Andy Fawkes is a happy manafter becoming the first patientin Southend to receive a newform of intense treatment forprostate cancer.

The super-fit 52-year-old neversuspected for one moment that he hadthe cancer – especially after getting theall-clear from a health check – and onlyasked his doctor for a PSA (prostatespecific antigen) test to please hismother. Andy’s father had recently beendiagnosed with prostate cancer and shewas naturally concerned for her son.

When it was discovered he, too, hadcancer, he was offered the newtreatment – HDR or high dose ratebrachytherapy radiation treatment.

We are one of only about 10 centres inthe UK to offer it, and the only one inEssex. It consists of ashort course ofconventionalexternal beamradiotherapyfollowed by asingle session ofbrachytherapywhere high-leveldoses of Iridium 192, a radioactivematerial, are precisely targeted at theaffected area.

It is a real team effort requiringmeticulous pre-planning on thecomputer to ensure the needles carryingthe Iridium source are inserted into theexact position in the prostate.

Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, clinical lead andconsultant clinical oncologist, said: “Byusing this technique we can targetmuch higher doses into the prostatearea while minimising side effects anddamage to adjacent organs.

“We feel it is something we shouldoffer to our patients as one of a rangeof treatment options for prostatecancer. Owing to more awareness andthe availability of diagnostic tests, moreand more young men are beingdiagnosed.”

The treatment is available for high-riskpatients where the cancer has notspread and we hope to treat at least 30patients a year from all over Essex andbeyond.

Mr Richard Lodge, consultant urologist,said: “It is really exciting and cementsSouthend as the only centre in the Eastof England region offering all possibletreatment options for prostate canceron site outside of Cambridge.”

Andy, a keen kite surfer, windsurfer andscuba diver, said: “The idea of havingneedles inserted there is not somethingI relished, but it was less uncomfortable

than you would imagineand I would recommend itto anyone.

“Everyone at the hospitalwas fabulous. I cannotspeak highly enough of theteam which treated me. Idid not feel anxious at all.

“I left hospital the following day, wentback to work almost immediately andthree weeks later went kite surfing.”

See page 3 for another goodnews story!

Newsletter for Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust February 2012

Top testimonial from firstprostate treatment patient

Everyone at thehospital was fabulous.

I cannot speak highlyenough of the teamwhich treated me.

Patient Andy Fawkes (centre front) with treatment team: back l to r:James Green, head of radiotherapy and medical physics; Dr Ahmed;consultant urologist Mr Richard Lodge. Front: Pat Burns, superintendentradiographer and Janet Laytham, quality assurance superintendent.

2

Welcome to:Dr Gairin Dancey,consultant medicaloncologist, whojoins us in her firstconsultant postfrom UniversityCollege Hospital.Gairin has fond

memories of Southend from her timehere as a house officer during hertraining and already knows a numberof our oncologists.

She says: “It is quite a small specialtyand a really interesting field with lotsof developments and the excitementof new drugs and clinical trials. Youcan really see things developing andimproving.”

She enjoys the continuity of care withher patients and the great amount ofassistance from specialty nurses andsupport workers.

Outside work, she is a keen walkerand often leads groups around thehistorical London docks area.

Alan Gurney,interim business unitdirector (BUD) formedicine, whojoined us last monthto take over thereins from DrGrahame Tosh.

Alan started his 28-year career in thehealth service as a nurse in Kettering,Northamptonshire where he still lives(although he stays here most of theworking week). His nursing career wasmainly in general medicine althoughhe specialised for a while in HIV/AIDSat St Mary’s, Paddington.

Alan made the move to operationalmanagement in the days of GPfundholding, so is well used to theprimary/secondary care interface. Heheld a number of generalmanagement posts before beingseconded to the Department ofHealth for two years where he headedthe regional patients’ access team forthe south east. Following that, Alanspent eight years working at the Heartof England NHS Foundation Trust inBirmingham, first as divisional generalmanager for medicine and then asdirector of operations for surgery andwomen’s and children’s services. For

the last 14 months he has beenleading some clinical strategy work atthe beleaguered Mid-Staffs Trust,redesigning health services across thepatch.

