis, which is for the relatives of patients who are approaching the end of their lives, and was praised by the CQC. as ‘The Northumbria Way’, this continuous focus on quality means that the areas identified by the CQC had already been identified by the trust with work underway to make the necessary improvements. Mr David Evans, chief executive of the trust, said: “We are immensely proud to receive such positive recognition from the CQC after such a land-
mark year for Northumbria. On behalf of the trust board I would like to thank each and every member of staff for the commitment they show, every single day, to provide high quality patient care. “Our teams look after people when they are often at their most vulnerable, whether that is coming into hospital, coping with an on-going health problem, or learning to live with an unexpected
Overall Wansbeck General Hospital was rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC. Key findings from the report included: lStaff were proud of the hospital and the care it provided to the local community and beyond. lStaff and patient engagement was seen as a priority with several systems in place to obtain feedback. lThe “Northumbria Way”, which incorporates the trust’s values, behaviours and culture, was evident when talking to staff lStaff delivered compassionate care, which was polite and respectful and went out of their way to overcome obstacles to ensure this. All patient feedback was extremely positive. lThere were processes to ensure patients were cared for in the right place at the right time. Patient flow was a priority. lPatients received care in a clean, hygienic and suitably maintained environment illness. The care and compassion shown by our workforce touches people’s lives on a daily basis and every one of our employees should be rightfully proud of the great value they bring to our local communities and the people we serve. “As always, we must now
Inspectors also found several areas of outstanding practice including: lA dedicated team contacted patients by telephone following discharge after surgery to gather information about any immediate concerns the patient may have and provide advice and guidance. lEnd-of-life services worked across both acute and community settings with a strong multi-disciplinary ethos. lAn Oasis room was available for relatives of patients at the end of life where they could rest or take time to themselves. The room was stocked by volunteers with drinks, snacks and toiletries using funds that were dedicated for this purpose. lThe trust had adopted an innovative approach to providing an integrated personcentred pathway of care in partnership to provide services that were flexible, focused on individual patient choice and ensured continuity of care. look to the future so that we can continue to build on our successes to date and push the boundaries of excellence in everything we do. “We will continue to listen to our staff, patients and the public so that we can improve the quality of care we provide even further.”
Compassionate care at Blyth Community Hospital Overall Blyth Community Hospital was rated ‘good’ by the CQC. Key findings from the report included: l The treatment of patients was compassionate, dignified, and respectful. l Feedback from patients was exceptional.
l Staff go the extra mile to be supportive, to assist patients over and above routine tasks and ensure that they were fully included in all decision-making regarding their health and wellbeing. l Relatives said they felt involved in their care and had the opportunity to speak with the doctor looking
after their family member. l Staff spoke with passion about their work and were proud of what they did. l Complaints and concerns were taken seriously and responded to in a timely way with improvements made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
l There was evidence of ownership of services and patient-centred care was clearly a priority. l Services were planned and delivered in a way that met the needs of the local population. l The needs of different people were taken into account when planning and delivering services with
the trust’s Bright Charity improving the environment on Ward 3 to make a difference to patients with dementia. l Care and treatment was coordinated with other services and other providers and there was evidence of competent multi-disciplinary working between all professionals.