Alan is really looking forward to hisnew role in the Trust: “If things aresustainable when I leave, I will know Ihave done a good job,” he said. “Thegauge of my success is to make myselfdispensable. My focus will be onleadership, operational performanceand the development of the medicalbusiness unit.”

Mr James Wright,consultant surgeonwith a specialinterest inlaparoscopiccolorectal and pelvicfloor surgery. Jamesjoined us last month

and will be helping Mr BandipalyamPraveen build up our pelvic floorservices to meet a growing demandand with a view to preventing patientshaving to travel to London for tests.

He trained at St Mary’s, Paddington,worked here previously as Mr MikeDworkin’s registrar and decided thenthat he wanted to work at Southend.

“It is a very cohesive and friendly unitwith a good attitude to getting thework done. The surgical department,nursing and theatre staff have mademe very welcome.”

James, who comes to us fromColchester Hospital, is married to a GPwith a 20-months-old son and is akeen cyclist.

StephanieWhitwell, deputyLadybird Nurserymanager, whojoined us at the startof the new year.Stephanie worked innurseries across

Southend before her son, Ben, wasborn. During her time at home withhim, she has taken a degree in interiordesign at the University of Essex.

She is dividing her working weekbetween hands-on activities with thenursery’s over-twos and office work.

First impressions are that the nurseryis a busy place with lots of projects:“something I can get my teeth into”.

Congratulations to:KatiePalmer,our newmedicaleducationmanager,who hastaken over

the role from Judi Sharpe. Katie, whohas worked in the medical educationteam for six years, is pictured here(left) at Judi’s farewell lunch with Judiand Professor John Kinnear, clinical tutorfor the medical education department.

The education departmentground-floor seminar room is to benamed the Judi Sharpe seminarroom as a tribute to all she didduring her years with the Trust.

Personal notices

Obituaries:Yvonne Weakley, formerlysurgical nursing officer here, hasdied in a Westcliff care home aged82. Sister Weakley left the hospitalin the late 1980s after a long anddistinguished career. Former wardclerk Rita Mason, who worked withher in the 1960s said: “I rememberher as a very dedicated nurse whodidn’t take any prisoners regardingthe care of her patients. Sheexpected the highest ethics andstandards and made sure all hernurses did their job in acompassionate manner.”

Former nurse Jackie Bailey, who wasa student under Sister Weakley, said:“She was brilliant and terrifying. Shehad such high standards.”

Sheila Webber, former senior nursingofficer, added: “I still speak to peopletoday who remember how good shewas with patients and staff. Wardsisters adored her because she couldsee their point of view.”

Hazel Cutler,15.9.1941 – 2.2.2012We are very sad to announce thedeath of popular volunteer HazelCutler. Hazel was a well-lovedfixture on both the information andcare cars desks, and also helped onChalkwell ward until ill-healthstruck last autumn. Funeral detailsto be announced. Full obituary innext month's Look.

Operating department practitioner Paul Joneslooks a picture of health. But only a fewmonths ago, he was lying in critical care on aventilator, unable to speak or move afterbeing taken ill suddenly at work.Paul recalls: “I was on the night shift getting readyto transfer a patient. Gradually my arms justbecame weak and then I could not physically liftmy foot up to step into the ambulance with thepatient. I just thought I was really tired.”

With pins and needles in his hands, he still finishedhis shift and then went home to bed. When he gotup, he fell to the floor with chest pains and was brought in byambulance to A&E where he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare and serious condition in which theimmune system attacks the peripheral nervous system.

By then, Paul was having difficulty breathing and was movedto Rochford ward where a registrar anaesthetist kept an eyeon him all night. The following day – Good Friday last year –he was rushed to ITU, completely numb from the nosedownwards.

He was put on a ventilator and had a tracheostomy fitted.Paul then developed a severe chest infection and his bloodpressure shot up dangerously.

Paul says: “All the time I was very aware of what was goingon. I knew I could have a stroke from the blood pressure andthe noise of the machines told me how much medication Iwas on. I know now it was touch and go.

“It was very scary being unable to breathe or communicate.All I could do was cry. It is very, very lonely inside your ownbody.”

The event which spurred him to recovery was when his one-year-old granddaughter Gabriella was allowed to come in tosee him.

“I thought to myself ‘I have got to get out to see her’.”

After two weeks in ITU, he was transferredto the stroke unit for physio and seen

regularly by the ITU outreach team.

Unbelievably, in just six months he was back at work intheatres.

“They reckoned I could have been on ITU for a year and atleast two years before I was OK – maybe never. But, althoughI get tired, all I was left with is an itchy thumb, which is nottoo bad!”

Paul, who has worked here for 12 years, was prompted to callthe comms team after reading last month’s Look article on theITU’s success rate.

“The whole team was amazing in the support they gave me. Icannot thank them – and my wife Belinda – enough for allthey did.

“I feel fabulous. I swim a lot to get my lungs back workingand have taken up model building to loosen up my fingers.”

Paul has already given a couple of talks on the patient’sperspective to ITU staff and now he and Belinda, who kept adetailed diary of his time in ITU, have been asked by theGuillain-Barre Syndrome Support Group to write an upliftingbook about his rapid progress from being a quadriplegic togetting back to work.

“It is easy to get into a real spiral of depression. I hope myexperience will help others who are diagnosed.”

3

Paul’sinspirationaljourney torecovery

centreCLINICAL

It is very, verylonely inside

your own body.

Day

They are the trouble shooters, the Jacks of all trades,the problem-solvers – the experienced nurses at the endof a bleep to whom the night staff turn when they needhelp. They are the clinical site managers.

Usually, they work in pairs but on rare occasions can be ontheir own – the single point of contact for the whole hospital– liaising between the night staff and the on-call managers.

The shift starts by checking the bed situation so they knowwhat is available for the coming night’s urgent admissions.But capacity is only one of their many responsibilities. Theymight just as easily be involved in getting emergency drugsfrom the locked drugs cupboard, helping the resus teamwhen there’s a cardiac arrest, dealing with fire calls, movingbeds from A to B, assisting the medics insert catheters orcannulas, liaising with security about suspicious characters oreven helping to deliver babies – as was the case recently whena mum gave birth just inside the main doors.

Liza Bird, a CSM on the nightshift for seven years, said: “Ihave even unblocked toilets before. My problem-solving skillshave increased amazingly since I have been doing this job.There is only a skeleton staff on at night and we get called forsome bizarre things. We are the contact point for the wholehospital and here to help. We try to make the night shift astrouble-free as possible.”

Liza loves working at night – not least because it leaves herplenty of time with her 18-months-old daughter Lily. Shedrops her off at the Ladybird nursery at 7.30am, goes hometo sleep, picks her up at 2.30pm when they are then togetheruntil Lily’s bedtime. “She doesn’t even know I have gone towork.”

Her colleague, Jean Colclough, a nurse for more than 50years, reckons ‘general dogsbody’ or ‘gofer’ best describes thejob: “The other night I was an IT engineer – fiddling withcables when all the phones were engaged.

Night

Laurel Hale explains: “It is very different, although weare still the eyes and ears of the senior managers andstill here to trouble-shoot.

“The day shift is always a lot busier, because there is suchan influx of patients and visitors.”

Every day the CSMs attend at least three bed meetings tocollate and gather the information needed to take back tothe control room, the hospital’s nerve centre where beds areallocated. They work closely with the discharge team andliaise with ward staff to persuade them to use the dischargelounge for patients on their way home, so allowing beds tobecome free.

Natalie Mifsud-Bonnici said: “We gather information on thebed situation five times a day. It is a constantly evolvingsituation.”

Night and day –they have got the hospi

Once the lights go out on the wards, the visitors’ car parks are empty and aquiet settles over the hospital, they set off to stalk the corridors.

At 7am the day shift begins.

Laurel Hale and Natalie Mifsud-Bonnici.

4

”Our remit is to keep things running smoothly during the nighthours, and to ensure the safety, comfort and wellbeing of bothpatients and staff; to deal with the unexpected, as well as theroutine.”

For Jean, the CSM role just evolved from being a night sisterand has gradually got bigger and bigger. The shift might seemlong – 8.30pm to 7am – but there is never a dull moment andthe time just whizzes by.

“It is like a big family at night. You have such a good rapportwith the staff. Everyone is very supportive of each other. Itcertainly helps if you have a sense of humour – we work a lotin A&E where it can get pretty lively at times.”