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‘One year on’ for new model of emergency care This summer it’s a year since the opening of the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington and healthcare leaders have praised NHS staff for their tremendous efforts during a year of such huge transformational change and an exceptionally busy time for services. The trust has published a ‘one year on’ update which shows: l A 15% increase in urgent and emergency care activity with over 150,000 attendances across both The Northumbria hospital and at 24/7 Urgent Care Centres in Wansbeck, North Tyneside and Hexham hospitals l Northumbria Healthcare as one of only a handful of trusts nationally to meet the four-hour standard for patients to be seen within four hours during the whole of 2015/16 l A 14% reduction in emergency admissions to hospital, with almost 7,500 fewer people being admitted, resulting in a £6million saving for the local health economy l Senior clinical decision making from emergency medicine consultants on site 24/7 and almost 80,000 radiology examinations performed, resulting in much quicker diagnosis and treatment for seriously ill or injured patients l Improvements in clinical outcomes, for example in cardiology where very early indications show the number of people now surviving heart attacks has dramatically increased since the centralisation of specialist expertise in June l Consultants in a range of specialties, including consultant cardiologists, now working seven days a week and doing twice daily ward rounds on a Saturday and Sunday, just as they do on every other day of the week l 9 out of 10 patients using the emergency department at The Northumbria rated their
So impressed with specialist heart care Doreen Wilkinson is one patient who is benefitting from specialist heart care available at The Northumbria hospital. Doreen, 66, experienced sudden chest pain and shortness of breath at home in the early hours of the morning. She called 111 and an ambulance was sent to her home and took her straight to The Northumbria for emergency treatment. When in the emergency department, where emergency medicine consultants are on site 24/7, Doreen was quickly assessed and underwent diagnostic tests which showed she was having a heart attack. She was moved to the specialist cardiology ward where she was seen by one of the team of cardiology consultants who work every day of the week – with ward rounds on Saturdays and Sundays to see emergency heart patients. Doreen immediately received blood-thinning medication to help reduce the blockage in the arteries in her heart while she awaited transfer to the Freeman Hospital. Doreen said: “The doctors have said this has been a warning for me and could have been much worse. “I really couldn’t fault any of the staff at all, they have been brilliant. “Nothing has been too much care as good, very good or excellent and 97% of inpatients at The Northumbria would recommend their care to friends and family The transformation of urgent and emergency care has not, however, been without its challenges. The
Doreen Wilkinson and consultant cardiologist Dr Colin Doig bother for them and they go the extra mile.” Doreen was cared for in one of the single en-suite rooms on the ward and has been very impressed with all aspects of her experience. “Alongside having access to specialists throughout my stay what I’ve really liked about this hospital is that it’s not a long ward,” she said. “The nurses can stand in the middle and look into every patient’s room and you never feel on your own.” Doreen, a mother of two, also praised the food and the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital is now the largest receiving emergency department in the North East and the centralisation of emergency care has impacted on the performance of ambulance handover times with around 7 per cent of all
fact that diagnostics is based adjacent to the emergency department, meaning patients do not need to go to another part of the hospital for tests. Dr Colin Doig is a consultant cardiologist who works in The Northumbria looking after emergency heart patients. He said: “The really big difference of the new model is the speed at which everything happens and the quick diagnostics which mean we are getting patients home much sooner than ever before. “For patients being admitted ambulance arrivals at The Northumbria waiting over 30 minutes to handover patients. Northumbria has been working closely with the ambulance service and other partners to actively address this problem and make sure patients have a smooth tran-
with heart failure, the speed of diagnosis and ready availability of a cardiologist opinion, means their average stay in hospital is now one or two days – previously they may have been in hospital up to six days if they had been admitted on a weekend. “The emergency service we offer now is exactly the same on a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as it is on a weekend. “In my 25-year career as a consultant cardiologist, nothing comes close to this level of quality improvement and it’s a privilege to be part of it.” sition into the emergency department, especially during times of peak demand. This figure is now showing signs of improvement and plans are in place to improve the physical space for ambulance arrivals in preparation for next winter.
A widespread public awareness campaign ran throughout 2015 to advise the public on how to access services depending on the nature of their problem, including signposting to primary care. This was largely successful with around half (47%) of all attendances taking place at 24-hour Urgent Care Centres in Wansbeck, North Tyneside, and Hexham hospitals. Of the 53% of attendances at The Northumbria, the number of walk-in patients has been higher than anticipated and messages continue to be embedded with members of the public and with the health and care system to ensure people understand the new model and are signposted to the right service. Mr David Evans, chief executive of Northumbria Healthcare, said: “There is no doubt that our new model of emergency care is already having a very positive impact on patient care, clinical outcomes and experience and all early indications and measures show it is delivering exactly what we set out to achieve for emergency patients by centralising our specialist expertise on one site. “Delivering these successes, as well as overcoming the challenges experienced during this first year would not have been possible without the efforts of staff in all areas – not only at Northumbria but amongst the wider local NHS. “Delivering such largescale change in the NHS is extremely difficult and I would like to thank all partners, in particular the North East Ambulance Service, for their support in helping us to work through some of the challenges experienced. “Despite this, we should not underestimate the scale of what we have collectively achieved and the very positive benefits we are already seeing for patient care.”