The CSMs are the eyes and ears of the senior managers andneed to be able to liaise with all levels of staff both here and atother hospitals. They also need a good knowledge of thehospital’s protocols, policies and guidelines.

Towards the end of the night shift, the CSMs do another recceof the hospital to find out about the day’s planned discharges.By the time they knock off, they have clocked up quite animpressive mileage.

Jean says: “I used to take shoe size 6.5 when I started – now Iam an 8. I am just glad I wasn’t sitting down doing secretarialwork if that is how much you spread!”

They also take families to viewings in the mortuary – but haveto go in pairs in case an emergency crops up and one is calledaway – assist with staff shortages, take complaints and act asa sounding board for other staff.

On top of that, there are the unpredictable situations whichare so much part of hospital life.

Last year, they helped deal with two fires. The CSMs areresponsible for deciding whether to evacuate, if staff areneeded to be pulled in to assist, ensuring the area is safe,meeting and greeting the firefighters and organising accessfor the fire engines.

Natalie said: “It is very difficult to say exactly what the job is.The job description is full to bursting but still does not cover allwe do – it is ongoing and never-ending. Whether it is a lightbulb going out or a roof falling in, we will be contacted for it.

”It is a challenging and rewarding job. You need an extensiveknowledge across the entire Trust – and a lot of commonsense.”

• At the moment, our CSMs all wear sisters’ uniforms – butare soon to change to a distinctive purple and black. Lookout for them in a future edition.

• Altogether, we have nine CSMs covering 24/7, every day ofthe year. They are all highly-experienced senior nurses witha total of more than 240 years’ experience between them!

25

centreCLINICAL

ital coveredmysterious

Rupert Wainwright, director of operations,said: “The clinical site manager’s role is pivotalto the ongoing smooth running of thehospital. They have a very tough job to do.”

Jean Colclough and Liza Bird.

There’s been a lot in the national news about SummaryCare Records – the electronic record which has beenbrought in to provide healthcare staff with faster andeasier access to essential patient information.

The pharmacy is our first department to gain access to therecords, allowing staff to view a patient’s core medical dataheld on the GP’s database.

The record contains crucial information on currentmedications, allergies and sensitivities and bad reactions tomedicines– all stuff which is vital to know in an emergencyor when the GP practice is closed.

In time, other details may be added to the Summary CareRecord but it can only be viewed outside the GP surgerywith the patient’s explicit consent.

Richard Goodwin, project manager, explained: “Patientinformation, such as details of medications, can take a longtime to receive from a GP practice. Having the SCR to viewthis data electronically will give the consultant or clinicianup-to-date information without having to approach thepatient’s GP.”

So the advantages are:

• instant access to core medical data, including existingmedical conditions

• time saving in gathering core information

• less telephoning, faxing or sending letters requestinginformation

Simon Worrall, assistant clinical lead pharmacist (picturedhere, right, with Richard and senior pharmacy technicianChris Overland, front), said: “Access to the Summary CareRecords has greatly improved the efficiency of the medicinesreconciliation process, identifying the most accurate list of apatient’s medicines, including name, dosage, frequency androute. This will enable any discrepancies to be picked up andchanges documented, thereby resulting in a complete list ofmedications, accurately communicated, and can only be ofbenefit to patients.”

The PCT has been liaising with GPs to increase the volumeof Summary Care Records available and at the start ofDecember around 70% (250,000) of all patients registeredwith south east Essex GPs had their own personalhealthcare record, with a similar number in the south westpatch.

The next department to gain instant access will be renaldialysis, with other interested departments to follow later.

Anyone needing more information about SCR shouldcontact Richard on 07768 567612.

6

centreCLINICAL

Pharmacy first toaccess SummaryCare Records

Mums booked in to have theirbabies here can now acclimatisethemselves to the hospital andfind out what to expect bywatching our new short DVD.

In the past, expectant mums and theirpartners have been invited in to have alook round. This meant that up to 20people at a time could turn up, whichwas disruptive to the smooth runningof the unit and not ideal forprospective parents.

The virtual tour gives a comprehensivesummary to make the whole processof giving birth as smooth and joyful aspossible. It gives an explanation of theante-natal triage and assessment areas,access, parking and drop-off points,

options for pain relief, visiting hours,post-natal area and the opportunity tohave professional baby photos taken.

The idea of the virtual tour came fromAndrea Harrington, triage specialistmidwife and supervisor of midwives,who worked closely with head ofmidwifery services, Liz Glenister.

“Thanks go to all the healthcareprofessionals for all their enthusiasmand time in making this a reality,” saidAndrea.

A copy of the DVD will be sent to allmums booked into our unit or they canview it by accessinghttp://www.youtube.com/user/SouthendHospitalNHS?feature=guide

Liz said: “We have thought for a while

that this would be an ideal way ofintroducing new mums to our services,giving them some familiarity with theunit, making them feel more confidentand comfortable and hopefully allayingany fears.

“From the comments we have had sofar, it seems that parents find itextremely helpful.”

Having a virtual baby

7

Mini masterclasses7.15pm to 8.15pm in the ground floorseminar room, education centre:

Tuesday, February 21Knee examination – whento refer, how to investigatein primary care – is knee X-Ray necessary?Speaker: Mr Tony Greer, consultantorthopaedic surgeon.

Tuesday, March 20Helping to identify andsupport your patients at theend of life: tools andresources for GPsSpeakers: Dr Patricia Ahlquist,consultant in palliative care andMs Emma Willey, End of Life projectmanager, Thundersley clinic, Benfleet.

Friday, February 24Quiz night7.30pm for 8pm start at the FreightHouse, Bradley Way, Rochford

In aid of the dementia service andNeptune ward. Tickets £6 per person– call ext 6402.

Wednesday, March 7COPES charity eveningfrom 7.30pm at Maxims Casino,Southend seafront

£15 per ticket, including three-cousemeal. Tickets available from Mike01268 776137 or 07891 260241.COPES is a charity and support groupfor women and their families livingwith gynaecological cancer in southEssex.

Thursday, March 8

On the move againstTuberculosis: innovateto accelerate action9am to 4.30pm at the Holiday Inn,Brook Street, Brentwood, CM14 5NF

Conference for everyone with aninterest in TB. A wide range of topicswill be covered by international,national and local speakers.

To book a place, contactJan Bradley on 01268 366815.janet.bradley@sept.nhs.uk

Patient Safety Awards 2012

DiaryDates

This year there are nine categories for entrants. Full details are available onwww.patientsafetyawards.com –where you can also register and upload entries.

Daniel Nelson, director of KeyworkersDirect (pictured)is making you an offer you cannot refuse.

Daniel’s company, a free benefit scheme offering localdiscounts from hair salons, kitchen companies, restaurantsand other businesses, is just one of the organisations whichcan help us all with discounts, special deals and benefits andwhich drew a bumper crowd of nearly 300 staff at last month’s Staff Benefits Day.Hunger pangs were kept at bay thanks to the generosity of Dosa Palace inLondon Road, Westcliff, which kindly provided some tasters from their menu.

All those who attended were entered into a special prize draw with a total of 32prizes including M&S hamper, vouchers for local restaurants, Adventure Islandtickets, family bowling voucher and free MOT and car checks.

You can find a full list of the perks of working here by clicking on the staffbenefits link on the STAFFnet home page.

Make your salarys-t-r-e-t-c-h further

Do you have a volunteer in your ward or department who’s been withthe hospital for a long time and who does a marvellous job?

Well, now’s the time to get your nomination in for the annual Hospital Honoursawards, the Trust’s small way of saying thank-you.

Eligible volunteers must have worked for the hospital for some time (usuallyover 10 years) and have provided outstanding service via fundraising, voluntaryservice or any other exceptional contribution to the work of the hospital.

There are two categories, individuals or group. Nominations can be submittedby hospital staff, volunteers or members of the public.

Deadline for nominations is Wednesday February 29. The winners will behonoured at a reception being held on Saturday May 26 in the educationcentre from 3pm, followed by the volunteers’ annual reception.

Nomination forms are on STAFFnet or available from the voluntary servicesdepartment on ext. 6135.