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New hip and home ... on the same day
A Northumberland man has become only the second person in the county to have a hip replacement operation and go home the same day. Builder and keen golfer Len Smith has suffered from wear and tear in his joints over many years. Having already had both his knees replaced at Wansbeck hospital, he was continuing to suffer chronic pain in his left hip. His consultant orthopaedic surgeon Paul Partington advised that a full hip replacement would be necessary and to Len’s surprise, that this could be done without the need to stay in hospital overnight. Len, from Beadnell in north Northumberland, came into Wansbeck hospital for the procedure in April. He had a spinal anaesthetic to numb the lower half of his body so he was fully awake and talking to the surgeon and anaesthetist during the operation. Once back on the ward, Len was keen to get out of bed and start his recovery as soon as possible. “People couldn’t believe it when I got straight up,” Len said. “When Mr Partington phoned the ward to see how I was, the staff said ‘if we knew where he was we’d tell you!’ I was out with the physiotherapist and I asked if I could walk further. “He told the staff I might as well go home if I was already up!”
Commenting on the operation and his choice to have a day-case procedure Len said: “I’m active with work and my golf. I was just keen to get it done and get back to normal. Obviously the surgeon has to select patients carefully but he knew I was fit and determined. “The pain in my hip which I had been enduring 24/7 over many years was unbearble and much worse than the initial pain I felt after the operation. “I was out and about the next day and on the golf course the following Monday. Eight weeks in I’ve never looked back. Eventually the other hip will need doing but I’ve no hesitation in having it done this way again. It’s fantastic.” Mr Partington said: “We carried out our first day-case hip replacement last year and we’re planning for this to become increasingly regular. “We already have a national reputation for short length of stay following joint replacement with our fast-track techniques, and hopefully day-case surgery will become more and more common when we can reliably identify good candidates. “Len was suitable as a highly-motivated, fit patient who was keen to have his surgery as a day-case. Other important factors were that he did not
live too far away and had support from his wife who was happy with the idea of same day discharge. “We’d encourage patients to consider this option because if they are otherwise fit and well, they can be in and out of hospital quickly and start their recovery in their own surroundings.” The trust has one of the largest orthopaedic departments in the region with short waiting times and surgeons recognised as some of the best in the UK. Since last June, around 3,000 people have chosen to have their planned orthopaedic procedure at Wansbeck General Hospital. Expert help and support is available round the clock to get patients up on their feet as soon as possible and back home quickly with the right support in place. For extra peace of mind, the trust runs a 24-hour dedicated helpline to help answer patients’ questions about their wound or rehabilitation Consultant orthopaedic after leaving surgeon Paul Partington hospital.
New home for cancer care at Wansbeck Patients affected by cancer are soon to benefit from an expansion at Wansbeck General Hospital and a newly-refurbished care environment. Set to open in the autumn, the oncology day unit, which provides chemotherapy and supportive treatments for patients with a range of cancers, is moving to a new, more spacious home within Wansbeck hospital. The opening of The Northumbria hospital at Cramlington has meant there is more space at Wansbeck hospital to develop facilities to ensure that patients coming in for planned treatment experience the very best care, in the best environment, with the utmost privacy and dignity. Oncology nurse specialist
Gillian Thorne, who manages the oncology day unit Gillian Thorne, who manages the unit, has spent her career caring for patients with cancer. She said: “In the oncology
day unit we get to know our patients and their families really well. “We continually gather their feedback about their care and the facilities and this has helped us with our design for the new unit. We’re very excited about the move and are looking forward to improving the environment for patients and addressing some of the limitations of our current unit. “The new facility will have two separate patient areas which will provide additional space which will be more comfortable and safer for staff and patients. “We know just from listening to our patients and their families, that they are very satisfied with the care we offer, however privacy is an issue and
we’re delighted we’re going to be able to offer much greater privacy in the new unit.” The unit cares for around 80 to 100 patients a week who need chemotherapy treatmen Gillian added: “Providing this service to patients is very much a team effort. We work very closely with our consultants, specialist nurses, support staff and the wider team in the hospital to make patient care and experience the best it can possibly be during such a difficult time in people’s lives. “We hope to offer more complementary therapy services in the future, for example helping people to cope with hair loss and offering therapeutic massage, as well as improving the environment for our psychology service.”