Honouring our volunteers

Green newsThis year, the second national Climate Week is from the March 12 to 18 whenour Ladybird Nursery children will be painting pictures to depict what‘climate’ means to them. Find out all about the week onwww.climateweek.comMeanwhile, following the success of her first venture, our ecology champion MaggieNicol is planning a second hedge planting session on Sunday February 19. Just turnup – with a spade. She is also offering to loan out her copy of 'The Age of Stupid' –the climate change film starring the late Pete Postlethwaite – to anyone who mightbe interested.Still on a green note, March culminates in Earth Hour. On March 31 at 8.30pm UKtime, lights will be switched off for one hour across the world. Organised by theWorld Wildlife Fund, further information is onwww.wwf.org.uk/earthhourAs Maggie says: “Come on....do something!"

The ongoing drive to recruit moreFeeding Buddies – volunteers whoencourage patients with littleappetite to eat at mealtimes –continued at an awarenessmorning in the outpatientsdepartment last month to markNutrition Awareness Week.

An information stand highlightingthe need for good nutrition, backedup by helpers to ensure patients eat,was manned by Feeding BuddiesSarah Monilaws and Mick Crane,along with Ross Little from thedietetics department and Lynn Coley,who is helping to spearhead thedrive for better nutrition within thehospital.

Do you know anyone who might beinterested in becoming a FeedingBuddy? If so, please ring Chris Milleror Jane O’Connell at voluntaryservices on ext 6135 or ringvolunteers@southend.nhs.uk

Food for thought

As part of the Trust’sequality and diversitypolicy, the communicationsdepartment is committedto ensuring this publicationmeets the needs of all ourstaff. If anyone would find ithelpful to receive The Lookin an alternative format, eglarge print or audio pleaseemail the communicationsdepartment.If you have an item that you wouldlike to see published in The Look,contact Pat Stone onext: 5048 or by email. Deadline forMarch – Friday, February 17.

A new service partlymanned by volunteershas been launched atthe hospital whichcould see re-admissionrates fall among olderpeople.The hospital’s dischargeteam is working withspecially selected volunteersfrom the WRVS, such asHazel Grayston, picturedhere, as part of a newHome from Hospital service.

Volunteers accompanyhospital staff to the homesof patients who are beingdischarged from hospital.

While a nurse checks the patient’s medication, Hazel’s remit is to make patientsfeel literally ‘at home’ – which can be anything from a cuppa and a chat, to doinga bit of shopping and making sure the heating is on and the lights work.

It’s hoped that the input from WRVS volunteers will go some way towardsensuring patients cope better within their own homes, avoiding readmission tohospital … which costs an eye-watering £400 a day.

And Sandra Steeples, patient admission and discharge manager, is hoping thatthe presence of this new WRVS team will also encourage ward staff to dischargepatients under their care.

“Ward staff need to be more proactive and to plan ahead when they come todischarge,” says Sandra. “But if they know we have these volunteers ready, willingand able to help as an extra pair of hands, we hope they will act more quickly.”

For discharge co-ordinator Bev Bambury and her step-down team of two activitiesfor daily living advisers Anne Bourne and Sue Irving, as well as a physiotherapist,having volunteers on board will be ‘an absolute godsend’.

“It will mean the team should be free to see more patients,” she added.

For while staff from social care can provide the basics, they are not funded toprovide the less pressing needs, such as listening and popping out to the cornershop to get a packet of sweets.

Other duties include the picking up of prescriptions, emptying the fridge if thepatient was taken into hospital suddenly, and checking for hazards such as trailingwires and hazards like slippery mats or rugs and feeding this issue back to thedischarge team.

Bev is quick to stress that volunteers will not be expected to be unpaid socialworkers, nor provide intimate personal care. “And we work as a team; they won’tbe on their own.”

Do you know someone who is practically-minded and wants to make adifference to the lives of older people who could join the WRVS/SouthendHospital Home from Hospital scheme?

If so, please contact WRVS co-ordinator Louise Powell onlouise.powell@wrvs.org.uk or call her on 07786 635182.

We need your help

There's no place likeHome (from Hospital)

The team attend to a patient: l to r: dischargeco-ordinator Bev Bambury; Hazel Grayston,WRVS volunteer; newly discharged patientBill; Anne Bourne and Sue Irving, activities fordaily living advisors.