Laura Green with baby Elody.
‘Northumbria Birthing Centre is brilliant!’
When baby number three was on the way, Ashington mum Laura Green was a bit apprehensive. “I had my two daughters at Wansbeck hospital,” explained Laura. “I realised this baby would be born at the new hospital in Cramlington but I was a bit nervous about going there.” Laura’s first baby Caitlin, who turns five in September, was born after a natural delivery. However, complications after the birth meant she was offered a caesarean section with baby number two Keavie, who’s now two and a half. Laura, 27, chose to have her antenatal care at Wellway Medical Group in Morpeth because community midwife Michelle Whitworth was based there and she had looked after Laura in her first two pregnancies. “She was fantastic and it was lovely to have a familiar face looking after me when baby number three was on the way. Michelle has been excellent for all three of my pregnancies which have all been very different. She was great at keeping me calm,” said Laura. Speaking about the Northumbria Birthing Centre, Laura said: “Once I saw it I couldn’t wait to go in to have the baby. I really liked the individual en-suite rooms. It didn’t feel like a hospital.” Elody was delivered by caesarean section on 24 June, weighing 6lb 9oz. Laura said: “My husband Paul stayed the first night after Elody was born. They have chairs next to the mum’s bed that fold down so partners can stay overnight which was a great comfort. “The staff were busy but nothing was too much trouble for them. They were brilliant and really accommodating. I stayed in three nights altogether to recover after my c-section. “I’ve got a couple of friends who are pregnant and I’ve told them ‘go to Cramlington, it’s brilliant!’”
The Birthing Centre at The Northumbria hospital offers women the very highest standards in maternity care. The highly-experienced midwifery team at Northumbria Healthcare is on hand 24/7 offering a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and home from home, natural birthing experience. For women with high-risk pregnancies, unexpected complications, or who are experiencing difficulties during labour, a consultant obstetrician is available 24/7, with a dedicated maternity theatre, special care baby unit and neonatal resuscitation all within close proximity of the purposely-designed maternity suite. Pregnant women wishing to book into the Birthing Centre should contact their local community midwife.
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Over £1m invested in new scanning equipment £1.3million is being invested in state-ofthe-art scanning equipment at Wansbeck General Hospital, making the latest technology available to patients in south east Northumberland who need planned diagnostic tests. Northumbria Healthcare, in partnership with InHealth which provides MRI services on behalf of the trust, has invested £1million on a new MRI scanner which is currently being installed and will be operational from September. The ultra-modern scanner is the same model that is in place at The Northumbria hospital in Cramlington and ensures clinicians have access to the highest quality of images to help diagnose and treat patients quickly. Used to scan almost any part of the body and diagnose neurological diseases, cancers, damage caused by sports or other injuries, as well as degenerative conditions such as arthritis, the new scanner will be able to carry out more complex scans. This means that patients, requiring prostate or heart scans for example, will not have to travel out of the area. The new MRI scanner also has a much wider area for patients to lie down, helping to reduce the feeling of claustrophobia and anxiety that can often come with a scan and making the procedure much less daunting for patients. Every year more than 7,000 MRI scans are carried out at Wansbeck
General Hospital. This includes patients who have attended the hospital’s urgent care centre, patients attending as outpatients following a GP referral, as well as inpatients being cared for on the wards. To give patients and GPs greater flexibility, the new MRI scanner at Wansbeck will be open 8am to 8pm seven days a week. A mobile scanner will be in place during the installation to ensure patients can continue to receive scans locally. Northumbria Healthcare has also invested £300,000 to bring leading-edge ultrasound scanning equipment – six new machines - to Wansbeck hospital. Ultrasound was most commonly used to check the health and size of unborn babies but is now widely used to scan patients’ internal organs such as the stomach, kidneys, liver and bowel, heads, necks, ligaments, tendons and muscles. The new equipment is also used for what is known as interventional ultrasound. This is where doctors can carry out procedures such as draining cysts and taking small samples of tissue from deep inside the body to be tested in the lab without open operations having to be performed. It means that Wansbeck hospital can offer procedures to patients who would not have been suitable for general anaesthetic - people with a number of medical problems such as heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) and diabetes. There are currently three scanning rooms at Wansbeck hospital with a fourth set to open soon, meaning more patients will be able to be seen. Dr Rahul Dharmadhikari, consultant radiologist and trust-wide clinical lead, said: “It’s great news for patients in south east Northumberland that we are investing more than £1million to bring the very best diagnostic equipment in the world, let alone the NHS, to Wansbeck General Hospital. “In modern-day healthcare it’s so important that our clinicians have access to the latest technology and the highest quality images in order to diagnose patients quicker and start treatment sooner. “The new MRI scanner, with its wider area for patients to lie down, will make such a difference, reducing the sense of claustrophobia and improving the overall experience of care. Being open seven days a week will also improve access for people requiring a planned scan. “Our new ultrasound equipment not only means that patients have access to leading-edge technology, they will also benefit from minimally-invasive techniques which is so much better for patients.” The investment demonstrates the trust’s commitment to provide as much care as possible locally with Wansbeck hospital a centre of excellence for planned and on-going care.
much quicker service for patients. This means that more patients are able to be tested in a given timeframe, making it a much more efficient service. In addition, patients are exposed to a much-reduced radiation dose. Every year more than 9,000 x-rays are carried out at Blyth hospital for local people who have been referred by their GP for further examination. X-rays are also carried out on inpatients staying on one of the hospital’s two wards.
Pam Kitto, site lead radiographer at Northumbria Healthcare, said: “X-ray is a busy little department at Blyth and having this new digital equipment will make a huge difference to patients. “The equipment presently in use has been in place for around 30 years and while it still does the job, healthcare has certainly moved on considerably in this time and there are much improved options available. “With the images being
available instantly, it will mean patients experience a much slicker service great news for patients who do not have much time and are perhaps popping in during their lunch break or after work.” The new equipment is scheduled to be up and running in the autumn. During the installation, disruption will be kept to a minimum, however, for a short period people from the Blyth area requiring an x-ray will have to travel to Morpeth NHS Centre
Patients at the heart of new care model in Blyth Health and care teams in Blyth are pioneering a new way of working to help support people who have very complex care needs. GPs, community nurses, pharmacists and hospital-based teams are now working much more closely together to proactively identify and look after people in Blyth who are most vulnerable and at high risk of becoming unwell, this is often very frail, elderly people. The aim is to keep people well and supported at home without the need for unnecessary emergency admission to hospital. It is part of work taking place across Northumberland to develop a joined-up ‘primary and acute care system’, removing organisational boundaries so that professionals can work more easily together. Since May 2016, a team of newly-appointed pharmacists have been working with community nurses, GPs and other primary care colleagues in Blyth to help ensure elderly people living in care homes are taking the most effective combinations of medication and that they stop taking medicines they no longer need or want. This vital pharmacist input is helping to improve understanding of medication, involving care home residents and their families in decisions about their care and, ultimately, helping to reduce the amount of unnecessary medication being prescribed. Wasim Baqir, lead pharmacist for the NHS in Northumberland, said: “Many older people
Wasim Baqir, Dr Nicky Shiell and Lyn Darling who are pioneering new models of care in Blyth. take a large number of medicines, often prescribed over a number of years. While these medicines may have been the most appropriate at the time they were initially prescribed,
Representing the community As a foundation trust, Northumbria Healthcare has elected public governors who work closely with the trust to plan local services and respond to the needs and wishes of local communities. In south east Northumberland, 10 local people are elected as the trust’s public governors and give their views Sonographer Kirstin MacLennan with one of the new ultrasound scanners at Wansbeck hospital.
Improved diagnostics as Blyth hospital goes digital It’s not only Wansbeck General Hospital which is benefitting from investment in state-of-the-art diagnostics - the x-ray equipment at Blyth Community Hospital is also being revamped. Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is replacing the current x-ray machines, which use cassettes, with the latest digital equipment. The digital images are of a much higher quality and are available immediately which results in a
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to help develop priorities and influence any proposals for change. They have vital input in how services are developed and run in the future and ultimately help hold the trust board to account. You can contact your public governors via 0191 203 1296 or e-mail governors@ northumbria.nhs.uk.
Your public governors Blyth Valley
Eugene Cooke
Eugene qualified as an electro/mechanical engineer and moved to the North East for work in 1976. He ran his own company until retirement and, due to health problems for him and his family, he has experience of hospital services
Bill Dowse
Bill worked as an engineer for an international manufacturing company and has vast experience in science and engineering. He is particularly interested in services provided at Blyth Community Hospital.
Sean Fahey
without regular review they may end up taking medicines that they no longer need. This may be because their current condition means the medication isn’t doing the job it used to.” Work has also been taking place with Station Medical Group in Blyth to support GPs in providing an acute home visiting service. By working together, a multi-disciplinary team consisting of community nursing staff, pharmacists and social care workers, is now actively supporting the practice in managing daily telephone requests for GP home visits. In the first week of the pilot, over 40 per cent of patients requesting a home visit did not need a GP to carry out the visit. Instead, other health professionals including the community matron, pharmacists and social care colleagues were able to use their skills to provide the necessary care for patients – with the GP at the end of a telephone if required. Since the pilot began, around 30 per cent of all GP home visit requests are now being carried out by the pharmacy team. This work is being rolled out to cover all GP practices in Blyth and will eventually be scaled up across the whole of Northumberland using the ‘multi-disciplinary’ triage approach to manage home visit requests and GP time. Dr Nicky Shiell, GP at Station Medical Group in Blyth, said: “We are delighted to be
leading the way for Northumberland with this work and look forward to sharing our learning with colleagues right across primary care. Like all parts of the NHS, the demands on GP time are ever increasing and it is great to have the support of a wider community based team to help us look after patients most effectively and get them the care they need as quickly as possible. “There are patients who will always require a GP to visit them at home especially those who are nearing the end of life, but there are also many patients that request a home visit who can be much better treated by other professionals with relevant expertise. By developing the acute home visiting service in this way, it means we can much better manage GP time and make sure any GP home visits which are required, are arranged as early in the day as possible so that any necessary onward care can be arranged swiftly.” Lyn Darling, community matron in Blyth, said: “Working in this proactive and joinedup way and with colleagues across all parts of the health and care system including our hospital consultant colleagues, means we can anticipate any problems much earlier. It also means we can manage people in their place of choice and reduce unplanned contact with multiple services. It is much better for patient experience and a much better use of staff time and expertise.”
Public encouraged to join trust Northumbria Healthcare is always keen to encourage local people and patients who have used services to sign up and become members of the trust. As a trust member you can: l help improve patient care by giving your views l receive regular updates through
Outside of the NHS, Sean is actively involved in the issues affecting the elderly in the North East. A Blyth resident for more than 40 years, he retired from the HMRC in 2006 and has served as a school governor.
John Ostle
e-bulletins and newsletters l learn more about healthcare services and developments l attend meetings of the trust’s Council of Governors l exchange views and network with other members l vote for public governors, or stand
As a quantity surveyor, John worked on many building projects and was involved in the design, construction and subsequent maintenance of Hexham General Hospital. He has lived in Blyth for over 40 years.
Ken Patterson
A qualified lab technician, Ken worked in research and pharmaceutical laboratories with service in the RAF. He has also worked in local government and in sales and service of medical equipment.
to be elected yourself If you’d like to become a member visit www.northumbria.nhs.uk/members and complete the application form or call the foundation membership team on 0191 203 1296.
Mavis Wilkinson-Hamilton
Mavis began her NHS career in 1960 and carried out a number of nursing/midwifery roles. She’s a member of the North Tyneside NHS retirement fellowship and North East branch representative.
Wansbeck
Brian Kipling
Radiographer Jack Chilcott and student radiographer Shaun Freeman in the x-ray department at Blyth hospital which is going digital.
During his career with British Gas, Brian was a senior engineering trainer and was responsible for the further education of employees and work-based development programmes for school leavers..
Julia Mann
Julia has worked in areas of social work and youth advocacy and has been a trust volunteer. She is a carer for her mother and has experience of caring for others with dementia and other needs.
George Stephenson
George worked in the marine and offshore industries and served as a magistrate for 22 years in south east Northumberland. He has survived cancer and wants to give something back to the NHS.
David Wilkinson
David has worked in industry from the age of 17, ending up as advertising and PR manager. As public governor, David offers his management expertise to benefit patients in the Wansbeck area.
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